STUDENTS from the Sir John Colfox Academy have been on the edge this year taking part in a pilot project.

The project, called the The PiXL Edge, is designed to help pupils develop personal skills to help them with employment and life skills.

It focuses on the five key skills of leadership, organisation, initiative, resilience and communication.

Students qualify at three levels – apprentice, graduate and master – having completed activity programmes related to the key attributes and accredited through the NCFE examination board.

Headteacher Kay Taylor said: “I was impressed with the dedication of the students.

“They are now rewarded for all the extra things they do for the community, and that is really important.”

Last week 52 students were presented with a certificate and bronze star to reward them and recognise that they had reached the apprentice Level.

There were also certificates presented to Maddy Herbert, Gus Johnson, Sam Clark and Jordan Hayter for being the first students to pass the apprentice Level at the Sir John Colfox Academy.

Overall trophies were presented to Emily Hendry and Sam Clark for their outstanding commitment to the programme and for going that extra mile to demonstrate that they had the Edge.

The week before 15 students were invited to London to receive their Edge Apprentice certificates from Sir John Rowling, chairman of The PIXL Club.

The Sir John Colfox Academy is one of 200 schools trialling the programme. The students were selected by for the quality of their work and overall application to the project. Each student was invited on stage to meet Sir John Rowling and receive their certificate.

Year 8 student Emily Hendry said: “The Edge is a fun and interesting opportunity to showcase our talents and achievements, all whilst helping us plan for our future.”

Students were then given the opportunity to visit KPMG at the invitation of school governor and KPMG director, Charlotte Chadler who had recently given the school financial support for the project with a donation of £500.

After a tour of Canary Wharf students were given a brief lesson in business and an insight into what employers are looking for from employees.

Chloe Robinson, from Year 8 said: "The trip to London was an exciting way to be rewarded for completing the Edge. It was a brilliant experience to visit KPMG and receive an insight into their business. Overall we all had a fantastic day."

Project leader Andy David said: “I think this is the most significant and exciting development in education, certainly in my teaching career, and it is a privilege to be involved in such an outstanding project.

“There has never been a national programme that has been accredited and used by all schools so we can now say that we genuinely recognise and reward everything that our students do both inside and outside school. As well as this we are also preparing our students for the best start in life and giving them the Edge as they set out on their own journey into employment and further education.

“We would really like to thank PiXL for initiating this project and supporting us in the first year and school governor, Charlotte Chadler, for supporting the project through KPMG.”