MANDEVILLE SCHOOL YEAR 10s TAKE ON THE APP-PRENTICE CHALLENGE & DESIGN THEIR OWN APP FOR THE SCHOOL

MANDEVILLE SCHOOL YEAR 10s TAKE ON THE APP-PRENTICE CHALLENGE & DESIGN THEIR OWN APP FOR THE SCHOOL!

In under three days, Mandeville School’s Year 10 student group have managed to design, market and build a working prototype of a mobile App that will serve a purpose for the school.

The year group took part in the App-prentice Challenge from 16 -18 July led by local businesses, Cloudy Group and partners: Microsoft Education, Technovisual Education and Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership(BTVLEP).

Front row, left to right: Amy Simon, Sales Excellence Manager Intern, Microsoft Education UK; David Hall, Managing Director, Cloudy Group; Kirsty Forshaw, Events & Marketing Manager, Cloudy Group. Back row, left to right: Jason Williams, Assistant Subject Leader of Computing, Mandeville School; Jackie Campbell, Skills Development Manager, BTVLEP; Raazi Karim, Sales Excellence Manager Intern, Microsoft Education UK; Edward Tagg, 6th Form student, Mandeville School; Chris Penson, PSHCE, Careers, and Critical Thinking Coordinator, Mandeville School; Ryan Bowen, Associate Consultant Intern, Microsoft Education UK; Mark Vanstone, Managing Director, Technovisual Education.

Competing in teams of 10, the 110 students took up the challenge using the resources on hand from the 34 members of staff, 90 ICT workstations and 18 Microsoft Surface Pros they had dedicated to supporting them. 

Jackie Campbell

Skills Development Manager at BTVLEP

“This is such a fabulous challenge!.  It has encompassed the development of so many vital skills including team work and leadership, project management, independent learning, innovation, adaptability, problem-solving, time management, communication and presentation skills. All of which are so important in whatever career or next steps the students choose.  The insightful and inspiring challenge has brought to life careers in this vital growth sector and has connected Cloudy Group to tomorrow’s workforce.”

Mark Vanstone

Technovisual Education’s Managing Director and event leader for the Design sub-team

“For those who are interested in careers in technology, game or software development, the App-Prentice Challenge has provided the students with a real-life insight into what it’s like to work on the development of an app.  

It has been exciting to witness how these young minds have taken to the challenge and pieced it all together, working in their teams. They have shown great flexibility in how they’ve adapted to being taken out of their comfort zone and focused on solving an issue. It’s been fascinating to see how well they’ve engaged with new digital tools and business ways of working, as well as how they’ve used the marketing principles they’ve learned to “brand” and create their final app with the end user in mind.“​

The commitment and motivation of the students shone through in how much they were able to achieve in only a few days.  The creative thinking, organisation and entrepreneurship were evidenced not only in how quickly students took up using the new technology and software, but in how they worked with their team to produce some exceptional app ideas that were proudly on show in the final exhibition and presentation pitch to the judges.

Tanya Albert

Senior Marketing Manager at The Careers & Enterprise

“The App-Prentice Challenge has been a fantastic event to attend. It is clear to see how much preparation has been made, how each student has identified and understood their role, and how some have also mastered the art of pitching. These types of event are a great opportunity for young people to develop the skills they need to help prepare them for the world of work.”​

79% of participating students surveyed said they would recommend the App-Prentice Challenge to other schools. When asked how helpful the programme has been to help them make decisions about their next steps in terms of education, training or work, 87% were positive it had. 

Chris Penson

PSHCE, Careers, and Critical Thinking Coordinator at The Mandeville School

“This has been a fantastic experience for our students. As the first Year 10 Enterprise event, this pilot has proven how worthwhile it will be to do again.

 

“We’ve seen students engaging with their work in new ways as they’ve absorbed themselves in the project over the last three days. They’ve clearly enjoyed themselves whilst also pushing themselves academically and practically to take on the challenge and compete with their peers. It was great to see how empowering the technology and insights from the business partners have been for our students.”

All students have been awarded with a certificate of achievement in recognition of their hard work and aptitude in using core competencies that will be useful in future education and employment.

 

12 students were recognised for their outstanding commitment to the project and will be awarded with a “pizza party” on the last day of term.

 

The peer prize went to team “Equipo Seis” who will have their lunches paid for at the upcoming end of year school trip to Thorpe Park.

Aaron Hussain

Team “Equipo Seis”

“This programme has improved my leadership skills. As I was Project Manager I have had to assign roles to my team and trust them with their work. I have gone over their work and was very happy, so I have been happy for my role and happy with this programme.”

The judges’ winning team (“Black & White”) and team in second place (“Group 4”), will be rewarded with an exclusive day trip to the Microsoft offices in Reading. There, the 20 students will have the opportunity to explore and create in the unique spaces of the office and learn more about some of the applications, tools and digital skills that will support jobs of the future and these individuals throughout their lives.

Amy Simon

Sales Excellence Manager Intern at Microsoft Education UK

“We’ve seen fantastic enthusiasm and teamwork from all of the students involved in this challenge and we’re delighted to be able to offer these young people the chance to put their creative skills to the test, using the latest technology. This programme has helped to build new skills, which we’ve seen the students apply in various tasks, not least their use of Microsoft applications and devices, which could be a huge advantage for their future career prospects.“

In keeping with BBC’s The Apprentice show, Cloudy Group will be “hiring” one person from each of the winning teams to develop the winning app proof of concept.

David Hall

Director of Cloudy Group

“It’s a wonderful coincidence that both winning teams came up with similar app ideas around revision guidance for students. We’re delighted to be able to invite the two winning candidates to the Cloudy Group offices for a week’s employment over the summer holidays. Our welcome new “App-Prentices” will be developing a joint, fully functioning mobile app that they and their peers will be able to use in school in future.


We’re proud to be part of such a rewarding challenge and to see the students get involved with such enthusiasm. The results have exceeded our expectations and we look forward to what the future holds for these students, as well as in taking the App-Prentice Challenge further“

Andria Hanham

Principal at The Mandeville School

“This enriching learning experience has been a great end to the school year. The school is very proud of our Year 10s who have responded well to an inspiring event.

We expect our students to continue to work with our local business partners and for our school to also benefit from the new revision app that has been researched, embraced and built by our very own accomplished Year 10 entrepreneurs.“

For more information, please contact:

Kirsty Forshaw, [email protected]

Mob. 07920 092928

Please also visit:

https://cloudy.agency/app-prentice-challenge/

www.facebook.com/cloudygroup.co.uk

2018’S APP-PRENTICE CHALLENGE OUT TO PUT YOUNG MINDS TO THE TEST WITH TECH

2018’S APP-PRENTICE CHALLENGE

OUT TO PUT YOUNG MINDS TO THE TEST WITH TECH

BUCKINGHAM – Buckingham’s own Cloudy Group is very happy to announce the 2018 App-prentice Challenge, taking place 16 – 18 July this year, at Mandeville School in Aylesbury, Bucks. 

 

Cloudy Group and its partners Technovisual Education and Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (BTVLEP) will be supported by Microsoft to challenge 150 Year 10 students to create their own mobile apps.  

“As part of the curriculum changes taking place at The Mandeville School, we have implemented a new careers strategy across the whole school,” says Chris Penson, PSHCE, Careers, and Critical Thinking Coordinator at Mandeville. “One aspect of this is to ensure our students have the opportunity to work with, or see, local businesses in action.” 

Much like the popular BBC show The Apprentice, teams of 10 will compete to make their own apps which will be judged on how useful they are to the life of the school. The winning team even has the potential for their idea to be made into a real app that serves a legitimate purpose for the school. 

This is the first year that Mandeville have run a Year 10 Enterprise event so bringing in local business like Cloudy Group and Technovisual Education – not to mention Microsoft – is expected to have a significant impact on the students’ learning. 

“When I started organising the Year 10 Enterprise Activity, I had no idea it would grow into something this substantial,” Penson says. “I know our students will not only enjoy themselves, but will benefit from this session academically.” 

“CloudyGroup is thrilled to be the driving force behind this project,” says David Hall, Director of Cloudy Group. “Working with young people is something we’re incredibly passionate about. It’s great to have this opportunity to encourage young people to use their creative skills alongside modern tech.” 

Jackie Campbell, Skills Development Manager at BLVLEP adds: “Employer engagement in developing enterprising challenges like this is invaluable, and this fantastic programme promises to encourage student’s creative thinking and entrepreneurship skills whilst also giving them a valuable, practical view of working in the IT industry.” 

The three day programme is designed to give young people a taste of life in the modern digital workplace, and all the hope, challenge, and joy that goes into creating work digitally. 

“Microsoft is proud to support this project and work with the Cloudy Team, Mandeville School and all the partners involved,” says Ian Fordham, Director of Education, Microsoft UK. “A team of Microsoft specialists will be on hand throughout the event to help students grow their digital skills, develop their apps and help transform potentially game-changing ideas into reality. This is a fantastic way for us to work with business partners to give something back and invest in young people to ensure they are equipped with the skills they need to enter the digital economy.” 

Mark Vanstone, Director of Technovisual Education and a developer of The Official F1 Timing App also suggests: “As young people prepare themselves to work in business these days, they need to be more well versed in how those businesses operate and the technology they will be using. Technovisual Education is proud to be part of a project that helps give these students a real insight in to how to use those skills.” 

————- 

For more information, please contact:  

David Hall, [email protected] 

 

Please also visit: 

https://cloudy.agency/app-prentice-challenge/  

www.facebook.com/cloudygroupukÂ