CLADA Blogs

Date: Tuesday, February 07, 2012

CLADA filming begins.

The first day of shooting for our toolkit DVD project has taken place at Titus Salt School.

A group of twenty one year 10 students spent a day engaged in co-operative learning exercises with John. The final hour was filmed by Martyn Stead who has taken the footage back to Bradford University where he will begin to edit it. This first session was a learning process for us all. The need to capture spontaneity and a documentary feel alongside the practical requirements for quality filming of an educational resource proved to be an interesting challenge. The resulting compromises will inform and improve future filming. The aim of producing a toolkit for practitioners is on course. 

Posted by john on 02/07 at 12:38 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Further links with Leeds EBP

John attended the recent conference at Pudsey looking at the provision for NEET students in Leeds. He was able to contribute from a position of great experience and took away useful ideas and resources. He is now signed up to be a mentor on a programme for 6th formers called ‘You’re Hired”. This looks at interview skills and particularly translating life experience and competences into business language for selling yourself to an employer.

Posted by john on 01/25 at 07:34 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Anti-Poverty Initiative

Pete is working on a research project on the impact of poverty on children , young people and families in Swansea. With rising rates of children living in poverty , high levels of NEETS and an economy based largely on jobs in the public sector, the City and County of Swansea are keen that their services and resources are targeted effectively. Pete and a co-worker will be using co-operative and participative research methods to gather information, after collation heading for a series of presentations in April 2012.

Posted by pete on 01/25 at 07:26 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Friday, November 04, 2011

Incredible Opportunity - training with Cirque du Soleil

Pete had a weeks training with the world famous circus at Circus Space in London.

Cirque du Soleil had been piloting training for ‘Social Circus’ trainers and the course was the first run in the UK. Joined by 19 other trainers. the week long event was led by facilitators from Montreal and Los Angeles. It proved thought-provoking and inspirational - described by one participant as being ‘plugged into an ultimate energy source’.

A range of methods was used to explore issues in using circus with marginalised young people. Games exchanges, creative devising, performance and reflective sessions all worked well.

Lots of links to follow up and Pete put in a proposal to run a train the trainers course to build capacity amongst trainers in Europe.

Posted by pete on 11/04 at 12:01 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Friday, May 27, 2011

School staff PD sessions attract bigger audiences.

John has been offering PD sessions for the staff at our partnership school in Yorkshire.

The recent workshop on speaking to large groups was well attended and received. The word is that very high numbers have chosen to try the final session on brain science.

Posted by john on 05/27 at 06:06 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

South Gloucester Learning Trust - the next step

Following the very successful day at Beaufort School in April the next step was a public meeting to take the trust forward.

Pete met with school staff then young people representing the three schools. After a brief review and catch up there was a trawl through the materials produced  ( Over 60 flip charts and 250 photos!)
The group decided to present 4 key elements:
Who was at the day and what happened
Key issues discussed
Who should take action on them
What would be signs of success of a learning trust
A hectic hour produced some great materials and presentations.

That evening ninety people gathered in the church – the huge increase from the previous meeting was noted, the young people gave a brilliant performance and after a short question and answer session everyone participated in discussion carousels and dot voting.
It was gratifying to see the public meeting which was 75% adults had very similar priorities to the event where young people represented the majority!
After a couple of elections for community representatives there meeting was formally closed, however it was interesting to see large numbers of people staying behind and animated discussions occurring. A joint website for the three schools involved, Facebook groups, an audit of youth provision, parallel meetings of young people and adults - all being explored excitedly.
It will be interesting to see how these initiatives develop alongside the formal co-operative structures.

Posted by admin on 05/27 at 05:52 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Time to get suited and booted.

As a result of my role as a director of CLADA and previous collaborations with the Leeds EBP, I have been invited to join a team of local business people to conduct mock interviews at Royds High School in the city.

On a special interview day, the students have applied for various fictitious jobs and been coached in presenting themselves. My role is to give my seven interviewees a realistic experience, provide instant feedback and complete an assessment form. This may feed into examination coursework and I have no plans to employ Lord Sugar's style...

Posted by john on 01/18 at 02:45 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

What makes us move?

As part of a six event programme, What makes us move? was a five day event co-ordinated by Albert and Friends Instant Circus in London.

Seventy people from six countries in a mix of workshops, exchange sessions, devising and performing shows. I worked with Ben and Amy from Dynamix creating and running workshops on - welcoming and contracting in, games exchange and review/evaluation sessions. Lots of exciting moments and focus on mediation, facilitating and co-ordinating groups. All in only seventy hours across the five days!

Posted by pete on 01/18 at 10:51 AM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Video message

CLADA is planning to use video both to demonstrate techniques and as an internal and external evaluation tool. To date we have used our affiliate Martyn Stead to record major events but we have invested in technology which will enable us to make short videos of ongoing projects. We are on a learning curve.

A very short video of us on the eve of our recent work in Telford can be found here. We are still learning..

Posted by john on 12/14 at 09:33 AM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Monday, December 13, 2010

NEET SUCCESS STORY

Titus Salt School has achieved its target of having less than 1% of last year's leavers without further education, employment or training.

I have worked independently, alongside the strong school team and Connexions, to assist in this great achievement. Regular contact, mock interviews, accompanying students at actual interviews, self esteem work, literacy and numeracy coaching leading to online examinations - all co-operative techniques used on the weekly programme. The school had an unannounced Ofsted inspection in mid-November and the care for students was described as outstanding, this project cited. The new political landscape will make it more difficult for NEET students next year, especially the end of the EMA.

Posted by john on 12/13 at 03:57 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink