Mitchell High School, Stoke-on-Trent
Community learning centre
Mitchell High School, Stoke-on-Trent, a mixed secondary school with 561 pupils, set up a community learning centre in February 2004 to provide skills for life assessment services plus access to courses and offline resources.The centre offers one-on-one tutor support, family learning opportunities and small group work. It is also an online test centre for level 1 and 2 literacy and numeracy qualifications. The facilities are available to everyone in the school and the wider community. The centre is open all year round, including school holidays. Extended opening hours mean that users can fit learning around their work and/or family commitments. Crèche facilities are provided.
The centre recently won a Matrix award, the national quality standard for organisations that deliver information, advice and/or guidance on learning and work. ”Many individuals within the local community do not have level 1 and 2 qualifications,” explains Phil Manfredi, the centre’s assistant partnerships director. ”Since February 2004, approximately 380 people have accessed the centre, with over 100 individuals achieving level 1 and 2 passes.”
