foleshillfields vision project John Gulson Primary School Large primary in inner city of Coventry (catchment in Foleshill and Hillfields)‏ 587 on roll 29% FSM (estimated 45% eligible)‏ High Pupil mobility (6%)‏ High percentage in overcrowded households High indicator of School Deprivation (0.4)‏

foleshillfields vision project John Gulson Primary School Ethnicity -  38% Pakistani  22% Bangladeshi  13% Indian  4% White British  Increasing numbers of refugees/asylum seekers  25 languages spoken in school

foleshillfields vision project Global Citizenship Post-SATs summer programme with yr 6 started summer 2002, in response to stresses on community/children following “9/11” community/school partnership - a good-sized team of local volunteers and professionals refined each year based on pupil, teacher and volunteer feedback contributes to HMI “Achievement in PSHE is outstanding.” - June 2007

foleshillfields vision project

Other Positive Outcomes Relationships between pupils, and between pupils and key adults in the community  Yr 10/11/12 pupils who were in GC in yr 6, now volunteer with foleshillfields vision project – inc. GC Opening up key issues  identity/Britishness/faith  racism and Islamophobia Active, positive, sustained engagement between local communities and school

foleshillfields vision project

Key strengths of GC A diverse team Work on identity issues Making it fun Modelling good relationships

foleshillfields vision project A Diverse Team Wide range of adults, young adults, teenagers  Parents, ex-pupils, older siblings  International students (Coventry Uni)‏  Youth, Children's and Community workers  Artists (paid)‏  Community and voluntary organisations Led by volunteer who is a long-term Governor, and a local youth and community worker

foleshillfields vision project Work on Identity Issues My Self, My Family, My Community, My Country, My World Britishness  Designing a flag, writing our own national anthems  “Who's British?” and geographical work Empire and Migration history  illustrated with personal (family) stories from adults in classroom  starting with making a big map of pupil family origins  looking at global statistics Tackling the controversial issues which arise  racism, Islamophobia, national identity

foleshillfields vision project

Making it Fun Lots of creative content – crafts, music, circus, drama, rap, procession, photography, games, newsletter Lots of volunteers – lots of opportunity for individual/small group attention and engagement Ground rules for volunteers  giving individual children choices, including to constructively opt out of activities  chatting and relationship building seen as key outcome / learning opportunity

foleshillfields vision project

Relationships are the key Modelling a diverse group of adults (including teachers and TAs) being friends, and working together  Working together, having fun together  Developing leadership Building (and building on) community relationships  long-term local residents,  new arrivals,  front-line workers (youth and children's workers, community workers, etc),  neighbourhood management,  older young people, including from local secondary

foleshillfields vision project A platform for cohesion!

foleshillfields vision project Building on Success Starting long-term link with a Kenyan School  Bringing in local Kenyans (and visitors).  Working from pre-existing links (not the central ones to most pupils families).  Mobile phones (£25 for four phones for one hour) proved the key technology to reach this part of rural Africa - supported by available in nearby city.  “How many cows do you have?” Beginning to spread the programme

foleshillfields vision project

Two useful ideas A workable week: My Self, My Family, My Community, My Country, My World Community is full of resources Support their leadership Ask for their help Think creatively about who to bring in

foleshillfields vision project Tackling Controversial Issues “Head On” “What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say.” Model these at least as much as talking about them :  cross community friendship, and valuing diversity  active citizenship, and hopefulness about social cohesion  thoughtful engagement with controversial issues Crucial that the adult team can & do talk directly about the issues with each other, including across social divides. Young people will have a wide range of responses to this kind of work. Provide a wide range of contexts – and get a wide range of human resource into the classroom.

foleshillfields vision project Heather Parker

foleshillfields vision project John Gulson Primary School Sayeed Ahmed Deputy Head Teacher Please get in touch!