Raising the student voice and realising potential
Why Get Set?
Being part of the build up to London 2012 was important to Uckfield Community Technology College (East Sussex, South East). Could this be a chance to strengthen the school’s sense of community and fully put into practice the school’s motto of ‘realising potential’?
Uckfield recognised the importance of a strong student voice and wanted to further enhance this with the aim of students feeling inspired to:
- Set personal goals and take pride in achieving them
- Identify their own strengths
- Improve self esteem.
Get Set was an opportunity for the community to work and celebrate together. Different curriculum areas could collaborate, aiming towards the same goal. Uckfield had already secured public funding for professionally produced A1 posters of pupils showing different Paralympic and Olympic Values.
The Journey So Far
Following a series of launch assemblies, students elected representatives and technicians who met weekly to update the Get Set blog. Team building events took place including an exciting trip to Wilderness Wood.
Students are involved in planning Uckfield’s own Olympic Festival which will include:
- Opening and closing ceremonies
- Competition events
- Certificates awarded by students to their peers
- Each tutor group ‘adopting’ a country.
Partner primary schools, assisted by Uckfield students, will be adopting the same format. Through a re-vamp of Uckfield’s student voice and student leadership programme students are being trained as a consultants, councillors and leaders, moving towards a system where Year 10 students will mentor and support younger students.
Uckfield has experienced ‘Imagination Our Nation’ and been involved in the development of an Olympic puppet, ‘Brook’ who has visited Uckfield, partner primary schools and local community events.
Positive Values
Uckfield has been so impressed with the effect of Get Set involvement that future development of its mentoring scheme will be based around the Values.
A sense of excitement continues with student blogs describing the fun and games at Wilderness Wood and Amy Williams’ gold medal win in Vancouver. Uckfield has reported a really positive atmosphere in further Get Set sessions used to re-enforce the benefits of Wilderness Wood, with students engaged, enthusiastic, helping each other and having fun.
“It was great seeing two boys who would normally keep as far away from each other as possible, helping each other and holding hands! Teamwork at its best.”
And what inspires the students?
- “Pride in representing your country.”
- “The variety of fun, energetic games and how everyone tries their best.”
- “I like the excitement in the sport they do.”
- “Everyone working together as a team.”
Towards 2012
Uckfield aims to involve more students, building a bigger picture every year, particularly in preparing for Uckfield’s own Olympic Festivals.
“Through participating in our Olympic Festivals we want students to feel the “wow” factor of being involved in a big sporting, community event – our own mini London 2012.”
The mentoring system is also set to continue and Uckfield looks forward to seeing the results of this.
“The ultimate aim is for our school and our local community to actively embrace the Olympic and Paralympic Values e.g. for our college to be the “beacon” of community cohesion.”
