Education
Educational attainment is a challenge in North Edinburgh where outcomes for local young people consistently fall below national levels. We have developed innovative ways to support learning in our community through our Alternative School, Youth Work in Primary School and Education Officers in local primary schools.
Alternative Schools
Our Alternative School for secondary school students provides young people who are at risk of exclusion from mainstream education or who may find school a challenge, an alternative place to learn, grow and develop. Our youth work focus of “Building a Bridge of Trust” helps us develop relationships with our students and allows us to support their educational journey in a person-centred way. There is a focus on self-reflection, personal development and intensive support. Students attend two or three times a week where they take part in 1:1 or small group learning in numeracy, literacy, music, art, physical education, entrepreneurial learning, work experience and volunteering.
Working with Students
We work with the students to tap into their personal interests and meet their needs – this has included martial arts, chess, motorbike maintenance, rap music and much more. They consistently out-perform the expectations that have been presumed for them and leave Spartans with Nat 3, 4 and 5 qualifications, apprenticeships, places at college or move into employment.
Using the learning from our youth work experiences in schools and from our alternative school we will be piloting our new Primary Alternative School for P6-7 pupils in academic year 2023-24. If you would like to know more about our Alternative Schools please email us.
Transition Support
Our youth work team works intensively with care-experienced pupils as they leave primary school and settle into secondary school. Our team supports each pupil to negotiate this journey – this could be in how to travel to secondary school, where and how to find help at their new school or simply chatting through things that they may be nervous or unsure about.
If you would like to know more about our transition support please email us.
Youth Work in Primary Schools
Our Youth Work in Primary Schools programme places members of our youth work team in local primary schools for one full day a week. Working in close partnership with schools, the youth work team provides individuals and small groups of pupils with social, emotional and attainment support. Youth workers are a trusted adult and a familiar face in schools where young people often feel more comfortable approaching or receiving support from them, simply because they are not “teachers”. Crucially our youth workers signpost young people towards the various youth work clubs and activities that we have at Spartans.
If you would like to know more about Youth Work in Primary Schools please email us.
Education Officers
Our Education Officers support attainment and learning in local primary schools. In addition to providing 1:1 pupil support, they deliver our three signature schools’ programmes:
BeME - mental health and wellbeing awareness
SPHERO - STEM learning using codeable robots to encourage exploration, imagination and perseverance in science, technology, engineering and maths.
Roots, Shoots and Scores - bringing together learning on the environment, sustainability, social enterprise and physical activity
School Pantries
Our Education Officers also oversee our school pantries. These are an extension to the Roots, Shoots and Scores project where pupils in each of our 5 primary schools have created their own food pantries that are stocked with essential basics. Pupils are responsible for bagging these up and distributing them to their wider school communities. Our pantries started in 2021 and have now distributed over 2000 essential food bags to local families.
Intern Support
In Partnership with Craigroyston High School, our Education Officers support 2 interns for a whole academic year from August through to June. Senior students work alongside our Education Officers in local primary schools for one day a week. This experience gives them the opportunity to develop skills for work and supports them into future career pathways.
If you would like to know more about the work of our Education Officers please email us.
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School of Football
School of Football is aimed at developing social and academic skills of young people during their first and second years of high school. We know that many of the skills developed in a football environment are transferable to schoolwork and social situations and we use a young person’s love of football to build these skills. School of Football is delivered at Craigroyston Community High School.
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Strachan Football Development Course
Delivered in partnership with Edinburgh College, the Strachan Football Personal Development Course is for school leavers aged 16-19 years. Students work on game-play and fitness and gain experience in football coaching, youth work, sports facility management and maintenance. Learning contributes towards a National Certificate in Sport and Fitness. For more information please email us.
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Willow Den Outdoor Nursery
Outdoor play is critical for children’s development, health, and wellbeing. Willow Den at Spartans is the first outdoor nursery in Scotland located in a football facility and provides early learning and childcare to children aged 3 years to school age. Children play and learn outdoors and connect with nature supported by caring, experienced early years practitioners.
Letters of Hope
This video project was all about helping the young people at Spartans Alternative School share their stories. Writer in Residence, Chris Barkley, encouraged the young people to talk freely about their experiences: some young people chose to write letters to their future selves, others chose to rap, others to speak their piece. The result was this video: a collection of just some of the creative pieces from our young people.
The music was made by Will Davis Also thanks to visiting artists, Theresa Lola and Graeme Armstrong .
Volunteer with us
We have a range of volunteering opportunities at Spartans Community Foundation across our Education, Youth Work, Health and Wellbeing, Faciliites, Football Development, Business Operations and Coaching services. We welcome individuals and corporate teams. If you’d like to get involved please email us.
