Twenty-five students from the newly formed Elland Academy have learnt about the importance of remembrance this week, thanks to an education charity that draws on the values of ex-Forces personnel.
The students learnt about conflicts in the past, reflected on those who lost their lives, and made poppies which were laid at the Leeds Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday (9 November 2014).
The work was led by SkillForce, a charity that uses the values of ex-Servicemen and women to inspire young people in schools. Yorkshire-based Instructor Mikey Wallis said:
“The students knew about past conflicts, but the majority could only relate it to through a computer game! They did brilliantly, stopping to reflect on what we were learning. The group put themselves in others’ shoes and talked about courage and loyalty.
“Then the whole class planned and created a poppy wreath. Although the task seemed simple, it needed teamwork and perseverance for the students to complete it. With some coaching the group produced fantastic poppies.”
Before Remembrance Sunday, 25 students aged between 12 & 15 collated the poppies and mounted them on a wreath.
Student Ben Commons, aged 14, said: “This is brilliant. I’ve really liked making this. It is really special that what we have made will go to the Leeds Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.”
Mikey, who served in the British Army for 23 years added: “I was honoured to lay the students’ wreath which really stood out among the rest.”
The charity’s trained instructors use the SkillForce Way (a set of values and skills inspired by service in the Armed Forces) to engage young people from ages 9-19 years, improve attendance and behaviour, and lift aspirations and levels of achievement.
Elland Academy is a new Free School based on Geldard Road. Run by the School Partnership Trust Academies which operates The South Leeds Academy, Elland Academy offers an alternative curriculum for children aged 3-19 years.
Omg I was in the newspaper