The Pathfinder Project
As the name implies - The Pathfinder Project is designed to help young people to find a pathway into full or part time paid employment.
This is achieved through close co-operation between the Education Department, Trainers and Local Business and partcipation from interested and enthusiastic students.
One of the other main advantages of this approach, is the early involment of careers advisers - not just at University and College, but as far back in the system as first year Senior School students.
The aim of the project - is to promote the co-operation between Education and Business and to make information on the paths to success, easily accessible and clear.
We were asked to produce a film looking at the advantages of the scheme - as illustrated by various success stories and in the process we visited Southampton Solent University, Southampton City College and several local employers, including IBM and VT Shipbuilders.
Filming was completed within a two-week period and the film completed within another two weeks.
Learning Through Business
A look at opportunities for young people from Special Status Schools for work experience with local business.
Whether particularly talented, average, or with learning difficulties, the students have an opportunity to look at the world of business, gain hands-on experience and ultimately the chance to get a full time job when they leave school.
The employers see the advantage of an early look at the up and coming talent from schools in the area and the partnerships include such incentives as The Young Graduate of The Year competition.
There is no doubt that it is never too early for young pupils to make career decisions and armed with a plan, they can have their education tailored to meet their ambitions.
We look at some examples of success in the system and hear first-hand from many existing students how they are working towards their future career.
Filming took place over a period of two months, with the editing and post production completed within another two weeks.
All filming and post production was carried out by our Producer Carl Dearing and the film was distributed on DVD to all schools in the Hampshire area.
Better Schools - Inclusion Matters
As part of the govenment initiative to integrate disabled students into mainstream schools, we were asked to produce a film looking at five such students and how their education is being managed.
Designed as examples of `best practise` - the film features students ranging from a five-year old girl with multiple disabilities - to a 16 year old boy who is blind, but doing very well with his studies and looking forward to going on to University.
We were asked to film at several different schools throughout the City of Southampton, to interview students and teachers and to produce a DVD which was to be shown at a teaching conference in the boardroom of Southampton City Football Club.
Present at the conference - were Education and Business Leaders from across the region and Council Officials who ultimately hold the purse-strings for financing such initiatives.
The examples illustrate how successful this integration can be, but also investigate the challenges experienced by teaching staff and the strain on local budgets to provide the neccessary equipment and adaptations to school buildings.
The film was commissioned by Southampton Education Department and all filming and post production was carried out by Carl Dearing with assistance from Jon Brown.