Ribblesdale School has a close relationship with the community in which it is situated. Partnerships within the community have been an important factor in the success of Ribblesdale over the past five years. Through our work as a specialist school for technology and applied learning, we have developed strong links with primary schools, colleges and training providers, as well as many local businesses. These links enhance learning and give relevance to what is taught in the classroom.
Through our Citizenship programme, we offer careers education and guidance to all our pupils. This is supported by strong community involvement in the form of speakers, advisors, mentors and interviewers. In Year 10, all pupils complete a work experience placement to prepare them for adult life, which links closely to their chosen personalised pathway in Key Stage 4 and their aspirations in terms of looking towards a career.
We pride ourselves in giving pupils opportunities to develop skills which are required for the world of work and are always trying to connect the curriculum and it’s delivery, to local businesses and services so that pupils see the relevance of what they are being taught.
Some pupils link with a local employer for one day a week to learn trade skills, these include local businesses Eclipse (Hair) James Alp (Motor Vehicle) Bishops (Electricals) The Northcote Group (Catering) Gazegill Farm at Rimington (Land and the Environment), all of Year 10 are involved in work experience week in June, several pupils attend colleges and training providers for one day a week, and several subjects add active and applied learning to their delivery by involving local employers in the teaching and learning process.
A good current example of a strong link which gives pupils an insight into how a business operates is the work the GCSE BUSINESS STUDIES pupils do with Dunbia (Sawley)
Local firm DUNBIA based at Sawley have teamed up with our GCSE BUSINESS students to form a win win partnership. Our youngsters are given a real behind the scenes “warts and all” insight into the UKs 3rd largest meat retailer. The pupils are given access to all departments, have a tour of how the business operates and managers from within the company come into lessons to add detail which enhances unit course work. For Dunbia it is a case of having a look at potential employees, having the opportunity for their employees to have a look at what goes on in a school in the 21st C and “doing their bit” for the local youngsters by adding value to their coursework. This link really motivates the pupils because they can see relevance to their learning and produced outstanding work. Resulting last year in the highest ever GCSE A* – C results at 83%.
Our Hospitality and Catering students regularly work with The Olive Press, Wellsprings, The Grand, Mytton Fold, Piccolinoes, Northcote Manor and The 3 Fishes. The pupils organise events in those establishments and are steadily gaining a reputation for delivering high quality events in school when the main meals area is transformed into a top quality restaurant. Here the pupils host and produce superb meals under themes such as Burns Supper, Lancashire Night, Italian Night and Medieval Night. The pupils are given first hand experience of a real working area, are on their feet for 12 hrs and come away drained but happy, having successfully achieved their goals.
The above are examples of how, with a little bit of “outside box” thinking, a local business and a pupil can benefit from the school forging a strong business partnership with a local employer.
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