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

14-19 PATHFINDERS: THE SECOND YEARPost-16 progression from vocational courses at 14-16 is becoming established. Each ofthe CG6 schools offers vocational GCSE’s and a range of other vocational optionsprovided through the college and training providers are available.275. Post-19 progression routes are also being established. A CG6 AS/A2 Lawcourse is currently being taught at the 11-18 school by staff from Sunderland University.These Law students will have preferential access to the LLB course at the university,provided they achieve two specified A2 grades. The college collaborates with theUniversities of Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland on the provision of Foundationdegrees and has long standing contact with Sheffield, Newcastle and Northumbriauniversities on franchised degree provision.276. CG6 has been strongly marketed, led by the college marketing department,and has all of the characteristics of a ‘brand’. There is a snappy name and logo. Aprospectus and publicity material have promoted this brand identity. A launch event tookplace in 2002/3 and was repeated in 2003/4. A CG6 bus shelter and shopping centreadvertising campaign is also being planned for summer 2004. This marketing strategy isaimed at increasing post-16 participation in central Gateshead and encouraging learners tostudy within the area rather than going outside.277. The college marketing manager has been particularly careful to involve andinform school staff about CG6 so that students’ questions can be answered immediatelyand effectively and students progression post-16 can be supported. PowerPointpresentations are available which teachers can use for school parents’ evenings. There isevidence that parents are becoming aware of CG6 as a result of the publicity. Themarketing manager at the college had recently gained a prize from her professionalassociation for the collaborative marketing of CG6.278. The rural strand of the Pathfinder involves two schools in the western area ofGateshead, outside of the main conurbation. One is a specialist language college with afairly large sixth form while the other, although it has raised achievement at 16, still has asmall sixth form and needs access to more post-16 options. Although the schools arerelatively close there was little collaboration before the Pathfinder87