A learning for life course at a Toxteth School: An innovation in careers education

‘I found it really helpful, particularly in giving me confidence’ … ‘The group work and the presentations brought the shy ones out’ … ‘We learnt a lot about each other, about sharing information, listening, becoming more of a team.’ These were just a few of the comments made by sixth formers at Shorefields, a community comprehensive school in Toxteth, Liverpool. They were describing how they had benefited from a ‘Learning for life’ training programme organised at the school by Board training advisers Ken Anders, Sue Kerrison, Joy Miller and Bill Sanders. The aim of the programme was to help the young people meet the challenge of adult life when they leave school, either by finding one of the very few jobs available locally or by making best use of their own abilities in other ways.