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Community Education plays a very important
part in the curriculum of the school. We have developed over
the last few years a community dimension which has been commended
by H.M.I. and which is arguably one of the most comprehensive
and successful in the whole of Welsh education.
We believe the opportunity to be of service to others is a
basic right. By observation and reflection on experience,
pupils assess not only their strengths and weaknesses, but
also a value system of attitudes, beliefs and motives in the
wider context of ultimate values. Time after time it has been
shown that the experience of being responsible in a situation
where others are dependent on them brings out the best in
self-discipline and reliability in students.
The work is based on five units:-
(a) The Elderly
(b) The Young
(c) The Handicapped
(d) Helping Individuals
(e) Environmental Issues
Depending upon the choice of unit, pupils are given a detailed
information pack which helps them to deal more comfortably
with the demands of the unit choice. Each pupil engaged on
Community Service has his or her own Community File.
The school has a high commitment to community education but
timetable restrictions limit involvement to only Years Eleven
and Twelve pupils only.
Special projects enable all pupils in the school to involve
themselves in Community Service irrespective of which year
they are in. It also makes them aware of the Community Service
Programme and of the high involvement that the school has
in the town of Holywell and its surrounding districts. A whole
school approach is also adopted in answering National Appeals.
We have had close co-operation with the History department
for many years. Old people are a valuable source of information
particularly about the local environment and each year we
tape conversations with them about 'Old Holywell'.
The Music department plays a very important part in the work
of the Community Education aspect. At Christmas, in particular,
carol services are held at local hospitals and old peoples'
homes. Similarly when there are concerts or major operatic
productions taking place in school we always bus in elderly
people.
Such has been the high calibre of the community dimension
over the years that it is little wonder that we have been
the recipients of several major community awards.
The high profile given to Community Education is further emphasised
at Prize-Giving held at the end of the school year. Every
year a cup is presented to the boy and girl who have proved
themselves over the course of the year to have made a positive
and lasting contribution to the local community.
Merit Awards are presented to all pupils who have, in the
opinion of the Community Tutor, made a satisfactory contribution
to this curriculum area.
MAJOR COMMUNITY AWARD WINNERS
Such has been the high calibre of the community dimension
over the years that it is little wonder that we have been
the recipients of several major community awards.
The High Street Banks, in particular, are keenly interested
in community work in schools. The National Westminster run
their 'Project Respond' and Barclays likewise run a similar
award entitled 'Youth in Action'. We have entered the Nat.West
competition for the last five years, finishing second on two
occasions and third on three occasions. Since competition
is fierce involving all schools with a community dimension
in North and Mid Wales, it really is a great achievement to
have been in the top three for so long.
In 1989, however, we really hit the community jackpot, when,
under Barclays 'Youth in Action Award', we received a sum
of £4,000 for a project in the Pen-Y-Maes area of the
town. This project involved landscaping the gardens of elderly
people living in sheltered accommodation, providing garden
seats, outside lighting, door chains and spy holes. This amount
of money was at the time the highest amount awarded by Barclays
to any school in the country.
In 1990 the Co-operative Retail Society introduced a 'Schools
Community Award' and we were delighted to be selected as the
first school to win their award making Holywell the top Community
school in North Wales.
In the same competition we were placed second in 1991. We
have over the years received many such awards and accompanying
prize money in recognition of the quality of our work. Awards
and monies have been received from the Clwyd Voluntary Services
Trust, the Prince of Wales Trust and the Julian Melchett Trust
which was set up following the closure of much of Shotton
Steel Works.
Top awards such as those listed here are not given unless
the quality of input is exceptional. They are therefore substantial
proof that we in Holywell have in existence one of the finest
Community Education Programmes in the whole of Wales and possibly,
on the basis of the Barclays Award, in Great Britain too.
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