Context The SIP Project will contribute to addressing the EU 2020 targets of Reducing the rates of early school leaving below 10% by trialling and transferring Grade Predictor http://learningplusuk.org/what-we-do/grade-predictor a web based tool to enable students to choose the right course across Europe and avoid dropout whilst studying. In particular it will also address 2 of the 2009 ET 2020 EU objectives to address challenges in education and training systems by 2020 by improving the quality and efficiency of education and training and promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship. Our project will upskill teachers in supporting students through pastoral support and guidance to enter and remain in suitable courses. This includes involving parents/family in the process of her/his education. where appropriate. Participants We have formed a partnership across 6 countries to address the need we have identified. We wish to put in place resources and training as a result of this collaboration and include the contributions of the lead organisation Learning Plus UK who have developed the tool, 3 organisations, GRETB, Xabec and Zlinsky kraj who have experience and success in implementing tools through a previous LLP project, Sataedu in Finland who with Xabec will deliver the tool in vocational settings and Capademy in Turkey who will involve 4 schools. Our partnership is broad and diverse bringing together great research and creative skills which will be used to trial and develop significant resources and training. Many of our partners include schools such as in Ireland from highly innovative settings. We aim to target teachers with leadership roles, Heads of Year, guidance specialists, mentors and others who touch on the education of children. Activities The project aims to deliver 2 courses for 56 teachers and other associated professionals, which will provide training on Grade Predictor usage and intervention techniques and resources. The multidisciplinary training will be certificated. 2 multiplier events will be delivered. Methodology The project aims in phase 1 to develop a Grade Predictor tool to be trialled in each partner country. It will cover vocational and general education courses based on local, regional and national data. The trial will include intervention methodologies for supporting students. Phase 2 will be a full implementation stage including the UK, having embraced the lessons learned from the trial and the intervention methods deployed . 690 students will participate in the trial and implementation. A SIP website will be produced and maintained hosting all resources. Results Materials will be created to support implementation including user manuals, intervention guides, superb video and institutional case studies. Strategy papers will be produced to target decision makers and influencers across Europe. Grade predictor tools will be available for each partner country. Impact Consequently more students will benefit from upskilled professionals and from their interactions with them and guidance from them. Retention will be impacted upon and destinations improved. Students will choose well and also have support to remain on courses or choose alternatives. This will be achieved through improved transparency in a digital era. Long term Benefit Grade Predictor will provide a building block for addressing the employment target of 75% of 20-64 year olds to be employed. Schools will produce more and better qualified students and young people will enter non traditional careers addressing skills gaps. The school inspection regime in the UK through its Common Inspection framework requires schools to predict accurate grades and Government new accountability measures requires efforts on student retention, Grade predictor is the only tool in the UK that can do this across subjects on an individual basis. We are aware of no other tool in Europe which can do this. We cover a vast area of Europe and our work will have pertinence beyond national boundaries. This transfer of innovation will benefit Europe as a whole and address governments increasing accountability measures for schools.
Context The School Improvement Partnership Project (SIPP) contributes to addressing the EU 2020 targets of reducing the rates of early school leaving below 10% by trialling and transferring the concepts behind the Grade Predictor, a web based tool, to enable students to choose the right course across Europe and avoid dropout whilst studying. In particular it addresses 2 of the 2009 ET 2020 EU objectives to address challenges in education and training systems by 2020 by improving the quality and efficiency of education and training and promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship. Our project upskilled teachers and careers counsellors in supporting students to enter and remain in suitable courses. Participants Learning Plus UK Data Ltd (LPUK) from the UK were the lead organisation. Originally a partnership across 6 countries was formed to address the need identified. Unfortunately, one partner Capademy, had to withdraw at an early stage and the project continued with LPUK and 4 partner organisations: • SATAKUNNAN KOULUTUSKUNTAYHTYMA (Sataedu) • Galway and Roscommon Education & Training Board (GRETB) • CENTRO DE FORMACION PROFESIONAL XABEC (Xabec) • Zlínský kraj The broad and diverse partnership includes 3 organisations, GRETB, Xabec and Zlínský kraj with experience and success in implementing tools and Sataedu and Xabec developing the use of the tool in vocational settings. It brought together great research and creative skills which were used to trial and develop significant resources and training and included schools from highly innovative settings. We targeted teachers with leadership roles, Heads of Year, career counsellors and guidance specialists involved in the education of young people. Activities Five intellectual outputs were delivered through this project: 1. European Grade Predictor Tools 2. Superb Intervention Videos 3. Strategy Papers 4. User Manuals 5. Intervention Guide 2 training courses were delivered to upskill teachers and other associated professionals, including training on the tool usage, intervention techniques and resources.7 transnational meetings were planned, 5 went ahead successfully, 2 were held online, due to Covid-19. A multiplier event planned to take place in the final term of the project did not take place due to Covid-19 A wide range of dissemination activities took place including: creation of a SIPP website hosting all resources, e-newsletters, presentations and training events. Methodology The methodology was based on transfer of innovation enabled by the exchange of best practice through audit, data collection transnational meetings and comparative studies, experiential learning delivered through training activities with the support and steer of experts in the field, the development and provision of resources to support delivery and the use of information technology including the internet and video to overcome communication barriers. Training and transfer of innovation was at the heart of our methodology. Whilst LPUK were overall project lead, all partners contributed actively to the project with a strong collaborative ethos. Each output had a partner lead, chosen for their expertise in that area, output milestones and targets were agreed by the partner organisations and our action research approach enabled the outputs to develop during the project. LPUK appointed an experienced Erasmus+ external evaluator. They enabled the partnership to succeed whilst adhering to agreed Quality Assurance standards. An evaluation plan was approved and the evaluator provided regular updates at meetings and evaluation reports. Results European Grade Predictor tools are now developed for each partner country, supported by a range of materials including: user manuals, intervention guide, 20 superb intervention videos and institutional case studies available from the SIPP website. Strategy papers were circulated to 271 education decision makers. Impact Almost 1400 students have benefited from upskilled professionals and their interactions with them and guidance from them. Evaluation of the trial has shown that retention has been positively impacted upon and destinations improved. Students will choose well and have been supported to remain on courses or choose alternatives. Long term Benefit The tool has shown potential long term benefits in Spain and the Czech Rep. With wider use in Ireland further positive results would be expected. European Grade Predictor tools provide a building block for addressing the employment target of 75% of 20-64 year olds to be employed. Schools will produce more and better qualified students and young people will enter non-traditional careers addressing skills gaps. We are aware of no other tool in Europe which can do this. We cover a vast area of Europe and our work will have pertinence beyond national boundaries. This transfer of innovation will benefit Europe as a whole and address governments increasing accountability measures for schools.