Franklin Scholars

The correlation between family income and educational attainment is more pronounced in the UK than in almost any other developed country.

Employers are increasingly concerned about young people leaving school (and even university) lacking the real skills they need for the workplace –empathy, communication skills, leadership and teamwork.

There is increasing evidence to indicate that the nurturing of these ‘softer’ skills, particularly at certain points in a young person’s social and cognitive development, does actually feed back very positively into their academic performance and attainment, as well as positively influencing long-term levels of wellbeing and career prospects.

The transition from primary to secondary school is a particularly crucial moment. 72% of children from low socio-economic backgrounds have been found to experience difficulties that lead to very damaging dips in confidence and academic progress. These dips set students back months –sometimes years–and that’s the best-case scenario.

At worst, they lead to students becoming entirely disengaged from their education, and left with scuppered life chances. The Franklin Scholars initiative exists to support the UK’s most vulnerable children at what has been identified as the most precarious moment in their educational lives. In doing so, it also provides an opportunity for older students to take charge, make change from the ground up in their schools, and develop crucial life skills while they’re at it.

A group of approximately 15 extraordinary students is selected on the basis of the potential for them to positively influence others, as well as room for their own personal growth.

Once selected, the Franklin Scholars undergo intensive training which delves into them as individuals –looking inward to reflect on their own experiences and their own strengths, before looking outward and developing the empathy, social awareness and communication skills that they need to effectively support younger students.

Once equipped with the relevant skills, tools and gusto, the Franklin Scholars are set up with Year 7 mentees and kick-start the learning adventure that they will journey together over the duration of the academic year. The organisation works closely with a member of staff in school who is also trained to coordinate and oversee the on-going programme over the year.

The school identifies vulnerable Year 7 students on the basis of information gathered from primary schools and teachers, their socio-economic status (the majority eligible for Free School Meals), and observations and feedback from staff over the course of their first days and weeks in school. The Franklin Scholars and their mentees come together for weekly sessions that last for the duration of the school year, and involve both group activities and that all-important targeted 1:1 time.

A curriculum framework and a range of tools are provided, so that the structure and support is there, but with enough flexibility for the Franklin Scholars to be able to take ownership of and responsibility for leading the sessions each week. All activities and resources are carefully designed to develop students’ non-cognitive skills and social and emotional literacy at the same time as academic literacy, and an enhanced engagement and confidence in the learning process.

The Franklin Scholars create a safe space for the Year 7s to share, to learn, to step out of their comfort zones and reflect upon their experiences. The year-long programme is designed to achieve real depth of impact; students are able to develop real relationships, confidence, social skills, self-worth and the positive mind-sets that are so crucial to their success in school and in life. Students are also encouraged and equipped to give motivational assemblies and run extra troubleshooting workshops for wider groups of pupils, so the impact of the programme extends well beyond the group directly involved in the weekly sessions.

The Franklin Scholars are continually supported with extra skills workshops at regular intervals during the year, making sure that they’re developing the skills they need –not only to have a positive impact on the younger students, but also to carve out bright futures for themselves.