5.1. Tværfaglige teams

Dette dokument har til formål at gennemgå dokumentationen for det potentiale, som fler- og tværfaglige teams har for at spille en central rolle i forebyggelsen af skolefrafald. Som led i udviklingen af en strategi for fler- eller tværfaglige teams lægges der stor vægt på de betingelser, der er nødvendige og fremmende for deres effektivitet, snarere end på en deterministisk formodning om deres uundgåelige effektivitet. Rapporten understreger behovet for at yde stærk strategisk vejledning til teamene om vigtige spørgsmål, som de skal engagere sig i, såsom støtte til mental sundhed, alternativer til suspension, opsøgende arbejde over for marginaliserede familier, løsning af konflikter med lærere og færdigheder i mangfoldighedsuddannelse, færdigheder i forebyggelse af mobning, fremme af et positivt skoleklima, engagement i forældrefærdigheder og fokus på børns sproglige udvikling osv.

Manchester Communication Academy (MCA) works to improve outcomes for children, families and the community. This secondary academy opened in 2010 to serve one of the most disadvantaged inner-city neighbourhoods in England. From the outset, the academy’s sponsor, a large employer in the city, wanted the school to help to contribute to a vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood, and committed to addressing the many inter-related economic, social and physical challenges which characterise the neighbourhood. This mission has directly shaped the academy programme, which places equal importance on ‘teaching and learning’ and ‘social investment’. The school’s social investment department is a highly distinctive feature of its overall strategy for addressing the impacts of disadvantage on young people’s education and wider life chances.

1. School context

Reach Academy Feltham (RAF) is in West London. It has 900 pupils from ages 2 to 18. It is a Free School, meaning it is funded directly by the Department for Education and is independent of local government. The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, where many families find it difficult to access professional support services. RAF’s mission is to help all its pupils lead lives of choice and opportunity. It works closely with pupils and their families to overcome any barriers to doing well, at home and in the community. To support this, in 2017 RAF created Reach Children’s Hub, an organisation dedicated to extending RAF’s work with families, the local community, and other professional services in the area. The Hub works both with pupils and families from RAF and who attend other local schools. Ofsted, the English schools inspectorate, has graded RAF as an outstanding school.

2. Responding to COVID-19

A week and a half before the UK went into lockdown, RAF’s leadership team (the principals and senior staff) began planning their response to the crisis. Their priorities were to:
• provide high-quality, engaging learning for all pupils
• look after families’ well-being
• support the wider community
• look after the well-being of RAF staff.

RAF’s work to develop Reach Children’s Hub meant it already had some good links with other services and community groups locally. As a Free School, it was also used to working quickly and flexibly to respond to pupils’ and families’ needs. These factors meant RAF was able to act much more quickly in response to COVID-19 than was possible for local government organisations. RAF has stepped forward to take the lead on co-ordinating a multi-agency response to the crisis across the community. By taking this role, it has been able to secure a renewed commitment for services, community groups and schools to work together to meet people’s increasing needs.

Skolens tilgang til undervisning og læring er baseret på opnåelse af uddannelsesmæssig ekspertise og resultater for alle elever. Skolen udviklede en stimulerende læseplan, der har til formål at give eleverne på skolen en forståelse for de læringsprocesser, de er involveret i (metakognition) – og styrke deres selvopfattelse. Specialiseret undervisning på visse områder (naturvidenskab, musik, kunst, fysisk træning) er et centralt element i denne proces ligesom udviklingen af matematikundervisningen i hele skoleforløbet (elever i 6. klasse). Undervisning i filosofi for alle elever er også et vigtigt element i udviklingen af elevernes refleksionsfærdigheder, modstandskraft og selvtillid. Nytænkningen af læseplanen gennemføres på skolens initiativ i samarbejde med dens føderationspartnere på Whitmore Park Primary School. Alt personale, det styrende organ, elever og forældre bliver regelmæssigt hørt og inddraget i processen med at udarbejde en læseplan, og skolen er stærkt engageret med partnere i lokalsamfundet om at udvikle bredere læringsaktiviteter.