PICTURES : CHRIS BOOTH
A great team - Discovery Special Academy students are encouraged to learn new skills towards their future careers . Pictured , from left , are : Aqsa , Mohamad , Lillie-May , Charlie ,
Amber and Simrah .
DISCOVERING TEAMWORK
FROM CLASSROOM TO CAREERS AT DISCOVERY SPECIAL ACADEMY
Learning to be part of a team can be a crucial skill for your career – and for life !
And great teamwork is just what students from the Discovery Special Academy in Middlesbrough showed to win a special award .
Students took part in a careers and enterprise week project , organised by Tees Valley Combined Authority .
And by working together to design a wind turbine , they blew everyone away to win the Most Impressive Teamwork trophy !
Teamwork is just one of the many life skills taught at Discovery through a Tees Valley Education ( TVED ) programme called Classroom to Careers .
The Discovery curriculum focuses on developing employability skills such as communication , teamwork , problem-solving , creativity and time management .
Learning these skills early prepares you for future jobs – whether paid or voluntary .
Discovery also offers workshops and projects to practise these skills .
For example , you might work on group projects or present ideas to your class . These experiences help build confidence and real-world abilities .
But just as important as employability skills are life skills , because they help young people live independently and manage daily tasks .
Examples include cooking , budgeting , and self-care . At Discovery many activities teach these life skills , starting at nursery and moving through to 16 .
Learning these skills can make you feel more confident and prepared for adulthood .
Voluntary and enterprise opportunities allow you to gain valuable experience , helping you learn new skills and meet new people – and Discovery works with local organisations to offer these .
And supported internships are another route to employment . By providing real work experience in a supportive environment , internships help you understand responsibility and workplace expectations . They also help you build a network of professional contacts for the future .
Discovery has offered internships and hopes to offer more in the future .
Sustainability is an important part of modern life . It means living in a way that protects the planet – and Discovery teaches about it through projects and activities such as recycling programmes and gardening projects .
Understanding sustainability can open up new voluntary and paid career paths . Green jobs , like recycling management or sustainable farming , are becoming more popular .
Businesses are looking for people who care about the environment , so learning how to work sustainably makes you more attractive to employers .
Executive headteacher Jennifer Duncan said : “ At Discovery , we ensure that everyone can access employability and life skills opportunities .
“ Whether through volunteering , paid work or learning about sustainability , these opportunities help you grow . Embrace them to build a bright and sustainable future .”
Accolade – Mohamad with Discovery Special Academy ’ s ‘ Teamwork ’ trophy .
Find out more at discoveryspecialacademy . org . uk 37