Monday, April 11, 2011

Academy students offered internships to improve prospects

TEENAGERS at one of the area's newest academy schools are set to be offered internships to help improve their career and education prospects.

Congleton High School wants to introduce the placements for sixth formers, who would be able to spend up to six weeks with a local firm. It would give them an insight into fields such as law, the financial sector, and catering.

The internships would be offered on a competitive basis and could give students an edge when they apply for top university places.

It is just one of several ideas being explored by the school, which converted to academy status this month.

Headteacher David Hermitt said becoming an academy would bring them extra resources as money would no longer be creamed off by the local authority to pay for central services.

He said: "We don't know exactly how much extra we'll be getting. But we have struggled for funding in the past and this will make a big difference.

"Long-term improvements include creating the internships. We've got a number of employers looking to support that, including top restaurants, such as Pecks."

Congleton was allowed to take on the academy freedoms after it had been rated as 'good with outstanding features' by Ofsted.

Four other Cheshire East schools have converted to academy status, along with two schools in Staffordshire and two in Stoke-on-Trent.

Among the schools given Government approval to become academies from this September are Biddulph High, Christ Church CE Middle School in Stone and Crescent Primary in Meir. Cheadle High and Holmes Chapel Comprehensive have applied.

It will mean having more control over their budgets, buildings, curriculum, admissions and staffing.

At Congleton High, students are keen to play an active role in how the academy resources are spent.

Ella Baskerville, aged 14, from Rode Heath, said: "It would be good to have better equipment for music and sports. I'm in the school choir."

She is also interested in finding out more about possible internships with financial companies.

Ella hopes to pursue a career as an actuary, which involves assessing the probability and risk of future events. It is a mathematical skill used in many industries, from pensions and insurance to healthcare.

Tom Mullins, from Congleton, is literally aiming for a high-flying career as a pilot. He is taking A-levels in maths, physics and chemistry.

The 18-year-old said: "Becoming an academy is going to be excellent if it means bringing more funding to the school.

"The school council could suggest ideas for improvements."



Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503368/s/141624e8/l/0L0Sthisisstaffordshire0O0Cnews0CInternships0Ehigh0Enew0Eacademy0Es0Elist0Carticle0E34320A590Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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