1. Q: What is a Professional Development Placement (PDP)?
A: In simple terms, it is when education professionals spend time with businesses or other organisations, as a form of professional development.
2. Q: Who are Professional Development Placements aimed at?
A: Placements are aimed at teachers, teaching assistants and support staff in all schools. They are also suitable for lecturers, instructors and support staff in Further Education, Sixth Form Colleges and Higher Education. In addition, those working in other areas of education can access the programme; these may include Personal Advisers, Education Advisers, Employment Co-ordinators and other educational professionals.
3. Q: Can you describe a typical placement?
A: There is no such thing as a typical placement! They will all vary in their aims, objectives and duration. They are entirely flexible according to the development needs identified by the teacher/education professional and can be arranged at a time that is most convenient for all those involved.
Placements can last anything from half a day to five days, but they can be longer and are sometimes spread over a number of weeks or months. They can be tailored, negotiated programmes for individuals or jointly planned for larger groups spending a day together with a host company.
4. Q: So what is the point of a placement?
A: If pupils are to be prepared appropriately for working life, it is essential that teachers have up-to-date knowledge of the world of work, and are aware of the opportunities the curriculum provides for this preparation. In the light of 14–19 developments, PDP is an essential way to support employer engagement. This is particularly apparent with the new Diplomas where PDP will be a vital way to support the course content and develop essential links for the delivery of these new exciting vocational qualifications.
OFSTED’s framework introduced in September 2005 stipulates that schools/colleges need to improve business links as a part of statutory WRL, CEG and Enterprise learning provision.
Schools can use the PDP service as a tool to improve teacher knowledge of the world of work and therefore support Careers Education & Guidance and WRL. The Scheme is a valuable asset to any institution looking to improve Enterprise Education as part of the Key Stage 4 WRL statutory entitlement. Placements help to create a better understanding and strengthen partnerships between schools/colleges and business/industry. Such collaboration should have mutual benefits for schools/colleges, advisers and also for the host companies.
5. Q: What are the benefits of PDP to individuals and their institutions?
A: If you are a teacher, placements offer you a valuable opportunity to continue your professional development, enhance your understanding of business, help to improve your management skills, update your specialist subject knowledge or create curriculum resource materials modelled on your host company.
For schools/colleges, a placement is a highly flexible, cost-effective form of professional development for your staff. Placements can be used in many different ways to develop the knowledge and skills of your staff so that targets for pupil achievement set out in your School Development Plan can be met.
Links established with local businesses can be strengthened by follow-up activities such as school visits, presentations or even work experience/WRL placements for pupils. Employees from your host organisation may also wish to become involved with your school on a long-term basis as mentors or even governors. Clearly the placement process will support the work of other professionals; for example Connexions Personal Advisers supporting a school’s Careers Education & Guidance provision or Employment Co-ordinators sourcing work placements.
6. Q: What are the benefits to employers?
A: You will be able to encourage a greater understanding in schools about the ‘world of work’ and give teachers an insight into your needs as a business. You will gain valuable information about the world of education and also find out about new qualifications e.g. new 14-19 Diplomas. For many companies it is an ideal way to fulfil their corporate responsibility of supporting education. PDP can give employers the opportunity to contribute to Norfolk school’s provision of Careers Education, Work Related Learning and Enterprise Education.
Building links with local schools will enhance your profile within the local community, and also presents excellent development and training opportunities for your staff. It can assist in breaking down barriers or stereotypes about certain business/industry sectors. Ultimately, the scheme helps to improve partnerships in Norfolk, having an impact on the new generation of employees leaving schools. This is paramount if there is going to be improved retention of a ‘home grown’ labour force.
7. Q: Can you give me some examples of PDPs run during the past year?
A:
• Design Technology events at Racing Technology Norfolk, Hingham. Opportunity for teachers to access cutting edge CAD CAM technology used to design and manufacture the Bentley racing car that won Le Mans 2003 and the fastest ever road car, the Bugatti Veyron.
• Catering and Hospitality events at Sprowston Manor and Delia’s Canary Catering.
• Geography events with the Norfolk Broads.
• Health and Social Care events with Skills Active, Care Ambassadors, Skills for Care.
• Senior Management events with SERCO and the East of England Co-op.
• Science event at the British Antarctic Survey.
• History and RE days based at venues such as Norwich Cathedral and Castle.
• Drama events at theatres such as the Maddermarket and the Playhouse.
• Retail events for Business Studies teachers at John Lewis, Jarrolds and M & S.
• Leisure and Tourism events at Thomas Cook and Center Parcs.
• Special Needs days at centres such as Gressenhall.
• Financial industry event at centres such as Norwich Union.
‘This was a fascinating insight into SERCO and the careers you just don’t think about at a large hospital....This has helped in comparing management skills such as appraisal and proved that parallels with education really do exist...it is good to share good practice. Thank you.’
Management PDP with SERCO at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
8. Q: Can you give me some examples of possible future placements in 2007/2008?
A:
• More management PDP programmes with the NHS, SERCO, John Lewis...
• Geography and Science events with the Norfolk Broads and Anglia Water
• KS 4 Enterprise events with Waitrose and the Royal Mail
• Media events with the Eastern Daily Press, EPIC TV, History of Advertising Trust
• More NHS linked events at the Queen Elizabeth and Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals.
• Engineering and Maths events with RAF Marham, Rolls Royce and Aerospace.
• Science event at the British Antarctic Survey.
• Psychology and Sociology events with the Norwich Courts and Norfolk Mental Health Authority
• Art, Media and DT events with the Sainsbury’s Centre for Visual Arts.
• Drama events at theatres such as the Theatre Royal, Maddermarket, Playhouse and with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
• Further retail sector events with companies such as the Co-op and House of Fraser.
• New programmes linking schools to the Norfolk Museum Archaeology Service.
• New Science events with Adnams Brewery and Sizewell.
• New PE event with Norwich City Football Club.
• Manufacturing events with companies such as Colmans, Robinsons & Britvic.
• More sector skills PDP events supporting the forthcoming new 14-19 Diplomas such as Construction & Built Environment and Creative & Media.
• More Individual Placements: Every institution can also be helped with tailored or bespoke placements for individual teachers/educational professionals. Schools looking towards their non-pupil days can engage whole school staff in PDP to enhance the curriculum. This most recent example of this project was at Sprowston High School in July 2007 where 80 school staff went out on placements tailored to their particular area in the school. Many Norfolk schools have already signed up for similar projects.
These are just a few examples! As new ideas emerge and more businesses offer to host PDPs, events will be organised and schools/colleges will receive flyers about the events. Simply contact the PDP team at Beacon East and we will do all the organising for you. We are always open to new suggestions.
9. Q: How is the Professional Development Placements programme funded?
A: The project is managed/delivered in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire/Peterborough by Beacon East Ltd. It is jointly funded in Norfolk by the LSC and Norfolk Education Business Exchange Ltd. It is jointly funded in Cambridgeshire/Peterborough by the LSC and CEBLO (Cambridgshire Education Business Link Organisation).
10. Q: What should I do if I am interested in applying for a placement or if I would like to offer places for teachers/education professionals at my company?
A: For more information about Professional Development Placements contact Mark Bruhin by phone or e-mail in the first instance.