Second Chance Schools

1
Second Chance Schools

• Combating social exclusion through education and
  training

2
Teaching and Learning-Towards the Learning
Society

• Need to find new ways for social integration of
  young people
• Traditional education systems too insular,
  creating gaps
• Society has not given a second chance to school
  drop-outs
• Needs for complimentary and innovative teaching
  methods

3
1997-1999 Pilot Projects

• E.C. proposed experimental launch of Second
  Chance schools
• 12 cities in Greece, Spain, Italy, Germany,
  Finland, Netherlands, UK, France, Sweden,Portugal
• Exchange and comparison of information through IT
  links and meetings
• Pilot projects funded by EC for 2 years

4
Common principles for Second Chance Schools

• Target group
• Objective Social reintegration and employment
• Teaching methods
• Partnerships

5
Target Group

• 16-24 or those post compulsory education
• Unqualified
• Lacking essential skills to access mainstream
  provision or employment
• Negative experiences of education
• At risk of marginalisation

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Main Objective

• Reintegration into social and working life
• Good quality training opportunities tailored to
  individual needs
• Recognition of aptitudes and needs
• Build confidence and acquire skills

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Partnerships

• Support from different actors and stakeholder
  ---Local Authorities
• ----local networks
• ---employers
  

8
Teaching Methods

• Holistic approach, clearly focused on target
  groupneeds,talents, failings
• Personal Training programmes which are negotiated
  with learner
• European aspect
• Multi-disciplinary team-teaching, training,
  counselling, guiding
• Computers and Multi-media play a key role
• Qualifications relevant to local labour market

9
European Association

• Founded in 1999 by Pilot Project cities, with
  membership at city level only
• Restructured 2004 to form 3 Colleges Cities,
  Schools, Associates
• Secretariat established in Netherlands to
  coordinate Association
• Membership 14 cities, 27 schools, 2 Associates

10
College of Schools

• Pro-active in sharing practice and
  methodologyteacher exchange,student mobility.
• Joint projects for curriculum and resource
  development
• Annual Teachers Conference
• Annual Youth Summit

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Examples of Student projects

• PLEASEdeveloping students confidence through
  Performing/Creative Arts
• Anti-Violence/Conflict Resolutiondeveloping
  anger management courses
• Creative Writingproducing a virtual book of
  poems and stories

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Examples of teacher projects

• Investigating the use of ICT in vocational
  education
• Researching links with employers and how
  vocational training is certificated
• Developing social skills through the Goldstein
  method
• Looking at and sharing resources for basic skills

13
Educational Steering Group

• Membership-Leeds, Dublin, Copenhagen,
  Chalons-en-Champagne, Marseille,Cologne
• Tele-conference monthly
• Coordinates development of joint project, youth
  summits and teachers meetings

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Basin Lane Youthreach

• Laura Wooton
• There was a spirit of team work as all the young
  people from the different countries participated
  in the knock out.
• Jason and James Collins
• Second Chance School Summit in Leeds was a
  sports haven.

15
Bonnybrook Youthreach

• Ron Houghton
• The language was not a barrier through sports
• Danny Kenny
• Travelling and meeting people from different
  countries was exciting, it was well organised
  and great fun.

16
Ballymun Youthreach

• Vivienne Bennett
• Taking part in all the activities was beneficial
  for the young people.
• Robbie Boylan
• I had the best time of my life.