Aces Award

The ACES award is a bespoke accreditation designed by Nonsuch and endorsed by Goldsmiths and Leicester Universities.

The ACES award encourages students to discover new skills and interests and develop a sense of responsibility and personal commitment to doing what they can to improve the world around them and increase the well-being of others. In short, ACES is designed to aid students in becoming better persons, more active and committed citizens, and future leaders working to create a better world.

Students should complete 25 hours under each of the sections for Creativity, Action and Service and 10 hours for Exploration. The programme should be completed when students begin Year 13. Action – participation in expeditions (including DoE), individual and team sports and physical training; it can also include carrying out creative and service projects.

Creativity – is interpreted as imaginatively as possible to cover a wide range of arts and other activities and to include creativity by the individual student in designing and carrying out service projects.

Exploration – demonstrating intellectual curiosity by going beyond ones subject and investigating areas of interest which encourage asking why and how and applying this knowledge to think innovatively

Service – collaborative engagement with the community through voluntary work; it can include environmental and international projects

This programme will encourage students to be involved in activities as individuals, and as part of a team. It will enable students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development as well as their social and civic development.

Examples of what students can participate in to complete the ACES award can be seen in the table below:

Creativity

Choir Drama Production Photography SCHMAG

Fashion show Talent show

Speech and debate club Dance Class

Playing an instrument Organising a tournament Editing a newsletter Writing an article for a competition Making a drama set

Action Service Exploration

Netball Hockey Football Swimming Student leadership role Volunteering in care home

Lecture programmes University workshops Volunteering in primary school Future Learn course Volunteering in charity shop Avon Tyrrell workshops

Circuits Personal Gym Programme Making a drama set Supporting school library

Yoga course Peer mentoring Making a drama set Active role in a community club i.e. treasurer/sorting out kit

Rugby Working for local political parties

Athletics Tennis Assisting at school events Organising Arts/PE awards evening Running a club or society Essay competitions Curiosity workshops

Alumni talks Reading Journal