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In 2005 we received DfES funding for 3 years to run a partnership
project with 5 local state schools. We were keen to work
with a cross-section of state schools including some from
relatively deprived inner-city areas and one from a supposedly
more affluent rural community. We cover three LEAs in the
partnership, linking state schools that would never normally
work together.
In the first year we are running eight after-school activities,
culminating in a three day summer school (non-residential).
All activities are based around groups of approximately
8-10 pupils, mixing the schools to promote integration and
working with new people. One aspect is to broaden horizons
by giving pupils 'taster' sessions in a range of academic
subjects not normally taught to this age group, such as
Psychology, Politics, Philosophy, Greek and Astronomy. Sessions
are as active as possible, with challenges set to the pupils.
We have visited a local observatory and the City Learning
Centre. The final two sessions will be focused around independent
learning projects, which the pupils will select from a bank
of possible topics. Plans for the summer school are currently
being developed but will include a visit to Durham University,
a more ambitious independent learning project and presentations
to parents.
Teething problems have included managing the communications
between schools and persuading some of the children from
one or two schools that they really do want to mix with
the others. Staffing for the activities has so far tended
to come from Yarm (5/6) but we hope that others will come
in. Funding has been adequate but there is some concern
from some schools about the rate we can offer to staff who
are bringing pupils along to the evening sessions, as opposed
to leading them.
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