Absenteeism, violence, educational failure…Schools have few tools to cope with these issues, and exclusion can be seen as a failure on the part of the school. In the Seine-Saint-Denis department, absenteeism concerns above all vocational secondary schools, but also affects school kids. Referred to as “drop-outs”, these students are not a homogenous group. Two types can be distinguished: those who quit their studies without making a fuss, and those who are excluded as a result of disruptive behaviour in class.

The aim of next chance school is to give drop out students positive guidance, to re-build a link between them and the school, making the most of their skills and competences, restoring confidence and preparing with them a personal guidance project. All participants in this measure contribute in their own way, whether through an apprenticeship in key subjects, by establishing a link of closeness, listening and giving advice, through education, citizenship and internal regulations, through self development and esteem and supporting the student with his projects.

Face with this problem of drop out pupils, the education staff of four schools in Bobigny developed this tool. They have shared their skills and entered into discussions with partners to offer all drop outs a personalised educational program of five weeks.

The success rate of the next chance school is 60%. Therefore slightly over half of students go back to education, calmer and more studious. In respect of the others, more in depth work needs to be carried out with them, in particular with their family. The re-integration phase needs to be developed in greater depth, and requires involvement of all teachers, and communication efforts on the progress of the student.

Students involved are all over 14 years of age. They are identified by educational teams and their case is then assessed by the establishments preventive board. The project is subject to the approval of the pupil and his family before being proposed to the next chance school steering committee. Before each pupil joins, he and his parents sign an agreement specifying the nature of the commitment, the rules and operation of the measure.

This measure is supported by the municipal policy partnership, local associations and the French education system. The Bobigny urban contract subsidises the project by €3000, aimed at financing external interventions, for example by a writer or a coach. The French education system provides seven hours of training a week, given by two voluntary teachers, in each of the four schools. Two local associations are involved: The French North African legal Association and Vie et Cité, a specialist prevention association.

Collège Auguste-Delaune
40 rue de la Paix
93000 Bobigny
France
M.Hervé Poirier (Head master of the Auguste-Delaune school), tel. +33 1 48 47 34 72

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case

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration

Education