The Archbishop of York Youth Trust this week held its first regional North East Headteachers’ conference in collaboration with Joseph Swan Academy, Gateshead who delivers the Young Leaders Award at Key Stage 3, in addition to working with five feeder primary schools.

The regional Headteachers’ Conference was attended by 37 primary and secondary Headteachers representing over 30 schools from across the North East who came to find out more about the Young Leaders Award.

Chris Bland, Director of Transition & Year 7 Leader at the Joseph Swan Academy gave a keynote speech about the programme with primary schools and the positive influence it is having on their students. Young leaders from both Key stages 2 and 3 spoke about their experience of the Awards and about their chosen social action projects.

Speaking at the conference, Chris Bland said:

“I have been inspired by the way our feeder primary students have embraced everything the Young Leaders Award has to offer them. It has been a unique transition experience to offer this Award to each of our feeder primary students in KS2 and I have seen a huge growth in all students within a very short amount of time. To see them 'being the change they want to see' and making a real difference in their local community makes me feel extremely proud. The award has been key in raising the profile of our cluster schools in their respective communities. Among our cluster of schools we can now see continuity with the introduction of the KS3 Award at Joseph Swan Academy.”

Headteacher Heather Scott at the Joseph Swan Academy said:

“We are incredibly proud to be associated with the Archbishop’s Youth Trust and the opportunities it offers to young people.  These awards are making a real difference to our young people and are helping them to develop and support our students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development”.

The Young Leaders Awards, which run at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, are an active citizenship resource for schools and there are over 35,000 young people now taking part across the north of England.  The aim of the Awards is to encourage leadership in young people which will continue throughout their adult life.