Studio Schools™ are a new initiative from the Young Foundation that has been developed to better prepare young people for the world of work. A number of schools are being developed across the country with the close involvement of teachers, local authorities and young people, and an early field trial began this autumn. Studio Schools will combine work experience running real businesses and learning through cross-disciplinary ‘enterprise projects’ with a particular focus on enterprising behaviour. Their ethos will aim to excite and motivate the many young people who are currently disengaged from learning. There will be a strong emphasis on social, non-cognitive skills - team work, communication and resilience - as well as entrepreneurialism, which are the key attributes which employers say they want, but aren't finding amongst today's school-leavers. We believe that Studio Schools will provide a much more effective way to engage young people in learning and prepare them for the world of work - and we're building up a community of committed partners to take the initiative forward, including national and local government, business and social enterprise, as well as philanthropists and educationalists, who share our belief that we can't afford to see another generation leave school unprepared for the jobs of the future.
What’s the need?
Studio Schools™ aims to address the challenge of disengagement of many young people from the traditional structures of schooling and the dilemma of missing skills in the work-force that are more non-cognitive (attitudes, approaches, soft skills) than basic academic skills. We need a more practically oriented education route attractive to both talented and troubled students who do not thrive in mainstream schools. Our target students are those from across the ability and motivational spectrum who would thrive more in a practical learning environment. They may currently be coping well in a more mainstream school, be at risk of exclusion or dropping out, or on an alternative curriculum. The core target group for Studio Schools is not children not in education employment or training (NEETs) or those with challenging emotional and behavioral difficulties, although like all schools a Studio School will be able to incorporate its fair share.
What’s the idea?
The idea of a studio school hangs on the central feature of a series of operating businesses run by the students themselves. As small schools closely linked to particular industries, participant numbers would be capped at 300 14–19 year olds per school. The schools will look and feel like a cluster of businesses, and the young people will be as much workers as students. The staff would comprise a mix of teachers and non-teachers with business expertise. In addition to working in and running the businesses, the students will participate in enterprise projects either consulting to local businesses or starting up their own ventures.
The aim is to provide general employability and entrepreneurship skills, rather than a narrow focus on sector specific skills. In addition, the schools will teach the National Curriculum through a combination of the enterprise projects and tutorials – offering students a broad option of progression routes, including onto Higher Education.
How is this innovative?
Studio Schools™ start from the business and make the minimum possible changes so as to create a rich learning environment for the students: commercially viable businesses, commercial premises, competency based curriculum, professional business staff as well as teachers, year round working with annual leave booked with managers, payment for students 16 and over, and much more.
Where have we got to?
The Studio Schools concept has been developed by the Young Foundation. We have been working with teachers, young people and other experts and with local partners including Barnfield College and Academies, Barnsley, Blackpool, Kirklees, Newham Council and College, Oldham, Sheffield, and South Tyneside to explore the potential for a Studio School in their area. We have also received support to date from the Department for Children Schools and Families, the Innovation Unit, Edge Foundation, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Learning and Skills Council, Charles Dunstone Charitable Trust, Norfolk Trust and other stakeholders.
