Steps towards educational excellence

Gilbert Gbedawo and NRCSE first met when he was working at Youth Learning Network supplementary school in South London.

Here at NRCSE, we are always pleased when we meet someone who immediately understands the importance of good procedures in managing a safe and effective learning environment. Gilbert was such a person.

Supporting the director of YLN he helped the school with the preparation of their management file and the preparation of the Gold Quality Framework portfolio of evidence. I was greatly encouraged when he told me that, as part of his Masters in Education and International Development at the Institute of Education, he was planning to do a research project on the role of parents, students and supplementary schools in achieving educational excellence. There has been too little research done into the supplementary education sector and especially from the perspective of a practioner with real experience of the joys and challenges that are faced each week.

It was with pleasurable anticipation, therefore, that I agreed to meet with Gilbert earlier this month for him to show me the book he had written as a follow-on from that research.

The book looked great, but before I could recommend it I needed to read it. Having done so I can say that it really is an enjoyable read. The first five chapters of the book comprise the original study and ask the questions:

• What are the experiences of migrant children in UK supplementary schools?
• How are supplementary schools contributing to their GCSE attainment?
• How are migrant parents involved?
• What are the roles of students and parents in ensuring educational excellence and success?

The second half of the book focuses on what children and young people themselves can do to achieve educational success and how their parents can help them. Gilbert speaks directly to his readers and has an engaging writing style:

‘My dear students, if you are going to succeed in your education and with your studies, it is vital that you start to respect time and begin to make the most out of every waking time you have.’

Gilbert is a committed Christian and is writing from his own perspective, the book does make liberal use of quotations from the bible. He also draws on his own childhood experiences and his experience as a teacher. The second half of the book is a very personal response to the questions raised by his research, but a personal response grounded in many years of experience as a professional practitioner in supplementary and mainstream education. It provides an interesting and valid look at the sector of community-led supplementary education. I think many supplementary school managers, volunteers, pupils and parents would enjoy it regardless of their spiritual beliefs.

For more information and to read excerpts of the book, Gilbert recommends you check his website Steps Towards Educational Excellence  or use the link below:

http://www.book2look.com/book/z4jk6L1C7R