September Blog 2012

Celebrating One Year of Shropshire Children’s University

Earlier this year Shropshire CU celebrated our first birthday. Happily the birthday celebrations coincided with graduation ceremonies at Saint Peter’s CE Primary School, Whixall CE Primary School and Lower Heath CE Primary School. We had over 250 graduates presented with certificates over the three events. We also held a special graduation ceremony at the University of Birmingham for all our Gold graduates.

To mark the occasion of our first birthday Pete Jones was asked to appear on the Jim Hawkins show on Radio Shropshire-a recording of this will soon be available on our website

 What They Say About Us

‘It is a huge benefit to young people if their experience can be enriched and their imagination stimulated by extra activities beyond the regular school curriculum. The Shropshire Children's University deserves our best wishes and support. Let's hope it can build on its first year's achievements, and have many more successful years.’

Professor Martin Rees -Baron Rees of Ludlow, OM, FRS, and has been Astronomer Royal since 1995 and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge since 2004. He was President of the Royal Society between 2005 and 2010

I made my big career decision to become a writer in school when I was nine  It  was a decision from which I never wavered, and it was my dream. When I go into schools I want to encourage all children to follow their dreams. Being Chancellor of Shropshire Children's University enables me to do this in a whole new way.  It's a privilege to see children developing their interests and taking pride in their achievements. And the beauty of it all is that the Children's University is child driven. In everything it does it strives to put children in the driving seat. This is great for our children and it's great for Shropshire too’

Pauline Fisk -Award Winning Children’s Author and Shropshire CU Chancellor

Welcome aboard Harlescott Junior School

With all the out of school clubs now validated and a launch assembly in September pupils at Harlescott Junior School are now signed up members of Shropshire Children’s University. They now join CU members at Thomas Adams School, Sundorne School and Sports College, Cleobury Mortimer Primary School, Saint Leonards Primary School in Bridgnorth  and Whixall, Lower Heath and Saint Peter’s CE Primary Schools

The following providers and destinations have also been validated over the summer months.

New Providers for September 2012

Bright Owls Language School Gain Shropshire Children's University Credits when you study a language at Bright Owls Language School 1 Session -1 Credit

Teme Leisure-Wem Pool Visit Wem Pool to collect CU Credits Each structured swimming lessons attended = 1 CU Credit Each independent visit = 1 CU Credit

Jennie Dodd Author of The Gemini Spell. Jennie offers a range of interactive workshops and talks around the county at various venues. 1 CU Credit is available for each hour attended.

Dudmaston Estate Organised group educational visits to Dudmaston Estate have been validated 'Discovering Nature' Group Visit -  3 CU Credits More validations planned

1St Wem Scout Group  Gain Shropshire CU Credits when you attend 1st Wem Scout Group activities Beavers, Cubs and Scouts 1 Credit per session

Bishops Castle Heritage Research Centre  A research visit to the BCHRC for older children 1 Visit-I CU credit

Shropshire Music Service  Shropshire Music Ensemble at various locations across the county 1 hour-1 CU Credit More activities undergoing validation

House on Crutches Museum   Visit  the Museum to gain 1 CU Credit Open summertime only