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PNS Black Children’s Achievement Pilot

Hertfordshire is an Associate Authority with the national Black Children’s Achievement Pilot. A report of the national pilot is described in the DfES Ethnic Minority Achievement Unit Newsletter Summer 2006. This can be accessed at:

• DfES - Ethnic Minorities Achievement Unit Newsletters

The pilot started as a test-base pilot in January 2005 with a focus on raising achievement of Black children in primary Schools.

Focus of the pilot in Herts

Two Development Teachers who work within the MECS African Caribbean Achievement Team (ACAT)

• www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/mecs/centres/acap.shtml
  are currently working with Primary, and Secondary schools to which Year 6 pupils have transferred, in North and West Herts.

The focus of the work is primarily on two PNS strands:

• Transition to secondary schools and
• Parental carers and the community

Work on the other strands (Leadership and Management and Teaching and Learning) is also taking place.

Schools are asked to undertake an Audit of their work in relation to raising the achievement of Black (Caribbean and African origin and Mixed Heritage) children.

Following the Audit the Development Teachers work with Senior Leaders to write a Raising Achievement Plan.

Activities undertaken in the schools so far include:

• CPD for staff about raising the achievement of Black children
• Contact with parents about their support for the children
• Observation in classrooms
• Whole school curriculum planning and development
• Planning of ‘focus’ weeks (eg. Black History Month)
• Recommendation for resources reflecting black children’s heritage
• Yr 6 class sessions about transferring to secondary school
• Learning mentoring for pupils transferring to Secondary schools

Contact Details

Francine.coates@hertscc.gov.uk                  Tel: 01438 843906

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‘Ethnicity’

In Hertfordshire there are many minority ethnic groups including pupils of White Other, Black
Caribbean, Black African, Black Other, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Mixed White & Black Caribbean, and Mixed White & Black African and Chinese heritage.

For further information:

• www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/mecs/
• Aiming High Strategy

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Gender

In Hertfordshire, we are committed to raising the performance of all pupils, both boys and girls. We can aim to achieve high standards by securing the entitlement to a rich and broad curriculum, narrowing the gaps and tackling underachievement

Boys are interpreted as underachieving because overall their attainment at the end of Key stage 1 and 2 is below that of girls. This pattern is not true for all boys, or for all subjects.

Schools need to identify those underachieving pupils, both boys and girls, and investigate the barriers to achievement. Various Primary Strategy CPD materials, such as Excellence and Enjoyment and Renewed Primary Frameworks, will support this process.

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Looked After Children

Children who are in the care of local authorities are described as 'looked-after children'. They are one of the most vulnerable groups in society. These young people may be accommodated in children's homes or foster homes. They may also be living at home or with extended families on Care Orders.

The children can be at risk of underachieving at school because they have experienced disruption to their family life and education. Some may have low expectations, poor emotional and psychological health and a lack of family support. Education is an important pathway to a better life for them.

For further information:

• www.thegrid.org.uk/info/csf/policies/lac.shtml

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Travellers

A vulnerable group:  Traveller pupils in Hertfordshire

“Any school anywhere, may have Gypsy Traveller pupils on roll. Raising the achievement of Gypsy Traveller pupils is the responsibility of everyone within the education system and a significant measure of the effectiveness of policies to combat educational and social exclusion. Ofsted has shown that Gypsy Traveller pupils, mostly either Gypsy/Roma or Travellers of Irish Heritage, have the lowest results of any ethnic minority group and are the groups most at risk in the education system.”

DfES 2003 Aiming High: Raising the Achievement of Gypsy Traveller Pupils

Nationally and in Hertfordshire, English Gypsy and Irish Traveller pupils are the lowest achieving ethnic minority groups at every Key Stage. Average attendance nationally is 75% and it is estimated that 12000 Traveller children of secondary age are out of school.

In Hertfordshire 624, Traveller pupils attended 72 school (including 22 secondary schools) in the academic year 2005-6.

The Traveller Education Service (TES) works with Traveller families to help them access school places. It works with schools to help them increase the attendance and achievement of the schools’ Traveller pupils (English Gypsy, Irish Traveller, circus and fairground).
From September 2006, the TES will be operating a dual referral system. Schools can refer pupils who meet the following criteria for time limited TES intervention:

• Highly mobile including fairground/circus
• Significant periods of missed/fragmented education caused by mobility
• Transition
• Year 6 at risk of failing to reach level 4 (not SEN)
• Secondary school retention

Alongside individual pupil support, schools will need to complete an audit of good practice leading to a School Capacity Building referral. A joint action plan based on school needs will lead to whole school initiatives such as:

• Training all staff on raising the achievement of Traveller pupils/Traveller culture
• Development of the curriculum to reflect Traveller culture
• Working with parents
• Distance Learning

Any school, with or without Traveller pupils, can request whole school development initiatives from the TES which will allow them to fulfil their obligations under the Race Relations Amendment Act.

To find out more about Travellers and the TES please contact Rosalind Paul, Head of Service, on 01992 553703 or log onto the website:

• MECS Traveller Education Service

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