An analysis of the impact of the Accelerated Learning Project with year 11 students in Bristol schools, Bristol City Council

1.1 Context In the summer of 2005, thirty-six per cent of Year 11 pupils in the City of Bristol Local Authority (LA) schools achieved 5 or more GCSE A*-C grades compared to the national average of 57%, with other further indicators of under performance. This resulted in considerable disquiet locally and much negative media interest. Bristol is England‟s eighth largest city and is the biggest population centre in the South West government region. Areas of the City are very multicultural, with about 10% of young Bristolians having English as an additional language. The regional importance, and service industry/financial base, of the city attracts a higher than average number of graduates to employment in greater Bristol, but conversely 28% of adults locally have limited or no qualifications. Some districts enjoy considerable wealth and 24% of the regions employment is centred here, with the local unemployment figure below the national average at 3.1% of the working age population. There are also pockets of extreme socio-economic deprivation, with some wards within the bottom percentage point of the most socio-economically deprived districts in England. 75% of Bristol 11-16 year olds are educated in the LA secondary schools, with the remainder educated in the schools of neighbouring LAs or in the large local independent sector.