The School Improvement Partnership Project Erasmus Project

Project Title

The School Improvement Partnership Project

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Quality Improvement Institutions and/or methods (incl. school development)

Project Summary

Context
The School Improvement Partnership Project (SIPP) contributes to addressing the EU 2020 targets of reducing the rates of early school leaving below 10% by trialling and transferring the concepts behind the Grade Predictor, a web based tool, to enable students to choose the right course across Europe and avoid dropout whilst studying. In particular it addresses 2 of the 2009 ET 2020 EU objectives to address challenges in education and training systems by 2020 by improving the quality and efficiency of education and training and promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship. Our project upskilled teachers and careers counsellors in supporting students to enter and remain in suitable courses.
Participants
Learning Plus UK Data Ltd (LPUK) from the UK were the lead organisation. Originally a partnership across 6 countries was formed to address the need identified. Unfortunately, one partner Capademy, had to withdraw at an early stage and the project continued with LPUK and 4 partner organisations:
• SATAKUNNAN KOULUTUSKUNTAYHTYMA (Sataedu)
• Galway and Roscommon Education & Training Board (GRETB)
• CENTRO DE FORMACION PROFESIONAL XABEC (Xabec)
• Zlínský kraj
The broad and diverse partnership includes 3 organisations, GRETB, Xabec and Zlínský kraj with experience and success in implementing tools and Sataedu and Xabec developing the use of the tool in vocational settings. It brought together great research and creative skills which were used to trial and develop significant resources and training and included schools from highly innovative settings. We targeted teachers with leadership roles, Heads of Year, career counsellors and guidance specialists involved in the education of young people.
Activities
Five intellectual outputs were delivered through this project:
1. European Grade Predictor Tools
2. Superb Intervention Videos
3. Strategy Papers
4. User Manuals
5. Intervention Guide
2 training courses were delivered to upskill teachers and other associated professionals, including training on the tool usage, intervention techniques and resources.7 transnational meetings were planned, 5 went ahead successfully, 2 were held online, due to Covid-19. A multiplier event planned to take place in the final term of the project did not take place due to Covid-19
A wide range of dissemination activities took place including: creation of a SIPP website hosting all resources, e-newsletters, presentations and training events.
Methodology
The methodology was based on transfer of innovation enabled by the exchange of best practice through audit, data collection transnational meetings and comparative studies, experiential learning delivered through training activities with the support and steer of experts in the field, the development and provision of resources to support delivery and the use of information technology including the internet and video to overcome communication barriers. Training and transfer of innovation was at the heart of our methodology.
Whilst LPUK were overall project lead, all partners contributed actively to the project with a strong collaborative ethos. Each output had a partner lead, chosen for their expertise in that area, output milestones and targets were agreed by the partner organisations and our action research approach enabled the outputs to develop during the project.
LPUK appointed an experienced Erasmus+ external evaluator. They enabled the partnership to succeed whilst adhering to agreed Quality Assurance standards. An evaluation plan was approved and the evaluator provided regular updates at meetings and evaluation reports.
Results
European Grade Predictor tools are now developed for each partner country, supported by a range of materials including: user manuals, intervention guide, 20 superb intervention videos and institutional case studies available from the SIPP website. Strategy papers were circulated to 271 education decision makers.
Impact
Almost 1400 students have benefited from upskilled professionals and their interactions with them and guidance from them. Evaluation of the trial has shown that retention has been positively impacted upon and destinations improved. Students will choose well and have been supported to remain on courses or choose alternatives.
Long term Benefit
The tool has shown potential long term benefits in Spain and the Czech Rep. With wider use in Ireland further positive results would be expected. European Grade Predictor tools provide a building block for addressing the employment target of 75% of 20-64 year olds to be employed. Schools will produce more and better qualified students and young people will enter non-traditional careers addressing skills gaps. We are aware of no other tool in Europe which can do this. We cover a vast area of Europe and our work will have pertinence beyond national boundaries. This transfer of innovation will benefit Europe as a whole and address governments increasing accountability measures for schools.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 289968 Eur

Project Coordinator

Learning Plus UK Data Ltd & Country: UK

Project Partners

• CENTRO DE FORMACION PROFESIONAL XABEC
• Galway and Roscommon Education & Training Board
• SATAKUNNAN KOULUTUSKUNTAYHTYMA
• Zlínský kraj
• Kapadokya Egitim Akademisi Dernegi