Fulham Enterprise Studio is the first studio school to open in inner London, offering pupils an alternative vocational education. POPPY BRADBURY visited the college to see how hands-on experience is preparing teenagers for the world of work.

CRANES are looming all around west London as scores of new developments are given the green light.

It is fair to say that despite the economic downturn the construction business still has plenty of momentum.

As the skyline is set to be transformed over the next 25 years, with £500million plans to redevelop BBC Television Centre in Shepherd’s Bush, the Thames Tunnel imminent and the Earls Court regeneration ploughing ahead, Fulham Enterprise Studio has its sights on an industry still crying out for young talent.

The £1m school, which has joined the Fulham College Federation of Fulham Cross Girls and Fulham College Boys, was opened in September last year by Prince Andrew, patron of the Studio Schools Trust.

It specialises in construction and production arts, and also offers courses in business, administration and finance, and IT.

The studio school is a new concept in education for 14 to 19-year-olds. It is arguably not too different to the technical colleges of the 1960s, with pupils learning vocational, hands-on skills to gain BTec and City of Guilds qualifications.

But a key difference is academic subjects remain at the core of the curriculum until the sixth form – all pupils must complete GCSEs in English, maths and science – and the strong links with businesses.

“We don’t consider vocational as dumbing down, these are high-level qualifications they can take it to degree level,” explained Bernie Peploe, executive principal of Fulham College Federation. “We’re making sure our students are prepared for the world of work.”

The studio’s 37 students – it hopes to reach its full capacity of 360 in the coming years – compete to win paid work placements for two days a week, with the prospect of jobs or apprenticeships an increasing reality.

Its construction partners include Willmott Dixon and the Thames Tunnel, while arts students have worked with the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith and BBC radio.

Mrs Peploe added: “It’s a more kinesthetic type of learning, more hands-on, active learning, as well as the core curriculum.

“We’re really excited at the model, which makes students fit for work when they arrive. Our school works with a company and by the end of work experience they’re prepared to offer them a job.”

As youth employment has reached nearly one million, it is vital to select a specialism which will provide a real chance of a job in the near future, but it must also be flexible and evolve as the jobs market changes.

Maureen Ward, project director at the studio, said: “You have to be niche. If you’re not specialist, then you’re not a studio school. If we find there are no longer jobs for one of our specialisms, we will review the curriculum.

“It’s not about taking students down a route with no job prospects. But we know there will be construction opportunities in west London for at least the next 25 years.

“In the future, we will look to health and social care, but not childcare, as that sector is saturated, and care for the elderly.”

In contrast to the usual college workshop where students make samples on a worktop, construction students at Fulham Enterprise, taught by former industry professionals, have built their own replica flat, including stud walls, plumbing and lighting, while working under real industry safety instructions and specifications.

And the course is not limited to building. Students learn about the whole industry from architecture to project management, quantity surveying and planning law. It is all about preparing them for employment.

As a result, students are confident, creative and business-minded. They manage their own enterprise projects from conception to production and sales. One group for example, came up with the idea to build bird boxes, which they sell in the Age UK charity shop in Shepherd’s Bush.

Perry Teague, 14, who is on the student development board, said: “I think people are getting more confident, since we started here people are coming up with their own ideas and we’re managing our own projects.”

Mrs Ward added: “We’re keeping an eye on employment routes either to university and to jobs or straight into jobs at 18. For our kids, the higher university fees are really prohibitive so we have to look at different routes to success.

“We’re not saying don’t go to university, but if it’s not for you we can find another way to employment through the studio school concept.”

There are still sixth form places available for September. For more information call 020 7381 3606 or visit www.fulhamenterprise.net .