Thumbs up for “HEads Up”

Students have given a thumbs up to ‘HEads Up’, an initiative backed by HeppSY+ at RNN colleges.

‘HEads Up’ forms one of the innovation projects that HeppSY+ is funding this academic year. The programme aims to increase confidence and resilience and widen students’ perceptions of what they can achieve enabling them to access higher education when they leave college. The project includes four different sessions with a group of students from each campus: self-defence, raft building, caving and finally a university trip planned for the summer term which will bring together students from across the RNN sites. The activities provide the students with a challenge outside of their everyday college environment.

Earlier this year a group of three Level 3 students studying Diploma in Sport from Dearne Valley College’s RNN Group went caving as part of their innovation project.

The students visited Stoney Middleton in the Peak District in February, and were led through the caves by instructor, Ian, from Thornbridge Outdoors.

The students challenged themselves to go underground and had a great afternoon trying something out of their comfort zone. All the students took the extra challenges the instructor set in their stride and felt a sense of accomplishment at the end of the activity.

A member of staff who attended the day said, “The learners were a credit to themselves and their college”

One of the students who took part said, “At first I wasn’t sure if I could do some of the challenges the instructor set, but I completed them all and I’m really looking forward to the next activity”