Parents as Partners in Learning

Benefits

Impact and effectiveness

Photo of a father reading to his son

Impact and effectiveness

A three-year study on the impact of study support and out-of-school hours learning (OSHL) demonstrated that students who took part showed improved academic attainment, attitudes to school and attendance compared to those who did not take part (MacBeath et al, 2001).

A more recent evaluation of OHSL in Scotland (Lowden et al 2005) identified a range of benefits:
  • improves attainment across ability ranges
  • improves young people’s broader skills
  • improves attitudes to school and attendance at school
  • improves motivation and raises self-esteem
  • improves well-being, in particular levels of physical activity
  • helps young people become more effective learners
  • helps the least able young people to maintain commitment to learning
  • contributes to a reduction in exclusions and increases completion of internal assessments and attendance at final exams
  • promotes inclusion, particularly young people most at risk
  • contributes to increasing enthusiasm for learning and a culture of study beyond the school day
  • increases staff morale and improves pupil/staff relationships
  • improves transition from primary to secondary school
  • provides a different framework for learning
  • enables young people in rural areas to access a range of stimulating experiences they would not otherwise have been able to do.

What works well

Features of programmes that work well include:
  • it is voluntary – everyone is there because they want to be
  • it is learner-centred – giving young people a real sense of control
  • the emphasis is on learning together
  • the relationship between staff and young people is more equal where both learn together
  • the atmosphere is more sociable, relaxed, open and informal
  • young people have a say in what, how and when they learn
  • there is a chance to use different kinds of resources
  • there is a feeling that all can achieve.

Source: OSHL Workbook

What young people say:

Renfrewshire information leaflet
We learn things in a fun way...we talk about it, we get stuff we can do ourselves and read ourselves.
Daniel, Trinity High School, Renfrewshire.

When I went to 2u4u (arts and drama OSL club) it made me more confident about drama and it taught me a lot, like how to show my emotions and how to be a really good actor. It was really a lot of fun, and gave me something to do instead of being in the house all the time.
Gary, Renfrewshire.

OSHL Workbook
I got to know the teachers as people.

I am doing what I want, the way I want to do it – without worrying about getting things wrong all the time.

I never think of it as learning – but I can do a lot more things now.

About homework clubs and study support:
The homework clubs help, you can get homework done in peace and there is a teacher there to help with the difficult bits.

You can ask about the bits you are stuck on but don’t want to ask in front of a whole class.

About breakfast clubs:
It’s not just about food. It’s helpful to talk to people about school work and problems...and it’s really helpful to get help with my homework.

You have friends and supportive people around you...which means you get the help you need.

Quotes from Lowden et al (2005)