Helping with a Narrow Boat Experience

For the last two years, Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe has taken a group of eight pupils together with four adults on a week long experience on a narrow boat sailing the waterways of the Black Country. The trip allows these pupils to enjoy several experiences that benefit their personal and social development and impact on their progress. They learn about team working, they learn to cook, they are given challenges-such as helping open lock gates-they can read and enjoy crafts such as painting free from the noise and disturbance of a busy home life. Pupils that have attended this trip in the past have shown a good improvement in both attendance and achievement. This has improved their chances of making good progress and of a successful transition into a secondary school. The school has also been successful in securing match funding of £2000 from Walwyn Chapman Charitable Trust and £500 from Lincoln Diocese towards the overall cost of £4500. Commenting on the grant made by the Tribune Trust, Katie McGuire, the Principal of Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe, said; ‘This grant from the Tribune Trust has meant we can secure the future of this valuable trip for another year, and we are very grateful. At Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe, we work to maximise our children’s life chances: this means something different for every student. This trip in particular boosts our pupils’ self-esteem; shows them a new way of living, working and playing; gives them the opportunity to succeed at something new; builds relationships with key adults. All these things support their access to education in the future. Thank you!’ Paul Cheeseman Director of the Tribune Trust said; ‘The Tribune Trust felt this was a really innovative idea to help pupils. Pupils who attend school regularly and make good progress are much more likely to succeed as adults. This idea really seems to help them in their transition to secondary school and the Trust is delighted to be able to help Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe’. The High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, Mrs Jill Hughes DL, is shown making the presentation to Katie and her pupils of a cheque for £2,000 towards the cost of the experience.