Rawlins News

Working in Partnership

A large school and a small village do not immediately make for easy neighbours. Schools are one sort of institution - and there are several others - which householders would not always wish to have on their doorstep.

For some while now we have been taking positive steps to strengthen the relationship between Rawlins and the village and to maximise the benefits for both communities. This work is channelled through our Village Liaison Group, which brings together representatives of the Parish Council and college staff and governors. The Group also provides a springboard for wider consultation with village groups and individuals, including local shopkeepers and the police.

The Group felt that it would be helpful to set out precisely what we see as the challenges and what it is that we are trying to achieve. The result is our "Working in Partnership" statement, which appears alongside this article. How are we trying to turn these fine words into deeds?

Our basic approach is to create as many opportunities for positive engagement between our students and the village as possible. Over the past year there have been several very encouraging developments. The college is regularly invited to participate in, and to contribute to, local events, ranging from the Jubilee celebrations to the Quorn Beer Festival, and we are always delighted to take part. Specific initiatives have included a much appreciated project to provide hanging baskets for local retailers and a scheme to create a garden in the churchyard.

We believe that, if our students are directly working to improve the village, they are far more likely to treat it well. There have been other special moments, such as the occasion during our recent Fun Run when two of our students went to the assistance of a local resident who had just suffered a diabetic attack. And as, arguably, Leicestershire's most successful community college, we offer a wonderful array of opportunities for people of all ages and persuasions across the whole community. We know how much this is appreciated from the support which we have received in the current debate about the future of community education in the county.

Rawlins is proud to be a comprehensive school and to take on the challenges of this role in order to provide what I believe is the best possible educational grounding for tomorrow's citizens. Of course, this includes working across the full range of society, and we are not immune to the woes and trends which face society in general, including truancy and anti-social behaviour. We give very clear messages to our students about our expectations of them in the village, but we can be desperately frustrated and disappointed by a small but significant minority of our students and we will always take all possible steps to identify and punish students who cause problems in the village. As teachers, we never let the depressing antics of the few blind us to the wonderful qualities of the great majority of our students, with whom it is a delight and a privilege to work, and we earnestly hope that our efforts in partnership with the village will ensure that everyone in the village will share this view.

David Brindley, Principal

Rawlins Community College and the village of Quorn

Working in Partnership

Rawlins Community College and the village of Quorn coexist in a relatively small area and are extremely important to each other. Through the school and its community programme, the college offers lifelong learning, and access to facilities and resources to local residents on their doorstep. Local residents and businesses provide opportunities and resources for the college and its students.

The college and the village seek to be good neighbours so as to maximise the benefits of their situation and to minimise problems which may arise. To support this, there is a Liaison Group which includes representatives of both the village and the college. The aims of this group are to ensure a positive, active and fruitful relationship between the college and the village and to address promptly any concerns. The Liaison Group is keen to receive ideas, offers, suggestions and complaints from anyone sharing its aims.

In pursuit of these shared aims, the college will:

- work with the local community to provide an accessible programme of educational, social and recreational activities which is responsive to local needs
- take part in village initiatives and events whenever possible
- involve students in projects to enhance the village environment
- provide a warm welcome for local residents and businesses to discuss mutual concerns
- notify the Parish Council of any college plans which may impact on the village
- ensure that all students, and parents, understand the importance of good relations with the village
- set out clear expectations for student behaviour in the village
- encourage students to respect special events and areas in the village
- follow up incidents and concerns reported to it
- liaise, as necessary, with the Parish and Borough Councils, the police and parents
To support these shared aims, the Parish Council, on behalf of the village, will :
- support and promote the college as a valued local resource and share in its successes and achievements
- seek to involve students in village initiatives to promote a sense of belonging
- work in partnership with the college in developing opportunities for mutual benefit and addressing problems of mutual concern
-welcome proposals from the college for further steps to strengthen the college-village relationship
- liaise with local people and businesses in order to help resolve any difficulties which may arise
- collaborate in efforts to reduce litter, including the adequate provision and regular emptying of litter bins

Rawlins Community College wins Artworks: Young Artist of the Year Award

Rawlins Community College has scooped a prestigious award in this year's Artworks: Young Artist of the Year Awards, which were set up to recognise inspirational teaching and learning in Art and Design in schools. Over 39,000 children from 500 schools across the country entered.

Rawlins won in the 'Working with Resources' category with a project devised by Terri Broughton, Head of Art at Rawlins. The project was based on the theme of identity and was exhibited locally under the title 'The World Begins with Me' with help from Charnwood Borough Council and Barrow Frames, Loughborough. The project focused on the struggles that young people have during adolescence and their interactions with others.

Arts College Status enabled Terri, along with Artist in Residence, Paul Gent, to work in 11 local Charnwood primary and high schools as part of the Identity project, enabling people aged from 5-18 to take part. Adults also participated.

Rhiannon Mollart (17) and Vicky Jones (18) have been selected to receive motivated pupil recognition for their work relating to the project. Rhiannon commented that. 'The project provided a fantastic opportunity to produce some extremely expressive and personal artwork. I felt extremely proud to be nominated and receiving the motivated pupil award is a real honour." Vicky felt that it was, 'Amazing to produce something that is just for you about you. It was a success because I get something from the final work.'

Terri feels very proud of all the students involved and said that, 'If students are given opportunities to explore and question what they believe…they may be far more likely to understand themselves and make informed decisions about interactions in a social context.'

The school collected £2,000 in prize money for the Art Department and a signed print from world famous artist, Anish Kapoor, at the awards ceremony in June on National Children's Art Day at Tate Modern, London.

David Brindley expressed his support of Terri and her team when he reflected on the project that, '…this award is a richly deserved reflection of the quality of educational experience which has been achieved."

Images from the exhibition can be seen at Charnwood Arts Community & Media on-line centre's webWORKS gallery at www.charnwood-arts.org.uk and as part of Artworks
www.art-works.org.uk