Enterprise - not a subject more a way of life

Business and Enterprise is the specialism of Manchester Academy and it is studied as a subject. However, if it is limited to this I know we will not have done enough to develop our students as enterprising citizens.

The emphasis on Enterprise at Manchester Academy is on developing the characteristics of Enterprise among students through as many different formal and informal contexts as possible.

• Enterprising people have skills and attitudes that serve them well in all aspects of life. It is difficult to find a person who is both enterprising and negative.
• Enterprising people not only see opportunities, they also have the confidence, initiative, resilience and perseverance to benefit from those opportunities.
• Enterprising people are able to self evaluate and have the knowledge of what they need to learn in order to make the most of the opportunities they have seized.
• Enterprising people are more likely to have high expectations and aspirations for themselves and others.
• Enterprising people are more likely to be entrepreneurial.
• Enterprising people are more likely to be good team workers and employees.
• Enterprising people are more likely to be good team workers and employees.

Some of our students seem to have been born with the Enterprise gene! They have endured the most difficult times but have not allowed those difficulties to be excuses for not achieving. They need to be given wider contexts in which to develop and refine their skills.Others need to be supported to become independent and self reliant so they have the confidence to meet challenges and persevere to overcome them rather than expect someone else to do it for them.We do not see enterprise as being just about short term employment. It is about employability in the long term.

In 20 years time our students may be doing jobs that don't yet exist. E4E has attracted national interest and student involvements is now at all Key Stages – 3, 4 and 5.