Inverclyde : Enterprise Centre

St Stephen's High School

What is this?

This project aimed to create a bright, modern - state of the art Enterprise Centre within a disused wing of the school. The new facility was used to give all S2 pupils an innovative opportunity to participate in a wide range of projects, including virtual work experience. Although a resource for the whole school, it would more specifically engage disaffected and underachieving young people in a more flexible curriculum that is tailored to their individual needs. It would also involve local community interests and businesses in wider learning and development opportunities.

A wide range of stakeholders, including local businesses, worked in partnership with the school to develop strategies that would interest a small number of disaffected youngsters, concentrating on the development of core skills and citizenship. New programmes involved a more flexible curriculum which would be delivered in an alternative learning environment, relevant to young people. They were developed via a range of different experiences including engaging with local businesses. The project team also explored how to make best use of the ICT facilities in the school, both as part of the pupil experience and as a wider community resource.

The Enterprise Centre was also intended to help parents, and other members of the community, with their own learning and development, as well as in support of their children's learning by providing a state of the art learning environment which would inspire them to re-engage in learning.

FLaT involvement?

FLaT support was provided to explore innovative styles of learning and teaching to meet the needs of individuals and to help develop those strategies which contribute to "closing the gap" in attainment and achievement. The support also helped make the best use of ICT facilities in the school for the wider community. This support was initially put towards the cost of building adaptations.

Links with National Priorities?

2. Framework for Learning;
3. Inclusion & Equality
4. Values and Citizenship
5. Learning for Life.

Project aims?

Promote, stimulate and enable lifelong learning in the community of Port Glasgow through the development of a community facility that encourages self-directed learning, appropriate learning behaviours, team-working and core skills while utilising ICT as a learning medium.
Enhance the employability and motivation of all pupils with a particular focus on disaffected secondary pupils by improving their capacity to take advantage of opportunities in the labour market and business, through education for work and enterprise experiences and tailored careers guidance.
Offer a 'virtual work experience' opportunity to all S2 pupils. The links developed with local businesses will give pupils more of an insight into how business operates.
Work with a group of disaffected pupils who, as well as being involved in the virtual work experience, will follow a flexible curriculum that will allow more opportunity for access to more appropriate learning experiences and encourage a "can do" attitude.
Improve the administration of education for work/enterprise activity in order to increase the engagement with the local business community.

Project outcomes?

Increased achievement/reduction in underachievement.
Positive behavioural changes.
More adoption of learning technologies.
Increased the number of entrepreneurial programmes within the school
Development of a tailored curriculum for targeted groups.
Greater engagement of the community.
More business involvement in the education process.
Make adults and young people more employable via core skill development work.
Greater commitment to lifelong learning in the school and wider community.
Improved administration of education for work and enterprise.
More opportunities/greater capacity for experiential learning.
Young people have a better understanding of the world of work and their place in it.

Timescale?

The project was started in 2001 and was completed in 2004.

Level of Support?

FLaT support was a grant of £160,000 plus evaluation costs, which was matched by a significant financial and in-kind contribution from the business community.

Who are the evaluation team?

The Department of Educational Studies (The SCRE Centre) at the University of Glasgow, led by Professor Eric Wilkinson and Kevin Lowden.

Contact person:

Robert Lamb, Enterprise Manager, Enterprise Centre, St. Stephen's High School, Southfield Avenue, Port Glasgow. PA14 6PR. Tel: 01475 715548. Email: robert.lamb@inverclyde.gov.uk