Lilian Baylis Technology School

The “Apprentice”-style programme, called ‘In The City Challenge’, offered young people the chance to learn in the workplace. The project was designed to raise students’ aspirations whilst teaching them new and relevant skills.

Over seven weeks, different groups of 25-30 students spent a week in an office in Holborn.

The scheme was modelled on Swedish inner-city “Kunskapsskolan” schools, which are based in office blocks. In this office environment, student learning is stimulated by a mixture of independent study, teamwork and formal lessons. Students from Lilian Baylis Technology School, in the London Borough of Lambeth, ranged in age from 11 – 15 years and included marginalised and disaffected young people as well as students identified as gifted and talented.

Each Monday the participating company set the students a business challenge, such as how to protect personal identity on the internet or how to engage more young people in politics. For the next four days the students researched the challenge, assisted by EiA coaches.

At the end of the week the students presented their solutions to senior managers from the company. The companies involved included;

• EDF Energy
• RM Plc
• Place Group
• Garlik
• PublicTechnology.net

The project attracted the attention of “Apprentice” winner Tim Campbell who visited the students in their Holborn office and was impressed by their ideas. Some of the young people’s ideas have been adopted by the companies. The students developed self-belief, and skills in presentation, team working and problem solving.