A GROUP of Wokingham schools have collaborated with the University of Reading on a summer holiday initiative which will promote their positive approaches to learning.
Values-Based Education (VbE)’s Wokingham schools network launched its Values Banner Trail on July 13, which features fittings designed by their students which showcase ideals for their schools.
The project was put forward by Loddon Primary School’s headteacher, Sarah Phillips, who wanted to give schools a platform to share their understanding of values.
She said: “The project has been a wonderful opportunity for pupils from our schools to share their understanding of positive human values and to work on a collaborative community project.
“At Loddon Primary the whole school community contributed ideas for the design and then a group of children from across the school produced the final art pieces from these ideas with the help of Art Leader Mrs Wendy Henderson.
“The biggest challenge was working on such large pieces so they could then be photographed to the size needed to become the final banners.”
The project was initially inspired by a similar community event in Elmbridge, Surrey in 2019.
Students and staff were welcomed by the University of Reading’s vice-chancellor Robert Van de Noort on campus for the project’s launch two weeks ago.
A few community partners were considered, but the University stood out as the ideal venue for the trail to help raise aspirations amongst students, encouraging them to see a campus for themselves.
According to Ms Phillips, the trail map will give pupils the perfect opportunity to check out the University’s various museums with their families over the holidays.
She said: “We are very grateful to the Chair of Governors at Loddon Primary School who is employed by the university and has been a key partner in making this possible.
“We are also very appreciative of the University for hosting us and sponsoring the costs of the banners production. The campus is a truly beautiful venue and we feel very blessed that they were willing to host us.”
VbE is an approach to education which empowers schools and other institutions to underpin their life and curriculum with universal positive human values such as respect, integrity, honesty and compassion.
“Through VbE, the children are supported to learn self-leadership and to consider not just their own needs but those of society,” Ms Phillips explained.
“As the only school locally to be awarded an enhanced quality mark for VbE, we are very proud of the work we do to support and train other local schools in a VbE approach through hosting the Wokingham VbE network and projects such as this banners project.
“If any other schools or community partners are interested in VbE please just get in touch with us at Loddon.”
Members of the community will be able to enjoy the trail from July 25-September 1, with a map set to be available to download via the @LoddonPrimary Twitter account in the coming days.
For more information about VbE, visit: wwww.valuesbasededucation.com
