Zack
Zack is leaving LVS Oxford to begin a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Customer Service with Blenheim Palace, a champion employer of inclusion and diversity within the workplace. Zack is first person to be offered this exciting and life changing opportunity, being chosen after having successfully completed two years’ work experience, organised for him by LVS Oxford.
“LVS Oxford has helped me find my purpose. When I first joined the school I was very nervous and shy. I struggled to talk to anyone or socialise, but the school helped me start opening up to people and I became comfortable in my environment, which removed my anxiety,” says Zack, explaining that school has helped him to fundamentally develop as a person.
“LVS Oxford has been a bit like a pair of training wheels on a bike. You get better and better, and when they’re taken off, you almost don’t notice but are able to do so many more things.”
“I enjoy the studies that we do here. They’re in a small classroom and you don’t feel like school is dumping every kind of work on you. You get the help to move slowly up the ladder, at a good pace, with breaks to allow you to rest your mind. Maths is my favourite subject because the teachers have helped me to understand it – I have not been left feeling as if I’m having to dive head first into a pool.”
Zack began his work placement at Blenheim Palace in 2022, facilitated by LVS Oxford’s work placement scheme. The programme enables students to gain valuable experience within the various businesses and organisations it collaborates with, and helps the students develop new and essential life, and employability, skills essential for a successful future.
“Having completed two years’ work experience, I feel ready for the next step. I know the people at Blenheim who I will be working with and I’m excited to see what new opportunities will arise too.” Zack’s mentor during his work experience, Lorraine, will continue to support him throughout his apprenticeship.
The apprenticeship will focus on customer service and Zack is looking forward to learning every aspect of how to deal with customers – evidence of how far Zack has come since joining the school in Year 7.
“It’s something I thought I would never be able to do, because you are always having to serve different people,” says Zack, who has attained several qualifications at LVS Oxford, including ICT Level 1, English and maths Level 1 as well as cooking and essential life skills.