One-off workshop: You're Fired!

This one-off workshop is perfect for students in Key Stage 3 and above. Before starting, it’s useful to ask students whether they have watched The Apprentice on TV. If not, they might want to watch an episode to be introduced to the show’s main concepts. Begin by talking about the different elements of the show:

• The introduction of each candidate.
• The process of candidates being placed into two groups, with each given a task. These are often completed badly with lots of bickering among the contestants.
• The return to the boardroom, where we find out which team wins, contestants fight to stay in the game and someone gets fired.
• The losing contestant is sat in the car, explaining how they feel about being fired.

Ask for volunteers to take the roles of Lord Sugar’s two aides during this workshop.

Introducing the apprentices

Working in groups of three to four, students decide on a name and character for the contestant they are going to play, trying this out with the members of their group by interacting with each other’s characters. Next, each student comes forward one at a time, introducing themselves to the class and telling us a bit about themselves: their name, age, current job, why they want to be Lord Sugar’s next apprentice etc.

The students taking the roles of Lord Sugar’s aides work together during this exercise, taking the lead to come forward and introduce themselves as a pair.

Discussion points

• What sort of personality will your character have? Will they show leadership qualities or be a follower, trying to agree with everyone and eager to please?
• Body language: consider your stance, posture and the way your character walks. Do they burst into a room, commanding the space?
• Facial expressions such as: narrowing eyes and sneering to indicate disagreeing with an opinion, or adopting an exaggerated, false smile to appear friendly.
• The way your character talks: are they loud or quietly spoken? What type of accent do they have? Do they attempt to appear superior in the way they speak to others?

The task

Next, using the teacher in the role of Lord Sugar, introduce the treasure hunt task. This task involves contestants being placed in two groups: each group must choose a team leader and come up with a name for their group. Contestants then travel around town looking for a set list of objects within a given amount of time. The winners are the team that manage to both purchase most of the items and spend the least amount of money. Make two lists of the following objects:

• Silver spoon
• Poetry book
• Teddy bear
• Scarf
• Pair of socks

Place two of each of these items around the room using tables as shop counters and use a couple of willing adults to play the parts of shop keepers for students to haggle with. Students needed to buy the items as inexpensively as possible and keep a list of how much they spent on their purchases. The two helpers were each given a group to observe, making notes of good and bad decisions, leadership qualities and ability to work as part of a team. Of course, students can choose to be completely unlikeable or completely take over every task. Remind students that this activity is all about characterisation and the interaction between characters, reminding students to keep in character throughout. Give this activity a strict time limit. 10 minutes is a good starting point. Stop the action at random points during the task to spotlight groups for others to observe.

Discussion points

• How does your character perform under pressure?
• Are they tempted to cheat? Or blame a bad decision on a teammate?
• Is their character a team player or do they act up to Lord Sugar’s helpers when they realise they are being observed?

Back in the boardroom

With students sitting on chairs in their respective teams using the teacher in the role as Lord Sugar addressing one team at a time, the aides deliver their updates on the teams. After discussing their performances during the treasure hunt, the teacher (Lord Sugar) declares the winning and losing team. The losing team captain then chooses two members of their team to come back into the boardroom with them to thrash out the final decision, with eventually one member being told, ‘You’re fired’. All the remaining students watch the scene.

Discussion points

• Does your character become increasingly frustrated and annoyed?
• Does your character blatantly lie about what went on during the task?
• How does your character change the way they speak when faced with confrontation? Does their voice become higher pitched? Do they start to lose their posh accent? Do they stand up and shout?

Final scene

Put the losing contestant and captain of the winning team in the hot seat, asking how they felt about being voted out of the show and heading the winning team respectively. Do they feel angry? Do they feel the decision was unfair? Who do they feel should have been voted out?

End of workshop discussion

Finish the workshop by bringing together everyone to discuss the activities they have taken part in. Which moments did the students enjoy the most?