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Hit the Mark

HIT THE MARK is An Excellence in Cities Study Support funded borough wide initiative. The programme is designed to equip a targeted cohort of year 11 pupils with the curriculum knowledge, study skills, motivation, and self-confidence to improve their performance at GCSE level.

This project will bring together a variety of activities and incentives that will motivate students to examine their study skills and attitudes to school and learning and drive them to higher aspirations for themselves. In doing this in a variety of venues including their own schools, and introducing them to curriculum specialists, awarding bodies and professional motivators we will endeavour to inspire the group to achieve great things for themselves, their school and their community.

Aims

To support the students in all curriculum areas and raise attainment
To develop generic study skills and learning strategies which will motivate, engage and raise aspirations
To examine attitudes to self and study and progress - to reflect and improve
To provide opportunities for pupils to develop independence and take responsibility for their own learning

The Hit the Mark Group

15 targeted year 11 students from each secondary school across the borough - 225 students
Who are capable but at risk of not achieving 5 A* - C

Student Entitlement

Completed ON-LINE progress files and Individual Learning Plan which will include target setting and progress reviews
Input from Connexions
Identified Learning Mentor support and or Transition Mentor support
Parental involvement and parent briefing events
Support with completion of coursework
Support with exam technique and performance
Membership of Oldham Libraries and access to facilities
Opportunity to provide feedback on the programme
Certification on completion of the programme

The programme provides opportunities for students to become involved at different levels of commitment and incentives will be given to those students who complete their individual programme The programme will provide a range of study support activities three of which will be compulsory. The student can take either two more options as a minimum requirement of five activities, or can opt to attend all eight activities. Students will receive vouchers commensurate with their level of engagement.

5 activities: £30 at the end of the programme

8 activities: £50 at the end of the programme

School Involvement

This programme is designed to enhance existing study support initiatives. Activities will be relevant and curriculum based. The programme will include Saturday morning participation from students, twilight sessions and sessions during the half term and Easter holidays. The programme will work with the following staff to make the programme a success,

Head of year 11
Aimhigher coordinator
14 19 coordinator
Learning Mentors
Student group

Each school will be expected to nominate a designated person to coordinate the programme at institutional level

The programme will be monitored and termly reports of student’s progress will be distributed to programme coordinators. To be successful in measuring impact and effectiveness the programme will require the following information from schools

Key stage 3 SATS results
Mock GCSE or modular results
Coursework grades
Progress reviews

Health and Safety Issues

As all the study support activities will take place outside the normal school day EiC will be responsible for completion of risk assessment and copies will be available for schools. However, schools will be responsible for parent consent forms for travel, photographs and interviews during the programme. Unless otherwise indicated pupils will make their own arrangements for transport. Cost of transport is reflected in the vouchers for attendance.

For further information you can contact us at the Centre of Professional Development; telephone 0161 770 4293 mobile 07753 716 712

Learning Performance (Study Skills Seminars for Schools)

Students will also take part in three compulsory components to the programme. HIT THE MARK days will be delivered by Learning Performance in December and then February and May as a preparation for GCSE examinations. In groups of 56 in 4 different venues the entire project group will experience the following,

First Compulsory Event on the 7^th, 9^th, 14^th, 16^th December to be held at Oldham 6^th Form College

A basic study skills workshop covering memory techniques, understanding and summarising, preferred learning styles, associated maps, revision and time management related to curriculum areas of choice.
Second Compulsory Event on the 11th, 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, 17^th March

A review of strategies already taught. Making friends with your textbook, well-being and time management and planning assignments related to curriculum areas
Third Compulsory Event on the 12th, 13^th, 14^th, 20^th 21^st April

Review of strategies, revision techniques just prior to exams, and application of skills where students bring live work to the workshop.

Please see the Hit the Mark Programme 2004 and 2005 sheets for more detail.

As the programme is designed to HIT THE MARK for each student there will be a certain amount of flexibility in the delivery of the above agenda to take into account mocks exams, religious festivals and school based study support.

Unstoppable (Study Skills and Motivation Workshops)

The programme will also provide three motivational twilight sessions to be delivered by Unstoppable. They are a Doncaster group with over seven years experience of working with many of the Northwest’s LEA’s in raising student achievement. Unstoppable will also provide impact data and case studies to support their claim that attending all three motivational sessions will have significant impact on raising attainment of C/D border line students.

Unstoppable will deliver three two-hour sessions to the entire cohort at the Queen Elizabeth Hall at intervals during the HIT THE MARK programme period.

First session Launch day 25^th November

No Limits – a session that explores personal goals and planning and is intended to gear up students to be more independent and to take responsibility for their own learning and progression

Second session February 21st 2005 3 30pm 5 30pm The Oldham 6^th Form College

Power learning – a session which deals with personal motivation and revision issues

Third Session April 5th 2005 3 30pm 5 30pm at The Oldham 6^th Form College.

The Inner Winner - a session that coaches young people to take control of their emotions and to believe in themselves in a well placed slot just prior to examinations.