Pupils of the Trust’s secondary school provision programme had been enjoying their time studying at the community offices, after the programme’s inception at the start of the academic year.
The programme targets hard-to-reach Key Stage 4 students who may be disengaged with their school-based studies, lacking in confidence or self-esteem or displaying poor attendance in the conventional school environment.
📽️ #PNECET Secondary School Provision student Ellis Grice has been smashing the home workouts during the lockdown set by our staff! 💪
— Preston North End Community and Education Trust (@pnecommunity) April 4, 2020
Plank ✅
Press-ups ✅
Tricep dips ✅
How are you keeping #ActiveFromHome? 🤔
👏 #StayInWorkOut #StayHomeSaveLives #pnefc pic.twitter.com/ftDgtnIg3p
The Trust is now offering a range of courses that help to keep students engaged in their work and maintain their focus, also providing opportunities to learn new skills, too.
Sky and Jack are students from Moor Hey School in Lostock Hall and have been enrolled on the programme this year.
They both believe they are benefitting from the alternative education provision being delivered to them by the Trust’s new programme.
Sky said: “I’ve noticed that I would do far more work whilst at PNE than I would complete in school. I also feel far more settled than I used to be.”
Jack added: “I like the balance of the classroom learning and practical elements.
“My attendance has improved as I know it needs to be higher so that I can continue to attend PNE.”
Billy Almond, a teaching assistant at Moor Hey, has also noticed a difference in the pupils’ work.
“Sky’s attitude has changed dramatically,” he said. “Last year she struggled with authority. This year her attitude has completely changed; she is a lot calmer.
“Jack has often had anger problems, especially controlling his temper. He could often react by kicking walls and windows. Jack now has learned to control his anger he is doing 100 per cent better, with his attendance now being higher.”
Students can choose to study with Preston North End as one of their GCSE options with a two-year course in sport or enterprise available, contributing to their progress eight score.
For more information about the secondary school provision programme, please email community@pne.com or click here.