05 November 2007

The two-year course offers students an innovative study framework and the opportunity to acquire internationally recognised qualifications from the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) alongside practical international experience.

Students follow a number of core modules which focus on the following four areas - Managing and leading people, Managing information, Managing activities and Managing resources.

Teaching and learning is fully participative with a mix of short presentations, video analysis, questionnaires, group exercises, computer simulations, written assignments and discussions.

The course also includes real international leadership experience in Poland working alongside other sixth formers. There are plans to extend this to include overseas leadership experience in either Asia or Africa.

Steve Tidball, Head of Economics and Business Studies at Ipswich School is the creator of the International Leadership Programme, he explained:

'We believe we are the first school in the U.K. to establish such a programme which delivers the skills that young people will need in a rapidly changing and increasingly international labour market.

'Leadership is seen as a set of acquirable skills that can be learned, practiced and improved - it is also about inspiring others by word and example to achieve purposeful change. By building the ILM qualifications into the International Leadership Programme our students benefit from real business leadership skills which will serve them throughout their careers.'

Sixth formers from the International Leadership Programme were keen to give their feedback:

Harriet Fletcher said:

'The International Leadership Programme has been a really enjoyable experience and has opened lots of opportunities for me. I found that having chosen all science subjects at A Level, it was a welcome change to be doing something business orientated for one afternoon a week. The ILM elements have been an enriching and interesting part of my sixth form life and I would recommend them to anyone who is planning to go into the business world in the future.'

Alex Yusaf said:

'The ILM qualifications gave me an insight into the business world that I hadn't had before.  In a way, they gave me a taste of business and management without throwing me in at the deep end.
'I have already used skills from the course in my everyday life, especially the time management skills, which I used during my exams when I needed to prioritise my revision.'

Ipswich School Sixth Form

The final two years at Ipswich School offer a richly rewarding experience that prepares students for university and beyond. There is a strong feeling of co-operation between teachers and students and the sense of a sixth form community is fostered by the shared facilities of the sixth form centre and by a programme of social events. Sixth formers are encouraged to think for themselves and to take on responsibility for their own work within a framework of support and guidance from teachers and pastoral tutors.

Students are given opportunities to develop their leadership skills and to assume positions of responsibility. Each year we welcome new students from other schools who wish to take advantage of the special expertise we offer and to gain a head start in preparing for university and life beyond school.

ILM

ILM is the largest provider of management education qualifications in Europe, building the skills of over 90,000 managers and leaders each year.

All ILM qualifications are designed to deliver practical business benefit to the individual, their team and the organisation they work for. ILM's qualifications are delivered by 2,000 further education colleges, universities, training providers and companies in the UK and globally.

ILM is the professional membership body of choice for over 25,000 forward thinking managers and leaders providing a wide range of member benefits, support and development opportunities throughout their career.

The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) is part of the international City & Guilds group.