Who's the Boss?

Case study: Ysgol Morgan Llwyd

Who's the Boss

WBQ component
WRE Team Enterprise activity

Key Skill opportunity
WO (level 3)

Activity

Set up and run an Enterprise Company

Students to select their Enterprise with the help of the Co-ordinator.
WDA 'Enterprise Factory' to support the Enterprise Company over a period of two terms.
Enterprise Companies selected for this year:
Theatr y Ddraig (Dragon Theatre)
Netball School
Football Academy
Dance School
Rock Group
Radio Station
TyҐ Bach Twc (The Tuckshop)

Resources

Regular visits by representatives from WDA Enterprise Factory Р interviews, financial support (in some instances, eg Rock Group), and regular e-mail contact with each Company Manager.
Visits by WDA 'Dynamo' Р guest speakers Р each one an owner of a successful business.
Published material by 'Dynamo' Р Who's the boss? Copy for each student.www.projectdynamo.com

Enterprise
Enterprise is a part of the Welsh Baccalaureate 'curriculum' and, if effectively organised, it can provide opportunities that meet the requirements of the key skill Working With Others (level 3).

In 2004/05 there were 7 Enterprises taking place over a two term period, between September/October and Easter.

The seven Enterprises were:

Theatr Y Ddraig - students held a drama school every Wednesday evening for KS3 and KS4 pupils. Two shows were staged. The first was a pantomime, Breuddwyd Mabon (Mabon's Dream) Р two public performances plus four matinees (2 for pupils of the catchment primary schools and 2 for the junior pupils at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd.

The second show was Iechyd Da! (Your Good Health / Cheers!) Р two public performances, and two matinees for the junior pupils.

Football Academy Р 7 boys taking a football class for Year 5 and 6 pupils in the local primary schools, every Thursday evening, and for KS3 pupils every Wednesday lunchtime.

Netball School Р 7 o girls taking a football class for Year 5 and 6 pupils in the local primary schools, every Thursday evening.

'No Star' Band (a play on the words Nos Da, which mean Goodnight) Р a band playing English 'covers' since they were in Year 9. They were challenged to become a Welsh band as part of their Enterprise, to see how successful they could be.

It is now a well-established local band and has held several Welsh gigs! They have reached the final round of The Battle of the Bands on C2, Radio Wales!

Dance School Р held every Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime. Very popular with KS3 girls!

TyҐ Bach Twc (Tuckshop) Р selling sweets, crisps and drinks every Wednesday lunchtime. Also at the performances by Theatr Y Ddraig and the 'No Star' gigs held at school.

'Cartrefle' Radio Station Р playing music / requests by pupils during lunchtime on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The school tannoy was rigged to enable the broadcasts to be made in the canteen and in the foyer outside the Library. Broadcasting training was provided by NEWI (North East Wales Institute), and they were given the opportunity to broadcast in Welsh to the whole of the Wrexham area during Science Week (two one-hour programmes) in March 2005.

Resources
Support for the Enterprise Companies from Enterprise Factory (WDA). This involved an initial interview with each of the Enterprise Companies and advice on how to proceed.

During the two terms there were regular visits to monitor progress. An excellent service! There was also an input from 'Dynamo' (WDA), which entailed visits by 8 entrepreneurs during the two terms, to give talks about their own companies. (A good service; only one Welsh speaker, though.)