ict in schools

[Rooftop]

There was previously a thread knocking around about the teaching of IT in schools. I had my faith partially required yesterday when I met our next work experience lad.

Bless the little ginger geek, he looked terrified coming in to our place worth my ugly crew staring at him. I had forgotten how Young 15 year old kids look.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised when he whipped out a USB stick & asked if I wanted to asses code samples. Really really basic stuff of course, but we had well structured html, CSS (the neat commenting of which put my deva to shame) and he had been tinkering with Javascript.

Considering that he is the first sub 18 old we've met who had even used 'view source' I'm fairly happy with that. His school had been following some IBM sponsored program, which seems to be streets ahead of what we've seen in the past.

Bodes well. We've got a meeting next week about sponsoring 18-24 yr old apprentices on a longer term basis. Fingers crossed... Although I can't help but think there should be laws to stop us corrupting youngsters.

[thesaintv12]

What have you got him doing, and what kind of deal did you make.  I ask because I want to go down that route too.

[Rooftop]

The work experience thing is just 2 Weeks in the workplace. We do it mostly because it is something I was so grateful for at that age. On paper there is bugger all in it for us other than disruption. That said, one of our work experience lads did come back & work for us for 4 years.

The apprenticeship thing is longer term and potentially more useful. Some of the details I won't know until next week. Basically though they work 4 days and go to college for 1. We have to pay them some really tiny minimum rate - I think out starts at under £3/hour. We probably have to get involved on assessments at some point.

The apprentices are between 16 and 24 yrs old. The apprenticeship lasts 2-3 years. There is an incentive from the govt of £1500 to the employer if apprentice status the term.

Pretty much all I know at the moment

[thesaintv12]

It is the apprenticeship side I am interested in.  For the same reason I guess.  I did an apprenticeship at Rover and while I didn't stay in the trade, I am still involved in the industry and would probably never have got a start if it wasn't for that. 

For the future I want to build the business on the full mix of experience.  As I see it, it is good for the country..... and my soul.

I think that if you can find the right people at an early age, and you 'want' to teach them, then they will contribute in many ways.

[Rooftop]

From memory the apprenticeship meeting is Wednesday. Happy to share what I find out.

[Rooftop]

Update regarding apprenticeships:

• They mostly seem to be run in partnership with colleges/training companies. If you contact the main apprenticeship website they get a local provider to contact you back.
• The training provider advertises the position, puts it on the national apprenticeship website (no, no link!), does initial screening for applicants.
  
• You then get a short list to interview
  
• The apprenticeship lasts 1 yr. You have no commitment beyond usual terms of employment
  
• Worth nothing that legally you are employing them
  
• You have to give them a minimum of 30 hours work
  
• There is a minimum rate of £2.60 per hour. You can pay more (we are)
  
• 1 day a month an assessor visits them to go through what they are doing / learning and to help document their progress
  
• 1 day a month they do off-site training with the training company
  
• At the end they get a qualification - level 2 apprenticeship is equivalent to an armful of GCSEs, Level 3 is equivalent to a handful of A levels
  
  

We're going for it. If it works out well we might take on a second one further down the line. Position currently being advertised.  No idea how it will pan out, but it makes sense for the company and fits with my own views of creating opportunities for young people.  If anyone wants more info let me know.

[Rooftop]

Just one more thing relating to this... got a PR5 link on the PR6 apprenticeship website for doing it as well. Nice bonus