The Cobblers Study Centre Challenge has been in full swing. Children from Bellinge Primary, Rectory Farm, St Andrews, Standens Barn and Duston Primary Schools have been spending four days at the Study Centre enjoying a variety of activities aimed at improving their numeracy, literacy and ICT skills as well as raising their self esteem.

The four-day programme included the 'Club Challenge' in which they took over their favourite sports club buying players, designing a new stadium, choosing a team manager and designing their own home and away kits using Origami designs. An orienteering maths challenge was set around the stadium for an afternoon of fun!

The second day was spent at Brixworth Country Park for more team building activities and orienteering. We were so fortunate to experience some of the best days of sunshine this autumn making the outdoor experience excellent.

On the third day the children were given problem solving activities in teams, the children built drag racers from Lego kits, programmed their 'buggies' to perform various tasks using Robolab software. In the afternoon the group discussed global warming and the effects of recycling.

During the final day at the Cobblers Study Centre the children created and produced their own music with great results finally ending the day with crafts and a few games of football.

"Feedback from parents and pupils has been very positive, demonstrating the benefit of the programme that the students have been following," said Cobblers Study Centre manager Jean Limpitlaw. "The centre is going from strength to strength, helping to raise standards in schools with the children working extremely hard during all the activities. They are a credit to their schools."

The whole Challenge programme is funded by the Northampton Town Learning Partnership and the Excellence Cluster.

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