OPA Park Hill Works With Community Figures To Launch Diploma

Children at Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill have had help launching their new diploma with the help of local community figures, including local MP Imran Ahmad Khan.

The work is focussed around the theme ‘Being a good British and International Citizen’ and the diploma was launched with a virtual assembly that included input from influential members of the community.

During the assembly, the Wakefield MP spoke about what being a good citizen means to him and after he said: “I was pleased to be able to address the pupils of Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill via video on the launch of their pupil diploma focus for this half term. 

“It is extremely important that children are taught about British values, including democracy, the rule of law, respect and tolerance, and I’m pleased that the primary academy are including this topic so heavily in their curriculum.”

As part of the diploma, the children at Irwin Crescent-based primary academy have been learning about Black History Month as part of their work and took part in a virtual debate, hosted by the Mayor of Wakefield.

Councillor Charles Keith chaired the debate from the Council’s Chambers as the children debated whether statutes of those with links to the slave trade should be kept or removed. 

After well-researched and nuanced arguments put forward by both sides, a unanimous decision was made that if statues caused offence they should be removed, but put in a museum or sculpture park and used an education all to help people of today understand the past.

In addition to this, members of the Leeds United Foundation will attend the academy in recent weeks to deliver a kick racism out of football workshop.

Alyson Million, Principal at Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill, said:

“Despite all the uncertainty that we currently are living with, the children have been working tremendously hard this term and have shown a fantastic attitude to their learning.

“The work has involved children from all year groups interacting virtually with members of the community to learn more about how to be a good citizen. I have been so proud of how they’ve interacted with different people, being respectful and polite.

“At Outwood we believe in putting children first and this goes beyond just academically. We want to ensure the children we teach are supported to be good citizens who are assets to the community, as well as being supported to achieve academically.”

As part of the diploma, the children at Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill have also worked with a local care home to spread kindness through postcards and held a video call with the local RSPCA branch to discuss animal welfare and compassion towards animals and local wildlife conservation.

The academy’s sponsor, Outwood Grange Academies Trust, recently won a Silver Award in The Award for Impact through Partnership at the Pearson Teaching Awards and the focus of the award was the Outwood Primary Diploma.

Alyson added:

“We were delighted with our recent success as it recognises that the diploma is designed to provide opportunities for all children to access high quality opportunities that develop life skills and qualities.”