Appendix 3: Summary Assessment Report
GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY ORGANSIATIONS 2003/2004
Summary Report
Bengali Mother Tongue & Supplementary Education Ward: Vincent Square
2001/2002 Revenue Funding:
Nil
2002/2003 Revenue Funding
2002/2003 Other WCC Grants:
WCC revenue funding as % of
income:
2003/2004 Funding Requested:
Nil
Nil
Nil
2003/2004 Funding Recommended:
Nil
£19,025
Services Provided and Activities for which Funding is Requested
The organisation is a voluntary organisation, whose aim is to enable the children of
Bangladeshi origin to contribute and benefit from the multi-cultural society of the UK
and to strive for better schooling conditions for Bangladeshi pupils and students.
They aim to promote literacy and educational interests among Bangladeshi children
and to encourage Bangladeshi children to explore and understand their history,
culture and tradition and promote cultural diversity, racial harmony and community
cohesion. The organisation provides a supplementary school on a Sunday from
Pimlico School. The School holds Bengali and English Language classes for 5-11
year olds and tutorial classes in Maths, English and Science for 11-16 year olds,
who need them most and who find it difficult to do homework in the home
environment. They also provide educational day trips to museums, art galleries and
leisure resorts.
The organisation is applying for funding towards the Co-ordinator's and Tutors'
salaries and a contribution to running costs.
Adherence to Criteria and Conditions
Funding Category: Investing in your Education
Priority Area: Community Learning
Criteria
1. Identify, monitor and evaluate learning outcomes
The Group have had open youth sessions to organise study groups, to promote
them to utilise their leisure time in sport activities. They monitor the progress of
activities to the Pimlico School Association and teachers.
2. Improve access to learning opportunities for target group
The school runs on Sunday 10.00am-2.00pm Bengali and English for 5-11 year olds
and Sunday 12.00noon-2.00pm English, Math & Science for 11-16 year olds,
classes are held at Pimlico School and run by 4 tutors. However, the application
does not demonstrate whether the tutors are qualified or not, or what learning
materials are used.
3. Provide projects and activities that are accessible and inclusive
The Group provides supplementary education for Bangladeshi young people,
although other communities are also encouraged, especially Indian and Pakistani.
They provide a venue for homework/study for young people whose home
environment may not be conducive to study in. 3 out of the 4 tutors come from
ethnic minority communities.
4. Demonstrate support to the progress of individual learners
Through the Pimlico School Association and the teachers of the respective schools,
progress of students is collated, however the application does not demonstrate what
support individual learners receive.
5. Develop joint working and partnerships
Pimlico School has offered classrooms for the supplementary school at nil rent and
the organisation is currently negotiating with Pimlico School for more classroom
facilities. They have two representatives on the Pimlico School Association and
have regular liaison with teachers from local schools, the Community Police Officer,
estate managers and tenant associations.
6. Demonstrate enhancement of learners’ quality of life
The application states that monitoring of the progress of activities to the Pimlico
School Association and to teachers demonstrates that students are doing well and
shows that the activities are achieving encouraging results both at home and at
school and are highly appreciated.
7. Target communities identified in the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy
The organisation targets Millbank, Churchill and Victoria Wards which are all in the
10-30% most deprived wards.
8. Promotes self-help and active citizenship
The administrative work of the organisation carried out by a volunteer and 2 parent
volunteers escort children home, there is also a Voluntary Management Committee.
Ward Member Comments
Officer Assessment
The Group is working with a mainstream school (Pimlico School) to provide
supplementary provision to South Westminster. The application does not directly
address each criteria and so most of the above information has been inferred from
the rest of the application. No practical examples are given of how the
supplementary school is run and there are no figures given for the number of young
people attending. As the organisation was newly set up this year Westminster City
Council has no track record of the organisation's work. In addition to this the school
will provide mother-tongue provision which is not a priority for the City Council. For
these reasons the applications is not recommended for funding.
Recommendation: Nil