STRATEGIC SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROJECT
HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUTS: “One is too many”
Evaluation of Activity 6 ACTIVITIES WITH PARENTS - UK
Shooters Hill Post 16 Campus is currently in transition under a new headmaster and is becoming Shooters Hill 6th Form College. We have invited parents in to college for a number of events to celebrate student success and progress and to embed our core values of education across all areas of our learners lives.
Taster Days: For continuing students, families were invited in to Shooters Hill in order to try out new subjects for the coming year and to pick their options. It gave students an opportunity to plan their progression as well as to meet learners they’d be studying with and identify clear pathways they wish to progress on to. Parents were able to contribute, ensuring that they too were happy with their choices and staff were able to allow an insight in to their subjects and teaching styles for parents as well as students.
Student Award Ceremony: Towards the end of the previous academic year, Shooters Hill College held an awards ceremony to celebrate student successes and achievements, as well as allowing parents an opportunity to share this and to give them an insight in to the vibrant enrichment activities taking place on campus, such as music, dance and drama. This was very much a community event with our local Mayor and Councillors attending along with families. Before the event, refreshments were made and served by our very own catering students, allowing staff, students and families to mingle and visit exhibits of work on campus. Afterwards, drinks and food were served and our Art, Graphics and Photography students toured families around exhibits of their final pieces.
Results Day: On the second and third Thursday in August, L2 & GCSE results and L3 and A-Level results are released, respectively. This year, parents and families were invited in to share in successes and to feedback directly to staff and the college.
Parents & Families Welcome Events: Parents were invited in for an evening of introductions to the management team and teaching staff. This was particularly useful for new students and their families, providing an opportunity for a dialogue to be opened and one we hope we will be able to maintain over the course of our students’ study in order to benefit them and our own working practises.
Target Setting Day: For continuing students, parents were invited in to discuss SMART targets for learners. The day involved individual appointments between Personal Tutors and Students & Parents, allowing time for ‘getting to know each other’ and to set expectations for the coming academic year. The day allowed Parents an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings regarding education, their own experiences and how these can be learnt from / built upon for their own children. Tutors were able to lay down their expectations and aspirations for their learners, whilst helping students identify their own strengths, areas for development and their own aspirations for the future. It then, perhaps most importantly, allowed students to identify clear, pragmatic, pathways to ensure they reach their goals and stay on track.
Andrew Buglass
United Kingdom Project Coordinator