PLEDGES: Beyond the Classroom
Ely College is committed to providing all students with a wide range of additional opportunities and experiences which will develop self-confidence, life skills and leadership experiences and we are very proud of the wide variety of after school clubs and activities that take place outside of the classroom.
We want, and expect, all students to participate in at least one after school club as part of the PLEDGES Programme so that they can benefit from the skills and personal qualities that these clubs and activities help to develop.
PLEDGES Programme
We believe in an all-round education where ‘every child develops self-confidence, life-skills and leadership experiences’.
We have developed and invested in a simple but broad set of Academy PLEDGES that students are expected to complete during the course of their time at the school, at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels:
- Participation Pledge
- Leadership Pledge
- Excellence Pledge
- Diversity pledge
- Giving Pledge
- Environmental Pledge
- Service Pledge
PLEDGES is an awards system which offers students a range of character building opportunities that enhance their learning and development.
The PLEDGES system aims to encourage and support many important qualities in students such as leadership, citizenship, moral purpose, sense of community and collective responsibility. Many of the PLEDGES criteria have at their core the British Values of; Democracy, The rule of law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance.
To ensure all pupils gain their awards they will be supported through school activities and tutor discussion, but the onus is on the pupil to ensure all sections of the PLEDGES are complete. Parents will be made aware of their child’s progress through the regular written reporting cycle. Student can now access their PLEDGES record through their form group on TEAMS.
We are delighted to announce the launch of Platinum PLEGDES.
The Platinum PLEDGES Award is an extension of our PLEDGES award. To attain the Platinum PLEDGES Award pupils must complete three PLEDGES ambassadorial activities, outside of school, that demonstrate a continued and significant commitment to our PLEDGES values. Take a look at the Ambassador Booklet to be completed below. Upon completion of each ambassadorial activity, pupils will be awarded a PLEDGES ambassadorial shield. Once all three ambassador activities are successfully completed, pupils will receive their Platinum PLEDGES Award.
Thank you also to all pupils who took the opportunity to vote for the inscription on the Platinum PLEDGES badge. The winning text, with 63% of the votes, is:
Non Ducor, Duco - I Am Not Led, I Lead
PLEDGES Days
For these days pupils are off timetable and are provided with the opportunity to work towards achieving their PLEDGES or broadening their experiences and work towards their future and careers. Our PLEDGES days enable students to take part in a variety of activities, both on and off school site, and outside providers are also invited into school to support the students' experiences. Some examples of activities which students have previously undertaken are:
- Jobs, careers and skills workshops
- Entrepreneurship and enterprise research and;
- The National Enterprise Challenge
- Dragon's Den style pitches
- Focus on personal finances and economic wellbeing
- Preparing for higher education
- Work Readiness including interview techniques
- Question Time with local MP
- Citizenship, Diversity and Prejudices
- British values, including voting, suffrage, migration and identity