Learner Activities at the RNN Group 

With freshers week next week, here at the RNN Group, we believe that what happens outside the classroom is just as important as what happens inside the classroom. We work collaboratively and in partnership with many employers and we know that they are looking for specific skills in their workforce alongside qualifications.

Employers are looking for essential skills such as communication, organisation, time management, team work, leadership, creativity, problem-solving and self-management. A survey by the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) found that over half of employers were unhappy with school leavers’ self-management skills. Self-management is a person’s ability to regulate behaviours, thoughts, and emotions in a way that better serves both the employee and the business.

Earlier this year, the Group was delighted to host Rotherham Children’s University’s (RCU) gradation at our University Centre Rotherham. RCU is a charity that works in partnership with schools to develop a love of learning in children by encouraging and celebrating participation in extra-curricular activities in and outside of school. These activities can positively impact on attainment, increase a learners positive identification with school/college and build self-confidence and resilience. Research also shows that learners that do not have access to these opportunities fall behind, lack confidence, and fail to develop career aspirations. The resulting attainment gap is so significant that 25% of learners from the most disadvantaged backgrounds achieve below expected attainment levels.

The RNN Group ensures that learners have access to additional activities to learn some of the key skills needed to support with resilience, attainment and build self-confidence:

• Sporting clubs and activities promote teamwork, communication and leadership;
• Subject focused clubs and activities such as gaming, nail and beauty, book club and dungeons and dragons promote problem solving, creativity and self-management;
• Project focused clubs such as community services promote organisation, team work and problem solving
• Guest speakers (as with classes) focus students to look at their time management and behaviours such as being on time, engaging, listening and responding appropriately.

By being involved in these learners not only enhance their skills ready for the world of work, but meet new people and learn new skills and capabilities. Additionally, joining in with clubs and activities will support with making friends and developing social skills that employers are also looking for such as emotional intelligence and empathy skills.

Qualifications are important and here at the RNN Group we are always looking to develop our learners and support them as they progress through the various levels to get to where they need to be to be both personally and professionally successful. But without various ‘soft skills’ as they are termed, how do you put your learning into practise?

So, to all our new and returning learners: get involved in the many activities and clubs on offer. It will benefit you in so many ways. Freshers week is around the corner, so find out what is available and get involved!