New education set up will help vulnerable girls

A new education project in Manchester will help vulnerable girls with their development.

Eleven girls aged 11 to 16 attending schools for emotional, behavioural and socially difficult children (EBSD) in Manchester are being given the chance to mix with 25 other girls from the city's high schools.

The project - code-named SURPASS - started in late October, and was launched at the Castlefield Campus in Hulme.

On two days a week, two groups of up to 20 girls are attending the Castlefield Campus - one of four similar establishments run by the city council.

The SURPASS project offers drama workshops, outdoor education, team-building, social and life skills sessions, including first aid and basic hygiene, plus cultural visits to regional attractions.

The groups will help address the gender imbalance that exists at the moment, with the girls currently outnumbered by the boys 10 to 1.

The Executive Member for Children's Services, Councillor Sheila Newman, said: "This programme will greatly help the EBSD girls gain confidence and widen their outlook in not only an educational but a social situation as they mix with the girls from mainstream schools. In turn, those mainstream students who are often the ones with their own difficulties can make friends and socialise in a more focused and female-only setting."

The mainstream schools taking part in the programme are North Manchester High School for Girls, Wright Robinson Sports College, Abraham Moss High School, Cedar Mount High School and Whalley Range High School for Girls.

The EBSD schools are in Buglawton, near Congleton, which is residential, Meade Hill in Crumpsall, Southern Cross in Cheetham, plus the Southfields annexe, and Castlefield.

The EBSD and mainstream girls are being taught together every Thursday and Friday at Castlefield. The SURPASS project was set up by Bev Davidson of the Manchester Federation of EBSD Schools.

Media contact:

Dave Hulme, tel: 0161 234 4610

Jane Lemon, tel: 0161 234 3179.