Education and Lifelong Learning
The Education and Lifelong Learning theme aims to raise educational achievement and aspirations in the NDC area.
The Learning Partnership has allowed £3.5 million to be invested in education to deliver a wide range of projects within local schools. This has resulted in improved results compared with statistics from 2001.
Thanks to this hard work and commitment of the Skilled Communities Team Hathershaw & Fitton Hill now has a thriving learning community. Their aim is to support learners throughout their learning journey.
The team produce the successful NDC Training News booklet, which is a simple non-jargonistic, user-friendly booklet, which details every training opportunity available in the area.
The Team also carry out local enrolments at community venues and ensure that new learners feel at ease in the early weeks of their learning. This has made sure that resident’s access get the right help and support to develop their skills and employment prospects.
The next exciting phase will be working with The Oldham College and OMBC Lifelong Learning service to develop a range of employer led training packages that will be linked to guaranteed interviews for local residents.
Five key employment areas have been selected to trial this phase and these are: - Retail, health and social care, warehouse, construction, and administration.
To tackle NDC NEET’s (young people not in education, employment or training) we have developed a Connexions project. This involves the skilled Communities Team, the Jobshop and a Connexions Personal Adviser. Together they will offer a tailored help and support package to develop young people’s skills and training, and help them into employment.
Projects
The Skilled Community -
promotes learning opportunities, provides support for learners throughout their learning journey to enable them to progress on to further training or employment. The team are now based in The Honeywell Centre.
The Hotspots Project – Learners are being encouraged to access and progress learning through the enticement of free computers, free broadband and free technical support.
Kickstart /Right on Track – Personal development and motor vehicle maintenance programme aimed at pupils ‘at risk’ of exclusion or young people who have been excluded from mainstream education.
Families First – project designed to provide a range of services for families in the area and working towards Children’s’ Centre status.
Beat the NEET – Project aimed at support young people not in education, employment or training through a full time Connexions Adviser based in the NDC Jobshop providing an individual tailored service working alongside the Skilled Communities team and the Jobshop staff.
The Story So Far
The Education theme continues to work hard to raise achievement and develop a learning culture in the area.
Education attainment rates have risen steadily from original figures in 2001 but there is still work to be done. We will continue to work closely with the local schools, and the extended schools service to achieve this.
The community is responding well to the creative initiatives aimed at engaging them in learning. The opening of the NDC Jobshop and the coordinated approach to employment packages and skills development is our key to success.
Through this coordinated approach we also hope to significantly reduce NDC NEET’s.
What’s Coming Next
Training Grants – This is a fund to help residents with the financial worries of taking up learning. This includes enrolment fees, accredited learning fees and course costs to be accessed through this fund. (£500 p.p.)
Construction Training - This project aims to develop construction skills training such as plastering, joinery, plumbing and painting and decorating training for adults at the Belgrave Mill. In partnership with Hathershaw College of Sport and Technology and Oldham College.
NEET’s Employment Consultant – The development of a NEET’s group made up of key partners to approach secure employment opportunities and job interview guarantees in a number of industries.
TPI and P4C – To work with partners to develop the Philosophy for Children model within NDC schools and the Pacific Institute to offer motivational and aspirational programme for NDC young people and adults.