OxLEP and its Oxfordshire Careers Hub – which works with 53 schools and colleges across the county to develop their careers provision – has shown its support for a new England-wide initiative that aims to equip the county’s teachers with the knowledge needed to support decision-making by young people on potential career pathways.
It has backed long-term partner organisation, The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) and its new pilot project – the ‘Teacher Encounters’ programme – set to bring together 1,000 teachers and 200 businesses from across England to boost collaboration and improve young people’s career opportunities.
The national project will connect teachers to employers to bring skills and workplace experience into classrooms. It will engage a range of businesses – from SMEs through to major multinationals – including companies like; Rolls Royce, Cap Gemini, BAE Systems, construction giant Balfour Beatty and the international film studio Pinewood.
The initiative is also supported by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Earlier this month, OxLEP and the CEC kicked-off its support of the initiative in Oxfordshire through a ‘teacher encounter’ event held at Oxford Biomedica (pictured above) – an Oxford-based life sciences company, developing gene and cell therapies that aim to change the lives of patients around the world.
During the ‘teacher encounter’, representatives of OxLEP, the CEC, Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford Biomedica were joined by science teachers from across some of Oxford’s city schools. Information was shared about the important work that Oxford Biomedica does, as well as the early career pathways available.
This highlighted to teachers the ambitions of science and technology-focused businesses like Oxford Biomedica, enabling them to go back to their respective classrooms and engage their students on how, what they are learning, will support them in achieving their future aspirations
Continued similar ‘teacher encounters’ will aim to ultimately inspire the career journeys of many young people from across the county.
This new initiative is a key recommendation of The Times Education Commission and comes as studies show teachers are a key source of career inspiration for students.
The programme will bring teachers together with local businesses to:
- Develop a deeper understanding of local jobs, including the routes-in like apprenticeships and the skills required in the world of work
- Pursue teachers’ interests by exploring ways of enriching the curriculum; connecting learning in lessons to how it is applied in the workplace
- Build a shared understanding of the similarities and differences between school and work life
Evidence from two early test pilots in Oxfordshire and Berkshire show support among teachers for the project.
They say ‘teacher encounters’ will help them improve their understanding of the range of jobs and routes into the workplace of today. They also help them bring that insight into how they teach their subjects, linking classroom learning to workplace.
Proposed projects will range from face-to-face workplace visits and industry placements to subject specific learning across key economic sectors.
The Teacher Encounters programme builds on policy proposals for careers awareness training for all teachers in the Government’s Skills for Jobs (January 2021) and Schools (March 2022) White Papers. Proposals echoed by Lord Blunkett’s recent Learning and Skills Report (October 2022).
OxLEP and the CEC hope to create similar ‘encounters’ at high-performing businesses like Oxford Biomedica.
Oxford Biomedica won last year’s Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Award category for the Large Apprenticeship Employer Award and were a founding member of the Advanced Therapies Apprenticeship Community (ATAC), which aims to address the projected shortfall of skilled workers in the UK cell and gene therapy industry, by developing industry specific apprenticeship standards.
Sally Andreou, Skills Hub Manager at OxLEP, said: “We are delighted to support this initiative which aligns with a key OxLEP aim of continuing to better-connect the county’s schools with key businesses and sectors to inspire the next generation.
“The support of companies like Oxford Biomedica is critical to this, helping to equip our many teachers with the knowledge and understanding of what businesses are looking for in our young people.
“In-turn, this will ultimately inspire more teenagers to follow ambitious career paths, but also help to ensure that, as a county, we are both maintaining and attracting great talent to these magnificent businesses.”
Oli de Botton, Chief Executive of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “Teachers are powerful sources of careers inspiration for young people – through the conversations they have and the curriculum they teach.
“One of the ways we can support this work is through bridging the worlds of business and education and giving teachers meaningful encounters with employers.
“Done well, these encounters can inspire teachers, students and employers. Teachers can see first-hand how local businesses work, including the routes in like apprenticeships. Students can benefit when teachers bring this insight into their lessons, linking learning to workplace skills. And employers can learn more about the workforce of the future.
“This pilot is an opportunity to bring careers education further into the mainstream of school and college life and build on the enthusiasm we know is there from business to better support schools and from teachers to support their students to take their best next step.”
Robert Halfon MP, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, added: “Teachers are critical in transforming young people’s lives and by linking them to employers, we are developing the skills of teachers to deliver valuable career-related learning in lessons and to raise awareness of the different careers and pathways like apprenticeships.
“This collaboration will extend the ladder of opportunity to all students helping them progress to a great future career, while ensuring we can provide the next generation of skilled workers that businesses want and need.”
John Chapman, a biology teacher from Oxford Academy, said: “Talking about careers that are within their community is invaluable. It creates a community spirit between the teachers, the students and the parents.
“Students realise that there are employers on their doorsteps – it makes it real, and they can connect with what we’re trying to teach them in lessons.”
Colin Grugeon, Talent Acquisition Partner and Teacher Encounters Lead at Oxford Biomedica also added: “Teacher Encounters is the missing piece in our Early Careers programme. It brings us closer to local schools, helps us inform future talent and inspire what happens in the classroom by innovating new ways to connect with teachers.”
