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Children’s University

The Children's University

Westacre Theatre is delighted to now be a recognised Learning Destination for the Children’s University.

All of our drama workshops for young people will gain you a stamp for your Passport to Learning!

See below for information from the Children’s University website and click on the relevant links to find out more!

If you are a child aged between 7 and 14 years, and would like to find out about exciting learning opportunities with the Children’s University, you have come to the right place. It’s impossible to know all the questions you might have, so here are a few to get you started:

What exactly is the Children’s University?

It’s an organisation which signposts you to exciting learning activities which take place outside the normal school day – it could be before school, during lunchtime, after school, during weekends or holidays etc. The activities are all voluntary, it is up to you to choose what you do and when, and the learning always has a link to something you could go on to do at a ‘grown up’ university.

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How do I know it’s any good?

All of the Children’s University learning activities are checked by your local Children’s University staff to make sure that the learning provided is good enough. The places that offer CU approved learning activities are then given the title of Children’s University Learning Destination and they will visibly display our black and gold Learning Destination poster.

What happens after I have completed an activity?

Make sure you have your Children’s University Passport To Learning with you and the Learning Destination will give you a stamp for the number of hours the activity counts for in your passport. The more activities you do, the more the hours add up! You may also be able to have an online version of the passport, known as the E-Passport, where you can upload pictures and comments for the activities you have done and share them with other Children’s University members, as well as find other activities on offer. As the E-Passport is a very new thing, you may have to be patient and wait for this in your area – not all schools are using it yet, but it is on the way!

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At what sort of places can I use my Passport To Learning?

For starters, lots of your after school clubs and holiday activities. Some of the activity clubs in your local area may also be Learning Destinations and there are a growing number of places such as museums and activity days which are also part of Children’s University learning. You can search for Learning Destinations near you by using the menu on the home page. If there is somewhere that you go to and you would like to recommend it as a good place to learn, you can do so by telling your school co-ordinator or your local Children’s University Manager.

How will I know when I have collected enough hours for a certificate?

Your school co-ordinator will check your Passport To Learning and tell you when the next set of certificates will be handed out. For your bronze level certificate, you will need 30 hours, 65 hours for silver and 100 hours for gold. You will usually have the chance to be presented with your certificate at a special graduation ceremony organised by your local Children’s University.

What does it all cost?

Your school will explain how it works locally. Many of the school-based clubs are free, but the usual charges will apply for public clubs and places of interest.

What do I do next?

You can usually only be a member of the local Children’s University if your school is taking part in the scheme. The best place to ask is at your school. You can also check out the details of your nearest local Children’s University centre by using the menu on the home page.