Springhill Community House, in conjunction with Conway Education Centre, has been conducting GCSE English, Maths and Science classes in Springhill, West Belfast for several years. These classes target local people, many of whom had previously disengaged with education, or have not been involved in education in recent times. The classes aim to broaden horizons, facilitate educational opportunities and support career progression in a working-class area, while minimising cost. St Mary’s has now joined in this educational partnership.
The GCSE Science classes have helped many people over the years engage with education, further career progression and access third level university places (as Science GCSE is a requirement to careers in teaching and nursing). The GCSE Single Award Science classes and coursework investigations were traditionally taught on site with minimal resources but often with excellent results, (2017/ 2018 class achieved 100% success rates with Grade B and above). However, these classes were recently in jeopardy as changes to the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CEA) specification meant that coursework investigations were being replaced by assessed practicals, pre-set by CEA, and requiring access to laboratories and specialised scientific equipment. The cancelling of this class would have a considerable impact on educational opportunities in an area of high deprivation.
Following communication with St Mary’s University College Belfast, permission was kindly granted for students to access the College science laboratories to enable the classes to continue. Thirteen students attended practical sessions for a number of weeks in St Mary’s and engaged in a range of prescribed practicals set by CEA that enhanced their learning of the CEA Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses. St Mary’s provided first class resources in terms of laboratory facilities, as well as experienced support staff. These students would not have been able to complete their GCSE Science course without the assistance of St Mary’s and it is unlikely that they would have made any advances in their education or been able to avail of career opportunities.
The students sat their first Biology module earlier this year and a profile of 5As, 3Bs and a C * was achieved.
Sinéad Quinn of Springhill Community House said:
“St Mary’s University College has had a massive impact on working-class people accessing educational opportunities and in raising expectations in their own capabilities. I hope that it is a partnership that will continue for many years as it has been a positive experience for both teacher and student.”
Below is a profile of the GCSE Science results achieved:
• Student 1 – A – Student has proceeded to begin their postgraduate teaching course
(GCSE science is a requirement).
• Student 2 – A - Student has proceeded to begin their postgraduate teaching course
(GCSE science is a requirement).
• Student 3 – A – Student has opted to engage in further study of science.
• Student 4 – B - Student has proceeded to begin their postgraduate teaching course
(GCSE science is a requirement).
• Student 5 – B - Student has proceeded to begin their postgraduate course in Special Needs
Education.
• Student 6 – B – Student has proceeded to begin her Nursing Degree
(GCSE Science is a requirement).
• Student 7 – C* - Student has proceeded to begin their postgraduate teaching course
(GCSE science is a requirement).
• Student 8 – C* - Student has opted to engage in further education.
• Student 9 – C - Student has proceeded to begin their postgraduate teaching course
(GCSE science is a requirement).
• Student 10 – C* - Student was able to access promotions in workplace as additional GCSE
qualifications were required.
• Student 11 – D – Due to complications in pregnanacy, student was unable to sit all the exams.
• Student 12 – G - Due to work commitments, student was not in the country for exams.
• Student 13 – No Grade - Course incomplete.
Sinéad continued:
“It is clear that the St Mary’s Widening Access and Participation (WAP) project, in conjunction with Conway Education and Springhill Community House, creates opportunities that impact on the lives of working class people who may otherwise face economic and locality restrictions. I hope that the value of this project is recognised, as it is a partnership that will continue to bear fruit in the local community for many generations to come.”