Smithills School, Bolton

SMITHILLS School is a “class” act when it comes to preparing pupils for the world of work.

This ethos is embraced by Smithills which values learning wherever it takes place, either at school, at home or in the community. Smithills stresses that for pupils to become high achievers, they will need to practice skills and reinforce their knowledge and understanding by completing certain tasks outside of school.

For a number of years, Smithills’ Key Stage Four pupils have attended a special E — enterprise/entrepreneur — conference to learn the five elements of business: personnel, purchasing, production, promotion and profit.

The Bolton school has also encouraged its Key Stage Three pupils to enter the Young Dragons’ Den, a competition based on the popular TV programme. Additionally, Smithills has established a strong commitment to promoting enterprise among today’s young which involves working with the borough’s primary schools. Through a number of activities, pupils develop various, vital skills and the school’s community programme has helped achieve leadership qualities among the children.

Careers education is delivered through personal social and health education, particularly in work relating to option choices at 14. Career education continues through years 10 and 11 where pupils also receive individual guidance from the Careers Department and personal advisers from the Connexions service. All advisers are qualified to provide impartial and confidential advice and guidance.

The Careers Department has a full-time member of staff who works closely with the Connexions service. Pupils have access to a careers library, which includes computer software to help them explore career options. They also receive presentations from local colleges, sixth forms and training providers about their post-16 options and receive a monthly newsletter updating them on relevant events, useful websites and recruitment campaigns.

Last year, Smithills celebrated its best-ever GCSE results which showed a significant improvement over previous years.