​The Need for Development Training in our Schools

 In common with many parents with children at a state school I am concerned with the UK’s education system’s dogged determination to concentrate its efforts on academic achievement at the expense of personal development.

Having spent more than 30 years developing people (see profile) from CEO’s to school children I talk extensively with HR professionals, business owners, senior managers, head teachers and many others who are also increasingly concerned about this academic focus.  Having read the report, CBI/Pearson education and skills survey 2017 (Helping the UK thrive), I thought that I would pass on some of the key findings.

 “Young people would benefit from a broader definition of successful outcomes It is essential that every young person gets the support they need to fulfil their potential. Stretching academic standards are important but should not be the sole focus. The right behaviours and experiences are as valuable as the right grades. In a system where performance is judged almost entirely by academic results and progress, the broader personal development aspects risk being pushed to the side-lines.”
 
“To make the wider development of young people a real focus for schools it must be embedded in all aspects of school life – not just something that happens in extra-curricular activities, but something that is present in the learning and teaching of core academic subjects. This needs to be government’s focus – looking at outcomes for students rather than structures of schools.”
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​Our findings show that employers rate attitude and aptitude for work as the most important factors when recruiting school and college leavers. These characteristics are ranked more highly than academic grades and formal qualifications, underlining the importance for young people to develop capabilities such as resilience, critical thinking, ambition, and leadership in order to succeed in later life. The school system needs to reflect the importance of these skills, with greater focus placed on students’ personal development. There is increasing evidence that developing children’s cognitive and social skills assists them in their later learning.”    This report combined with the of the Chartered Management Institute and Ernst and Young titled, An age of uncertainty are stacked with statistical evidence and reach similar conclusions.

“If you want 1 year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people.”

Grass Routes ran our first development training for youth groups in 1985, refining our methods over three decades of practice. Today we provide a full spectrum of programmes from fully residential programmes in leadership, team work and personal development, through to work shop interventions. We are proud of our long-standing commitment to helping schools and youth groups.

All of our programmes are tailored to our client’s needs and tempered by years of experience.
We have nothing off the peg and we work hard to understand and meet your needs.

Where we use the outdoors, our experienced tutors understand that any outdoor element of a programme is only a learning vehicle for teams or individuals.
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Not all classrooms have walls and taking young people out of the confines of a traditional classroom environment can have other outcomes including positive health benefits, team building through shared experiences, and most of all can help make learning fun and engaging!
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Safety is our first consideration when planning any programme. For this reason, we have an unblemished safety record. ​We carry over £5 million in public liability insurance​

The Stretch Programme

For Pre-16's

 Is a personal development and leadership programme for groups of up to 25 young people from year 8 to year 10 selected by their schools as young people who would benefit from the Stretch programme.​

Who is it for?

Stretch aims to provide opportunities for development and leadership for students who may in the past have lacked the confidence to push themselves forward, included in this group are students who whilst confident, would benefit from the opportunity to further develop their soft skills, we want these children to thrive in team situations and positively interact with an increased range of personalities.
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​The Purpose of the Stretch Programme is to:

• To Inspire students, stretching their aspirations
• To listen to students, interpreting their thoughts into a development programme
• Build communication and trust in the group
• Develop Confidence and a “can do mentality”
• Learn through experience how to work well in teams and to lead
• Visit a Higher Education Establishment
• Have fun and form lasting friendships
• To be passionate about all that we do

​Why is Stretch different?

• We ask the students what they would like to do and then use our extensive contacts and experience to interpret what they have asked for into a viable development programme.
• We work very closely with the school ensuring close liaison at all levels.
• We aim to work with teachers and other staff who are passionate about young people's development.
• Grass Routes and schools keep their teams small to allow trust to build
• Activities are delivered locally ensuring students can follow them up
• We hope to have a delivery frequency of at least activity every 2 weeks

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​Duration
Programme length may vary from 5 – 8 days according to what the school decide. A sample programme is set out below. We prefer to work in whole days but can in work half day sessions.
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What your Stretch programme could look like ?
From Chew Valley School year 8/9 in 2018