Lower Sixth Formers Thimon Wendelin and Luke Langridge have chosen to help teach pupils with special needs as part of their International Baccalaureates ‘Creativity Activity Service’ (CAS) programme.
The Grange Academy, Kempston, is a specialist school, which provides education for pupils aged 5 to 16 with a diverse range of educational needs. Luke is working with a primary school class and spent his first afternoon at the school helping young children with their numeracy skills by playing Uno. Thimon is working in the secondary school where he spent the afternoon organising and playing an impressively high standard game of basketball with the pupils.
Deputy Head Teacher Angela Morris said, “It was an absolute pleasure to have Luke and Thimon volunteering at Grange Academy. The pupils in both primary and secondary thoroughly enjoyed working with them and asked if they could come in every day! We are very much looking forward to working with them to see them gain in confidence and learn lots of new skills.”
Boys studying the International Baccalaureate volunteer in the community every Wednesday afternoon during the Lower Sixth. They head out into the local area in groups of two or three to spend two hours helping the community in some way. Their volunteering can be in the form of teaching, as in the case of Thimon and Luke, litter picking, conservation work or helping vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with disabilities.
Through these mutually beneficial partnerships, boys engage more fully with the world around them, learn about their local town and how to be responsible citizens within it. Additionally, as a school community, we are able to help play our part in supporting the good work done by many in Bedford, both educationally and socially.