London Citizens is recruiting now in 13 London boroughs for the second cohort of its unique Citizen Schools Pathway - which aims to build in schools the capacity to effect community change, build community alliances and make learning more relevant and compelling... all through the art of community organising.
Head teachers from interested primary or secondary schools should contact Ben Hammond, Citizen Schools Co-ordinator at London Citizens by Monday 15th March 2010 to set up an initial exploratory meeting:
ben@citizenschools.info / 0772 33 780 44.
1. PATHWAY: Cohort 2 beginning
June 2010
A community organising & London Citi development opportunity
The Aim: Capacity building between schools and their local communities;
building the capacity of school communities (teachers, senior leaders, parents, governors and
students) to effect change with community allies, facilitate community cohesion & make
learning relevant and compelling.
The Method: Community organising
1 Recruiting Through one-to-ones, professional London Citizens schools and borough
organizers work under the guidance of your head teacher to identify and recruit
Leaders
leaders for the course, representing teacher, senior leader, parent, governor and
May – July 2010 student constituencies. This team meets two times by July 2010.
The recruited team meet regularly, are trained in key principles of community
2 Team & organizing (one training takes place at a partner school in the borough), and
Community conduct a listening campaign in and around the school to determine which
Alliance Building issue(s) to tackle. As such, the team builds key relationships with key
July – December community organizations (including 1-2 other schools from its borough) to
2010 increase its power. The school is recognized as a new London Citizens member
at the Autumn Assembly.
Continuing to meet regularly, the team decides its issue(s) and creates a plan of
3 Focusing, action to effect change. Specialist schools organizers work with the team to
Entitling develop opportunities to extend the project to whole cohorts of students
January – April through curriculum time. 1-2 team members attend Citizens UK 5-day
2011 community organizing training; the team is represented at London Citizens
borough and chapter meetings to report on progress and build allies.
The team works with the school, its community allies and other London Citizens
members to negotiate the desired change with specific power players (local
4 Acting
council, businesses, public services) as appropriate. The team co-ordinates
May to July 2011 subsequent actions and commitments to see the change through, and ensures
its voice is heard and considered in London Citizens decision-making.
5 Evaluating & The team evaluates the year and plans for future action and London Citizens’
involvement, based on lessons learned. With greater capacity and many more
Planning
stakeholders engaged in the school, the school can look towards internal
Winter Term development and to taking advantage of the many opportunities available to
2011 London Citizens’ member schools.
The Remaining Places: 3 primary/secondary schools per area
Brent Croydon Ealing Hackney Hammersmith & Fulham Islington Kensington & Chelsea
Lambeth Lewisham Shoreditch Southwark Wandsworth Westminster
2. The Outcomes: Capacity. Cohesion. Change.
1. Capacity Building: Increased capacity of a diverse 4. Recognition: High profile publicity in
school coalition to build community alliances, educational and regional media
analyse and build power, negotiate and effect 5. Parental/community engagement & inclusion:
change. Increased parental and community
2. Community Cohesion: Quantitative evidence engagement with the school
showing whole-school delivery on the duty to 6. School linking: Strong relationships with 2-3
promote community cohesion partner schools from your borough;
3. Curriculum Development: creating showcase collaboration with a wider network of
compelling learning experiences for full cohorts of secondary and primary schools.
students; increasing motivation and engagement 7. Power networking and leverage: Better links
to learn and participate in school life to local government and public service bodies
The Return: From day one…
Membership of and stake in London Citizens, a Three in-school community organizing
network of civic organizations united for trainings per term (rated 95% excellent or very
change across London, offering countless good by our 2009 cohort): centered around
opportunities for leadership development and power, self-interest, building allies through
active citizenship, for example our City Safe relationships, negotiation, media skills;
Youth Games, Migration Conundrum teaching A schools organizer specializing in helping
& learning resource, General Election resources teachers create engaging curriculum learning
& ‘Money Mentors’ financial literacy opportunities as an entitlement for all students;
programme – all for free; Free 2- or 5-day community organising
A dedicated London Citizens community leadership trainings for Pathway participants;
organizer working in your borough to connect A comprehensive community organising
your school to partner community groups and reading list and course guide.
train leaders;
The Inputs: For a secondary school with 1000 pupils*…
£1200 for 6 1 hour per week for Curriculum time as Total Cost
Year 1 £1000
membership dues Pathway leaders 1 member of staff required by school £2200
Year 2 £1000 1 hour per week for
1 member of staff
Curriculum time as
required by school £1000
onwards membership dues
*Secondary Schools membership dues are £1 per pupil on roll per year; Primary schools a £600 flat fee.
The 2009 Cohort: An alliance of diversity and quality, including…
Barking Cardinal Central Charter Drayton George
Abbey Wiseman Foundation Girls Manor High Greens
Hackney Free Hounslow
& Parochial Hendon Manor John Roan Lampton Lilian Baylis
Little Prendergast Ravens St Angelas
Ladywell Fields St Bonaventures Thomas Tallis
Ilford College Wood Ursuline
The Next Step: Head teachers should contact Ben Hammond, Citizen Schools Co-
ordinator at London Citizens, by 15.03.10 for an initial meeting ben@citizenschools.info / 0772 33 780 44