In December 2010 and 2011, we facilitated two more end-of-term celebrations for Toynbee Hall's Aspire project. These events present an opportunity for participants to recap Citizenship themes explored during the term and focus on the topic they each find most meaningful.

Aspire works with Year 9 (13-14 year olds) students from various schools across East London, encouraging them to actively engage with their learning and life opportunities. The Aspire students are referred to the project because they fall into the category of ‘excluded within school rather than from school’.

Members  of Somali Family Support Group youth group, St John’s Church Hendon and Edgware District Reform Synagogue met once every three weeks to get to know each other, to engage in workshops, to work together on a project of their choice...and of course to have a great time!

Year 4 Students at Barham Primary School (London Borough of Brent) enhanced their Persuasive Writing with photography skills. First they analysed how images are used in advertising then they took photographs to enhance their own poster campaigns.
 

Touring London secondary schools 21 September - 16 October 2009.

Play and workshop package in association with Romany Theatre Company and Border Crossings Education, part of Origins Festival of First Nations.

Aspire works with Year 9 and 10 students from schools in East London, encouraging them to actively engage with their learning and life opportunities. The Aspire students are referred to participate in the project because they fall into the category of ‘excluded within school rather than from school’. These young people may not be accessing the curriculum for a range of reasons.

The project brought together young students from different faith schools and communities. It provided an opportunity for young people educated and typically sheltered in their own communities to meet and learn with/from people from other communities, whilst working towards a Bronze Arts Award qualification. 

The project pursued two goals: to introduce a global dimension to the teaching of citizenship across the entire curriculum; and
to train trainee teachers in drama techniques to deliver this (and other) aspects of their work.  Working
at Canterbury Christchurch University, Polygon Arts replaced a set number of tutored days during the

Based on The Jungle Book, a performance introduced the characters and the subject matter followed by a workshop which looked at difference and discrimination through animal characters. Students were encouraged to:

• Explore FEELINGS

• CHALLENGE negative behaviour

• Increase CONFIDENCE

• Rehearse STRATEGIES

Key Stage 2 students met teenage characters Zara and Lee as they faced difficult choices around smoking, drugs, eating or relationships.

Students were encouraged to:

• EXPLORE influences, motivations, emotions

• Identify RISKS

• Discover CHOICES