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Introduction

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Empower Your Students for Success Through Pizza with Purpose

Pizza with Purpose is a new and exciting opportunity, born from the legacy of our award-winning Seeds of Change project. This ambitious initiative at Wilberforce College empowered young people through hands-on experiences focused on health, well-being, and community engagement. Drawing upon this wealth of experience and over 40 years of combined teaching expertise, Pizza with Purpose transforms the best elements of the Seeds of Change project into a range of fun-fuelled alternative education experiences.

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Pizza with Purpose offers a dynamic and innovative alternative education experience designed for Key Stage 2 and above, adaptable for both academic high achievers and students with special educational needs and disabilities, with a particular focus on meeting the updated Gatsby Benchmarks, especially Benchmark 6: Experiences of the Workplace.

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Our exciting educational life and enterprise experiences build upon a legacy of empowering young people through hands-on activities that foster essential life skills, develop valuable work experience, and create a fun, engaging learning environment. 

These experiences are designed to bring the below benefits directly to schools, colleges and other settings:

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Valuable work experience

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Essential life skills development

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Creates a fun and engaging learning environment 

Pizza with Purpose demonstrates the pizza making process. Students then progress to making their own pizza using various key skills such as; communication, teamwork, budgeting and organisation.

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Pizza with Purpose gives students a progressive insight into the world of work. Students plan, prepare and cook up a treat for all at every occasion.  

a secondary school student preparing a fresh pizza

We also work at private functions, public events, and with community groups.

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Designed for Key Stage 2 and above, our experiences can be tailored to suit all abilities

About Us

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Drawing upon this wealth of experience and over 40 years of combined teaching expertise, Pizza with Purpose transforms the best elements of the Seeds of Change project into a range of fun-filled alternative education experiences. These experiences are designed to bring valuable work experience, essential life skills development, and a fun, engaging learning environment directly to schools, colleges, and other settings.

Tim Blackburn

Pizza with Purpose, Co-Founder

"Drawing on my 25 years as an A-level sociology teacher, I bring a deep understanding of how local cultures shape young people's self-perception and their place in the world. My 18 years working in East Hull have fuelled a passion to inspire students to look beyond perceived limitations, often imposed by poverty, and to recognise their potential for lifelong achievement. Building on a foundation of consistently high-quality teaching and the hands-on success of the award-winning Seeds of Change project, I'm excited to introduce the transformative power of Pizza with Purpose".

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Mandy Fall

Pizza with Purpose, Co-Founder

“Hull's persistently low life expectancy, a challenge intricately linked to poverty and limited aspirations, has long captured my attention. My experience teaching public health at a local Sixth Form College for several years has equipped me with a robust understanding of the health landscape in Hull and its neighbouring communities. The prospect of being a founding member of Pizza with Purpose truly excites me! This initiative presents a remarkable opportunity to integrate the cultivation of essential life and business skills with a meaningful engagement in addressing critical public health issues, all within a unified and compelling framework".

Pizza with Purpose is proudly part of the advisory and impact service offered by Y Focused. Under the leadership of Liz Winn, Y Focused shares our passion for education and empowering young people.

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Y Focused is dedicated to working with schools, colleges and businesses to raise standards and aspirations. Find out more about the work they do here: https://www.yfocused.co.uk/

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With this partnership, we are able to offer programs designed to support education providers with widening participation projects and ensure fully inclusive enrichment, progression and careers programs. Our shared goal is to connect everyone with the "why" behind their work, fostering engagement and empowering young people to reach their full potential.​

Why Pizza?

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Pizza is more than just a meal; it's a cultural icon that transcends borders and generations, fostering moments of shared joy and connection around the table. While often stereotyped as an unhealthy indulgence, Pizza with Purpose offers a transformative perspective, reimagining this beloved dish as a powerful catalyst for positive change. We champion the use of fresh, emphasising the creation of pizzas that nourish bodies and delight taste buds. Our approach extends beyond mere nutrition; we believe in empowering individuals to cultivate healthy lifestyles and proactive minds.

 

Building upon decades of invaluable teaching experience and the proven success of the Seeds of Change initiative, Pizza with Purpose is founded on the conviction that pizza can be an engaging and effective tool for education and community building. We envision a future where the simple act of making and sharing pizza becomes an opportunity for learning, collaboration, and growth.

 

We invite you to partner with Pizza with Purpose to bring this innovative approach to your school and witness firsthand its profound impact on your students. Together, we can empower them to thrive, cultivate a deeper understanding of healthy eating, and transform the learning experience into a vibrant and engaging adventure.

Secondary school students preparing a fresh pizza

Why Choose Us?

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Engaging and Interactive

Students learn through hands-on experience and real-world application, making learning fun and memorable. This shows great implementation with the quality of education framework

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Ofsted-Aligned

Our experiences promotes essential skills and values, including leadership, teamwork, communication, and healthy eating

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Flexible and Adaptable

Pizza with Purpose can be tailored to meet your school's unique needs and resources, supporting student with SEND

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Understanding of the Local Labour Market:

Our experiences can be adapted to highlight local food businesses and career opportunities  (Gatsby Benchmark 2)

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Personalised Career Guidance:

Our experiences provides opportunities for students to reflect on their skills and interests, and how they relate to potential career paths (Gatsby Benchmark 7)

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Additional Benefits

Develop Cultural Capital

Students explore new flavours, broadening their cultural horizons

​Support Pupils with SEND

Activities are adaptable to diverse needs, fostering inclusion and achievement

Boost Pupil Premium Impact

Provides valuable skills and experience to disadvantaged students​

Promote British Values

Teamwork fosters mutual respect and collaboration​

Enhance Pupil Engagement

Fun, interactive activities boost motivation and learning​

With over 40 years of combined teaching experience, Pizza with Purpose brings a wealth of experience from both the classroom and from running community events.

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Inspired by our desire to engage young people with real life work experience so that they can see beyond their immediate surroundings and into a future horizon, brimming with life enriching knowledge and self-confidence.

Experiences

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Pizza with Purpose offers a range of dynamic and engaging experiences that not only provide hands-on, interactive learning environments but also directly address Gatsby Benchmark 6, along with other relevant benchmarks and Ofsted requirements. 

 

All experiences are designed to be fun and highly engaging, tailored to meet the specific needs of any educational environment, catering to learners from Key Stage 2 and above, and adaptable for all levels and abilities, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

 

Below are 4 examples of the types of experiences we offer, all of which can be adapted. Please contact us to discuss your exact needs.

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The Slice of Life
Young Entrepreneur Experience - 6 weeks of work experience

This interactive, six-week experience  offers Key Stage 2 and above students, including high achievers and those with SEND, a hands-on learning journey aligned with Gatsby Benchmark 6. Students will develop leadership, teamwork, healthy eating habits, and social responsibility through active engagement. This menu of activities seamlessly integrates classroom learning with real-world application, culminating in a fundraising pizza-making celebration and a Certificate of Entrepreneurship.

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A Flexible Framework for Diverse Learners:

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As with all our experiences this option has an adaptable structure that ensures that all students, regardless of their learning style or ability, can actively participate and thrive.

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High Achievers: Can be challenged with more complex research tasks, advanced marketing strategies, in-depth financial analysis, and leadership roles within their teams. They can also explore the ethical and sustainability aspects of running a social enterprise.

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SEND Students: Benefit from hands-on activities, visual aids, simplified instructions, and opportunities for repetition. Tasks can be broken down into smaller, manageable steps, and peer support can be encouraged. Sensory elements of pizza making can be particularly engaging.

"The Slice of Life Young Entrepreneur Experience"

A Structured Pathway to a real work experience that counts

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Our flagship programme delivers a structured six-week journey designed to unlock the potential of young people. This consistent and progressive learning environment ensures the development of key skills (Gatsby Benchmark 1) and demonstrating a clear intent within the quality of education framework.

Program Outline

Key Benefits

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Meets Gatsby Benchmarks: Provides direct experiences of the workplace and employer encounters.

 

Aligns with Ofsted Requirements: Delivers high-quality careers and personal development education.

Develops Essential Skills: Fosters teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and financial literacy.

Promotes Inclusivity: Adaptable activities cater to a wide range of learning needs and abilities.

Enhances Engagement: Hands-on, real-world learning makes education fun and memorable.

Develop Cultural Capital: Students explore new flavours and gain insights into the food industry.

Boost Pupil Premium Impact: Provides valuable skills and experiences to disadvantaged students.

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Give your students a unique edge and foster an entrepreneurial spirit within your school. Contact us today to discover how The Slice of Life Young Entrepreneur Experience can transform learning for all your students.

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 Benchmarks and Requirements

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Pizza with Purpose is designed to align with the Gatsby Benchmarks and Ofsted requirements, ensuring students gain valuable experiences and develop essential skills. The highlighted experiences offer a glimpse into our diverse and adaptable programs. Please reach out to discuss your specific needs and how Pizza with Purpose can create a tailored and impactful learning journey for your students.

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Our programs met the following Gatsby Benchmarks and Ofsted Framework Requirements:

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Gatsby Benchmarks:

  • Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information

  • Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

  • Benchmark 5: Encounters with employers and employees

  • Benchmark 6: Experiences of workplaces

  • Benchmark 8: Personal guidance

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Ofsted Frameworks:

  • Quality of education (curriculum intent, implementation, and impact - providing a broad and balanced curriculum that prepares students for future success)

  • Personal development (developing students’ confidence, resilience, and independence; providing opportunities for them to understand how to be responsible, respectful, active citizens; providing effective careers guidance)

  • Behaviour and attitudes (promoting a positive learning environment)

 Testimonials

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The Seeds of Change project was a resounding success! Key achievements of the project included:

• A large health survey with Hull City Council

• A successful college launch supported by significant Big Lottery funding

• Curriculum integration with BTEC projects

• Engagement with local primary schools

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... The Seeds of Change project achieved national recognition: they were winners of the Sixth Form College Association’s ‘Enrichment and Employability’ award and were shortlisted for the local ‘Golden Apple Awards’. The project also received positive media publicity locally and was recognised specifically in the College’s 2018 Ofsted inspection report 

​Colin Peaks, Principal

Wilberforce Sixth Form College

Our work with Pizza with Purpose has been highly inspiring to our pupils as well as giving them a great sense of confidence, building teamwork and collaboration through the activities offered. It also encourages healthy eating for pupils through this life skill and also allowing them to be exposed to food they may not typically try in a way that is fun and they want to be hands on with. It is always a really positive experience which shows pupils their own potential.

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I would like to give special thanks to Tim and his team for giving our pupils such a great opportunity to flourish outside of the classroom and look forward to further collaboration.

​Stephen Logan, Principal

Healing Academy

Don't Hesitate,
Make Pizza with Purpose Today

Copyright 2025

Pizza with Purpose

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