Eastside Young Leaders' Academy
Reams of research and official statistics show how black teenage boys consistently underperform at primary and secondary school. What's more, black boys are almost twice as likely to be excluded from school; they are also massively over-represented in the UK prison population.
To tackle this endemic problem, the Eastside Young Leaders' Academy (EYLA) takes black primary and secondary students who risk failing at school and puts them through an uncompromisingly tough after-school programme. By developing their leadership potential, EYLA aims to enable the boys to improve their own academic performance and prepare themselves for a meaningful adult life. SHINE is funding a new specialist to optimise its activities for primary aged children; this work will then be shared with other organisations.
The grant recipient
Eastside Young Leaders' Academy is a registered charity and has been working with young black males in Newham for the last five years. It seeks to promote the education and training of 8-18 year old boys who are at risk of social and educational exclusion.
Eastside Young Leaders' Academy programme
What it aims to do
- 100% of students achieving at least two A levels
- 90% attendance
- 75% of students being offered University places
- no referrals to the criminal justice system
- all involved in community and civic justice activities
How it works
The Academy programme consists of:
- after school tutorial support
- the Saturday Leadership Academy
- holiday programmes
- mentoring
- family support
- community programmes
Students and their families are required to commit to each element of the programme and high standards are expected.
Results
- Over 60 sessions the average attendance was 90%
- Almost all students made better than expected progress in literacy and maths
- After one year almost all students' behaviour had markedly improved
The funding and replication
SHINE has made a grant to pay for a full time primary specialist. The Academy programme is already being replicated by other organisations and Eastside has plans to expand their programme.
Funding: £90,000 to EYLA, over three years (2008-11)
Visit EYLA's website: http://www.eyla.org.uk/
"Our partnership with SHINE will enable us to target more boys more effectively, providing clear replicable systems to raise the academic attainment of black boys in Newham and beyond."
EYLA Project Manager
"I came to Eastside when I was 9 years old. I am now 14 and I have changed. I used to mess about in school and be rude to my teachers, I didn't really care about my education..."
"... I soon learned that school was important for my future if I wanted to have any choices about my life and I learned to respect my teachers. In fact getting good grades in my school work is a good feeling. I am much happier now because I have a purpose, without that purpose I would probably just be drifting."
Eastside student
Quotes
"Our partnership with SHINE will enable us to target more boys more effectively, providing clear replicable systems to raise the academic attainment of black boys in Newham and beyond."
EYLA Project Manager
"I came to Eastside when I was 9 years old. I am now 14 and I have changed. I used to mess about in school and be rude to my teachers, I didn't really care about my education..."
"... I soon learned that school was important for my future if I wanted to have any choices about my life and I learned to respect my teachers. In fact getting good grades in my school work is a good feeling. I am much happier now because I have a purpose, without that purpose I would probably just be drifting."
Eastside student