Collaborative Approaches to 14-19 Provision - Communities and ...

14-19 PATHFINDERS: THE SECOND YEAR267. These objectives are translated into three main strands:‣ The development of the Central Gateshead sixth form (CG6) - based oncollaboration between the college and three secondary schools‣ A rural strand which involves two schools in the western area‣ A vocational strand which has a Pathfinder-wide remit.Features of the Pathfinder268. The major development has been the establishment of the Central GatesheadSixth Form.269. This collaboration between the college and the three schools in centralGateshead began as a result of the Pathfinder in 2003 and is now well established. It hasbeen based on mutual need. Central Gateshead was described to us as a relatively deprivedarea of the authority with low staying on rates at 16, limited parental experience of post-16education and low aspirations. Some of those who did stay-on in education post-16 didnot study in Gateshead. These factors contributed to a relatively small post-16 cohortstudying in central Gateshead which in turn led to restricted curricular choices. Thecollege and an 11-18 school provided post 16 education. The school sixth form was small,while the college was keen to develop AS/A2 courses.270. The area also contains two 11-16 schools. These schools have beensuccessful in raising attainment at 16. In spite of this they have found that participation inlocally delivered post-16 education and training remained relatively low among theirstudents. This, we were informed, was a product of an historical situation in which manyof the progression routes were unclear. As a means of addressing this issue these schoolswanted to be able to offer clearer local progression for students from 11-18.271. These factors encouraged the establishment of CG6 in 2003. A choice of 29AVCE’s and AS/A2 courses was offered to students at the schools and college. Theresult of this collaboration and the publicity surrounding CG6 has been a considerable85