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Research Projects

SchooLets

Contact Email: j.cannings@ippr.org

Introduction

This action research project has given schools the encouragement, advice and support to start their own community currencies (Local Exchange Trading Schemes or Time Banks). The aim has been to enable pupils, parents, staff and the wider community to exchange goods and services using an alternative local currency and, in doing so, encourage parental involvement, active citizenship education, and the transformation of schools into 'social capital banks'.

The pilot involved five primary and four secondary schools in London, Leeds, Liverpool, Surrey, Brighton and Cornwall.  The primary schools tended to experience greatest success but valuable lessons were learnt from all schools.  Many of these were drawn out by independent evaluations conducted by the Citizenship Foundation and New Economics Foundation.

The project was supported by CfBT, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Lloyds TSB Foundation and the Tuder Trust.

Those interested in setting up their own SchooLets can download the SchooLets Handbook below which includes practical advice and resources for schools.  Hard copies are also available to purchase.  See details on our publications page.

Files

SchooLets Handbook: A guide to setting up a school-based community currency by Jodie Reed

SchooLets: An evaluation of the ippr project in its final year by Karen Smith and David Boyle, New Economics Foundation

SchooLets: Summary of the the conclusions of the Citizenship Foundation Evaluation, 2004

Links

Enlisting the Kids Army by Joe Hallgarten, TES, April 2002

Publications

SchooLets Handbook A guide to setting up a school-based community currencySchooLets Handbook
A guide to setting up a school-based community currency

This booklet sets out the lessons from nine pilot schemes, aiming to provide the knowledge and resources necessary to enable schools to start up their own community currencies.

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Parents Exist, OK!?Parents Exist, OK!?

Comprehensive investigation of current situation with family-school partnerships and what can be done to improve them.

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Tomorrow's CitizensTomorrow's Citizens

With contributions from human rights experts, educationalists and practitioners, this report examines contemporary concepts of citizenship and their implications for education. It explores the relationship between the Citizenship curriculum and current social, political and cultural contexts.

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Events

Technology Colleges Trust Online Conference

Read and discuss our paper "SchooLets/-Time Banks for Schools: An Innovative Approach to Engaging Parents and the Wider Community in the School" here...

30/11/1999 - 30/11/1999

full details