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Children's University graduation to be held at University of Leicester

Degree ceremony for young people who undertook out-of-school learning opportunities

Issued on 23 June 2009

Seventy-one Leicester youngsters between the ages of 8 and 14 years, who have been taking part in The Children's University™ through the Samworth Enterprise Academy are to graduate on Monday 29th June in a ceremony at the University of Leicester.

The young people, who all have 30 or more hours of out-of-school learning, will be graduating in cap and gowns and there will be a commemorative photograph taken of the event.

Assistant Principal, Libby Wigginton, commented: “We are really excited that we can hold the Leicester Children’s University graduation at the University of Leicester.

“Leicester Children’s University is based at the Samworth Enterprise Academy and offers out-of-school learning opportunities to the children at the Academy and throughout the wider community.

“Children who attend The Children's University™ can achieve additional learning hours at the Academy and other accredited learning venues across the City and in some national venues. All the additional learning is done on a voluntary basis and can be carried out after school and in the school holidays.

“The Children's University™ offers learning in any topic, as long as it is linked to a course that is on offer at a university. This gives us an opportunity to offer a wide range of topics.

“There are three levels of award depending on the amount of out-of-school learning the participants have done: Bronze (30 hours), Silver (60 hours) and Gold (100 hours). We are very proud of all the children who have achieved their Bronze and Silver Awards, but we are especially proud of Sam Gonouya, who has attended 100 additional learning hours during the Autumn and Spring Terms this academic year, and will receive her Gold Award. This has taken a lot of commitment and enthusiasm.”

Amanda Swift, Widening Participation & Outreach Co-ordinator at the University of Leicester said: “We are very pleased to host this event. The University has close links with the Samworth Academy, and The Children's University™ graduation reinforces our links with the local community and helps to encourage the aspirations of young people and demystifies university for them.”

Ger Graus, Chief Executive of The Children's University™, Richard Bruccianni, Chair of Governors, and Pat Dubas, Principal of the Samworth Enterprise Academy will be attending the event, as will the University of Leicester Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Ian Postlethwaite.

The Children's University™ is a national organisation encouraging learning outside normal school hours, providing 7-14 year olds with high-quality, exciting and innovative learning opportunities. Participation and achievement are rewarded with certificates.

In the UK it began in Birmingham in the early 1990s and has since spread across the country. Its national head office is based at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

The Samworth Enterprise Academy is the Leicester centre for the organisation.

The Children's University™ Graduation takes place on Monday 29th June at 6.30pm in Lecture Theatre 2 in the Ken Edwards Building on the University’s main campus.

In addition, 21 youngsters from Year 4 at the Samworth Academy will be graduating on 29th June at Uppingham School, Rutland, where they will be on their Year 4 Transition residential.

Sixty-seven children under 8 years will also receive Graduation Certificates during Celebration Assembly at the Samworth Enterprise Academy.

Notes to Editors: For more information on The Children's University™ please see: http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/about-us/

And for more information on the Samworth Enterprise Academy please see: http://www.samworthenterpriseacademy.org/Pages/Home.aspx

Other details are available as follows:

University of Leicester:

Amanda Swift, Widening Participation & Outreach Co-ordinator

Tel 0116 252 5349, email ams62@le.ac.uk

Samworth Enterprise Academy:

Libby Wigginton, Assistant Principal

Tel 0116 278 0232, email Libby.Wigginton@samworthenterpriseacademy.org