1. Special Schools Engagement Project
10/10/2016
Special Schools Engagement Project
Tony Mcleod
Tony McLeod
Hi, My name it Tony and I am here to talk to you about the special schools engagement project and why I choose to use ambassadors as means to engaging with these schools with a range from mild to serve disabilities.

2. Special Schools Engagement Project
Agenda
10/10/2016
aims & rational
The Model
barriers
outcomes
pros & cons
Today I’m going to talk about the aims & rational behind the project and how understanding this helped me to come up with a my model.
I’m also going to talk about the model and why I choose to consider to different approaches one for PRUs and one special schools. In this presentation I am going to talk about the work with PRUs
What were the barriers that might impact the success of the project
We’re then going to look at the outcomes but already I can see that will be some cross over for every pro there is a con.

3. Special Schools Engagement Project
10/10/2016
Rational
Develop a programme of engagement with selected special
schools within the catchment area of Aimhigher London South
Understanding SEN reforms in developing a programme
Understand the student cohort
Collaborative project of engagement
The aim was to engage with 14 special schools within the Aimhigher catchment area. With no experience of higher education. Taking into account the level of need within these schools that range from mild to serve.
The rational behind the programme is largely based on the recent SEN reforms that essential says that schools are expected to have a post 16 offer or at least provide plans to further training or education.
The rational for developing the programme as I did was based on my understanding of the students. I visited both in PRUs and Special schools and based on this research I came up with two broad areas to engagement one PRUs and one SS. In this presentation I’m going to focus on the model with PRUs.
Finally the aim was to develop a really collaborative project between schools and universities.

4. Special Schools Engagement Project
10/10/2016
The Model
So what did the model look like.
Essentially it was ambassadors in schools with the aim to tell their story.
Based on my research into finding out who these young people I felt the best approach would be for them to hear from who have experienced various challenges and made it to university.
I worked with Goldsmiths and Roehampton university who agreed to support project and provided me with a pool of ambassadors. With the help of Kaizen partnership I developed training which was designed to strength ambassador narrative. We all have a story but what parts help promote engagement.
Following the training the idea was to visit the PRUs and introduce the project but also meet the students. It was also important that the students met us. It was really informal but the success were not obvious until David was asked for. For me that was what I trying to achieve.
The final part of the model was a visit to the a university using the same ambassadors. We’re talk about barriers later but having met the ambassadors in their own environment really helped to avoid the unknown for these young people.

5. Special Schools Engagement Project
10/10/2016
Barriers to engagement
Influence of others
Attitudes & beliefs
Current level of study
Education not the priority
Perceptions
Some of these may not be a be a surprise. We could think about in relation to the impact ambassadors could have in challenging these barriers.
For example: The influence of others meeting ambassadors and becoming familiar with the ambassador might be the difference in engagement or not.
Education might not be the priority but hearing from ambassadors who have experience challenges and still ended up at university is a powerful tool.
Peer to peer support could be seen as going a long way to breaking down some of the barriers.
I strongly believe that developing a pool of ambassadors can be the key to breaking down barriers to progression.
Peer pressure

6. Special Schools Engagement Project
10/10/2016
Outcomes
Learners
Begin to understand pathways
Realising possibilities
Ambassador narratives providing
a space to think.
Improve life opportunities/empowerment
Ambassadors
The power of their story
Encourage self identification/empowerment
Realise opportunities to develop supporting others skills
University/Schools
Better understanding of transition
Collaboration
Changing perceptions
Slow burner/low key
During the barrier to engagement slide we looked at some of this but essentially there is mutual benefit to using ambassadors as an tool to engagement.
Speaking for the learning it is about realising what possible leading to raised aspirations.
Equally for the ambassadors realise the power of their story and truly owning their story. Perhaps this is a good time to hear from David who was one of the ambassadors on the project.

7. Special Schools Engagement Project
10/10/2016
Pros
Role models
Peer to peer
Strong Advocates
Fun & authentic
Cons
Not top priority
Requires personal engagement

8. Special Schools Engagement Project
10/10/2016
Thank you for listening and now I would like to introduce Rabeya who will tell you about the HEC Champions project