In April last year, an organisation was set up to help twenty five of our schools get better...and better!
Education Action Zone (EAZ) is a government funded scheme set up to help improve literacy, numeracy, attendance and morale in primary and secondary schools which are considered to be in areas of low income with associated problems.
The EAZ acts as a facilitator - improving and encouraging relationships between schools and local businesses and organisations, with the aim of improving attitudes to learning and supporting schools to help them develop their pupils’ full potential.
There are currently seven EAZ projects running in Hastings & St Leonards, chosen because they are seen as the most vital areas for improvement. These include:
A literacy consultant and a numeracy consultant visit all the schools and have set up initiatives to help teachers, parents and pupils to achieve higher standards in reading writing and maths.
Other projects include providing Information & Communications Technology support to schools and encouraging the use of computers at school; schemes to enable parents to help their children with literacy and numeracy; extra support for pupils with attendance or other problems which will encourage them to stay in education and extra professional development for all school staff.
It is hoped that the EAZ will be working in the town for up to four years. Director Rob Graham, said:
The schools have done extremely well in the first year of the EAZ. We have now applied to the Department of Education and Employment for an extension to our three year programme. If successful, we will run up until to November 2004.
The zone has developed links with local businesses which brought in over £350,000 of additional help for our schools. These funds have enabled projects to work directly with pupils and their parents both at schools and in their homes. This work is of immense importance and Hastings & St Leonards has taken a lead in its development across the whole of England. We are on the verge of sea change in the aspirations and expectations of young people and their parents, it is our job to ensure we can deliver theses high hopes.
For more information about the EAZ Tel: 439340 website: www.hstleaz.net
Back to top of page...
< Getting Our Empty Homes back into Use | Skate Park >
This page last updated: 12/07/2001