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Apprenticeships

This month, we’re delighted to celebrate Lucy Anderton, a Level 3 Business Administration Apprentice at Chowbent Primary School, as our Apprentice of the Month.

Here is Lucy’s story:

“I chose my apprenticeship programme because I wanted to gain practical, hands-on experience in a school office while working towards a recognised qualification. I felt it was the best way to develop my skills, build my confidence and learn more about the business and administration side of education.

I have been working from a young age and even though I got into universities, I didn’t think that route was the best route to take for myself. An apprenticeship gives me the opportunity to earn a wage, gain independence and build a career without having to go down the traditional university route.

The main benefits of an apprenticeship are being able to gain practical work experience while studying towards a recognised qualification. It allows me to develop my skills further, learn from experienced colleagues and earn a wage at the same time. I also think it gives me a better understanding of the role and helps me build the knowledge and experience I need to progress in my career.

One of the things I am most proud of is that, despite not having been in my apprenticeship for 12 months yet, I have successfully secured a total of £7,000 in grant funding for the school. I have helped improve our outdoor spaces through eco projects, worked on developing our systems like our website and social media, and helped organise trips and opportunities to benefit our pupils. I am also proud to have taken part in the Wigan Youth Summit, where we decorated banners to promote positive environmental change. Alongside this, I have supported school events, community projects and fundraising initiatives. These achievements have shown me how much I can contribute to the school, helped me build confidence and develop new skills, and motivated me to continue progressing towards my goal of becoming a School Business Manager.

My favourite part of my role is that I get to be involved in all different aspects of school life, rather than just working behind a desk. I enjoy speaking to families and children, helping with trips and activities and being involved in projects that make a positive difference to the school. I also love being creative, growing our school social media and finding opportunities to secure funding and improve our outdoor spaces.

I have developed my communication and organisation skills throughout my apprenticeship. I have learned how important these skills are within a role, as they all contribute to working effectively, supporting others and ensuring tasks are completed to a high standard.

My next step in my career is to continue developing my knowledge and experience in school administration and business management. I want to take on more responsibility, particularly in areas such as finance, budgeting, HR and school operations, which I am learning alongside my Business Manager in the hopes of becoming one when she retires.

I have felt really supported throughout my apprenticeship programme, particularly by my tutor, Jo, who has been amazing. She has encouraged me, helped me build my confidence and supported me through challenges, always making sure I feel able to ask questions and get the help I need.”

Lucy ‘s tutor Joanna Russel said:

“Lucy has always gone above and beyond with her work for this apprenticeship. Lucy has applied for and secured grants for the school of £7,000 since joining the school all by herself with no input from anyone else. This has enabled Lucy to complete a project to regenerate an overgrown and unused area of the school grounds where pupils can now take part in learning about nature and planting.

Lucy deserves this award for her enthusiasm and aptitude. She is a role model to be proud of, and I am proud to have her as a learner.”

Well done, Lucy! We look forward to seeing what you achieve next.