Macmillan Academy, one of whose specialisms is Vocational Education, was delighted to be invited to send a team to London to speak at an important educational gathering



On 20 October 2006, senior members of the Macmillan staff were joined at the SSAT National Conference by two of our students who attend a weekly enrichment about advancing communication skills.

Anna Sonley from Year 11 and Year 8's Olivia Smith, both of whom are regular presenters of Macmillan's televised news programme, spoke at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust's national meeting at the Excel Centre in London's Docklands.  Anna's presentation focused on the vocational skills she had found useful when on her Year 9 work placement and how she had been able to put them into practice.  Olivia concentrated on her realisation, while on the Year 7 Outward Bound Experience, of just how many such skills she already had when she arrived at Ullswater, how she was able to use them effectively and how many more she acquired there and since.

The presentations by both students were followed by enthusiastic and appreciative applause from the assembled teachers and other education specialists and they have now been asked to write an article on vocational skills synopsising what they had to say.