Murray Park School has piloted Children’s University through the Moving Up Project. Students taking part in this Derby Children’s Fund transition project have worked through five specifically developed modules, written by the Youth Workers leading the project and verified by the central panel. The Moving Up project was one of the first initiatives to get involved in Children’s University directly by developing a unique set of modules to support students in the transition process . Students have used the modules to reduce the anxieties of transferring to a secondary school, to make new friends and develop new skills whilst gaining credits towards medal awards. Five of these students have been successful in gaining a Bronze Medal Award.

One further module revolving around the shadowing of the Carnegie and Greenaway Medal book awards has also been running during the Summer Term. The Reading Clubs module has been popular, particularly as students can see their book reviews on the national shadowing website and have taken part in voting for their favourite titles.

Murray Park took part in the first Youth Forum, which was very successful. Students were able to discuss the impact of Children’s University in their own school and how it works in other schools. The students were keen to participate and raised the issue that they would like to see more Children’s University activities at Murray Park. They would definitely like to attend future meetings of the Youth Forum on behalf of the student body.

Over the next year the school intends to widen the number of modules being run in the school, across a range of subject areas and to include much wider participation amongst the student population. Computer Clubs for Girls has already started and will be accredited via Children’ University.