The AchieveAbility National Network was launch at the House of Commons on 6th December 2007 by the network's president Barry Sheerman MP, chair of the Select Committee for Children, Schools and Families.
The purpose of the launch was to highlight how the network has grown and successfully developed from an Aimhigher project to a National Network. The launch was a great success with excellent and inspirational speakers, including Barry Sheerman MP, Shirley Cramer (Chief Executive of Dyslexia Action), Geoffrey Petts (Vice-Chancellor University of Westminster) and David Maguire (Student Ambassador). With over 70 guests attending across the sector the networking part of the evening brought many positive results with more possible project and partnership working.
The network, which is based at the University of Westminster, has developed over the last three years after being established by Aimhigher, the government-funded initiative to widen participation in higher education, and proven to be a sustainable and successful project.
The launch highlighted the networks ongoing commitment to collaborative and partnership working to support and develop learners skills to achieve their potential in education and employment. The network’s dedication is clear and evident through their extensive project work that focuses on enhanced personalised multi-sensory teaching methods that encourage active engagement in learning. Reflecting the currently changes in the education system and 14-19 curriculum reforms.
Network director Katherine Hewlett said: “AchieveAbility is working to ensure there are appropriate learning opportunities to support and enhance the chances of students with specific learning differences (SpLD) making progress across the different educational sectors.
“We are initiating and participating in discussion and research, as well as developing projects to make sure the issues affecting access and involvement for SpLD learners across the sector are put under the spotlight.
Barry Sheerman MP, who is the network’s first President, said at the launch that AchieveAbility had shown over the last three years that it could be successful in bringing a range of organisations together “to make a difference”.
‘Aimhigher has moved forward over the past three years and AchieveAbility has shown itself to be a sustainable and successful project. We have seen some big advances, but there are still barriers for young people with special educational needs, especially in post-16 education. We want to clear these barriers away. This network is working to make sure every young person can push through these barriers to realise their full potential.’ Barry Sheerman MP.
Shirley Cramer, chief executive of Dyslexia Action, said that the AchieveAbility project was “contributing to a sense of momentum” surrounding increasing recognition of the barriers facing students with specific learning differences. (Shirley Cramer's transcript will be available shortly).
The launch celebrated the Networks ongoing commitment to develop, pioneer and progress the achievement of learners with SpLD in education.
