A UNIQUE pilot project has been launched by a leading educational trust to enrich the lives of school children and boost the effectiveness of their learning.
The initiative follows a report to Parliament in May looking at education and enrichment, to try and remove barriers to opportunities.
Bishop Hogarth Catholic Educational Trust, which runs 35 schools across the Tees Valley, will operate the Enrichment Partnership Pilot, along with the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, for students in Darlington and the surrounding area.
All Darlington mainstream secondary schools have signed up for the pilot, as well as St John's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Bishop Auckland, and Staindrop Academy.
Funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education, if successful, the initiative could be rolled out nationally.
BHCET director of opportunities Donna Hubbard-Young told delegates at a special launch event: “We have been given the challenge to encourage more young people to take part in enrichment activities. No-one else is taking our approach and if it works it will be rolled out across the country, putting us in the vanguard of this important issue. It is a really good thing for our young people and students nationally.”
She revealed that participation in extracurricular activities was at an all-time low. In the North East just nine per cent of young people took part in music-related activities, for instance, compared with a national figure of 20 per cent, itself a modest take-up.
“Yet if we think back to when we were young, some of our most vivid memories were outside the classroom, were transformative and had a huge impact on us,” she said.
“Darlington is a cold spot for young people getting involved in enrichment. There is plenty of will out there but it’s a case of how best to harness it.
“Research shows that these activities boost confidence and wellbeing, enhance self-worth, provide role models and help young people develop the soft skills needed in the labour market. Developing these areas is absolutely crucial for the impact it will have on the community.”
The project will see the setting up of an electronic data base of various opportunities which can be accessed by schools.
The system will be live and see a variety of organisations upload offers of support, for students aged 11-16, ranging from a one-off, one day workshop, talk or presentation, to more sustained packages.
Opportunities could relate to industry or volunteer programmes and include everything from magic lessons or mindfulness, to personal finance. Those taking part might see students in school or invite them into their businesses.
The Duke of Edinburgh Scheme’s North East enrichment partnerships officer Lori Bennett said: “This will provide young people with the opportunity to learn, develop and try new things. We will be looking at young people who don’t engage and how best to break down any barriers.”
BHCET enrichment partnerships manager Sarah McGee said: “It is fantastic to see so much support from a range of organisations, businesses, and clubs, all coming together to invest in and inspire the pupils of the area.”
Around 55 schools across the North East have already signed up with students, parents and teachers helping to design the offer. The National Foundation for Educational Research is evaluating the initiative.
“Our plea is for as many organisations as possible to sign up to the database,” said Donna. “We literally want everything and anything. The more opportunities, the wider this will spread allowing the whole programme to gather momentum and inspire others.”
Engagement and events manager for Darlington College Ross Lowcock has already registered interest in a scheme he described as ‘brilliant’.
“Anything extracurricular is vital to a broad and diverse education and anything that improves young people’s social and world skills has to be a good thing,” he said.
“The college already works closely with local schools and the new database will make this even easier so students can access offers including tours, taster sessions, course and careers information and further education advice.”
Anyone interested in the initiative should contact Sarah McGee via epp@bhcet.org.uk or visit www.bhcet.org.uk/epp-enrichment-partnerships-pilot.
