Concord’s student volunteers visited Longnor Primary School

Many Concord students are keen to volunteer outside of the college, be it for charities, in hospitals or within organisations in the local community. Concord’s Assistant Principal (Professional Development and Learning), Mr Wilson describes their recent visits to Longnor Primary School.

“Throughout the school year, a group of Concord pupils have volunteered at a local primary school that teaches pupils aged 3 to 11. They have been going on a regular basis to help the boys and girls with their reading and also to assist their teachers. This has proved to a wonderful experience with the young children enjoying reading, talking and playing with the Concord pupils while these older students have loved giving their time to the school and helping the young children in their education. A number of the students from Concord are considering careers that will involve talking and listening to young children so this experience has been invaluable.

“The Concord students wanted to share their culture with the young boys and girls. Therefore on the last visit before the Easter holiday, they gave short presentations to three classes on their home countries and cultures. Students from China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand shared information about their capitals, food, clothing, celebrations and language with the boys and girls who ranged from 5 to 11 years old. The children at Longnor learned how to count in Thai, how the signs in the Chinese Zodiac came to be, where Zuma Rock is and how good cake rusk’s taste! Despite this, the young pupils had so many questions that the Concord students delighted in answering.

“It was a wonderful afternoon filled with learning and laughter. To see our students talk so passionately about their own backgrounds and engage with the boys and girls and answer all their questions was lovely. The work that the volunteers have done with the local primary school pupils has been mutually rewarding and we look forward to strengthening this outreach in the future.”