London Challenge

The London Student Pledge is part of the London Challenge strategy, which aims to widen young people's experience and aspirations by creating an expectation that all young people in the capital will have opportunities to learn across ten broad areas of activity, inside and outside school. The Student Pledge has been introduced across all London boroughs as a concept of entitlement of all secondary school students to experience a range of opportunities whilst they are at school.

The overall aim is that every secondary-aged pupil in London should be able to enjoy all that London has to offer through its unique history, cultural treasures, business leadership, sporting tradition etc. Many young Londoners never experience this side of their city. These opportunities have the potential to inspire and enthuse young people in our schools.

The London Challenge involves every borough in London. Islington is working with colleagues from Brent, Harrow and Havering who are all focusing on the Student Pledge.

This initial phase of the project will come to an end in August 2005, culminating in a presentation by students focused on Pledge 4: I will have taken part in a play, musical or reading that involves either acting, speaking or helping with the production. A report will also be published to highlight effective practice in improving access to Student Pledge activities. This will be shared with other Islington schools and London boroughs.

What is happening in Islington?

In Islington the Student Pledge is being led by Cassius Francis from the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service, who is supported by bilingual colleagues Yuksel Ferit (Turkish) and Shiyela Jafrin (Bengali). In addition, he is working with colleagues from:

• arts and music
• Excellence in Cities
• family learning
• Learning Plus - Out of School Hours Learning ( OSHL)
• New River Partnership Education Action Zone
• Personal social and health ( PSHE) and Citizenship

and three schools:

• Central Foundation (business and enterprise)
• Highbury Grove (business and enterprise with City Learning Centre)
• Islington Arts and Media School (performing arts)

Over the next year the project will be developed in partnership with key local arts organisations:

• Almeida Theatre
• Little Angel Theatre (specialising in puppetry)
• Random Dance Company

Cassius has been given the title Student Pledge Champion for Islington, and is promoting a student-led approach to the pledge. This means that as well as consulting with young people to find out what activities they currently have access to at school, eight students from each school form a core leadership team to develop the Student Pledge programme across the borough.