5.1. Timijiet multidixxiplinari

L-approċċ tal-iskola għat-tagħlim u għall-apprendiment huwa bbażat fuq il-ksib ta’ eċċellenza edukattiva u s-suċċess għall-istudenti kollha. L-iskola żviluppat kurrikulu stimulanti li jfittex li jipprovdi lill-istudenti tagħha fehim tal-proċessi tal-apprendiment li jkunu involuti fihom (metakonjizzjoni) – u jibni t-twemmin fihom infushom. L-għoti ta’ tagħlim speċjalizzat f’ċerti oqsma ta’ suġġetti (ix-xjenza, il-mużika, l-arti, l-edukazzjoni fiżika) huwa element prinċipali f’dan il-proċess, hekk kif inhu l-iżvilupp tat-tagħlim tal-matematika fl-iskola (għall-istudenti tas-6 grad). It-tagħlim tal-filosofija lill-istudenti kollha huwa wkoll element vitali fl-iżvilupp tal-ħiliet tal-ħsieb, tar-reżiljenza u tal-kunfidenza personali tal-istudenti. L-innovazzjoni fil-kurrikulu titwettaq fuq inizjattiva tal-iskola, li taħdem f’kooperazzjoni mas-sħab tal-Federazzjoni tagħha fl-Iskola Primarja ta’ Whitmore Park. Il-persunal kollu, il-korp governattiv, l-istudenti u l-ġenituri spiss jiġu kkonsultati u jsiru parti mill-proċess tal-iżvilupp fil-kurrikulu, u l-iskola tingaġġa ħafna mas-sħab tal-komunità fl-iżvilupp ta’ attivitajiet ta’ apprendiment usa’.

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.

Il-proġett Supporting Inclusive School Leadership (SISL) investiga kif tippromwovi tmexxija inklużiva fil-livell tal-iskola u pprovda għodod ta’ appoġġ. Il-proġett qies li t-tmexxija għall-edukazzjoni inklużiva kellha l-għan li tikseb parteċipazzjoni sħiħa f’opportunitajiet ta’ tagħlim sinifikanti, kisba kbira u benesseri għall-istudenti kollha, inklużi dawk l-aktar vulnerabbli għall-esklużjoni.