Green light for greenhouse project

Young environmentalists at Haberdashers’ Adams are celebrating a competition win that will fund an ambitious eco initiative at the school

The Eco Club at Haberdashers’ Adams has secured £2,000 funding from Telford & Wrekin’s Make a Change 11-18 competition, sponsored by the Young People’s Forum and Safer, Stronger Communities.

The initiative aims to get young people making positive changes within their communities. The proposal put forward by the Eco Club was to build a greenhouse at Adams in partnership with Donnington Community Orchard. The greenhouse will benefit students as well as

Viva la voce!

Students from a number of Shropshire schools battled it out to have the last word at a new arts festival hosted by Ellesmere College.

The inaugural Viva Voce Spoken English Festival was held in the college’s Arts Centre, and thanks to its success there are plans to expand the event next year to enable more schools to take part.

The students competed in poetry recitation, dramatic reading and presenting, the orchard, enabling plants to be grown from seed and propagated from cuttings, increasing the biodiversity of both sites.

Chef Adam Parnell (‘Shropshire Lad’) presented the award, and an unexpected guest appearance was made by Mr Motivator!

New Appointments

A new term at Shrewsbury High School sees Darren Payne assume his role as the school’s 13th Head, having played a key role for over a decade, most recently as Senior Deputy Head. Before joining the teaching staff as Head of Chemistry in 2007, he taught at Millfield, at Saltus Grammar School in Bermuda, and then at Abbotsholme School in Derbyshire. Alongside outgoing Head Jo Sharrock Darren led the school through an ISI inspection that saw Shrewsbury High recognised as Excellent in all areas – the highest rating obtainable.

Meanwhile, Myddelton College is delighted to announce the appointment of Alun Brown as Deputy Head. He brings a wealth of experience from teaching abroad as well as posts in other prestigious UK schools, most recently as Head of Sixth at Rydal Penrhos. Alun said: “I feel very privileged and grateful to be offered this exciting opportunity. Myddelton College has enjoyed significant growth and success as one of the youngest independent schools in the country and I look forward to supporting the leadership of this exciting community.”

Luke Scores In Bbc Young Reporter Competition

A Year 11 student from Wolverhampton Grammar School topped off his exam year with a win at the West Midlands Regional 2023 BBC Young Reporter Competition. The announcement was made during the BBC’s One Show

The competition gives 11 to 18-year-olds across the UK a chance to produce their own report on a topic personal to them. Luke’s entry, chosen from thousands, explores the issue of concussion in football, a problem he became aware of after watching Raúl Jiménez suffer a fractured skull during a match. Luke, 16, wanted to understand what the impact could be on one of his sporting heroes. Winners will have their reports professionally produced and broadcast across the BBC network. Luke has hopes for a career in sports journalism or commentating.

Making A Difference

with all pieces delivered within a fourminute time limit.

The 2024 Viva Voce programme will include workshops as well as the speaking competitions.

A group of Concord students, supported by a member of Concord’s pastoral team, have been busy creating ‘period packs’ to help women and girls who experience period poverty and cannot access sanitary products. Mrs Newton heard about a project where volunteers sew reusable sanitary pads, and recruited students to be part of a team. Five students got involved and some were able to use the work toward their DofE Award. The 89 packs created are being sent to Ethiopia, with the hope they will support more girls in completing their education.