North East Skills

North East Skills Training working in partnership with Gosforth Schools’ Trust

Everyone knows the importance of the school curriculum and here at Gosforth Schools’ Trust we are looking at innovative ways to ensure we fully engage all our pupils when they are in school.

Recently some of our schools have been working with Andrew Vince the owner of North East Skills Training.  As an ex-soldier Andrew knows only too well the benefit of team work, playing to the rules and overcoming life’s challenges in a positive way.  Since leaving Her Majesty’s Armed Forces after ten years’ service Andrew thought about what he wanted to do with his life.  After several jobs mostly working with difficult students he decided to set up his training company with the objective of providing innovative programmes of learning to students of all ages who would benefit from life skills and coaching, delivered by a male role model who has served their country.

One of North East Skills Training programmes is a 36-week programme that has three main elements to it which are Navigation, First Aid and Sports Leadership. The NEST Life Skills Course follows the National Navigation Award Scheme syllabus where pupils discover the skills required to eventually navigate an orienteering course. The British Heart Foundation’s Heart Start and Artie Beat syllabus which is specifically intended to train the pupils in the fundamentals of emergency first aid. These two elements are also complemented by the Sports Leaders UK Play Maker Award which has been designed specifically for younger pupils as an introduction to leadership, teaching and the organisation and delivery of sporting activities. 

Commenting on the work he’s done with the schools Andrew said “I have been asked on several occasions what makes you different from other providers and my response has always been, I can tell a story to support every one of the skills I teach.  I have performed many under very difficult circumstances in all environments which not only support the learning but sell the importance of the skills to the learners.     

Julie Robson, Head Teacher Archbishop Runcie First School said  "The children have benefited greatly from Andrew's sessions with them.  They have grown in confidence and developed a greater sense of responsibility.  His sessions are immensely popular with both children and their parents"  

Recently a number of our trust schools have been working with Andrew Vince who runs North East Skills Training you can find out more about NEST and its work below:

Background

It is NEST’s intention to provide innovative programmes of learning to pupils and students who would benefit from life skills, delivered by a male role model who has served their country (Army), within Key Stage 2 and above. Students have the opportunity to achieve a nationally recognised award every term if they chose which can impact upon attendance, self-esteem and confidence.  These learning opportunities also support attainment within the standard curriculum. 

Through the integration of coaching techniques into the teaching some of the less confident students are fully supported throughout the programme; this also helps other students achieve more.  If I could summarise what I am trying to achieve it would be "the provision of life skills provided by a male role model who has served their country".  

One of the NEST provisions is a 36-week programme called “Life Skills” which can be delivered across the three terms of the academic year or developed into a bespoke programme for individual schools to help meet the needs of their pupils. Some schools use this as an alternative to augmenting existing after school provision or to cover PPE time.

The Life Skills Programme

There are three main elements to the programme which are:

National Navigation Award Scheme (Young Navigator Bronze Star, minimum)

This award starts in the classroom with map concept, symbols, scales and orientation, with the students drawing their own maps before using them to navigate with.  This award culminates with the students navigating on a local or purpose built orienteering course within the school grounds.

British Heart Foundation Heart Start or Artie Beat Award

A programme set by the British Heart Foundation specifically intended to train the students in the fundamentals of basic lifesaving and emergency first aid.  To achieve this award students have to demonstrate full CPR, actions on bleeding, suspected heart attack, choking and placing a casualty in the recovery position.   

Sports Leaders UK Play Maker Award

This award is designed specifically for younger students as an introduction to leadership and the organisation and delivery of sporting activities.  This is an award that uses sport as a platform for learning and all aspects of the award are transferable to other leadership and teaching/coaching roles.   Students will learn what to consider, and how to plan sports sessions culminating in students running their own sessions for their peers.

Praise for the Programme

North East Skills Training has been delivering this programme throughout the region for a number of months now. We continue to see amazing results and receive excellent feedback from head teachers who identified a challenge within a specific area of their school and utilised one of our programmes to help them to address it. Please see below an example of the comments we’ve received to date:

"The staff at North East Skills Training were excellent, equipping our Y5 students with life skills and bespoke experiences they will never forget" 

Stephanie Lindley, Head Teacher Seaton Sluice Middle School

"Andrew has been based at St Aloysius for many years and we have an excellent relationship with him, the quality of his sessions are second to none.  Over many years our children have formed superb relationships with him and they look forward to the quality of the curriculum.  I recommend Andrew and North East Skills Training to you without reservation, Andrew is a highly valued member of our community" 

Nic Conway, Head Teacher St Aloysius Schools

"The children have benefited greatly from Andrew's sessions with them.  They have grown in confidence and developed a greater sense of responsibility.  His sessions are immensely popular with both children and their parents"  

Julie Robson, Head Teacher Archbishop Runcie First School.   

"The whole day was a huge success and Andrew grasped the attention of all the children immediately. The children thoroughly enjoyed searching for the letters and then cracking the final code. It was brilliant seeing the children working in teams and listening, communicating and collaborating with one another"

Caroline Appleby Assistant Head Brunton First School

"I've had a great time and learned loads with Andy. I've learned to put people in the recovery position and to do CPR. It's been great!"

Pupil

"Andy's club is great. We've been doing first aid and learning CPR. I'm really looking forward to next term!"

Pupil

"I didn't know about first aid before Andy came to school. Now I can do lots and it's really useful."

Pupil