Today over 70 students at The Marches School were treated to a special lunchtime ceremony during which they were presented with awards and given a chance to meet local business owners and council representatives.


The lunch was organised to honour members of the school who had excelled in the Futures Award initiative. The Futures Award programme has been designed to prepare students to leave school equipped with the skills they need to enter employment, recording and celebrating their achievements in the community, in employment environments, in the classroom academically and in creative settings. The award is achieved by completing badges in the following 5 areas:

L for Leadership, O for Organisation, R for Resilience, I for Initiative and C for Communication.

A special congratulations was given to Year 8 student Daisy May Haining and Year 9 students Yasmin Aktar, Jessica Michie and Ellie Burnett who were awarded all 5 badges. This means they have completed the Apprentice Level of the award and will be moving onto the Graduate Award, however, in the mean time they will be acting as Futures Ambassadors and will assist their fellow students in gaining their badges.

As well as a delicious spread of food, the students were also treated to a great networking opportunity. They had time to get to know individuals from some of the businesses who have supported the venture, giving them the chance to forge relationships with future potential employers. Joining Deputy Mayor, Councillor Vince Hunt was Anna Burgess representing Lanyon Bowdler.

Miss Jo Phillips, Year 10 Progress Leader at The Marches who is currently leading the initiative, said: “I am incredibly proud of how our students are tackling The Futures Award. We have seen a huge number of students take part and it has highlighted to us all of the amazing things that our students are involved in, both in school and in the local community. It is also forging much more positive relationships between the students and their tutors, as they are working closely together to validate the badges. This can only help students thrive as they progress through school.”

Pictured – Group photo with Anna Burgess and Vince Hunt