The Wensleydale School will launch a new offer for post-16 students this week.
Starting from next September, students in the school’s sixth form will be able to access a new curriculum that aims to prepare them to succeed in the business world.
The Leyburn school is creating a new Business and Innovation Centre.
This story continues after the adverts:
Charles Barnett, who will lead the new centre, said: “We want our students to be the innovators of the future.
“To exceed as an entrepreneur or business owner, however, you need more than just a good idea.
“Success is down to how you market a product, manage your finances and develop the structures to ensure you can deliver on your promises.
“Helping our students to develop these skills is what this new offer is all about.”
The course will give students the opportunity to do a range of A-levels and Level 3 qualifications in subjects including business marketing, IT, sociology and a practical maths course looking at issues such as inflation.
Mr Barnett added: “What is really exciting is that not only will our students spend time learning in the classroom but, through our partnership with the Lower Wensleydale Business Network, we will offer each and every one of them an internship and business mentor to help them develop more practical skills.”
David Poole, from the Lower Wensleydale Business Network, said: “Too often we see young people leave our community because of a perceived lack of opportunity.
“The establishment of The Wensleydale Sixth Form Business and Innovation Centre will open up opportunities by give our young people the skills and experience that employers are desperately looking for when they are recruiting.
“In addition, it will enable our talented students to create opportunities by developing their bright ideas into small and medium sized businesses that can thrive here in the Dales.
“For these reasons the Lower Wensleydale Business Network is very supportive of this fantastic new initiative.”
To help launch the programme, The Wensleydale School is holding at Information Evening this Thursday at 6.30pm for people to come and find out more.
Julia Polley, headteacher, said: “I would urge anyone who is interested to pop along to see what this offer entails.
“Over the last few years the school has seen significant progress in so many areas. Our results are up, Ofsted has praised our progress and we are competing against some of the biggest schools in the country.
“It is right that we turned our attention to the Sixth Form to look at how we can best support not just our students, but also our community.
“I have no doubt that The Wensleydale Sixth Form Business and Innovation Centre will play a very important role in the future of this part of the Dales.”
