Team GB cyclist sets the gold standard at Learning Partnership’s student conference

Young leaders from 13 schools were riding high on 11 July when Team GB cyclist Emily Nelson returned home to Staffordshire to launch the Arthur Terry Learning Partnerships first ever student conference.

The former world track cycling champion joined 150 children at Lichfield’s spectacular Whitemoor Lakes activity centre for a day of collaboration, learning, friendship and adventure. The inaugural event, which was designed by students, brought young leaders together to recognise and celebrate their outstanding contribution to school life.

Inspirational Emily is a former pupil of Lichfield’s Scotch Orchard Primary School and Nether Stowe Secondary school, two of the ATLP’s 13 academies in Birmingham, North Warwickshire and Staffordshire. Her sister Josie, also a former pupils of both schools, is part of Team GB’s mountain biking squad and their mother Linda, who attended the conference, is a former governor of those academies.

Fresh from last month’s victory in the Women’s CiCLE Classic Race, Emily took to the podium at Whitemoor Lakes to talk to students about the values of teamwork and ambition, along with her passion for the environment. She also thanked her schools for supporting her talents and ambitions and presented the young leaders with a signed cycling jersey.

She said:

All of you can do whatever you want to do. It’s not just about winning medals though – do something that you enjoy, whether that’s taking part in sport or playing a musical instrument, believe in yourself, be passionate, work hard and go for it!”

The varied conference programme enabled children to explore a range of activities at Whitemoor Lakes, the region’s key provider of outdoor and indoor pursuits for children and young people. The students collaborated in mixed teams for workshops and teambuilding exercises centred on themes including wellbeing and the environment.  Groups also planned ideas for extending enrichment experiences to all classmates. Outside, the participants enjoyed adventurous pursuits, including rock climbing, abseiling and canoeing, followed by a mouth-watering ‘build your own burger’ barbeque.

The event also included artistic contributions. Following her role in ‘Les Misérables’ at the Birmingham Hippodrome, Curdworth’s Roxy gave a show-stopping vocal performance to the packed room.

The final of the ATLP photography competition focused on the theme of community. The stunning collection of images from partner schools has exhibited at several venues, including the trust’s Stockland Green School. Judge Siobhan Lloyd from Whitemoor Lakes, crowned Lichfield’s Scotch Orchard and Nether Stowe schools as overall winners in their categories.

The conference was the brainchild of ATLP’s student leadership group – a collective of 40 students from across all partner schools – who strive to give children and young people access to enriching opportunities throughout their education, thanks to an ambitious calendar of events.

In June, young leaders helped to launch the Eco Pledge at Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce’s Royal Business Fair, while ATLP’s first inter-school football tournament kicked off at Stockland Green School’s new all-weather pitch. More than 200 children, parents and staff attended the third ATLP student awards ceremony at Sutton’s prestigious New Hall Hotel on July 2. This week also saw the return of another popular event when ATLP’s computing challenge saw whizz kids from all primaries go head to head for the third time.

More events are planned throughout this milestone year, as the respected multi-academy trust celebrates its ‘Decade of Difference’ – ten years of school-to-school support. The MAT has now branched out into Staffordshire, welcoming four schools from Tamworth and Lichfield into the family.

To mark its expansion into Staffordshire, Lichfield’s Whitemoor Lakes teamed up with the ATLP to give 150 students a day to remember. The centre is dedicated to supporting schools and groups, providing tailored packages from teambuilding days to residentials.

Matthew Whittaker, from Whitemoor Lakes, told the students:

This is a day of possibilities – let your imaginations run! At Whitemoor Lakes, we believe that every single young person is packed with potential and it’s our job to help release some of that. Dream big and think about what you can learn and take back into school and your lives.”

ATLP’s executive headteacher, Anna Balson, also attended the conference. She said:

What an incredible opportunity for so many of our children to come together to enjoy outdoor learning and fun. We’re so proud of these children and young people and their team spirit, creativity and ambition has come alive today. The ATLP would like to thank Whitemoor Lakes for providing such a fantastic facility with a spectacular backdrop, where our students can benefit from enriching extra-curricular experiences. Yousuf, one of our Brookvale pupils, said: ‘It’s the best day of my life, I feel like we are in paradise.’ and this sums up why we do this and the difference we can make to the lives of many.”