Abbey Hill becomes an Enterprise Learning Pathfinder School

From September 2003, we became and Enterprise Learning Pathfinder School as as a result we have been given £30,000 over the next two years by the DfES.

The monies will provide means of embedding our existing Enterprise Learning and establishing a broader range of activities.

At present we have the following Enterprise Learning initiatives:

• Outdoor furniture manufacture - Norton Site.
• Cards for celebrations, badges and business cards - Ketton Road Site (supported by the Inland Revenue)
• Mechanics - refurbishing and mending bicycles.

In the new year we will introduce an "apiary enterprise", where we will keep bees and harvest and sell their honey and their wax.

Our congratulations go to Anita Amos and to Peter Metcalf for their inspirational work on Enterprise and to Pauline Holbrook for her work on putting our successful bid together.

We are one of only two secondary schools to be accorded Enterprise Learning Pathfinder status is Stockton, the other school is Eaglescliffe Comprehensive.

Our students will benefit in a rage of ways:

• Better understanding of how businesses run
• Hands on experience of collaborative working
• Realisation of the demands of production
• Establishment of a work ethic
• Personal growth and self confidence
• Money awareness and management skills
• Negotiating vocabulary and skills in negotiating
• Client care

We hope to add further to our portfolio of activities over the next two years and maintain our advantage by being a leading school in this interesting area of development. I shall keep you informed of all future developments.

Mike Vening (Headteacher)