Member Article

Back to old school for new Excelsior apprenctices

Apprentices are taking their first steps into the world of work in familiar surroundings – employed at their old school.

The former Excelsior Academy sixth form pupils are now working as sports coaches, curriculum support workers, business administrators, kitchen assistants and as marketing and communications assistants at the Newcastle school.

The pupils are employed as salaried apprentices alongside the staff who were teaching them just four months ago.

Excelsior prepares its pupils for life after education through its specialism in business enterprise. The apprenticeships are part of the academy’s package of support to help youngsters pursue their careers of choice.

Seven youngsters are starting out on year-long apprenticeships while another four have been kept on as apprentices for a further 12 months as they proved such a success in their roles at Excelsior last year.

Apprentice kitchen assistant 19-year-old Mark McCoy impressed the school catering team so much with his skills and attitude that he has been awarded a full-time one-year contract at Excelsior.

Talented footballer Dennis Adusei, 19, who had trials with Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers, is revelling in his new role as a sports apprentice.

“I’m working to help pupils get used to the game and understand the rules of football - we’re going to play a game against a school in Berwick which is great,” said Dennis.

“It’s a great opportunity for me. When I left Excelsior I didn’t really have much idea what to do, but I jumped at this chance when I heard about it.”

Jessica Rogers,18, is settling into her role as a curriculum assistant at Atkinson Road Primary Academy in Newcastle, like Excelsior, one of the schools that comprise the Laidlaw Schools Trust.

“I absolutely love it, I was over the moon when I found out I got the apprenticeship,” she said.

“I want to become a primary school teacher and I’m hoping this will give me the experience I need to become one.

“I’ve got my own little role at Atkinson Road where I read with the children every afternoon, getting them to read to me to take them to a higher level.”

Kate Elliott, 18, is working as a business marketing and communications assistant at the Laidlaw Schools Trust’s Thomas Walling Primary Academy in Newcastle.

“I had an interview with the headteacher, business manager and an Excelsior teacher to get the apprenticeship,” she said.

“It was nerve wracking and I must have said ‘thank you’ about 20 times when they said I’d got the apprenticeship.”

The full list of Excelsior apprentices is: Mahima Qureshi, Kate Elliott, Jessica Rogers, Dennis Adusei, Jamie Sanderson, Connor Taylor, Mark McCoy, Emily Miller, Georgia Hendry, Lauren Scope, Victoria Kerr and Josh Lake.

Phil Marshall, Executive Principal at Excelsior Academy, said: “It’s an important part of our offer as an academy specialising in business enterprise that we continue to help our young people after they leave us, to help them take the next step into employment.

“The apprenticeships are giving young people real experience of work and enhance the professional and social skills they will need to be a model employee and supportive colleague.”

Excelsior Academy has nurtured partnerships with local businesses and universities to offer its pupils the very best opportunities when they head out into the world of work following exam success.

Excelsior sponsor Lord Laidlaw helps fund bursary places for selected Excelsior students at university and offers the opportunity for one Excelsior boy and one girl to pursue their sixth form education at top Edinburgh public schools every year.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gordon Arnott .