The City of London Corporation has funded Governors for Schools to launch a new training module to drive employability for young people.

The eLearning module will provide governors and trustees with an introduction to their school’s role in preparing, advising and inspiring pupils ahead of their entry into the world of work. It will also look at why work-related learning and employability matters, what it looks like in different phases of education, and what makes for effective practice.

The eLearning module will ensure that governing boards are well placed in delivering on this crucial aspect of the government's careers strategy.

The City Corporation has been involved with Governors for Schools, a not-for-profit organisation that places people from the business world on governing bodies of schools, since it was established in 1999.

Henry Colthurst, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Education Board, which provided the funding, said:

“The role of a governor is crucial to overseeing the proper management side of a school as well as ensuring that students are provided with the best education.

“But this funding adds a bit more. It is intended to drive forward a focus on employability in schools and a better understanding of needs of business as a future employer.

"The module includes information on what schools should be doing in terms of careers advice and provides best practice guidance for primary and secondary schools on how to instil employability as a key focus in their curriculum.”

William Durham, Employability Lead at Governors for Schools, said:

"We’re delighted to launch this new module. We believe all schools in London should appoint a governor with oversight for this important area and would like to call on them to do so.

"Governors are incredibly well-positioned to offer challenge and support to schools with their careers provision, and this module will enable them to do so effectively.”

The City of London Corporation aims to ensure that young Londoners in the City Corporation’s schools have access to the information, advice and experiences that will help them to progress into fulfilling careers.

The City Corporation sponsors or co-sponsors 10 academies across Hackney, Newham, Islington and Southwark. In 2017, Sutton Trust named the City Corporation as the UK’s best academy sponsor for empowering pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to perform above the national average, and the leading academy sponsor for Progress 8 and Attainment 8, which track pupil progress and achievement.

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation family of schools has one maintained primary school and 10 sponsored or co-sponsored academies in neighbouring boroughs. It also supports three independent schools.

The City of London Corporation sponsors, co-sponsors or governs the following schools:

Co-sponsored academies

o City of London Academy, Islington (co-sponsor City University)

o The City Academy, Hackney (co-sponsor KPMG)

City of London Academies Trust

o City of London Academy (Southwark)

o Redriff Primary, City of London Academy

o Galleywall Primary, City of London Academy

o City of London Primary Academy Islington

o City of London Academy Highgate Hill

o City of London Academy Highbury Grove

o City of London Academy Shoreditch Park

o Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre City of London Academy

Local Authority maintained school

o Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School

Independent:

o City of London School

o City of London School for Girls

o City of London Freemen’s School