UK Education News

The Queen’s College equestrian team rode home to victory at the Stonar Inter-Schools One Day Event Championship last weekend – one of the major schools riding events in the UK. The team came first out of 17 teams from schools from all over England on a score of 85.5, finishing an outstanding nine points ahead of their competitors.

The Championship consisted of dressage, show jumping and cross country, in which the four Queen’s girls gave very strong performances.

Year 8 pupil Anna Stillwell, from Fitzhead, won her section with 28.5 after scoring 24.5 on the dressage, receiving 4 faults in the show jumping, and finishing clear and inside the time on the cross country.

Kate Shapland, also in Year 8 from Fitzhead, won her section after achieving 27 on her dressage.

Georgina and Henrietta Ewell from Illminster, in Year 9 and Year 6 respectively, both contributed to the tremendous team result. Georgina scored 26 in the dressage, 4 faults in the show jumping and clear inside the time on cross country, coming third with 30 in the same section as Anna. Henrietta achieved 36 in the dressage, 8 faults in the show jumping, and finished clear and inside the time on the cross country with an overall score of 46.

The girls “couldn’t quite believe” how well they performed and were thrilled to have won such a major championship for Queen’s College.

Said Headmaster, Chris Alcock: “Many of our pupils at Queen’s College are keen riders who are ranked highly in the schools riding arena and who are extremely well supported by both their parents and staff here at the school. We have a strong riding heritage here at Queen’s. Olympic horsewoman Mary King sent both her children to Queen’s College and Emily King, who left the school last year, is now pursuing a professional riding career.

Georgina and Henrietta regularly ride at Cotley Pony Club and Lamberts Castle Riding Club and Henrietta received a signed book from Mary King at last week’s event as part of her prize. Kate is a member of at Taunton Vale Pony Club and Anna rides with Taunton Vale Harriers Pony Club and Taunton and District Riding Club.

Where better to take pupils to experience the richness of history, religion and culture than Rome which is the city where pupils studying RE at Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe recently visited to enhance their subject knowledge and support their spiritual development. Students visited many cultural, religious and historical sites which tied in well with their classroom studies.

Saint Paul’s pupils joined with Saint Matthew’s pupils as part of the Manchester Catholic Education Partnership (MANCEP). It gave both staff and pupils a fantastic experience of the historic city, a chance to form relationships and create great memories.
The pupils immersed themselves in many aspects of Italian culture visiting many exceptional sites of classical, religious, artistic and architectural importance from the beautiful Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica to the historical sites of Ancient Rome such as the stunning Colosseum.

The group was fortunate to attend a papal audience with the newly elected Pope Francis I. He drove round the crowds in an open top jeep before speaking to the gathered crowd in numerous languages. The pupils commented that he came across as a warm and friendly man who acknowledged the presence of so many young people at the Vatican that day. Some pupils made a phone call home, so that parents could also share in this amazing experience by hearing the Pope speak.

“The visit to this legendary and captivating city has been extremely formative and motivating for the pupils,” commented Mrs Lisa Baillie, Head of RE at Saint Paul’s. “It was fantastic to be standing in The Sistine Chapel where, only a few weeks before, the choosing of the new pope had taken place. It was still possible to see where the chimney had been where the votes from each ballot were burned, to make the decisions visible to the crowds waiting outside in the square. If only the walls of The Sistine Chapel could talk, I am sure that they would have some stories to tell!”

Mrs Baillie added: “Whilst in Italy, we also visited the famous city of Pompeii. It was eerie to see the numerous people for whom time had stopped not long after the volcano had erupted nearly 2,000 year ago. It was a hot day in Pompeii, and it was an exhausted and suntanned group that returned to the hotel.”
“The amazing range of classical and historical sites in Rome, and its location at the centre of the Roman Catholic Church, makes it a superb destination for a school trip,” explained Miss Kathryn Meehan, RE teacher at Saint Paul’s. “We were sad to be leave Rome, but many new friendships have been made, and we have promised to meet up again in Manchester to remember our fantastic trip to Rome.”
“We see educational visits and trips as very important for our pupils, they can stimulate and inspire, aid personal, social and spiritual development, as well as motivate learners,” commented Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s. “Rome boasts a wealth of history, art, culture and religion so makes an ideal place to visit to cover a wide range of subjects. The trip was a great way to reinforce the pupils’ learning and help them remember some of the facts from the classroom. I am sure that the visit will be one that they will remember for a very long time.”

Ella Laws, a Year 13 Wymondham College Student, has been selected to receive a prestigious English Speaking Union Scholarship, to spend next year as a senior student at St Mary’s School, Memphis, Tennessee.
Ella, who hopes to go on to read Economics, won her scholarship after an intensive selection process at Dartmouth House in London, the Headquarters of the ESU. “They wanted to know how resilient and flexible I would be in an entirely new environment,” says Ella, “and I am now very excited at the fantastic opportunity I have been given. I am looking forward to taking new subjects and developing new interests that I didn’t have before.”

Wymondham College Principal, Melvyn Roffe, praised Ella for gaining the Scholarship. “She has done incredibly well to gain this award and I am sure it will be an excellent experience for her. This sort of exchange is very much part of our ethos at Wymondham College – we are currently selecting one of next year’s Year 12 students to spend a month in Argentina on a scholarship to study at our partner school there. But the ESU Scholarship is very special and will further strengthen our ties with the United States which date back to when the College was a US Army Hospital in World War Two.”

Ella is now booking her flights and applying her visa for her trip to the States. Looking at her host school’s calendar for next year she can see that life is going to be very different from her experience at Wymondham College. “All the events are so absolutely American – they even have a Dads’ and Daughters’ Prom, but sadly I’m not sure my Dad will be able to fly to Memphis just for one night. Maybe I’ll have to borrow someone else’s Dad instead!”

A group of Year 7 pupils from Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe were able to take an incredible journey through time and space when they watched a spectacular planetarium show at William Hulme Grammar School in Manchester.

The event introduced the wonders of the universe to the pupils with an amazing and engaging display of the Solar System and the Universe. They were presented with a guide to the movement of the planets, the phases of the Moon and even the mythology of some famous constellations.

“The pupils were able to immerse themselves in the wonders of space at this unique event,” explained Miss Maria Towli, Science teacher at Saint Paul’s. “The display brought science to life for the pupils who were able to examine motions of the Sun and stars across the sky. The pupils enjoyed the experience very much; their evaluation forms were full of praise for the whole experience.”

“The trip to the planetarium at William Hulme Grammar School provided a unique opportunity for pupils to engage with the wonders of the universe and explore and experience the amazing night sky,” commented Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s. “Astronomy is part of the National Curriculum and this visit provided a very valuable experience for our pupils and enhances the learning curriculum. Such visits are greatly appreciated by both the staff and the pupils.”

Georgina Hopgood, a Year 11 student at The Maynard School in Exeter, has won The Child of Achievement award in the Radio Exe Pride of Devon Awards.

The Pride of Devon Awards are new for 2013 and celebrate people in Devon who go the extra mile to help others in the community or who are doing extraordinary things without getting the recognition that they deserve.

Georgina will be attending the Awards Ceremony this Friday at The Devon County Show. There will be winners from 12 other categories, including Local Military Hero Award, Carer of the Year Award and 999 Emergency Hero of the Year Award.

Georgina’s Award is in recognition of her amazing commitment to fundraising for charity. Last year she successfully completed the 6 Peak Challenge, raising £4,673 for Children’s Hospice South West, Scottish Mountain Rescue and Help For Heroes.

Not content with this amazing achievement, Georgina has set herself a new challenge for 2013. She will be climbing Snowdon on Sunday 7 July to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West. Georgina will be climbing Snowdon with the ‘Dads United’ group, a group of people who have been brought together through their children who have received or are currently receiving the care and support of the charity.

Budding, young business students from The Sixth Form College, Solihull graduated from the national Career Academy programme at London’s Institute of Education last week.

The students are all studying a BTEC Extended Diploma in Business course at the College and joined the College’s Career Academy programme 18 months ago. The national programme is run by Career Academies UK and it aims to tackle social mobility and raise the aspirations of 16 to 19-year-olds, boosting their employability skills by giving them real life experiences of the workplace.

Our students involvement in the Career Academy began in 2010 at ‘A Capital Experience’ in London. Guest speaker at that event was Action Jackson and he was again in London last week to offer his congratulations as the students graduated. James McCreary, Chief Executive of Career Academies UK, was also there to congratulate the students.

In order to graduate, students had to attend an internship, guru lectures and visits to various businesses over the 18 month programme. Their internships were for six weeks and the College is grateful to Grant Thornton, Coventry Building Society, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Chiltern Railways and Solihull Community Housing Trust for providing these. During their involvement in the Career Academy, the students were also assigned a business mentor for support and guidance.

Career Academy Business Co-ordinator, Ruth Sharp, commented: “The event was a great experience for the students and the culmination of lots of hard work and dedication from the students. The College is grateful to Chiltern Railways for funding the travel costs of the students and staff for this event.”

The students present at this graduation ceremony were Anna Chandrasehar, Samantha Galligan, Dinesh Jalaf, Holly Matthews and Wada Sketchley.

CAFOD, the Catholic Association for Overseas Development, has been benefitting from the fundraising by pupils from Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe. The charity works in many countries to tackle poverty, encourage development and fight for global justice.

The pupils worked hard to raise sufficient money to donate water for a family as they thought that having a glass of water or taking a shower were things that we take for granted everyday and that water should be available for everyone. They did some research and found that boreholes can give people around the world drinking water which won’t kill them and clean water to wash in which will keep them safer from infections.

“At Saint Paul’s we firmly believe in engendering in the pupils a sense of social responsibility and a culture of being givers not takers,” explained Mrs Helen Farrar, Head of Languages at Saint Paul’s. “The pupils did a fantastic job with this fundraising; I am very proud of them and impressed with their attitude and enthusiasm.”

“The school actively supports a number of local, national, and international charities,” commented Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s. “An appreciation and understanding of the ways in which charities help the less fortunate also forms an important part of our curriculum. We encourage our pupils to consider others in need and to help them through giving of both their time and effort.”

The Carnabys, an unsigned rock band featuring two Institute alumni have won the Grand Prize in Hard Rock’s Global Battle of the Bands Competition – Hard Rock Rising.

This fantastic prize will see them embark on the opportunity of a lifetime: a World Tour in six renowned cities arranged by Hard Rock International; a spot on the bill at the Hard Rock Calling Festival (London), alongside the likes of Kasabian, Paul Weller and Bruce Springsteen; an album and music video produced through Hard Rock Records; and new music equipment and gear valued at $10,000.

The Carnabys are a five-piece rock band with Institute alumni Jack Mercer on vocals and Ben Gittins on guitar. Both studied on the Institute’s intensive one-year Higher Diploma in Music Performance 2011-2012. Jack commented on his time at the school: “I really enjoyed my time at the Institute, studying there helped me hone my skills on and off the stage, and prepare for situations I have been in with The Carnabys”.

Higher Diploma Programme Leader, Mike Sturgis congratulated the students, saying: “We are extremely proud of what Jack Mercer and Ben Gittins have achieved with The Carnabys. Their success is indicative of the huge amount of talent, drive and dedication found in Institute students.”

Following several battle rounds against some of London’s top talent, The Carnabys were chosen to represent London and moved on to the global voting round in which they came 11th out of 25. In the final stage a panel of music industry professionals; including Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band), Toby Leighton-Pope (Live Nation’s Senior Vice President of Music), Hard Rock International’s Head of Music & Artist Relations, John Kirkpatrick, and Hard Rock Records Co-Heads of A&R, James Buell and Blake Smith, named The Carnabys as the Grand Prize winner.

For more information on events and courses at the Institute, contact us directly:
www.icmp.co.uk
02073280222
enquiries@icmp.co.uk

Oakthorpe Primary School
Tile Kiln Lane
London
N13 6BY
Tel: 0208 807 4689

Required September 2013
MPS (Outer London) plus TLR2 (£4,227)
(there is a possibility of the TLR being increased depending on the successful candidates proven skills & abilities)
Foundation Stage Leader

Would you like the opportunity to lead a dedicated and enthusiastic team? Do you strive for high standards in everything you do? Are you creative and fun-loving? If so then we are looking for you!
We are keen to appoint a talented Early Years teacher to lead our creative and committed Early Years team. This is an exciting opportunity to join our outstanding school as a member of our senior management team and to further develop our Early Years provision.

The successful candidate will:
• Be an excellent Foundation Stage teacher
• Be passionate about the development of children in the Early Years
• Have the ability to motivate, inspire and lead others
• Be caring, friendly and enthusiastic
• Have the skills to build on our strengths and develop our provision further
• Work effectively with colleagues and parents to achieve high standards for our children

Oakthorpe is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are committed to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

If you would like to know more about the role and would like to arrange a visit please contact call or email Tina Stavrou office@oakthorpe.enfield.sch.uk Tel: 0208 807 4689
Application packs available on our website: ie application form, job description person specification and letter to applicant.

Closing date midday on Monday 20th May 2013
Interviews Wednesday 22nd /Thursday 23 May 2013

Completed application forms to be sent electronically to office@oakthorpe.enfield.sch.uk

If you do not hear from us by Wednesday 22nd May 2013 please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Oakthorpe Primary School
Tile Kiln Lane
London
N13 6BY
Tel: 0208 807 4689

Classroom Teacher
Required September 2013
MPS (Outer London) + TLR2 – to be agreed dependant on proven skills and abilities

Would you like to work in a highly successful school with an outstanding reputation both locally and nationally?

Oakthorpe is a warm and welcoming high achieving school that serves a diverse community. We would like to appoint a caring, enthusiastic and hard working teacher to join our supportive and friendly staff. This post would suit a creative and inspiring individual, who has high expectations for all pupils; proven knowledge and skills of effective teaching and learning in KS1; and the ability to work as part of a team.

Oakthorpe offers good opportunities for professional development and if desired the chance to consolidate leadership and management skills; the freedom to be innovative; and an exciting working environment with plenty of fun!

Applicants will:
• Be committed to outstanding teaching and learning
• Have high expectations of themselves and for children
• Be caring, friendly and enthusiastic
• Have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to support less
experienced teachers and/or trainee teachers
• Work effectively with colleagues and parents to achieve high standards
for our children
• Have a positive and flexible approach
• Be willing to embrace our fun loving and inclusive ethos

It would be an advantage if candidates have an interest in and ability to support our work in training teachers, or to support the development of less experienced staff; or to take a leading role in an area of the curriculum or an aspect of the school’s work, for example early reading or maths. If you would like to know more about the role and would like to arrange a visit please contact call or email Tina Stavrou office@oakthorpe.enfield.sch.uk Tel: 0208 807 4689

Application packs available on our website: ie application form, job description person specification and letter to applicant.
Closing date midday on Monday 20th May 2013
Interviews Wednesday 22nd / Thursday 23 May 2013

Completed application forms to be sent electronically to office@oakthorpe.enfield.sch.uk
If you do not hear from us by Wednesday 22nd May 2013 please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Oakthorpe is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are committed to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

Oakthorpe Primary School
Tile Kiln Lane
London
N13 6BY
Tel: 0208 807 4689

School-based Lead Mentor for Initial Teacher Training Provision

MPS/UPS (Outer London) + TLR2 – to be agreed dependant on proven skills and abilities
2 days a week, flexible with the possibility of up to full time
Required September 2013

Are you passionate about teacher training and sharing good practice to develop the skills and knowledge of others? If so, you may be interested in this unique position.

Oakthorpe Primary School, as the lead partner of the 2Schools Consortium, has been at the forefront of school-based teaching training since 2002. Our successful provision now trains between 40 and 50 trainees annually across a partnership of over 30 schools.

As a result of increasing numbers and the development of the School Direct Programme we wish to appoint an additional member to our training team. The successful candidate will join the Training Manager at Oakthorpe Primary School in supporting and mentoring trainees based in partnership schools around Enfield.

Applicants will:
• Have proven skills and abilities of successful teaching / leadership practice in the primary phase and/or within an ITT provision
• Be committed to ensuring that high quality teachers enter the profession
• Have a passion for coaching and mentoring
• Be able to identify strengths in practice and enable trainees to make good progress
• Have an ability to build relationships between schools in order to share and celebrate outstanding practice.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills

It will be essential to have use of a car.
In consultation with the successful applicant this post could be extended beyond 2 days, to include small group or class teaching.

If you would like to know more about the role and would like to arrange a visit please call or email Isabella on training@oakthorpe.enfield.sch.uk. You can also have a look at the 2Schools Consortium website www.2schools.org or contact Isabella Meraviglia-Mora on 020 8807 6906 for a chat. Visits are warmly welcomed and an application form, job description and letter to applicant is available on our website www.oakthorpe.enfield.sch.uk
Closing date 5.00 pm on Monday 20 May 2013.

Interviews Friday 24 May 2013

Completed application forms to be sent electronically to training@oakthorpe.enfield.sch.uk
If you do not hear from us by Wednesday 22 May 2013 please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Oakthorpe is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are committed to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

Top academic school, Queen’s College Taunton, is launching a state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre which will be ready to open in September 2013.

The new Centre has been designed as an interim between school and university and will be open late into the evening as well as at weekends. The school undertook comprehensive research with its Year 11 and 12 students to find out what they would like in a new Sixth Form and includes car parking space for those who have passed their driving tests, a specially created walkway linking the Centre to the rest of the campus and an outside terrace with exceptional views over the School playing fields.

Internally, the new Sixth Form Centre includes large social spaces equipped with multimedia facilities, televisions, comfortable sofas and funky furniture, games areas and a cafe-style kitchen facility. Not only will the Centre provide a social base and work area for pupils during the week, but will also be used by the students at the weekends as a Sixth Form Club, where students can meet up and relax with friends, take part in co-curricular activities, study individually or in groups, discuss work with staff, make themselves something to eat and use the shower facilities after sports matches.
In addition to modern silent study areas, which have been designed as pods, with wireless or plug in laptop connections, the new Centre has a full IT suite and collaborative study areas where pupils can work together, talking through ideas that have come up in the classroom, discussing issues and resolving problems. A comprehensive media resource area provides A Level students with information including worldwide university options and prospectuses, careers guidance, Gap year ideas, technical courses and apprenticeships. This is supplemented by a full careers programme including work placements, visits from outside speakers, university admissions tutors, careers speed dating events and visits to Higher Education Fairs and open days.

Two seminar-style classrooms, used solely for A level subject teaching, have been designed in a flexible fashion so that students can work in the round or in lecture style and the Centre will be managed at all times by a specialist Sixth Form Centre Manager as well as the Head of Sixth Form and Sixth Form tutors.
Said Headmaster, Chris Alcock: “We are extremely excited about the launch of our new Sixth Form Centre which is the only stand-alone Sixth Form facility in the area and provides young people with the freedom and flexibility to develop before they go onto university. Queen’s College has an excellent reputation at A Level and some of the top results in the South West; despite the fact our students are mixed ability. However it is the school ethos, our small class sizes and excellent teaching which really make the difference.”

Mr G Hodson
Headteacher
Beverley Grammar School
Queensgate
Beverley
HU17 8NF
Tel: 01482 881531

We are looking for an experienced specialist SEND teacher, to work across key stages 3-5, as part of a forward thinking Learning Support Team.

This post includes the teaching and facilitation of specialist programmes, assessment for access arrangements and exam concessions, and the coordination and delivery of the one to one accelerated learning provision.

The school is committed to the professional development of all staff and to promoting the safeguarding and welfare of all students.
Interviews will be held on Friday 24th May
The above post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Further details and an application form are available on the school website: www.beverleygrammar.co.uk. Forms and a letter of application should be returned to the Head. Closing date: Tuesday 21st May 2013.

The story starts two years ago with two rugby teams …

Underdogs from the outset, two teams bagged the titles of County Champions and County Plate Winners at gripping finals in 2012 and they celebrated in true style and well deserved fashion…credit to them! Both teams fought hard and battled to the end to be able to take home the titles.

And who would have thought that two years ago the same two Rugby teams from the Dukeries Academy would be on familiar territory again by securing places in the finals, this time, both in the County Cup finals!

Richard Byrom commented “It would have been unthinkable; you could only have dreamt such a situation. We at the Dukeries have always been more of a Football school, with rugby playing second fiddle to the Nations favourite.”

However the dream did come true and on April 25th at Paviors Rugby club, the Under 15 team (Yr10) played against Arnold Hill and the Under 16s (Yr. 11) played against Joseph Whitaker. What a great afternoon of sport it was for all the parents, relatives and most importantly the players from the school…..

Year 10 report
Choosing to play against the wind Dukeries started brightly with some strong powerful running from the forwards, led by skipper Blair Holland. However this was short lived and soon Arnold took control and were soon encamped in the Dukeries 22.

For what seemed like an eternity, all the Dukeries players seemed to do was tackle, get up and make another tackle. Everybody on the team defending resolutely, not wanting Arnold to cross their try line.

‘Hit’ of the day was made by George Eley, a really thumping tackle and this seemed to dampen the spirit of the Arnold boys and raise the spirit of the Dukeries players. Half time and amazingly, it was 0-0.

Out came Dukeries full of spirit in the second half and after some good play Ben Jones managed to sneak over the try line to put Dukeries in front 5-0. Back came Arnold, but again strong defence from Dukeries kept them out, and when Blair Holland charged down a 22m drop out, the ball bounced very kindly into his arms and he raced to the line. 10-0 to the Dukeries.

For the first time in the game Dukeries were now on top and after some great support work and passing Ben Jones raced over to seal the victory, he then converted his own try to make the final score 17-0.

Mr. Byrom added “Two years ago this team were an average rugby team, but over the last 24 months, with excellent coaching from Mr. Jonathan Williams and a real hunger and desire to improve, they have shown what can be achieved with hard work commitment and dedication.

April 25th saw them crowned Notts Under 15 County Champions 2013!

Year 11 report
Having just seen the Year 10 Dukeries team win the County Cup the pressure to win and retain their title was immense and when we kicked off this was evident in their performance.

Lots of mistakes early on and some good play from the Joseph Whitaker forwards particularly meant that after 10 minutes Dukeries were 10-0 down and with a lot of work to do.

Typically though back they came and after some strong runs from Lewis Lishman and Steven Andrews, Richard Smith scored to make it 10-5. However back came Joseph Whittaker and some poor tackling by the Dukeries let them score again to make it 15-5 at half time.

A stern half time chat and back came the Dukeries, Lewis Lishman scoring to make it 15-10. Game on!

The game ebbed and flowed with both teams having chances and from a scrum the ball shot out the side, the referee unsighted allowed play to continue and Whittaker scored to make it 22-10.

Dukeries now had a mountain to climb. But typically back they came and after a break from skipper Cranmer, Smith went over for his second try, Ash Tebbett converted and it was 22-17 with just 8 minutes left.

Dukeries threw everything they could at Joseph Whitaker in the last minutes but to no avail, and the game finished 22-17 to Joseph Whittaker.

It had been a great game of rugby and it was the first time that the Dukeries team had lost to another Nottinghamshire side in over 2 years. Well done to the Joseph Whitaker lads but ‘hats off’ to our Dukeries boys.

Mr. Byrom commented “You have been marvelous ambassadors for the school, great role models for our younger students, a pleasure to coach and a great bunch of lads who have shown unbelievable teamwork and hard work on the rugby field over the past two years.”

The unbeaten run, and three titles in two years makes for a great story to be told here at The Dukeries Academy but the success can’t go by without mentioning the dedication of the coaches Jonathan Williams and Richard Byrom, both giving their time to instill real rugby values, teamwork, commitment and pride in winning and losing together.

This commitment saw Richard Byrom crowned The Daily Mail’s “Real Rugby Hero” for his dedication to grassroots rugby, well deserved and modestly accepted, in true Mr. Byrom style…

On 8 May, crowds of Hounslow shoppers in the Treaty Centre were treated to a two-hour live performance by a group of West Thames College music students during the busy lunch hour period.

The students, who are studying BTEC Level 3 Music Performance, performed some well-known songs as well as some that they had penned themselves. The talented students had previously performed at Oxjam last October and followed it up with the launch of their own single Believe released on iTunes.

Music technology students got in on the act too, working as the technical team for the day – setting up all the equipment and operating the mixing desk.

Lecturer Toby Clark who organised the event said: “This is about giving students work-related experience – either as a performer (performing to the public in a commercial venue) or as a technician (setting up and operating the PA system and backline). We have been doing this sort of thing for a long time but it is now becoming a required element of vocational courses.” 

Further information:

Please contact West Thames College, Isleworth, TW7 4HS

Tel: 020 8326 2177 Email: marketing@west-thames.ac.uk

On Saturday 27^th April, Bebington High Sports College Student Ellie Burridge, was crowned WKA British  champion, at an exhibition event hailed as ‘the best inter club event ever’, at the Reebok stadium in Bolton.

Ellie, aged 14, who has been training at the Mersey Thai boxing club for four years, added yet another title to her list after previously winning ‘The Junior North Champion title’ and the ‘Celtic Champion’ in previous years.

Called ‘Rumble at the Reebok Resurrection show’, it was a star studded event attended by more than 300 people including TV and film stunt men and women, plus guest appearances from world champion kick boxer, Russ Williams.

Bebington High Sports College is very proud of Ellies determination and achievement and is wishing her every success in future events.

As part of a series of lessons focused on teaching the creative writing of poetry, pupils from Lochend Community High School, Easterhouse, Glasgow, have been sharpening their skills on various forms of poetry. Eleanor Bell, teacher of English, said, “The S1 section I have been teaching this session are quite an able class and I thought they would relish the opportunity to extend their creativity through a challenging context.”

The class began by looking at more concise forms of poetry such as limerick and haiku but soon progressed to the lengthier sonnet.

Mrs Bell explained, “The stimulus for the writing of the sonnets came from two related sources: a series of visual images and a class discussion after watching the BBC documentary The Toughest Place to be a Binman.”

Below are three of the sonnets written by the pupils.

Diary of an Earthquake

An earthquake has to creep on us that way.

The bonnie lassie’s heart has broken been.

Why did I have to wake up on this day?

I am so scared and help has not been seen.

I miss my fam’ly since we’ve been apart.

Please rescue me and show that you do care.

My horses have gone missing from the cart.

The people dying, is this really fair?

All scratched and bruised by Mother Nature’s wrath.

Nothing is stopping me from feeling fear.

I’m searching for the right way down the path.

I feel as if my life, its end is near.

The stars are falling down on me tonight.

I hope that in the morn will come the light.

By

Shannon Connolly, Chloe McBride,

Morgane McGregor, Bobbi Thomson

Sonnet

 The weather is so frightful late at night.

The clouds make the sky really misty now.

The children are wrapped up all warm and tight ,

Wind making water go throughout the town.

Bare branches beckon to the passing sky

Birds flying high above the glistening stream,

The rising sun to wake the world does try,

The weather changing everybody’s dream.

The day went on as they had lots of fun

The smiles return to faces wracked by pain;

The fathers playing football with their sons,

The mothers brushing leaves off of the lane.

The smiles will start to go as the sun sets

As people start to think of their regrets.

By

Alana Duffy, Teighan Findlay, Chantelle Martin,

Caitlyn Philp, Robyn Purcell

Sonnet of Sorrow

The scenery is far from beautiful

The broken boats and poor folk everywhere.

A constant search for food yet ne’er full

The rich people not e’er willing to share.

The scorching heat changes to freezing nights.

The weather means that they can get no rest

For some there’s not a good future in sight

But help would take a weight off of their chest.

Water surrounds them but they are ne’er clean

Is shelter, food and drink too much to ask?

This must be the saddest they have e’er been

Arising in the morning is a task.

It’s very far from living like a king,

Smiles and good lives is what money could bring.

By Erin O’Donnell & Rose McEnroe

 Bobbi Thomson, an S1 pupil and one of the poets involved in the project, said, “I thoroughly enjoyed writing the poem which came as a bit of a surprise as I haven’t really liked doing this kind of stuff previously. The sonnet was a new form for me – I had heard of the other types of poem before – and at first I found it quite difficult but as we worked on it in our small groups it became easier. I think I would like to try writing one all by myself now.”

Gordon Fisher, Principal Teacher of English and Languages at Lochend said, “This is another showcase for the wonderfully creative talents of a number of the pupils at Lochend and yet another example of Mrs Bell’s great teaching, ability to engage pupils and bring learning to life.”

A group of pupils from Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe visited the Anne Frank + You multimedia exhibition which is currently on display in Manchester. The exhibition, presented by the Anne Frank Trust UK, examines the experiences of Anne Frank, and draws on the parallel context of British teenage life today.

The exhibition was presented in two parts – historical and contemporary. The historical section of the exhibition was centre-staged by a near life-size replica of Anne Frank’s bedroom in which she wrote her diary. It presents the story of Anne Frank and her family, with a pictorial timeline charting the rise of Hitler, the Nazis and the subsequent Holocaust. The contemporary panels present post-Holocaust narratives and issues of identity and moral choices in modern British society.

Ms Michelle Davies, History teacher at Saint Paul’s, explained: “The Anne Frank + You exhibition focused on a range of important issues including the valuing of diversity; similar life opportunities for all; developing strong and positive relationships between people from different backgrounds and circumstances in school and the workplace.”

“The pupils particularly enjoyed the time spent in the near life-size replica of Anne Frank’s bedroom where she wrote her diary,” said Mrs Irena Savova, the School Librarian. “They were able to imagine how difficult life must have been for her at that time.”

“It is important for our pupils to learn about, and take time to reflect upon, the past and those who have suffered such terrible injustice,” commented Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s. “The pupils were able to develop their understanding of what life was like for Anne Frank as the exhibition links with our school curriculum in Citizenship, History and RE.”

Law students at The Sixth Form College, Solihull have benefitted from the expertise of Law lecturers at Aston University this term.

A group of 14 students visited Aston this term for a talk about studying Law at university and were then given a project on Contract Law. The project was optional, but six of our most dedicated Law students, who have ambitions to study Law at university, decided to continue with the project.

The students were split into two teams and were linked up with mentors, undergraduate law students from Aston. They researched the law, having previously known nothing about contract law, as our students study negligence law instead. They then returned to Aston and they presented their answers to two Law lecturers, one being the Professor of Criminal Law.

In addition, the students also attended a talk by a trainee solicitor, giving them advice on how and when to apply for work experience, different courses available and more.

Elaine Gerard is a Law teacher at the College. She commented, “We are grateful to Aston’s School of Law for this opportunity. The initial talk was very helpful to our students, but the subsequent project was really invaluable to those students who are seriously considering Law as a career. The law lecturers were very complimentary of the standard of our students’ work, commenting that they were good public speakers, had grasped the legal method, found the issues, used facts of cases and applied the law well.”

The Lathallan School, Johnshaven, Pipe Band were guests of honour at the annual Glasgow 7s Rugby Tournament at Scotstoun on Saturday 4 May.

The two day tournament welcomes teams from all over the world and the final was won by South Africa beating New Zealand 28 to 21.

Mr Richard Toley, Headmaster. ‘It was a great honour to be asked to play at this event, just a week after we hosted our own successful 7s tournament at the school.

The pipers, drummers and drum major worked very hard all day entertaining the 100′s of spectators. Performing pitch side after the England vs Scotland game was a highlight for all the performers.”

Career Academy students from The Sixth Form College, Solihull got a first-hand view of the motor industry recently, with a visit to Jaguar Assembly plant in Castle Bromwich.

Students from the Science, Business and IT Career Academies went on the trip, as part of the Career Academies UK programme, which is a national initiative that raises the employability prospects and aspirations of young people.

The students enjoyed a tour of the plant, focussing on the assembly of the Jaguar XJ and XF models. They also received a presentation on the technological and environmental aspects of the cars, followed by an outline of career pathways with Jaguar.

Trevor Irving, Director of Teaching and Learning at the College, commented: “This was an excellent opportunity for our students to learn more about working in the automotive industry. We are grateful to Jaguar for their hospitality and for providing so much useful information, including practical advice on how to get into the industry.”

In addition, Business and IT Career Academy students visited Arup this week where they were given a presentation and talk about Arup from its early days to becoming the global business we see today. Students enjoyed a quiz to identify the buildings and structures Arup has been involved with, including the Sydney Opera House, Millennium Bridge and the M6 toll. The presentation highlighted the importance of design and the engineering issues involved in building sometimes extremely complex and iconic structures. The visit finished with a tour of Arup’s elegant offices at the site on Blythe Valley Business Park.

Visits like this are just one part the Career Academies UK national programme, which also gives young people business opportunities through guru lectures from visiting speakers, mentoring and internships.

On Thursday 24 April the Year 10 Football team, under the guidance of Mr Andrews, went to Aldershot Town FC to play Tomlinscote in the District Football Cup final. Collingwood were going as huge underdogs as Tomlinscote had won the league and cup for the past 3 years.

The boys descended on the EBB stadium looking ever so smart in their shirts and ties and were getting more excited by the minute about being able to play at a professional ground. Once warmed up I gave them their final team talk in the changing room and off they went down the tunnel and walked out onto the pitch to a rapturous applause from all the supporters that had came to watch the game.

The boys started well but Tomlinscote had plenty of possession and were starting to create a few chances. George Boughton in goal once again proved what an outstanding young talent he is coming to claim cross after cross without spilling anything. Luke Edmondson in the heart of the defence was a colossus all night long making tackles and winning headers. The first half went by fairly quickly without any real chances. The second half started and the size of the pitch was beginning to take its toll as the boys started to look tired. The game was opening up which was allowing our midfield three of Sam Hanger, Callum Hawthorne and Tom Blackburn to get on the ball and start to dictate the game a bit. Ryan George was running tirelessly up front creating all sorts of problems for the Tomlinscote back line. With about ten minutes left on the clock we had a free kick out on the wide right which Matt Russell floated into the box; it managed to hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce down and, for what seemed like an eternity, then bounced up into the roof of the net which brought about scenes of wild celebration from players, supporters and managers alike!

The final ten minutes seemed to take what felt like an hour with some solid defending from the back four and midfield to keep Tomlinscote out. The final whistle eventually came and the players could celebrate! All the boys were running around going berserk and rightly so after upsetting the huge odds and winning the District Cup Final.

I have to say a huge thanks to all the teachers, parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters and fellow peers that came out to support the boys on this momentous evening for them all. I can’t put into words how proud I am of each and every one of them for what they achieved last night.

Team: George Boughton, Luke Gordon, Luke Edmondson, Jordan Ranger, Sam Row, Sam Hermon, Sam Hanger, Callum Hawthorne, Tom Blackburn, Bradley Timson, Ryan George, Matt Russell, Dan Foreman, Charlie Gordon, Sam Lloyd-Bisley.

PS: A special thanks to our number one supporter ‘The Elephant’, aka Mitchell Blythe.

Mr Andrews

Motorsport enthusiasts from The Sixth Form College, Solihull enjoyed a ‘High Performance Engineering Masterclass’ recently thanks to Birmingham City University.

25 students from the BTEC Science course at the College went to Thinktank at Millennium Point in Birmingham for this exciting masterclass. It was aimed at students with an interest in automotive engineering and motorsports technology, and it featured leading engineering professionals from across the motorsports industry.

The event was arranged to brief students about what it is like to work in the motorsports industry and explore what is behind the latest race technology. The day consisted of presentations, video clips and a quiz. Speakers were from Westfield Sportscars (in the form of Julian Turner, the managing director), Arden International Motorsport, Scruffy motorsport and Formula student (an international competition where students build and race their own cars).

Content was based around technology, race team structure and the need for precision engineering. Throughout the day there was a strong emphasis on employability skills, the importance of teamwork and the need for commitment and reliability in order to succeed.

The day also gave BCU an opportunity to showcase their motorsports degree courses.

Trevor Irving, Director of Teaching and Learning at the College, commented: “We thank BCU and the visiting speakers for giving up their time for this fascinating masterclass. The motorsport industry is a highly appealing career path and the students thoroughly enjoyed learning more about it. This event has given them a much better understanding of the route into such a career and something to aim for.”

A group of Year 7 pupils from Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe were delighted to visit the National Football Museum in Manchester where they were able to explore the world of football past and present through the greatest collection of football memorabilia ever assembled.

The pupils were able to tour the museum taking in the fantastic exhibitions including artefacts and archives which look at the game of football from every angle. They also spent some time with the museum’s resident poet, Paul Cookson where they were able to discuss, listen to and read poetry and then write their own poems.

“Football is a key part of our heritage and our way of life,” explained Mr John Almond, English teacher at Saint Paul’s. “The museum offers a glimpse of modern British culture told via football, the nation’s favourite sport. Linking poetry with football is a great idea and very well received by our pupils who were extremely enthusiastic.”

“This was a unique opportunity for our pupils to get up close and personal with the most impressive collection of football exhibits ever assembled,” commented Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s.” Using football to tell the cultural story of modern Britain is a superb idea.”

On 1 May the Business Secretary Vince Cable helped Nissan and West Thames College launch an innovative apprenticeship scheme which will recruit and train the people who will literally shape the future of car design.

On a visit to Nissan’s European design centre in Paddington, London, Dr Cable joined Andy Palmer, Nissan Executive Vice President, in launching the company’s Clay Modelling Apprenticeship Programme – an innovative scheme designed to address a national shortage in skilled sculptors who give form to the vision of car designers.

While at Nissan, Dr Cable learned first-hand how a national shortage of skilled clay modellers has threatened to undermine the continuing success of Britain’s thriving car design sector. But he also heard how the innovative Clay Modelling Apprenticeship intends to tackle the issue head on.

Dr Cable also met the first three apprentices, Joanna Bond, Robert Bennett and Sanny Kumar, who were selected from more than 900 applicants after undergoing a rigorous boot-camp style recruitment process and are now training in the engineering workshops at Feltham Skills centre, preparing for what promises to be a rewarding career at the cutting edge of new car development.

Marjorie Semple, Principal of West Thames College said: “We are really excited to be working in partnership with Nissan on this amazing project. This fills a gap in the industry and opens up fantastic opportunities for young people who want to pursue a career in this sector.”

Apprentice Joanna Bond said: “Clay modelling is a very specialist role and not a job you can just walk into. This Apprenticeship is giving me the opportunity to get my qualifications and go straight into work. It’s giving me all the skills I need to fulfil the role, plus lots more.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Our ambition is that the UK should have a world-class skills base so businesses can compete in a global market. We have almost doubled the number of apprenticeship starts since 2010 to over one million. We have seen strong growth in sectors that are vital to rebalancing our economy, like engineering.

“Now we’re putting employers, like Nissan, in the driving seat through the Employer Ownership Pilot. Companies can address their business needs by designing their own apprenticeships, like this clay modelling scheme which will keep us at the forefront of car design globally.”

Queen’s College Taunton is rapidly gaining an outstanding reputation for hockey with three teams reaching the 2013 national schools finals. In the last calendar year five of the school’s teams have reached the national schools hockey finals. The U13 boys won gold in May 2012, the U16 girls took silver in February 2013, with the U14 boys claiming the bronze medal on the 23rd April 2013.
In September 2012 the school launched the Queen’s College Hockey Academy to further improve the level of hockey at the school with expert international coaching. The Hockey Academy is also open to enthusiastic prep & primary school players aged 10 to 13 from across the South West who are interested in playing sport at a high level. The Hockey Academy and coaching of boys and girls teams is headed up at Queen’s College by Olympic hockey player Ian Haley, who represented South Africa in last summer’s Olympic Games, along with top coach Andrew Free who is the director of sport at the school.
In addition, Queen’s College has heavily invested in its hockey provision with the launch of a second new international standard hockey Astroturf pitch so that matches can be played simultaneously and larger hockey tournaments held at the school. The facility was launched in September in conjunction with the Academy with an exhibition match that included senior international players showcasing their skills which attracted an audience of over 600.
“Looking at the tremendous success of both our hockey teams and individual pupils, there is no doubt that Queen’s College is now one of the leading schools for hockey in the country. This is a major achievement. We take hockey very seriously here at Queen’s College and are fortunate to have, in addition to Ian, a strong team of hockey coaches who want to improve young people’s hockey skills and techniques and lift them to the next level. Hockey is a great game which can be played by both men and women throughout their lives and our hockey academy gives keen and enthusiastic young people from across the region the skills to take them onto the next level.” Chris Alcock, Headmaster.
The U16 girls team reached the national finals in February 2013, finishing as runners-up in England. They notched up notable victories against St George’s College and Wakefield School. However, they narrowly lost to Cranleigh School 1-0 in a tensely fought national final. They are also county and regional champions.
The U14 boys hockey team were also national finalists this year, finishing third in the country on the 23rd April 2013. They beat Bromsgrove 4-0, Bishop Stortford 2-0, and then Repton 4-0 in the bronze medal match, but unfortunately lost to eventual winners Kingston Grammar 2-1 in the pool matches. The team scored the most goals and conceded the least at the tournament which was a great achievement. They are also U14 Somerset Champions and West of England runners up.
Last year the same team were the U13 Boys National Champions at the In2 Hockey Championships with the U13 girls team finishing 9th at the same tournament.
The U16 boys team have also reached the national finals where they performed admirably with a 0-0 draw against Ipswich, 1-0 loss to KES Birmingham, and a 4-0 loss to eventual runners up Whitgift School. They are also U16 Somerset runners-up and West Region runners-up.
The U14 girls team are county championship runners up which meant we narrowly missed out on qualifying for the West of England Championships.
U11 boys and girls teams also qualified for the West of England finals held on the 23rd April 2013. The girls won two, lost two and drew two finishing third overall on the day. The boys won two, lost two and drew two finishing fifth on the day.
The U11 girls are the Somerset county champions and U11 boys are the county runners up.
In addition, on an individual level, four students have been selected to play for the Wessex Leopards. Olivia Hoskins, Atalanta Stanhope-White and Patrick Free attend the U15’s England Hockey High Performance Centre. Year 11 hockey player Laura Fry was a member of the U16 Wessex Leopards who won the 2012 England Hockey Futures Cup with Laura being a key goal scorer. This competition forms part of the Junior Performance Centre and prepares players for potential future involvement in a National Age Squad Group. Patrick Free is also a key member of the UK Lions U14 team that recently toured Gibraltar during the Easter holidays.
Queen’s College is on the lookout for good sportspeople and is offers sports scholarships for 11+, 13+ and 16+entry. Please contact admissions@queenscollege.org.uk or telephone 01823 340830 for more information or visit the school next Monday 6th May from 9.30am for Open Morning.

Pupils from Saint Paul’s Catholic High School and Piper Hill School in Wythenshawe recently took part in a very successful Link Day.
The day focused on diversity, individuality, image and, most importantly, teambuilding The event was designed to encourage, promote and facilitate the enjoyment of indoor and outdoor activities for all.

The schools took part in several activities and all the team members played an active role in solving the challenges; the inclusion of everyone was a key goal of the team.
“It was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils,” explained Mrs Cathie Halbert, Teaching Assistant at Saint Paul’s. “The day involved a series of problem solving activities that tested the skills of the team; it was good to see everyone working together, communicating, planning and then evaluating their ideas and actions. A highlight was the game of football where staff and pupils had to brave a penalty shootout.”
Mrs Halbert added: “I was delighted to see the way our pupils embraced the spirit of the day, working as friendly, unified and integrated teams. It was an excellent opportunity for able bodied and disabled students to work together in a fully inclusive, challenging and rewarding way.”
“This event provides a valuable learning experience where every member of the team was crucial to the success of the activity, it was a delight to see our students, and those from Piper Hill, working so well together,” commented Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s. “There was a very positive benefit to everyone involved, it was great to watch the children blossom and rise to the challenge in such a friendly and inspiring environment.”

SEAFORD College U18 XV has swept to victory in the County Cup Rugby Final for the first time in 20 years.

The team, which took on Beacon Community College in the final, played at Hove Rugby Club, recorded a thrilling 18-5 win, bringing the cup back to the College for the first time since 1993.

It was the second springtime success for Seaford College, near Petworth, where the U16 boys’ hockey team enjoyed a similar victory, beating Hurst in a thrilling final to take win the U16 County Cup.

In a nail-biting finish, Seaford, who were two down went on to a 3-2 win in the final four minutes of the game, putting them in the top 32 teams in the country and qualifying for the regional finals.
The rugby final proved equally thrilling and an early try by captain Lee Reilly put Seaford ahead with the score 5-0 at half time.

In the second half, Seaford started well only to cause an error which led to Beacon running the length of the pitch to even the scores to 5-5.

A frustrated Seaford fought back with some excellent forward work and slick hands allowing vice-captain Callum Monks to score under the posts, which he also converted.

The squad had physical challenges throughout the game, with Beacon making some excellent tackles but Seaford dominated the line-outs from the start.

The team’s superior fitness and skills in the later stages of the game led to penalties being awarded with Callum Monks successfully converting them into points, providing Seaford with a commanding 18-5 lead.

Beacon struggled to get past the defensive line and as a result Seaford were crowned the 2013 Sussex RFU U18 County Champions.

Director of Sport Antony Cook said: “The final was played on a dry and fast pitch, allowing quick handling and an expansive attacking style of rugby.

“With Seaford’s U16 and U14 teams reaching the semi finals of their respective Sussex tournaments, it shows the strength in depth and the progression made in recent years.”

The College has an upcoming tour to South Africa and intends to use this win as motivation to strive for future success and continue developing their overall rugby and sporting success, according to Mr Cook.

In previous rounds Seaford recorded wins against Angmering (48-15), Collyers (52-0) and Worthing College (29-22).

The success came as a particular thrill for acting headmaster John Green, who takes over as head of the College from September.

John played rugby for England U16s, U19s and U23s and captained England students for three years and played professionally for the Saracens from 1992 – 1997.

For further information, please contact:
Jane Shotliff, JSPPR, Tel: 07946 415774 or John Green, Seaford College, Tel: (01798) 867392

Olympic heroine Katherine Grainger visited The Cheltenham Ladies’ College to give a rousing speech to pupils.

The London 2012 gold medal winner was the guest at the Rowing Club dinner on Saturday evening.

Girls had the chance to meet the inspiring figure as the best of the College’s rowing talent gathered with parents and guests for the annual event.

Head of Rowing Chris Widden said: “To meet Katherine Grainger, a woman who has achieved so much, who is so naturally modest, friendly and approachable, and who such an exceptional speaker was a truly inspiring and unforgettable experience for the girls.

“Our PE department attaches great importance to inviting respected and relevant speakers to encourage and inspire our girls to set ambitious personal goals.

“We are all very grateful that Katherine went to so much trouble to make time to visit us and look forward to giving the girls more opportunities to meet and be inspired by further prominent sportswomen in the future.”

Almost 100 people attended the dinner and heard the speech, in which Ms Grainger told the story of her journey from beginner at university, to three-time silver medal winner and finally gold medallist in 2012.

There was a tangible ripple of excitement as Ms Grainger took out her gold medal to be passed around the room, and the speech was given a standing ovation.

After the dinner, the Olympian stayed to talk, sign autographs and pose for photos until after midnight.

Max Wilkinson | Communications Officer – The Cheltenham Ladies’ College | ( (ext) +44 (0) 1242 707316 | ( (int) 2611 | * wilkinsonm@cheltladiescollege.org

A lightning strike and spectacular fireball were created when a respected chemistry academic gave a fascinating talk at The Cheltenham Ladies’ College.

An audience of hundreds of girls and guests watched Dr Peter Wothers perform a succession of eye-catching experiments in the picturesque surroundings of the Princess Hall on Saturday.

The talk, entitled Taming the Elements, was hosted jointly with the Royal Society of Chemistry and formed part of the hugely successful Principal’s Lecture Series.

College Head of Chemistry Dr David Gamblin said: “The lecture was a huge success.

“Dr Wothers expertly led the audience through a voyage of discovery and effortlessly incorporated jaw-dropping demonstrations which highlighted a variety of key chemical principles.

“The College is particularly grateful to Peter’s Team and The Royal Society of Chemistry for supporting the lecture, the lecture has certainly let a lasting impression on the minds of everyone who attended.”

Dr Wothers, who has previously spoken at the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, also used tungsten blocks to weigh a pupil on a giant set of scales, as well as sending an explosion round the room in a transparent pipe.

Sixth Form Chemistry pupil Fran Neale said: “The lecture was a real triumph as it both enlightened and enthralled the whole audience.

“Dr Wothers’s charisma and enthusiasm ensured that everybody took something away from the morning.”

Fellow pupil Edwina Donlan said: “Never before have I felt so nervous to be sat front row in the Princess Hall, but this can only be a credit to Dr Wothers for his fiery and thrilling lecture, which truly had me on the edge of my seat.”

Another sixth former, Mimi Prickett, said: “I don’t think anyone will ever forget the excitement of lightning striking in the Princess Hall.”

THE SIR BERNARD LOVELL SCHOOL
North Street, Oldland Common, Bristol, BS30 8TS
01454 868020

HUMANITIES TEACHER KS3
Fixed Term for one year

Required for September 2013, with an ability to teach Geography, History or Sociology to A Level standard.

Application forms and further details are available on the school website www.sblonline.org.uk
Closing Date: Wednesday, 8th May, 2013

The Sir Bernard Lovell Language College

Required for September 2013

TEACHER OF A-LEVEL COMPUTING
Approximately 8 hours per week
Fixed Term for one year

Applications are invited from excellent teachers who have experience of teaching computing to advanced level.

There is extensive access to up-to-date ICT facilities with good technician support.

All details are available on the school website www.sblonline.org.uk

Closing Date: Wednesday, 8th May, 2013

THE SIR BERNARD LOVELL SCHOOL
North Street, Oldland Common, Bristol, BS30 8TS
01454 868020

HUMANITIES TEACHER 14-19
Fixed Term for one year

Required for September 2013, with an ability to teach Geography, History or Sociology to A Level standard.

Application forms and further details are available on the school website www.sblonline.org.uk
Closing Date: Wednesday, 8th May, 2013

Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe recently extended their language teaching to include Chinese. They are being taught by the school’s resident Chinese teacher, Mr Yantong Li, from Beijing.

The Year 7 and 8 pupils are not only learning Mandarin Chinese but they are also discovering traditional Chinese cultural activities such as Knot making, Origami and Tai Chi.

Mr Li is here as a cultural envoy to exchange ideas on teaching and breakdown cultural barriers between China and Britain. He was here last year and did a lot of work with the Saint Paul’s feeder primary schools so a lot of the children he is teaching already have a little knowledge of Chinese.

The school has developed a partnership with the Beijing Huimin School which is where Mr Li has come from. Both schools are benefitting through the sharing of expertise and practice, as well as providing opportunities for students and teachers to experience vastly different cultures.

“The subject opens pupils’ eyes to the biggest country in the world, it hones general language skills and engages them, especially the boys who relate to the visual and spatial aspects of the language,” explained Mrs Helen Farrar, Head of Modern Languages at Saint Paul’s. “The children are enjoying it as it is something very different to the language lessons they are use to and it can be a subject in which pupils who struggle with other languages do well.”

Mrs Farrar added: “The subject is engaging the pupils, they love learning about the culture and it is very motivating. The whole programme has clearly given many pupils a feeling of confidence and achievement.”

“The partnership has been an excellent opportunity to continue to develop and strengthen our links with China,” said Saint Paul’s Head Teacher, Mr Wiktor Daron. “Working with the Beijing Huimin School has allowed us to enrich our curriculum and support language awareness and learning; and to provide professional development opportunities for staff.”

For the second year running, Politics students at The Sixth Form College, Solihull benefited from a talk from a member of the House of Lords on Friday.

Lord Hunt met with A level Politics students to talk about the work and role of the House of Lords, in a programme designed to encourage more young people to engage with the political and parliamentary process. It was part of the Lord Speaker’s “Peers in Schools” programme, which has been running across the UK since 2007.

Lord Hunt spoke about the work of the House of Lords and recent debates about Lords Reform. This was followed by a question and answer session, in which students asked about various aspects of the parliamentary process and life at Westminster generally.

Mike Pattison, Assistant Curriculum Leader for Social Sciences at the College said, “It was great to welcome Lord Hunt back to the College for a second time. His presence provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to interact with someone who knows the parliamentary system inside out. They had lots of questions for him, and his insight will benefit them when it comes to their A level studies.”

The “Peers in Schools” outreach programme sends members of the House of Lords into schools and colleges across the country to give talks in support of the citizenship curriculum. For further information, see the Lord Speaker’s web page at www.parliament.uk/lordspeaker.

On Saturday 27 April, 50 guests were welcomed back to Lathallan School, Johnshaven for a 50th Anniversary Dinner to celebrate 50 years since leaving the school.
Organised by Mr Barclay Low (1958-63), the evening was full of memories and fond recollections of being a pupil at the school back in early 1960′s.

The Old Boys were joined by Alan Lawson, President of Scottish Rugby Union, Sir Moir Lockhead, Chairman of Scottish Rugby Union and a Board Member at Lathallan School and Professor Sir Graeme Catto, Chairman of the Lathallan Board of Governors.

Speeches and toasts were made by Alastair Shepherd, (1968-73), Chairman of the Old Lathallian Association and John Hendry (1957-63) who recalled with great fondness the headmaster Mr Raymond Burton who shaped so many lives during his time as Headmaster from 1950 to 1975. 2013 marks also what would have been Mr Burton’s 100th birthday.

A beautiful meal prepared by Lathallan’s own Chef, Chris Carter, was enjoyed at the castle and many friendships renewed especially for Mr Charlie Easmon who travelled from London to attend and Mr Alistair Norcross from Australia.

Rugby stars Niko Matawalu, Chris Cusiter, Jonny Gray, Moray Low and Ruaridh Jackson presented the trophies at the Lathallan School Rugby 7s on Saturday 27 April.

P6/7
Plate winners: Moray
Cup Winners: Robert Gordon College
Player of the Tournament: Drew Christie, Carnoustie

U16′s
Plate winners: Kirkcaldy
Cup Winners: North-east Fife
Player of the Tournament: Callum Stewart, North-east Fife

U18′s
Plate winners: Mackie
Cup Winners: Robert Gordon College
Player of the Tournament: Cameron

Career Academy students from The Sixth Form College, Solihull got a taste of local government this week, as they were hosted by staff at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

The students were all part of the College’s Business Career Academy and are all studying a BTEC Extended Diploma in Business course. The visit included an opportunity to see the Civic Suite and sit in the council chairs, where decisions at local government level are made.

The students saw the computer servers in the basement and received a talk on the issues the council faces in terms of collecting council tax. This included managing the Crisis Fund, following the changes to the benefit system recently. The last part of the visit included a session with the Lean Transformation Team, looking at how to improve efficiency, an essential development, with local councils all getting less government funding.

Visits like this are just one part the Career Academies UK national programme, which also gives young people business opportunities through guru lectures from visiting speakers, mentoring and internships. The College’s Career Academy is chaired by the Chief Executive of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Mark Rogers, and is aimed at raising the aspirations of young people and developing key skills for future employment.

Business Career Academy Co-ordinator Ruth Sharp commented, “It was a great afternoon and we thank staff at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council for their hospitality. The students learnt a lot, not least how much vital work the Council does and the challenges they face. This will aid the students in their studies, as well as giving them valuable experience to take into the world of work.”

Oakthorpe Primary School
Tile Kiln Lane
London
N13 6BY
Tel: 0208 807 4689

Required September 2013
MPS (Outer London) plus TLR2 (£4,227)
(there is a possibility of the TLR being increased depending on the successful candidates proven skills & abilities)

Foundation Stage Leader

Would you like the opportunity to lead a dedicated and enthusiastic team? Do you strive for high standards in everything you do? Are you creative and fun-loving? If so then we are looking for you!

We are keen to appoint a dedicated and talented Early Years teacher to lead our creative and committed Early Years team. This is an exciting opportunity to join our outstanding school as a member of our senior management team and to further develop our Early Years provision.

The successful candidate will:
• Be an excellent Foundation Stage teacher
• Be passionate about the development of children in the Early Years
• Have the ability to motivate, inspire and lead others
• Be caring, friendly and enthusiastic with excellent teamwork skills
• Have the skills to build on our strengths and develop our provision further
• Work effectively with colleagues and parents to achieve high standards for our children

Oakthorpe is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are committed to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

If you would like to know more about the role and would like to arrange a visit please contact call or email Tina Stavrou office@oakthorpe.enfield.sch.uk Tel: 0208 807 4689
Application packs available on our website: ie application form, job description person specification and letter to applicant.

Closing date midday on Monday 29th April 2013
Interviews week commencing Tuesday 7th May 2013

Completed application forms to be sent electronically to office@oakthorpe.enfield.sch.uk
If you do not hear from us by Tuesday 30 April 2013 please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

This is a new role and, as such, some of the duties and responsibilities may alter as the school expands and develops. You will enjoy the challenge of developing an outstanding school alongside staff and Governors.

You will have strong interpersonal and communication skills with a good degree/relevant qualifications together with strong financial and management experience and IT literacy. Experience in the education sector is essential.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• To manage effective administrative and financial services to the school

• To maintain a strategic financial plan that will indicate trends and requirements of the school development plan

• To manage the administration of personnel functions in the school

• To manage the purchase of supplies, equipment and services

• To manage maintenance of administrative systems that deliver outcomes based on the school’s aims and goals

• To be responsible for the overseeing of maintenance of the buildings, grounds and Equipment

The Business Manager is a member of the SLT and is directly responsible to the Headteacher. You will be required to take up your post prior to the school opening, ideally in July.

Please refer to our website www.hackneynewschool.org for more detailed information and an application form.

Application deadline: Friday 3 May

It’s been a fantastic football season for Year 8 pupils from Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe which has culminated in them winning the Greater Manchester Catholic Schools cup.

The Cup Final match, when Saint Paul’s came up against the current cup holders, Cardinal Langley, was extremely tense and hard fought. The game in normal time finished 3-3. Neil Kengni-Kuemo scored with 5 minutes played. Langley equalised after 20 minutes. Jack Doherty scored a free kick from half way line which went top right corner on 25 minutes. In the second half Saint Paul’s were 3 – 2 down and then Neil Kengni-Kuemo scored his second with 2 minutes to play of normal time crashing the ball across the opposition goal keeper. Extra time was close with numerous chances for both sides but no goals sending the tie to penalties. Beat Cardinal Langley 4 – 2 on penalties.

“Winning the Greater Manchester Catholic Schools cup was an amazing achievement for our Year 8 footballers,” explained Mr Darren Mawn, second in PE at Saint Paul’s. “Football is extremely popular at Saint Paul’s. The pupils have a real passion for the game and this is a well deserved achievement for them.”

“We have some avid football fans at Saint Paul’s and it is great to see this interest and commitment reflected in this achievement,” said Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s. “I am very proud of all those who took part; the team has shown great spirit and determination.”

Year 8 students at The Maynard School in Exeter have been given the fantastic opportunity to take part in the RIBA Architects in Residence Scheme and gain an insight into architecture as a profession. The scheme is made up of a series of workshops which are being run by local architects Kirsty Curnow-Bayley of Southernhay-based Living Space Architects and Nick Gilbert Scott who runs his own practice in Brampford Speke.

The Maynard School is in the early stages of investigating the possibility of constructing a new performing arts facility on or near the school grounds. One of the exciting parts of the RIBA Architect in Residence Scheme is that students can be directly involved in the early design of this project, putting forward their ideas and designs for the new development. The scheme also gives any budding architects the chance to develop the skills needed for architecture including research, investigation, design, use of mathematics and presentation.

Students attended their first workshop in November, when they looked at contemporary design features and considered the use of space. The girls used iPads to photograph the school’s buildings and then built structures that they could sit in, incorporating their own ideas and responses to space.

Kirsty Curnow-Bayley said, ‘We have really enjoyed working with the girls and have been delighted by their enthusiasm and level of creativity – they have come up with some fantastic ideas which should lead to a great brief for the new proposed building.’
A second workshop took place in February when the students were asked to consider space in terms of human interactions, creating a ‘seated scenario’ using furniture and fabric, measuring the space created and then translating the measurements into a precise scale drawing. The girls produced their own plans of the school site and then considered potential areas for future developments. They had to take into account many of the essential factors that architects have to consider.

Headmistress at The Maynard School, Bee Hughes, said “As a school we are committed to providing opportunities for students to work alongside professionals particularly in a creative capacity; we are thrilled to be part of a national scheme that supports students’ problem solving skills, whilst developing an awareness of architectural design.”

A third session is planned for this term, in which students will be developing their design ideas for the new building, with the aim of constructing an actual architectural model. They will then present their ideas to the School’s Governors.

Moscow and St Petersburg in Russia were the destinations for a group of students from The Sixth Form College, Solihull over the Easter holidays, as they embarked on a rich, cultural and historical fieldtrip.

The students were all A level Modern History or Russian students at the College and the trip was taken to support their studies. It was a packed fieldtrip, taking in many fascinating sights in both cities.

In Moscow, these sights included the Kremlin, the cathedral of Christ the Saviour, which is used for state occasions, such as the funeral of Boris Yeltsin, and the final resting place of President Yeltsin, as well as Nikita Khrushchev and Anton Chekhov, at Novodevichy Cemetery. They also visited Victory Park, built to commemorate the victory in the Second World War and there was time for a tour of the Moscow Metro and its many beautiful stations, as well as a visit to GUM department store in Red Square, which is the Russian equivalent of Harrods. One evening, the students watched the ballet Spartacus at the New Opera Theatre.

The students stayed in the Hotel Kosmos, which is in an area of the city devoted to the space programme. They happened to be there on 12 April, when Russia celebrates Cosmonauts Day, the anniversary of the world’s first manned space flight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961. As the students were looking at the monument, they met an elderly Russian man who had actually worked on that programme when he was doing his military service.

“He told us in great detail about his experiences and how he felt when the flight took place,” explained Heather Richards, Modern Languages Resources Administrator, who was on the trip. “He added that he had kept silent about his work for 40 years and we felt how significant it was that he could now tell foreigners about it.”

Following their time in Moscow, the students caught the overnight sleeper train to St Petersburg, where they visited St Peter and St Paul fortress and cathedral where the remains of the last Russian Tsar (Nicholas II) and his family were re-buried. Another cathedral visited was the Church of the Saviour on Spilt Blood where Tsar Alexander II was killed, and they learned about the start of the 1917 revolution at the Hermitage Museum in Palace Square.

There were two palaces on the list of sights in St Petersburg, including the Yusupov Palace, where Rasputin was attacked just before he died. Students had their photos taken by a statue called the Bronze Horseman (Peter the Great) and went to see the cruiser Aurora, which fired the shot which signalled the start of the revolution. They also went to Nikolaevsky Palace, where they watched a light-hearted evening of folk singing and dancing. One student was even picked from the audience and took part in the show! The Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad (the former name of St Petersburg) was also one of the stops in the city. This is a museum devoted to the 900 day long siege of Leningrad during the Second World War.

Curriculum Leader for History Matthew Marshall commented, “While we were at the Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad, one of the museum curators commented on how attentively our students were looking at the exhibits and complimented them on their behaviour and interest in the history of the city and the war. That’s just one example of how the students immersed themselves in this trip. There was so much to see and do and they learnt a lot, which will significantly aid them in their studies.”

Lathallan School’s Rugby Sevens Tournament

Saturday 27 April 2013, Kick off 10.30am to 4pm

Rugby stars Niko Matawalu, Chris Cusiter, Jonny Gray, Moray Low and Ruaridh Jackson have just been announced as the Internationals attending the Lathallan School Rugby 7s this coming Saturday.

Lathallan School, Johnshaven welcomed hundreds to people to its Rugby 7s events in April 2011 and 2012 and a thrilling day of competitive rugby was enjoyed by all who attended. Parents and friends of the players travelled from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Tayside and Perth to spend the day here cheering on the teams and enjoying the hospitality.

Schools/ Clubs confirmed as attending in 2013 across the three tournaments of U18, U16 and P7 include Strathmore, Carnoustie, Moray, Waid, Deeside, Montrose, Aberdeen Wanderers, Albyn, Mackie Academy, Robert Gordon College, Kirkcaldy, Blairgowrie and Madras College as well as three teams from Lathallan.

The event has firmly established itself as an important annual fixture for the sporting calendar and on Saturday 27 April 2013, we will be joined Sir Moir Lockhead, Chairman of Scottish Rugby Union, Ian McLauchlan, Former President Scottish Rugby Union and British Lions along with the Rugby Internationals.

The event will raise funds for The Bill McLaren Foundation, Hearts and Balls and The Lathallan Foundation for bursaries.

A FREE family fun day, open to all, BBQ, beer tent, bouncy castle, face painting and family entertainment.

Sasha Dyke, a Yr 9 Wymondham College student, was recently selected to represent Team GB for kayaking.

During the Easter holidays, Sasha made her way to Ghent in Belgium to compete in an international kayaking marathon. Sasha and her team were prepared for the worst on the day of the race.

“As expected, it was -4c with high winds and snow. It was bitterly cold and we were told that, if we fell in, we would have to retire due to the very real risk of hypothermia.”

Miss Dyke overcame the weather (and her nearest Belgian opponent!) to win gold in the U14s race, furthermore coming second in the U16 category.

It does not stop there in terms of sporting achievement. On Tuesday 16th April, Sasha competed in The National Sprint Championships in Nottingham, where she battled against Britain’s Olympians and Paralympians. Not daunted, Sasha ended the day with 3 gold medals. She remains modest but trains hard, so you can expect to hear more of her sporting achievements in the future.

Year 10 pupils from Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe benefitted from a day’s “job seeking” workshop at the school which was organised by Education Business Solutions.

More than twenty employers from a variety of industries and market sectors supported this event including Kids Allowed, GE Capital, Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. There were also a number of sixth form colleges present including Loreto, Manchester and Salford College.

The pupils spent the day gaining advice and participating in activities covering how to search for a job, writing effective CVs and application forms, typical interview questions and how to present well at an interview. The business experts provided valuable advice on how to effectively present themselves both in writing and in person to achieve the best start for their careers.

The pupils had an individual mock interview with an employer. “I was nervous about this but it really helped me prepare for the real thing, also the employers gave us feedback on how we did which was really useful,” said one of the pupils involved.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for our pupils,” commented Mr Alan Chapman, Careers and Work Related Learning Advisor at Saint Paul’s. “The experience and advice they gained during the day will prove to be invaluable as they progress to embarking upon their careers.”

“We appreciate the time the local business people spent at our school preparing our pupils with the skills necessary for success,” said Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s. “It was an enjoyable day which allowed the pupils to prepare for the world of work.”

Ms Emma Stubbs from Education Business Solutions, added: “The event was a great success and the feedback from employers and young people has been fantastic. It is always a pleasure to organise the practice interviews for Saint Paul’s, the staff are welcoming and enthusiastic and the learners are a credit to the school.”

”I was very impressed with the young people I interviewed today, they attended their appointments on time and were polite and respectful, showing maturity of attitude and behaviour,” said Ms Chris Oldham, Topaz Beauty & The Body Shop At Home Consultant. “From the effort and motivation displayed, I truly hope their aspirations will be realised in the coming years. I was particularly impressed also by the range of work experience placements the young people had secured, especially with regard to their career progression. I’ve been coming to the school to organise or take part in these activities for several years and the improvement all round is clearly visible.”

Ms Oldham added: “Well done to you, the young people and staff for making it such a successful day and I hope, like me, they found the event rewarding and enjoyable.”

You may remember last year that our we had a double county success with our Yr. 9 & Yr. 10 Rugby teams both lifting the County Championship Shield, well they are on the path to success again, both teams have once again made it in to the finals with outstanding wins last week!

Both finals will be played at The Paviors ground on Wednesday afternoon and will be well worth watching, our lads are on fire and up for the challenge!

After waiting 35 years for a trophy in the cabinet, let’s see if they can make it two years on the trot!!!!

This would make a pretty special finish to the season for Richard Byrom who was recently crowned one of the Daily Mails Real Rugby Heroes!

Pretty special memories being created for students and staff here at The Dukeries Academy!

Please let me know if you want to pass on any wishes of good luck to both teams or if you’d like to know more about the journey!

It may be worth a trip out to Pavs on Wednesday afternoon, the least we can promise you is a fantastic afternoon of great rugby!

Jane Paling
Community & Extended Services Liaison Officer

Whinney Lane
New Ollerton
Newark
Notts
NG22 9TD

Tel. 01623860545 ext 192
Fax 01623 836082 | j.paling@dukeries.attrust.org.uk | www.dukeriesacademy.attrust.org.uk

On 22 March local Feltham residents were invited into the Feltham Skills Centre for afternoon tea. Visitors were warmly welcomed to the centre by student ambassadors who enjoyed a cup of tea with the guests before offering them a tour of the campus.

The tea and cakes were all made by catering students, giving the students the opportunity to showcase their fantastic skills. Level 1 catering student, Sheena Massaquoi commented “I enjoyed working with my colleagues and on something I like doing and am passionate about. It’s nice to make the residents happy and I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out.”

The afternoon was well attended by local residents, some of whom had visited on previous occasions, including Paul Davis and Bromwyn Rose. “It’s nice to see what goes on”, they commented “We came to the summer events and it was lovely. All their efforts have been appreciated. The cakes are delicious and so much variety!”

The tea party is one of a series of community events. Last summer a jubilee celebration was held and it’s hoped another party will be held this summer to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Skills Centre.

For more information
Visit our website: www.west-thames.ac.uk
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Call 020 8326 2000