Withernsea High School

A training day on 19^th March included a carousel of workshops, offering valuable learning experiences for the Board's members. The day featured a physical literacy workshop, a bike repair and active travel review session with Christian Jordan from the East Riding Road Safety team, a session on coastal erosion, and a workshop on inclusion facilitated by John Blades, the school’s ERP lead.

Since Christmas, various ambassador groups have been actively involved in school events. The sports ambassadors supported a number of primary school activities, including a swimming gala, sports hall athletics, intra boccia and a tennis tournament.

The careers and active travel ambassadors have continued their ongoing projects. For the careers ambassadors, this included a guest spot at a 'student voice' event where they lent their voices to help shape careers provision at schools across the region. Meanwhile, the active travel ambassadors delivered a pitch at County Hall to secure further funding for their sustainable travel plans.  

The Youth Health Champions, in collaboration with Public Health England, met with professionals to represent the student voice for a new mental health website tailored for young people, which will launch soon.

The student council ambassadors have been instrumental in addressing student feedback which has led to several improvements, including increased variety in sports competition entries, such as archery and a swimming gala, and contributions to refining the school’s behaviour and uniform policies.

The Board for Change comprises student representatives from each year group along with ambassadors from sub-groups focusing on Health, Careers, Active Travel, and Sport. Collectively, they play a key role in driving significant initiatives to improve student life at the school.

These students are not only passionate about leading change in the areas they specialise in, they are also role models and a point of contact for fellow students – building an effective communication link between the student body and the staff.

ABOVE: Board members engage in the training event. 

ABOVE: The training equipped students with a variety of knowledge and skills. 

ABOVE: Workshops took place throughout the day. 

ABOVE: A bike repair and active travel review session was led by Christian Jordan from the East Riding Road Safety team.

Students each made a greetings card using embellishments and stencils. They also used vinyl cutting techniques to decorate a cake box and, last week, made the biscuits to go with it. These were cut with 3D printed cutters, designed and made in school.

Head of DT Amy Norris said: “The students delivered some fantastic products. They learnt new skills and created some lovely gifts for their loved ones.”

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Organised by the East Riding School Sport Partnership, the gala combined solo races with team events for students from 12 East Riding secondary schools.

Each student completed two solo races using either front crawl, backstroke, or breaststroke, while team events included relay races.

Withernsea’s team comprised students who are members of external swimming clubs, or who are competent swimmers in their own right.

Nick Richmond, school sports coordinator, said: “We really wanted to enter a team this year to help support our young swimmers, promote a new sporting opportunity and participate in a county competition. Our involvement in the swimming gala was the result of feedback gathered through the school’s Board for Change. This indicated that students are keen to explore a wider variety of sports, with swimming being one of the sports that students suggested they would like to see more of.”

Over the past 18 months, regular opportunities for inexperienced swimmers to access free lessons at East Riding Leisure, Withernsea, have been offered to Year 7 and 8 students as part of the school’s extra-curricular activities programme. These lessons have been targeted at students who either have no experience or cannot swim more than 50m.

‘Hull FC Engage’ offers participants the opportunity to take part in both practical and study-based activities relating to sport, volunteering, health and well-being. 

Practical activities include fitness sessions in the school gym and wheelchair rugby in the sports hall. These are supported by theory lessons to help build knowledge and understanding.

Collectively, this work will lead to an entry-level NCFE Level 1 qualification.

Since January, the first group of students has been attending sessions one day a week for a 12-week period. With their allotted time now coming to an end, a new group of students has been invited to participate.

The programme will continue throughout the summer term.

Through the use of tablet technology, using pre-loaded videos featuring 360-degree views from a cyclist’s perspective, immersive reality cycle training allows classes of up to 30 students at a time to experience what it’s like to cycle on the road, without stepping outside the comfort of their classrooms. The training, delivered by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s road safety team, aims to enthuse young people about the benefits of cycling - encouraging more journeys by bike while preparing them for on-road experiences. It encompasses all levels of knowledge, from those who have no prior practise on the roads, to those who have previously completed Bikeability, the government’s national cycle training programme, at levels 1 and 2. The project has so far been delivered in 14 secondary schools across the county. Among them is Withernsea High School, where the full year 8 cohort, approximately 150 students, recently took part in the training over two days. Nick Richmond, a teacher of PE who oversees the school’s Active Travel projects, said: “The students fully engaged with the immersive reality experience, with many commenting how realistic they felt it was. The videos provided them with an opportunity to spot, assess and navigate hazards faced by cyclists – preparing them for the real-life scenarios that they may face on the roads. “This virtual approach reinforces the knowledge that children have learnt in Bikeability training. When out on the roads, the ratio is usually one tutor to three riders for level 3 training. With the virtual training, one or two tutors can support a full class of approximately 30 students. Although it will never fully replicate or replace the practical experience of being physically out on the road, it is a great introduction to Bikeability training which students can carry forward into practical experience.” Reflecting on the impact of immersive reality training, Julie Turrell, road safety and sustainable travel manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "Children are excited about using the immersive reality technology on the tablets, especially Year 7. They are engaged throughout the session and the videos have prompted some excellent discussions about situations they may not have experienced before. We have delivered the session in many secondary schools across the East Riding, and in total we should reach over 2,500 students." Since 2023, Withernsea High School has been one of a number of schools across the East Riding that has recruited ambassadors to help promote Active Travel across the school community. As part of their role, the ambassadors are required to complete their level 3 Bikeability training – a more advanced level of training, aimed at students aged 11 and above. Bikeability helps participants to learn practical skills and understand how to cycle safely. In the East Riding, level 1 and 2 training is delivered to pupils in years 5 and 6 over two days.  Level 1 learning teaches children how to control their bikes – including setting off, cruising, slowing down, navigating obstacles, braking and stopping. It also teaches basic awareness, encouraging them to be aware of their surroundings. Level 2 takes their learning on-road where they are taught how to negotiate quiet junctions, crossroads and roundabouts, while developing an understanding of signals, signs and road markings. The level 3 training delivers advanced skills including the handling of more complex situations, including busier roads and those with more complicated layouts and junctions. It also teaches participants how to respond confidently when a situation changes, for example if a vehicle pulls out in front of them. Immersive cycle training is the latest addition to a continuing programme of activities designed to encourage and support safe and sustainable travel for young people in the Withernsea High School community. In recent months cycling has received increased prominence after it was added to the PE curriculum – making the school one of the first in the country to regularly offer cycling as part of timetabled lessons. This was achieved thanks to funding secured from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Sustainable Travel Team and Sport England which facilitated the purchase of 25 mountain bikes, plus associated secure storage facilities. To date, every student in the school’s current year 7 and 8 cohorts has received at least one opportunity to cycle as part of their PE curriculum. Students have also been given opportunities to use the bikes as part an extra-curricular cycling club. In addition, trained technicians from cycle charity R-evolution have provided free bike servicing – carrying out repairs ranging from brake and gear improvements to basic tyre inflation for the school’s regular cyclists. Lights and locks giveaways, by the sustainable travel team at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, have helped to ensure bikes remain visible and secure, while helmet amnesties have seen the replacement of old and potentially dangerous cycle helmets with brand new ones. Helmets have also been distributed to students arriving at school by bike who were seen to be not wearing one.  

Around 30 bikes were given a free health check by technicians from cycle charity R-evolution. In addition, helmets, bike lights and locks were handed out by members of the ERYC sustainable travel team to help improve cycle safety and security. The giveaway followed an assembly for year 7 students, delivered earlier in the month, to highlight the importance of cycle helmets.

To promote both sustainable travel and healthy eating, the ERYC team also brought with them their ‘smoothie bike’ – a pedal-powered means of blending fruit to make fresh fruit smoothies. As always, this proved to be extremely popular, with many students queuing up to take part. Around 100 smoothies were sampled.

Nick Richmond, teacher of PE with responsibility for Active Travel, said: “Our cycle-themed day formed part of a continuing programme of activities designed to encourage and support safe and sustainable travel. I would like to thank the teams from R-evolution and ERYC sustainable travel for their continuing support. I would also like to thank Tesco for the donation of fruit for the smoothie bike.”

ABOVE: Technicians from R-evolution conducted health checks on staff and students bikes. 

ABOVE: The return of the smoothie bike was a highlight of the day. Over 100 smoothie samples were created thanks to pupils' pedal power. 

Hosted by the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust at their Clinical Skills Centre, the ‘Navigating Health and Care’ event provided participants with hands-on simulations designed to reflect the challenges faced by healthcare professionals.

These included a mock ‘messy ward’ scenario where students were tasked with identifying risks, from unattended medication to poorly made beds and trip hazards. Infection prevention and control was also explored, as was the patient experience as a whole.

Communication skills were tested with a challenge requiring students to give instructions to a partner in a noisy environment, simulating the distractions of a busy ward. This involved a back-to-back Lego-building exercise, where one student instructed their partner to build a specific model. This highlighted the importance of focused listening and clear communication.

Guest speakers, Anne Burdis (widening participation manager) and Claire Pick (career engagement advisor), both from the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, delivered presentations offering valuable insights into healthcare careers.

The ‘Navigating Health and Care’ project is a collaboration between the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP) and the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (HNY HCP) which seeks to educate, train and develop people in order to strengthen the talent pipeline into health and care vacancies.

Lucy Gray, Careers Hub project manager, said: “Through this project we have been able to inspire the next generation, including many who may not have previously considered work in these sectors. We have showcased the breadth of roles within health and care, and the many pathways available. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with stakeholders across the region to create a legacy for more young people to discover careers in health and social care.”

In partnership with the National Careers Service and the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, the project supports schools with raising awareness of health and social care job roles. It provides students with impartial careers information, advice and guidance, offering an in-depth look at the sector’s diverse career paths, equipping learners with the knowledge and experience to make informed decisions about their futures.

One such session, led by Graeme Peart, a level 6 qualified careers advisor specialising in health and social care, took place at Withernsea High School ahead of the insight event. This provided students with an opportunity to explore entry routes into a variety of roles, including the qualifications required to progress. The session also explored finances, helping students to develop an understanding of their expected earnings while learning.     

The school’s involvement in the wider project began in September 2024, for the benefit of its year 10 health and social care students. Since its reintroduction as a standalone subject in 2022, the health and social care vocational course has proven popular at Key Stage 4, with approximately 70 students currently enrolled across years 10 and 11.

The course helps students understand how care is provided across a variety of settings. It develops empathy and respect for others and covers current public health issues; their societal impact and factors influencing health and wellbeing.

Units studied include ‘the principles of care in health and social care settings’ and ‘supporting individuals through life’. These cover service user rights, person-centred values, effective communication and protecting service users and providers. Students also learn about individual development across life stages, the impact of life events, and the support available.

Around 400 people supported the creative arts faculty’s latest production, which featured hit songs from the 1990s by artists including Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, TLC, *NSYNC and Christina Aguilera.

‘Popstars’ built on the successes of previous school productions, We Will Rock You, School of Rock, High School Musical, and last year’s The Addams Family Musical, with a legacy of existing talent and an array of younger performers.  

Reviewing the show on behalf of the Holderness and Hornsea Gazette, reporter and photographer Terry Bearpark said: “The fifth musical production by Withernsea High School once again demonstrated the great talent that exists on campus.

“‘Popstars’ featured a younger cast which carries on the school’s tradition of bringing out talent from its students. With a 25-strong cast and chorus, and some 30 dancers, the musical showed that the school is quite capable of developing new talent to maintain its high standard.”

Reflecting on the work of the production's musicians in providing the accompaniment to the onstage action, Lewis Fryer, teacher of music, said: “The band members were outstanding throughout our preparations for 'Popstars’. They dedicated so much time to rehearsals, bringing their own creative input and ideas into creating the soundtrack. The band demonstrated quality and professionalism throughout to deliver a truly memorable production.”

Show director, Beth Lewis, said: “The students worked super hard right from the auditions up until the show nights. Everyone involved worked so hard to ensure their characters were believable and interesting to watch. It has been lovely to work with students across all five year groups, seeing our older students mentoring the younger students to help them develop their skills and confidence for the stage, which resulted in a huge success each night.

Head of creative arts, Jamie Hughes, added: “Musical productions have now become a firm favourite here at the school, with all of our creative arts subjects coming together. This includes art, dance, drama and live music. Our suite of subjects offers an exciting outlet for our students to imagine, create and express themselves fully and I believe our students get the very best opportunities. This was showcased brilliantly over our three-night production of 'Popstars’. Well done to everyone involved!”

 

During a recent visit to the school, the MP praised the standard of careers provision in place while acknowledging the importance of work experience opportunities as a means of providing inspiration for young people who are seeking to explore their options.  

Meeting with the school’s careers ambassadors, year 10 students Darcy L and Evelyn W, Mr Stuart learned about their involvement with the ‘Student Voice’ project – a partnership between the Careers and Enterprise Company and the Hull and East Yorkshire Careers hub that aims to improve careers provision in schools based on direct feedback and input from students.

Sharing their thoughts on the knowledge gaps that exist in careers learning across the region, and the need for greater work experience opportunities in their locality, the ambassadors discussed their work with the project ahead of a celebration event where they presented their findings to a wider audience of peers and professionals. 

Reflecting on his return to Withernsea High School, Mr Stuart said: “Withernsea High School has a first-rate careers leader in Viki Foster, and I want to continue to do all I can to support Withernsea’s young people to find good jobs locally. Whether that’s in construction or business; tourism, transport or working on the ‘Energy Estuary’, I want everyone in Withernsea and beyond to have the ability to get a great job locally.

“Success in the world of work starts with good work experience and I’m determined to see more youngsters secure placements in the area. I’ll be working hard to see students and businesses benefit by welcoming students into the workplace.”

School careers leader, Viki Foster, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Graham back to the school. He has been a long-standing champion of our careers programme and we are grateful for his support. I am particularly pleased that Graham appreciates the value of work experience placements. Such opportunities provide young people with a first-hand experience of a workplace environment, helping them to understand how the world of work operates and how it differs from life in school.

“Work experience can only succeed with the help and support of local businesses. I am grateful for the existing support we receive from a large number of employers, and for Graham’s efforts to help us expand this provision further.” 

During his visit, the MP spoke to year 10 students about his own career journey – a journey which took him from publisher to politician. He also shared his advice on how to find rewarding careers in the local area and took questions from students.

Responding to a question from Max C about starting his own business, Mr Stuart suggested that any budding business owner should do their research, learn how to market a product and learn how to sell themselves to potential customers. He also stated that hard work and perseverance is essential for success.

While at the school, Mr Stuart also took time to meet with attendance officer, Harriet Elvidge, to learn what measures and incentives are in place to help promote strong attendance.

ABOVE: Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart delivered an inspirational careers assembly to students in year 10. 

ABOVE: Mr Stuart also met the school’s careers ambassadors (left to right) Darcy L and Evelyn W to hear their thoughts on careers provision and work experience opportunities ahead of their presentation at a Careers Hub celebration event. 

ABOVE: Mr Stuart met with school attendance officer, Harriet Elvidge, to learn what measures and incentives are in place to help promote strong attendance.

The annual celebration, in partnership with The Careers and Enterprise Company and the Hull and East Yorkshire Careers Hub, is a showcase of student perspectives, ideas and learning. The latest event, held at Craven Park on March 11, was the culmination of six months’ work, involving four virtual and three face-to-face careers education, information, advice and guidance sessions.

Among the topics explored this year were barriers to careers exploration and knowledge gaps in careers learning. In a presentation addressing the importance of ‘adulting’, Withernsea’s ambassadors highlighted the need to learn more about taxes, bills, pensions and finance as part of their preparation for the world of work. They also devised their own hybrid work experience plan to gain access to hard-to-reach industries.

The Student Voice programme was first commissioned in the 2022/23 academic year with the aim of capturing student views to help refine careers provision and improve communication between schools and employers. Withernsea High School’s careers ambassadors have been involved from the start - helping to lead the way for the shaping of careers guidance in schools across the region.

Careers leader Viki Foster said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Darcy and Evelyn over the course of this year’s Student Voice project. Hearing their thoughts and ideas is so valuable and plays a big part in shaping the careers programme in our school and at schools across the region. They've already given us lots of ideas to think about.

“The journey that they have been on through this project has been immense - from the first session, where they were incredibly nervous, to the last session where they stood up and confidently presented an amazing idea to a room full of students, schools, employers, council leaders and parents. It has been so rewarding to see their confidence grow. I hope the skills they have learnt on this project will continue to develop during their own career journeys.”

A spokeswoman for the Hull and East Yorkshire Careers Hub added: “The students confidently shared their experiences, insights and aspirations for the future. Their voices weren’t just heard - they were celebrated. A huge congratulations to all the students who actively participated and received well-deserved acknowledgement for their commitment. Their engagement is shaping the future of careers education and we couldn’t be prouder. Together, we are empowering young minds for brighter futures.”

Darcy and Evelyn also had a chance to present their ideas and findings to local MP Graham Stuart during his recent visit to the school. Mr Stuart was keen to hear their thoughts on work experience and has pledged to work with local employers to increase provision.

As part of the school’s student-led Board for Change, the careers ambassadors are among a group of students who take an active role in the life of the school, working collectively to help make significant changes for the benefit of their peers.

 

ABOVE: Careers ambassadors Darcy L and Evelyn W presented their thoughts on careers provision to peers and professionals at careers hub student voice event. 

The money will be used to fund prizes and rewards to recognise those who make the switch to healthier and more environmentally friendly means of commuting to and from school. Car sharing and the concept of ‘park and stride’, which involves driving part way and walking the rest of the journey, are among the initiatives being encouraged.

The ambassadors pitched their ideas to a panel of experts including members of the East Riding Road Safety team, Emily Cherry, chief executive of cycling charity the Bikeability Trust, Gavin Wood, an inspector with Active Travel England, and Rob Atkin – project coordinator at walking charity, Living Streets.

The core idea of the pitch was the continuation of the school’s annual Active Travel Day – a focussed day of incentives and activities which, since 2023, has aimed to reduce traffic congestion around the school gates and helped to promote the health and well-being benefits of travelling more actively.  

To encourage participation, all those who make a concerted effort to travel more sustainably for the day will be given a raffle ticket for automatic entry into a prize draw. Last year, over 200 participants were rewarded for their efforts - winning a wide range of prizes from skateboards to scooters and footballs to swim vouchers.

Among new incentives pitched for the current academic year are a ‘golden lock’ prize giveaway, which will reward regular cyclists with prizes every half term, and the launch of an Active Travel newsletter to celebrate the work of the ambassadors and promote sustainable travel tips. 

Overseeing the work of the travel ambassadors is Nick Richmond, ​​Teacher of PE and leader of the school’s student-led Board for Change, who said: “Our Active Travel Ambassadors are incredible advocates for both sustainable travel and for our school. They delivered their presentation exceptionally well and impressed the panel, not only with their confident pitch but with their reflections on their work so far and how this is shaping their future plans.

“Our ambassadors spent a considerable amount of time preparing for their pitch and have been rewarded for their efforts by securing £450 to help make their ideas a reality. Under the banner of our Board for Change, our Active Travel Ambassadors remain part of a bigger student-led campaign to bring meaningful change to their school. I am very proud of them all.”  

Since 2023, the ambassadors have collectively secured £1,920 from organisations including sustainable travel champions, Modeshift, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and Active Withernsea, to help fund their mission to promote active travel.

ABOVE: The school's Active Travel Ambassadors, pictured at County Hall, Beverley, where they successfully secured £450 towards the promotion of Active Travel at the school. Pictured with the students are members of the judging panel (back left to right): Emily Cherry from the Bikeability Trust, Rob Atkin from Living Streets, Gavin Wood from Active Travel England, and presenter David Eliot from Histrionics.

BELOW: The ambassadors make themselves at home in the council's chambers... 

Throughout the day, lessons began with staff reading a variety of book excerpts to their classes. These included historical fiction (‘The Bletchley Riddle’, ‘Sawbones’), fantasy fiction (‘Orphans of the Tide’) and domestic fiction (‘The Light in Everything’) for students in years 7 and 8. Meanwhile, students in years 9, 10 and 11 heard excerpts from young adult literature including ‘Lark’, ‘Thirteen Reasons Why’, ‘Storm Catchers’ and ‘Our Infinite Fates’. Students were given an opportunity to win a copy of one of the books by submitting a book review. This tasked them with using three words to describe the opening excerpt, asking them to write down what they were hoping to find out from the rest of the book and whether the extract had made them want to read more. An overall thumbs up or down rating was also sought, as were their thoughts about the book’s cover and what its cover design made them think about. As part of a wider tutor group competition, each form was tasked with identifying staff members by the books contained on their home bookshelves. A number of staff provided their own ‘shelfies’ (photos of their bookshelves), with students encouraged to look for clues in the titles or topics being read. Helping to reinforce reasons for reading, staff were also encouraged to share their ‘reading identities’ through posters on their classroom or office doors. This provided a platform for them to share what they’re currently reading, what benefits they think reading brings to them, what their favourite books are and their top tips for making reading enjoyable. A further competition saw individuals tasked with matching book covers to their respective books’ opening lines. Twenty staff, including members of the school’s senior leadership team, teaching staff and support staff, each wore a lanyard displaying either a book cover or its opening text, with students encouraged to pair the staff to match the correct images with the corresponding text.  Event organiser and lead for whole school literacy and reading, Laura Aldridge, said: “World Book Day has become an increasingly familiar part of the school calendar. We have worked hard to raise the profile year-on-year to the extent where staff and students actively ask in advance what we will be doing for World Book Day. The event has become an integral part of the school’s wider focus on reading and literacy. “Staff feedback across the school has highlighted how keen the students were to be involved. They enjoyed being read to and the staff themselves remarked how much they enjoyed being able to take time out of their curriculum lessons to read to their classes. Students at Withernsea High School are no strangers to reading and it’s fantastic that World Book Day gives them an opportunity to engage with reading in a more informal way.” Completing this year’s activities was a visit to the Hull branch of Waterstones, which saw 40 students from across years 7 to 11 visit the city’s largest book retailer. During the visit, students were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the store where they learnt about book barcodes and the numbering system that identifies a book with a particular country. Within this system, the students also learned about ‘Bookland’ – the informal name for a fictitious country that is represented by a numerical code on barcodes for the purpose of non-geographically cataloguing books. Laura Aldridge said: “Visiting Waterstones was an absolute treat. It was a real joy to see the students genuinely eager to talk about books and browse a wide selection of them, before translating this enthusiasm into sales at the till. The shop’s staff remarked how several students made return trips to the tills and members of the public praised our students for their conduct. One lady even bought a group of students a hot chocolate each as she was so impressed with their manners and overall conduct. “The purpose of the trip was to celebrate reading and recognise how important it is in many of our students’ lives – further reinforcing the work we are doing across the school community to promote reading for pleasure. The demand for this trip, which could have been filled twice over, and the enthusiasm of the students who were able to secure a place means we are now looking at running a further visit in the summer term. I would like to thank the staff at Waterstones for their hospitality, as well as our accompanying staff and students for making it a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”      

Led by the family of Scott Akester, who died aged 31 after a single punch from a friend on a night out, ‘One Punch Hull’ was set up to honour Scott’s memory by raising awareness of the risks of one punch attacks and the wider impact that split-second acts of violence can have on families, friends and communities. Channelling their grief into positive actions, Scott’s parents Debbie and Steve Akester, along with his partner Naomi and six-year-old daughter Ella, aim to educate young people on the risks of violence with the message to ‘stop, think and walk away from an argument or a fight.’ Reflecting on the importance of sharing the family’s story, Debbie said: “It’s so important that young people hear our story because many don’t realise how dangerous one punch can be or understand the impact that single acts of violence can have. I think there’s a lot of peer pressure in schools and I hope that if children get the opportunity to listen to our talk and understand what’s happened to us as a family, and the risks associated with punching out, then hopefully it will change behaviours in the future - particularly as they go into adult life. If they can think back and remember our story, that could hopefully make a difference.” Having previously shared Scott’s story with the year 7 cohort in April 2024, Debbie recently returned to the school to speak to its four remaining year groups.       Matt Burnitt, Assistant Headteacher, said: “Debbie has experienced first-hand the profound impact of losing her son to senseless violence and it was a privilege to welcome her back to the school where she shared her personal story with approximately 600 students over two visits. “We believe that hearing from those directly affected by such tragedies can have a deep effect on young people, fostering empathy, understanding and a commitment to non-violence by offering a poignant reminder of the real-life consequences of violent behaviour. “The work of One Punch Hull aligns with our ongoing efforts to educate our students about the importance of respect, empathy and peaceful conflict resolution across society. By reinforcing the message that violence is never an acceptable solution to conflict, we can work together to cultivate a culture of mutual respect and understanding.” Reflecting on the impact of hearing Scott’s story, year 9 student Millie C said: “I felt sad about the fact that one night could change so many people’s lives - from Scott’s parents, to his partner and daughter. I think Debbie’s message is a really important one to hear so that nobody else makes the same mistakes and they talk about things rather than resort to violence. I think hearing from Debbie herself was important because we could feel a more emotional connection.” Year 10 student Daniel L added: “I think it is a very important message to hear as it teaches us about the power of the consequences of our actions. I feel it is important for people to know about things like One Punch and for it to be talked about more so that people know that these things can actually happen to us and we should be careful.” Honey T, a student in year 11, said: “I felt an array of emotions and felt sad as Debbie explained how the family had been affected. It was a massive eye-opener to the decisions you should make and the consequences of making the wrong ones.” The family’s story began when Scott died from a one punch attack in 2022. The devastation caused by a friend, punching him hard when he wasn’t expecting it, caused Scott to fall and hit his head on the pavement – causing injuries too severe to survive.  Since the launch of One Punch Hull, Scott’s family remain determined to prevent anyone else from experiencing what they’ve been through. A continuing programme of engagement events is set to expand in the months ahead, with colleges, apprenticeship providers and workplaces all making contact with the charity to facilitate talks at their organisations. In recent months, Scott’s story has also provided the inspiration for a production by the award-winning John Godber Company. Working in partnership with the Akester family, BAFTA winning writer and company co-director, Jane Thornton, along with actress and writer, Martha Godber, have delivered what is billed as ‘a rallying cry to take control of your emotions, especially in the heat of the moment’.   Meanwhile, as part of the preparation work for the stage production, the Godber family were keen to know more about Scott’s early life. This prompted Debbie to write a history of Scott, which she has now combined with an existing journal, to create ‘Scott’s Story’ – a book which will be released through Amazon at the end of March.   Debbie said: “The book covers all aspects of Scott’s story, from his younger years through to his death and the subsequent court proceedings. It also covers the formation of the charity and the work we’re doing to keep Scott’s memory alive. I’m really hoping that this might help other families who have been through a similar experience.” For further information about One Punch Hull, please visit their website: www.onepunchhull.com or find them on Facebook, search: ‘One Punch Hull’.   PHOTOS ‘Stop, think and walk away’ 01: Scott Akester, who died aged 31 as a result of a split-second act of aggression from a friend during a night out. [Photo Credit: One Punch Hull] ‘Stop, think and walk away’ 02: Debbie Akester, Scott’s mother, returned to Withernsea High School last week to share with students her family’s first-hand experience of the devastation caused by one punch violence. [Photo Credit: Tim Nuttall] ‘Stop, think and walk away’ 03: Debbie Akester with Matt Burnitt, Assistant Headteacher at Withernsea High School.  [Photo Credit: Tim Nuttall] ‘Stop, think and walk away’ 04: The ‘One Punch Hull’ logo. [Photo Credit: One Punch Hull] ‘Stop, think and walk away’ 05, 06 and 07: Scott’s story has been turned into a stage production by the John Godber Company. Funny, gritty, emotional and shocking, ‘One Punch’ recounts a night out based on real events. [Photo Credit: Ian Hodgson]

Bringing AI to life, with the help of a robot dog called Lexi, BAE Systems’ STEM Schools Roadshow invites participants to explore one of the world’s emerging technologies through live demonstrations and interactive activities.

During the roadshow's recent visit to Withernsea High School, year 7 and 8 students were given an opportunity to explore the technology’s capabilities.

Viki Foster, school careers leader, said: “As a technology that is rapidly evolving, AI is already shaping the future employment landscape by changing existing roles while also creating brand new ones. Events such as the BAE Systems STEM roadshow are essential in helping our students to explore their future options – giving them an insight into the real-world application of a variety of technologies in the workplace, while also highlighting the many job opportunities that could be available to them in the future.”

BAE Systems launched their first nationwide educational roadshow in 2005. The RAF joined as a partner in 2008, with the Royal Navy adding its support in 2015. To date, it is estimated that the roadshows have visited over 5,000 schools and reached over 1.3 million primary and secondary school students aged between 10 and 13 years old.

Covering topics such as electricity, space, magnetism, energy, maths, waves, physics and biomimicry, the roadshows provide a platform for young people to explore the practical applications of scientific and technological concepts in real world scenarios.

Tania Gandamihardja, group human resources director at BAE Systems, said: “As one of the UK’s leading advanced engineering and technology companies, we have a long history of nurturing young talent and helping to educate young people on the value of studying STEM subjects. I’m proud of the part our school roadshows have played in that over the last 20 years and I’m delighted that we have secured new funding to take us up to a quarter of a century of inspiring young minds in this way.”

The continuing success of the project has led to a renewed commitment from all three stakeholders, coupled with a shared funding investment of £3.5 million, to maintain the roadshows until at least 2030. 

With thousands of engineers already employed across BAE Systems, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, the continuation of the roadshows aims to encourage and support a highly skilled workforce of the future.

Commander Chris Pinder from the Royal Navy STEM programme said: “The Royal Navy relies on STEM expertise to design, build, deploy and maintain our world-class ships, submarines and aircraft around the world. Galvanising the engineers and scientists of the future is essential and the additional funding to maintain this excellent programme is hugely welcome.”

Wing Commander Russ Barnes, Royal Air Force Youth STEM programme, added: “STEM subjects are at the heart of everything we do in the Royal Air Force and wider UK Armed Forces. Without skilled and passionate individuals, our day-to-day work would be impossible. The school roadshows will continue to play an important role in inspiring the next generation of innovators, aviators and engineers.”

This year’s roadshow launched last month at St Mary's College in Hull. Throughout the rest of the year, it will visit more than 500 schools up and down the country, bringing AI to life for an estimated 130,000 pupils.

 

ABOVE: Lexi, the AI robodog, is helping to educate primary and secondary school pupils about the use of AI technology as part of BAE Systems’ latest STEM roadshow. 

Popstars is a high-energy musical packed with smash hits from the 1990s by artists such as Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, TLC, *NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, MC Hammer, and many more.

The action takes place in a school where Mark is head over heels in love with his girlfriend, queen bee Shannon Van de Witt. When Shannon learns that pop-band impresario Simon Austin is the surprise judge at the state talent show, she dumps Mark for her chance at showbiz stardom.

Mark rapidly goes from High School hero to High School zero. His garage band buddies rally around him and soon a plan for revenge is hatched to change their grunge band to a boy band and snatch the talent show title from Shannon’s "Candy Girls". There’s just one small problem... the boys can’t dance. Mark enlists the help of the ultra-talented, new girl, Ella, to help with their boy band make over and sparks soon fly.

Can Mark get the girl, get the grand prize and get even with the scheming Shannon closing in? It’s anyone’s guess as the countdown to the grand finale begins!

The show takes place over three nights on Tuesday 18^th, Wednesday 19^th and Thursday 20^th March. 6.30pm. 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW: Adults £5 / Concessions £3

Pay through ParentPay or cash at the main reception.