What is Fest 09?
FEST09 is a two week celebration where schools can engage in activities that will help them to prepare for the changes that lie ahead. It has been organised by the Learning for Life and Work Team at CCEA and it is hoped that all schools will participate as well as many employers and the local communities.
Employers and our own CCEA employees involved in activities such as volunteering days and Health at Work events within the work place.
May 18 -29 will be your chance to get your school involved and lead the way. CCEA may select your school as a best practice example for other schools to learn from their unique book publication that will be distributed to all schools.
Just to get you started...
Try some of the ideas below. Remember they are just suggestions. Why not generate your own and let us know what they are.
Work Placements for Teachers
Ask a local business to provide an opportunity for a teacher to spend time in their place of work? Schools can make stronger links with them and local employers can learn about education and the workforce of tomorrow.
Past Pupil Networking
Invite past pupils back to school to share their experiences of the different stages of transition. For example, invite Year 8 pupils back to their primary school to share experiences and provide advice on the transition. Invite past pupils from university and workplaces back to talk to post primary students preparing to make choices for the future.
Learning for Life and Work Information Session for Parents
Invite parents back to school to inform them of the importance of Learning for Life and Work and how your school is better preparing young people for the world of work. Let them know how Education for Employability will affect what their children learn.
Local Employers Event
Invite people from local businesses to your school, for example, for an informal lunch. Share with them your contribution to Learning for Life and Work. Find out ways in which they can support your school in meeting the objectives of the Revised Curriculum.
Employability Fair
Invite environmental organisations, occupational health organisations and health and safety specialists in to talk about real issues affecting organisations.
Local Entrepreneur visit
Find out who the successful local entrepreneurs are in your area. Invite them to come and talk about their success story and share the advantages and risks of being an entrepreneur.
Organise a Social Enterprise event
Get the pupils involved in organising a social enterprise event and add value to the local community through a non-profit making activity or service of their choice. Raise money for charity or for your own school funds.
Organise a Joint Initiative
Think of events that could be shared between primary and post primary schools. How about a shared Employability lesson? Let the children teach the children!
Learning: It's Yours for Life
Is there something that teachers or pupils have always wanted to learn about but never got around to it? Organise a day where everyone learns something new, such as, jewellery making, yoga, salsa dancing or multi-cultural cooking and tasting event. Use the hidden talents of your teachers and pupils. You'll be surprised at what they can do.
Learning for Life and Work Awards
Present awards to outstanding employers who contribute to your school. Invite the local paper to report on your event.
Employability School Assembly Theme for the Week
Invite visitors from businesses into the school assembly to talk about their work and the journey they made to get to where they are. Ask them to talk about future goals and why not have a question and answer session?
PrimaryWhat do adults do at work? Invite parents to come and share with the children what happens in their world of work Make use of CCEA's "Out of this World" resource or the 'Anything's Possible' Enterprise Storysack |
Post PrimaryDiscuss 'A Job's for life' - A thing of the past? Explore the rights of workers and the ways workers in the developing world are being exploited. Debate: 'Multinational Corporations' Good or not so good? Global Trade: What does it mean to us? |
Remember...
You don't have to run activities for two weeks. Do what is manageable for your school.
If you have any further queries get in touch by emailing Nuala Braniff at nbraniff@ccea.org.uk
Best practice schools will be recognised in a unique book publication produced after the event.
