Blog Roll - CICS News

Nigel Roberts, Schools resource manager of Youth For Christ, has been involved in a government consultation for The Extended Schools Agenda. Nigel also piloted one of the first Extended Schools Programmes at a Leicester based Secondary School. The article below is adapted from one by Nigel in which he shares the vision for Extended Schools and seeks to empower the Church to get involved in a project that could see them back at the heart of their community!

Introduction

At the start of the century David Milliband, as then minister for schools, gave a speech stating the need for schools to fill a need at the heart of community once filled by the church, to be the glue that ensured community cohesion. Following this in 2005 the first extended schools prospectus was published. This article aims to highlight some of the key points of this policy and to consider ways in which the church can respond to the challenges it presents.

The Core Offer

The idea of the policy is that every school in England should be able to provide access to the following by the year 2010

1. A safe place to be between 8am and 6pm for 48 weeks of the year. This will include child care in primary schools and challenging and exciting study support activities in all schools.
2. Provision for adult learning and activities that help bridge the gaps between sections of society as well as providing opportunities for community cohesion, thus putting schools at the heart of the community

This 'core offer' when delivered will help a school achieve the outcomes of another government initiative, the Every Child Matters agenda. Recent studies by Ofsted of schools engaged in the programme show a rise in standards and achievements of students.

Methods of Delivery

Secondary schools were encouraged to work alongside feeder primary schools and to pool all resources to reduce pressure in providing the core offer.
Further support was commended to schools through the forming of strategic community partnerships with a whole range of groups including: parent groups, social services, the local authority, voluntary youth work organisations, local sports/arts providers, faith groups (so that's where churches can be involved!), local business, Connexions & the local health care trusts.
The challenge is now to make sure that the deadline of 2010 is met and to do that the voluntary sector will play a vital role.

Partnerships

Evidence from successful extended schools show partnerships with community are the key. So we can see voluntary groups including churches involved in youth counselling, running youth groups, breakfast clubs, parenting classes and offering a wide range of activities both on and off school sites.

One of the challenges for churches is to be aware of the Extended School Agenda and find out how they can work together with their local schools. There are lots of opportunities for churches to do what they do best - caring.

A number of resources are available from Youth for Christ. The Crux is a programme for after school clubs that can be run by churches in schools every day of the year over a three year period including holidays. Every day the clubs cover different disciplines - sport, arts, IT, spirituality and life skills.

Written with a Christian basis the material provided gives a resource that will support many of the outcomes required of Extended Schools. Churches across the country could make use of this as a tool to establish positive relationships with schools, thus putting themselves, with schools, once again at the heart of the community

In order to encourage this input YFC has also developed training days in extended schools for groups of churches. These days aim to inspire and equip church personnel to become involved.

Extended schools fit comfortably with church values and mission - a rare thing for a government policy! The initial challenge of 2010 has extended to the church. Can we be strategic partners and join with teachers to help ensure 'Every child matters'?

CICS would love to see The Crux Resource being used in Secondary Schools in Calderdale. In order to fulfil this vision we need to see which churches are ready to serve in their local schools. If you would like further details for ways that you or your church could become involved in The Extended Schools Programme for your local school please contact Tony Buck.