Business & Enterprise
The Academy's Business and Enterprise specialism underpins both curriculum and non-curriculum based learning, providing an education that will raise students' aspirations and ambitions. Our approach is always to be at the forefront of curriculum development in a purpose built environment and within a culture of achievement.
The Business and Enterprise specialism enables us to offer a broad and balanced, academic and vocational curriculum, whilst also ensuring that students benefit from specialist teaching. Our specialism informs and reinforces all Academy activities inspiring students to embrace new challenges, opportunities and innovations. Students have the opportunity to learn through experience by participating in Academy-based companies and through regular and meaningful links with the local community. They also develop important life skills such as self-confidence, problem solving and team work.
Enterprise Week
Marsh Academy students spent last week taking part in a range of exciting and innovative activities to get them thinking about business and work skills as part of Enterprise Week. Enterprise Week was part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, which aims to help people to discover their enterprising talents and turn their ideas into reality. The week was a great opportunity for students to consolidate their learning from activities carried out all year round as part of the Academy’s Business and Enterprise specialism. Students in all years were involved in activities including Eco-Fashion, a nationwide Education Challenge and “Skills 2 Succeed”, all of which allowed students to apply their learning to practical, enterprise-based activities and see how their school work could be used in the world of business.
On Monday, year 10 students were involved in the “Education Challenge” with their ICT teachers. Students were challenged to create a business plan for the development of a product that could launch on a market stall in one of Britain’s local markets, taking inspiration from companies such as Innocent and Marks and Spencer, which also started on market stalls. The challenge began with students identifying what they considered to be the most important characteristics of an enterprising person and seeing how they compared, before coming up with a range of business ideas. After choosing their favourite business idea, students created a business plan, researched the market for their product, looked at promotion and produced a profit and loss account for the business. The winning idea, which will represent the Marsh Academy in a nationwide competition, was Glowkind Glowing Bike Parts. Luke Dowe, Dean Willis and Jack Sargent, all 15, and Anthony Osborne, 14, came up with the idea to sell glowing bike parts to help to improve safety on the roads at night.
Bright Futures came to the Academy on Wednesday to lead a session for year 8 students on “Skills 2 Succeed”. The programme focuses on reliability, responsibility and respect, all key elements for success in both school and the workplace. Students spent the day working in teams to create makarapas – handmade hats. Students were tasked with designing and creating a hat that incorporated the Fairtrade logo and also promoted an event such as the 2012 Olympics. The activity encouraged students to move out of their comfort zones, solve problems and develop a drive to succeed, leading to the production of dozens of weird and wonderful makarapas!
Year 12 and 13 students got “streetwise” on Thursday in a session led by Jill Tipping. The Streetwise programme was delivered in three sessions looking at interview skills and first impressions, work relationships and negotiating skills, and money management.
A dazzling fashion show rounded off the week, with Year 7 students taking to the stage to show off their “Eco-Fashions”. The day was spent designing and making t-shirts with the theme “Be Seen, Be Green”, as well as coming up with music and a dance routine for the fashion show finale. Students Courtney and Jordan received prizes for their t-shirts, which both showed an impressive use of colour and additional resources, as well as an excellent understanding of the “eco” theme.