E-InclusionExperience and Evolution in Leeds

Ian ThompsonFormer E-Inclusion Programme Manager

for Education Leeds

A Brief HistoryLeeds wedge-based approach• Five wedges: each typically

8 high schools, 50 primaries and various SILCs/PRUs

• Each wedge managed through an Area Board

• With ~20% of schools, but >50% of exclusions in 2005, South Leeds AMB placed Inclusion as a priority

• E-Inclusion was developed as a result

Aims of E-Inclusion• Originally: to bring to CLCs those students judged by

schools in South Leeds to be at risk of exclusion• Extended: some students in centres, some in schools

• School staff training• Some resources not available away from CLCs• Shift to FOSS rather than proprietary software

• Evolution: adopted by Education Leeds for CfP• Became a large, distributed student group• Raised issues of accreditation and management

What is ‘Computers for Pupils’?CfP is a scheme to help students use ICT at home• Initially approx 2500 laptops across Leeds with 3G internet

subscription pre-paid for 2 years• Focus on LAC, Children’s Homes, then NEET and

SOA/FSM – bridge the digital divide• All internet access safe and secure as though browsing

within a Leeds school• A range of educational software provided• Parental access enabled

What does CfP aim to do?Research shows that pupils’ use of ICT:• raises standards• supports personalisation• improves their ICT skills• provides more options for what they learn and how

they learn it• supports homework and revision• increases motivation

Quick break!

What is most important?– Engagement, reducing disaffection– GCSE points equivalency– Flexibility, to suit the student’s ability and

interests– Availability– Cost

Benefits of E-Inclusion• Flexible pathway for students who might not like regular

school methods or situations• Varied project modules keep students engaged• Uses ASDAN CoPE & KS – equivalent to GCSEs

• Course ‘Learning Platform’ available to all via a website on the Internet– Aim to use free software wherever possible = zero cost– Maintain staff-pupil link, even based-off-site = help!– Allow group work for all students = not isolated

Thematic learning• Builds coursework• Checks off credit points from many different

modules rather than in a linear way• More work for course staff cross-mapping work

to credit points, but easier for students• Easily linked to all six Key Skills• CoPE rewards ‘attempt’ as well as ‘fully finish’• Allows students to follow topics of interest

Module content

Why ASDAN CoPE?• Achievement by doing = quick outcomes

• Three Wider Key Skills and three Core Key Skills = ready for work

• It’s possible to gain qualifications that are equivalent to three C-grade GCSE’s = valuable

• Other work can be included in the course evidence, from school subjects, work experience and students’ hobbies or activities = interesting

• If something doesn’t suit, change it so it does!

CoPE Structure• 12 modules, each in three sections (A, B & C)• 120 hours total, using 60 Section A, 24 Section B

or 12 Section C tasks, or a combination of all• Level 2 – must do min 6 tasks from Section C• Level 1 – most likely to do Section A or B• So long as separate work is done, it’s possible to

earn credits in all sections of each module• Up to 6 credits at L1 from work experience

Where are the points?• ASDAN CoPE = 25pts at L1, 46pts at L2• CoPE requires three Wider KS be done, each

with one piece of supporting coursework• Full KS course is 18.8pts at L1, 34.5pts at L2 and

requires two pieces of supporting coursework• E-Inclusion includes tasks that gain all six KS's.• Clever method – do all the KS's first, then apply

the work back into CoPE.

Other qualifications•ASDAN CoPE: nominally the course that is followed, but is actually one of the least valuable parts!•Edexcel ALAN – E3, L1, L2•BTEC Interactive Use of Media (Award, Certificate or Diploma)•NCFE Certificate in Interactive Media

•Edexcel Adult ICT – E1-3•Edexcel AiDA (in place of L1 or L2 ICT)•GNVQ Sports Studies

Quick break!How’s your maths?:

Look back through the presentation; how many points will a student get if they complete a ‘clever’ CoPE, then pass the 2-part Edexcel ALAN?

Entry 3 Level 1 Level 2

CoPE - 25 46

Key Skill - 18.8 34.5

Basic Skill 3.5 12.5 23

Things to note…• CLCs or students’ own schools provide ASDAN

registration for students• CLC/schools’ ASDAN verifiers sign off evidence

from time to time• Students must remain linked to school or CLC,

otherwise the qualifications cannot be arranged• Parents/carers need to be involved, either by

direct help or supporting students’ efforts as they work on practical tasks

Things to note…• Course is web-based, so basic reading and

writing skills are needed to access the work• Some things on the course are designed with

groups in mind• Some things involve costs and organisation, so

need sorting by schools or CLCs• Most things are easily able to do at home

Where E-Inclusion works well:• CoPE is not seen as a 'dumb' option• Students 'own’ their participation• Course material used flexibly, students can switch to

maintain their level of interest• Don’t just start at page 1 in the CoPE workbook• Small groups, up to 6 seems right to begin with, with a

member of staff supervising• Good group dynamics – including staff!

Successes in Leeds• NCBA Complete Crew Course, May 2006 –

students gained an OCN with three Level 2 credits in one weekend, equivalent to ¼ GCSE

• The Frag – students gained two Wider Key Skills over ten-week modules, using computer gaming

• Schools running E-Inclusion across Leeds• Students accessing the system from home• Students successfully rejoining education

Successes elsewhere• Used as basis for Wider Key Skills course

• Literacy/Numeracy section used as a revision course for ALAN

• Moodle continues to ‘win’ in student voice over other platforms

• Disengaged students readily using online resources, often without prompting

Web linksThese web links may prove useful!

These offer a good of resources to get you started…

www.asdan.co.uk www.keyskills4u.com

www.qca.org.uk/14-19 www.move-on.org.uk

www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk

www.thindownload.com www.openoffice.org

http://moodle.org/ www.birchfield.co.uk

Contact detailsIan Thompson

Assistant Head Teacher, ICT & ICTACTanfield School Specialist College of Science and Engineering

Stanley, County Durham

I.Thompson101 at durhamlearning.net

www.leedsschools.org/south/ks4

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