Marlborough enterprise

Enterprise at school

Specialist status

Throughout the fourth year of our Specialist School programme we have focused on embedding enterprise across the school curriculum. This process ensures students have the opportunity to demonstrate their enterprise capability in a wide variety of different curricular and extra-curricular settings. The enterprise elements offered as part of the school's PHSE and Work Experience programmes have also improved.

Click here to open the Specialist Status Review (pdf format) to read more.

We would welcome contact from anyone interested in learning more about the work being undertaken at the school or, indeed, in becoming more actively involved with the projects we are undertaking. If you are interested please contact:

Sharon Whittaker, Business and Enterprise Coordinator
Email mec.marlborough@marlborough.oxon.sch.uk
Telephone 01993 814744

Business Breakfast Meetings

Breakfast meetings have been running for over three years and were organised to improve communication between the school and the local community. This group is represented by residents, councillors, local business and community groups and meetings provide an opportunity for ideas to be explored, information to be processed and support to be shared. Please contact Sharon Whittaker if interested in participating in our breakfast meetings.

Enterprise events include . . .

Sixth Form Communications Day

An annual event aimed at sixth form media/English/business studies students run by Iain Nicholson, who runs a successful Oxfordshire based PR Agency. Chipping Norton school were invited to join us in this event on 2nd November 2009. The aim is to establish a press team of students who will be able to write press releases relating to school activities which could then be passsed on to the media. A professional photographer explains the importance of a good photo. At the end of the day the best press release is chosen and prizes and certificates awarded.

Year 11 'What's Out There?' - Careers Event

This annual event is for Year 11 students who may leave school at 16 years and is an opportunity for them to find out about their Post 16 choices. The event is open to other schools in the West Oxfordshire Partnership: Burford School, Chipping Norton School, Bartholomew School, Henry Box School and Gosford Hill. Workshops covering careers in Catering, Travel & Tourism, Construction, Engineering, Health & Beauty and Health & Social Care are available, as well as trade stands incorporating businesses, colleges and apprenticeship training providers.

Year 11 Conference - 'Future Steps'

Traditionally the conferences held over the years have set out to provide an alternative educational experience for our young people to help facilitate their personal development. This year's conference focussed on career progression with over 40 speakers talking about their own experiences, covering 20 career areas.

The aims and intended learning outcomes are as follows;

To give our Year 11 students the opportunity to experience a series of stimulating seminars, presentations and discussions which are intended to widen their perceptions of the world of work.
To inform our Year 11 students about career pathways which are open to them at 16+, 18+ and beyond.
To provide our Year 11 students with a stimulus intended to enhance their intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
To facilitate the opportunity for inter-actions to take place between students and adults working in a range of professions.
To reaffirm the importance of being ambitious and having high aspirations with our Year 11 students.
To offer an event, the first of a series of events, which are intended to crystallise future planning.

If you would like further information regarding this event or would like to know how to be involved in such an event, please contact Sharon Whittaker, Business & Enterprise Coordinator, telephone 01993 814744 or Email mec.marlborough@marlborough.oxon.sch.uk.

Previous speakers have included:

Welcome - Ian Rose, Paralympic Champion	Music: Michael Taylor, Hats off StudioGary Creigh, Parklife
Business: Jan Ives, Royal Bank Scotland Sara Mullen, WODC Human Resources Chris Weller, Manager, Yarnton Nurseries	Armed Forces: Jan Scott, Royal Navy Cpl Kelly Read, RAF Duncan Moore, Army
Construction Management: Tom Howdill, Contractor’s Surveyor, Kingerlee Sian Clifford Stuart Savage, Site Manager, Kingerlee Sam Brown, Contracts Manager, Kingerlee Alan Drodge, Quality System Manager, Ridge & Partners	Health Professions: Alison Chapman, Lead Nurse – John Radcliffe Hospital Ella Hughes, Staff Nurse – John Radcliffe Hospital Rob Knightly - Midwife - Oxford Brookes University Paramedic - Oxford Brookes University
Public Services: Tony Whiting, Fire Service Phillip Workman, Police Service	Computer Technology: Jason Bicknell, Yell group Shannon Couch, Yell group
Designers: Jan Lund, Commercial Interior Designer Jill Trellogan, Residential Interior Designer	Research Scientist: Dr John Taylor – Rutherford Laboratories
Computer Graphic Design: Nick Brett, Rebellion Game producers David Langer, Group Spaces Limited - Internet	Engineering: Adam Talbot – Land rover/Jaguar Antony Dyer – Renault F1
Sport Related Careers: Clare Wallace – Sport Development Management Sport Fitness Trainer – Aviators Ali Jones - Physiotherapist - Aviators	Hospitality: Tim O’Neil – Yes Dining Vicky Silverwood – The Bear Hotel Michelle Stephens & Chef – Blenheim Palace
Legal Services: Chris Sperry – Solicitor, Henmans Solicitors Susan Booker – Solicitor, Henmans Solicitors	Media: Cas Lister – BBC Childrens Head of Drama Jonathan Staples, Introdisk Limited
Journalism: Sarah Edwards - Journalist	Criminology: Jeremy Dyer – Scenes of Crime Officer
Performing Arts: Sarah Dodd – Oxford Playhouse Amy Standish – Oxford Improvisers	Health & Social Care: Helen Hannay, Oxfordshire Social Care Manager Ollie Bailey, Child Care Assistant

Interview Skills for Year 11 students - January onwards

For those students who are leaving at the end of the academic year, we are preparing them for job interviews by taking them through the process of applying for a position. They will choose an exemplary job, write their application letter and CV and send it to a business professional who we have contacted prior to this event.

The business professional will then come into school and interview the student at a mutually convenient time. From the application to the interview, the business professional will be able to give feedback on the student's written and personal presentation, giving examples of improvement if necessary.

Invention & Innovation day - Year 8 - February

Science, History & Business departments are holding a day exploring past inventors, innovators, building time machines and making new products from Gecko hair. In addition we have the Oxford Trust running a creative workshop. The day will be introduced by Chris Parkin, Education Officer from the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford.

How Science Works

This event on Wednesday 18th March is for Year 10 triple science students and is being organised by OEBP. The students will attend five workshops being held in the MEC. The facilitators for the event will be highlighting how Science is integrated into their worklaces which should prove to be a series of interesting and informative sessions. Speakers include:

Paul Newman from University of Oxford Department of Engineering Science talking about Robotics
Mohammed Harif from BP
Ralph Ball from ABSL space products
Alan Garrett from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue
Deborah Clayton from BBSRC talking about animal health

Year 7 Construction Event

Knex construction event The construction event is led by sixth formers and aims to develop pupils' enterprising skills, such as thinking and problem solving skills. In teams of two they will be asked to build bridges using Knex, which they must build to certain specifications. Judges will select the best bridge from each form group.