“The net-zero McDonald’s week had everything a young Nacro learner needs to express themselves, industry engagement, research, being creative, hands-on work, environmental issues, problem-solving and sustainability. That’s before they learn about engineering, planning and teamwork.”
Chris Stevenson, Civil Engineering Teacher, Newcastle
On 20th-24th June, 2022, COYO ran a virtual work experience programme for learners from four Nacro Centres across England.
20 young people (17 males and 3 females, aged 16-21) took part in the work experience. Over five days, they completed a total of 30 guided learning hours.
About Nacro
Nacro is a registered charity and not-for-profit third-sector training provider, delivering a wide range of programmes across its education portfolio.
This includes 13 Education and Skills Centres across England, Totton College as its fourteenth skills centre, Prison Education in the West Midlands in partnership with Novus, and six subcontractors delivering 16-18 Study Programme.
The range of programmes include – Study Programme, High Needs and Apprenticeships. It also delivers non-enrolled 14-16 provision by local arrangements with schools and local authorities.
The majority of Nacro’s learners have multiple barriers to learning, with almost half of all learners declaring a learning difficulty or disability on enrolment and above average number of learners eligible to free school meals and entitled to a vulnerable or discretionary bursary.
75% of learners at Nacro have one or more social disadvantage indicators.
Despite these barriers, the majority of learners have high aspirations for what they can achieve once they have started with Nacro, supported by committed, skilled and experienced staff.
| Male | Female |
Involved in the criminal justice system |
Learning Difficulty/Disability (LDD) |
In Care | Care Leaver | Free School Meals (FSM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59% | 41% | 11% | 44% | 4% | 3% | 20% |
Specific on DEC Work Experience: Nine out of 20 learners were entitled to free school meals, two had EHCP, one of which has additional high needs local authority funding. 11 of the 20 learners, if in a school setting, would be classed as Pupil Premium.
What has been the impact of DEC on the school?
Daniel Adams, Lead Teacher Spalding:
“This DEC project has helped us realise that project-based learning can be applied across all study levels and can be used to develop softer skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork and communication. The levels of engagement with such a project are unsurprisingly higher than that of traditional maths and English sessions, and with the combination of such a high-profile employer/business has garnered the attention of learners and tutors alike.”
Chris Stevenson, Civil Engineering Teacher, Newcastle:
“DEC is great for Nacro because learners find out what employers expect. It brings their coursework to life and gives them a better idea of why they need to work hard and complete the course to get to where they want to be.
The net-zero McDonald’s week had everything a young Nacro learner needs to express themselves, industry engagement, research, being creative, hands-on work, environmental issues, problem-solving and sustainability. That’s before they learn about engineering, planning and teamwork.”
Elaine Bentley, Lead Teacher & Construction Teacher, Chatham:
“Students working together on a DEC project which focuses on a diverse range of areas, showcased the wider choice of employability skills within the sector. This is invaluable, as students got the opportunity to have a taster of the wider sector.
The opportunity to meet and hear the skill set journeys of professionals enabled students to consider a wider range of employability opportunities, this was invaluable for our students.
Work experience is key for our students; it outlines the basic requirements for being work-ready – developing wider key skills such as timekeeping, working with others, problem-solving, assessing, self-reflecting, active listening, and communication, to name but a few. It encourages students to consider their options and their next steps.
Our students (who had never worked together before, from different courses and levels), engaged in a diverse range of discussions on sustainability, worked together well as a team, planned the design collectively and listened to their peers’ points of view.
One of our hair students who joined the work experience has now opted to change her path and join our construction level 2 programme next year.”
Simon Ashton, Assistant Principal, Nacro:
“Our Newcastle Centre is a DEC School and had success delivering the DEC qualifications over the past two academic years. Being able to widen the access to DEC and the Work Experience to learners from our other national Centre’s is great.
The Mcdonald’s project was a great success, and we look forward to planning at least one DEC work experience opportunity for the learners nationally during the 22/23 academic year.”
What value does DEC bring to students?
Daniel Adams, Lead Teacher Spalding:
“This work experience challenged learners to develop their communication and problem-solving skills throughout the project, which relates to all areas of employment and further study. It provided the right level of stretch and challenge for all participants.”
Chris Stevenson, Civil Engineering Teacher, Newcastle:
“Collective working, engaging with industry experts and what work-ready really means, hearing other people’s work journey and believing you can be what you want to be.”
Elaine Bentley, Lead Teacher & Construction Teacher, Chatham:
“Receiving hands-on experience, knowing what it’s like to work in that sector, and hearing professionals sharing their story inspires students to realise their own potential.”
And to the teacher?
Daniel Adams, Lead Teacher Spalding:
“It was amazing to see a variety of learners working collaboratively with one another and actively supporting each other so they could all achieve their goals. The ownership learners took over their projects, and the pride they felt in this was incredible. Learners not only enjoyed this, which made for a positive learning environment but also sought out opportunities to learn new skills or develop their current knowledge. This was great to see from a tutor’s perspective.
This was a fantastic opportunity for all our learners to come together and develop their problem-solving and teamwork skills whilst simultaneously embedding a range of maths and English topics.
The project itself contained elements of shape and space, including constructing scale diagrams and measurement conversions, to reading and writing, including online research and the creation of mood boards. All of this was supported by each learner actively listening and responding to one another, ensuring that everyone felt included and had an equal opportunity to make decisions, further developing their speaking and listening skills.
This exciting initiative was a prime example of how to embed and develop maths and English across all levels of ability and all areas of study.”
Elaine Bentley, Lead Teacher & Construction Teacher, Chatham:
“As a teacher, we want to inspire our students to step into the world of work; there is no bigger accolade than when a student gains an Apprenticeship, that first job role – it’s wonderful.
Work experience is so important, we need to prepare our students to be work ready, and what better way than opportunities like the McDonald’s project. Gaining work experience provides a good grounding, preparing our students for work.”
What about the pupils. How has DEC been for them?
Brooke, Chatham:
“I know more about what goes into creating a building, such as foundations and frames.”
Ethan, Chatham:
“Creating drawing plans is much harder than it looks, but I managed to draw mine. I’m usually ok with drawing too!”
Connor, Chatham:
“I know more about materials used to create an environmentally friendly building.”
Caelan, Chatham:
“I’ve gained more knowledge on how to work with the environment than against it.”
Brook and Ethan, Chatham:
“I didn’t realise there were so many different types of eco-friendly materials to make buildings. This work experience has really opened our eyes.”
Alison Ramsey, Social Value and Performance Manager, SCAPE:
“SCAPE was pleased to support the DEC work experience programme for Nacro as we recognise the benefits this engaging programme brings to students.
Team working, problem solving and communication are key skills for any career, and we hope this experience has sparked the students’ interest in construction as a future career option.”
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