Creative awards for 165 inspired AQA students
AQA can proudly announce that Hewlett Packard is supporting its Creative Enterprise Programme, offering up to 50 work experience placements and 100 inspiration day workshops to 16-17-year-old students, next year.
Uniquely, the students will be selected for these awards by HP staff through reviews of their qualification coursework. This new approach, trialled in three schools this year, brings real benefits to students along with the prospect of winning an award from a range of employers offering Progression Awards, including ITV, The Evening Standard and Corporate Edge.
Potential employers can select students based on a review of their coursework, instead of a written application form or CV ensuring a merit-based selection method, based on a broad range of skills. As well as helping students think about possible careers, this approach benefits employers who can tailor work experience programmes and workshops to meet students' needs.
As part of the programme, Hewlett Packard are also offering a 'Project Realisation' Progression Award for up to 15 students who really impress during their work experience week. This will include mentoring and support over a period of time to help students realise their enterprise idea.
Seb Ross, AQA Qualifications Manager, said: "We are delighted with this offer from HP. From the trial it is clear that this approach motivates students at the same time as solving a problem for employers who want to inspire young people through offering work experience, but find CVs and application forms of limited value to make selection decisions. The programme will offer real benefits for young people whatever their backgrounds and confirms this approach as a new way for teachers to help students access opportunity directly through their school work."
To qualify, students should register through their teacher and AQA.
Susan Bowen, Chief of Staff (UKI), HP added: "HP has been really impressed by the simplicity of the Creative Enterprise Programme and can see real potential for it going forward. We have decided to offer Progression Awards from 2014 and are delighted to nominate AQA for a Cabinet Office Opening Doors Outreach award.
"We think the programme offers a sustainable and straightforward way to promote access to opportunity and motivate students from all backgrounds to realise their potential."
Click here for further details on the Creative Enterprise Programme.
