Evaluation of the Minority Ethnic Language and Achievement Project

MELAP was expected to achieve three aims.

1. Raise attainment and tackle the risk of underachievement among black and minority ethnic (BME) groups of young people.
2. Improve equality of opportunity to future employment and employability for BME young people through improved engagement in education and training.
3. Build on existing monitoring and evaluation systems to effectively measure achievement and engagement levels of the targeted pupils assisted.

As such the evaluation covered the following aspects:

• the extent at which MELAP has met the European Social Funds (ESF) requirements
• assesses the effectiveness of MELAP in meeting its aims, objectives and targets
• examples of good practice in providing assistance to relevant pupils
• identifying lessons learnt to inform any continuation or potential expansion of the programme.

Main points

• The evaluation highlighted some issues around the design and development of the project which led to difficulties for some local authorities in expanding and adapting their activities.
• Evaluators concluded that ESF funding has enabled more pupils to be assisted and for additional means of assistance to be provided.
• Evidence suggests that MELAP has contributed to an increase of educational attainment of pupils with English as an Additional Language needs.