The project has many features, but four of these are of greatest significance
1. An ‘Inclusion Teacher’ for each of the 12 schools
This provides a teaching salary for the school year 11/12 and 12/13 for an Inclusion teacher. It is intended that this teacher will work with small groups of children who may be experiencing challenges in their educational engagement. By offering them this additional support, it is hoped that this will improve attainment, focus, increase attendance and reduce absences and suspensions. Children involved in this process will be identified by the Senior Management and Pastoral teams of each school. They may be involved for varying amounts of time.
The two Inclusion teachers from each school will liaise closely and will bring groups of children from the two schools together on a regular basis
2. A Curriculum based project in History, Citizenship and a third area of choice
This provides funding for three departments from each school to work closely together to bring about greater attainment and reconciliation outcomes. The funding is available to each pair of schools for the school years 11/12, 12/13 and 13/14.
Each pair of departments e.g. History, will devise a shared learning programme, using their curriculum requirements the main content. The children (a class of no less than 20 from each school) from each pair of departments will meet on a minimum of three occasions which may be in school or out of school activities
3. Externally accredited training for a core team from each school
Funding is available for each school to send 6 teachers on an externally accredited course which will increase their capacity in the areas of reconciliation and shared education. Teachers will avail of this training during the life span of the project up to December 2013.
Each school will nominate the teachers to be involved.
4. Resourcing
Funding is available for significant resources which will support the implementation of the project
The basic information above sets out the main structures and ethos of the project. However it is hoped that the key concept of partnership working will allow schools to become increasingly skilled in identifying where enhanced sharing and collaboration would be appropriate to the benefit of all concerned
The project will include various methodologies in terms of monitoring and evaluation. However it will also involve the support of the Inspectorate
