Warwickshire children 'graduate' and meet their local explorer at the University of Warwick

On the evening of Friday 25 November, over 200 children from 11 schools across Warwickshire ‘donned their caps and gowns’ to celebrate their achievements watched by their families, at a graduation ceremony with a difference.

At this special event, the children met Mark Wood, Explorer/Speaker/Educator who went to school just down the road in Coventry. Mark is busy planning his next adventure taking 1,000,000 children up Mount Everest through Skype for Schools and Microsoft.

Mission8848 will help enrich the curriculum in the schools who have signed up to be part of this ‘extreme classroom’.

The audience were spell bound by Mark talking about his explorations, life aspirations and thoughts on global warming.

The children also experienced the brand-new building at the University of Warwick called ‘The Oculus’, dedicated completely to teaching with two large state-of-the-art tiered lecture theatres and flexible teaching spaces. The Outreach team at the University of Warwick are committed to raising aspirations in young children and their Warwick Ambassadors had the chance to talk to the children about their life choices whilst ensuring everything ran smoothly.

The children received their awards from the Chief Executive of Children’s University, Helen O’Donnell together with Mark Wood. The children graduated, having voluntarily completed a wide range of extra-curricular activities that have earned them the privilege of receiving their Children’s University Award.

Schools attended from the north to the south of the county with the youngest from Whitestone Infant School to the eldest at The Coleshill School. The other schools attending were Abbots Farm Junior School, Bidford on Avon Primary School, Cawston Grange Primary School, Eastlands Primary School, Michael Drayton Junior School, Middlemarch Primary School, Stockingford Primary School, Wembrook Primary School and Woodloes Junior School.

Also graduating were some Looked After Children who attended ‘The Great Children’s     University Adventure’ delivered by the University of Warwick earlier this year. They were supported on the night by Steve Pendleton, Head of Vulnerable Groups and the Virtual School whose team had organised this special activity.

The Children’s University is a charity that works in partnership with schools to develop a love of learning in children aged 5 – 14 years old. We do this by encouraging and celebrating participation in extracurricular activities in and outside of school. The impact of these activities is proven to be positive which is why we're committed to creating a level playing  field of opportunity and opening access to children of all backgrounds.

Carolyn Lloyd, Coventry Children’s University Manager said, “This graduation ceremony was both aspirational and an unforgettable experience for these children. Not only did they receive their awards in this incredible new building on campus but also learnt about global issues which affect their futures.”

Mark Wood, said:

‘As a Coventrian who has worked in the very extremes of our planet I am proud to venture home and support such an inspiring educational organisation’. 

Helen O’Donnell, Chief Executive of Children’s University Trust said “

“One of the highlights of my job is meeting children and their families at Children’s University Graduations. It’s a chance for children to get recognised for all they do, and a great reminder as to why I love my job. Children’s University works with over 1,000 schools, and the children of Warwickshire Children’s University are a shining example of why.”