We are pioneering an exciting new initiative in which we are inviting members of the community aged 65 and over, with time on their hands, to come and share the benefit of their life experience with us. Some volunteers are teamed with individual students as part of a carefully-monitored project.

1. Tom Peterson & Hannah Jamieson

2. Background
• 11-18 Academy based in Blackbird Leys, Oxford
• Area of high social deprivation (in top 10% most
deprived in the country)
• Strategic review in Jan 2015 concluded that the
academy needed to:
Become Outward Facing
Develop greater levels of trust with its community
Develop a management structure for community links
Become an agent for community support, change and
development
Innovate – find and develop bolder, broader solutions to
address priorities

3. Why Old School?
• Community strategy identified intergenerational
work as an area to target
• Local issues with social deprivation & isolation:-
-The Oxfordshire health inequalities commission
report states wards in our local area (Blackbird Leys,
Rose Hill) are in the top 10% most deprived in the
country. There is also a significant issue with loneliness
affecting older people within urban areas of the county.
• Approached by Maverick TV.

4. How it
Works
This is a two-
way process –
not mentoring
One to one
meetings for 1
hour per week
or fortnight
Partnerships
based on
shared
interests &
experiences
The meetings
should be
mutually
beneficial
Leads to
feelings of
trust,
companionship
and respect

5. Benefits
for Senior
Partners
A feeling of
value
Learning new
skills
Greater
understanding
of young
people
Exercising the
body and
mind
Friendship
Have a
positive
impact on
your
community

6. Evidence of Senior Benefits
Autobiographical
memory test up
Mobility (down =
getting faster)
Socialisation up
40%
Verbal Fluency
scores increased

7. Benefits
for Junior
Partners
Develop a
more mature
attitude
Address
problems on
their own
terms
Greater
educational
engagement
Learning to
form strong,
enduring
relationships
Increased self-
esteem
Friendship
Increased
attendance
Greater
understanding
of older people

9. Evidence of Junior Benefits
Before (Term 6
2015)
Term 1 Term 2
Attendance
(as %)
88.6 90.7 92
Punctuality
(mins late)
320 271 221
Achievement Pt.s
(awarded for positive contributions)
120 174 199
Self Esteem
(as average percentile)
25.7 N/A 32

11. Things
to
Consider
Safeguarding
& DBS
Recruitment
Breaking
down
stereotypes
Time
Need to have
School SLT
support

12. Pilot
Schools
Bedminster
Down – Bristol
Knutsford
Academy –
Cheshire
Cottesloe
School –
Leighton
Buzzard
Meadowbrook
College
(Alternative
provision) -
Banbury

13. What’s
Next?
Silver Robin
www.silverrobin.co.uk
Community Edible
Garden
Community learning
Links with other
providers
Scope for up to 2
extra Pilot Schools

14. Tom Peterson & Hannah Jamieson