Staff and students at Cowes Enterprise College have marked the end of another incredible Key Stage 3 journey with a celebratory graduation ceremony for Year 9 students.
The event was the culmination of three years of work for the students on the academy’s unique personal development and enrichment curriculum, ‘The Cowes Charter’.
The academy is proud to offer a Charter curriculum which makes a measurable contribution to all aspects of its students’ lives including cultural capital, knowledge, skills, virtues, life skills, social and emotional development and breadth of experience. The focus on these attributes is part of the academy’s commitment to a mission to ‘educate for life’.
This curriculum also provides an in-depth opportunity for Cowes Enterprise College students to reflect on their own personal development and character. These activities range from attending clubs to participating in school trips or speaking confidently in front of a group of people about a relevant news topic.
At the end of Year 9, students are awarded with a bronze, silver or gold graduation badge and certificate to officially recognise that they have successfully transitioned and graduated to Key Stage 4, as part of an exciting ceremony which brings friends and peers together to applaud their achievements. The graduation is led by the student body, and chaired by sixth form students, giving the young learners the opportunity to highlight their successes across year groups.
Following the ceremony, the academy was pleased to welcome parents and carers of the Gold award achievers to the academy for a celebratory tea party and later, students enjoyed an afternoon at the UK Sailing Academy, taking part in a variety of water-based activities as a fun celebration to commemorate their successful achievements across their time in Key Stage 3.
The hard-working students are now getting ready to take their next steps in education, as they enter Year 10 together.
Rachel Kitley, Principal said: “We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication, commitment, and achievements. The Charter Graduation ceremony highlights their hard work and growth, and it is a joy to celebrate this milestone with their families. At Cowes Enterprise College, we are committed to our mission of educating for life, ensuring that every student develops the skills and experiences they need to thrive beyond the classroom.”