What is an ExtendedSchool?

An ExtendedSchool is defined by the Department of Education as a school that “…provides a range of services and activities, sometimes during or beyond the school day, to meet the needs of children, their families and the wider community.  In doing so, Extended Schools will engage on collaboration and partnership with neighbouring schools and statutory and voluntary and community sector organisations operating in the community.”

This is done “To reduce underachievement and improve life chances – through integrated delivery of the support and services necessary

Extended Schools are:

• Community focussed
• Outcome focussed
• Collaborative
• Committed to improved learning standards
• Offering a complete range of activities according to need
• Constantly evaluating

Why should extended schools be established?

The Review of Public Administration states that

• 6.3 The alignment of education with other service providers, and collaboration with the voluntary, community and private sectors.
• 6.7 Working together to develop new, coordinated arrangements for the joint delivery of services to children and young people.

This means that:

• Services and activities located in or signposted by, schools can remove barriers to teaching and learning.
• There is a greater uptake of these services and activities by children and their parents.
• There is greater parental / community involvement and opportunity for development.
• Schools can be more cost effective.
• There can be a wider remit for learning and lifelong learning. 

Types of services being delivered through Extended Schools.

• Extended school day.
• Locating health professionals within the school.
• Counselling service.
• Locating social services within the school.
• Co-delivering with other professionals areas of the curriculum.
• Parental support.
• Voluntary organisations delivering specialist programmes.
• Links with businesses.
• Partnerships with community groups.
• Locating services for communities within the school e.g public library
• Crisis intervention.

If you wish to be involved in any of the above activities, or if you can help the school in any way please contact Mr Frank Murphy, Out of School Hours Co-Ordinator on 028 71281800, or office@stceciliascollege.com