Re-engaging Disaffected Key Stage 4 GRT Learners
Strand B of the project
Whilst considerable progress has been made in the primary sector, Traveller transfer rates have been variable across England and large numbers of pupils also drop out during Key Stage 3, with families, sadly, often using the right to Home Education as a smokescreen for withdrawing their children from school. There seem to be a variety of reasons for withdrawal which include bullying, the perceived lack of relevance of the secondary curriculum and cultural dissonance.
Strand B of ELAMP started from 2006 and set out to address this different kind of interrupted learning challenge. Again a number of TES became involved and each set out to work with small groups of learners in order to re-engage them. The terms of reference were also broadened to include disaffected pupils who were still at school but in danger of leaving. As noted above all these learners were provided with laptops, internet access and a specially designed VLE. Materials were also provided on CD-ROM as wireless connectivity was problematic for some learners. During the last two years of the project there were over 100 learners, supported by 21 TES. The learning programme itself was centred on a series of ‘challenges’, which were units of work intended to enable participants to obtain ‘Wider Key Skills’ qualifications. These challenges focused on carefully chosen topics like ‘Looking after an animal’, of ‘Becoming and ICT expert’ with direct relevance to the interests of the learners. Tutors also encouraged the exploration of post-16 and vocational options.
Again the progress of this approach can be traced through the Strand B annual reports (see below) and the final report focuses on an initiative called ‘Back on Track’, involving 12 of the 21 partners. This reports summarizes lessons learned for good practice, as well as confirming the importance of ensuring that tutors have dedicated time to carry out their role. Some 60% of learners who completed the year achieved at least two Wider Key Skills, and of the ten participants who were in Y11, five went on to college, three were still pursing college options when the final report was written and one had joined the family business.
As the ELAMP initiative came to an end the approach was taken over, and indeed enhanced, by the Ormiston Educaton Trust. It has been renamed as the ‘Bridge Builder’ option within the Trust’s ‘You Choose’ programme. Further details are given in the You Choose section of this website.
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