Full marks for Coca-Cola Education Centres

Six times a week, three Coca-Cola factories around the country throw open their doors to local students, offering them a glimpse into the practical world of work. Hosted in purpose-built Education Centres, every year, over 13,000 secondary school students visit the factories for curriculum focused tours, helping schools fulfil a government requirement to provide five days of work-related learning a year.

Did you know? The first Coca-Cola Education Centre, in Edmonton, opened in 2001. Two further centres have since opened in Wakefield and East Kilbride, in 2002 and 2004

The Education Centres are well regarded by teachers and students for their fresh, practical approach to learning. Structured to help students understand how curriculum subjects apply in the real world, the sessions have proved so popular that our waiting list is now up to six months long.

Covering all bases
Coca-Cola endeavours to make sure visits are a meaningful experience for students. Qualified teachers based at each centre deliver curriculum focused lesson plans. School teachers who want to visit can get in touch and explain their needs - particular subject areas they want to cover, for example - and the education team tailor the session accordingly.

Feedback shows that the work pays off. Teachers say that just one of the sessions covers every element of a business studies course, so they can keep referring back to the visit to enrich their delivery of the curriculum. The students are able to develop skills and capabilities that will benefit them in the working environment.

Janet Sharkey is head of business studies at Kettlethorpe High School, Wakefield. She says of the Education Centres: "We are immensely fortunate that school groups are readily welcomed, giving pupils a valuable taste of the world of work and satisfying personal, career and educational needs. It was an enriching and memorable experience."

A typical visit involves a curriculum focused presentation, followed by a factory tour of the high-speed production lines and an opportunity to ask questions of our employees. Students then put their learning into practice with a range of curriculum-based activities.

Popular choice
Students can relate to our brands and products, and are enthused to make connections between what they learn in the classroom, real-life business and manufacturing practice, and a product bought at their local shop.

The Education Centres have secured the Community Partnership and Manufacturing Excellence awards, and the BITC Big Tick accreditation, recognising the contribution that the Centres are making to schools and to our local communities.

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