Caldew School are national citizenship champions
Caldew School were this week celebrating being recognised and rewarded for their citizenship and community work after being nominated to receive "Champion School" status by the National Citizenship Service (NCS).In partnership with Carlisle United Football Club, Caldew School’s involvement included encouraging 100% pupil participation and promotion of the National Citizen Service within school to pupils, parents and teachers. Caldew School has pleasingly been awarded this status.
The high percentage of Year 11 and Year 12 students who have embraced this national scheme have learned lessons that you can’t always learn inside the classroom and they have taken on new challenges, experiences and adventures. The students involved have also improved their CVs, which will undoubtedly impress future employers.
John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, presented the award to Head Teacher, Mr Chris McAree, and students from the school on Friday 27 November.
All the young people taking part have improved their confidence, teamwork and leadership skills through an action packed residential experience. On returning home the young people improved their employability and learned new skills, notably about cooking and personal finance.
As a team the students then designed a bespoke community action project that has made a positive difference in their immediate locality. Recent groups have worked closely with Eden Valley Hospice and Carlisle Key (a young homeless person’s charity).
After completing their social action project the students celebrated at a special graduation ceremony in Foxy's Restaurant at Carlisle United. The young people received a certificate signed by the Prime Minister, which was presented by John Stevenson.
John Sander,NCS co-ordinator at CUFC said: “It is fantastic to see Caldew School, and the students, rewarded with NCS Champion school status.
"The students have been a credit to their school, themselves and their parents. Hopefully they will have gained news skills that will benefit them both personally and professionally as their futures unfold."
Chris McAree, Head Teacher of Caldew School, said: "It is a reflection on the students commitment to taking an active involvement within their communities that is recognised in this award.
"With such a large proportion of students participating in the NCS award it has now become part of the ethos of the sixth form pupils to have taken part.
"The credit for that success lies with the students themselves, the sixth form leadership team and crucially the engaging enthusiasm of John Sander, who runs the scheme through Carlisle United."
Being recognised by UCAS, the programme will help Caldew students frame their skills and experiences for interviews and university applications. Exclusive NCS research reveals that six in ten employers state that experiences outside the classroom are as important as academic achievements on a CV.
Champion School status means the school can now use this high profile award as a concrete way of demonstrating to OFSTED that the school is further providing for the social development of their pupils, along with helping teach the skills employers say they are increasingly looking for.
