ST German’s Cathedral has been awarded a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge for the educational visits it hosts.
Awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, the LOtC Quality Badge combines for the first time learning and safety into one easily recognisable badge for all organisations providing learning outside the classroom experiences.
The diocesan schools’ officer, Reverend James McGowan, said: ‘Being awarded the LOtC Quality Badge is fantastic news for all the staff and volunteers at the cathedral. It shows that we offer young people the type of high quality learning experiences they really benefit from.
‘We’re thrilled to get official recognition for our efforts and we look forward to welcoming even more children and young people to the cathedral as part of their Religious Education curriculum, and also as they to engage with the rapidly developing programme of music education and provision based at the cathedral.’
Since September 2012 the cathedral has welcomed more than 300 of the island’s key stage 2 and 3 pupils (aged between seven and 14) to explore the building.
During visits they also have the opportunity to get up close to some of the island’s most prized and culturally important treasures.
The past year has seen the development of the Cathedral Choristers, which are rapidly becoming one of the top choirs here for those under 14, and many of the island’s schools have taken part in music workshops.
More than 950 organisations in the United Kingdom have already been awarded the Quality Badge, including museums, adventurous activity and field study centres, places of worship, art galleries, visitor attractions, student travel companies and farms. The cathedral is currently one of only three holders of the LOtC Quality Mark on the Isle of Man.
Beth Gardner, chief executive of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, said: ‘Educational visits are among the most memorable experiences in a child’s school life, and learning outside the classroom has many proven educational benefits.
‘The LOtC Quality Badge will reduce red tape and provide assurance for schools, thereby ensuring that many more young people have memorable, exciting and valuable learning outside the classroom experiences. I congratulate the Cathedral Church of St German on being awarded the LOtC Quality Badge.’
To find out more about the cathedral visit the website www.peelcathedral.im, or email James McGowan at education(at)sodorandman.im, or for more details about the music development contact the cathedral’s director of music, Dr Peter Litman, by emailing cathedralorganist(at)manx.net
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