Grade 10 students at the school committed to further education and employment beyond the end of the year at their Inspiring Futures assembly.

Held on September 20, the assemble involved the signing of the pledge - dubbed the Inspiring Futures Charter - and is part of a long-running partnership with the Beacon Foundation.

The Beacon Foundation is a non-profit organisation which works with schools nationally to keep students motivated and help develop pathways into further education or training.

ALSO IN THE NORTHERN MIDLANDS

The school has partnered with the foundation since 2005 in an effort to help boost enrollment numbers and student opportunities beyond grade 10.

Figures released by the Education Department this year showed the school had a total of 295.6 full-time equivalent enrollments in the first term - up two from the same period in 2018.

Lyons Liberal MHR Mark Shelton, a former student himself, attended the assembly.

He spoke to students about having pride in the district and contributing to the community through involvement in sporting and volunteer organisations.

The school was treated to the sounds of the K-6 choir, with Northern Midlands Council mayor Mary Knowles also making a special presentation on behalf of the municipality.

Students then signed the charter, committing them to continue study or be in full-time employment before the end of March 2020.

"It is really exciting to see our young people commit to their futures beyond year 10," said Sarah Dowling, the school's grade 10 co-ordinator. "All of our students have their plans in place for next year which is great to see."

For student leader Ruth Williams, the pledge was a valuable one. "It has made me want to strive for the best opportunities and working hard to achieve my goals," she said.

Beacon Foundation chief executive Scott Harris said finishing grade 12 was an "important milestone" for young people to have the "best chance of success".

"Having the students' families and wider community on board at such an event shows them that they're being supported in the next, important stage of their lives."

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