Students who recently completed personalised learning courses enjoyed an end of year celebration in recognition of their achievement.

The Foundation Learning programme was set up by the Sutton Education Business Partnership in September 2010, and gives students the chance to maximise their potential through a structured course.

At the start of the academic year, 25 students from five Sutton schools were selected to learn employability skills and gain a better understanding of the vocational pathways available to them.

The students were chosen after being identified by their teachers as having behavioural issues, being of low ability or at risk of failing their GCSE’s, with poor attendance.

Project coordinator Carole Best-Small, said: “If it wasn’t for this project many of these students may have not achieved GCSE’s at A-C grade at school, or would have risked being expelled from school for bad behaviour.”

The programme combined a day in training at either Carshalton College, or at plastering and construction company SILC.

Students also enjoyed a days work experience with a local employer in industries including painting and decorating, hairdressing, plastering, childcare, mechanics and construction.