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What was planned?

Plymouth Education Action Zone (EAZ) was successful in securing New Opportunities Funding from September 2000 to support its programme of out-of-school-hours learning.  A core aim of the EAZ is to enable schools to significantly raise the educational achievements, aspirations, life chances and employability of all students.

Super Learning Day
 
What was done and when?
The whole of Year 10 (220 students) at Tamarside Community College, which is the largest school within the EAZ, took part in a day off their normal timetable dedicated to accelerated learning techniques.  These were based on research into the brain and intelligence, and can underpin successful revision in any curriculum area.  The day started with a free healthy breakfast that consisted of fruit, cereal and juice before building a living brain in assembly.  The students then attended a number of workshops including 'Mind Mapping', 'My Amazing memory' and 'Learning Styles and how to use them'.  The aim was to introduce the children to new ways of studying.  Students used integrated University of the First Age (UFA) materials.  Teaching staff also took part in the sessions.  
 
What has the impact been?
The first workshop gave the students an insight into how learning occurs, with the others building upon these principles, and also introducing specific techniques for use in their revision.  The out of school hours learning programme has played a significant part in helping schools achieve the aim of the EAZ to enable schools to significantly raise the educational achievements, aspirations, life chances and employability of all students.
 
Summer Dance School-Tamarside Community College in association with Wise Moves Dance and Plymouth Education Action Zone/University of the First Age

What was done and when?
The students started from a blank piece of paper and were given the task of choreographing their own dance piece using the styles of hip hop and street jazz.  Two tutors were used from the Wise Moves Dance Company who helped the students with technique, training and exploration of various different avenues before deciding on their final version.

The dance piece was entitled 'Wicked Angels' and was the end product of 8 days hard work.  This was performed live at the 'Streets of the Southwest' festival in front of an audience of 500 people. 
 
What has the impact been?
The Summer School was a great success in helping the students realise and develop their maximum potential in dance.  By learning and experimenting with movement they were not only able to develop choreographing skills, but also realised that dance can be a highly disciplined, but above all enjoyable art form. 

The need to be aware of cultural diversity throughout these workshops enhanced student knowledge and understanding of other people's experiences - a key element of the citizenship programme of study.

The 'Wicked Angels' dance piece allowed students to achieve new skills in motivation, communication, co-operation and self esteem.
 
Saturday Club at the Plymouth College of Art & Design
 
What was planned?
The Saturday Art Club at Plymouth College of Art & Design described below was run in conjunction with the Peninsula Project/Widening Participation in Higher Education.  The main aim here was to give students the opportunity to experience working on the college campus alongside students who were attending the college.  Therefore increasing the interest of those considering applying for a place at colleges of higher education from groups that are typically under-represented, or who have no tradition of going to college or university.
 
What was done and when?
A Saturday Club took place at the Plymouth College of Art & Design throughout the Spring Term.  It was open to students at Key Stage 3 from Tamarside Community College.  A number of different workshops were open to students (clay modelling, multimedia and jewellery making using metals) which allowed them to use and benefit from the sophisticated equipment available at the college.  Students spent two sessions on each before moving onto the next.
 
What has the impact been?
The out of school hours learning programme has played a significant part in helping schools achieve the aim of the EAZ which is to enable schools to significantly raise the educational achievements, aspirations, life chances and employability of all students.