Pupils from Park Spring Primary received certificates from Leeds Rhinos Foundation Project Officer Adam Lunn and invited council guests last week as part of a special celebration event during the school’s morning assembly.
The year 1 pupils were the first to complete the attendance ambassador project delivered by Leeds Rhinos Foundation in partnership with Leeds City Council, which covers 6 weeks of delivery aimed at improving attendance numbers in schools across the city.
The ‘Attend and Achieve’ programme encourages pupils to understand the importance of school to young people’s futures, with a programme designed to help redress the number of pupils becoming disengaged with their education, and to put them back on the path to academic achievement through the use of designated ambassadors.
As part of the celebration event, the pupils were joined on stage by Councillors Josie Jarosz and Mick Coulson along with Leeds Rhinos mascot Ronnie the Rhino to celebrate their achievements on the programme.
Headteacher at Park Spring Primary, Rachel Horan said:
“The children that were identified for the attendance programme really enjoyed their weekly sessions with Adam and the impact of the programme has been that the majority of the children's attendance has improved.
“It was lovely to see the children celebrating their achievement in a whole school assembly which parents had been invited to. Over the past couple of years the school has regularly participated in Leeds Rhinos attendance programme in order to improve individual pupil’s attendance. They have always been a great success.”
Project Tutor for Leeds Rhinos Foundation Adam Lunn added:
"We have worked through a number of different themes over the last 6 weeks around making friends and getting to know people, understanding the importance of good attendance, healthy lifestyles, building relationships, staying safe and understanding emotions which the group have really enjoyed. It's pleasing to see that the programme has had an impact already, so long may it continue.
"I'd like to thank Park Spring for inviting me to work with them this term and look forward to offering the programme to more schools next year."
For more details on the Attend and Achieve programme contact Adam.Lunn@leedsrhinosfoundation.org