The awards – part of a scheme supported by the Government’s Dept for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) – recognise ‘good practice’ in developing extra-curricular activity programmes for pupils.
The awards were presented at a special ceremony, organised by East Sussex County Council. Representatives from all nine schools attended the event, held at Parkland Infant School in Eastbourne, including:
- Battle and Langton CE Primary School
- Ditchling (St Margaret’s) CE Primary School
- Eastbourne Technology College
- Hailsham Community College
- Hampden Park Infant School (Eastbourne)
- Hillcrest School (Hastings)
- Parkland Infants School (Eastbourne)
- Parkland Junior School (Eastbourne)
- Robsack Wood Community School (Hastings).
Councillor David Elkin, Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness, joined members of the County Council’s Study Support Team in congratulating the schools on their achievement.
Cllr Elkin said: “While schools have always provided programmes of extra-curricular activities, there is now increasing recognition that these activities can profoundly influence every child’s learning when they are planned and delivered in a meaningful way.”
The ‘Quality in Study Support’ scheme recognises and rewards those schools, youth clubs, libraries and other educational organisations that develop effective and dynamic out-of-hours school learning programmes. The scheme is based on the DCSF’s Study Support Code of Practice, where the overall aim is to raise students’ achievement, motivation and self esteem. Typical activities in a programme can include breakfast clubs, homework clubs, and clubs where pupils can pursue particular interests – such as languages, sports and PE, music, drama, chess or science.
To achieve the Award, schools must use the ‘Study Support Code of Practice’ to plan, develop and self-evaluate its study support provision. It must also produce a portfolio of evidence to show that it has met the standards set by the Code of Practice. The evidence is then scrutinised by peers before being submitted for recognition by the QiSS.
East Sussex County Council’s ‘Study Support Team’ is part of the council’s Early Years, Childcare and Extended Schools Service.
For more information about the Study Support Team, plus information about the QiSS Award scheme and the DCSF’s Study Support Code of Practice, please follow the ‘czone’ link on: eastsussex.gov.uk/extendedschools.
Notes to editors
About ‘Quality in Study Support’
‘Study Support’ is the term used by Government to all the many learning activities organised outside normal lessons which young people take part in voluntarily.
The overall purpose is to improve young people’s motivation, build their self-esteem and help them become more effective learners. Above all it aims to raise achievement. Study support can happen before or after the school day, at lunch and break times, at weekends, and during school holidays
Activities can include:
- Breakfast clubs
- Homework clubs
- Subject-based activities, such as language or science clubs;
- Opportunities to pursue particular interests, e.g. chess, ICT, or art & design
- Creative activities: e.g. music, dance, drama
- Physical education and sports
- Learning about learning: i.e. advice on how to study and revise and thinking skills.
How do pupils benefit?
- Increased and enhanced self-esteem
- Better attitudes to school, to education and learning more generally
- Increased motivation and commitment to the school and to learning
- Reduced social exclusion (feeling part of a club)
- Raised achievement
- Good attendance records
- A chance to succeed (this is particularly important for those pupils who may feel that they are not achieving well in the classroom)
- Opportunities to develop relationships with different peers and adults
- Improved results compared to similar groups of pupils who did not take part
Research shows that study support has an impact on three key areas of students' development:
- Attainment at KS1
- Attitudes to school
- Attendance at school
QiSS is part of the Department of Professional Development in the Faculty of Education at Canterbury Christ Church University.
Accreditation lasts for three years, after which time schools need to apply for reaccreditation.
Reference:
2050
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