Portsmouth and Hampshire education leaders look to give teenagers a ‘Flying Start’ with new online initiative

Launched today , the Flying Start initiative has been established to provide guidance on education and career paths which aims to fill the void created since schools were closed to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Created with Portsmouth College, Highbury College, Havant and South Downs College and the Southern Universities Network, the website provides information on further education, apprenticeships and future employment.

Simon Barrable, principal at Portsmouth College, said: ‘Flying Start is a great idea to bring much-needed support and learning materials to Year 11s across the city. We are delighted to have been able to make this happen, working with a wide range of local partners.’

Principal of Havant and South Downs College, Mike Gatson, added: ‘We are very pleased to be supporting Year 11 pupils across Portsmouth as they begin to make the transition from school to college, an apprenticeship or employment.’

Education leaders felt some form of structured support was vital to provide students with reassurance ‘during this period of uncertainty’.

After being forced to leave the security and familiarity of school early, many pupils now face an anxious wait for GCSE grades after seeing their examination programmes obliterated in an attempt to halt the spread of the dangerous disease. To help teenagers cope with their anxieties, the website also includes a section dedicated to supporting mental health and wellbeing.

Cabinet member for education, Cllr Suzy Horton, said: ‘The launch of Flying Start is essential. Providing information at such an important moment in student’s lives is crucial at any time, but especially at the moment when the normal processes have been disrupted.’

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As well as information about college specific courses, the resource, which has been created from student feedback, incorporates interactive activities including skills exercises and creating an online CV.

Penny Wycherley, interim principal at Highbury College, said: ‘It’s fantastic to be a part of the Flying Start initiative. The resources included are really invaluable to anyone looking to get set for college, explore their career options or improve their study skills.’

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