As the roll out of training in September draws ever closer, a key priority has been the drawing up of gateway documents which will be trialed as part of a Pilot Study during the spring term. These are based on the different questions in the Self Evaluation Questionnaire which schools will complete prior to actual contact from a mentor. The Project Team and mentor consultants have produced these documents but where necessary expertise may be sought from other quarters to ensure that they are of the highest professional standard. The pilot study consists of about 12 schools and will be carried out by mentor consultants. The school sample is varied and includes selective, non-selective, single sex and mixed, special, rural and urban, strong departments, departments wanting to improve and departments with non-RE-specialists, VC/VA , etc. The Project Team has also been considering how best to evaluate the pilot study and the actual training.
Another important area of work has been the development of the Resilience logo and website, details of which will follow shortly. Both will make major contributions to the way the project is marketed and communicated to different parties. The contract to develop a design style for REsilience and to build the website has been awarded to a consortium of THS and Galaxe. The basic design style and the website will be operational in February 2010. In addition a flyer has been produced which concisely describes the purpose and modus operandi of the project. All materials will be translated into Welsh after consultation with DCELLS. The Advisory Group met at the end of November and made important contributions to the development of the Self Evaluation Questionnaire. The group includes representatives from different areas of the RE world as well as faith and belief communities and therefore plays a significant role in the project.
The Executive Delivery Group meets regularly to monitor the progress of the project. During the most recent meeting on January 6th the plans for Development Phase stage 2 were discussed and agreed. The EDG also agreed on the strapline, ‘REsilience: Building confidence to handle contentious issues in RE.’
Up and coming priorities:
- Completion of gateway documents. - Enrolment of schools for the pilot study. - Launch of the REsilience website, including logo. - The recruitment and appointment of mentors to work with the 700 schools during the autumn term 2010 and their training, support and deployment.
Wendy Harrison Project Officer |