Students put teamwork skills to the test

ARBROATH students have put their teamwork skills to the test as part of a programme run by the national education charity SkillForce.

Thirteen young people from Arbroath Academy organised a seasonal challenge event for local primary schoolchildren.

Pupils from St Thomas’ RC Primary School took part in activities including a Christmas relay race, sumo suit wrestling, and a ping pong bucket and jump the river style indoor challenge.

The event was organised by the academy students as part of the SkillForce programme they are completing, leading to a volunteering award.

SkillForce is a national education charity which runs programmes with primary and secondary schools to build character, self-confidence and resilience.

Vicky Gardiner, deputy headteacher at Arbroath Academy, said: “Our pupils are clear about the difference that SkillForce has made to their confidence and engagement in education.

“The pupils are able to take on leadership roles and the project with St Thomas’ Primary School has given them the opportunity to practise their team work skills in a real life context.

“I am proud of their progress and their contribution to a fantastic event.”

Jackie Wilson, headteacher at St. Thomas, said: “The children really enjoyed taking part in the activities planned and organised by the group of young people.

“All the children benefited from taking part — the young people putting their plans into action and managing the groups and the younger children working together developing their teamwork and communication skills to help them achieve.”

The young people are completing a number of awards and qualifications as part of the SkillForce programme, which is delivered in schools for four hours a week over an academic year.