New Enterprise and Entrepreneurship course available at Pocklington School Sixth Form

From September 2021 students interested in setting up their own business can study a BTEC Level 3 in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Pocklington School, as part of an expanding portfolio of options for Sixth Form students.

The course is a blend of class work and an enterprise project, which will give students hands on experience of setting up and running a micro business. In class, students will cover topics including ‘developing a marketing campaign’ and ‘business and personal finance’, and develop an in-depth, practical understanding of what is involved in starting a business plus how to foster innovation in a corporate setting.

The qualification is equivalent in size to one A Level and develops transferable skills such as problem solving and critical thinking, creativity, use of technology and systems, presentation techniques, interpersonal skills and the ability to carry out methodical research.

The micro business the students will be assigned to set up in their first year will be an ‘apple juicing’ company, using apples from a newly planted orchard. The students will create the company from scratch, from sourcing suppliers and equipment, negotiating prices and planning production to obtaining the necessary health and safety documentation, designing packaging, creating marketing plans, implementing sales strategies and organising deliveries. After the first year, the company will be handed over to the next cohort of students who will be responsible for taking the company forward.

Robin Crewes, Business and Economics teacher, Pocklington School, will lead the course and has already had significant interest in it. Before becoming a teacher in 2009, Robin worked in both the financial services and leisure industries including as Visitor Services Manager at a leading tourist attraction and as a specialist adviser for two leading high street banks.

Robin said: “We are very excited to launch this course, which will give our students a fantastic mix of studying the characteristics and mindset of successful entrepreneurs and putting the theory into practice by setting up and running their own company. ‘Learning by doing’ is a highly effective way to embed the skills needed to be enterprising and entrepreneurial and will give students valuable experience. Communication, teamwork, negotiation, decision making, resource acquisition and opportunity evaluation – these are all skills which are invaluable, no matter what you do in your life.”

In addition to the new Enterprise and Entrepreneurship course, Pocklington School Sixth Form offers 25 A levels, including Economics and Business Studies, plus BTEC Level 3 courses in IT and Sport. There is also the opportunity to undertake an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) on a topic your choice, and recent subject areas have included the use of psychology to predict stock prices, the decline of the high street and common traits found in successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.

Tim Morris, Head of Sixth Form at Pocklington School, is keen to encourage students from across the region to consider applying to the School’s Sixth Form as they consider their Post 16 options. Up to 100% fee assistance is available to applicants who have the spirit and drive to make the most of the many opportunities the School offers but would otherwise not be able to afford to attend.

Mr Morris said: “There are so many opportunities available to our Sixth Form students and the new course is a great addition to the depth and breadth of what we offer.

“Our students have a truly extraordinary experience with small class sizes, specialist teachers for every subject, expert in-house careers advice and access to a thriving Careers and Business Network. We are an incredibly friendly and welcoming community and I would urge all students looking at post 16 options to consider applying here, especially as there is fee assistance available if required.”

The facilities the students enjoy include a dedicated Sixth Form centre with a café, plenty of places for independent study, extensive sports facilities, a theatre, a music school, a swimming pool and much more. The School has an extensive sport and co-curricular programme and from September 2021 will move to a Monday to Friday academic week.

2020 leavers from the School’s Sixth Form went on to study subjects as diverse as banking and finance, psychology, civil engineering, marketing management, law, sports journalism, modern languages and cultures, social anthropology, music, computer science, medicine and arts foundation courses. Others joined school leaver apprenticeship schemes or went directly into employment or the armed forces.

To find out more about joining Pocklington School Sixth Form and the fee assistance available contact Fiona Lambert on 01759 321200 or visit https://www.pocklingtonschool.com/sixth-form/sixth-form-welcome