At Walton Academy, we pride ourselves on developing well-rounded individuals who have the confidence to be the best version of themselves. Within character education, we focus on developing everyone’s LORIC attributes: leadership, organisation, resilience, initiative and communication. These skills are embedded throughout the academy as part of the tutorial programme and within lessons. Seeing them evidenced during unstructured time and within extra-curricular sessions, are testament to our culture.
Edge Pledge challenges are an extension of our programme across all LORIC attributes and are available for completion over two academic years. To earn recognition, students must accept and complete each challenge then ask a staff member for authorisation. As their completed challenges accumulate, they receive a certificate and an L, O, R, I or C badge to wear with pride on their blazer. Awards are aspirational; students must complete 16 challenges for bronze, 19 for silver and 22 for gold standard.
Oskar in year 7 has really enjoyed taking part in the Edge Pledge challenges. He said: “So far I have completed 62 pledges. 10 of these were done during lessons, such as handing in a piece of homework early or improving a grade in a test. The other 52 pledges have required a bit more effort and had to be completed in my own time, such as organising my free time, or entering a competition.”
Morgan in year 7 said: “I am really proud of myself for achieving my LORIC badge. I worked really hard to complete different challenges, including some things I never thought I would do, such as completing a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. I didn’t think I had the patience to do that! Even though some of the pledges were really challenging I pushed myself through them and my family really encourage me to carry on. I now only have one more challenge to complete before I get my gold resilience badge!”
Students across all year groups have been engaged in their challenges and have been rewarded with gleaming badges of all varieties. Below are just a few of our wonderful year 7s who have just earned their first badges. Well done all of you. You look incredibly smart, and I am incredibly proud, well done!
Mrs Gleave, Head of Year 7
