What do teachers say about EiA?

 “One of the most exciting things about the programme has been the individual confidence it’s given them, the chance to develop those crucial interpersonal and communication skills so that they can interact confidently in a different environment. For young people to meet adults who are very successful in their field and who want to put something back into young people’s lives is a powerful message in itself.”  Peter Walker, Headteacher

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About the Maths Classroom to Boardroom Summer school at Royal Holloway July 2008

 “Excellent week, I have thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt loads and think that every single learner has benefited massively from taking part, they are more confident, they believe in themselves and they have developed lots of important skills, and most importantly have really enjoyed themselves!”  Kate Smith, Maths teacher, Bishop Milner Catholic School

“This project required the gifted mathematicians to incorporate a variety of other skills with their mathematical ability to present a solution to a real business problem.”  Sandy Mackay, Mathematics teacher, Heston Community School observing the NPL presentation

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 “The students have really stepped up to it and enjoyed exploring their dreams and aspirations for the future. It was fun, successful and inspiring.” HTI Consultant observing Employability Challenge day at Haverstock School

 ‘What they’ve gained from the programme will accrue as the years go by – the opportunities and challenges they’ve met this week will come up in different guises for the rest of their lives.’  Marion Thomas, National Business Links Co-ordinator

 ‘All the schools have benefited greatly from this project. The feedback from pupils was overwhelmingly positive – they really enjoyed it’  Maria Holden, Enterprise Project Director across 6 Collegiate Schools

 ‘It was a very different way of learning and thinking for our pupils. It gave them a sense of responsibility and independence. Their presentations were a fantastic achievement - they did something they didn’t think they could do so the students were very proud of themselves’ - Enterprise teacher, Selly Oak School (Special Educational Needs) 

We had more than 200 students involved in the project. It was excellent. It raised awareness of what enterprise means in a truly practical and meaningful way. It brought real life problem solving situations into the classroom and made the students respond in a very adult way. Headteacher, Bournville School, Pathfinder Project

Working with Students with Special Educational Needs

‘We have a mixture of students and they all have moderate learning difficulties. Some went into the project feeling quite sceptical, but as soon as we started it was wow! They loved it. Much of this was down to the EiA facilitator, Maddy. His charisma and positive thinking just rubbed off on both students and staff.

Many students with learning difficulties struggle all their lives and feel different from other people, so it was great for them to be stimulated in this way. It was so intense that the staff wondered at one point if we could keep up. The students loved it though and as the week went on and the pressure built there was a level of role reversal as they were very supportive to the teachers. 

 There were times when I was thinking we weren't going to pull it off, but the students rose to the challenge. Sometimes they were overwhelmed but because it was intense they were swept along with the momentum and could see the bigger picture. Importantly they learned to see things from other people’s point of view.

One student had spent the year struggling in class but at the end of the week stood up and said a few words in the presentation, which was brilliant.

The feedback from the challenge has been very positive. The students really enjoyed it. I spoke to one of those involved recently. Because of short term memory problems he couldn't recall what the project was called but he asked,”What was the thing we did earlier this year…that’s it business enterprise. Are we doing it again?”

Both students and teachers saw each other in a different light too. Team working was so important in the project. We changed the mix so they weren't in their normal groups and they really helped one another.  We saw that under pressure the students could cope and they realised that everybody had something to offer.’

Julie Webb, Special Needs and Enterprise Teacher