Our Children’s University Philosophy at Queen’s Park Primary School
Our vision
At Queen’s Park Primary School, we seek to offer opportunities for our children to engage in extra-curricular activities. The Children’s University is designed to:
- Raise aspiration, self-esteem & confidence
- Encourage curiosity and a love of learning
- Enhance motivation and build resilience
- Introduce new life experiences
- Offer progression in learning and personal skills development
Why Queen’s Park Primary and the Children’s University?
- We understand the need to inspire, challenge, and empower children. We look for opportunities for our children to gain further experiences to enrich their learning. By joining the Children’s University, we ensure all children have access to extracurricular learning, culminating in rewards such as a University graduation.
- We want to raise the aspirations of our children and help them understand that University is accessible to everyone. We aim to enrich their learning through partnerships with Universities, local places of interest, after-school clubs hosted across a range of schools, and workshops provided by local businesses.
What is the impact of Children’s University?
- Attendance: Children who participate in CU activities tend to have better attendance records than those who do not. This has been consistently observed from 2007 to the present.
- Attainment: CU-engaged children often attain higher results than their non-CU peers, with a positive correlation between time spent in CU activities and performance in tests and exams.
- Achievement: CU Trust’s growth and outreach over five years showcase its success.
- Attitudes: Positive changes in attitudes among CU attendees have been a consistent finding over the past five years.
- Adventure: Overcoming challenges and taking on ambitious tasks fosters determination and perseverance.
- Awards: CU awards excite parents and children, highlighting the joy of learning in new ways and contexts. Passports play a significant role.
- Agency: CU acts as an agent of change, inspiring innovation and altering perceptions of learning.
- Aspiration: CU extends horizons by introducing children to new contexts and opportunities, such as visiting universities.
- Adaptability: CU encourages adaptability among children, teachers, schools, and the educational system.
- Advocacy: CU’s international appeal demonstrates its relevance and success in other countries.
Partnerships
We engage with businesses, charities, volunteers, and authors to provide enriching experiences for our children. These partnerships support all 22 schools in the Westminster Children’s University Network and enhance opportunities within and beyond the school curriculum.
Our partnership with the University of Westminster provides on-campus activities, volunteer mini-lectures, and additional support for the STEM elements of our curriculum.
Parents
We support parents in building the confidence to access activities across Westminster. We encourage their engagement in extracurricular opportunities, including visits to sporting events, social action activities, and other enriching experiences.