Last updated at 14:24, Thursday, 22 May 2008

Dale wins apprentice of the year

Dale Stephenson has won the Apprentice of the Year award at the Learning Skills Council, North West Learner Awards. Dale is pictured with Nina Blenkinship, training advisor with RWP

DALE Stephenson’s secondary school experience was so positive, he couldn’t bear to leave! The former Netherhall School pupil knew his heart was in the school’s music department and, when the time came for him to finish, he began thinking of ways in which he could continue his passion.

The 17-year-old is now a teaching assistant in the music department and has just been named apprentice of the year at the Excellence in Cumbria Awards.

Through the Carlisle-based training provider RWP Training, Dale found the perfect course for his needs. He could train as a teaching assistant on an NVQ Level 2 qualification whilst working at Netherhall School full-time.

“It is a very close department in the school and I had a great time here while I was a pupil at the school,” Dale said.

“So after I left Year 11, I volunteered until the end of term and it was then I decided to stay here and become a part of the teaching team. The school helped me to find the perfect course to qualify as a teaching assistant and it was with JHP Training.

“I really wanted to be able to work and learn at the same time and the JHP course offered just that.”

As soon as Dale started his NVQ he loved the mixture of learning and working. Every two weeks he visits the team and his training advisor, Nina Blenkinship, at the Carlisle training head quarters.

He has been able to gain qualifications and certificates in a number of areas from first aid to child protection.

“My role is to support most of the lower school lessons and all of Kevin Leece’s lessons, who is head of music,” Dale explained.

“But since I’ve been here I’ve also began supporting some of the A-Level IT lessons as I love anything to do with computers as well.

“A lot of the music work is carried out using computer programmes so I had built up quite a knowledge of them.

“But my time spent here in the music department is used teaching pupils how to read music or recapping what Mr Leece has taught them.”

For this hard work and dedication, Dale was recognised at the Excellence in Cumbria awards, winning the coveted title of apprentice of the year 2008.

“The whole evening was absolutely fantastic, I couldn’t believe I won apprentice of the year,” Dale continued.

“It was great to see so many people up for awards on the night and being recognised for what they had achieved.

“I couldn’t believe it when my name was called out; I’ve put everything into training as a teaching assistant but what I have done for Netherhall School has been through a pure love of music, teaching and the music department itself.”

Coping with the excitement of Dale winning apprentice of the year, his training provider RWP Training and its team of advisors also received an award, training provider to the apprentice of the year 2008

The category identified best practice for in-house training and external providers working across the public and private sector and showcased the opportunities that exist throughout the county.

Nina Blenkinship, teaching assistant training advisor at RWP Training, has supported Dale throughout his apprenticeship and explained: “The awards were brilliant and even more so because Dale won apprentice of the year.

“It was emotional for us as we have known just how much effort and enthusiasm has come from Dale.

“To top it off we won an award ourselves for our level of training and development given to all our apprentices.

“As his training advisor I have seen Dale grow into an enthusiastic, dedicated member of the teaching staff in the music department.

“I’ve also seen him become a fantastic role model for the pupils at Netherhall School.

“Not only have we seen his dedication inside the classroom, we have seen his commitment to succeeding in his Level 2 course. He has even helped to pilot the e-portfolio for RWP which means learners can now have instant access to view the units they have completed or are yet to complete and even submit work via the website.

“I have been Dale’s training advisor since he came to us last September. I have witnessed him in the classroom and the way he treats the kids, and the support he offers is fantastic; he’s developed into a professional, well-thought-of addition to the teaching team.

“I assess Dale in the classroom every three weeks and it’s obvious he loves coming to work every day. He already has plans to continue to an advanced apprenticeship and train at Level 3 as a teaching assistant.”

Dale, who is employed via Cumbria County Council’s learning support service, has a school-based mentor to support him in his practical development.

Denise Smith, head of performing arts at Netherhall School, taught Dale and knew he would stay on as a part of the team. She said: “We knew Dale wanted to stay on so we applied to RWP Training to have him based in our school.

“As soon as he was sorted out with the course, he got to work; it all married together brilliantly.

“He has been a fantastic addition to not only this department but a few others where he has lent his skills, such as IT. He has managed to revamp our spreadsheet system which we use to assess pupils so his talents seem pretty endless.

“And the fact he was an ex-pupil here sits well with the students he teaches: they seem to relate to him very well but also respect him as a member of staff.”

Dale maintains his ability to support staff in a range of subjects has been down to his natural enthusiasm and eagerness to develop, he explained: “I have helped out where I can. The P.E. department asked me to help out with a sports video they were making during half term.

“I’ve also assisted the drama department with various productions but everything I have been involved with has been a learning curve for me also and has really helped me develop.

“The pupils are great to work with; they have an appreciation of me because I was a sixth form pupil here myself and I’m local so I can relate to them. ”

RWP Training has had area and county winners in the Excellence in Cumbria awards for the last six years. Along with Dale Stephenson, Laura Walker, a hairdresser from Carlisle was also nominated in the apprentice of the year category. The training provider’s apprenticeship programme is proving to be a winning success, Becki Murray, a trainee hairdresser with RWP, won the title apprentice of the year in 2007.

For more information on courses and apprenticehsips with RWP Training, call 01228 593446 or visit www.rwp.co.uk

First published at 15:58, Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk