Children and staff pledge to work together (From Bournemouth Echo)

Children and staff pledge to work together

8:00am Thursday 4th February 2010 in

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A “PLEDGE card” listing promises made between a school and its pupils is being launched in Poole.

The credit card-sized document will soon be carried by every pupil and staff member at Carter Community School.

On it is a list of 10 opportunities the school pledges to offer its pupils.

These include the chance to take part in a production or play, take part in a public event, go on an international educational visit and go to an artistic or sporting event at a major UK venue.

On the reverse of the card are 10 things the pupils must do to “make the school work for me”, including trying their best, attending every day, keeping healthy, completing work and not disrupting others.

The cards, which went out this month, are the brainchild of head teacher Robert Davies, who said the school is committed to giving pupils a wider educational experience beyond “exam results”.

He said the students’ response had been “fantastic”.

They had even suggested a pledge to “help others through community work” be included.

“Just giving out the card is going to be short lived,” added Mr Davies.

“What we have got to do is make sure it becomes embedded in what we do as a school.”

He said the school would monitor what opportunities had been offered to pupils as they progressed, and encourage them to take them up.

He added: “By putting it out in a very public domain, it is raising the stakes.

“This is something we absolutely believe in.”

The school is drawing on government monies being distributed by Borough of Poole through the Go for it Fund to help disadvantaged children take up opportunities such as clubs, foreign visits and day trips.

Mr Davies added: “The long-term impact is that attendance is better, their attitude is better and their focus on their studies is better. That is what we are starting to see.”