Glen Park Primary School

What is Children’s University?

The Children's University is a national organisation offering children aged 5-14 an exciting and innovative programme of high quality learning opportunities outside school hours, with a focus on rewarding participation, raising aspirations and encouraging engagement with learning. Children's University provision is delivered outside school hours, at weekends and in the holidays.

There are currently over 90 local Children’s Universities across the UK, this includes Plymouth

Children are all given their own “Passport to Learning” in which they are encouraged to collect hours of learning towards nationally recognised awards for between 30, and 1000 hours of learning. There are currently over 5000 children who attend Children’s University events.

Where can Children use their passports?

At validated ‘Learning Destinations’. All school clubs have been validated as well as a number of public destinations such as Plymouth District Scouts, City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth Youth Music Service, The Ski Centre, local libraries or the Mountbatten Watersports Centre. All these Destinations have been checked for quality by a team of nationally trained validators. Passports can now be purchased from the school office for a cost of £3.00. In order for children to collect hours of learning their passports will need to be validated on a regular basis by a Children’s University Coordinator. At Glen Park Primary this will be Mrs Croft and she will be collecting in passports for validation for the first time on Friday 18th March. Please do not send your child’s passport into school before this date.

There are currently over 90 local Children’s Universities across the UK, this includes Plymouth

Children are all given their own “Passport to Learning” in which they are encouraged to collect hours of learning towards nationally recognised awards for between 30, and 1000 hours of learning. We currently have over 5000 children who attend Children’s University events. More and more venues across Plymouth are becoming Learning Destinations.

How does it work?

Once they become members of the Children’s University, children are encouraged to progress through the national certification scheme, based on their number of hours of attendance throughout their involvement with the Children’s University. Bronze, silver and gold certificates are awarded at CU Undergraduate, CU Postgraduate and CU Doctorate levels, rewarding participation in CU learning from 30 to 1000 hours. Honorary certificates are also awarded for outstanding achievement and commitment.

What are the benefits?

The 2010 national evaluation undertaken by Cambridge University found that

Being in the Children’s University significantly improves school attendance
Achievement is significantly better at Key Stages 1 to 3 for children who participate in Children’s University compared with non-attenders.
The further children engage with Children’s University, the better their attendance and achievement.
Children’s University provides an environment for self-driven, confident and collegial learning.
Children’s University provides a safe haven and models positive relationships.
Pupils and teachers testify to life changing experiences.
‘Opportunity costs’ are high for children in disadvantaged areas who do not attend Children’s University.
Certificates, credits, Passports To Learning and graduations are valued incentives and rewards.
University settings help to inspire and raise aspirations for children, and their parents.
Children’s University has helped to “make learning a reality beyond academic studies.”