Celebrating Apprentices
This National Apprenticeship Week we are celebrating the apprentices who work at the school and across the Trust. At St Philip’s we currently have two apprentices who work at the school for four days a week and spend one day at college for additional training. Jordan is a customer service apprentice who works with our school maintenance team and Jacob who started his Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship at St Philip’s in January this year.
Principal Ben Walsh is pleased to offer these opportunities to young people, “As a school, we are keen to broaden the opportunities for our young people in terms of careers and employment. Apprenticeships are a great introduction to the workplace as the young people receive training and support whilst they are on the programme.”
Jacob is a former pupil at St Philips and worked at Chessington World of Adventures and Smith & Western hotel and restaurant group. Jacob also expanded his knowledge and skills at Harlequins Hitz Learning Academy which is Premiership Rugby’s Premiership Rugby’s award-winning education and employability programme)
https://www.quins.co.uk/hitz-learning-academy
Jacob asked if he could volunteer at St Philips School to extend his work experience and whilst volunteering he saw a vacancy for a Teaching Assistant apprenticeship advertised on the Trust website.
He applied, did very well at the interview and was offered the apprenticeship role to assist the PE department. His role also includes supporting PSHE, English and maths classes as well as assisting pupils on weekly work experience visits to the local community café.
Roger White, one of the PE teachers who supervises Jacob said, “I am excited to get involved and support Jacob. This is a fantastic opportunity for us, as a school to work with an ex-pupil to get into the sector of employment.”
Jacob is making a great start in his apprenticeship and is keen to further develop his career and learn new skills. Lisa Falconer, Head of professional Development at St. Philips School, said, “I am looking forward to mentoring Jacob and helping him to develop. It is very exciting to have former students returning to St Philip’s as employees and to see them start out on their careers. Jacob and Jordan are great role models for our present students as it shows our students what they could also achieve in the future.”
