Media Release

Apprentice from The Cultural Experience helps to launch a new campaign to give students a taste of real life career's experience

11 October 2013: When 18 year old Yeovil apprentice Jack Clark from specialist tour company The Cultural Experience was invited back to his old school Westfield Academy he found himself, together with half a dozen other alumni, helping to launch a new national "Back to School" campaign that has been created by the Independent Newspaper, i and the social enterprise charity Future First.

Jack's old school, Westfield Academy, was chosen as the venue to announce the national campaign which aims to help people from all trades and professions to return to their old state schools to give inspirational talks or practical career advice for students. Yeovil MP and The Schools Minister David Laws officially launched the campaign and speaking to Year 10 students the Liberal Democrat MP encouraged students to "think big" and dream of jobs outside their communities.

The event, run by alumni community charity Future First, saw seven of the school's ex-students take to the stage to talk to pupils about their careers and Jack Clark was the only apprentice to do so.

Jack said, " I am really pleased to be part of the Back to School campaign which is all about encouraging more people who went to state schools - from all trades and professions, whether they left education at 16 or 36 - to return and speak to current students. Also it's not often that you have the opportunity to return to your old school, meet your local MP and have the occasion reported in a national newspaper and on the BBC."

After leaving Westfield Academy at the age of 16, Jack went on to take ‘A' Levels at the Gryphon School in Sherborne. During that time he undertook work experience at specialist tour operator The Cultural Experience and was then offered an apprenticeship by the company which organises historical and battlefield tours for adults and also school groups.

Jack was able to provide Westfield pupils with an insight in to life as an apprentice, highlighting the financial benefits of learning on the job as well as being able to pursue some of his own historical interests such as a research project on World War One in preparation for the increasing interest in visiting the battlefield and historical sites to mark the 100^thanniversary of the start of the First World War in 2014. He told pupils, "I have settled in to work very quickly and there is always plenty to do which means my time is very focused and productive. Also I am sure that not going to University has probably had a very positive impact on my liver!"

Research had shown that state school students - and particularly students on state benefits - tend to get fewer opportunities to gain experience, less access to role models in jobs, and have lower confidence than private school students. The Back to School campaign aims to give young people access to role models, mentors and work experience regardless of their background and ensures people like Jack can be contacted by their old school so that they can inspire and educate young students about the huge variety of careers available.

More information on the Back to School campaign from:http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/back-to-school-what-is-the-campaign-8869706.html

More information on The Cultural Experience from:www.theculturalexperience.co.uk

More information on Westfield Academy:www.westfieldacademy.co.uk

Further press information from: Jane Adkins, A Head for PR, Tel: 01935 813114; Mob: 07960698089 or Email:jane@aheadforpr.co.uk

Oct 2013 (TCE 01)