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Success stories

Want to see some examples of people, schools and colleges who are putting Edge’s Six Steps to Change to practice in the real world? Browse below to be inspired by these vocational success stories.

Featured
Exciting work on Business and Enterprise taking place at the Bulwell Academy
Exciting work on Business and Enterprise taking place at the Bulwell Academy Read on »
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Schools & Colleges

Business & Enterprise at the Bulwell Academy
Business & Enterprise at the Bulwell Academy The first year is drawing to a close and it is timely to recognise the range and depth of B&E activities across the Academy. Taking a cruise around the Learning Platform (the ‘intranet’ for the school which captures our news, information and diary events as well as learning materials), it is clear to see just how much activity has taken place. Read on »
Award nominations for Bradford school students with a taste for working life
Award nominations for Bradford school students with a taste for working life Two students from Laisterdyke Business & Enterprise College are amongst three who have been selected from over 1,000 nominations for the ‘Young Apprentice of the Year’ award in Yorkshire. Read on »
Rural Studies at Thomas Alleyne’s High School Uttoxeter
Rural Studies at Thomas Alleyne’s High School Uttoxeter The Rural and Environmental Science department at Thomas Alleynes High School is an example of successful practical teaching, using experienced staff to teach students in specialist facilities. Read on »
Health and Social Care Thomas Alleynes High School Uttoxeter
Health and Social Care Thomas Alleynes High School Uttoxeter Students at the school studying for a Double Award A-level in Health and Social Care benefit from specialist teachers and work placement opportunities. Read on »
Construction Design Centre, Sheffield
Construction Design Centre, Sheffield The Construction Design Centre, based on Kier Sheffield’s site, gives young people access to some of the leading names in the city’s construction industry. Read on »
Sheffield Engineering Centre
Sheffield Engineering Centre Students aged 14-16 study for engineering qualifications at Sheffield Engineering Centre, in the middle of the city’s engineering heartland. Read on »
Creative and Media Diploma Sheffield
Creative and Media Diploma Sheffield Sheffield students studying for Diplomas in Creative & Media or IT are taking advantage of cutting edge technology facilities at Red Tape Central. Read on »
Batley Girls’ High School Advanced Apprenticeship Programme
Batley Girls’ High School Advanced Apprenticeship Programme An effective partnership develops an Advanced Apprenticeship scheme with Real World learning and excellent progression routes. Read on »
Performing Arts at Heathfield School Somerset
Performing Arts at Heathfield School Somerset The Somerset Performing Arts Centre for Education (THE SPACE) opens in September 2009, offering world-class complete Theatre Training for 16-19 year olds. Read on »
Gable Hall School Childcare
Gable Hall School Childcare The CACHE Certificate in Childcare and Education proves a fantastic success for students in Thurrock, with learners at Gable impressing employers, parents and their wider communities. Read on »
Gable Hall Hairdressing
Gable Hall Hairdressing Pupils from Gable Hall receive training from experienced professionals and benefit from industry experience as part of their VRQ in Ladies Hairdressing. Read on »
Archbishop Grimshaw Catholic School Practical Learning through ASDAN
Archbishop Grimshaw Catholic School Practical Learning through ASDAN Through the educational charity, ASDAN, students have gained valuable career knowledge, insight into the world of work and opportunities to practice and develop their employability skills. Read on »
Hairdressing Apprenticeships at The Castle School
Hairdressing Apprenticeships at The Castle School Extensive vocational experiences and training have been made available to students at The castle School in Thornbury. Students receive specialist hairdressing training from a local business. Read on »
South Leeds Academy
South Leeds Academy Key Stage 4 vocational opportunities in brick laying, joinery and painting and decorating are offered to students of the Applied Learning Centre at South Leeds Academy. Read on »
Christ the King’s Enterprise Graduate Programme
Christ the King’s Enterprise Graduate Programme Working with Career Academies UK, Christ the King proudly launched its Enterprise Graduate Programme in September 2008, opening door of opportunity and firing the ambitions of the college’s young people. Read on »
Work Skills and the IKEA Challenge
Work Skills and the IKEA Challenge Students at the South Leeds Academy are contributing to their qualifications and learning about production, design and marketing through a practical, employer-run scheme. Read on »
Walsall College
Walsall College Walsall College is “uniquely and proudly vocational”, delivering industry-focused qualifications to individuals, communities and businesses across the Black Country. Read on »
Pendleton College, Performing Arts department (now part of Salford City College)
Pendleton College, Performing Arts department (now part of Salford City College) Pendleton College Performing Arts department followed several industry standard initiatives based on drama school practices to revitalise and enlarge the department. This included all students auditioning to join the department and guests from the profession brought in to teach master classes. Read on »
Future First at William Ellis School
Future First at William Ellis School Future First is a grassroots initiative working to empower young people who are at or have recently studied at a state school. The programme was set up in 2008 to build networks of former students to advise, inform and inspire state school students about their future prospects. Read on »
Vocational Education At Oasis Academy West Winteringham
Vocational Education At Oasis Academy West Winteringham In order to maximise Work Experience, the Oasis Academy, Wintringham, have, for the first time, personalised work experience. Students specific requirements were identified to ensure the placement became more ‘personal to the student’. Read on »
Construction at Oakmead College of Technology
Construction at Oakmead College of Technology Oakmead College of Technology gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in their sector specific area over 2 years, with a commitment to personalised learning programmes. Read on »
BTEC National and First Engineering Christ The King Sixth Form College
BTEC National and First Engineering Christ The King Sixth Form College The Engineering department has seen a massive rise in achievement (higher grades, great retention, and top ALIS and ALPS scores), since the race car project was announced 18 months ago. Read on »
Advanced Modern Apprenticeships Schemes at Dyke House school
Advanced Modern Apprenticeships Schemes at Dyke House school A winner of the Medium-to-Large Business Award at the 2006 Edge Awards, Dyke House school runs an Advanced Modern Apprenticeships scheme, training apprentices in ICT as technicians. Dozens of young people have completed the scheme and, in an area with high unemployment, these apprentices make invaluable role models to the school’s pupils. Read on »
Academies at Walsall College
Academies at Walsall College Walsall College is uniquely and proudly vocational. It offers inspiring courses and state of the art learning facilities through a series of vocational academies. These academies underpin the quality of the vocational learning experience delivered through the College. Read on »
Modern Methods of Construction Initiative at Cambridge Regional College
Modern Methods of Construction Initiative at Cambridge Regional College Winner of the Edge Sponsored AOC Beacon Award For Practical Teaching And Learning. Read on »
Gloucestershire College Media Academy
Gloucestershire College Media Academy The Media Academy at Gloucestershire College forms part of the Creative Academies directorate in Gloucestershire’s largest further education college which has a growing reputation for excellence in the delivery of a vast range of vocational courses. Read on »
Exciting work on IAG taking place at the Bulwell Academy
Exciting work on IAG taking place at the Bulwell Academy Careers, Advice & Guidance at the Bulwell Academy Read on »
Foundation Diploma in Environment and Land-Based Studies at Acle High School, Norfolk
Foundation Diploma in Environment and Land-Based Studies at Acle High School, Norfolk The Easton College Consortium is an unusual collaboration that spans the entire county of Norfolk and delivers the Diploma in Environment and Land-Based Studies. Ideally located on the edge of the Norfolk Broads and within easy reach of a wide variety of habitats and land-use examples, Acle High School is the delivery partner for the East of the County. Read on »
New learning opportunities for primary school children in North Hertfordshire
New learning opportunities for primary school children in North Hertfordshire Society Health and Development (SHD) learners in North Hertfordshire provide new learning opportunities for primary school children as part of their Level 3 Diploma experience. Read on »
A Successful start for Business Admin and Finance Diploma at North Hertfordshire College
A Successful start for Business Admin and Finance Diploma at North Hertfordshire College Summer 2009 saw the Business Studies team at North Hertfordshire College facing the challenge of preparing for the new Business, Administration & Finance Diploma. Read on »
West Cheshire College Vocational Academy of Hospitality and Catering
West Cheshire College Vocational Academy of Hospitality and Catering Winners of the Edge Sponsored AOC Beacon Award for Practical Teaching And Learning. Read on »
Launceston College, Cornwall
Launceston College, Cornwall Launceston College has been working with the Edge Foundation to develop innovative practice in vocational education. Read on »
Working Rite - an enterprise seed fund from Edge and the Young Foundation
Working Rite - an enterprise seed fund from Edge and the Young Foundation Working Rite is a social enterprise based in Edinburgh, specializing in work-based mentoring projects for young people between the ages of 16 and 18. Read on »
Creative Apprenticeships at the Royal Opera House
Creative Apprenticeships at the Royal Opera House The world famous Royal Opera House is committed to a new approach to getting talented young people started in the creative and cultural industries. Read on »
VI-ability: a seed fund vehicle jointly run by Edge and the Young Foundation
VI-ability: a seed fund vehicle jointly run by Edge and the Young Foundation VI-ability is a community-based initiative with a vision of helping every community have a thriving and financially sustainable football club at its heart, providing opportunities for young people to develop their skills and broaden their horizons. Read on »
Space Unlimited – a seed fund vehicle jointly run by Edge and the Young Foundation
Space Unlimited – a seed fund vehicle jointly run by Edge and the Young Foundation What if young people could take the lead and offer business insights that adults miss? Scottish Enterprise brought 600 young people, teachers from 12 secondary schools and numerous companies together in 2003 for an experiment to answer this question. Read on »
Record entry for regional skills competitions from the College of North West London
Record entry for regional skills competitions from the College of North West London Students from the College of North West London’s Faculty of Technology could soon be set for stardom after 17 of them were put forward for regional skills competitions in May – and they could be in with a chance of competing nationally, or even in World Skills in London in 2011. Read on »
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Individuals

Ben Saunders
Ben Saunders One of the world’s youngest polar explorers – also an Edge mentor – says practical learning and mentoring gave him the confidence to succeed Read on »
Alasdair Craig
Alasdair Craig Edge Award-winning diamond setting apprentice on how a practical apprenticeship gave him faith in education and paved the way for university Read on »
Janine Cooper
Janine Cooper How work experience in a dental technology lab inspired one student to make it her career, combining paid work with a part-time BTEC Read on »
Laura Morrow
Laura Morrow An apprenticeship in systems administration was an investment not just for Laura Morrow’s career but for the whole company, as she now plans a future in a managerial role Read on »
Ed Campbell-White
Ed Campbell-White Now a successful tree surgeon, Ed Campbell-White had to start again with practical qualifications after realising an academic degree didn’t get him where he wanted to be Read on »
Tracey Gill
Tracey Gill Practical qualifications in childcare enrich an already successful career in the field, enabling one community worker to go on to help young people learn practically too Read on »
Carly Cook
Carly Cook BTEC performing arts student Carly Cook on why she abandoned A-levels for a more practical course Read on »
Adam Peirson
Adam Peirson Now an award-winning chef, Adam Peirson began with a prestigious apprenticeship at Claridge’s, where he still works Read on »
Lee Blower
Lee Blower Lee Blower’s childhood interest in construction survived scathing treatment at school, flourished during the course of a three-year apprenticeship and has won him international awards and a thriving business Read on »
Chris Brown
Chris Brown Chris Brown on choosing to become an apprentice for Land Rover in Solihull, instead of opting for university. Read on »
Katie Watson
Katie Watson Katie Watson was awarded a Bronze medal at this year’s WorldSkills event in Calgary. Working in a selection of different restaurants, bars, and hotels Katie built an extensive range of knowledge, skills and experience and brought home a medal to prove it. Read on »
Luke Denby
Luke Denby Luke Denby dreams of running his own small landscaping business. He sailed through the squad selection for WorldSkills and received a Medallion for Excellence for his efforts. Read on »
Conrad Kaad
Conrad Kaad How skills champion signed to victory Read on »

How to get involved
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