Pioneering scheme creates better pupils in Heywood

A pioneering government scheme has helped pupils at a Heywood school become better behaved and more responsive to the needs of others.

The change has led to a rise in attendance, a fall in the number of bullying incidents and better work in the classroom, according to teachers at Siddal Moor Sports College.

The change has been measured in current Year Eight pupils, who took part in a new pilot scheme during their first year at the school.

The SEAL programme, which stands for Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning, is a government initiative designed to make students more fit for learning.

It introduces lessons and drama classes into the curriculum that help children to become more able to relate to each other, as well as their teachers. And that change in attitudes helps the children not only to get along with each other, but to improve their learning.

Headteacher Steve Britton said: “It’s difficult to say that SEAL is wholly responsible but we certainly think it has played a part.

“There are a lot more children taking part in school societies and clubs, which I think is a strong indicator.

“One of the things we have been encouraging through SEAL is to look out for each other. They want to do well for themselves but they are part of a group too. It harbours that sense of community.”

Assistant headteacher Pauline Hooshyar, who is in charge of the SEAL programme at the Newhouse Road school, believes that change in attitudes could explain a fall in serious incidents at the school.

She said: “Although the perception of children maybe different, the statistics suggest that we have cut bullying. We are awarding more house points, less behaviour debits, reported incidents have fallen by 66 per cent and duty call outs have fallen by 78 per cent. Again, we might not be able to say SEAL is completely responsible but we think it’s an important element of that.”

She added: “If you were to ask some of the staff, they would tell you that the children are getting more of a pleasure to work with as well.”

SEAL works by getting children to improve their social and emotional skills. In drama classes, for example, children are learning through role play how to empathise with other points of view such as the teacher’s, or those of classmates.

Pupils also believe SEAL is producing improvements in a school that already enjoyed a strong reputation in the wider community.

One pupil, who arrived at the school knowing no-one, said it had helped him to make new friends and made others reflect on how they treated him. Another boy added: “I just used to stay at home playing with my PS3. Now I am part of after school clubs because in SEAL I learnt about my emotions and social life.”