Tables turned as students run school for the day in friendly takeover
Tables were turned on the teachers of a Shropshire school when the students staged a friendly takeover.
Newport’s Burton Borough School has held its third annual takeover day, where pupils were given the chance to run the halls. The event, which coincided with national careers week, allowed students to apply for various jobs within the school.
Everything was up for grabs, from pastoral care to PE teacher, kitchen staff and even the principal.
The day provided a valuable insight into the real-world job market for pupils, who had the opportunity to participate in governor meetings, lead lessons and plan student policies. Children were required to undergo a full application and realistic interview process that included a grilling from the school governors.
Applications opened in December for pupils to bid for jobs spanning the whole school, from cooks and teachers right to the top job.
"Every single job is up for grabs," Burton Borough's lead practitioner in whole school teaching and learning, Lisa Kane said: "They could apply for whatever they wanted to apply for.
"Whether they fancied being the principal, teacher, admin staff, kitchen staff or taking on a pastoral role. There were jobs available all across the school."
Lisa added: "After shortlisting, the students had to have an interview with myself and the chair and vice-chair of governors.
"They had a notification if they were successful, we might have offered them a different role they were more suited to, or given them feedback to help them improve.
"One student that had received feedback, reapplied and was given of the senior roles."
While the students and teachers both embrace the opportunity to switch roles, the day provides an important insight into their futures for the youngsters.
Lisa said: "They're doing real life jobs. Some of them have been in a senior leadership team meeting this morning, they've been discussing student policies, there's a governors' meeting later.
"It's been really good, they're really excited."
The school opened in 1957 and named after a local man J.S. Burton Borough, who was a high sheriff and deputy lieutenant for Shropshire and was the first governor of the school.
