Children’s Parliament Meeting

Children from across the Waterton Academy Trust came together on Thursday 24th April for the third meeting of the Children’s Parliament for the year. The session was full of exciting announcements, and creative planning for remainder of the year ahead.

A key highlight of the meeting was the announcement of the Trust’s Charity of the Year, SNAPS a Special Needs and Parent Support Charity in Yorkshire who support children with additional needs and their families through physiotherapy, leisure services and a supportive environment. The children shared a range of imaginative fundraising ideas to support this important cause, which Mr Dickinson will take forward to the next Headteachers’ meeting.

The children also reflected on the incredible success of the Waterton Has Stars talent show. A number of Parliament members took part, sharing their talents with fellow pupils, staff, parents, and guardians. The children spoke with pride about their performances and enjoyed celebrating each other’s skills. All who attended agreed that it was a heartwarming celebration of creativity from across the Trust.

Looking ahead, pupils were thrilled to hear that the Trust’s annual Young Chef event will take place during the summer term. This initiative aims to promote the development of important life skills and encourage healthy eating habits. The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Speaker of the Parliament will act as judges for this exciting competition.

There was also a buzz of anticipation around the upcoming MATlympics. Children shared ideas for activities they would like to see at the event highlighting their enthusiasm for teamwork and sportsmanship.

To celebrate the academic year, it was decided that each academy will create a collage showcasing the highlights and memorable moments from their school year. These collages will be digitised and proudly displayed at the Trust headquarters.

In a forward-thinking move, the Parliament also agreed to contribute the next two years of Children’s Parliament funds towards a dedicated mini bus, which will be used across the Trust. This investment will help ensure that as many pupils as possible can access enrichment opportunities and additional activities as possible.

The meeting once again highlighted the passion, creativity, and leadership of the young people across the Waterton Academy Trust, as they continue to shape the future of schools across the Waterton Family.