Case studies

For the last year, the students have been benefiting from a structured literacy and numeracy programme delivered by mentors who are employees at the law firm. As a reward for working hard throughout the year, the students who have been mentored each week of term by the law firm's staff were invited to the firm's  city-centre premises in Park Row. On arrival, the students were treated to lunch in the Boardroom followed by a presentation by staff on the different career opportunities available within the firm. These ranged from jobs in the legal departments to careers in maintenance and security, reception, catering and IT. Finally, the students teamed up with their mentors and were given a full tour of the building.  Peter Nuttall, the school's relationship manager with the firm, stated that "the majority of the pupils would have no other opportunity to experience something of this kind. Our pupils can also see that getting a job in an organisation like Pinsent Masons is a realistic aspiration". This is the second year that the firm has conducted work place visits for the students and has now formally integrated the visit into the third term of the mentoring programme. It has already become renowned within the school and the students look forward to it all year!