The WISE programme was launched in 2005 in response to demands from local communities to address the needs of underachieving children from all  backgrounds.

The WISE programme is particularly concerned about addressing the needs of white working class boys. Boys’ examination results, irrespective of their ethnicity, are threatening national drives to improve standards. Psychosexual differences,environmental factors, the effects of child rearing and socialisation and the "laddish culture" are all contributory factors to gender differences in examination performancees. Hence our work seeks to raise boys awareness of these factors and to assist them in developing personal strategies for overcoming them.

The WISE programme also recognises that it is children from lower socio economic backgrounds who are underachieving year in, year out. We recognise that socio economic factors can and sometimes do impact on the educational performance of pupils, however we also recognise the fact that the social class of many Black families has been used for far too long as an excuse for accepting the underachievement of children from lower class social backgrounds. Without being drawn into the debate about the purpose of education, it is quite evident that the UK has for many years put the work ethic and competition in the labour market at the policy centre. Indeed, Human Capital Theory advocates that the investment in education will increase the quality of the workforce, which will in turn improve economic growth and productivity.                                         

 Education is increasingly seen as having a major role to play in improving the competitiveness of the national economy. Thus educational failure results in the inability of society to capitalise on resources within the economy that can add to its competitiveness in global markets. Education is, of course though, not just a means to an economic end.  Indeed critiques of the narrowing education to economic ends, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, want to reclaim education as a humanising, liberalising, democratising force, directed to ‘the full development of the human personality and a strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms’ (UN, 1948).                                                                                        

 CURRENT WISE PROJECTS

Supplementary Schools and support projects

The WISE programme is currently delivering a number of supplementary schools and support programmes for children in areas of socio-economic disadvantage in the Midlands. The Target Client Group is young people from all genders and races aged between 9  to 16 including those who have recently entered this country. Activities include personal development sessions, maths, english and IT studies, work experience shadowing, careers advice, support sessions for parents and mentoring and mediation services.

The University of Stafford Programme 

This programme is designed to offer pupils at key stage 4 an opportunity to visit a university, discover more about university life and how to apply. In addition they can sample the university   facilities and receive  hands on teaching in   a university evironment. Staffordshire University has a long, proud history of providing high quality learning and helping each student to achieve their goals. Offering over 800 highly-respected courses, they strive to make sure their students are highly employable. Plus, if they want to work for themselves, they can help set them up in business!                                                                                                                  

   The University Apex Programme

This programme is specifically designed as a partnership between leading Russel Group universities in the UK and Excell 3 Ltd to ensure that pupils get an opportunity to enhance their chances of entering some of the top universities in the country. It is a four year programme for pupils starting at year 10 and finishing at year 13, in which the pupils attend one of the partner universities for classes twice per year. Sessions will be delivered in the areas of English, Maths, Sciences, Study Skills, Personal Development and Interviewing Techniques and the UCAS application process.