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

14-19 PATHFINDERS: THE SECOND YEARincrease in numbers of students staying on in central Gateshead many of whom, we weretold, would have been lost to education. Although not all of the students staying on are inCG6 nevertheless the numbers are impressive. The college intake from the two 11-16schools increased from 93 students in 2002 to 174 in 2003. Numbers of students stayingon in the 11-18 school increased from 50 to 83. There are approximately 160 students inCG6 in 2003/4.272. An interesting development has been the teaching of some of the post-16courses at one of the 11-16 schools. This arose when it was found, in early 2003, that 23Year 11 students from this school were keen to take post-16 courses in ICT and BusinessStudies provided they could be taught by the ICT and Business Studies teachers in theschool. This was implemented in 2003/4. The second 11-16 school is planning toprovide post-16 courses in 2004/5.273. We were told that the existence of post-16 courses in the 11-16 schools wasproving of great benefit to the students, the schools and to potential recruitment to CG6.The schools are seen no longer as simply ‘recruitment agencies’ for the college or schoolswhich have a sixth form. But more than that, it is anticipated that students in the 11-16schools will be more willing to stay on to study with teachers and in an environment thatthey know. We were told that 14-16 year olds are increasingly aware of full time post-16progression routes as there are now older students in the school. Parents are becomingaware that these schools can support their child’s progression after the age of 16 and it isexpected that recruitment at 11 will increase. Teachers, seeing the opportunity forprofessional development, are keen to work with colleagues in CG6 preparing themselvesto teach post-16 courses. There is some evidence that recruitment of teachers hasimproved, with sixty possible candidates recently expressing interest in a deputy headpost at one school.274. In the 2004-05 CG6 prospectus all three schools and the college are indicatedas teaching centres. Students express their interest by completing an application form anda best fit timetable is then worked out. Pathfinder has employed a timetable consultant towork out timetable blocks for CG6 for the next academic year.86