Bridging the gap
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
25/09/2008
Pupils at England’s largest pupil referral unit are embracing technology as way of getting their lives back on track.
The Bridge Academy caters for 175 boys and girls aged11 to16 and is now harnessing the power of the Internet as an additional tool to enhance learning.
The school realised that pupils would prefer learning through the web rather than by reading books and was quick to develop special curriculums that are tailored to the needs of individual pupils.
As a result, a new teleworking pilot programme has been developed. It has seen the school install computer equipment in pupil’s homes and youngsters now spend one day a week working from home on lessons set the previous week by teachers. The scheme sees teachers spend time on-line to help pupils with any problems.
Pupil Amine Garnaoui is a big fan of the scheme. He said: “One of the best things about this is that, if you don't get something, you can ask for help in private. When you put your hand up in class, it's really public that you don't understand. But this way means you don't have to worry about someone else thinking you are stupid."
Andre Bailey, the Bridge Academy’s assistant head with responsibility for e-learning, said: "Children like IT and they engage with it naturally - it's their territory, it's what they're going to be using for work all their lives. So it makes sense to use it as much as possible, both to enthuse them about their work and to give them some independence and responsibility for what they're doing.
"What we're giving these pupils is the opportunity to work in a more fun and flexible way - and they seem to love it, both the informality and the fact that they can do what they want, when they want. Our monitoring so far suggests that the children are logging in, doing their work and accepting that they're responsible for getting their tasks done.”
The Department for Education and Skills Innovation Unit is monitoring the project and is considering introducing it to more schools across the borough.
Cllr Antony Lillis, cabinet member for community and children’s services, said: “This really is an excellent scheme and the Bridge Academy deserves much credit for introducing it. Personalised learning is an excellent way of engaging young people in the educational process, while at the same time providing them with the independence to work from home.”
