Last month, students from Years 7, 8, and 9 at Ormiston Bushfield Academy raised an incredible £1,800 through a sponsored read as a part of OAT’s #iwill project.
Pupils were asked to read as much as possible in one week and ask for sponsorship from family and friends. Many students took up the challenge with enthusiasm and there was also great support from the wider community, with local business Barratt Homes sponsoring students for an amazing £,1000.
The sponsored read has enabled the academy to buy a range of new books focused on culture, diversity and LGBTQIA+ youth. These books were selected by the Year 12 and Year 13 Student Leadership Teams who wanted to ensure there was a range of reading material available within the academy that promoted diversity and inclusion. To show the new reading materials students also decided to buy a brand-new bookcase to house them in.
With the success of the event and positive reception by students Ormiston Bushfield Academy is keen to make this a yearly initiative. Principal Dennis Kirwan said: “This has been a really brilliant project for everyone at the academy – what could be better than expanding your reading and raising money for a good cause at the same time? We’re so grateful to everyone who supported students’ efforts.
“In light of it being Pride Month, I’m especially pleased that our students have chosen to purchase books that look at diversity and inclusion, and LGBTQIA+ in particular. At Ormiston Bushfield Academy, we put a big focus on these issues, and we’re very proud that our students are passionate about advocating for and promoting equality beyond what they get taught.”
An amazing achievement by our students and outstanding commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity and equality!
