Social Responsibility in Schools Duke of Edinburgh (D of E)
If you’re not already familiar with this charity, you should be. Children are rewarded with covetable certificates for participating in a huge variety of activities – from outdoor pursuits to community service.
Moseley School had found the charity’s framework brilliant for tailoring point-gaining activities to the students’ interests, abilities and restrictions. They also train staff, and the regional County Providers will work closely with the school to get the resources and ideas you need. According to Dave Mitchell, PE teacher and Moseley’s D of E co-ordinator: “Many of our students aren’t able to participate in after-school or weekend activities, but D of E has made it possible for us to get them volunteering and contributing nonetheless. They’ve done first aid courses, community nutrition schemes and more. It looks brilliant on their university personal statements and CVs. Plus, it builds bridges between us and our surrounding communities.” Meanwhile, over the weekend of June 14- 16, 2013, The Royal Russell School in South Croydon completed its mammoth Vanguard Challenge fundraising weekend successfully – and raised £25,000 in total from the donations, raffle, BBQ and matched giving by a parent at the School. This epic effort involved over 300 pupils, staff and parents who walked, cycled, ran, kayaked, swam, abseiled down the school chapel and did non-stop Zumba.
For Sarah Culliford, PE teacher and deputy house mistress at the school, the idea of the Challenge was prompted by some terrible family news.
“My world came crashing down in the summer of 2011 with the awful news my brother Andrew has the fatal Motor Neurone Disease. My colleagues were nothing but supportive but I struggled to talk about it without crying. So standing up in assembly to speak about Andrew’s disease and ask the School what they could do to help raise awareness was a challenge.” Any fears were soon dispelled, as Sarah explains.
extent of their involvement and commitment was simply staggering.
“From children aged three led by their teachers, to a retiring member of staff who had taught at Royal Russell for 39 years and marked his departure by walking 66 miles, the Vanguard Challenge united the entire school community. “The three day Challenge culminated in a celebration on site: over 800 people of all ages came together to support and applaud each other’s efforts. To share what they had done and to hear Andrew speak to appreciate fully just why they had done it.
“The school was visibly moved and there were laughter and tears as we felt the inspiration and fight from an outstandingly courageous man. This is what the Vanguard Challenge meant and what it still means.”
As far as the benefits of bringing the school together are concerned, Martin Tanner, Geology Teacher, House Master and organiser of the abseiling, has no doubts.
“Our students learned that the words ‘challenge’ and ‘abseiling’ go together rather well. They were fearful as they peered over the vertical drop of the chapel tower and had to summon great courage to climb over the ledge and scale the wall down to the ground.
The cruelty of Motor Neurone disease and its degenerative effect encouraged our students to consider how lucky they are for what they can do and we asked them to question how much more they could achieve if they set their minds to it. The scale of the event was unprecedented but we rose to the challenge.
“The Vanguard Challenge was brought into the classroom: I loved reading the students’ descriptive writing expressing their thoughts and feelings of what might be going through a runner’s mind, for example, as they started off on the 66 mile run from Newhaven. In- class interviews with participants supported our Media component, with subsequent ‘journalists’ submitting their articles to the school paper. The students learned how to express their thoughts on paper and I was very moved by their maturity, understanding and sympathy.
“The sheer determination of these young people completing the challenge astounded me. Some walked 66 miles over three days, others cycled the distance and others ran over 12 miles. The ‘buzz’ lasted right up to the end of term and its legacy will remain for years.”
The pupils taking part were encouraged to stretch themselves, and the Challenge really tested their commitment, as Sophie Hewett, Head of Art and leader of the 6-mile running group, explains.
“The six-mile cross-country run along the Vanguard Way represented a significant personal challenge for many of the students. We had 19 runners aged 11-17, most of whom had never run so far before. They committed to weekly practices and a four mile ‘test’ before the event to give them confidence they could complete the distance.
“We had plenty of people cheering us on – none more so than the 66 mile walkers whom we passed en route. On a personal note, this was my first year teaching at Royal Russell and the Challenge gave me the unexpected bonus of helping me get to know the students better - it was a great way to break the ice and get to know people outside the classroom.”
“The whole school got behind the idea and I lost count of the number of people and number of hours dedicated to the Vanguard Challenge. The weekend itself was incredible. I managed a 6.6 hour Zumbathon alongside 60 pupils and parents and our whole family was there to watch the events unfold and see the emotional attachment that had grown for Andrew.” Deputy Headmaster David Selby had bought into the idea from the start and was sure that the school would respond well.
“I never had the slightest doubt that our pupils, staff and parents would embrace the Challenge set by Sarah. That’s the way we are. But the
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But 50 students faced their fears and made the descent over a four hour period.
“A special bond formed among our abseilers – and their shared experience will last their school lifetime. They learned that those who face a shared challenge rightly look to each other for instant teamwork. Those brave Russellians were rewarded by being literally “looked up to” by their peers, parents and teachers.” There were the obvious educational benefits associated with the Challenge as well, according to Donna Pepperdine, English Teacher and driving force behind the Vanguard Challenge. “The Vanguard Challenge was a powerful and exciting opportunity to give our students.
www.education-today.co.uk
Asked to sum up what it meant to her, Sarah Culliford had this to say about the Challenge, and the effect it has had on her and the school. “The pupils were queuing up to meet Andrew and tell him what they had done. Their pride in their effort and their respect for him was incredible to witness. Even now, months later and into a new academic year, students ask me how he’s doing.... it’s truly humbling that our youngsters are still thinking of others and are not afraid to show their compassion.”
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www.moseley.bham.sch.uk u
www.royalrussell.co.uk
October 2013
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