Home / About / News / Sectors / Solutions / CSR / Case Studies / Careers / Contact / Blog / Thistley Hough Partnership / About Our History Our Vision and Mission Our Supply Chain Memberships Accreditations Training Our Sponsorships Thistley Hough Partnership Accreditations / We have formed a partnership with Thistley Hough Academy, in Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent, as part of Business in the Community’s (BITC) flagship education programme, Business Class. Using an action plan built with the help of BITC, we aim to help the academy in a range of priority areas, including leadership and governance, the curriculum, enterprise and employability. In partnership, we are looking at how industry and the education sector can work alongside each other to better prepare youngsters for their future working lives. Our chairman Stuart Seddon, who is a member of BITC’s Regional Leadership Board, chairs BITC’s Staffordshire Business Class Cluster, which aims to support eight schools in disadvantaged communities in Staffordshire. BITC matches each school within the cluster of eight with a local business, and we are delighted to have been matched with Thistley Hough. Business Class aims to create a sea change in the way businesses work with secondary schools by creating long-term sustainable partnerships. A representative from Novus has joined the academy’s Governors, while the academy’s Principal is being mentored by the Novus chairman. Heads of departments at Novus partner with school heads to share best practice and some pupils work with a mentor from Novus. We have established skills development opportunities for pupils at the school, including skills taster days, training, work experience, interview sessions and mentoring and we are supporting the development of a school farm and allotment. Novus is committed to inspiring teachers and pupils at Thistley Hough, and we will draw in our other partners to support the academy, and hold monthly and quarterly meetings between us to evaluate the progress of our pledge. Stuart Seddon said: “It is important that lessons in the classroom are not only relevant to life in the world of work but also to the young people themselves. We are confident that Novus can make a great contribution to staff and pupils at the school and we look forward to working as partners to bring positive results and opportunities for all involved with the academy.” Holly Hartley, Principal at Thistley Hough Academy, said: "Novus has a distinguished record of providing sustainable employment nationwide from its base in Stoke and Thistley Hough Academy is delighted to be able to forge a long term partnership with a firm that can provide great insight and opportunities for our pupils. “We have been greatly encouraged by their practical support and are already seeing tangible benefits, including the development of a new school farm on part of our superb nine-and-a-half hectare estate." Find out more about Business in the Communtiy here: www.bitc.org.uk Keep up to date with Thistley Hough Academy on the school's website: www.thistleyhough.stoke.sch.uk About Our History Our Supply Chain About Memberships Accreditations Training Our Vision and Mission Our Sponsorships Thistley Hough Partnership Solutions Reactive Maintenance Planned Maintenance Refurbishment Cyclical Painting & Repair Solutions Projects Sectors Housing Education Healthcare Hotel & Leisure Commercial & Retail Local Authorities Heritage & Ecclesiastical Sectors CSR Community Environment Workplace Marketplace Case Studies Gallery News Press Release Careers Recruitment Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy and Cookies