This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Education programme gets a glowing report
30/06/2006
A programme aimed at tackling young people in school who are underachievers, poor attendees or are at risk of exclusion has received a glowing report for its achievements.
An evaluation report, produced by Durham University, found the xlerate with xl programme to be 'an excellent and very effective programme, and one which is having a very significant impact on the young people'. Researchers found that advisers are held in high esteem by the young people themselves.
The programme was developed by the Executive and The Hunter Foundation in 2004 to support the Determined to Succeed (DtS) enterprise in education strategy.
Many aspects were found to be of substantial benefit to the development of the students. This included increased/improved:
- confidence and self awareness
- communication and organisational skills
- willingness to take responsibility and improved team working skills
- ability to cope with new situations and finding new ways of doing things
Commenting on the findings, Geraldine Gammell, Director of the Prince's Trust Scotland said:
"These 'excellent' findings demonstrate the importance of early intervention to prepare young people for the world of work and improve school leaver destinations. Without this and other programmes we are simply continuing a situation where one in seven young people are not in education, employment or training on leaving school, with the resultant cost to society and the economy.
"This report also confirms the Executive is moving in the right direction with its pledge to invest £1 million over the next two years to extend the programme to cover the length and breadth of the country. The financial commitment and support of the Executive and The Hunter Foundation over the last two years has been invaluable, and we are grateful for this assistance."
Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Allan Wilson said:
"Too many of our young people are not in education, employment or training. This is a waste of their potential. It makes social and economic sense all round to seek to motivate and engage these young people in positive activities. This report shows that the xlerate programme is succeeding in this area and I am delighted that we are extending the programme as part of our strategy to tackle NEET."
Amar Amir (16) from Shawlands Academy said:
"Before attending the xlerate with xl programme I didn't really enjoy going to school or being in the class. I was very shy and only mixed with my own friends and didn't join in with any after-school activities. I wasn't very good at reading or writing and had to attend supported learning for help with this and with my English.
"xl has helped me in loads of ways. I am much more confident, can communicate better with others and can work with other people as part of a team. Our xl club took part in a local community project where we transformed an area of waste ground through landscape architecture and visual art. I really enjoyed this and learned lots of new skills including bronzing, landscaping and video making.
"I really enjoyed my time in xl and it really helped me. Life is pretty good just now. I'm much more confident, enjoy meeting and working with new and different people and am getting much more involved in my local community. When I do leave school I would like to try some of the other programmes offered by The Prince's Trust."
Report main findings
- Overall xlerate with xl was found to be a very effective programme, and one which is having a significant impact on the young people. Moreover it is held in high esteem by the young people themselves
- There was much evidence to show a positive increase in the personal qualities of the young people, such as confidence and self-awareness
- The programme helped some of the students to appreciate other people more and to work as part of a team
- Many of the activities helped the students improve their communication and organisational skills
- The programme helped students identify their own learning needs and to value education
- In some cases the programme helped students to improve their relationship with their schools more generally
- The programme very much supports the broad principles of Determined to Succeed and much can be learnt from it about effective approaches to enterprise in education
- The students were generally positive about how the programme could help in terms of their future employment, although as they progressed through the programme their concerns about future local work prospects tended to increase
- In terms of external accreditation students could either do an SQA or ASDAN award, however this twin track route was not felt to be the most effective approach
- Xlerate with xl has an important part to play in addressing the problem of young people at risk of being not in education, employment or training (NEET)
The programme actively encourages young people to make the most of their time at school, boost their motivation and develop skills for the world of work. An important aim is to increase enterprising behaviours, knowledge of enterprises, which will help them to succeed in education and give them a positive start in adult life.
Through the programme 1750 people across 25 local authorities have been supported to overcome barriers to learning, develop skills and re-engage with their school and education.
The Executive recently announced a £1million commitment over the next two years to extend the programme as part of its Determined to Succeed strategy and to contribute to the 'More Choice, More Chances' strategy.
Discussions are currently underway between Prince's Trust Scotland, YES and the Executive about the the details of an extended xlerate with xl.