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After the pandemic, there was a widespread feeling that schools could not go back to where they were. It became a priority to change school cultures to become more welcoming, more inclusive and more aligned with the wellbeing of children and teachers.
Out of this difficult context, the Raising Attainment with Wellbeing (RAW) programme was launched. Its objective: to move wellbeing from the sidelines to become the central driver of school improvement and raising levels of academic performance.
“Progress can be hindered when the internal world of the learner is conflicted.”
This innovative online and coached school improvement programme, published by TeachingTimes and Microlink, takes a bold step by placing wellbeing at the heart of learning, teaching, and leadership practices.
Outstanding teaching alone does not guarantee outstanding learning and progress can be hindered when the internal world of the learner is conflicted. Recent insights into the link between childhood trauma, hidden dyslexia and communication needs, the impact of poverty on child development and the prevalence of special education needs among youth in justice pathways have highlighted the need for a new approach in education.
RAW recognises the challenges faced by students, both overt and hidden, and addresses them by extending and applying the social model of disability to every child disabled by circumstance. Whether affected by childhood trauma, poverty, learning difficulties, or collisions of disadvantage, RAW aims to create an inclusive learning environment that supports and nurtures emotional wellbeing, thereby accelerating progress and securing better personal outcomes for every child. The RAW approach focuses on staff wellbeing too: a student’s learning conditions are a teacher’s working conditions. RAW is for everyone.
How RAW works
Imagine having access to 25 INSET days’ worth of material, available 24/7, broken into bite-sized chunks of professional development that can be delivered flexibly over time and at the point of need. The programme covers diverse topics such as celebrating diversity, positive behaviour management, and adjustments to teaching to make it more inclusive.
“A national team of expert coaches is available for online or in-person support.”
RAW’s materials support self-study or small group reflective activities, with downloadable resources for professional development. Interactive materials can be projected onto whiteboards for whole-staff training sessions. The platform also provides curated links to outstanding additional material from charities and other education providers, continually updating information to reflect the latest thinking and research.
A national team of expert coaches is available for online or in-person support, offering leadership advice, guidance, audits and evaluation activities, or leading specific aspects of training and professional development.
Why RAW?
An anxious, frightened, or angry mind simply will not learn. RAW helps teaching professionals create an inclusive learning environment that supports emotional wellbeing, building social and emotional resilience and meeting the needs of neurodiverse learners.
RAW is designed to have a positive and sustained impact on critical cohorts of children and young people affected by Covid-19 disruption, supporting improvements in culture, climate and ethos that enable achievement to thrive.
Review and Evaluation
Review and evaluation are critical aspects of RAW, monitoring progress, identifying strengths and areas for improvement and addressing barriers to progress. The programme supports impact evaluation using a range of tools and strategies, including a comprehensive needs analysis framework and wellbeing measurement tools.
What are schools saying?
The growth of RAW has been sustained and remarkable. Within ten months of launch, nearly 400 school communities have chosen to participate in the programme.
Here are just a few examples of the many positive statements received by schools that have been participating over the last six months:
“The Raising Attainment with Wellbeing project has been a transformative initiative, providing invaluable tools and resources for us to support the mental health and wellbeing of our students.
“With the help of the assessment tool provided, we were able to identify our strengths and areas to develop, leading to improvements in staff knowledge and understanding of the effects of wellbeing and mental health on our pupils. The excellent training materials provided for leaders were then used to inform and educate our staff, resulting in a more supportive and nurturing environment for our students to thrive in. This project is making a truly positive impact.” – Alison Lowe, headteacher and mental health lead, Even Swindon Primary School
“What I have particularly liked about this programme is that it is much more in-depth than many other pieces of training and there is so much relevant background reading that supports the core units.” – Matthew Watson, headteacher, Westgate Primary School
“The informative audit tools have ensured that the well-being team have been able to recognise our current strengths and then supported them in targeting the next steps for our action planning. This has meant that we have been able to target training and use research-driven practice to make the most significant impact on the mental health and well-being of our children.
‘We would heartily recommend the programme for anyone who wants to raise attainment through wellbeing – it is making a positive impact in our schools.‘ – Helen Thompson, executive headteacher, Heritage Coast Federation Yorkshire
“With wellbeing set at the heart of all that we do, the RAW programme journeys with us, providing new insights and refreshing ideas in a very accessible way. The Changing Culture and Climate model is of particular benefit to schools seeking a new and more radical way forward in these challenging times.” – Dr Gill Barrett, principal, The Loddon School
“In a time where mental health is of the utmost importance, this programme has been an invaluable tool in raising awareness and supporting good practice.”- Ben Lindquist, deputy headteacher, Ysgol T. Gwynn Jones, Hen Golwyn
Welcome to a new era in school improvement — welcome to Raising Attainment for Wellbeing.
Visit https://courses.teachingtimes.com/bundles/raising-attainment-with-wellbeing to learn more.
For further information about joining the RAW community, contact: greg@gestconsultancy.com