Real-life management training gets pupils prefect ready
Real-life management training has been undertaken by 18 Year 11 students from Avon Valley School, Rugby to prepare them for their roles as Senior Prefects.
The training took place at the school and was organised and delivered by the Warwickshire Education Business Partnership (Eastern Area).
The programme helps the students to a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a senior prefect within the school and develops their communication skills.
They receive advice and strategies for handling difficult situations and gain a better understanding of how their own body language and speech affects situations. The students use role-play and team building games to help make the point more effectively.
The feedback from the students was positive: “I learned how to be effective and act assertively”; “I found developing inter team communication most useful”; and ”I learned a lot of skills that can be used now and in later life”.
The programme has been run successfully across the region for four years and Elaine Stock, Assistant Head at Avon Valley School, said: “The school finds it a valuable tool for helping students understand the responsibilities that go with their new roles.”
The programme also provides a good framework for improving team working, learning how to manage other people and dealing with difficult or confrontational situations.
Schools use the programme to help them decide whom to appoint as Head Boy and Head Girl because the training identifies the student’s leadership skills and their ability to work under pressure.
Cllr Chris Saint, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, said: “This is a very interesting and useful exercise and communication between the three teams is made quite difficult and they can only use the materials provided so it tests their initiative, determination and problem solving skills. I’m pleased to report that they all managed to complete the task.”
Warwickshire Education Business Partnership works as part of Warwickshire County Council with businesses and schools to help address the constant demand from employers for school leavers to be ‘work ready’.
If you would like further information on the various initiatives organised by the Warwickshire Education Business Partnership, or would like to get involved with an event, please contact the Northern Area Office on 024 7632 5336.