Caroline from PIE (Pursuing Individual Excellence) was back with our Positivity group. The group was out and about spreading their positivity around their local community. The girls wanted to do their mini social action project in the community and chose several places to share their random acts of kindness with. They had bunches of daffodils and Easter Eggs and visited their two local shops which are always inundated with students! They also chose the primary school many of them went to where they left daffodils for some staff and buckets of Easter goodies they had decorated for the most deserving students. They then also visited the Bridge centre which is a local community organisation which carries out amazing work. They gave daffodils and Easter Eggs to the many volunteers who help to keep the place going. Despite the rain and cold, we all felt great at the end of the session with lots of positive vibes all round!

Our  students have enjoyed  a campus tour, a Spanish conversation café experience with native Spanish students, a Japanese workshop led by Professor Martin and a Translation experience.

They have done us very proud! They have  asked questions about student life and they have inquired about grades needed for a degree and discussed the suitability of their GCSE options for various degrees.

The student ambassadors said that our students showed curiosity, great social skills and initiative.

Congratulations to Iftinan for having the best Co-op presentation, awarded by the  University of Leeds jury!

Last week our Year 9 students took part in a whole day event that offered interactive, discussion-based workshops.

Six guest speakers delivered sessions on lived experiences. Speakers told their stories of how negative choices have impacted their lives and the consequences that this has brought to themselves, their families, and their communities. The purpose was to enable young people to make better choices about their lives and futures.

Themes included involvement in gangs, knife crime, county lines, violence, negative relationships, and child criminal exploitation, as well as hearing how a young person fell victim to such violence and was murdered as a consequence.

The aim of the sessions are…

• Students will be able to demonstrate more positive behaviours and attitude having been engaged with the various workshops and discussions with guest speaker.

• Students will have greater understanding of the consequences and impact of their choices on themselves, their families, and their communities.

• Students contribute to stronger, safer, and more inclusive communities to keep themselves and others safe by making better informed choices.

• Students feel inspired and engaged to make better choices during school to support themselves and their peers.

We heard from…

West Yorkshire Police provided a scenario-based workshop that allowed students to see first-hand how a murder investigation unfolds – based on a real-life case! With a video testimony from a serving prisoner that linked directly into the scenario – the police prison hub provided real insight into the dangers of carrying a knife and the tragic consequences that can occur.

A resettlement officer and prison officer from Wetherby Young Offenders Institute explained to students what the realities of prison are from the moment a defendant enters the docks and their first week’s experience in prison. Supported by a short video from a real-life prosecution.

Sam is a qualified teacher and Youth Worker for Leeds City Council, with a vast amount of experience working with individuals at risk and young people who have suffered trauma – working with them and their families to create positive pathways through the medium of art. Sam provided students the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings through art, creating a small piece of artwork for themselves.

Adam struggled with his identity growing up in a mixed British/Muslim household. Having left school with no qualifications, Adam began taking drugs and getting into low level crime. This escalated to dealing drugs, battling depression and convictions. Adam now works with young people to promote the benefits of exercise and good lifestyle choices.

Entrenched in addiction since the age of 15, for the next 23 years. Alison has experiences of domestic violence, homelessness, criminal and sexual exploitation as part of a county lines gang whom she “worked” with to fund her addiction for several years. Also has experience of child sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted family member. Alison was brought up in a house with lots of violence and mental health issues.

Weapons awareness. Understanding the impact of crime is important and this video highlights the wider network of people affected by knife crime. We looked at the wider family and moved on to discuss how the community itself are impacted upon. We ensured that students are aware of further help that they can access by discussing different support networks.

‘…so much more than a school’

Miss Fox and Simon our money advisor were interviewed for ‘Money Box’ BBC Radio 4

Simon from Better Leeds Communities is in school every Tuesday & Thursday 9am – 12pm offering money help and advice to parents including benefits & debt.

Two learning disability nurses and one student LD nurse came in to deliver a workshop with students to raise awareness of the roles that they do. They looked at case studies of the typical clients that they work with regularly and the obstacles that they might face. Students worked in groups discussing the clients’ needs and ways that nurses would support them day-to-day. The nurses were able to reflect upon their experience and answer students’ questions. They also advised students on the different routes of progression into learning disability nursing and what skills, qualities and qualifications they’d need for the role.