Working younger and stronger

In 2008 when the University of Sydney’s Compass Program was established a key challenge was to develop a widening participation program with primary schools in disadvantaged communities from early years of schooling.... [ view full abstract ]

In 2008 when the University of Sydney’s Compass Program was established a key challenge was to develop a widening participation program with primary schools in disadvantaged communities from early years of schooling. Understandably, the primary school communities - with whom we had previously had no or little formal relationship, often met the University with skepticism and wariness. Many were concerned that about the purpose and focus of the partnership and doubtful about the benefit for their school community.

In the last seven years we have together built resilient and strong partnerships that support mutual goals and outcomes. Compass is in high demand in primary schools around Sydney and regional NSW provides fantastic learning opportunities for school and the University’s students and staff.

This paper will outline the ways in which this partnership was built and continues to be supported ultising a Collective Impact Framework and Community Development Approach. It will outline the ways in which these methodologies provide effective mechanisms in which to govern, measure and progress interventions and partnership.

The paper will showcase some of the individual projects that have been developed and implemented within the K- 5 year range and articulate how these were developed in collaboration with school (teachers and principals) and University (staff and students) to build programs of mutual benefit.

The paper will detail how we have assessed and supported the collaboration itself to build a more powerful model of engagement than would be possible independently.

Finally the paper will summarise the findings of two external evaluation studies on how these partnerships are impacting on culture and academic outcomes within the school and University communities.