Self Managed Learning (SML) College Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
Quick guide
What is Self Managed Learning? How is SML better for children than other methods? What does the SML programme at the College look like? How does SML work in practice? What will SML do for my child? Can students gain qualifications through SML? The College Next steps
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
What is Self Managed Learning?
A proven alternative to school There’s a lot we know about how children and young people learn, for instance they are all different. Yet school assumes that children and young people will learn the same things, in the same way, at the same time, through a fixed curriculum. The essence of the Self Managed Learning approach is that we provide a structure within which young people can plan, organise and carry out learning activities. We treat each young person as an individual, so we don’t have classrooms or an imposed curriculum. Each student is able to work out for themselves what and how they want to learn. Since the 1970’s we have engaged in extensive research and study on how best to provide personalised learning and believe the Self Managed Learning approach is the optimum solution. Freedom and flexibility Self Managed Learning offers students a free choice of learning modes. Students in our college are encouraged to learn in any ways that they want. Some prefer to use the computer, whilst others may use traditional textbooks or they may want some time with a tutor to get one-to-one support. Often they work together on projects. A free choice of learning modes means they can be at their most efficient.
“In our research we have indentified at least 55 different modes and contexts for learning for children. Only one of these is in the classroom and over the last 15 years of our College’s existence no student has ever asked us to create a classroom environment.“
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
What does Self Managed Learning provide that schools don’t?
Size matters Schools on average are getting larger each year and yet the solid research evidence indicates that small schools or learning environments are healthier places for young people. Research suggests that for a successful learning community where healthy relationships exist between students and students and between adults and students there need to be three conditions, namely: • Every young person needs to know every adult • Every adult needs to know every young person • Every young person needs to know every other young person. Large schools cannot do this, hence the evidence of the proliferation of bullying, sexual harassment and truancy in schools. Research evidence firmly supports the value of smaller educational organisations. A 21st Century education Whilst the digital and creative sectors are the fastest growing, the arts are being side-lined in schools. Employers say they are unable to fill the growing number of roles requiring creativity, adapatability and self-regulation. Self Managed Learning allows students to gain skills that are relevant to the world we live in. More importantly, they take responsibility for their own learning, can make decisions and work collaboratively.
“Evidence continues to mount that smaller high schools get better results than larger ones. In smaller settings, children – particularly those who were underperforming – learn more, behave better, and are less likely to drop out.”
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
What does the Self Managed Learning programme at the College look like?
The Structure of the Programme The College currently runs a Self Managed Learning programme for 9-16 year olds. The programme runs for three twelve-week terms, with half term breaks also provided. We deliberately run the programme for four hours per day as we know that much essential development for young people needs to take place away from organised and structured learning environments. This format allows students the freedom to engage in other activities in the afternoon, evening and at weekends, such as sports, language lessons, music lessons as well as leisure activities.
“We have the freedom to be who we want to be and learn what we want to learn.�
How SML works in practice The programme at SMLC is based on the Self Managed Learning approach. This approach provides a structure within which learners are encouraged to take control of their own learning. This approach has three elements at its core: the Learning Agreement, the Learning Group (which is supported by a Learning Group Adviser) and the Learning Community. These bring focus and coherence to the learning activity of the week and are a requirement of the programme.
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
How Self Managed Learning works in practice
Learning Agreements We all have the potential to be learning all the time, but whether we make the most of an opportunity depends to a great extent on where we put our attention. Identifying learning goals and writing them up in the Learning Agreement helps to put our attention on what we want to learn, and what we need to do to learn it. The learning week can involve many different activities, and many different people. Yet the learning agreement provides a way to pull all the learning together in terms of a student’s aims. Learning Groups The learning group provides a structure through which, among other things, an individual can keep track of their progress with their learning goals. The learning groups of about 6 students meet weekly so that students can plan and organise their week’s activities. Each week students are assisted to draw up a timetable for the week – and tutors timetables then follow from what students want to do (the opposite of the schooling model). On Fridays students review their week, evaluating how their learning has gone and planning any changes they want to make for the following week.
From within the team of tutors, each group is allocated a ‘learning group adviser’ to support students in planning, organising and monitoring their work.
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
Parents Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s learning. We deliberately provide a morning programme so that students can be supported by their parents/carers to pursue other learning activities in the afternoons and at other times. We like to meet with parents/carers at the start of the programme and at regular intervals (for example termly) but usually with the young person present. Such meetings are designed to assist both students and parents/carers to maximise the benefit of the College for the student and to link with learning going on outside the College. We make certain that parents have easy access to staff here and have regular parent meetings where general issues are discussed. The Learning Community Community meetings, involving all students and tutors working in the College, focus mainly on what learners want and how to address their concerns. The community meeting makes decisions relevant to the community including any rules for the College as a whole. The College has clarity about principles so that there is not a continual need for discussing basics. Community decisions can include: • • • • • • •
Agreement about arrangements in the building Decisions on the use of resources Plans for visits and other activities Decisions on the role and involvement of other adults Dealing with any rule breaking Choosing the student representative on the Governing Body Anything else affecting the community
“I see it as her getting lots and lots of help. It has blown me away actually with her being allowed to be herself; with what she has chosen to do and how interested she is in things.”
Community meetings are normally held at the start of each morning, but may need to be held at other times, if needed. It is a requirement of the programme that students attend community meetings.
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
What will Self Managed Learning do for my child?
Realise potential At the College, we’ve seen students realise abilities that they hadn’t previously been aware of or had the chance to develop. For instance students who were told at school that they were ‘no good at art’ yet they find that they can paint or draw – and enjoy it. Or they may have been told that they are not musical – yet by the end of the year be able to play an instrument well enough to be part of the band here. Or they may have felt that they are not academic and then develop a love of academic study. Social skills At the College students work together in the community and spend much more time than they would at school in social interaction. Students also maintain friends that they may have been at school with or, if they have been home educated, from previous groups to which they have belonged. Parents comment on how students mature and gain self-confidence from being part of a vibrant learning community.
“We believe that it is important for students to learn with and from other students and learn to play a productive role in society.”
Preparation for life When students leave the College they feel prepared to take the next steps in their careers. Apart from two of our 16 year old leavers who started their own business when they left here, all have gone on to further education, exploring a wide range of careers including carpenter, illustrator, doctor, martial arts instructor and film director.
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
Can students gain qualifications through Self Managed Learning?
GCSE’s Many of our students go on to sit formal exams such as GCSE’s. As with all our work, we do not impose the use of qualifications and we have experience of students going on to college at 16 without the regular GCSE requirements. We provide guidance to parents on these matters and we organise visits to local colleges so that students can explore options for themselves. We have good relationships with local colleges and they have welcomed taking on our students when they leave at 16.
“Whatever they want to do a way is found for them. So they start thinking that most things are actually possible. “
Arts Awards We also provide a facility for students to gain Arts Awards, set up by the Arts Council to provide a route for young people to gain GCSE and A level equivalent qualifications in the arts. The Awards are divided into Bronze (equivalent to a lower level GCSE): Silver (equivalent to an A*-C level GCSE) and Gold (equivalent to an AS Level). For the Arts Awards, students create a portfolio of work of their own choosing. Our students have been undertaking work in a wide range of performing and visual arts.
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
The College
Self Managed Learning College is based at the Brighton Youth Centre at 64 Edward Street. Our own College makes use of an existing building and provides an easy to use facility. Students and parents comment on the value of the friendly, caring atmosphere. We maintain an approach to education that acknowledges the legal right of parents to choose to use school or some other educational mode. The College is designed to support parents in carrying out their duty to provide education for their children. We do this without classrooms, lessons, imposed testing, imposed timetables and all the other formal features of a school. The aim of the College is to support parents in providing a good education for their children and prepare them for happy, successful lives.
The College provides a stimulating and nurturing environment in which students are able to develop the confidence and skills they need for the future.
Self Managed Learning College is an organisation within The Centre for Self Managed Learning which was established in 1994. Itx is a registered educational charity and a company limited by guarantee - number 2814910.
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
Self Managed Learning College is internationally recognised as a leader in the field of personalised approaches to learning. The SML approach has been applied and rigorously evaluated in a wide variety of programmes since 1978: in-company, open public and qualification programmes from Diploma to Masters level. (Some of the organisations that have used the SML approach are listed to the right.) We collaborate with various organisations that have similar interests to ours both locally and internationally. Our work with universities in the UK has included joint programmes with the University of Sussex and collaborations with the University of Brighton and the Institute of Education. The University of Brighton has also conducted independent evaluations of our work in schools. To date we’ve implemented SML programmes in the following UK schools: Beacon Community College, Crowborough, East Sussex; Falmer High School, Brighton; Uckfield Community Technology College, East Sussex; St Luke’s School, Portsmouth; Les Quennevais School, Jersey; Tetherdown Primary School, London Borough of Haringey; South Harringay Junior School, London Borough of Haringey; Neale-Wade Community College, Cambridge; Patcham House School, Brighton Some of our international work has involved developing local staff to be able to run Self Managed Learning programmes, for example we have collaborated with the Institute for Democratic Education in Israel; International Democratic Education Conference; Jyväskylä Polytechnic in Finland; Skåne Regional Government in Sweden; North Vancouver School District in Canada. We have contributed to conferences and provided sessions on our work to events in the UK (Personalised Education Now) as well as in Canada (International Democratic Education Conference), Finland (various conferences on learning and education), Israel (Institute for Democratic Education) and Sweden (Centre for Diversity in Education, Malmö).
Allied Domecq Arun District Council Barclays Bank BBC Birmingham City Council Birmingham Midshires BP Amoco British Airways Cable and Wireless C.T. Bowring Debenhams Eastleigh Borough Council Electrolux EMI Ericsson Finland Post GKN Ladbroke Group London Borough of Lewisham NOP Research Group Norwich Union Nycomed Amersham PPP Healthcare Prudential Royal and Sun Alliance St Helier NHS Trust Sainsbury’s Scottish Health Service Centre Shell Tottenham Hotspur FC Virgin Our Price WHS West Sussex County Council
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.
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Next steps
We are keen to hear from parents and young people who would like to find out more about how engaging in a Self Managed Learning programme can better prepare you for a successful life than traditional schooling. If you are one of the many parents concerned that the options currently on offer aren’t adequate for the 21st century, we invite you to give us a call and arrange a visit to the College. During your visit you will have the opportunity to speak to tutors and students and see how Self Managed Learning works in practice. Give us a call today on: 01273 703691 Or email us: college@selfmanagedlearning.org We look forward to meeting you.
SML College | Preparing young people for the tests of life, not a life of tests.