In November, as part of the Pursuit of Excellence at AKS (PEAKS), Jess Grant (Head of Year 8) launched a social action project with Year 8 students through the United Learning Social Action Programme. The initiative is delivered in partnership with United Learning, the University of Oxford, and the Carbon Neutral and Communities teams.
Applications were open to all Year 8 students who wished to take part. Students selected for the project demonstrated qualities such as initiative, organisation, confidence in leading others, collaboration and commitment. The successful applicants formed a small project team tasked with exploring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and working together to design and deliver a social action initiative that would benefit the school or the wider community.
Throughout the project, students developed key skills in leadership, teamwork, communication and problem-solving while contributing positively to an issue they care about.
The group chose to focus their project on improving the ecosystem at Fairhaven Lake in St Annes, just a short walk from the school. During their initial visit, students identified environmental concerns in the Japanese Garden area, including stagnant water, a build-up of deposits and litter. Over the course of the project, the students committed to regular planning meetings and practical sessions at Fairhaven Lake, working with local partners to begin addressing these issues.
On Thursday, the students demonstrated their growing confidence and oracy skills as they presented their project to fellow students during Lower School Assembly. The presentation formed part of their final preparations ahead of the Celebration Event that took place last Friday at St Anne’s College, University of Oxford, where they showcased their work alongside students from across the United Learning network.