SPoCs and FECs highlighted where links had been made with other schools , local employers , large national employers , third sector businesses and local charities who all have an interest in improving progression of young people to higher education . These partnerships were seen as an important aspect of NCOP and SUN funding and events engagements enabling learners , and professionals , to see local and national pathways of education and career progression .
“ We haven ' t had a careers fair in school for over 15 years and that has been a real success and the impact for that which I ’ ve been picking up on in the careers appointments have been really beneficial for students to be able to understand about opportunities available to them not just in terms of where they can go for college but because we had higher education providers apprenticeship providers and employers it was really motivating for those students to be able to see all the people in one place same with get inspired as well .” SPoC Southampton School
“ Without this initiative we wouldn ' t have done some of the things we ' ve done . We certainly wouldn ' t have done the Commando Joe project which has been a real significant success . So much so that other things have developed off the back of it which will be even more significant for our children .” SPoC Portsmouth School
Challenges of NCOP phase 1 The challenges of Phase 1 have been split into three key areas :
1 . Communication 2 . Time 3 . Ethics and practicalities of specific targeting
Each section has been divided below with relevant evidence drawn from across both primary and secondary sources .
Communication
SPoCs and FECs all highlighted the various issues with regards to communication of NCOP and SUN interventions . This theme can be split into three smaller sections each with more specific challenges highlighted across interviews and surveys :
a ) Planning for successful interventions b ) School and FEC staff and governing bodies c ) Sharing of ‘ what works ’ across the region
Planning for successful interventions
SPoCs and FEC staff stated that often events were advertised with too short notice for them to effectively communicate and arrange participation . A number of respondents suggested that SUN should communicate an academic year ’ s worth of activities in the summer term for the following academic year .
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