Ways of working with schools and colleges
Working with schools and colleges is not restricted to large employers with many resources and employees, nor is it limited to work experience and mentoring (although these are popular and very useful ways of helping students).
There are many different ways that employers can work with education, depending on the preferences and availability of both the employer and school/college, as well as the required outcomes from the experience. (See Why work with schools and colleges? for more information.)
Employers are encouraged to read through this page and work out what they could offer a school or college. The diagram below gives a good overview of different methods of partnership.
Some employers may already have a clear idea of how they would like to get involved, in which case they can go straight to the relevant page in the left hand column of this section for more information on their chosen method of engagement. Alternatively they can visit Take action if they already know about their chosen method.
Types of engagement
Broadly, there are four main types of engagement, each of which contains a number of different engagement activities.
Most activities do not require a financial contribution; schools and colleges are often looking for employers' time, expertise and skills. The exception is sponsoring a school/college or student.
Visit our Schools campaign
The Taskforce is leading a national campaign to persuade business leaders from all sectors to visit state schools and colleges during the week of the 18 - 22 October 2010 to have a practical and open conversation with head teachers and young people.
Taking part is completely free to everyone and only requires 1 or 2 hours of your time in the week of 18-22 October to visit a school/college in your locality. To register to take part visit: www.visitourschools.org
It will be chance for bosses from private and public sector organisations to hear from school leaders, teachers and pupils about they can help shape the motivation, skills and employability of young people.
Forming a partnership
Whatever the level or type of involvement, employers should work to ensure that they develop deep, long-lasting partnerships with schools and colleges, rather than one-off or ad-hoc arrangements.
Partnerships are relatively long-term relationships based on
mutual benefit.
Effective partnerships are serious commitments that develop in
different ways and take different forms, including:
- a one-to-one relationship between an employer (or a branch office) and a local school/college, covering multiple activities
- one-to-one relationships between an employer (and its branch offices) and a group of 'link' schools/colleges
- more complex local partnerships with groups of schools/colleges, involving other organisations (such Education Business Partnership Organisations, local authorities, other companies and voluntary organisations
- national partnerships, including the running of national competitions among schools/colleges; and relationships with national brokers.
Ideally they involve:
- clear needs and capacity assessment as well as analysis of the benefits to be achieved by the different stakeholders
- assessment of the necessary conditions for the partnership's success, e.g. the need to address the curriculum
- communication between school/college contacts and employer contacts, including regular reviews of how the partnership is progressing
- a partnership agreement detailing what has been agreed.
Already working with schools and colleges
This Guide is also useful for employers who have already have partnerships or have worked with schools and colleges in the past.
Many employers already offer work experience, mentoring and classroom talks, but may not be aware of the other ways of working with schools and colleges. Visit the different pages in this section for information on the many different ways that employers can engage with education and benefit their own organisation.
Furthermore, employers may not have developed strong partnerships with schools/colleges in the past; this is something that the Employers' Guide intends to promote. Read about forming a partnership above.
Useful resources
Your step-by-step guide to working with schools
Tower Hamlets EBP have produced some invaluable resources for employers wanting to support Diplomas.
The resource pack includes information about industry insight visits, work shadowing for learners and teachers, structuring a placement and Consortium planning meetings.
Guide to working with schools and resource bank
To see how employers of a similar size have engaged with schools and colleges, use the search facility in Case studies.