You are here > Home > 2011 Awards > Inspiring Career Opportunity Award
The IHG Inspiring Career Opportunity Award
Winner: Kingsmead School
“Junction 16 – Post 16 Project”
Headteacher: Franky Boyland
Sponsored by IHG
IHG is an international hotel company whose goal is to create Great Hotels Guests Love ™. The group operates seven hotel brands (InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites), has more guest rooms than any other hotel company in the world, and caters for guests making more than 130 million stays in IHG hotels every year.
Director of corporate responsibility Julia Hunter outlined the company’s dedication to local communities and explained why IHG is so enthusiastic about sponsoring the careers education award: “Over the next three years, IHG will be creating over 160,000 new jobs globally, including in the UK. We have launched the IHG Academy, a public/private partnership that provides hospitality job training in our local communities to help people develop skills to access these many career opportunities.
“IHG is proud to sponsor the 2011 Community Education Awards as it is a great opportunity to recognise those that are inspiring our communities and young people across the UK. Education providers play a vital role in preparing young people to transition into careers. We are therefore delighted to be involved in the Inspiring Career Opportunity Award.”
Sharon Tooms (centre) receives The IHG Inspiring Career Opportunity Award from Natalie Guy (Community Initiatives Associates) and Esther Rantzen CBE.
“We spoke to Derby College and other post 16 providers, Connexions and internal bases about their experience of the transition for our students,” explained Franky Boyland.
The initial plan was written in conjunction with the Learning Skills Council. They identified the need to tackle the more complex learners progressing into post 16 education. The retention of these students was poor due to a lack of support, education and finance.
Through activities offered through the programme such as workshops, aspirations were raised and the young people developed clear pathways with regard to their own progression. Out of the 20 pupils who took part in the project, 16 went on to appropriate post 16 training or employment.
Sharon Tooms acted as project leader and her work has been crucial in meeting and exceeding the targets initially set for the scheme. “The work has been recognised across the city as good practice and Sharon is asked to share practice in many forums,” commented Franky.
Students were referred to Sharon for reasons around their complex lives, barriers and difficulties that identified them as struggling to progress to post 16. The support offered, in conjunction with other agencies, has enabled them to not only stick to further education but to attain within that provision.
Franky paid tribute to Sharon’s ongoing work saying: “Sharon has brought a specialised knowledge into school with regard to the post 16 world that was not present before. This is due to her going to post 16 forums, engaging regularly with post 16 providers and seeking support.”
Finalist
Hillcrest School – Rye, East Sussex
Headteacher: Theresa Phillips “Creative Media”
