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The scheme started in 1999. St Albans School had just been
networked and we were a reference site for Viglen. We made
an application for Independent-State School Partnership
funding which capitalised on our city-centre location and
the fact that there were a number of primary schools within
easy walking distance. At that time, ICT provision in the
local primary sector was practically non-existent, as was
staff expertise. The application was successful, providing
a pump-priming grant of £30,000, which was deployed entirely
in providing St Peter's JMI with an ICT suite, much to the
envy of other local primary heads.
The scheme took its place alongside other service activities
(CCF, Community Service, etc) on a Friday afternoon. In
those days, half of St Peters' Y6 pupils would be brought
by their staff and a couple of our students up to our site,
while half a dozen other sixth formers stayed at St Peter's
to help out there. The two halves of the class would e-mail
each other, send attachments and, under the guidance of
their young tutors and one specialist member of our staff,
generally become ICT-literate. The primary school staff
benefited from this as INSET as much as did their pupils.
The original scheme snowballed and, whilst no more Government
money was forthcoming, three more primary schools came on
board and, over the next few years, three more. The range
of activities expanded and, these days, those in which sixth
formers are involved can range from brass rubbing and MFL
to Design Technology and football. It's now the most popular
(and populous) Friday afternoon service option. Only lack
of capacity and a means of transport prevent us being able
to accommodate several other primary schools that have expressed
a wish to be involved.
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To St Albans students: Almost all have developed personally
through the responsibility of having a young person depending
on them. Some have discovered a vocation. Other pragmatic
benefits include UCAS forms, DoE service section, etc
To the primary pupils: St Peter's OFSTED report in 2000
said: "The co-operation with a local secondary school has
resulted in sixth formers regularly coming into school to
help some younger pupils with their work. This is strongly
supporting their progress. Younger pupils, for example,
those in Year 4, are already approaching the standards expected
of Year 6 in some aspects of their work and are on line
to achieve very well by the time they leave school."
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