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Education
Schools
Some of the successful students
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ELLESMERE COLLEGE CELEBRATES GOLD AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
A group of past and present students from Ellesmere College attended the palace to receive their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards
Fifteen current and former Ellesmere students were among the 10,000 DofE Gold Award holders hosted over two days in the beautiful gardens of Buckingham Palace for speeches and fun activities.
The celebration was hosted by HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and numerous Olympians, celebrities, adventurers and
inspirational speakers were there to share their stories of careers, life goals and extreme endurance challenges they have “Challenges faced and overcome. Ellesmere College is the faced and largest single contributor to the overcome” DofE scheme in Shropshire, as every student has the opportunity to take the three levels as part of their co-curricular activities.
DESTINATION ICELAND
Geography students from Abbeygate College packed a lot in on their recent trip to Iceland. The group from KS4 and 5 enoyed activities including swimming in geothermally heated pools, walking through some of the huge tears in the Earth’s crust, exploring an extinct volcano, a visit to a geothermal power station, passing between the Eurasian and North American plate via the Bridge Between the Continents, and even soaking up a little city culture in Reykjavik.
Students were encouraged to look out of the window of nature, for lasting memories of ice caps, ice sheets, fumaroles, volcanoes and glacial rivers – plus an unimaginable number of Icelandic horses.
An experience to remember GOOD ADVICE FOR ADCOTE STUDENTS
Kriss with head girls Mya Chogugudza and Eleni Higgins
Athletics legend Kriss Akabusi told students to seize opportunities and embrace people who recognise their potential when he was the guest of honour at Adcote School’s Speech Day and prize-giving. Talking to an audience of 450, including students, parents, teachers and dignitaries, the former 400m hurdler and sprinter shared life lessons he had learned, from time in a children’s home to joining the British Army, and representing Team GB in the 1980s and ’90s. “Whoever you are, whatever your background, dream big,” Kriss told students.
BEHIND THE MASKS
Year 5 and 6 pupils at St Winefride’s have been investigating African tribal masks. Using papier mache for the base, pupils painted the masks in earth tones before Fabulous work using natural substances including raffia, pinto beans, twine and shells to create the details. It was a great learning opportunity blending culture and art.
FROM SCHOOL HALL TO MARKET HALL
Wrekin College’s Business School offered budding entrepreneurs a chance to try their ideas at a charity pop-up market. Students from all year groups were invited to form teams of four Creative marketing and bring their market stall idea to life. Stalls could be rented for £5 per pitch, with proceeds donated to charity. Profits on the day were split between house charities and the team members. The winning stalls took their business into the public realm at Wellington Market Hall.
MORETON MINI MUN
Moreton Hall hosted its second Mini MUN (Model United Nations), with students from Oswestry, Cheadle Hulme and Shrewsbury Schools, Manchester High and Packwood Haugh joining in a day of debating. Relevant worldwide issues were discussed, debated from the perspective of different countries. Skills were stretched with the emergency resolution at the end of the day. It is hoped a Shropshire MUN will Intense debate be created in future.
PROMOTING A LOVE OF LITERACY
Pam Smy receives her award The Wolverhampton Children’s Book Award celebrates children’s books published in the past year. It is an opportunity for children aged nine to 13 to read a range of fi ction and to nominate new books they have enjoyed, with the aim to promote reading for pleasure, and reinforce the importance of fi ction. Over 120 children from six local schools attended the Book Award Ceremony organised by Wolverhampton Grammar and Authors Aloud UK earlier this year. Congratulations to Pam Smy who won the 2021 Award for her powerful and thought-provoking book The Hideaway.
EXCELLING IN DYSLEXIA SUPPORT
A variety of teaching techniques help pupils progress
St David’s College is proud to be one of the best dyslexia boarding schools in Wales, and a silver member of the British Dyslexia Association. As many as one in 10 people in the UK has some degree of dyslexia. All St David’s teachers hold (or are qualifying in) the postgrad BDA Level 5 Certifi cate in Dyslexia, Literacy, Support and Intervention or an equivalent. Additionally, all teachers have qualifi cations in multi-sensory techniques. This forms part of the school’s holistic programme, assisting students to really take advantage of their education.
ROYAL SOCIETY ACCOLADE FOR COBY
Coby Chan, a Year 12 student at Myddelton College, gained a gold award at the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad, held by one of the oldest, most prestigious organisations Coby is a Chemistry Ambassador at the school in science. Coby, 17, fi nished in the top 35 in the event, which is open to almost 10,000 students, and was the only one of his age to qualify.
Coby said: “I hope to work as an organic chemist in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture medicines that are cheaper and more e ective, so as to help the world.”
FREESTYLE FOOTBALL FOCUS
Since starting freestyle football two years ago, it’s been quite a journey for Thomas Adams student Kumi Ward. From posting videos of 10 keepy-uppies to a few followers on social media, Kumi went on to perfect thousands of tricks through countless hours of practice, and then finished in the top ten of a worldwide youth freestyle competition.
Kumi now has over 30,000 followers and has recently been involved in the ‘Kick It Out’ campaign, along with semi-pro and academy footballers, freestylers, influencers and a variety of other players. They spent two
“Seque sam nusdae netur”
days’ filming with Sky TV in London.
Kumi commented: “Nothing normally phases me while doing freestyle, but having a cameraman so close I was almost kicking him in the face was a bit daunting!”
Kumi Ward at the shoot
Firs takes the next step
Affiliated to the award-winning Firs School, Fir Cones Day Nursery will offer all-year-round (51 weeks) day care for children aged 0-4 years from this month.
Fir Cones is a standalone day nursery, though it draws upon more than 75 years of outstanding educational experience that the Firs School has to offer. Central to the nursery’s ethos is celebrating the uniqueness of every pupil and developing a love of learning. Full and half-day sessions are available, with all sessions based around exploring interests, learning from play, and engaging in indoor and outdoor activities.
Nurturing a love of learning
SHREWSBURY SHORTLISTED FOR THREE AWARDS
Shrewsbury School has been shortlisted in three categories in this year’s Independent School of the Year Awards, which highlight the excellence of the student experience offered by the UK’s independent schools.
Shrewsbury is pleased to have been shortlisted for Performing Arts (Music & Drama), the Green Award for Environmental Achievement, and Independent School of
Shrewsbury School’s green setting the Year for Student Careers Programme.
Independent Schools of the Year 2022 is an awards programme run by Independent School Parent magazine, designed to showcase schools’ success stories and celebrate the extraordinary student experience they provide. The finalists will be announced later this month.
CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF THE GIRLS’ DAY SCHOOL TRUST
The Girls’ Day School Trust comprises 25 schools, including Shrewsbury High. In celebration of 150 years of the trust, all head girls were asked to compose a handwritten letter to the 2032 head girl of their school, reflecting on what the position means to them, along with any advice for the person in the role 100 years from now. An electronic version of the messages will be sent to every school’s head girl email address and is scheduled to be delivered on the GDST’s 160th anniversary in 2032, whilst the handwritten letters will be kept under lock and key, before being opened on the same date.
“Focus on the small things,” advises Clara in her letter
Clara Bray, head girl at Shrewsbury High
HEAD’S LETTER
Brendan joins Moor Park
Brendan Brady, Moor Park
As a head with over 20 years’ experience in leading prep schools, I am excited and honoured to be part of Moor Park’s future and look forward to working with the passionate, dedicated and highly qualified staff to offer the best prep school experience possible to the children of Moor Park.
It is essential that we listen to children in their environment. Moor Park children, and children in all schools, must have a voice and be heard. By listening, we help them uncover their passions and create bespoke experiences for their education. As my predecessor eloquently puts it: “Not every child can be good at everything, but every child can be good at something.” We will continue to find that something for each child.
LLION TAKES THE HELM
Rydal Penrhos’ RYA-accredited sailing and watersports centre has been at the heart of school life for more than six decades, and the title of Pupil Commodore/ Sailing Captain is a coveted one. Many who’ve held the title have gone on to achieve great things nationally and within the Team GB youth set-up, providing a strong role model.
“The title is a Llion Morris in action coveted one” Llion Morris has been appointed the role for this academic year. Llion is part of the RYA Cymru Wales ILCA and British Sailing squads and dedicates a great amount of time to reaching his goals.
A road well travelled
Six students and three staff members from Alderley Edge School for Girls walked part of the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain this summer. Initially part of an ERASMUS initiative with schools across Europe, Covid issues meant Pilgrims on the path only Alderley Edge was able to undertake the pilgrimage as planned. The group set out from Sarria, walking 125km in “125km in fi ve five days to reach Santiago de Compostela, days” where they received an official certificate.
A TOP-PERFORMING YEAR FOR QUEEN’S
The Queen’s School in Chester is proud to have retained the top rating of ‘Excellent’ in all areas from the Independent Schools Inspectorate.
Hot on the heels of this endorsement the school was awarded the highest-level gold award in recognition of outstanding careers provision for students throughout the school.
Led by full-time head of careers Julietta Dawson, Queen’s achieved the national Quality
Head Sue Wallace-Woodroffe with pupils in Careers Standard for schools and education providers who can demonstrate the importance they place on careers, and how they support students to make decisions about life after school.
Eco-friendly farming insight
Horticulture students from Derwen College gained an insight into eco-friendly farming when they visited Pili Pala Farm, in Llanfyllin. Named after the Welsh word for butterfly, the farm has a mission to increase biodiversity and create a haven for pollinators. It produces a range of fruit, veg and flowers using a chemical-free approach. It’s hoped that as Pili Pala becomes more established, it can offer regular placements to students.
Universities & Colleges
Ruby Wax OBE awarded honorary degree
Ruby Wax, the acclaimed American-British actress, comedian, writer, TV personality and mental health campaigner has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Bangor. The star has research and teaching links with the university’s School of Human and Behavioural Sciences, and in particular its Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice. She took part in seminal research at the university in 2015 when neuroscientists scanned her brain before and after her attendance at a mindfulness retreat.
The honorary doctorate was presented to Ruby for her role in highlighting and discussing mental health.
Dr Wax will see you now…
Students support the region
Almost 500 University of Chester students have taken on roles from Fairtrade Student Daniel Wilcock worked with Cheshire Fire ambassador to & Rescue Service conservation assistant as they gained work experience, supporting businesses, charities, schools and tourist attractions. The flagship Enhancing Your Employability module has been running successfully for more than 25 years at the university. At its core is the five-week placement undertaken during the second year of study.
HARPER ADAMS HAPPY
Food Technology students
The National Student Survey 2022 results are out, showing exactly what graduates thought of their time at college or university. Harper Adams’ score has remained high
for overall satisfaction, gaining the fifth highest overall satisfaction rating in the UK from full-time students completing their first undergraduate degrees. The university’s overall score was determined by the highest response rate of all UK universities. Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan welcomed the result. “Across “The highest response feedback, key themes of success were ‘Learning community’ (6th highest rate of score), ‘Opportunities to all UK work with other students’ universities” (7th) and ‘Community of staff and students’ (11th). These lie at the heart of the Harper Adams experience,” he said.
A DECORATING DONATION Winners announced for Cheshire Prize for Literature
Shrewsbury Colleges Group’s Level 1 Painting and Decorating students have been unexpectedly rewarded with new toolkits after a member of the public read a newspaper article about the students volunteering their skills to assist a local charity.
The class helped to decorate and re-furbish the new premises for Shrewsbury Ark, a charity that runs a drop-in centre to support homeless people and other vulnerable adults. The donor was so
impressed by their hard work that she gifted a generous sum of money, and the Painting and Decorating department decided this would be used to buy every student on the course their own starter kit. The college’s curriculum director for Construction, Stuart Raine, then matched the donation money Students show their starter kits in celebration of the students’ achievements and to expand the list of tools included in their kits.
The winning writers
With climate change at the forefront of the world’s agenda, this year’s Cheshire Prize for Literature focused on the theme of sustainability. Through short stories, poetry, scriptwriting or children’s literature, the writers explored creative, eco-friendly solutions and aspects of living in a ‘greener’ way. An anthology of the winning works will be published by the University of Chester Press.
STAR GUEST ATTENDS AWARDS CEREMONY AT CAMBRIA
Students with special guest Kimberly Wyatt
The resilience and talent of Coleg Cambria learners from all sites was celebrated at the annual student awards ceremony at the end of the summer term, with an appearance from Kimberly Wyatt – TV star and member of best-selling group Pussycat Dolls. Following an inspirational speech in which she looked back on her own life in entertainment, Kimberley said:
“Be you, “Be you, be fearless, be authentic and be fearless congratulations and be to all of you who authentic” have put so much hard work into achieving such phenomenal results. Well done, everyone.”
OLYMPIC CHAMPION CONTINUES IN CHANCELLOR ROLE
Wrexham Glyndwr University has announced that former Olympic athlete Colin Jackson CBE will continue in his role as Chancellor of the University until 2025. The Chancellor is a figurehead and acts as an ambassador for the university and its staff and students, fulfilling a number of important duties, including attending graduation ceremonies.
Colin commented: “I’m very much looking forward to spending more time in Wrexham again over the next three years.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar said: “Colin has had a very positive impact on students and staff during his time with us so far. We look forward to working closely together over the next few years,
Colin with Maria Hinfelaar and chair of governors Dr Leigh Griffin
which are a key time for Wrexham – having just achieved city status – and for our own Campus 2025 strategy.”
HAZEL HEADS UP TEAM WALES
Hazel Wilson, ALN transformation project manager based at NPTC’s Newtown campus, made it four in a row as team manager for Welsh women’s bowls at the Commonwealth Games. The team accompanying Hazel included 14 athletes competing in men’s and women’s singles, pairs, triples and fours, para men’s and visually impaired mixed pairs. Hazel said: “When you put on that Welsh shirt there is no other feeling like it.” Hazel with teammates
BREAKFAST WITH ROBOTS
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the University of Wolverhampton’s SciFest was a funpacked family day of free workshops, games, hands-on experiments and drop-in activities, all Foxdog’s Robot Chef designed to bring STEM subjects to life. From virtual reality to the planetarium explorer dome, visitors of all ages explored the fantastic opportunities STEM has to offer, including Foxdog Studios’ Robot Chef, where you control the robot to cook breakfast from your mobile phone. ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY TURNS 150
Aberystwyth, long may you prosper!
Aberystwyth University is celebrating 150 years. The university was founded in 1872 following e orts locally and nationally to raise money to establish the fi rst university in Wales, and August 2022 marked the beginning of its 150th academic year.
Vice-chancellor Professor Elizabeth Treasure said: “Beginning our anniversary celebration is a unique opportunity to discuss the university’s rich history, as well as to look forward.”
The fi rst School of Veterinary Science in Wales opened at the university last year, and Nursing education starts for the fi rst time this academic term.
COLLEGE SUPPORTS UKRANIAN STUDENTS
Cheshire College has o ered fully funded English classes to Ukrainian refugees in preparation for the new academic year. The college’s English for Speakers ESOL students at the college of Other Languages (ESOL) team provided classes to approximately 50 Ukrainian nationals to help them gain a recognised qualifi cation. The college additionally provided free transport to the campus and meals. The programme also provided a safe space for the new students and their families and introduced them to fellow Ukrainians in a similar position.
Gareth Edwards, assistant director of ESOL at Cheshire College, said: “We could see that there was a great interest in our ESOL course starting in September from Ukrainian adults and their families, but we wanted to help as soon as we could and provide tools that will help them to integrate with UK culture and the community.”
SHIP AHOY FOR STEPHANIE
A Travel and Tourism student from Coleg Menai’s Bangor campus has received a £100,000 scholarship to study Nautical Science at Southampton University. Stephanie Humphreys will train to be a deck o cer, learning how to sail and manage a ship, as well as key skills such as fi rst aid.
Always drawn to a life at sea, Stephanie has worked on the Seacoast Safari in Beaumaris and at the shipping docks in Holyhead. Her message for any woman hoping for a career at sea is: “Don’t stop – keep going and keep following your dream.”
eet the xpert pert
How did you get into Built Environment as a career?
The best advice I was given growing up was from my sister, when she said I could do the most boring job in the world to earn lots of money, or pursue something that really interested me and be rewarded in so many other ways too.
I left school at 16 to work in a welding factory before going to college to study mechanical engineering. A job came up in the local authority architects’ office for a junior technician, so I decided to apply and was fortunate enough to get it. Four years of day-release study allowed me to qualify as an architectural technician and eventually, acting on my sister’s advice, I decided to resign and go to university full time to study architecture. It was a seven-year programme altogether, including two years of professional practice in a design office, then working on commercial, industrial, educational and institutional projects. Then I decided to change direction again and develop my career towards teaching.
Most architects set out with good A-level results, but my journey was very different. That early experience in an architectural office, and completing associated qualifications in construction technology, proved an equally appropriate start.
What can students expect from your course?
Both our Construction Management and Architectural Design Technology (ADT) degrees share a combined first year, which enables students to explore the broad industrial context before specialising in their second year. This means they can start on one qualification and swap to the other if they discover a preference.
The courses can be studied full time for three years or part time for five years. We also have students who are already employed in the industry and have a day-release arrangement with their employer. They can obtain a Higher National Certificate (HNC) at the end of their first year, before deciding whether to continue to a degree through a further three years of day-release.
Both degree programmes are technical in their nature, but ADT incorporates elements of conceptual architectural design. Those students who are more interested in the supervision of construction sites and the management of associated contracts are more likely to gravitate towards the Construction Management degree.
Modules cover a broad range of themes, from drafting, sketching and model-making to how such forms and shapes can be constructed at full scale using industrialised materials that satisfy the requirements of a project’s functional performance and structural integrity. A constant theme is the importance of delivering sustainable projects and the need to limit environmental impact; considerations that are significant at all stages: during conceptual and technical design, through the construction process, in use, and eventually in the decommissioning and disposal of buildings and infrastructure.
There’s a good balance between theory and practice in the delivery of both programmes. For instance, in the Digital Technologies in Surveying module, we hire the latest digital surveying equipment so that students have hands-on experience of the latest technologies. The department also owns and operates its own drone.
In their final year, ADT students work towards the completion of a major design project from concept to development, whilst Construction Management students undertake an individual research project, which can focus on any aspect of particular interest to them. This allows students to
through a further three years of day-release. elements of conceptual architectural design. “Students further develop their independence as they learn from approach graduation. each other through disbussion and debate”
Gareth Carr, senior lecturer in Built Environment
further develop their independence as they
How can students get a place on the programmes?
Whilst formal qualifications are important, they don’t reveal everything about a person’s capabilities and levels of interest. It’s really important that applicants are prepared to work hard and engage so that they can get the most out of their time at Wrexham Glyndwr. Relevant industrial experience is also appropriate and can be considered alongside (and even instead of) formal qualifications. We can also help those who have been outside education for some time.
Enrolling individuals with a range of qualifications and experiences ensures students not only learn from the academic delivery but also from each other, through discussion and debate within a relaxed but enthusiastic classroom environment.
Head to Glyndwr.ac.uk to find out more about Build Environment degrees, open days and short courses
Retirement Living
Applying for Marriage Allowance
If your partner is a low earner or pays no tax, you could be eligible for a refund on your own tax. Emma Williams, client manager at DRE & Co chartered accountants explains the rules.
The Marriage Allowance on personal tax can be claimed by married couples and those in a civil partnership where a spouse or civil partner does not pay tax or does not pay tax above the basic rate threshold for income tax (ie, one of the couples must currently earn less than the £12,570 personal allowance for 2022-23).
The allowance works by permitting the lower earning partner to transfer up to £1,260 of their personal tax-free allowance to their spouse or civil partner. The marriage allowance can only be used when the recipient of the transfer (the higher earning partner) does not pay tax at the higher income tax rates. This would usually mean that their income is between £12,570 and £50,270 in 2022-23. The limits are different for those living in Scotland.
This transfer of unused allowances could result in a saving of up to £252 for the recipient (20 per cent of £1,260), or £21 a month for the current tax year.
If you meet the eligibility requirements and have not yet claimed the allowance, you can backdate your claim to 6th April 2018. This could result in a total tax refund of up to £1,220 if you can claim for 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 as well as the current
2022-23 tax year. If you claim now, you can backdate your claim for four years (if eligible) as well as for the current tax year. In fact, even if you are no longer eligible but would have been in all or any of the preceding years, then you can still claim your entitlement.
If you would like to discuss this further, or if you require any help in applying for the marriage allowance, please don’t hesitate to email tax@dre.co.uk or get in contact with your local DRE & Co office: • Oswestry - 01691 654353 • Shrewsbury - 01743 241581 • Ludlow - 01584 875715 • Newtown - 01686 626534 • Wrexham - 01978 310600 • Knighton - 01547 528383
You could be due up to £1,220
Quality care you can trust in Chester
When a family is thinking about care for a loved one, they want the best. ey want to know that the care home they choose will put their relative’s safety, happiness and wellbeing rst.
Care UK’s Deewater Grange care home in Chester, rated ‘Good’ by the CQC, provides residential, dementia and nursing care, giving families peace of mind that their loved ones can stay living at the home should their needs change.
“New residents Living at Deewater Grange is all about quality of life. Every colleague in the home is passionate about enabling residents to are often enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle, tailored around surprised their unique needs and preferences. The at what they can do” lifestyle team organises a huge variety of group and one-to-one activities, with plenty going on each day. The team at Deewater Grange are proud to have achieved some great results in the recent relative survey, in fact 97% of families feel their loved ones are treated with kindness, respect and dignity^. Once their relative has settled into Deewater Grange they are able to focus on spending quality time with them again just enjoying each other’s company.
With the extra support Deewater Grange offers, new residents are often surprised at what they can do, whether that’s being able to continue with an activity they’ve enjoyed in the past, or discovering new hobbies with our daily activities. So if your loved one enjoys a cup of tea in bed before starting the day, loves strolling in the grounds or a chat over a beer, the team Home fromhome will spend time to enable them to continue living life as they want to.
Deewater Grange is part of award-winning provider, Care UK – one of the UK’s most successful care home operators* with over 40 years’ experience of delivering high-quality care to older people
Deewater Grange, 93 Chester Rd, Huntington, Chester CH3 6BS Enquiries: Andrew.Kenny@careuk.com or call 01244 455904
*As rated by the Care Quality Commission in England and the Care Inspectorate in Scotland. ^Care UK relatives survey August 2021/March 2022. Study operated by QRS Market Research, an independent survey agency.
