Two primary in Northampton decided to work together to try out a practical, yet relatively simple Study Support solution to an issue that was facing them both - motivating boys to write. They set up a boys' writing project and included a team of people beyond classroom teachers. In this instance it was Northampton Football Club and the Chronicle Echo.

The project was a short term, intensive writing 'club', comprising 6 sessions of an hour after school over just three weeks.

Ten year 5 boys received a 'special invitation' to come to the club. Classteachers, LSAs, parents and carers were all kept informed of the purpose behind the project. The partnership with The Cobblers and the Chronicle and Echo provided the purpose and motivation for writing. At an initial visit to The Cobblers, the boys were 'commissioned' to write articles on a range of topics for the Chronicle & Echo's Junior Supplement.

And the results? The boys produced high quality work - 'Safe Surfing' being one of the titles - and they went to print throughout the July editions.

The initial aim to 'switch on' these boys and for them to see the relevance of writing in the real world was highly successful. Comments from the boys following the club included:

'The work I did was brilliant!'
'I didn’t think I could do this, but I did.'
'When I'd finished I felt really proud.'
'I am really excited that my work is going to be read by so many people – at least 100,000!.'
'Yeah, wouldn't mind doing something like this again.'
'Much better than I thought - I can write after all.'

Of course, a one-off project cannot sustain the benefits unless something happens afterwards. The schools were keen not to let the initial excitement disappear and are continuing to bring the groups of boys together for different writing purposes. For example, designing and writing material for a display in the school, leaflets/news sheets for their peers, lunchtime discussions about their school writing etc

Comments from staff in the school, when asked to reflect on any changes in these boys include:

'Much more motivated in class.'
'They have grown in confidence and their behaviour has improved too.'
'It has been very interesting to have a wider team of people involved with raising standards in literacy. Too often we have been narrow in our thinking.'

Sue Dixon, Study Support Coordinator

For any more information:

Tel: 01604 236423