Our Focus
Since its inception in 1989, Sparrow Schools Educational Trust strives to provide young South Africans the opportunity to access quality education. We have done this by ensuring that what we offer remains affordable, while always imbued with the core principles of sound educational practice targeted at working with learners with special educational needs.
Organisational Profile:
Sparrow Schools Educational Trust comprises of a Foundation School, for grades 1 to 7 and a Combined Technical Skills School, catering for 14 to 18 year olds. This is a non-profit organisation whose aim is to ensure that learners excel within the educational sector. Sparrow FET Enterprises (Pty) Ltd. is an accredited Training Company specialising in soft skills training, artisanal skills training and disability training programmes. We employ a social enterprise development model to help solve the problem of youth unemployment in South Africa.
Sparrow Foundation School was officially established toward the end of 1995, although the school first emerged in 1989 as a small Saturday morning school in Joubert Park, run by Jackie Gallagher. The Foundation School, which is both independent and registered as a school for Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN), offers affordable, quality special needs education to learners unable to access specialised services, given the rising cost of remedial teaching and learning facilities. A combination of well trained, caring teachers and small classes means that the school is able to offer a holistic learning experience both through the adapted CAPS curriculum and vibrant cultural and sporting programs for learners.
In 2017 Sparrow Combined Technical Skills School became one of a few private schools to be approached by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to offer a technical skills pilot programme to learners with barriers to learning over 4 years. This four-year programme is matchless in what it offers our learners. The Combined Technical Skills School provides mainstream subjects alongside a heavy skills-based training curriculum, of Hospitality, Office Administration, and Wholesale and Retail, allowing the learners to gain an employable skill.
In addition, the Foundation Learning Competency (FLC) NQF2 programme is offered to year 4 learners. As a whole, these programmes enable learners with barriers to learning to access further technical education improving their ability to become active members of their socio-economic environment. The Gauteng Department of Education in choosing Sparrow Combined Technical Skills School to become part of the future of education in South Africa is a
testimony to the professional history of the school and the respect it has earned within the community.
We are currently working to create programmes within the schools that are hands on and require the learner to practically engage with the material being taught. This is essential in special needs teaching as it gives the student a starting point when having to grapple with higher-order thinking.
Sparrow FET College was accredited in 2010. It is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and accredited by the respective SETAs to offer a range of NQF qualifications. Sparrow FET College collaborates with various industries to identify the skills shortages within companies. Sparrow partners with other social projects and programmes to source and recruit unskilled and unemployed youth including persons with disabilities; the purpose is
to up skill South African youth enabling them to become contributing members of the economy.
The College has a theory, practice and real-world application approach to skills development. In the classroom, students cover theoretical curriculum content and in a simulated workplace environment theoretical and practical skills are taught and applied. As the number of unskilled unemployed young people grows in South Africa due to a lack of education the FET College is gaining traction as a place of learning that prepares young people to become active members of society able to provide for themselves and their extended families.
Training with Integrity
Sparrow has a proven track record as a recognised and reputable training provider.
Sparrow has a solid understanding of requirements in the skill shortages arena.
Sparrow is ethical and abides with governance and legislation. Effective Monitoring and Evaluation Tool.
Improved BEE Scores
In partnering with Sparrow, there are a number of benefits in terms of the pillars of B-BBEE for the industry partner. For more information please contact our Corporate Sales Office on 011 482 1015.
