Nestlé helps University of York students to be a ‘class’ act
Posted on 4 February 2011
The company has been associated with York Students in Schools, which places nearly 600 students a year in 60 schools, since it started in 1994.
The scheme not only enables students to give to the community in which they live and work, but their involvement also enriches their learning and enhances their skills portfolio
YSIS Co-ordinator Louise Thurston
Students spend half a day a week in primary, secondary, sixth form and special schools over a period of 10 weeks helping all ages with a range of subjects and activities. Students who speak other languages also support pupils and parents who speak different languages in the local community.
The scheme, which is supported by City of York Council, was established in 1994 as Student Tutoring at York. It is now one of the largest, purely voluntary, school-based projects in the UK.
YSIS Co-ordinator Louise Thurston said: “Students are great role models, they support pupils’ attainment in the classroom and help raise their aspirations to continue in education. It is a great way for students to get involved in the local community.
“We are extremely grateful for the continued help from Nestlé which enables us to provide support to hundreds of teachers and many thousands of pupils of different ages each year.”
Nestlé Corporate Communications Manager, James Maxton, said: “Nestlé is a founding supporter of YSIS and we are delighted to continue this relationship, benefitting the schools and young people in the York community.”
In the last academic year, almost 600 volunteers were placed at over 50 schools, equating to 20,300 hours of support. Apart from the basic ten-week placement, many volunteers stay in school for longer hours and further weeks once they have built up a relationship with the school.
Dan Bodey, Assistant Head of Fulford School, said: “YSIS is one of the most positive schemes we are involved in as a school. In an era of constant change and reinvention this is a very open and pure volunteering scheme that benefits everyone involved. The students love the extra attention, and the support they receive from an approachable and competent extra pair of hands benefits them academically.”
Volunteers are well prepared for their role and educational experts deliver workshops on the 14-19 curriculum, classroom protocol and how to support groups of young people.
Dan Bodey continued: “The teachers have a superb extra resource to allow them to give extra attention to individuals or small groups within their class and the university students benefit from the school experience and the length of commitment the scheme demands. It is a thoroughly positive experience for all involved.”
Louise Thurston added: “The scheme not only enables students to give to the community in which they live and work, but their involvement also enriches their learning and enhances their skills portfolio. Students find YSIS extremely beneficial for launching into a range of career areas, not just teaching.”
YSIS would also like to acknowledge ongoing support from the Shepherd Group since the start of the scheme.
Notes to editors:
- More about YSIS at www.york.ac.uk/services/careers/ysis/
Contact details
Keep up to date
Subscribe to news feeds
