At Leigh Beck Academy we are a fully supportive partner of the Essex Children’s University.

The Essex Children's University™ is a part of the national Children's University™ organisation that provides 7 to 14 year olds (and 5 and 6 year olds learning with their families) with exciting and innovative learning activities and experiences outside normal school hours.

We celebrate achievement and reward participation through our graduations Ceremonies where the children receive their certificates.

Raising children's aspirations is important to us and we aim to develop the understanding that learning can be the satellite navigation to better places in life!

Children participate in a range of activities both within school, through staff led clubs and through learning destinations outside of school.

Clubs are changed regularly at Leigh Beck to ensure everyone gets an opportunity to take part.

Learning Destinations are places and organisations to which children can 'travel' with their 'Passport to Learning'.  They provide high quality learning opportunities and experiences, and have passed the Children's University quality assurance process.

There are two types of Learning Destination:

Public Learning Destination

Places which provide Children's University validated learning activities and which are publicly accessible, such as museums, wildlife centres, castles, zoos, sports coaching, libraries, theatres etc.

Restricted Learning Destination

These places are not publicly accessible, such as schools and clubs, guide and scout groups, which require membership. Learning modules which take place in the workplace, for example hospitals, hotels, newspaper, football grounds, offices etc are also Restricted Learning Destinations.

More about Learning Destinations

Learning Destination can range from a museum to a farm or from an airport to a university, as long as the learning activity connects with study you can undertake at University for the `grown ups'.

Learning Destinations display the CU Learning destinations logo prominently inside and outside their environment, clearly visible to children who may want to use their Passport to Learning. 

At a Learning Destination, Children's University students can get their Passport to Learning stamped which in turn will lead to the award of National Certificates.