Hackney, The Christopher Winter Project

Hackney and the City Teenage Pregnancy Partnership have commissioned the Christopher Winter Project (CWP), fpa Pamela Sheridan Award winners, to raise the profile and improve the delivery of SRE in Hackney schools since 2001.

CWP worked with the local Healthy Schools Co-ordinator to devise a programme of support which included a comprehensive PSHE scheme of work with units on SRE. Based on the premise that: 

“teachers should learn on the job and from the best, working alongside other    professionals in the classroom” Learning and teaching: A strategy for professional development, 2001) DfES

CWP devised a method of training for schools which offers teachers three lessons of professional support in their own classroom working with their own pupils. The programme aims to increase teacher confidence in SRE delivery.

Over 90% of Hackney schools have chosen to participate in the programme which provides them with:

• skilled professional support, including team teaching;
• model SRE lessons based on the national curriculum framework;
• innovative resources.

Impact
In 2008 Hackney and the City's Teenage Pregnancy Partnership was awarded the National Health and Social Care Award for reducing health inequalities. The award acknowledges the 27% drop in teenage pregnancy rates in Hackney over the past 10 years. The borough of Hackney ranks number 4 in England and Wales for steadily driving down teenage pregnancy.

Extensive evaluation of the work of CWP repeatedly shows most teachers feel their confidence has improved as a result of working with CWP.

Some general feedback from teachers included:
• The team teaching was very useful and provided invaluable support
• The methods of delivery used for SRE were interesting and varied and would definitely be used in future teaching
• The programme helped to answer children’s questions without embarrassment and linked well with the science curriculum
• The lessons plans and the variety of resources used provide good learning opportunities
• Lessons are pitched appropriately to different ages and the delivery is sensitive to the children’s needs
• The interactive group work with the children was especially valuable in terms of drawing on the children’s ideas and experiences and getting them involved. Teaching through discussion was very useful and fun!
• The children accessed a lot of learning in the three sessions

Teachers’ Comments
“I’m much clearer and confident now in the approach I would have with the children” (Year 6 teacher, Northwold Primary School)

“I found the project extremely useful. The CWP workers were very clear and concise with their delivery, able to pitch the lessons to the appropriate ages”
(Year 6 teacher, Millfields Primary School)

“I have gained the experience of how to deliver the sessions without being embarrassed” (Year 5 teacher, Holmleigh Primary School)

“Terrific. The CWP trainer was wonderfully open and understanding with children, discussing their questions with calm and a deep respect for their opinions” (Year 5 teacher, Shacklewell School)

“The project was set up and run very professionally. The support given through demonstration and team teaching was excellent.”
(Year 6 teacher, Rushmore School)

For further information contact: paulapower@tcwp.co.uk