ATLP students lead the way in connecting schools

More than 60 children and staff from the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership met at Stockland Green School last week to launch the ATLP Student Leadership Team’s activities for the academic year.

The team – now entering its fourth year – brings together students from all partner ATLP academies to lead an engaging and ambitious programme of events and opportunities for all students across the partnership.

The dynamic young leaders represent the student voice and help shape the future direction of the learning partnership. The group leads on a number of projects to further enhance the pupil experience and encourage greater collaboration across the wider community.

The 27 November meeting was attended by students and staff from 12 primary and secondary academies:  Birmingham’s Arthur Terry, Brookvale, Hill West, Mere Green, Slade and Stockland Green schools. North Warwickshire’s Coleshill and Curdworth schools, and Staffordshire’s Nether Stowe, Scotch Orchard, Two Gates and William MacGregor schools.

Students worked in different groups to deliver a raft of ideas for future events and activities, aligned to the team’s core aims and visions about empowering children to make positive change towards teaching and learning and mental health and wellbeing, with core themes of sustainability, enterprise and community engagement. Suggestions included food bank donations, a ‘switch off’ day and an ATLP talent show.

Deputy headteacher and project co-ordinator, Rebecca Goode (pictured below left with Stockland Green teaching assistant Sally Haynes and children from the school), said:

It’s fantastic to welcome back the ATLP student leadership team and they’ve started as they mean to go on! This is an incredible group of young people who are brimming with ideas and enthusiasm and I am proud of the contribution they are making to school life. We want to empower children and young people and give them access to a wide range of experiences and leadership responsibilities, so that they can grow in confidence, form lasting friendships and develop a range of skills that extend beyond the classroom.

The ATLP family believes in equality of opportunity – together, we can create a greater impact across schools and communities. Our partnership wide events enable our students to participate in a range of enriching events and activities that will stay with them forever.”

Since its inception in 2016, the ATLP student leadership group has successfully organised a number of ATLP events, including an inter-school football tournament, student awards ceremonies and last year’s inaugural ATLP student conference.

ATLP already runs a range of initiatives designed to provide students with a wide range of learning and extra-curricular opportunities, such as wellbeing events, the Rights Respecting Schools programme and Eco Schools.

The student leadership team hold senior positions at their schools on student bodies such as ‘Pupil Voice’. They have been selected for their leadership qualities and their ability to inspire others in school.

Year 9 Stockland Green student, ambassador and wellbeing leader, Heesha, was on the original student leadership group. She has inspired pupils from her former ATLP primary school, Brookvale, including her brother Laksh, who has just entered his second year on the team.

Heesha said:

I’ve really enjoyed being part of this team and taking part in all the different activities. It’s great to get to know children from other schools and to work with them to create lots of exciting events for all students.”

Another Stockland Green student, Danyal Kasar, was also part of the original leadership team when he was at ATLP’s Slade Primary School. He’s returned this year and is excited about the plans for the coming year.

He said:

It’s nice to bring all the students together and now even more schools are coming together so there is a great mix of people on the team.”

His team mates and fellow Stockland Green pupils, Kaid Dhalia-Parsons and Charlie O’Neill, are in agreement.

Kaid (pictured centre) said:

There are so many great ideas, such as our enterprise event which brings everybody together.”

Charlie added:

It’s definitely beneficial and develops core skills, such as leadership and team work.”

More on the day in this video: https://youtu.be/QEYvVMmDmvw