STRATFORD MP Nadhim Zahawi visited Alcester Academy to meet instructors and students involved with education charity CVQO’s Schools Partnership Project.

Mr Zahawi spoke to 10 students about the Department of Education-funded programme to gain an understanding of how it has helped them.

Pupils spend one day per week on the vocational course and on completion they each receive a BTEC level one qualification in teamwork, personal skills and citizenship.

Mr Zahawi said: “This is a fantastic course that develops important skills for future life, including work skills, community awareness and family commitments. It helps develop teamwork and the passion to succeed in these young people.”

The qualification take core values and standards from a military ethos and aims to help students gain more confidence and self-belief.

Participants learn a variety of skills and competencies including teamwork, citizenship, volunteering and self-reliance.

Karen Buckthorp, assistant head teacher at Alcester Academy, said: “This is our second year running the CVQO course and it’s clear to see what a positive difference it has made to the students who have completed it.

“Often with young people, we find it is a case of finding the right techniques to unlock their potential – some respond better to classroom work, while others are more practical. All of them have something truly special to offer and it is organisations such as CVQO that help them realise it.”

Throughout this academic year, 36 schools across England will benefit from the scheme.

Education charity CVQO was chosen by the Department for Education to deliver training and an alternative route to employment for students disconnected from mainstream education.

The MP visited the school on Friday, November 21.