The Office for Students (OfS) is now placing a greater emphasis on raising attainment in state secondary schools and has tasked university partnerships to develop evidence-based collaborative approaches to raise attainment at Key Stage 3 and into and through Key Stage 4.
This gives KMPF the responsibility to work within secondary schools in Kent and Medway to create and develop approaches with a view to these becoming scalable in future academic years, drawing on the expertise and resources of local higher education providers.
During the 2022-23 academic year, partnerships will develop their approaches in preparation for delivery during 2023-24.
KMPF are in a unique position of designing two new approaches and running these as pilot activities to help address the needs of the students and schools within the area covered. These pilots cover both the Key Stages referred to and have expanded the breadth of year groups worked with by some partner universities.
Our two pilots are summarised below.
Change Makers
The Change Makers project has been designed and developed by Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Greenwich and focuses on improving year 7 students’ literacy attainment.
The project encourages young people to engage with big questions raised by current social issues, read a variety of different texts, and further develop their writing skills. Participants are taught how to use epistemic insight and metacognitive strategies to help organise their thoughts. The schools taking part in Change Makers are The Holmesdale School, Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey, and Hartsdown Academy.
Making Your Point
Making Your Point is a seven-week project for year 10 students where participants are given the opportunity to explore ethical issues and social change through art and discussion.
The project has been developed by the University of Kent and the University for the Creative Arts and supports schools in re-engaging students in their education. The schools taking part in Making Your Point are Royal Harbour Academy, Astor School, and New Line Learning Academy.