Planting Acorns: Building a Children's University in Stoke on

Trent

Aims of Stoke Children’s University

To raise aspirations toward higher education and lifelong learning through the recognition of quality out of school and extra curricula activities for children aged 7 – 14 years.

This will be achieved through: Affiliation to the National Children’s University network

Nationally recognised validation of existing provision through Children’s University (CU) ‘Planning for Learning Framework’

Development and validation of new provision in collaboration with local and national partners

Nationally recognised certification awarded to learners

Graduation Award ceremonies hosted by Staffordshire University for children, families and carers

Additional Benefits

Fostering and nurturing of deeper collaboration and networking across education providers in the sub-region.

Fostering of links between third sector, private sector and public sector stakeholders in the sub-region.

Promotion of extra-curricula activities focusing on local cultural identities and sense of place.

Specific targeting of children and young people resident in the sub regions most deprived areas.

Contribute to LA Children and Young People Plan targets

How?

To date Staffordshire University has taken the lead role in establishing Stoke Children’s University

The University has successfully bid for funding to the National CU to support a project officer post for one year (Circa £28,000.)

The University is contributing £37,277, in overheads, on costs, CU Manager salary, line management, materials, travel expenses, etc

Project Officer Role (from March 2009)

In partnership with CU Manager

Validate local out of school provision & providers for Stoke CU

Establish and maintain databases of providers and provision

Collaborate with CU Manager and other partners in development of funding bids

Delivery of briefing sessions to partners, & other stakeholders

Aid partners and colleagues in creation of new modules

Facilitate wider networking to aid development of Stoke CU

Contribute to marketing of CU

Progress to Date –Chancellor

Professor Christine King CBE , Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire was invited to become Chancellor of Stoke Children’s University.

The offer was accepted and Professor King will act as a non-executive figurehead for the Stoke Children’s University.

Progress in – Validation

We have validated some provision with the following : Wedgwood Museum Stoke Museums: Potteries, Gladstone Pottery and Etruria

Industrial museums and Ford Green Hall Stoke on Trent Libraries Stoke City Football club Ambassador Theatre Group (Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall)

We are in discussion with a range of other providers concerningvalidation.

New Vic Theatre Port Vale Football Club

These providers can now display the National CU quality mark. Children taking part in validated activities can count these toward CU Certification and graduation.

Progress in products –Values ExchangeThe Values Exchange (VX) is an innovative software application

developed by Professor Seedhouse in New Zealand.

Originally developed to aid ethical decision making for healthcare

professionals, the software has been adapted for broader use

and is used extensively through schools in Australia.

Staffordshire University currently hold a licence to use VX and

have adapted it’s use for undergraduate and post-graduate study

across a range of disciplines.

Staffordshire University, the Stoke Children’s University Project

Officer and Professor Seedhouse are currently developing a

bespoke VX application for piloting within Stoke. If the pilot is

successful the CUVX will be rolled out nationally subject to funding.

Progress in – Staff Development

Staffordshire University has a suite of validated community

learning provision that ranges from level 0 (level 3) through to

professional doctorates with all stages in between including

Foundation Degrees, undergraduate modules and masters level.

A small pilot project is being undertaken that will offer bespoke

aspects of this provision free to staff directly involved in

delivering Stoke CU validated activities.

If successful, it is envisaged that capacity in Stoke will be

increased, Staffordshire University will be the national provider

for national CU staff development and provision rolled out to

CUs across the country at reduced cost.

Progress towards – Links with Staffordshire

Stoke CU has already been in discussion with Staffordshire

Local Authority in reference to establishing CU across the

county.

At present the proposed model is untested and

resources are limited. However, it is envisaged that other

areas of Staffordshire will adopt the Stoke CU model, if it is

Successful, prior to establishing a federation of

Staffordshire Children’s Universities.

Further progress – Ongoing activity

Investigating funding options

Attending House of Commons reception

Planning marketing/media campaign

Workshop presentation at forthcoming international

conference

And….

The Next Stage

A major priority is the establishment of a Strategy Board for Stoke CU. The key to the success of the board is its strategic nature and senior level representation from stakeholders.

The terms of reference for the strategy group will focus around four main themes:

Providing a strategic vision which will ensure ‘buy in’ from all represented groups and forward the CU agenda.

Deliver a sustainability of funding through internal and external networking, expertise and access to other sources of funding.

Provide an environment and impetus to further enable, consolidate and encourage partnership working.

Facilitate the formation of discreet working groups to enable delivery of the strategic vision such as a funding group, validation panel, media group, etc.

Targets & Challenges

1. Quality Assurance

The national CU is currently engaged in trialling, evaluating and adapting the Quality In Study Support (QISS) code of practice for CU activity.

Once the second phase of evaluation is complete the CU manager and Project Officer will seek QISS training and accreditation.

Stoke CU is also working closely with ‘ContinYou’ in ensuring more robust quality assurance than that provided by either the Planning for Learning framework or QISS.

Targets & Challenges

2. Status

At present Stoke CU is managed as a Staffordshire University project. Given the overall aims of Stoke CU, a shifting HE policy environment and an uncertain future for widening participation funding we need to ask questions as to whether the Stoke CU should sit wholly within the University, become an independent charity or lie somewhere along this continuum .

There is an urgency to this as CU Funding ceases in March 2010 and the strategy board is still embryonic.

Targets& Challenges

3. Access to Schools

To date Stoke CU has not validated any out of hours

provision within schools in Stoke on Trent.

Although there has been a lot of interest in validating

provision within some schools it has been felt that a more

structured and co-ordinated approach is needed in this

sector than is perhaps merited with other providers.

It is envisaged that the strategy board will develop

networks and consensus as to how this will be best

achieved.

Targets & Challenges

4. Funding

National CU funding ceases in March 2010.

There is a need to both secure and expand the funding

base.

Funding models of other CUs are being reviewed for best

practice and relevance.

It is expected that the membership of the strategic board

will expand funding opportunities and add to the current

bidding activity.

Targets & Challenges

5. Media

Both national CU and Stoke CU are working with high

profile partners.

A marketing/media campaign is currently being planned

with Staffordshire University.

Given the number of proposed partners strategic decisions

are required to ensure an effective and equitable media

coverage.

Targets & Challenges

6. Tracking/Data Protection

There are complex issues surrounding the tracking of CU

participants and maintaining a data base and record of

achievement .

The CU is taking advice from the University data protection

officer in regard to this issue. At present participants are

responsible for maintaining there own RoA in the form of a

passport.

A more systematic data collection and storage is required

which must comply with data protection legislation and

ideally emulate best practice. It is hoped that Strategic

Board expertise will aid a resolution to these issues.

Targets & Challenges

7. Target

1000 CU students engaged in 30 hours of validated CU

activity (Bronze Award) or 30,000 hours of learning-by

March 2010. The majority of which will be reached through

validation of existing provision.

Useful Links

Macbeath, G. Waterhouse,J. (2008) Evaluation of the

Children’s University-First Report. University of Cambridge.

URL: http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/Evaluation-of-the-Childrens-University---First-Report/

National CU websiteURL:http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/

Activity

What would you do to ensure future funding and growth of

the Stoke CU?