Over 30 Health and Social Care, Childcare, Hospitality, Sports and Motor Vehicle students from City College Norwich stepped into a range of job roles on Friday 20th November as part of the national Takeover Challenge.
Several different groups of students came together to take part in a takeover at The Parkside School in Norwich. At the additional needs school, which has pupils aged 7 to 17, 14 level 3 Health and Social Care students provided classroom support to pupils. In addition Childcare level 3 students Katie Dade and Estee Anema shadowed the school’s headteacher and deputy head throughout the day.
Childcare Level 3 student, Estee Anema, 17, who spent the day working with the deputy headteacher, said: “It’s been amazing experiencing all of the sorts of different skills you need to deal with the things that happen in a school just in one day. It’s made me think more about the special needs aspect of childcare.”
Health and Social Care Level 3 student, Jordan Smith, 18, spent the day supporting pupils in the classroom in a teaching assistant role. Jordan commented: “It’s been really wonderful. I was nervous at first, but now I love it! I would like to come back and do my additional needs work placement here.”
Meanwhile 6 Sports students helped out with afternoon PE lessons at the school, and the school’s kitchens were staffed by 3 Food Studies students who prepared 132 school lunches for pupils. Three more Food Studies students worked at the school’s White Lion Café in Norwich city centre.
Elsewhere, at Heathersett Fire Station, 6 Motor Vehicle students worked alongside Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service staff. Following an induction the students worked in the ladder department (checking and servicing the equipment), with the critical equipment department, and off-shore fire equipment. As well as getting hands-on with equipment servicing, the students also joined a road test of one of the station’s fire engines.
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Level 2 student, Harry Clayden, 17, said: “It’s been great. I thought all they did was just put fires out, but I’ve learnt there’s a lot more than that. They’ve got someone who looks after the ladders, people who service and repair the trucks, critical equipment people, a parts manager, electrician, and a control room who handle the 999 calls.”
The Children’s Commissioner’s Takeover Day is a national event involving 44,000 people across England. It is a day where organisations all across England invite children and young people into their organisations to “takeover” their roles and be involved in decision making. It promotes Article 12 of the UNCRC, which says all children should have a say in matters that affect them.