Workshops and Masterclasses
Keep your Fork workshop series designed for Y10-13
Keep your Fork was set up by principal consultant Faye Smith. Click here to read more about Faye.
Sheffield- based trainer Faye has developed these workshops over the past twenty years of going into schools- analysing what skills, attitude and knowledge today’s employers are looking for in school leavers and imparting that information in a fun, participative and engaging way. Typically, KYF find 80% of the students rate the training 9 or 10 out of 10 and 100% recommend it to their peers. Most students feel 80- 100% prepared to tackle their range after the workshop.
“Faye is both an inspiration and a breath of fresh air. Her dynamic approach makes the pupils sit up and take notice.She challenges them to overcome their inhibitions and examine 'self' in a way that they would not necessarily do for teachers with whom they are familiar. She has spoken at Birkdale for the past ten years and every time she brings something new and interesting to her presentation. I would recommend her without hesitation.”
Helen Parsons, Head of Sixth Form
Creating Confidence
‘Creating Confidence’ workshops help learners take a close look at how self esteem is created and the causes of poor self image. The Creating Confidence workshop was commissioned by schools committed to giving students approaching GCSEs or sixth form the self-belief necessary to succeed and tools to deal with self doubt and negative peer pressure. Your students discover the twenty vital keys to building a positive self image from the inside out and the outside in, while getting vital perspective on life. Workshops are all delivered in principal consultant Faye Smith’s inimitable highly interactive and inspiring style, described by staff of one of Britain’s leading comprehensives as “training as theatre!” Workshops can be delivered for whole year groups, or for small groups of selected students. We have run female only workshops as young as Y8 and underachievers workshops successfully on request. A typical workshop is around two hours and usually aimed at Y10 and above.
What have students said about Creating Confidence?
“The presenter was excellent and the session helped me be more confident. I am going to put an effort into healthy self esteem, be more confident and give compliments to everyone. I have gone from 60-99% confident. Others should hear this because it’s a good thing to know in your life" Dinu
"This talk was brilliant. Next year’s students should hear this and get longer. I enjoyed learning how to be good with others in life. The presenter is a life lesson. It was excellent, 9/10" Prosper
“It was good, fun and exciting. I enjoyed listening to what Faye said, She was fun, happy and encouraging. I’m going to be more positive about myself and others. I’d like to hear more about how to build good relationships. This talk was more important than others I’ve heard, my confidence has grown from 10-100%, 10/10!” Hibaq
What have teachers said?
“Thank you so much for your wonderful Creating Confidence presentation on Wednesday to my induction course. The feedback I received is that it was very helpful and certainly challenged individuals to think about themselves in a different way. I shall look forward to seeing you in the Autumn for some interview techniques! Thanks again." Helen Parsons- Head of Sixth Form
And why is a seminar on confidence needed? Look no further than a revealing Prince’s Youth Business Trust survey published earlier this year, showing one in ten young people do not find life worth living, Read the report summary here
Marketing Yourself
‘Marketing Yourself’ workshops cover personal presentation on paper and in person. Learners gain skills in creating powerful CVs, UCAS or Oxbridge applications and covering letters, introducing themselves memorably, being better communicators, using body language most effectively to build personal rapport and charisma, stressing their strengths, looking the part and creating sixty-second sales pitches for themselves. Read more here.
Faye’s first workshop launched in 2002, “Marketing Yourself” was the workshop she always wished she’d had at school. It equips young people to impress a wide range of selectors and interviewers, from university admissions panels to Oxford Dons, to employers requiring part time workers, management trainees or apprentices. From personal statements and CVs to making a great entrance and superior rapport building skills, this workshop is now in its seventh year and as much in demand as ever. A typical workshop is around two to three hours and aimed at Y10 and above. It may be worth noting that some schools have funded these workshops under their Aim Higher/ Gifted and Talented or enhancement funds, others like their whole sixth forms to have the opportunity to go through the programme.
What have students said about "Marketing Yourself"?
"Completely defied my expectations. Was expecting to 'break out the razor blades'- absolutely didn't!" Eloise
"I most enjoyed Faye’s interaction with the audience and eye contact with everyone. It seemed very personal. She was clear, easy to understand and intelligent. I think SHAPE will be most useful and I’m going to prepare questions and answers for the interviewer. The workshop was comprehensive, interesting and positive. Longer and far more detailed than usual" Douglas
“Helpful, enthusiastic, engaging…definitely in the 7% of stimulating communication! The talk was excellent, next year’s students should definitely get to hear it, especially if they will be attending an interview or have never had one.” Katie
“Fantastic, inspiring, most useful talk all year.” Ruth
“I really enjoyed the seminar because it was practical and the presenter was excellent because she made things understandable. I have been inspired to look for volunteer work in order to learn more and to add the experience to my CV.” Hafsah
"I have a passion to help those who need help and now I know what I need to do for me to achieve my goal. Learning how to make yourself stand out was really useful, now I’m going to find volunteer work. The talk was really good, it more than met my objectives, 10/10" Sama
"Very inspirational. Good explaining in the time given. We wanna see you on The Apprentice! Faye- I loved you! It was brilliant! Pleasure to be with you! 100/10!" Students from Silverdale School
What have students said about Selling yourself in writing?
“The talk was motivating and inspiring, and in a different league to previous talk”
"The presenter was awesome and it more than met my expectations in helping me to make many changes. I’ve gone from feeling 0% prepared to being 100% prepared to write my CV, 10/10” Claudia
“I thought the talk was impressive, helpful and constructive and the presenter was fun and joyful. I found the ‘so what’ part really useful in helping me to make my CV explain why my personality and experience is beneficial to the employer. Compared to other talks, it was brilliant and should possibly be longer” Joshua
What have teachers said about Selling yourself in writing?
“Excellent content, fast-paced, and kept the interest of all students throughout” Christine Carney, Assistant SENCO
“The use of real life stories kept it personal and was engaging and inspiring to our students” Becky McCairns, Assistant Head of Sixth Form
NEW! Faye has just been commissioned to create a workshop helping young people make the most of work experience. Available September 2009.
PATH4LIFE
Staff and students alike love Path4Life. This easily adapted modular programme offers a unique, practical and positive foundation for developing a set of life skills which gives students a clear understanding of who they, where they are going and how they can get there- which is crucial in making informed choices about career, relationships and other life paths. The programme is suitable for students of all abilities from high achievers to those who have been excluded from main stream education. Path inspires and equips them for lives of purpose, confidence and achievement. With the current emphasis on personalised learning, Path4Life is based on the premise that ‘self understanding is the key to success’. The sessions can stand alone or work well with other established programmes.
What have teachers said about Path?
“We were intrigued by Path4Life and invited Ruth to present her programme to our business studies group. After going through the material, our students, who are not easily impressed it has to be said, suggested that the whole of the sixth form, and indeed the whole school, would benefit. As a result, we have already extended the programme to the sixth form over the next few months. The benefits I saw, were that by the end of the session, each student had a new clarity on their own personality and style, a clear understanding of the importance of teams as well as a personal mission statement- all vital in business, especially for those who plan to become entrepreneurs.”
Kathy McKay, Head of Business and Enterprise
What have students said about Path4Life?
"The session was a lesson in self worth, excellent"
"I found the session helpful; it helped me realise that I am not driven by success but rather by being happy and content with my life"
"Good session, really enjoyable. The speaker was clear and well spoken. The elements used to describe ourselves were useful"
"An insightful, helpful and eye opening session that adds to your self affirmation for university and beyond"
"I have learnt I am a wind-fire type of person, meaning I am bold, assertive, talkative and enthusiastic, and work best in a team. I also learnt where I am going and how I am going to get there. My mission is to embrace life, inspire others and sacrifice my time for a better future with honour"
"I have learnt what type of person I am, what qualities I have and what are needed in certain situations"
"My mission is to dream, achieve and inspire potential and commitment in myself and others, I thought that Faye was a good teacher and I have learnt about business and what personality I am"
My mission is to communicate, appreciate and live life to the full for myself and others. I discovered my personality type and my mission fit perfectly together - 'my mission is to inspire and encourage healing and respect in myself and others'. I want to be a sports physiotherapist and now I've got a vision plan to make it happen. Adam, NEET student
To read Adam’s heartwarming true story from sporadic attendance at an inclusion unit to six months of 100% attendance, click here