Dr Gavin Duffy and Prof Tony Gallagher (QUB): This presentation is based on a three-year study by Duffy and Gallagher (2014) from the Sharing Education Programme at the School of Education, Queen’s University Belfast. The study contextualised shared learning between pupils and collaboration between teachers and leaders within a shared education partnership, comprising of eight schools (5 primary and 3 post-primary), located in a contested space setting. The Foyle Contested Space Education Partnership was part of the first cohort of initiatives funded by the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMdFM) and Atlantic Philanthropies Interface/Contested Spaces Programme between 2011 and 2014.
Collectively the schools identified a series of social need themes as their shared education focus. These themes (anti-social behaviour, community relations, substance misuse, health/sexual health and internet safety) were explored by 1161 pupils, aged between 8 and 15, at key stages 2 and 3, who visited each other’s schools and classrooms each week, over a period of three years. This was managed through the collaboration of 8 school leaders and 35 teachers.
Evidence will be presented which demonstrates both the social and educational impact of pupils learning together and educators collaborating. In particular the presentation will focus on: relationship formation; the interconnections between schools and the community; and, evidence of school improvement.
This seminar took place on 7 October 2015.
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