The Challenge of Disaffection

based at Norham Community Technology College

Alnwick Avenue
North Shields
Tyne and Wear NE29 7BU
Tel 0191 2005062 Fax 0191 200 5065
norchal@rmplc.co.uk

The roots of disaffection lie in the nature of the urban community served by the schools in the Norham pyramid. The Census data of 1991 showed high levels of deprivation and disadvantage. In three wards of Chirton, Collingwood and Riverside employment stood at 14%. 18% of the families in thes wards reported long term inllness as a problem. Almost 50% of children are Norham Community Technology College aree provided with free school meals. Many pupils within the pyramid are vulnerable and disadvantaged.

North Tyneside Local Education Authority was successful in a bid to the DFEE for funding to establish:

Strand 1
A multidisciplinary support team based at Norham to work with disaffected pupils in order to identify and meet their learning needs.

Strand 2
The secondment of mainstream teachers to the Linskill Pupil Referral Unit

Achievements

A base has been established at Norham

In service training is under way

Links have been established with the Pupil Referral Unit at Linskill

A target group of Year 7 pupils has been identified for monitoring re. emotional, behavioural or attendence concerns.

Home visits have established partnerships with parents

Data on attendance and exclusion is being analysed in order to inform future policy

Secondment of staff to share expertise is underway

Team members have embarked on a program of one-to-one and group sessions

Behaviour modification programmes have been prepared

Modem links have been established

Software packages are being evaluated

norchal@rmplc.co.uk