Celebrating Success

Badge Achievement Award

The Badge Achievement Award at Great Oaks is a unique program that recognises students who excel not only academically but also display exceptional qualities in various aspects of their lives. This initiative celebrates students who go above and beyond, fostering a culture of achievement, leadership and community spirit.

Award Details

• Recipents of the Badge Achievement Award receive a certificate and a grant of up to £200 
• A distinctive feature of the award is that each student decides how to use their grant to benefit the wider school community. This could involve purchasing new equipment or organaising activities for all students.

Purpose and Impact

The Badge Achievement Award is designed to:

• Encourage holistic excellence by recognising achievement beyond academics.
• Empower students to make positive impact on their peers and school environment.
• Promote community-mindness and creativity in giving back.

This Years Students Initiatives

This year, Badge Achievement Award recipents have chosen a variety of projects to enrich the school life including:

• Purchasing a Nintendo controller for everyone to enjoy during lunch breaks. 
• Arranging a pizza party for the whole school at lunchtime.
• Buying a new microscope for science experiments.

Who is Badge?

Richard Samson- better known as ‘Badge’- was our school’s most special patron, and held one of the most distinguished military records of any British soldier of his generation. Though he is no longer with us, Badge's legacy lives on at Great Oaks Small School where he inspired generations of students with his remarkable life and character.

Born locally in Edenbridge, 1920. Badge's early years were spent exploring the beautiful Kent countryside. He joined the army as a boy trumpeter in 1936 and was called to serve his country at the break of the Second World War. What sets Badge apart is the extraodinary breadth of his wartime experience: He fought on every major western front, from the evacuation at Dunkirk, through the deserts of Africa and the mountains of Italy, and back to France for the pivotal Normandy campaign in 1944.

Yet, it is not only Badge's courage on the battlefield that defines his legacy. He is equally remembered for his compassion and humanity - even in the darkest times. One of the most celebrated stories from his service is the rescue of a downed German pilot, an act of kindness that continues to resonate with all who hear it.

This rare combination of bravery and kindness is what makes Badge such an extraordinary role model for our students. Generations of Great Oaks students have been privileged to meet him, listen to his stories and learn from his example. His visits were treasured occasions and we hope his stories will continue to be remembered for many years to come

Long may Badge's remarkable spirit and wisdom inspire the Great Oaks community!

https://d-dayrevisited.co.uk/veterans/richard-samson/