What is it?
The Children’s University is a national organisation offering children aged 5-14 an exciting and innovative programme of high quality learning opportunities outside school hours, with a focus on rewarding participation, raising aspirations and encouraging engagement with learning. Children’s University provision is delivered outside school hours, at weekends and in the holidays.
There are currently over 90 local Children’s Universities across the UK, this includes Plymouth
Children are all given their own “Passport to Learning” in which they are encouraged to collect hours of learning towards nationally recognised awards for between 30, and 1000 hours of learning. We currently have over 5000 children who attend Children’s University events
Where can Children use their passports?
At validated ‘Learning Destinations’, these may be clubs at school or more public destinations such as Plymouth District Scouts, City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth Youth Music Service,The Ski Centre, local libraries or the Mountbatten Watersports Centre. All these Destinations have been checked for quality by a team of nationally trained validators and will display the following logo.
More and more venues across Plymouth are becoming Learning Destinations
Passports are available from school or from some Learning Destinations
Who is it for?
The Children’s University is aimed at 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities.
How does it work?
Once children become members of the Children’s University they are encouraged to progress through the national certification scheme, based on their number of hours of attendance throughout their involvement with the Children’s University. Bronze, silver and gold certificates are awarded at CU Undergraduate, CU Postgraduate and CU Doctorate levels, rewarding participation in CU learning from 30 to 1000 hours. Honorary certificates are also awarded for outstanding achievement and commitment.
We are working closely with Plymouth University and every year we will work with them to provide a formal graduation ceremony for young people when they have participated in 100 or more hours of learning.
Children’s Lectures
Children’s University lectures on the life of insects and insect model making hosted by the University of Plymouth proved popular with children and parents alike. Arctic explorer Antony Jinman’s recent Children’s University lecture was also a great success. Antony has become chancellor of Plymouth Children’s University and he attended the 2010 National Children’s University conference. To find out more about this, go to Antony’s website www.antonyjinman.com
Plymouth Children’s University will continue to organise additional FREE evening lectures in partnership with leading providers. Information about these will be sent schools and will be posted on our local website
What are the benefits?
The 2010 national evaluation undertaken by Cambridge University found that
- Being in the Children’s University significantly improves school attendance.
- Achievement is significantly better at Key Stages 1 to 3 for children who participate in Children’s University compared with non-attenders.
- The further children engage with Children’s University, the better their attendance and achievement.
- Children’s University provides an environment for self-driven, confident and collegial learning.
- Children’s University provides a safe haven and models positive relationships.
- Pupils and teachers testify to life changing experiences.
- ‘ Opportunity costs’ are high for children in disadvantaged areas who do not attend Children’s University.
- Certificates, credits, Passports To Learning and graduations are valued incentives and rewards.
- University settings help to inspire and raise aspirations for children, and their parents.
- Children’s University has helped to “make learning a reality beyond academic studies.”
How can I find out more?
On the national website
www.childrensuniversity.co.uk
On the local website
www.gotoourplace.com/plymouthchildrensuniversity
or by contacting
Carol Henwood 01752 307455 or carol.henwood@plymouth.gov.uk
Over 6000 children now have passports!
Lectures so far!
- Polar Exploration
- Natural History of Borneo
- Entomology
- Visit Lord Mayors Parlour
- The Truth Behind Finding Nemo
- Tour of West Devon Record Office
- OPAL Wildlife Photo Competition
- A Year in Madagascar
- Marine Photography
- Pyromania
- HMS Heritage and HMS Courageous Tour
- Love Parks Week
- Discover Bugs and Pond Life
- Backstage Tour of Theatre Royal
- Immersive Vision Theatre
- Wildlife of Plymouth
- Space Invaders
- Learning Destinations
- Alison Sawle School of Dance
- Armed Forces Day 2013
- B and Q
- Barbican Theatre
- Beckly Centre
- Bickleigh Riding Stables
- Boys Brigade
- Celia Parker School of Dance
- China Fleet Club
- City of Plymouth Athletics
- Dartmoor National Park Authority
- Dartmoor Zoo
- Devonport Royal Swimming Association
- Diggin It
- Discovery Tours
- Everyone Active
- Education through Expeditions
- Elizabethan House
- Emerge Community Circus
- Excellence Cluster Holiday Club
- Food Is Fun ( Food Festival)
- Ford Park Cemetery
- Geraldine Lamb School of Dance
- Girl Guides
- Goals Football
- Guild of Devonshire Ringers
- Hamoaze House
- Hannahs at Seale Hayne
- Hartley School of Dance
- Helen Hillard Ballet Classes
- Heritage Site
- Hill Lane Tennis Club
- HMS Courageous
- HMS Heroes
- Horizons Sailing
- Instrumental Music Services
- Life Centre
- Living Coasts
- Lord Mayors Day
- Love Parks Week
- Marjons Sport
- Master St James Martial Arts
- Merchants House
- Minster Church of St Andrews
- Mountbatten Watersports Centre
- National Children’s Orchestra
- National Marine Aquarium
- Newton Ferrers Riding School
- Open Air Laboratories
- Paul Davies Swimming
- Paignton Zoo
- Pilgrim Centre
- Plymkids
- Plymouth Boat Trips
- Plymouth District Scouts
- Plymouth Fencing Club
- Plymouth Libraries
- Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery
- Plymouth and West Devon Record Office
- Plymouth Sports Academy
- Plymouth Ski and Snowboarding Centre
- Plymouth Wheel
- Plymouth Youth Music Service
- Plymouth Youth Sailing
- Plymouth Youth service
- Polar Fun Days
- Real Ideas Organisation
- Regardez-Moi Drama Group
- RNRM Swimming Club
- River Cottage
- Shannon Coaching
- Sky Ride Plymouth
- Saltram House
- Smeatons Tower
- South Hams Tae Kwando
- Sport Unlimited
- St John’s Ambulance
- St Pauls Church Youth Club
- Stagecoach
- Stepping Stones to Nature
- Stiltskin Creative Arts and Theatre Company
- Stonehouse Play Association
- Street Factory Dance
- Summer mix
- Summer reading Challenge
- Swallows Gymnastics
- Swimcats
- Theatre Royal and TR2
- Village Gymnastics and Tumbling
- Waterstones
- Wednesdayz
- YMCA
- Young Motion Plymouth
Plymouth Argyle ‘Football in the Community’
