learning in schools

The Foundation provides a range of specially developed Schools Workshops and Learning Modules in which our employees will share their experience and entrepreneurial skills to help pupils and students make the best start possible to their working lives.

Crimson Foundation Modules

1 Preparing for your first job

(a) Guide to writing a CV and completing an application form

(i) Tutorial format - this is a 45-minute classroom-based, interactive tutorial, which introduces guidelines on writing a CV, completing an application form and preparing for an interview through a team quiz. There is a comprehensive supporting booklet distributed at the end of the seminar to support the learning. This is a large topic area to get through in the time, so this module can be split on request, or if key areas need to be focused on.

(ii) Presentation format - this session includes the same content as the tutorial, but in presentation format with multiple presenters. There is an opportunity for questions and answers and informal discussions afterwards. This allows the information to be spread to larger groups.

(b) Mock interviews

Conducted either at school or at our premises, a mock interview is carried out based on a fictitious job description provided to the pupils in advance. Full feedback is given to each pupil on how they fared.

2 Business Advice

Various topics based on our own experience including, but not limited to:

(i) Business Studies

(ii) Marketing

(iii) Human Resources

(iv) Recruitment

(v) Sales cycle

(vi) Finance

(vii) IT

3 Entrepreneurial Skills

Various topics based on our own experience including, but not limited to:

(i) How to set up your own company

(ii) Cashflow and managing risk

(iii) How to sell a company

(iv) Value over price

4 Starfish Programme

Who Benefits From Starfish?

There is a whole section of our young people who appear destined to underachieve at school - many descending into a hopeless life of unemployment, drugs and crime.

They are not academically well suited, some have learning or behavioural difficulties and most would have left school years before if they could have.

They seek the respect that we all need not from achievement but from ways that are very often socially damaging and sometimes illegal; anything to alleviate the hopeless and undervalued position they find themselves in.

Starfish is best suited for these children who now find themselves about to leave school and would benefit from somebody other than a teacher discussing an approach to make their way in the world without qualifications.

What is Starfish?

The Starfish Programme is a completely free service aimed at these very children. The Programme is made up of 6 one-hour sessions delivered in a setting that the children feel most comfortable in. Each session aims to promote one of the following six key messages: -

•  Exams only matter if you are good at them.

•  Do not be afraid to dream.

•  It's OK to fail; it's how we learn.

•  Just make a start, it's not hard.

•  Attitude counts more than ability.

•  Take control of your life because you can.

Starfish is delivered by somebody who has a similar background to the children, but has managed to triumph over their difficulties to build a successful life for themselves.

The sessions are run in a relaxed style using a number of activities and props designed to draw in the young people and gain their trust.

This programme really does make a difference.

How do you get Starfish in your school?

Simple. Just email your request to emma.wathen@crimsonfoundation.co.uk and we will do our best to schedule and deliver the Flair Kickstart Programme at your school.

For more details visit www.starfish.org.uk