Now in its fourth year, 128 Year 8 pupils from Newmarket Academy will participate in Dubai Future Champions Education Week from Monday, 9th to Friday, 13th October, the first day of Dubai Future Champions Festival.
The programme aims to engage local children with the unique heritage of the local area in which they live, raise the employment aspirations and expectations of the Academy’s students as well as introduce them to the variety of employment opportunities offered by the racing industry. This initiative has been made possible by the generous support of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Newmarket Racecourses.
The five-day education programme is structured around the racing industry and throughout the week students will undertake racing related tasks and lessons incorporating topics such as science, geography, history, art, fitness, nutrition, and photography.
This week-long programme will see pupils complete a number of educational activities during visits to Newmarket-based industry stakeholders including Newmarket Racecourses, Tattersalls, Rossdales, the British Racing School and the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art.
Starting on Monday, students will learn about the rich history and heritage of horseracing with a visit to the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art. This will include a tour of the galleries and Palace House as well as visiting a number of the equine residents at the Retraining of Racehorses Yard too.
On Tuesday, the students will visit the British Racing School and Rossdales Veterinary Practise where science will be the main focus, including an insight into one of the leading equine vets in the world as well as a nutrition workshop.
Day three will be all about the life of a racehorse and will include a trip to the magnificent Dalham Hall Stud and Tattersalls, Europe’s leading Bloodstock Auctioneers. Dalham Hall Stud is the headquarters of Godolphin, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s global stallion operation.
Following three action packaged days, day four will be a time for students to reflect on their activities and interpret what they have learned creatively through writing, music and art workshops at Newmarket Academy.
The week concludes with a trip to the Rowley Mile Racecourse on Friday, 13th October, allowing the students to witness the four-legged subjects of their week’s learning and soak up the atmosphere of a fantastic days racing.
Councillor Andy Drummond, Mayor of Newmarket, said;
“Dubai Future Champions Education Week provides Newmarket Academy students with a unique opportunity to further their learning alongside exploring and better understanding their immediate surroundings.
“It is such a exciting time for the town and by engaging local children throughout the week, they are able to gain a more in depth insight into some of the aspects associated with horseracing which in turn showcases potential future employment options within the industry.
“With the Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project in full swing, the benefits of utilising learning through engagement are stronger than ever. The improved exam results from the Academy this year and the Ofsted judgement improvement as well really is something that all of Newmarket can be proud of.
“The contribution made by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been extremely generous and strongly represents His Highness’s on-going commitment to Newmarket and the local community, as well as the younger generations who continue to drive the town forward.
“I look forward to many more successful years of these programmes and would like to acknowledge all stakeholders involved as without them, these types of initiatives wouldn’t exist.”
