Core

Last year BELS reported that through its partners over 13,000 young people were engaged in EBL activities.

Innovative Work Related Learning (IWrL)

Strategic Brokerage

Following widespread consultation with partners, BELS has developed a strategy for allocating funding in this area based upon each partner:

Developing an annual strategic plan to support the strategic brokerage role as set out in the EBP Review;
Making contact with all state funded schools and colleges in the borough;
Developing action plans with schools and colleges that lead to quality improvements;
Identifying and engaging a minimum of five employers consistent with the priorities of schools to improve the delivery of its curriculum.

Professional Development Placements

BELS offers training and support to teachers, lecturers and others in South London who are teaching and planning Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 activity. BELS anticipates that the lower number of expected placements combined with higher unit funding will result in better focused, higher quality and, importantly, tailored service 1-3 day placements for future Diploma teachers and lecturers and teachers of other vocational courses in the first five lines of learning.

BELS believes that this approach will meet the needs of South London teachers and departments including new requirements for Continuing Professional Development and strengthen their capacity to delivering the new curricula requirements arising from the new diplomas by facilitating the development and publication of new curriculum materials as well as establishing a strong foundation for the development of mentoring/coaching links between teachers and employers.

In the year to July 2007 BELS delivered 314 professional development placements (PDPs) for teachers to experience more about current best practice in their subject areas.

Work Experience

All students are given the opportunity to experience the world of work. BELS provides quality work experience to thousands of Key Stage 4 students every year. Work experience contributes to the development of key skills, encourages maturity and self reliance and supports pupils learning into adult life. Hosting a work experience student will not only make a difference to their future, it will also benefit your business by:

Influencing the quality of young people entering employment
Creatinglinks for future recruitment
Raising your profile within the local community
Assist the personal development of staff within your company

In the year to July 2007 BELS supported over 14,000 young people from years 10 and 11, 14 – 16 year olds working towards Key Stage 4, into quality work experience placements for periods of one to two weeks.