Background
The African Caribbean Achievement project which was piloted in 30 schools from November 2003 was the first major DfES project to look specifically at the achievement of African Caribbean pupils. The project encouraged schools to develop “whole-school” solutions to support African Caribbean pupils. The key principles of the strategy included strong leadership, effective teaching and learning, backed up by the use of accurate monitoring data, active engagement with parents and the wider community, and intolerance of racism, poor behaviour and bullying.
The project provided a test bed for trying out a range of strategies for raising African Caribbean achievement. Each school was asked to conduct an audit of their school policy and practice in relation to African Caribbean achievement. On the basis of the audit, schools were then asked to develop an action plan focused on raising attainment of their African Caribbean pupils. The project ended in August.
The Programme
The Black Pupils’ Achievement Programme will build on the good practice that has evolved from the pilot projects and the London Challenge/KS3 Strategy Black Caribbean Boys’ Project which involved a further 23 schools in inner and outer London. Launched in October 2005, the new programme places a stronger emphasis on the role of the local authority. EMA staff will be expected to work closely with schools in order to devise appropriate targeted intervention programmes to raise Black achievement. There will be a stronger focus on whole school strategies to raise attainment of black pupils, on leadership, teaching and learning, parental engagement, pupil voice, and a continuing emphasis on understanding and using data.
There will be around 100 schools and 25 LAs taking part in the programme. LAs participating in the programme are:
Barnet; Birmingham; Brent; Bristol; Croydon; Ealing; Enfield; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Harrow; Islington; Leeds; Lewisham;
Luton; Manchester; Merton; Newham; Nottingham; Sandwell; Sheffield; Southwark; Waltham Forest; Wandswoth; Westminster; Wolverhampton
Aims and Objectives of the Programme
The aim of the programme is to work with Local Authorities (LAs) and schools to focus on raising the attainment of all Black pupils and by doing so raise overall attainment. The programme will be managed by the Secondary National Strategy and the plan is to:
- support schools to develop leadership (senior and middle managers’) capacity to lead a whole school approach to raising achievement of Black pupils
- develop knowledge and understanding of the specific issues facing Black pupils and equipping teachers with the skills to respond to them
- develop LAs’ capacity to support schools to raise Black achievement
- work to mainstream issues around raising achievement within the national strategies
What schools will be expected to do:
- Nominate an effective senior manager (preferably a Deputy Head) to oversee the work
- Make a commitment to release staff to attend:
NCSL programme
Middle managers’ training
DfES/LA networking meetings/steering group meetings
- Make a commitment to whole school INSET on issues around Black achievement
- Conduct an audit involving LA and whole school community, and collate and analyse a range of school-based data to identify key areas of work and priorities
- Produce a whole school action plan detailing timetable for work including plans for involving teaching and non-teaching staff, governors, pupils and parents
- Deliver a series of key milestones within a specified timescale (e.g. audit, lesson observations, pupil questionnaire and focus groups, parents’ launch/focus group, academic mentoring, curriculum review, engaging with the local community/supplementary schools)
- Monitor the impact of a range of school policies and practice on Black pupils
- Monitor and review progress on a regular basis
Support for schools
Support from a Regional Director/LA training programme
Guidance based on effective practice
A package of resources and tools to support delivery of key milestones
Support from the National College for School Leadership ‘bespoke’ programme
Targeted support for middle managers in core subjects
Funding to cover supply costs for senior/middle managers to attend training and networking meetings
What LAs will be expected to do:
- Work with Regional Directors (RDs) to support schools to deliver key milestones
- Facilitate steering group/networking meetings involving School Inspection Partners, strategy consultants, RDs, senior managers
- Support schools in carrying out the whole school audit and developing an action plan
Support for LAs
Support from a Senior Director and Regional Director
Support from a professional network across LAs
For more information please contact Paul Agutu on 020 7925 6207 or email paul.agutu@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
Information on the 'Black Children's Achievement Programme' which is complementary to the Black Pupils’ Achievement Programme and focuses on the achievement of primary school pupils will appear on this website shortly.
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