Personal Development

The Trust supports students to be confident, well-rounded young people who their communities can value and be proud of.

To achieve this, the Trust has embedded leadership programmes and extensive Outward Bound experiences throughout our academies.

Activity residentials

In recent years, over 500 children from the Trust’s primary schools have been able to enjoy overnight residentials, and students from the Trust’s secondary academies have been able to enjoy experiences across the globe.

Thanks to the generosity of the David Ross Foundation, the Trust sent 12 Year 10 pupils to St Vincent on an ecological and conservation project, and a further 16 on a three week programme into the Canadian wilderness.

Leadership

Lodge Park Academy has a growing Combined Cadet Force units, encouraging young people to see the value of self discipline and self respect.

A number of our secondary academies are undertaking a peer mentoring programme through the Oppidan Foundation.

Our academies also operate sports coaching programmes, debating courses with organisations such as The Kalisher Trust and undertake Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Yet, where students really excel, is in the role they play in shaping their academies. Student councils are a strong part of every DRET academy. They help determine rules and set the expectations and behaviour standards that their peers conform to.

Debating & Public Speaking

The Trust has a number of debating programmes running across both our secondary and primary academies.

All Year 8 students, for example, attend public speaking workshops and in Year 9 take part in debating sessions. This programme concludes with the Trust’s Year 10 students having sessions in Critical Thinking and Debating. This culminates is an annual Debating Final at the Lakeside Theatre at the University of Nottingham.

It gave me time to think of home, and think of the things I missed and the things I didn’t miss as much as I thought I would. It gave me time to learn, or at least remember, to be grateful. I think the experience made me more appreciative and for that I’m forever thankful.”
David Issekya
Student who went on an Outward Bound Canada Residential

“All children challenged themselves to climb a bit higher, go that bit further and surprised themselves with their achievements.”
Staff Member
Welton CE Academy