extended services
Lighting fires
“Genius without education
is like silver in the mine.”
Benjamin Franklin
The disadvantage subsidy
“The larger the island of
knowledge, the longer the
shoreline of wonder.”
Ralph M Sockman
Reducing crime
“How is it that little
For Joseph Leckie Community technology College
in Walsall, local crime rates have been a worrying children are so intelligent
issue. Working in partnership with agencies such as
the youth service, the local cluster of schools used the
and men so stupid? It must
disadvantage subsidy to help provide an exciting range
be education that does it.”
of activities for 190 pupils during each of the school
holidays (except Christmas).
Alexander Dumas
Children had the opportunity to get involved in
sports, cooking, arts and crafts, dance and drama in a
safe environment. the programme has already made
“Freedom of teaching
a significant difference, with a 24 per cent reduction
and of opinion in book or
in crime during the summer period, compared with
the previous year, and far lower levels of vandalism to
press is the foundation
college premises and property.
for the sound and natural
Looking ahead
the pathfinder project has shown us the excellent
development of any
programmes that schools and clusters can provide to
people.”
accommodate economically disadvantaged pupils, and
their ability to reach the pupils who most need them.
Albert Einstein
For 2010/11, if local priorities permit, there is
sufficient subsidy funding for all school clusters to
benefit. the funding is for schools to spend directly on
“Never doubt that a small
helping economically disadvantaged pupils and it is an
group of thoughtful,
important contribution to the renewal of disadvantaged
areas and to the life chances of the people who live
committed citizens can
there.
As Joanne Mudd, extended services project co- change the world. Indeed,
ordinator at Withernsea High, added, “We’ve seen
improvements in children’s behaviour, communication
it’s the only thing that ever
and confidence, with all the attendant benefits this
means for their learning in the classroom. I’m pleased
has.”
that more funding is now available to enable us and
Margaret Mead
other schools to continue to target families in need.”
• Graham Holley is the chief executive of the Training
“Morality, like art, means
and Development Agency for Schools.
drawing a line someplace.”
Further information Oscar Wilde
www.tda.gov.uk/subsidy
Psycho babble
the young man attends every week and there is a At Wheldon school and sports College in
noticeable difference in his social skills, confidence and Nottinghamshire, they tackled this problem by asking
Parents aren’t what they were
sense of responsibility. pastoral leaders and staff from the inclusion team to talk
“He is a different child – he has calmed down directly to the target pupils and to phone parents. It Is an undisputed fact that parental participation in a this is occurring at a time when a huge number
significantly and has matured,” one member of staff By priming families to look out for a forthcoming child’s education is not just important to achievement, of parents are accused of being too aspirational or
said. Another added: “We have seen a tremendous letter about an activity camp, and making sure they but essential. As teachers come in for another battering “pushy” and yet it seems that this parental pushiness
improvement in his learning, behaviour and knew in advance that the costs could be subsidised, because attainment in secondary school is consistently does not extend actually to doing the legwork or
confidence.” they achieved a good take-up rate from the pupils the lower than expected, it may be time to consider the fact providing the input themselves. In today’s society, we
the the young man himself commented: “From subsidy is designed to support. that parents aren’t what they used to be. pass the buck. We expect others to do our job for us.
getting into trouble to helping people every day, the During the summer, a total of 60 pupils took part in this may sound like a vast generalisation, but there We no longer take responsibility for our children as
scouts has changed my life. Now that I’m an Explorer, three week-long residential visits through the Wheldon is some truth in this statement. Let me tell you a story. we once did. I have a sinking feeling that the increase
I really enjoy the extra responsibility in helping younger Adventure Camp, with economically disadvantaged I volunteer to help my five-year-old son’s class with in parents choosing public school is not just down to
scouts.” pupils participating alongside those from more affluent reading, once a week. His classmates are a mixed bag, an inadequate state system, but the fact that they have
backgrounds. from all backgrounds and all ability levels, but we live made the decision to pay for what they cannot (or do
Reaching the hard-pressed
Activities were designed to boost self-esteem and in a fairly affluent area and there is a good percentage not want to) provide themselves.
At one of the pathfinder secondary schools, 80 per confidence, team-building and social skills – all of middle class, aspirational parents. In my son’s reception class, I hear parents moaning
cent of pupils are described as being financially “hard- of which will tend to support learning. staff say Given the research in this country that they are too “busy” to get through the
pressed” and insular, seldom venturing outside their they have noticed the benefits with more confident pointing to the fact that it is these required reading, or that their child is too
immediate area. young people, new friendships in place, and improved parents who lift school standards, “tired” to get it done. If they can’t pull
the deputy headteacher says the subsidy has “given behaviour as well. you’d think that the youngsters out their fingers to help now, what hope
loads of new opportunities and choice for them to do would be getting a good push from is there for this group of children when
something they really wanted to do so they can try their parents. I have found that this they move onwards and upwards in the
something different, something that parents wouldn’t
Guiding principles for the disadvantage
is not the case. Books are returned educational system?
have been able to afford. Kids know that they can ask
subsidy
to school unread, sound folders are More worryingly, I have found that
for what they want and that school will do something incomplete, reading records are when children are reprimanded for
about it”.
Access: Funding should enable pupils to
left unsigned, and writing practice unacceptable behaviour, parents
Of course, it is not always easy for schools and local access activities from which they would notebooks are untouched by parent argue in favour of their children.
authorities to decide who should receive the funding
otherwise be excluded because they cannot
or child. Parents not only accept lack of
and how to make it available.
pay.
this is not just the case for the effort, but excuse their children.
It takes time and resource to establish eligibility children who come from families Further up the school, parents write
criteria that are fair and to design programmes that
Additionality: Funding should make
where English is a second language, notes explaining why homework
reach the right pupils. As one of the pathfinder cluster
existing activities more accessible but could
headed by single parents, or from was not done, when there are no
co-ordinators said: “You need to make sure someone also allow new activities to be commissioned backgrounds where education is grounds for this being the case.
has enough time.”
that better meet pupils’ needs.
not a priority. I’m talking about the Parents, who read to their children,
vast majority of parents – the affluent, have books available, take trips, guide
Engaging pupils and families
Involvement: Pupils and their families
educated parents included. television viewing, and provide stimulating
Another challenge for schools is to find effective ways
should be fully involved in designing the
there is a wealth of research indicating experiences heavily contribute to student
to consult pupils and their families about the sort of
range of activities.
that the earlier in a child’s educational process achievement. In fact, decades of research show
activities the subsidy can support. schools have done Open to all: Any new activities should be that parental involvement begins, the more that when parents are involved, students have higher
this through questionnaires, discussions, focus groups,
available to all, and should be financially
powerful the effects. It also shows that the most grades, test scores and attendance; increased motivation
meetings, and letters home.
sustainable.
effective forms of parent involvement are those that and better self-esteem; lower rates of suspension and
But some have pointed out that the most common engage parents in working directly with their children exclusion; decreased use of drugs and alcohol; and,
method, the questionnaire, does not necessarily get
Creativity and personalisation:
on learning activities at home. fewer instances of violent behaviour.
useful results from families that are harder to reach.
recognising that not all barriers are
One study, for example, found that when schools With so many of these elements underpinning the
the deputy head at one secondary school noted the financial, staff should be creative in encourage children to practise reading at home with problems associated with today’s youth, perhaps it’s
need for informal and ongoing conversations.
developing personalised approaches.
parents, the children make significant gains in reading time to pass back the buck and encourage parents to
“I think kids are getting sick of questionnaires,” they
Sustainability and ongoing
achievement compared to those who only practise at get off their backsides and do the job they are supposed
commented. “sometimes it’s about opening kids’ eyes school. the truth is that lack of achievement is not just to do.
– they wouldn’t necessarily mention canoeing and so
participation: Funding arrangements
down to the curriculum, the education system, or the
you can offer them some alternatives to begin with.”
should be sustainable and secure pupils’
teachers. students are, today, simply not getting the • Karen Sullivan is a bestselling author, psychologist
It can also be a challenge to coax economically ongoing participation. back-up they need. And nor are the teachers. and childcare expert. Email KESullivan@aol.com
disadvantaged pupils to take part in activities.
SecEd • February 11 2010 9
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