Barry Smith - Learning about Learning

I’ve been neglecting the blog a bit recently, a number of factors have combined to cause this, not least the excellent weather!  I’m also doing a great deal of drumming now that we move into the summer so something has to give somewhere. 

Now it is SQH unit 4 time in earnest I think my brain has returned to something like being able to function in relation to educational thinking.  I am currently considering the implementation of change in the school context.  Specifically in relation to the ALPs programme. 

I made a short presentation to staff on our progress so far at the in-service day yesterday.  As with every new venture there have been ups and downs and there are many issues that have arisen, both with the provision and the organisation of the programme.  I am happy to say however that at this stage, 12 weeks into the programme, that there has been a significant impact on the number of incidents some of the students have been involved in.  

Three of the participants have reduced the number of incidents (detentions and exclusions) by half as compared with the preceeding 12 week period.  It is still very early days but I am encouraged greatly by this.  These are youngsters who have significant difficulty in accessing much of the mainstream curriculum so any progress in terms of changing patterns of behaviour is a real success.

I am going to be meeting with parents over the next fortnight to discuss progress, careers input and targets for the coming year.  It is very pleasing I will have some excellent news to report. I think once again it shows the commitment of all concerned beginning to pay off.  Watch this space for news of the interim report in June.