Foundation Learning at Hybrid Arts 2010

Hybrid Arts are pleased to announce our Foundation Learning Tier offer in Creative Technology. Following our success in developing inspirational 14-16 learner progression through the Re@ctiv8 programme over the past four years, we are well positioned to work with schools and providers to deliver FLT for year 10 learners from September 2010, with the opportunity for students to progress to level 2 in year 11. This is a welcome, long awaited opportunity to work in partnership and bring personalised learning to young people with learner progression at its core.

Achieving excellence

Ofsted have created the Framework for Excellence as a guide to all learning providers, to help the further education sector “deliver the skills and learning that are vital for the long-term economic success of the nation, providing well-managed, high-quality provision that is responsive to the needs of all learners.”

What the inspectors are looking for: (text courtesy of Stephen Cooke)

How to create an outstanding curriculum: The school may be at the forefront of successful, innovative curriculum design in some areas. A curriculum with overall breadth and balance provides pupils with their full entitlement and is customised to meet the changing needs of individuals and groups. There are highly tailored programmes for a wide range of pupils with different needs. The aim for every school must be to provide a curriculum that is sufficiently varied to provide the opportunity for every learner to enjoy, succeed and progress.

How to develop outstanding partnership working: The school is highly committed to working in partnership and participates fully and actively in developing, implementing and taking a leading role in a range of significant activities. These activities themselves, and/or the resulting improvements in the school’s provision and leadership and management, make a consistently excellent contribution to pupils’ good and often outstanding achievement and well-being. Partnership activity provides excellent value for money because it benefits pupils in aspects and in ways which could not be provided otherwise.

Hybrid Arts want to work with schools to help them deliver an outstanding curriculum and achieve excellence for young people.

Referrals

Key features of the students selected for the programme might include:

Low skills levels, emotional and behavioural issues, lack of confidence/frustration at not being able to achieve, having low aspirations.

The key principles offer personalised learning, meet the needs of a wide range of learners within the 14-16 cohort at risk of disaffection and disengagement with the programme being content driven, not qualification/assessment driven.  However, learners will have access to assessment for learning and qualifications with real currency, clear progression routes will be identified with the school, parents/guardians and young person.

At Hybrid Arts learners are part of a creative educational environment that is also a simulated work environment. Young people are treated as part of the team and engage in a hybrid curricula where their views and ideas are heard, and their micro cultures are explored. In this way, Hybrid Arts have created a learner responsive system.

Our criteria for referrals is that they will be individuals that have demonstrated some kind of artistic flair and are interested in the creative technologies, specifically designed to challenge and engage the target age group.

We adhere to the Local Authority’s 2010-11 recruitment timetable for pre-16 off-site learning opportunities. The deadline for completed applications is 26 February 2010. LA Planning form to be returned by 4 March 2010. From 8 March providers are to inform schools of dates for each course in the area. Selection results and places to schools to be arranged by the week commencing 26 April for all programmes.

Course content

Hybrid Arts will supply the subject specific vocational and PSD of FLT with the school delivering Functional Skills as part of core curricula delivery.

The following indicative course is accredited through NCFE with External Moderation provided by South Birmingham College. All students have their own web space ‘Hybrid Arts Portfolios Personal Learning Landscape’ that can become a complete formal portfolio of learning evidence or can be used as progression tracking by the school and/or referring agency.

The timetable is based on a one-day release from school. At Hybrid Arts, in our unique simulated work environment, we develop politeness, self motivation and a respect for peers, tutors and visiting professionals. Students at Hybrid Arts are invited to take part in additional activities such as live art projects, performances, concerts and volunteering.

The Autumn term starts with fun and engaging taster sessions in creative technology during which time the first Unit at Entry Level is delivered in Personal Social Development. All students have their own web space ‘Hybrid Arts Portfolios Personal Learning Landscape’ that can become a complete formal portfolio of learning evidence or can be used as progression tracking by the school or referring agency.

NCFE Entry Level Award in Exploring Employability Skills

This qualification is geared around improving skills in order to progress to Level One and the course content is delivered in a context and genre relevant to the students. Employability qualifications are ideal for learners who want to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world of work. They allow for easy progression from Award to Certificate and support the Employability and Skills for Life agendas.

Achieved prior learning to Level One can transfer to Level Two in Year 11 with the option to progress to level 3 post 16. For year 10 the school will make up the rest of the credits with functional skills in maths English and ICT to achieve complete FLT credits.

Download the FLT qualification table

In a 5 hour day for 35 weeks =175 GLH

To achieve level 1 over 1 year 146 GLH

To achieve level 2 over 2 years 346

Hours 9.30 – 3.00pm x 35 weeks

Costs

£30 per day

Year 10 (35 weeks) = £1050.00

Year 11 (35 weeks) = £1050.00

Minimum 12 maximum 15 students per group with additional charges for registration, exam and material costs

Taster days for year 9 options

Three days of tasters in music and interactive media are available for up to 12 students per day before options from February on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays before 26^th February

Please note: The above is a draft of achievable credits to be liaised with individual schools, and dependent on Functional Skills credits achieved during home institution.

What is Foundation Learning?

Foundation Learning is used to describe the range of provision and learning at entry level and level 1.

For young people, Foundation Learning forms one of the national suites of provision alongside Apprenticeships; Diplomas; and GCSEs / A Levels, as described in ‘Promoting achievement, valuing success: a strategy for 14–19 qualifications’.

Foundation Learning aims to develop a more focused and strategic approach to entry level and level 1 within the Qualifications and Credit Framework in order to raise participation and achievement amongst learners and help them to progress through work and life.

The overarching objectives of Foundation Learning are to:

* support improved engagement, participation, achievement and progression through entry level and level 1 towards level 2 or, where relevant and appropriate, towards other destinations such as supported employment and independent living;

* bring coherence to programmes of study at entry level and level 1 to support progression for young people and adults, including supporting the full participation of all young people in learning;

* ensure learners gain a minimum level and range of skills providing a sound foundation for further learning and employment; and,

* support the delivery of quality learning programmes that are personalised and appropriate to the learner’s needs which help to encourage raised aspirations and a culture of lifelong learning.

Within the Qualifications and Credit Framework, what we now know as ‘pre-entry’ will become part of an inclusive entry level 1, which will have no lower limit. Qualifications that support Foundation Learning offer more flexible opportunities for learners to achieve and progress; this includes ‘bite-sized’ progression options within qualifications themselves.