An education trust on Teesside is rolling out its adult education provision in community settings, after forging strong links with Primary Schools, community centres and a local veterans’ centre.
Atomix Educational Trust teamed up with Steel River Education Trust to provide Level 2 courses to parents of children at Whale Hill Primary School in Eston.
And now, after several students completed two courses within a matter of months, earning certificates in both Understanding Autism and Understanding Challenging behaviours, demand for Adult Education from Atomix is soaring.
Michelle Kelso, Adult Education Manager at Atomix Educational Trust is passionate about changing lives through education.
She says: “It doesn’t matter how old you are or what qualifications you already have – it doesn’t even matter if you have left school with no qualifications – the access to adult education that we provide at Atomix can be life changing.
“One woman who has just finished two Level 2 courses with us summed it up when she said she felt so proud of her achievements and how it had made such a difference to her life.
“She had just got divorced and said it was time to focus on herself by getting new skills and qualifications that could help her to get a job – it’s stories like hers that make my job so rewarding.”
Michelle attended Redcar Literacy Summit last year, which highlighted how one in five adults in Redcar & Cleveland have no formal education or qualifications.
After that, Michelle was introduced to Mr Paul Forster, deputy head of Whale Hill Primary School by Jackie Hutchinson, who works for Redcar & Cleveland Voluntary Services.
Michelle brought the idea of delivering adult education courses within Whale Hill Primary School to the table and was invited to host a coffee afternoon on January 5 to promote the idea to parents.
Twelve parents attended and Michelle suggested they all enrol on the Level 2 Understanding Autism course.
All 12 were so keen, they began studying just four days later!
Soon, that course was complete and the group progressed onto another Level 2 course, Understanding Behaviours That Challenge.
Michelle said: “By early July, this group of 12 had two courses under their belts.
“We have also supported six learners at Caedmon Primary School, which is also part of the Steel River Trust.”
It is now hoped Atomix courses can be rolled out across other primary schools and community settings across Redcar & Cleveland – and perhaps even further afield.
Michelle says Atomix was also able to provide more suitable desks and chairs for the adult learners at Whale Hill – who had previously been using furniture meant for the Primary School children.
The trust has also spruced up a classroom within the primary school which is devoted solely to adult education.
Anna Turley, MP for Redcar and Cleveland, recently visited the school to see the work Atomix has been doing there.
“We now have an adult education classroom that is fit for purpose,” said Michelle.
“We also have some books on shelves, plants and posters to make it a more welcoming space.
“Anna Turley came and we had a photograph with all the learners getting their certificates – she thought it was absolutely brilliant and said she was going to put me in contact with a lot more schools.
“The CEO of Steel River Trust also wants the same sort of facility in Caedmon, Grangetown and Banksfield Schools, so it looks like it is growing!”
Atomix Educational Trust, which runs Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough and Stockton Sixth Form College, is also currently teaching adults at two schools in Stockton.
A recent project between Atomix Educational Trust and Morgan’s House Veterans’ Centre in Boosbeck has also been hailed a success.
Michelle said: “The Veterans’ Centre provides supported living for 32 veterans who are either homeless, or struggle with addiction or have PTSD.
“We have been able to provide eight laptops and have been going there every Wednesday from 9.30am until 12, doing the same Level 2 courses that we delivered in Whale Hill and they have now got their certificates and some have moved onto studying a Digital Skills course.
“They can then progress to writing CVs and job applications – it really is life changing.”
Michelle, who has 18 years’ experience working in education, says working in adult education with Atomix is like a ‘breath of fresh air’.
“I love it, because we are transforming people’s lives by giving them the time and the commitment in their own communities,” she says.
“We see people who have been out of work for a long time getting back their motivation and growing in confidence and making positive changes to their lives – without ever having to step foot in a college if they don’t want to, as that can be really daunting.
“I’ve seen some of the adults we work with go on to study to be paramedics, nurses or midwives, which is a wonderful feeling.
“At Atomix, we are taking a different approach to adult education by enabling people to learn within their communities – and the response to that has been really positive.”
Some learners are progressing onto Supported Teaching and Learning courses and doing their placements within the Primary Schools where they are based.
“You have got parents becoming teaching assistants within their child’s school, helping the school community,” says Michelle.
“They are also great role models for the children, showing that you can achieve when they get their certificates, so it really does benefit the whole community.”
Dr Nichole Munro, CEO of Atomix Educational Trust, said: “What Michelle is doing within the communities that we serve at Atomix is truly inspirational.
“Empowering local people through education, improving their confidence and helping them to achieve, whatever their previous academic background, is something that makes the whole community stronger and helps raise aspirations for generations to come.
“I am looking forward to seeing where Michelle and her team take our adult education offering next, as Atomix is committed to providing a wider programme of education to more people within different settings, in a bid to make education accessible for all.”