The Diploma, a two-year study option available for 14-year-olds, was launched by the Government in 2008. It is the equivalent to 7 GCSEs at grades A* to C and is a direct response to appeals from employers, who have called for changes to be made within the education system, to enable young people to develop a practical skill-set in preparation for joining the world of work.
Staff at SCA specialising in a variety of manufacturing operations will be passing on their wealth of experience to 19 students in the first year at a special training facility within the Mill.
Ian Callender, operations trainer at SCA, said: “We are committed to growing and developing our own workforce locally so we’re delighted to be working in partnership with Geoff and the engineering department at Prudhoe High.
“We hope that by giving students a better understanding of engineering processes in a real business environment, we can capture some of the brightest young minds in the area and help to secure their interest in manufacturing when it comes to them choosing a career path in the future. It is my understanding that we are the first major employer in the area to be offering anything like this for school children which is something we’re extremely proud of.”
Prudhoe Community High School is the lead school for Engineering within ‘Tynedale Virtual College’, a link-up which aims to provide a wide range of vocational opportunities in High Schools throughout West Northumberland. Other schools involved include Queen Elizabeth in Hexham, Ponteland Community High and Haydon Bridge High.
Geoff Wallman, head of engineering at Prudhoe Community High School, said: “As part of Tynedale Virtual College, we have taken on students from three other schools in the local area who have expressed an interest in engineering.
This experience will see the students embedded within SCA, contributing to the working day and getting involved in numerous processes within the Mill.
“By working in this way as opposed to a standard work experience placement, the students are learning genuine technical and practical aspects of manufacturing and production techniques in a real-time situation thanks to the coaching they are receiving from SCA on top of their theoretical learning in the classroom.”
As part of the collaboration, two groups of students will alternate visiting the site each week over a twelve week period. The Diploma is made up of 50 percent applied learning (practical) and 50 percent theoretical and has a combined total of eight units.
The site is continuing to build its reputation as a leader in the field when it comes to personal development and learning opportunities, with over 30 apprentices currently on its books.
