GROUNDWORK
ABOUT GROUNDWORK Groundwork is a federation of independent charities, changing places and changing lives wherever you are. Groundwork’s strength is that we know the communities in which we work. Our locally-based staff understand local issues, local needs and local people.
Our specialist teams provide a wide range of support to young people in and out of school and to jobseekers looking to develop new skills and get back into work. We are skilled at matching formal learning, training and qualifications with practical projects and activities that give people a sense of personal achievement while delivering practical benefits to local communities.
ABOUT WHAT ARE ACHIEVEMENT ACHIEVEMENT COACHES COACHES? Our youth workers and volunteers have helped over 1000 school pupils achieve their potential and avoid becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) through the Achievement Coaches programme.
Achievement Coaches are specialist youth practitioners who help young people access relevant activities, support and opportunities to progress at school. They provide personalised support to young people to achieve:
The Achievement Coaches model tests the best ways for professional and Volunteer Achievement Coaches to deliver measurable results in terms of attitude and attainment.
Improved self-confidence, motivation and attitude to learning Qualifications gained and entry to training or employment ACHIEVEMENT COACHES GIVE A YOUNG PERSON THE FOCUS AND SUPPORT OF A TRUSTED ADULT TO POSITIVELY ENGAGE IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
WHAT CAN THEY OFFER SCHOOLS? Achievement Coaches work with students, put forward by a school or pupil referral unit, who are at risk of under-achieving or becoming NEET. They provide an integrated approach of engagement, advice, guidance and practical support leading to 90% of young people completing their studies who would previously have been most likely to withdraw.
ACH ONE“ACHIEVEMENT CO P SESSIONS TO-ONE AND GROU OLS DURING ARE HELD IN SCHO SHOWS THE CLASS TIME. THIS MENT AND LEVEL OF COMMIT SCHOOLS HIGH REGARD THE HES TO HAVE FOR THE COAC RTUNITIES INCREASE THE OPPO ALLENGING FOR THEIR MOST CH D THROUGH PUPILS TO SUCCEE THIS PROGRAMME.” NT COACH, RUEBEN, ACHIEVEME NOTTINGHAM
An Achievement Coach will work with the young person for six months offering regular personalised support and helping schools: Improve behaviour and attendance, reducing persistent absenteeism Demonstrate student progress and assist the effective use of Pupil Premium Provide Ofsted with evidence to highlight the progress of Free School Meals (FSM) vulnerable groups ACHIEVEMENT COACHES PROVIDE LOCAL SUPPORT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT AND EXTENDED COMMUNITY NETWORKS TO SUPPORT LEARNING, VOLUNTEERING AND WORK EXPERIENCE.
“I THINK THE PR OGRAMME IS AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. IT GIVES THEM THE CHANCE TO SHARE CONS TRUCTIVE CONVERSATION WITH A COACH IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT TO A BUSY CLAS SROOM.” TANYA, VOLUNT EER ACHIEVEM ENT COACH, LANCAS HIRE
WHAT DO THEY DO? A professional Achievement Coach will help young people identify their aspirations, set goals and work through obstacles and challenges to achieve those goals: Engaging with the young person to build a relationship of trust, to develop appropriate attitudes, self esteem and confidence Helping the young person to overcome any barriers to learning, to access appropriate personal support, advice and guidance
REAL IMPACT FOR YOUR PUPILS Achievement Coaches work flexibly withn schools to develop tailored arrangements on a needs-led basis High quality interventions are designed to support schools to meet Ofsted requirements, with our accredited coaching qualification now appearing on the Qualifications and Credit Framework Tailored support for pupils through one-to-one and group sessions, and the offer of wrap-around support to address personal and social barriers to progressionand wrap around support
Supporting the development of time management, motivation, perseverance as important skills for their learning and employment Inspiring young people to progress in education or employment, to participate in school activities, youth clubs, volunteering and work experience opportunities ACHIEVEMENT COACHES SUPPORT A YOUNG PERSON TO DEVELOP SKILLS, ATTITUDES AND CHOICES FOR SUSTAINED ATTENDANCE AND DEMONSTRATE PROGRESS TO IMPROVE LEVELS OF ATTAINMENT.
“ALL OF THE YO UNG PEOPLE IN THE FIRST TWO COHORTS WER E ON THE VERGE OF EXCLUSION. BECAUSE OF TH E PROGRAMME ALL OF THE YO UNG PEOPLE STAYED IN SCHO OL AND SAT GCSE’S AND W ENT ONTO BIGGER THINGS .” MR HOLLY, HE AD OF MENTORING, NEW CHARTER ACADEMY
ACHIEVEMENT COACHES IN ACTION
Achievement Coaches provided 1:1 support and group sessions with students to address barriers to participation, lack of educational progress, and poor attendance, providing support for pupils who felt disengaged from school.
Groundwork Achievement Coaches worked with Abraham Moss Community School, Manchester over an 18-month period, focusing on bringing a group of year 11 pupils back into mainstream education and ensuring they met their academic potential.
Key successes included: Increased academic performance. On average, pupils achieved 5 A*-C grades, compared to 2.4 A*-C before Achievement Coaches support Improved attendance, with no pupil’s attendance at less than 90% with the support of the programme Greater progress in maths and English following the support of an Achievement Coach
“GROUNDWORK’S HES ACHIEVEMENT COAC NDENT PROVIDE AN INDEPE SM FOR SUPPORT MECHANI E HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE. W THE PUPILS SEEN SEVERAL OF OR INVOLVED TAKE MAJ RSONAL STEPS IN THEIR PE ARE DEVELOPMENT. WE E IMPACT TH H DELIGHTED WIT E.” OF THE PROGRAMM PUTY HE AD, JANICE ALLEN, DE H SCHOOL HIG SS MO ABRAHAM
PART OF THE SCHOOL TEAM Coaching is a structured, sustained process for enabling the development of a specific aspect of a student’s needs. A coach provides a timed and targeted intervention to instruct and enable the student to progress academically and in their personal development. The Achievement Coach works in the school and provides wrap-around support outside school, to increase attendance and for students to develop the skills, understanding, qualities and attitudes they need to achieve. Many young people have a range of complex needs which can be supported through group work, alongside one-to-one coaching. Working with students over a six month period, the Achievement Coach provides evidence to demonstrate the positive impact on the individual
student’s life. Achievement Coaches offer a tailored approach that can focus on the individual and what they personally want to achieve both at home and school over a longer period of time. For students this is seen as an opportunity that will pave their way to success beyond their school days. With support from the school, the Achievement Coach looks to have a home visit to the young person after referral, followed by a school case conference where appropriate, as part of the initial assessment and introduction including reassurance for parents with the Achievement Coach sometimes working out of school. ACHIEVEMENT COACHES OFFER A FLEXIBLE APPROACH WHICH REFLECTS THE CHANGING NEEDS OF SCHOOLS WITH A MODEL TO MIX ONE TO ONE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH GROUP WORK.
“THE COACHING HA S BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO OUR STUDENTS, GIVING THEM THAT ONE TO ONE ATTENTION AND TIME TO DO AC TIVITIES AWAY FROM THE SC HOOL CURRICULUM, STAF F HAVE REPORTED IMPROV ED BEHAVIOUR AND AT TENDANCE FROM THOSE WHO HAVE ATTENDED THE CO ACHING.” JO SHAW, DEPUTY HE AD, SAFE ACADEMY, ST OKE-ON-TRENT
EVALUATION
QUALITY
Of all students supported by Achievement Coaches over two terms, 96% have demonstrated improved attitude, motivation and self confidence (Department for Education); and 90% of students ‘at risk’ of becoming NEET were retained in school (Skills Funding Agency). Schools based evidence demonstrates 87% of young people completing the programme have achieved at least one learning progression. For example 71% of programme completers were identified by schools as having improved behaviour and attitude as a result of Achievement Coaches.
Achievement Coaches is an evidencebased intervention developed by Groundwork with support from the Department of Education, Skills Funding Agency and European Social Fund. Achievement Coaches are experienced youth practitioners who work alongside local Volunteer Achievement Coaches with expertise in youth work, advice and guidance, careers guidance and coaching, each accredited with the level 4 Certificate in Achievement Coaching (ABC, Qualifications and Credit Framework).
In its evidence on the effective use of Pupil Premium (2014) Ofsted found the most common uses of the funding are for additional teaching staff, booster classes, raising aspirations and ‘learning mentors’, typically focused on English and Maths, also after-school, weekend and holiday sessions. These are all areas of work supported and delivered by Achievement Coaches. Baseline data is assessed on individual motivation, abilities and barriers to learning. Personal Development Plans are put in place with ongoing needs assessments and regular reviews, tracking progress. ACHIEVEMENT COACHES CAN BE USED TO DEMONSTRATE PUPIL PREMIUM IS TARGETED AND BESPOKE, DESIGNED TO HELP THOSE STUDENTS.
ACHIEVEMENT COACHES WORK DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS FOR STRUCTURED LEARNING AND THEIR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, UNDERSTANDING, QUALITIES AND ATTITUDES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE.
ENT COACH) “(THE ACHIEVEM IVATE ME HAS HELPED MOT E FEEL MORE AND HELPED M HOOL. I HAVE CONFIDENT IN SC TENDANCE IMPROVED MY AT ITY WHICH WAS AND PUNCTUAL SUES AND I ALSO ONE OF MAIN IS OUT MYSELF.” FEEL BETTER AB CHLOE, 16
www.groundwork.org.uk/Achievement-Coaches Groundwork UK is the operating name of the Federation of Groundwork Trusts, a company limited by guarantee. Company registration No: 1900511. Charity Registration No: 291558