Two Telford schools attend the launch of iDEA Silver Award in London
Students from Southall School and Hadley Learning Community (HLC) Secondary School met The Duke of York at the launch of the iDEA Silver Award at St James’s Palace in London earlier this month
The Duke of York Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award – known as iDEA - is a free international programme at https://idea.org.uk/.
Similar to The Duke of Edinburgh Award, it is based on challenges which lead to Awards. IDEA rewards participants with digital badges for their work to learn new digital skills. Each badge is worth points, which accumulate into iDEA Awards.
As a thank you for his work on gaining the iDEA Bronze Award, Jack Vaughan from Southall school together with his mum and his teacher, Sian Harrison were invited to the iDEA Silver Award event at the St. James’s Palace in London.
They had the opportunity to meet and chat with The Duke of York during the evening.
Sian Harrison, PSHE Lead at Southall School said “Jack is a fantastic boy who has worked so hard to achieve his iDEA Bronze Award.
“We are very proud of him and of all our students who took part in the iDEA qualification. IDEA really is a great and interactive way to gain new digital skills.”
“During the evening of the Silver Award launch, Jack chatted with The Duke of York about his iDEA experience – The Duke was really impressed and has invited Jack to contribute ideas on how to best support people with autism in using the iDEA platform for developing their digital skills. “
Hadley Learning Community (HLC) was also among Telford’s secondary schools invited to the event at the St James’s Palace.
Natalie Stewart, Subject Leader of Computing and IT, STEM Coordinator and CAS Master Teacher at HLC came to the event with Fern Thomson and Tilly Whiston, two leading students with a high interest in STEM careers, who have achieved their iDEA Bronze Award and are actively supporting other students as well as staff and members of the community.to get their qualifications.
Natalie said: “It’s been great to take our students to St James’s Palace at the iDEA Silver Award launch award hosted by The Duke of York himself.
“During the event we’ve heard many inspiring stories about how iDEA can really boost people’s skills in the digital world and help them enhance their chances on an increasing competitive job market.
“We are now determined to get our students on board with the iDEA Silver Award as well and we do hope this will contribute to their career success in the future”.
Commenting on the attendance of the two schools to the iDEA silver launch event in London, Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Employment, Education and Lifelong Learning, said:
“We are delighted that students from our borough have attended this prestigious event in recognition of their hard work and determination in developing their digital skills and enhancing their career prospects – iDEA is a free programme that can continuously help them.
“I hope that many more schools in Telford and Wrekin can be inspired by their stories and get their students on board with iDEA. I also hope families, businesses and pensioners will take advantage of the free resources.
“IDEA Bronze and Silver Awards are part of our Council’s Telford Online campaign, through which we aim to get more residents to access new technology and online services and to learn new digital skills".
For more on iDEA and the Council’s Telford Online campaign, visit www.telford.gov.uk/telfordonline
Caption (left to right): Natalie Stewart (Subject Leader of Computing and IT, STEM Coordinator and CAS Master Teacher at HLC Secondary) with students Tilly Whiston and Fern Thomson at the iDEA Silver Launch Award at St James Palace in London
