EAST Cornwall pasty giant Ginsters has teamed up with Tavistock College to take part in a ground-breaking educational scheme aimed at boosting male students? achievement rates. Ginsters is supporting 25 male students from the college, who are taking part in in a Government-funded pilot scheme called RACE ? Raising Achievement through Challenge and Enterprise. The scheme is the first of its kind to be funded by the Department for Education and Skills?s Leading Edge Programme. The year-long programme seeks to raise the achievement of boys aged 14 to 15 by focussing on developing new skills, raising confidence and self-esteem, therefore encouraging a positive attitude to school and learning. Historically, girls outperform boys at school ? the scheme aims to motivate boys with their studies. Ginsters offered a creative, business focussed day for 25 boys of mixed ability, where they learned all aspects of the business at its Samworth Acacemy, a state-of-the-art creative learning centre. Tavistock College teacher Sally Hubbard, who is leading the project, said: ?We are delighted with the boys? reaction to the RACE scheme. ?They are totally committed, have risen to our high expectations and are behaving as exemplary role models. ?The scheme has definitely enhanced a sense of responsibility and fostered a positive attitude towards school work, through the range of business-focussed, outdoor education and leadership exercises we organised as part of the programme.? Nicky Taylor, training and communication manager at Ginsters, said: ?The boys have enjoyed instruction from specialist marketing, finance, packaging and trained chef personnel ? and designed a savoury product from scratch, and took it through all key stages of its development to a finished product. The visit to Ginsters follows a wide variety of experiences organised as part of the RACE programme ? so far the students have been caving, climbing, scuba diving , followed a first aid course and been surfing. Some of the students are pictured with some of Ginsters? products.
