Student Shellie celebrates study success

Posted: 27/07/2009

A record-breaking Wythenshawe student has been personally congratulated by Education Minister Ed Balls.

Fifteen-year old Shellie Shaw, from Newall Green High School in Wythenshawe, successfully achieved an NVQ Level 1 in Business Administration in record time and was presented with her certificate during a recent visit by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

Last year, Shellie signed up to a one-day-a-week programme in business administration through training provider Intraining. She has learned about working in an office-based environment and developed skills for employment after leaving school.

Shellies work placement was at Intrainings office in Sale, where she fast became a valued member of the team, building up good relationships with colleagues and developing a wide range of workplace skills, such as data input, spreadsheets, filing, operating office equipment and letter-writing.

Her dedication, hard work and commitment meant that Shellie completed her NVQ after only 12 months, when the programme was meant to take two years.

Rt Hon Ed Balls visited the school to officially open the new building. The school received funding as part of the DCSFs Building Schools for Future programme.

After being presented with her certificate, Shellie said: I really enjoyed my training and the work experience. It gave me a better idea of what work is going to be like and I would recommend it to anyone looking to develop their office and business skills.

Shellie is now looking forward to further developing her business skills by commencing a Business Studies programme in September at college.

Shellies assessor at Intraining, Gavin Cherry, said: Shellie has worked extremely hard to gain this qualification in under half the recommended time it normally takes to achieve it. She has proved to be a very capable member of the team and we wish her every success in the future.

As one of the training providers for the school, Intraining works closely with pupils and staff to provide a wide variety of opportunities to learn in the workplace and develop training programmes, including skills taster sessions to give a flavour of working across a range of business environments and roles.

Under the 14-19 Reform, developed by the DCSF, all students are entitled to experience work-related learning between the ages of 14 to 16 at Key Stage 4.

This is planned activity which uses the context of work to develop skills, knowledge and understanding, which will be useful in working life and includes a broad range of activities, from better understanding of the economy, through work-related application of the National Curriculum, to careers education.

The 14-19 Reforms extends links between employers and educators in order to better provide work-related provision for those students who choose it.