The New Duty to Improve Cohesion: Schools as the Gateway to Stronger Communities. York Mo Laycock. Head Teacher. Firth Park Community Arts College

Firth Park Community Arts College Indicators 1,370 students on roll. 11 – 16 years. 10 form entry. 43% on SEN Register for learning and/or EBD issues (linked to poor and early parenting). 27% BME students, many of whom are asylum seekers or refugees (aspirant students with strong families). One third of cohort in year 7 annually, enter with KS2 SATS at level 3 and below. 25 year 7 students 2007 with reading ages of 6.5 yrs. Full Monty land. Brightside political ward. 6 th most disadvantaged ward in the country. High unemployment, low aspirations, parochial attitudes. Sex and Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll alive and well in our area. 4 main feeder primary schools. 78% of students attend FPCAC from these 4 schools. 3 of the primary schools went into ‘notice to improve’ in Inadequate nursery provision in the local community (being addressed by BSF phase 2). FPCAC had a 2 day Ofsted inspection, March 07 – “FPCAC is the learning hub of the community and is changing learning and aspirations for the better in its community”. “Good school with outstanding features”.

Indicators 1995 Split site school 1.5 miles apart. Students/staff travel 2/3 times daily. 10% 5+ A* - C GCSE’s. 25% NEETS. Deficit budget. Falling rolls. Low standards/aspirations. Few systems/strategies to improve. Ofsted May 1995 KS3 only. Very poor buildings. No uniform, students bringing bags, doing homework etc. 77% attendance. Further Ofsted November 1997 due to Local Authority ‘serious weakness’ category. (Ofsted criteria started in 1997 – FPCAC would have been ‘special measures/Fresh Start’). Ofsted No category – but 10 key issues.

Indicators 2007 Full in all year groups and annual appeals. One site school since Tony Blair/David Blunkett visit teaching staff. 70 appointed by Mo Laycock. Performing Arts Specialist School since Pilot Extended School for Sheffield, open 7.00 a.m. – 9.00 p.m. daily for students/adult learning. Many weekends and all holidays except Christmas. 43% 5+ A* - C GCSE’s Target – 50%. Learning pathways x 4 at KS4. 94% 1+ A* - G GCSE’s. 75% of year continuing in education/training. KS3 results CVA 108. Top 25% of schools. ‘Can do/will do’ culture. Lots of visitors to FPCAC. Staff speaking at local/regional/national conferences. Possible Academy status 2009/2010 with Kier Construction as the sponsor. No selection or changes in admissions. 89% attendance (DCSF monitoring).

Community Cohesion Strategies Community School since 1995 to win community back. Extended School since  Adult education classes 4 nights per week adult learners. Salsa/keep fit to GCSE classes.  Family Learning weekends on Saturdays – 9.30 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. 400 attending regularly.  Parents coffee mornings/workshops fortnightly. Year 7 parents first half term to get them on our side as partners.  Senior citizens links and annual Christmas party. Links in Design & Technology, History, Catering, SEN support.  Outreach work for BME parents, particularly Yemeni/Somalian parents.  SLT/Extended School staff attend all community meetings in the school day/evenings.  Holiday workshops. Active Brightside. Targeted students i.e. Gifted and Talented, vulnerable, poor attenders, low self esteem et al.

Family of Schools Strategies Headteachers of the 5 schools meet half termly. Arts cross phase group. Literacy cross phase group. MFL/Arts/ICT staff working in primary schools. Longley Park 6 th Form College links re 14 – 19+ Post 16. Family of Schools learning vision *Same behaviour for learning strategy. * Consistent strategies re working with parents across the 5 schools. FPCAC students peer teaching years 4,5,6 primary pupils. Projects at FPCAC for primary pupils i.e. Sports/ICT/Science. Competencies Curriculum at FPCAC year 7 (RSA Opening Minds). 5 primary practitioners employed at FPCAC in KS3. Joined up vision and mission statements. Shared logos on letterheads re Family of Schools. Performances/showcases/workshops at FPCAC.

Other Initiatives re cohesion SSAT/NCSL/Continyou links. Black Pupils Attainment Project (DCSF). Boys Breakthrough Project. Now called ‘Raising our Game’. Boys/Girls. Service District partnerships re vulnerable families. Arts across the Curriculum strategy. Early promotion of young/aspirant leaders. Links with Rotherham/Brighouse/Barnsley. Cross phase leadership projects i.e. Literacy/Student Voice et al.

The Future Executive principal for all 5 schools? o Lead Learners/Headteachers also. o Vertical grouping at FPCAC. o Early transition from 2009 at Whitsun – all 5 schools. o Academy status – 0 – 16 through school on the FPCAC site. o Stage not age approach to learning. *KS3 2 years. Year 9 transition year. Differentiation years 9 – 11. Links with Longley Park. o Vocational centre on site. Kier. o Sheffield Hallam University links. o Community Theatre/Library/Refectory. o Base on site for Service District personnel, i.e. Police, Health, Social Services, Connexions, Councillors et al.

Ultimately our shared vision involves  More students going onto University and returning to Shiregreen/Firth Park to live and work.  Pride in the local community.  Houses on sale – stating ‘close to Firth Park Community Arts College’!  Belief in life long learning.  Self esteem, confidence, determination to succeed as flexible, positive citizens and learners. We believe that Firth Park is Fantastic!