Big Picture Learning - Social Impact Bond

Doncaster has been identified by the DfE as a social mobility cold spot. It is among the bottom 3 LAs in the county for both persistent absence and fixed term exclusion.

Working with the Innovation Unit the council has pre-secured funding from the Life Chance Fund and a social investor to contribute towards the delivery of new educational service under a Social Impact Bond (SIB) as the vehicle to fund and improve Educational Outcomes relating to children within Doncaster. The resulting contract will be with A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will be set up by the successful economic operator.

Doncaster has awarded a project to address poor engagement and progress within education amongst a cohort of 11-16 year olds in Doncaster identified as having low social mobility. Over a 6 year period, it will work with approximately 204 students from across the borough through an innovative educational model called Big Picture Learning. Built around their passions and interests it will unlock engagement (demonstrated by attendance), progression in learning and increased resilience.

For some young people it will provide an alternative to the Pupil Referral Unit, for others, it will mean more specialist support than they are currently receiving in mainstream school. It will help to ensure that education providers and commissioners are better able to match the needs of pupils to the placement that they enter.

The innovative solution provided by the successful provider will help engage children back into education.

The values set out are indicative only and will depend on, performance and the final number of students who progress through the scheme.