This week saw the completion of another term of our highly successful ‘Future Goals’ sessions, which are based at four local schools: Carrington Junior School, Disraeli School, Oakridge School and Lane End School. Wycombe Wanderers Sports & Education Trust (WWSET) Senior Education Delivery Officer, Paul Withams, delivered a fun class assembly and was joined by our beloved mascot, Bodger – much to the delight of the kids and staff of the schools involved.
Monday 6th to Friday 10th was the final week of delivery in our schools before Christmas and Bodger was on hand to deliver a festive treat to all the kids, whilst taking a ‘question and answer’ session facilitated by Mr Withams. As is always the way with a Q&A session with primary kids, the questions were oftentimes surprising, but Bodge dealt with them all really well. These questions sometimes ended with a running race, sometimes in a pushup competition, other times with a shrug of the shoulders! There was one pattern though: “How do you get your short off when you have such a big head?!”
WWSET want every child to have the support they need to unlock their full potential, whatever their background or current situation. The aim of the Primary Future Goals 2.0 is to provide targeted support for local children and young people in school years from age 5 to age 10, who are struggling to stay fully engaged in their current school setting and are most at risk of making poor education decisions. The Primary Future Goals 2.0 Project delivers positive and dedicated one-to-one mentoring support alongside group and class activities which assist participants in six priority areas.
As part of the Future Goals 2.0 project, each targeted participant receives a 30-minute targeted 1:1 session with a member of WWSET staff each week. Over the course of the project, this equates to each pupil receiving 900 minutes of targeted 1:1 mentoring, focusing on identifying
Each 1:1 session is carried out in a safe and private space allowing individuals the opportunity to build a positive and productive relationship with their WWSET mentor.
Bodger spent Wednesday with the kids from Carrington Junior School in Flackwell Heath. Carrington Junior School is a two-form entry junior school with an additional resource provision (ARP) for up to eight children with autism. The school is situated at the edge of Flackwell Heath village – the site was originally owned by the Carrington family and was a cherry orchard – hence their logo!
Carrington Junior School Year 4 had a great time with Bodger and got the chance to pose for a team photo with the man himself. Question of the day came from a child in the front row who asked why Bodger never spoke. Mr Withams explained that he needed his voice to cheer on the Chairboys at the weekends. This led to a series of questions about why he doesn’t blink, and if he is able to sleep because of this!
Wycombe Wanderers Sports & Education Trust would like to say a big thank you to Carrington Junior School Headteacher, Mrs Anna Majcher, who has been brilliant in her support of our work and facilitation of our Future Goals project. Mrs Majcher (pictured below with Bodger) is retiring at the end of the Christmas 2021 term. Thank you for everything, and best of luck with your retirement!
