Heroes For The Future at Sidley

Year 6 pupils were joined by children from All Saints and Netherfield primary schools for the event and to hear a talk by Henry Adams of the Shackleton Foundation.

Henry was one of three explorers who made an expedition to the North Pole in 2008/9 to retrace the original journey made by Sir Earnest Shackleton and his team in 1921 - an incredible achievement then but even more remarkable perhaps when Shackleton decided to turn back 80 miles short of his target because he was worried for the safety of his men.

The talk was illustrated by archive photographs, equipment such as clothing, and even the presence of two young huskies similar to the ones which would have pulled sleds across the snow for mile after frozen mile.

The Heroes For The Future event was organised by Hastings mother-of-four Rachel Roser who wanted to encourage children to aim high in life and not be discouraged before they even start out.

She commented: "I wanted to tell them they can achieve whatever they want to achieve as long as they work harder."

Having taken Heroes For The Future to other schools in the area, including Bexhill High, Rachel commented: "I think children feel impressed but happy because they realise this is just a normal person who has done something amazing, and that people can do amazing things. "One of the things I wanted to show children was the world is a big and exciting place, and as they grow up, it is nice to know there are lots of new experiences, not just things they are familiar with."

Deputy head teacher James Freeston felt the Heroes For The Future event was in line with what he hopes is already happening at Sidley CP school to enthuse children.

He said: "This ties in brilliantly with our new curriculum - we are in the process of writing a new curriculum that is exciting and challenging and engages all the children...we are even camping outside on Thursday night on the field outside the school.

"I feel as a school what we do is give children confidence so they can know no limits.

"Projects like this are fundamental to that. What we are doing at Sidley is making that integral to our curriculum...so that children realise that learning is fun and exciting; and as teachers as well, for us it means so much more if you are teaching something that is fun and exciting, and you can communicate that."