COMMUNITY / EDUCATION Over 600 students to attended EBP South’s Get Inspired Test Valley at the end March EBP South returned to the Army Flying Museum, Stockbridge, for their Get Inspired Test Valley event on the 24th March 2022. Get Inspired gives young people a chance to meet businesses from their local area and learn about the different career options available to them by taking part interactive activities which capture their imagination and give them a chance to develop their skills. Jen Laidlaw, Project Manager at EBP South said, "This event provides an exciting opportunity for students to gain an experience of what it could be like to work in different industries. It gives young people the chance to speak directly to business professionals and gain a real insight into the career options in their area.”
people about opportunities available working with local companies. The event, which was sponsored by Test Valley Borough Council, featured 13 businesses providing activities which offer a hands on way for young people to develop an understanding of the different career options in the Test Valley area. Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Councillor Phil North, said: “We’re were really pleased to support this event, and it’s fantastic to see it return after the pandemic. Events such as these are invaluable in inspiring young people into areas of employment that can be evolving, interesting and fast-paced. These events help to support our local economy, reach our communities and support the growth and employment in Test Valley, which is why we’re proud to be a sponsor.” Young people are often not fully aware of the different job roles and career paths available to them. The event allows businesses to connect with pupils in their local area and educate them about the careers that are on their doorstep. At 2021 Get Inspired Test Valley (which was held virtually) 100% of businesses who attended said that they were given an opportunity to inform young people about their area of work and promote the opportunities within their organisation.
Over 600 Year 8 to 11 students from secondary schools across the Test Valley area attended the event which aims to inspire young
Godolphin School Students Step-Up to Fashion Project Salisbury is not normally associated with luxury fashion, but some young students from Salisbury are challenging this. Godolphin’s art students designed bespoke boots, after being inspired by an art project. Godolphin is passionate about bringing education to life. Most people struggle to learn effectively, when forced to study abstract concepts within a classroom setting. Therefore, Godolphin looks for every opportunity for students to apply their learning in real-world situations. With this in mind, Sharon Duggan, Deputy Head of Department and lead in textiles, was determined to make last year’s art project as interactive as possible. Mrs Duggan first took students on a trip to Salisbury Museum, where they made sketches of historical textile items. This was followed by a trip to the Wallace Collection in London, to experience the “An Enquiring mind” exhibition, produced by the international shoe designer, Manolo Blahnik. The 10 rooms, each with a particular theme in relation to the designer’s work, proved inspirational. When the students returned to the classroom, Mrs Duggan tasked students to design an item for a contemporary fashion line and they
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unanimously chose to create boots. The girls then spent many hours developing concepts, producing larger pieces of fabric and making design choices. The result was the class produced an incredible range of boots, which combined classic techniques with contemporary tastes. One student, Olivia, used inlay felting techniques and machine embroidery to capture the quality of the vintage artifacts on display at the museum fusing them with more modern influences, by using vibrant colours. Another student, Lexie, took a different approach. Lexie was inspired by the delicate lacework on the costumes at Salisbury Museum. Using heat transfer techniques, lace and dissolvable fabric to impose them on her materials. Their teacher, Mrs Duggan, said: “When I’m teaching, I want it to be exciting. I want to push the boundaries all the time and challenge the girls to keep them on their toes – inspiring them to go that step further, to hunt ideas out themselves and to want to know more. “When I’m with my GCSE or A-level students, I teach them in exactly the same way I have taught first, second or third year degree students in the past. Because only then can they show their true potential and immerse themselves in a world of design and textiles and beauty. If you challenge and inspire your pupils in equal measures, I believe the sky’s the limit!” For more information on Godolphin School visit: www.godolphin.org
