11th July 2018

Lancashire schools are first in country to win top Christian Aid Accreditation Award

TWO Lancashire primary schools have scored an impressive one-two as the first UK winners of a national award.

Wilson’s Endowed Church of England Primary School in the village of Over Kellet is the joint first school in the UK to receive the Christian Aid Global Neighbours Accreditation Award.

And following hard on their heels is Whittle-le-Woods Church of England Primary School.

Pictured right is staff and pupils of Over Kellet Wilsons Endowed Church of England Primary School and Whittle-le-Woods Church of England Primary School, they are joined by the Bishop of Burnley, The Rt Rev Philip North, Stephen Whittaker, Director of Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education and Ruth Platt, Lancashire Coordinator for Christian Aid during the presentation at the Diocesan Offices at Clayton House in Blackburn on July 9.

The two schools were presented with their awards by the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev Philip North.

Also present to congratulate the schools were Christian Aid’s area representative Ruth Platt, Diocesan Board of Education Director, Stephen Whittaker and Diocesan Primary Schools and Academies Adviser, Lisa Horobin.

Listen here until August 12, 2018 for reports about the awards which were broadcast on BBC Radio Lancashire: https://bbc.in/2NSH04J at about 1h 50m and 2h 50m. 

Children from Over Kellet were accompanied by Headteacher, Jo Williams, and the delegation of pupils from Whittle-le-Woods was accompanied by Headteacher, Deborah Metcalfe, and Deputy Head, Jackie Haughin.

Global Neighbours is a Christian Aid initiative that supports, recognises and celebrates all that primary schools in England are doing to provide good global education. The Global Neighbours accreditation scheme is verified by the Church of England Education Office and has three levels - bronze, silver and gold.

To achieve accreditation, schools have to demonstrate how they are fulfilling criteria relating to learning, spirituality and worship, pupil participation in active global citizenship, community engagement and school leadership.

As well as the recognition attached to gaining accreditation status, the scheme also helps schools fulfil the Church of England’s vision of education that is deeply Christian and serving the common good.

In addition, by helping children claim their voice as global citizens, participation in the scheme helps church schools develop and showcase their work in encouraging their pupils to become courageous advocates.

Wilson’s Headteacher, Jo Williams, said: “I am thrilled that Wilson's Endowed CE School in Over Kellet has achieved the Bronze Global Neighbours' Award. We are even more excited to be the first in the country to gain this meaningful accolade!

“It would be so easy for the pupils at our school to be cocooned in a rural bubble, removed from the wider world. Whilst wishing to maintain all that is wonderful about childhood, I feel that this would be a disservice to our pupils.

“Also as a church school we have a duty for our children to have a realistic view of the world and give them the opportunity to become global citizens and have the confidence and skills to make their world a better place now and in the future.

“The Christian Aid Global Neighbours' Award provides a structured outline supporting schools in achieving this aim.”

Whittle-le-Woods Headteacher, Deborah Metcalfe, added: “We are very pleased to gain this accreditation from Christian Aid and we now hope to use it as a platform on which to build further.

“For some time now we have been keen to encourage our children to be proactive about their place in the world; to think independently and be ‘world citizens’ who make a difference – especially to people who don’t have what we have in this country.”

Speaking on behalf of Blackburn Diocese, Bishop Philip commented: “For one of our schools to receive the very first Christian Aid Global Neighbours' Accreditation Award from Christian Aid would be amazing – but for two of our schools to be the joint first winners is truly incredible.

“My congratulations go to both schools; their teachers and their pupils, for the hard work they have put in to achieve this milestone. I hope this encourages more of our schools to go for the same award – as well as schools in other Dioceses across the Country.”

Mark Ashley
11/07/2018