Council workshop aims to open up opportunities for local school students

It’s a local project being delivered under the council’s flagship ‘Opportunity Bucks’ programme, which aims to ensure that all Buckinghamshire residents have opportunities to succeed and flourish. Opportunity Bucks has identified ten wards in the county where outcomes for residents around education, jobs, quality of life and health are not as favourable as in other areas, so is focussing efforts and key projects in these localities to address this.

This week’s event was a part of the Opportunity Bucks programme, and sits alongside other schemes such as Multiply, a new government-funded programme to help adults (19 years+) who do not already have a maths GCSE at grade C (or equivalent) improve their numeracy skills. Last month, Buckinghamshire Adult Learning took their Multiply Bus on the road through the ten ward areas to spread awareness of the free courses available to help people improve their numeracy skills.

The Mandeville School’s catchment area includes some of the wards targeted for extra support under the Opportunity Bucks programme.

Following a successful visit on 7 February to deliver CV writing workshops, Buckinghamshire Council collaborated again with the school on 14 March to deliver a ‘mock interviews’ event. This was a fantastic opportunity for Year 11 students to gain valuable experience and confidence in interviewing – which will help prepare them for future education and career opportunities.

Twenty-three volunteers conducted short 1:1 mock interviews with 120 students. The event was arranged in response to a request from the school to help their students improve the connections and pathways between the classroom and career.

Two of the students from The Mandeville School had this to say after their mock interviews:

• Zoe, Year 11 student: “I was really nervous about the mock interview at first but talking through the process, practising answers and hearing the feedback has definitely put me at ease.”
• Ellie, Year 11 student: “It was good practice for the future and will help me prepare for what to expect in an interview.”

Speaking after the event, Anita Cranmer, Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services, said:

“The event was a resounding success, providing the 16-year-old students with a unique opportunity to practice and perfect their interviewing skills. The students were engaged and enthusiastic, and we hope that this experience will give them the confidence they need to succeed in their chosen careers.

“I’d also like to say a big thank you to The Mandeville School and Study Higher for their help in making this event possible.

“We’re committed to supporting young people in the community and promoting the opportunities available to them. I hope that this positive and well-received event will be the first of many similar ones to come across the county.”

Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, added:

“I’m very pleased to hear about the success of this event. These types of projects are central to our Opportunity Bucks programme, which is designed to improve outcomes for residents in the county who are experiencing hardship.

“Over the next few months, we will roll out more projects through Opportunity Bucks, as it essential we find ways of making sure as many people as possible, regardless of situation, location or background, can make the most of what Buckinghamshire has to offer.”

If you have any questions or would like more information, please visit the council's Schools and Learning and Opportunity Bucks webpages.