Creative Enterprise
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The UK’s reputation for ideas, flair, talent and imagination comes from the combination of our rich cultural heritage and cutting-edge creative companies. At Francis Holland, we place great value on creativity, innovation and enterprise. Our belief that academic results come in the slipstream of co-curricular opportunities allows us to delve deeper than visiting speakers and brief encounters with inspirational entrepreneurs and intrepreneurs.
Our Year 7 pupils work with Jodie Glenn-Martin, professional artist, to create large pieces of collaborative artwork. We want all pupils to feel that they can be creative whether through art, textiles, our Makery Club, drama or music.
Enterprise is a focus for Years 8 and 9 where pupils have the opportunity to form their own business as part of Peter Jones’ Tycoon in Schools competition. Our Creative Ambassadors (Sixth Form) oversee the programme while our Year 9’s run Tycoon 2 and get the chance to mentor Year 8 businesses.
Careers education starts in Year 9, when the girls are required to make their first major decision, namely the choice of their GCSE option subjects. It accompanies the girls until their final year and in some instances beyond as some girls might come into school for further help and advice even after they have left, and we are very happy to help. Careers education is very much a whole school effort as not only the head of careers but also form tutors, subject teachers, the Head and many other people get involved in its delivery.
Pupils in Years 11 to Upper Sixth are given the opportunity to secure a mentor to further develop their skills in entrepreneurship and social enterprise. Our Sixth Form Academic Enrichment Programme offers termly Innovation Sprints where pupils work closely with one of our Link Entrepreneurs to take their ideas/concepts to prototype stage or beyond.
Awards
In June 2022, FHS were named winners of the first ever Muddy Stilettos Schools Awards, out of over 400 entrants, in the Empowering Young Entrepreneurs category. This sits alongside our Independent School Parent Innovation Award for an Outstanding New Initiative which we won in October 2021.
Scholarships
Eager to further develop problem-solving skills across the school, we are delighted to offer Creative Enterprise scholarships and the Alam Award where all pupils are invited to submit creative, innovative and enterprising solutions to real-world problems. This year’s challenge has been designed by our partnership school in Tanzania where the lack of electricity and lighting is having a negative impact on learning in the evening. Pupils from FHS work in groups of up to four and pitch their design and ideas to a panel. The winners are awarded £500 towards building a prototype and testing their idea in Tanzania.
Social Enterprise
We recognise that social enterprise is likely to play a major role in future careers. Through our Sixth Form Volunteering Programme and our work with the Katherine Low Settlement, In-Deep Battersea and St Barnabas Primary School, we provide our pupils with ample opportunity to appreciate the benefits of ‘giving back’ time, and encourage them to support the vital work of charities and similar organisations. Our Annual Fund enables parents to purchase key items for our own community whilst making important donations to local organisations with whom we work closely. Social enterprise forms a major part of our FHS vision.
BecomingX
We are proudly in partnership with BecomingX, an initiative set up by Bear Grylls, which helps us deliver personal development programmes that equip our pupils with the personal attributes needed to succeed.
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