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Educate educatemagazine.com
The Magazine for Parents and Pupils May – August 2012
Aspiring Entrepreneurs Talent of Liverpool pupils showcased
INSIDE
What should schools teach? Olympic Spirit Schools celebrate London 2012
+ JUBILYMPICS Fashion flys the flag
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Educate Contents Welcome...
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Welcome to the latest and very British inspired issue of Educate. Hurrrah for all schools on Merseyside and their continued achievements across the curriculum.
90-91
With less than 100 days to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games we showcase 10 Olympic sports and some of the inspirational athletes hoping to compete.
82-83
With the games taking place in London and the spotlight on Britain we look at how the international curriculum is shaping up in school and how they are fostering global dimensions.
94 Features 05-07
50-53
Game On 10 Olympic sports for you to try
School Eco Warriors Schools do their bit for the environment
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A week in the life of Bradley Slater, headteacher at Runnymede St Edwards
Dear Educate Help and advice for parents
26-27 Meet the Headteacher Jack Pendlebury, principal of Enterprise South Liverpool Academy
30-33 The Curriculum Changes What the changes mean for secondary schools
41-43 Lingua Franca Language learning at school
46 Meet the Headteacher Ged Murphy, headteacher at Broughton Hall High School
82-83 Fashion Add a splash of red, white and blue
Educate meets up with headteacher, Jack Pendlebury, principal at Enterprise South Liverpool Academy and the challenges it faces as is opens its doors in nine months time. We also chat to Ged Murphy, headteacher at Broughton Hall High School. We are flying the flag for Britain by celebrating the Jubilee and Olympics with the very latest in kids red, white and blue fashion. Finally, we interview Olympic British hopeful boxing sensation Natasha Jonas about her school days. Many thanks
85 Viewpoint Changes to free school meals
87 Book Review Latest best reads
90-91 Where can we go? What’s on guide
94 My School Days Natasha Jonas
Published by Mersey Mirror, 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS. Tel: 0151 709 7567 Fax: 0151 707 1678 Email: post@merseymirror.com Executive Editor Kim O’Brien Advertising Sales Manager Andy Rogers Tel: 0151 709 7567 Photography Tom Murphy Editorial Alan Birkett, Lucy Oliver, Christine Toner Design & Production Mersey Mirror, 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS. Tel: 0151 706 7411 Email: post@merseymirror.com With special thanks to John Lewis, Liverpool, Next and Zara Kids Distribution Barbara Troughton Tel: 0151 733 5492. Printed by PCP. Educate magazine is published by Mersey Mirror. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted or reproduced without permission. Disclaimer The information contained within Educate we believe to be correct at the time of printing, no responsibility can be accepted for errors or omissions. © Copyright Mersey Mirror 2009.
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PRIMARY SCHOOL DIRECTORY To advertise on this page please contact Andy. Tel: 0151 709 7567 or email andy@merseymirror.com
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Places available in all age groups - Nursery to Year 6 ‘A good school with outstanding features’. ‘Pupils on free school meals and those with SEN/Disabilities make exceptional progress’. ‘The school is committed to an equal chance for every boy and girl’. Ofsted
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Game On With less than 100 days to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games a real buzz around sport is beginning to grow across the country. With schools in the region involved in a variety of their own Olympic themed events the games are certainly being brought into the classroom. Inspiring children to try or take up a new sport at home is also a hope for many parents. We have chosen 10 from the 26 Olympic sports at the 2012 games to inspire and encourage your child to have a go at something new this summer.
How do you do that?
Archery
Archery dates back around 10,000 years, when bows and arrows were first used for hunting and fighting. Archery developed into a competitive activity in medieval England and is now practised in more than 140 countries around the world. The object of the sport is simple, to shoot arrows as close to the centre of the target as possible.
How do you do that?
Basketball
Basketball was invented in the winter of 1891 by a PE teacher who wanted to create a game that could be played indoors during the winter by his students. Since then, basketball has become one of the most exciting and popular team sports around the world. Basketball is played by two teams of five on an indoor court. Points are scored by shooting the ball into your opponents’ net/basket.
On target Tom Barber, Age: 20 In 2002, Tom won his first national title after winning the U12 age group of the National Championships. In 2007, Tom went on to win a silver medal at the European Championships and was crowned champion of the European Junior Circuit.
In the net Ros Mason, Age: 33 Ros played in the 2006 England Commonwealth Games team and is the most capped GB women’s player.
Is there a local club? Blundellsands Archers Various venues across Merseyside
What’s the price tag? Beginners course £50 for 12-14 hours of tuition
Am I old enough? You need to be 12+
Do I need any equipment? All equipment is provided
Contact: www.blundellsandsarchers.com 07815 421 758
Is there a local club? Junior Basketball Club Austin Rawlands Parklands Conleach Road, Speke Saturdays at 9.15am
What’s the price tag? £2.00+
Am I old enough? You need to be 8+
Do I need any equipment? All equipment is provided
Contact: www.liverpool.gov.uk 0151 233 2100
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How do you do that?
Canoe Slalom
The sport is modelled on slalom skiing with the first competition being held in Switzerland in 1932. Originally the sport was staged on flat water but was later switched to white water rapids. For 20 years the sport has thrilled spectators at the Olympics with the non-stop action on the powerful water. The sport consists of timed runs down a white water course which contains up to 25 gates. Missing a gate will give a 50 second penalty to the course run time and touching a gate will give a 2 second penalty.
How do you do that?
Fencing
There are three types of weapon used in fencing, the Epée, Foil and Sabre. Individual fencing battles last three rounds of three minutes each or until one of the opponents has scored 15 hits against their opponent. During team events, teams of three fencers compete against their opponents in a series of nine rounds, with the aim of getting a maximum of 45 hits.
Paddle power David Florence, Age: 29 David is a silver medallist in the Men’s C1 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, whilst also being the first ever GB slalom canoeist to win a medal in both C1 and C2 individual classes at the World Cup Series in 2009.
Is there a local club? Junior Canoeing Liverpool Canoe Club Liverpool Marina, Coburg Wharf From 1 May, every Thursday night 6:30pm-8:30pm
What’s the price tag? £5 annual fee
Am I old enough? You need to be 8+
Do I need any equipment? All equipment is provided
Contact: www.liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk
On the team Is there a local club? Ahmed Rosowsky, Age: 23 Liverpool Junior Fencing Club Ahmed has competed in the Fencing British Cadet and Junior Championships and has also trained alongside the 2008 Olympic athletes in Beijing.
Childwall Sports College Queens Drive 0151 722 1561 Friday 7:30pm-9pm
What’s the price tag? £4.50
Am I old enough? You need to be aged 9-16
Do I need any equipment? All equipment is provided
Contact: www.childwallsc.co.uk 07917 273 550
How do you do that?
Pommel Horse
The pommel horse is a leather lined cylinder with two handles in the centre that are placed an equal distance away from each other. The gymnast grips both handles and swings themselves up onto the pommel horse, proceeding to swing their legs in single and double circles with all their weight being supported by their hands and wrists.
Olympic medal hope Louis Smith, Age: 23 He is a two-time junior European champion in the Pommel Horse and has also won the Commonwealth Games Pommel Horse title when he was just 16. In 2008 Louis won a Bronze Medal at the Beijing Olympics.
Is there a local club? You can learn the sport as part of artistic gymnastics. Focus Institute of Gymnastics Oldgate, Widnes Monday-Saturday
What’s the price tag? Variable prices (See www.focusgymnastics.com to find out exact times for age)
Am I old enough? You need to be aged 6-12
Do I need any equipment? All equipment is provided
Contact: 0151 422 0154
How do you do that?
Rythmic Gymnastics
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Rhythmic Gymnastics first appeared during the 19th century, with interest slowly growing until the first experimental competitions during the 1930s. The sport has evolved to integrate elements from classic ballet, German muscle-building techniques and Swedish exercise systems. Judged on difficulty, artistry and execution, competitors perform short routines on a floor area using music and hand apparatus (a ball, clubs, a hoop and a ribbon).
Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils
One to watch Francesca Fox Age: 19 Francesca is a former senior British champion and a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist.
Is there a local club? Bridgewater Gymnastics Club Broomsfields Road, Appleton, Warrington, Saturday 9am-11:30am
What’s the price tag? £3.50 per hour
Am I old enough? 4+
Do I need any equipment? All equipment is provided
Contact: 0772 427 0909
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How do you do that?
Sailing
Sailing over unpredictable waters requires skill and nerve. Competitors compete in either: • Fleet race: Three or more competitors racing against each other. • Match race: Two competitors racing head to head, with slightly different racing rules that allow aggressive tactics. The winner of the race gets one point, second place gets two points etc. The individual or crew with the least amount of points is declared winner.
How do you do that?
Triathlon
Triathlon races combine swimming, cycling and running which are conducted over a variety of distances. For the Olympic Games the men’s and women’s Triathlons will be a 1,500m swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run. Triathlon is now one of the fastest growing sports around the world and is expected to draw in huge crowds at the games.
How do you do that?
Volleyball
Volleyball was created in 1895 by William G Morgan who designed ‘mintonette’ as a gentle alternative to basketball for older members of his YMCA gym. However, Volleyball has developed into a fast, furious and exhilarating game. Volleyball is played by two teams of six on a court which is divided by a net down the centre, with the object of the game being to land the ball in the opposite team’s half of the court.
On the team Hannah Mills, Age: 24 Hannah Mills, who has just been confirmed as part of Team GB, came through the ranks as one of Britain’s most promising juniors and is the only Brit to have won the Optimist Girls’ World Championship in 2003. Hannah has a range of titles under her belt including the Women’s World Championship title in 2006.
Tritastic Tim Don, Age: 34 Tim was the 2006 ITU World Champion and has competed in the last three Olympic Games with his best finish being 10th in Sydney in 2000.
Is there a local club? Sailing Liverpool Watersports Centre 110 Mariners Wharf, Queens Dock Call to confirm booking Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm
What’s the price tag? £6 per hour
Am I old enough? You need to be 5+
Do I need any equipment? All equipment is provided
Contact: www.liverpoolwatersports.org.uk 0151 708 9322
Is there a local club? Various Locations When: Various events see Training section on website
What’s the price tag? Swim Session: £2, All other sessions: £1
Am I old enough? You need to be aged 6-16
Do I need any equipment? You may need your own bike and helmet Contact: www.merseytri.org.uk 0151 653 9892
Medal contender Dami Bakare, Age: 22 Dami Bakare has recently been named Volleyball Player of the Year by the British Olympic Association and is currently playing for Belgium premier league side Puurs.
Is there a local club? Two locations When: Girls: Pensby High School 4pm-6pm / Boys: UA Birkenhead 3:30pm-4:30pm
What’s the price tag? Annual registration fee of £25 / Weekly subscription £2.50
Am I old enough? There are U14 sessions-U18 sessions
Do I need any equipment? All equipment is provided
Contact: www.wirralvolleyballclub.org.uk 01244 671095
Water Polo
How do you do that?
Team GB hopeful
Is there a local club?
Water polo developed during the 19th century as an aquatic version of rugby and was played informally in rivers and lakes. The version that is around today is closer to handball and is a fast, tough and demanding sport. Water Polo is played by teams of seven in a pool with goals at each end. Players aren’t allowed to touch the sides or the bottom of the pool during play and only have 30 seconds to attempt to score before the ball is returned to the opposition.
Adam Scholefield, Age: 27 Adam has been a member of the Great Britain Water Polo Squad since 2000, helping them to finish fourth place at the 2009 LEN European Championships.
Liverpool Water Polo Club Austin Rawlinson Sports Centre Parklands, Conleach Road Beginners – Girls session: Thursdays 7:15pm-8:30pm, Boys session: Sundays 1:30pm-3:00pm
What’s the price tag? £4
Am I old enough? You need to be 12+
Do I need any equipment? All equipment is provided
Contact: www.liverpool.gov.uk 0151 427 7227 Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils
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Worried about your Child’s education? Do you recognise any of these problems? Counting on fingers when adding up Difficulty with subtraction • Can’t grasp times tables • Little interest in reading Finds reading hard • Poor spelling Poor handwriting • Poor concentration Learning problems such as these can blight educational progression. However,they can be overcome in as little as 4-6 months CALL TODAY for a free consultation Find out how your child can succeed. Don’t fail your child. Help them to a bright and prosperous future.
One phone call is all it takes
0151 424 2765 Tom Ledson, BA(Hons) Msc PGCE Halton Bridge Therapy and Training 2 Vine Street, Widnes WA8 6DW
liverpool.gov.uk
Toxteth annexe conference centre where ideas meet
Need excellent facilities with free on-site parking at highly competitive prices? Our flexible and dedicated team are here to assist you in every aspect of event planning and facilitation. Alongside a great location, our spacious and versatile rooms are well resourced and can be adapted to meet the needs of your event. With a range of room hire and catering packages to suit all budgets, why consider using anywhere else?
For a tour of the centre or to enquire about availability, please contact the team on 0151 233 3901 or email toxtethannexe.bookings@liverpool.gov.uk 8
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Bradley Slater Headteacher at Runnymede St Edwards shares his week with Educate I always start each day greeting the children as they come into school. I then head upstairs for the Monday morning staff meeting, which enables us to discuss the week ahead. At 9am we have our Year 3 to 6 assembly. This assembly gives me the opportunity to reward our children for their efforts, both in and outside school. I always set some time aside on Monday mornings to walk around school, popping into classes. Nursery is always a special place to visit. My secretary often finds me in the playhouse sharing a cup of tea with the children and teddies! Tuesday we have the assembly for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Years 1 and 2 today. Then it’s on to cover non-contact time for newly qualified teachers and staff absence due to illness or courses. This is a valuable time as it keeps me in tune with what is going on in the classroom. Lunchtime sees me meeting with our head boy, head girl and school council members; this gives the children a chance to put forward new ideas and let me know if anything is bothering them. I have a meeting off campus at 11am on Wednesday at the local Network Learning Association; this gives me a chance to catch up with colleagues who work within the maintained sector and also enables me to discuss future initiatives that will benefit Runnymede. As it’s my turn for lunch duty today, my meeting is quite brief. Off back to Runnymede to oversee the children at lunch and have a school dinner. Nothing makes me feel better than cake and custard. Cross-country after school tonight. This gives me a great opportunity to blow away the cobwebs and enjoy an hour outside, in all weathers, with the most enthusiastic children you could ever wish to meet. Walking into Runnymede on Thursday, the sun is shining and I 10
can hear the Choristers of the Cathedral Choir rehearsing in the music rooms. I feel all is right with the world. I open my computer to find a note from my admissions officer informing me of an unplanned meeting with prospective parents at 10am. As the headmaster of an independent school, I make myself available at all times to meet with parents, whether current or prospective.
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I make myself available at all times to meet with parents, whether current or prospective.
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I run a math’s booster class for Year 5 after school tonight. This is one of many extra-curricular clubs which take place at Runnymede. Senior Management Team meeting Friday morning starting at 8:15 a.m., followed by a meeting with Runnymede’s director of music and the director of Cathedral music. These meeting take place every week. After lunch I make a quick round of the classes to see that all the children have settled in and make sure that I wish our swimming team the very best of luck for a gala tonight. After meeting with our expressive arts co-ordinator to discuss the Year 6 play it’s time to get along to the swimming gala. At 6pm I make my way home – I hope dinner’s ready – unfortunately no cake and custard tonight.
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liverpool.gov.uk
School Improvement Liverpool A 4 star service*, in a city with no schools in an Ofsted category** - Our effectiveness speaks for itself‌ We offer a full range of School Improvement services, across all phases, subjects and whole school issues, including: s /FSTED PREPARATION s 3AFEGUARDING BEST PRACTICE AND TRAINING s ,ESSON OBSERVATIONS s $EPARTMENTAL REVIEWS s )NTERVENTION PROGRAMMES s 0ERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT FOR (EADTEACHERS For further details visit www.liverpool.gov.uk/sil You can also contact our dedicated customer services team at 3CHOOL )MPROVEMENT ,IVERPOOL TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS IN MORE DETAIL
tel: 0151 233 3901 email: sil@liverpool.gov.uk Our services are delivered by teams who are highly skilled, knowledgeable and responsive to the changing priorities of your school. * Ofsted Children’s Services Inspection 2011 **Correct at March 2012, including Inspections carried out under the new framework.
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Primary News
Bridging the gap Classroom meets world of work
Parents join in the fun at St Thomas’ Primary Pupils in Prescot have been inspired to aim high by professionals from a range of industries. Police officers, firefighters, an entrepreneur and football coach were among those who met with children at Evelyn Community Primary School to talk about their work. Pupils found out about the different career paths into each visitor’s work and heard from them how important the subjects learnt in school have been in helping them do their job. Evelyn Primary holds a biennial Aspirations Day for all pupils to show the children how they will need to use the subjects they are taught in classroom in their future careers and day-to-day working life. Inspired by their conversations with the visitors the pupils went on to share their own aspirations with their classmates and captured them on a mobile which is now on display in the main school hall. Carole Arnold, Headteacher at Evelyn Community Primary, said: “Aspirations Day was a huge success. The pupils were really inspired by meeting and talking to so many people doing such a variety of interesting jobs. The children were very interested to find out from each of the visitors how they got into their job and how what they learnt in school has helped them in their role." Therese Brown, Learning Mentor, added: “I think it’s really important that pupils find out first-hand how the subjects they learn in school will be really important in their adult, working lives whatever career they decide to pursue.” 12
Good conversations St Thomas’ Primary School, Lydiate have been working in partnership with The Children’s Society for the past year on a project known as ‘The Good Conversation’. This is a national initiative driven by the Children’s Society as part of their research into the Good Childhood Enquire. The Society aims to help its partners improve the lives of children by listening and finding what is important to children in the twenty first century. The Society found that what children at St Thomas’ value most is spending
time with their families, so a special week was planned which enabled families to spend some quality time together in school playing traditional family board games, having lunch together and enjoying afternoon tea with grandparents. Cath Morris from the Children’s Society paid a visit to the school and with her encouragement, the Headteacher, facilitated ideas for the family week, they also applied for a grant called the ‘Seed Grant’ from Ecclesiastical Insurance, which gave £1000 to fund the events.
Partnership Award at Emmaus Bishop Richard Blackburn, Bishop of Warrington, presented a Church and School Partnership Award to Croxteth’s Emmaus Church of England and Catholic Primary, a joint denominational school, and the first school in the country which was conceived and built as such. Church and School Partnership Awards are presented by the Diocese of Liverpool to schools and churches that can demonstrate a proven record of working together. Those who apply for the award have been commended for their partnership in events, prayer, music, fundraising and citizenship projects. As Emmaus School is a joint Church of England and Catholic Primary, it has close links with Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs RC Church and St Cuthbert’s C of E Church. The school works together with the churches in a variety of ways such as joint services and fundraising. Headteacher, Alan Williams from Emmaus, said: “At Emmaus School we are proud of the excellent partnerships with both our churches and our school. Our clergy deliver several services throughout the year both in school and in church. “We have also worked together in supporting a range of charities both at home and abroad. This award acknowledges the hard work of all our children, staff, governors, parents and clergy and we are delighted to receive it.” Bishop Richard said: ‘This school is clearly living out its mission, “to journey in partnership and seek out opportunities to work together, through embracing both the Anglican and Catholic traditions so enthusiastically”.
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Primary News
Evening all! School serves up lunch to Matrix and the Fire Service Officers from the force’s Matrix team made a special visit to St Columba’s Catholic Primary School, Huyton. Over the past few years, officers have been working alongside teachers and pupils to talk about the dangers and consequences of being involved in crime. The visit will mark one year on from the naming of the Matrix van in memory of former pupil, Demi Leigh Royle. The van was named by the pupils in recognition of the school's commitment to safety in the community. Colleagues from Mersey Fire and Rescue Service, as well as officers from the force’s dog section joined matrix officers. The officers sat down to lunch with the children, played some football and the children also got the chance to see a Matrix van, fire engine and some of the force's working dogs in action.
Sgt Chris Gainer and PC Craig Baker with schoolchildren at St Columba's Matrix Sergeant Chris Gainer said, "This was a great opportunity for the children to get to meet the officers and Mersey Fire and Rescue Service officers, dedicated to making the streets of Merseyside safe. "We hope that through our
continued work with the school and activity days such as this, the children will understand the role of the police and fire service in their community and see past the uniform to the people who are there to keep them and their families safe.
"It also gives the officers an opportunity to talk to children in their environment - it helps to break down boundaries and encourages them to feel positive about the police in their community." St Columba's Headteacher Ronan A Dunne said: "At St Columba's we are always delighted to see officers from Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and we recognise the wonderful job that these brave and selfless people carry out to help keep us safe." Phil Lingley, Watch Manager at Huyton Community Fire Station, said: "It’s great to work in partnership with Merseyside Police at events such as this. We will be offering the children safety advice and will be talking to them about the work that we do. Opportunities like this are a fantastic way for us to meet local school children and help us achieve our aim to build safer, stronger communities."
Book Week at St Nicholas
Pupils from St Nicholas enjoyed dressing up in their favourite book characters
Children and staff at St Nicholas CE Primary School, Blundellsands celebrated the wonderful world of reading recently to coincide with World Book Day. Activities such as Drop Everything and Read, Story Swaps; Poetry Soap Box and much more were enjoyed. Dress Up Day was the highlight of the week with everyone coming to school in the costume of their favourite book character. Kim Garry, Literacy Subject Leader said, “We have wonderful readers here at St Nicholas and it has been such a fantastic week. Everyone has put a huge amount of effort into their costumes and all the activities. “Each night our book fair has been buzzing and it’s great to know that the children have such a genuine love of books”.
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Primary News
School takes top prize Rice Lane celebrate winning Challenge Pupils and staff of Rice Lane Infants and Junior School were celebrating after winning the Primary Schools section of Global Entrepreneurship Congress schools competition ‘Liverpool's Great Enterprise Challenge’, and will now be going to Washington DC in September 2012. 65 schools across Liverpool entered the challenge and the final six primary schools presented their advertising poster and 60 second video on the eve of GEC2012 to the judges. The following day the Virgin founder Richard Branson appeared at Liverpool's BT Convention Centre's stage (in front of 3200 delegates and 400 school children) to announce the primary school winner. Taking top prize in the primary category Rice Lane
Infant and Nursery pupils impressed judges with their "ReaL Change. In our Liverpool Home" book venture. Rice Lane Headteacher, Mrs Chatburn, said: We are extremely proud of our children and the staff involved, the children have learnt so much, including some very important lifeskills. They have all worked so very hard and deserve their prize of a trip to Washington DC”. Cllr Gary Millar, who came up with the idea for the Challenge, said: “This competition really has showcased some innovative ideas from schools across the city. It was so difficult to separate the semi-finalists that the judges put through an extra one of the primary schools. We also decided to give the 11 schools that didn’t make it a further £100 from the city council to encourage them to carry on”.
Rice Lane pupils are pictured with Richard Branson and Cllr Gary Millar
ADAM WINS PRINCESS DIANA AWARD A Knowsley schoolboy who battled through massive health problems to become a star pupil has been awarded the Princess Diana Courageous Citizen Award. Ten-year-old Rhys Forshaw from St Aidan’s primary, Huyton was born with several facial problems. In his early years he had
surgery to repair a cleft palette, bone grafts and eye operations. Recently he has had treatment to reshape his nose and more bone surgery to repair his jaw and hip. Yet, in his time at school he has
maintained almost 100 per cent attendance. He has worked hard to develop his emotional and social skills to make friends and has become extremely popular. He is now a member of the School Council and talked to the other children about his eye and hearing problems during a disability focus week. “Rhys is the most ordinary yet extraordinary young man,” said headteacher at St Aidan’s, Moira Kenneway. “He’s always smiling and is very accepting of his situation - he just gets on with it. “He’s built up a lot of resilience and focuses on having a good time with his
friends, who are very supportive and understanding.” The Diana awards are a legacy to the Princess’s belief in the power of young people to change the world. Rhys’s classmates and staff at the school wrote short pieces in support of his nomination for the award. Rhys’s mum, Ann-Marie Forshaw, said: “I’m so proud of Rhys - he really is an inspiration to our family and friends “He is so brave and never complains. I’m very grateful to the staff and pupils at St Aidan's. “It’s their constant support and encouragement that have made this award possible.”
Winner of the Princess Diana Courageous Citizen Award, ten-year-old Rhys Forshaw with his mum Ann-Marie.
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Primary News
Free breakfast club boosts attendance A Sefton primary school has seen a rise in attendance following the introduction of a breakfast club. Part-funded by housing association Riverside, which donated £1,230 from its community chest fund, the free club at Springwell Park Community Primary School in Bootle has proved to be a big hit with more than a third of pupils attending every morning. Sharon Murphy, Learning Mentor at Springwell Park, said: “More than half of our children are on free school meals and more than 60% of our parents are not accessing education, employment or training. “The club provides the most important meal of the day for free for vulnerable low income families and supports parents back to work by providing free childcare.” Kay Davies, Community Engagement Officer for Riverside, said: “If children are sent to school hungry it can have an adverse affect on their day. Studies suggest that a nutritious breakfast improves children’s learning
Jack White and Lola May Canteron tuck into their breakfast and behaviour, providing a healthy start to the day.” Although making sure the children start their day with a meal is the main focus, the club also provides an out-of-hours learning environment by offering children who attend help with their homework or IT skills. The club also raises aspirations by offering positive role models for children and any surplus food is distributed to vulnerable people in the wider community.
Pupils hit the right notes Pinehurst stage a fantatstic performance
Pupils at Pinehurst Primary School in Anfield were recently chosen to sing with the world famous ‘Drifters’ group when they played the Liverpool Empire as part of their Masquerade Tour earlier this year. Michael Williams from the band visited the school to run a music workshop with the 20 young people, who are aged from 8-11. 16
They rehearsed two songs with the singer that they performed live on stage at the Empire – ‘Stand By Me’ and ‘Saturday Night at the Movies’. Headteacher Stephanie Tasker, said: “Our children were really excited to learn they’d been selected to perform with The Drifters. They have been rehearsing hard to make sure they know the words to the songs as well as finding out more about
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the history of the group.” Councilor Jane Corbett, cabinet member for education, said: “It was a fantastic experience for the young people to get on stage in front of thousands of people.” The Drifters were formed in 1953 and have collated a huge catalogue of over 50 hits, selling over 214 million singles and 114 million albums across the world.
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LIVERPOOL COLLEGE Year 5 Activity Afternoon
Wednesday 20th June 2.00pm - 4.30pm We extend a warm welcome to Year Five pupils from around Liverpool to find out more about life at Liverpool College Please return the reply slip below as soon as possible to secure your place ✄ Child’s Name
Address
School Contact Number: Please choose 4 of the following Activities
✓
Everyone will be able to take part in 3 of them
Art
Construct, Connect & Collapse (DT)
Drama
Create Your Own Dance Track (Music)
Cadet Force Activities
Chemistry
Sport
ICT
Maths
Modern Languages
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM BY 15th JUNE TO: SALLY LOVERIDGE, REGISTRAR, LIVERPOOL COLLEGE, QUEENS DRIVE, LIVERPOOL L18 8BG or either telephone: 0151 724 4000 ext 228 or fax: 0151 724 3154
✓
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Primary News
Champion of Champions School keeps on running St Cecilia’s Catholic Junior School’s cross-country running team has recently won the Catholic School Intermediate Cross Country League. What makes this extra special is the fact that the school has no school field or facilities to practice in. The school has an advantage in that their teacher and coach John McCole is the Liverpool Marathon Champion 2011, who generally acts as the hare with the pupils trying to catch him. St Cecilia’s Year 6 boys were placed Champion of Champions against all the Catholic schools in Liverpool, whilst the Year 6 girls, Year 5 boys and Year 5 girls were in third place. Mr McCole said: “The team is very enthusiastic, consistent and a credit to their school.
Tecaher and team coach John McCole and the triumphant St Cecilia’s squad “We run regularly in races “We also have a team of support throughout the year, at Wavertree, Newsham Park dedicated parents who help the parents enjoy the races as and Sefton Park. with lifts as well as moral much as the children”.
Sea lions kick off Fairtrade fun
Alex Furlong and Charlie Dunbavin pass Fairtrade balls to a sea lion. 18
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Sea lions at Knowsley Safari Park were on the ball when it came to encouraging local schools and sports clubs across Knowsley to think about Fairtrade. Schoolchildren Charlie Dunbavin, 10 and Alex Furlong, 11, from St Margaret Mary’s Junior School in Huyton, were invited to the safari park during Fairtrade Fortnight to help the sea lions demonstrate their skills playing with Fairtrade sports balls. The fun event was held to raise awareness of the way sports balls are manufactured across the world. To promote the use of Fairtrade products, the council is asking schools to host at least one football match using a Fairtrade ball before the end of July and provide Fairtrade snacks at half time. Participating teams submitting a photo of their event will be entered into a prize draw for some Fairtrade goodies. Last year Knowsley was awarded Fairtrade Borough status by the Fairtrade Foundation. The council worked alongside Fairtrade Knowsley, the local Fairtrade steering group, to fulfil the goals outlined by the foundation, including encouraging local shops and cafes to stock Fairtrade goods, launching a pledge scheme for businesses and community groups and working with schools to educate students about the Fairtrade concept.
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Education News
Cash for students Roby Sixth Form College have announced the launch of A Level Scholarships. Up to twenty students will receive a £2000 scholarship to support their A level studies from September 2012. To apply for the scholarship students must be leaving school in summer 2012 and be predicted to achieve at least seven GCSE subject passes at Grade B or above (including English, maths and science). Additionally, students will also be asked to provide a 500 word personal statement on why they’re choosing to study A Levels, the career they wish to embark upon, plus the qualities they can bring to Roby Sixth Form College both academically and through enrichment. Roby Sixth Form College offers a fantastic range of A Levels in a wide variety of subjects, along with Level 3 BTECs in Art and Design, Media, Music, Performing Arts, Public Services and Sport. Bill Doran, Assistant Principal for Roby Sixth Form College said: “We believe that the demise of Education Maintenance Allowance and increased living costs should not be a barrier to students going to College and achieving their potential, putting them in the best position to secure employment or a place at university. Our A Level scholarships are designed to financially support students so that they can make the most of their time at College and leave with not only a great set of A Level grades but also a fantastic learning experience in a unique environment.” Students can download an application form at www.knowsleycollege.ac.uk/alevelscholarship.aspx or request a form by contacting student services. See www.knowsleycollege.ac.uk for more details.
Schools first steps to leadership Carleton House Preparatory School has become involved in an exciting new programme called ‘Teaching Future Leaders’. Currently this is a secondary school curriculum but they are working with the programme creators to design interactive courses and workshops specifically for primary aged children. Mrs. Anne Daniels, Head Teacher at Carleton House Preparatory School, said: “The challenge facing schools today is how best to prepare our children for the realities of living and competing in a global workplace. The pace and variety of this global economy calls on all educators to enhance and modify our curriculum to ensure that our children are ready to play their part in this exciting future. “We at Carleton House hope to play our part in this by becoming involved in the development of an exciting programme
called ‘First steps to leadership’. Published and resourced by TFL Education Ltd, this new programme will follow in the wake of TFL's highly successful portfolio of secondary school courses which focus on such critical skills from problem solving to critical thinking”. Aiden Harper, Managing Director at TFL Education Ltd explains: “TFL are delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with Carleton House Preparatory School on their ‘First steps to leadership’ project.
Singing the right notes Liverpool Cathedral brings to the city’s stage an exciting new outreach project aimed at raising the bar in the standard of music education offered at primary school level: the Liverpool Cathedral Schools Singing Programme (The LCSSP). One term of singing workshops is currently being offered completely free of charge to any primary schools interested in taking part. The LCSSP offers a rich programme of inspirational singing and expert group vocal sessions. At various points, LCSSP members will come together, stand side-byside and give exciting 'Big Sing' performances of epic-proportions in the gigantic surroundings of Liverpool Cathedral. The mission of the LCSSP: is to use the expertise of the Cathedral’s music staff in choral singing and experience in musical workshop delivery to enable as many children as possible, of primary school age, to have the chance to make singing an integral part of their everyday lives, and to reap the proven rewards of taking part in such musical activity which include: higher academic attainment across the board, increased selfconfidence and increased-selfesteem. For children who show particular skill and interest in pursuing singing outside school, they will provide further support, advice and guidance.. For more information on this project please contact Stephen Mannings (Assistant Choral Director & Choral Animateur) on (0151) 702 7291 or Stephen.mannings@liverpool cathedral.org.uk
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Secondary News
Food fit for the Queen! School celebrates the best of British Young Chefs at Gateacre have spent a number of weeks researching and developing a variety of original recipes that reflect the food that is traditional and local to the area. The idea was to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee British Food Fortnight, which has teamed up with the Duchess of Cornwall and created a competition inviting schools to create a special menu that celebrates the best of British food. The winning entry will have their food served to the Queen and the Duchess at a special reception at Buckingham Palace in June. Their first port of call was the traditional local dish Scouse. After researching this dish they even found that there are local variations to the traditional recipe - if you come from St Helens you put leeks in your Scouse, if you are from Liverpool you don’t! So they had a go at making mini scouse pies but finding the pastry was too thick they developed the Scouse Parcel using filo pastry. Peawack soup is also a traditional local dish they looked at. Looking back to their links with Lancashire they developed Creamy Lancashire Leeks on toast, which proved a hit straight away! They then had to think of a dessert
Gateacre ‘chefs’ display their goods that symbolised Merseyside. They chose the Super lamb banana, as an iconic symbol of Merseyside and Everton is famous for toffee so the Super Lamb Banana Everton Toffee Pie was born! After weeks of developing the recipes
and testing out products with a taste panel their final menu was born! The project culminated by the Young Chefs showcasing their skills and presenting their menu to the staff and governors of the school.
College raise hundreds for Sports Relief
Headteacher, Dewi Phillips is pictured with top fundraisers Reece Hoolahan-Stanton and Wade Dutton 20
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Students in all Years at Childwall Sports & Science College took part in the Sport Relief Mile celebrations in March. Every PE Group in Key Stages 3 & 4 volunteered to run the mile around the School perimeter fence and raised hundreds of pounds as part of a series of activities. The PE Faculty led by Mr Bird made the arrangements for the Sport Relief Mile and all students thoroughly enjoyed the experience of joining in a nationwide campaign to raise money for worthy causes. Two Year 9 students decided to raise money for Sports Relief by carrying out a sponsored cycling activity. Reece Hoolahan-Stanton and Wade Dutton raised the fantastic sum of £130.65 for Sports Relief and were delighted to be able to achieve such a fantastic figure with the support of their family, friends and the School. Headteacher, Dewi Phillips, said: “Childwall Sports & Science College has an excellent reputation for raising money for good causes and students and staff always give generously. “As a Specialist Sports & Science College, Childwall is committed to ensuring not only the individual healthy lifestyles of our students but also to contribute where practicable to the wellbeing of others. “I am so proud of Reece and Wade for raising this fantastic sum of money by carrying out a sponsored cycle ride. These are two fine young men who deserve our highest praise.”
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Secondary News
Wellie done to Jade
Laila reaches her goal In the last issue of Educate we reported on intreped Librarian Laila Murphy, from The Belvedere Academy. You will pleased to know that Laila has completed her trek to Mt Everest Base Camp as part of a team raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Over a year went into the fundraising and training needed to complete this great venture. Earlier this year, Laila, 32, from Fazakerley, Liverpool, met the rest of the team for the first time at Heathrow before flying to Kathmandu, Nepal to begin the experience of a lifetime. The trek itself was a gruelling and, quite literally, breathtaking experience. Enduring temperatures as low as -17C and up to 50% less oxygen in the air due to high altitude, the team trekked for up to eight hours a day, sleeping in basic huts amid the Himalayan mountains. Laila said, “There were so many unforgettable moments besides reaching base camp; our first sighting of Mt Everest, cloud billowing off the top; the humour of the Sherpas; the incredible scenery. “It was tough but worth it, not only for the experience but to have helped so many people through our fundraising. It was the thought that kept us all going.” Laila made over £4000 and collectively the team raised £88,000 for Marie Curie.
Congratulations to Jade O’Neill, from Broadgreen International School, who was the lucky winner of Wynsors World of Shoes ‘Design a Wellie’ competition! Jade, pictured with her prize, received her very own pair of bespoke wellingtons matching her winning design. As part of the prize Wynsors, also presented Jade with a £50 Wynsors voucher and a further £50 voucher for Broadgreen International School. The competition, ran through schools, produced a lucky winner in each of the 45 Wynsors World of Shoes store areas. There was also an overall winner whose design is currently in production and will be sold by Wynsors across all of their stores.
Mark’s a leading light
Mark Johnson looking forward to his Olympic adventure
Mark Johnson, a year 9 student at Archbishop Beck Catholic Sports College, has been chosen to carry the Olympic Torch in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics. Mark was chosen from thousands of applications both nationally and locally. Mark applied through the Coca Cola website. Mark, aged 13, is a British Olympic Freestyle wrestler and recently gained the silver medal in the 59kg weight British Championships in London. Mark also has three gold medals achieved at regional competitions and has competed in international tournaments. From a young age Mark always wanted to wrestle and on seeing an advert in school he asked his parents if he could take it up. Mark trains at Bolton Olympic wrestling club and shows his commitment to the sport by travelling to Bolton twice a week. Mark’s achievements are even more special as
he is partially deaf in both ears following an illness with meningitis when he was aged 3. Mark said: “I am very proud of my achievements and I believe that all my hard work has helped me to be successful. I could not have done this without the support of my family – my granddad takes me to my training and all my competitions; my little sister, Grace, is my number one supporter and my mum is always there for me and drives me on to succeed.” The school are hoping to send representatives to cheer Mark on as he carries the torch with other youngsters between Liverpool and Bolton. Mr Dickinson, head teacher at Archbishop Beck commented that: “We are extremely proud of Mark for his achievements both in school and out of school. He epitomises the spirit of many of the students at Archbishop Beck. We wish him every success as he develops his sporting career.”
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The Belvedere Academy Girls aged 11 – 19 / Specialising in MFL and Science
Open Evening Wednesday 27th June 2012 - 4.00pm -7.00pm (Talks by the Principal at 4pm & 6.30pm)
Open Day
Thursday 20th September 2012 10.00am - 12 noon & 1.30pm - 3.00pm Closing date for Y7 applications - 'SJEBZ TU 4FQUFNCFS Application forms available from the Academy
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BrÜadgreÊn �ntêrnãtiønal Sçhòol A First Class Education International Open Evening Thursday 12th July 2012 5.30pm – 8.00pm
‘Outstanding’
“Belvedere Academy provides its students with an excellent education.� 0GTUFE Limited Sixth Form places still available #FMWJEFSF 3E t -JWFSQPPM - 5' t 5FM www.belvedereacademy.net
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Broadgreen International School A Technology College Queens Drive Liverpool L13 5UQ United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0) 151 228 6800 Fax: +44 (0) 151 220 9256 enquiries@BroadgreenInternationalSchool.com
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Secondary News
APPRENTICE TO ENTREPRENEUR Following on from the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, held in Liverpool last month, Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School hosted the North West heat of a new national competition that is helping girls to become more entrepreneurial. The competition called Ahead of the Game is spearheaded by the Girls’ Schools Association and backed by former BBC Apprentice finalist and Social Enterprise Champion Claire Young. The Royal Bank of Scotland, Research in Motion and Smart Study Ltd, sponsors it. It involves over 150 fourteenyear-old (Year 10) girls from girls’ schools around the UK and comes fast on the heels of research published in the February edition of the Economic Journal, which concludes that girls who experience a single-sex education are more inclined to take economic risks than girls from co-ed schools. Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School hosted the last of the four regional Enterprise Days that kicked off the competition to encourage schoolgirls across the UK to take more risks and ‘think like an entrepreneur’.
Businesswoman and social enterprise champion Claire Young said: “In an increasingly competitive job market it’s essential for students to gain much valued enterprise skills. The UK desperately needs to increase its percentage of women in business and initiatives like ‘Ahead of the Game’ will help to create the next generation of female entrepreneurs.”
Headteacher Louise Robinson and the judges
Turning the spotlight on hate Educational project a success A four-week course at Halewood Centre for Learning has been looking at why people hate what is different. The campaign was run by Merseyside Police for pupils aged 12 to 13 and was organised by the centre’s Safer Schools Officer, Cheryl McKeegan. Cheryl said: “The ‘We Hate Hate’ classes were run as part of the Personal Social Health and Economic education curriculum. “We looked at issues like race, religion and sexual orientation, the psychology behind hate and the tragic consequences of hate crime. “At the final session, the pupils gave presentations on what they’d learned, using power points, poetry, famous quotes and even plays. “The winning group was Form 8AGA who’d looked at Religion. Runners up were Form 8RSA who’d been looking at attitudes towards sexual orientation.” Prizes were presented by Sheena Ramsey, Chief Executive of Knowsley Council, Tom Woolley, Corporate Fundraising Manager for Everton in the
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(Top row) Tom Woolley, Corporate Fundraising Manager for Everton in the Community, Sheena Ramsey, Chief Executive of Knowsley Council, Safer Schools Officer Cheryl McKeegan and Rishi Jain, Social Inclusion Officer for Liverpool FC. (bottom row) Halewood Centre for Learning’s Form 8AGA, who won the anti hate crime project. Community and Rishi Jain, Social Inclusion Officer for Liverpool FC. “We were really impressed with the pupil’s presentations and thoroughly enjoyed the morning,” said Sheena Ramsey.
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“All the pupils who took part were outstanding and a credit to themselves, their form groups and the school. “They all seemed to have learnt a lot and that was summed up by Form 8CBR, who finished up with the
words ‘Education is the key.’” All the pupils received certificates; the winners will get a trip to Goodison Park or Anfield, a gift voucher from the centre for learning and a trophy from Merseyside Police.
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Meet the Headteacher Jack Pendlebury, principal, Enterprise South Liverpool Academy
On the corner of Horrocks Avenue in Speke stands a brand new building, unfinished in fact. It is, as yet, pretty nondescript. But in just nine months time it is set to open its doors as the new Enterprise South Liverpool Academy site and welcome some 1200 students inside.
Innovating and educating The new site is set to be a leader in innovation and creativity with a whole host of fascinating features. And if the students are excited then the head, Jack Pendlebury, is doubly so. Jack was brought in to run the new academy in 2010 following the merging of two comprehensive schools in the area – St Benedict’s and New Heys to create ESLA. A former head teacher at Rose Bridge High School in Wigan, Jack was the first person appointed at the new academy and has worked closely with the architects to bring the academy vision to life, something he calls a privilege. Academy status is already proving to be having a positive effect with student grades - 82% of students achieved at least 5 A*s to Cs in last years GCSEs. Now Jack wants to revolutionise the way students learn. With the new building set in eight and a half acres of land, he was determined the space would be used for something more creative than playing fields. As such the idea of the ‘learning park’ was born. “The classrooms inside are reflected outside,” explains Jack. “For example, for 26
languages, there will be plants and flowers from around the world in the learning park.” There’s also a faith trail and, to create a forest schools environment, a circular classroom has been built in the woodland. “There is some evidence particularly from Australia and New Zealand that the colour green and the sound of the breeze and leaves is sensory to some children,” says Jack. The entrance to the school will house a number of ‘learning pods’, the first of which will be a child lab where students will study childcare. It will operate as a working nursery and will be run by qualified staff. There will also be a hairdressing salon pod, a coffee shop and a freestanding pod, which the students will come up with the ideas for. Many of the features of the academy are heavily focused on the surrounding community and the services it can offer those living in it. An enterprise centre, for example, will offer short courses in business and IT for parents. There’ll also be growing areas so children will grow vegetables and attend
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farmers markets,” says Jack. “I’m hoping families will take on those things and be there before and after school growing vegetables. We’re going to have an apiary to keep bees and we’ll produce and brand our own honey as a little business.”
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The right curriculum for every child is something more than a classroom
”
Business is a big part of the school focus with its specialisms being enterprise languages for business. The main aim of the academy though, according to Jack, is to cater for the individual needs of students. “The right curriculum for every child is something more than a classroom,” he says. “There’s lots of space for practical application of learning which is what I wanted.”
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Indeed Jack believes that not only does the way in which children learn differ from child to child but also the age at which they do so. As such he wants to “blur the edges” of education. “I’d like to make the transition from Key Stage two to Key Stage three something that is a natural progression for children rather than one type of schooling ends and another begins,” he says. “I don’t believe just because the clock ticks to 11 years of age that all children are ready at that moment to go to a secondary school. I believe some children were ready when they were 10 and some children need a little longer – just a few more weeks or months”. Because of this ESLA will have three different pathways. The first is the small learning community, which will be a small primary school within its secondary school, providing an overlap for students. There will be a springboard centre for accelerated learning, for the children that ESLA staff will have done master classes with when they were in primary school.
And there will be the mainstream pathway. Extended curriculum and enrichment activities are also on the menu with the likes of marine biology, oceanography classics archaeology and philosophy and ethics, on offer. “I’m going to my year eleven and saying what would you like in your sixth form?” Jack says. “We’ve tried to personalise the curriculum.” With five sponsors, including Enterprise PLC, the Archdiocese, the Diocese, the University of Liverpool and Liverpool City Council, the academy is already something of a leader amongst its contemporaries. Jack believes the link with the university will play a part in blurring the edge of education. “I’m hoping undergraduates will be taught here by some of our staff and some of our sixth formers will be taught there by their staff,” he says. “You won’t know whether you’re in upper sixth or on an
undergraduate course at university.” Despite insisting he is not a revolutionary Jack’s vision for education is certainly innovative and inspiring. However, he admits implementing such change is not always easy. “There’s a lot of debate at the moment in terms of the curriculum as to what is right for the 21st century,” he says. “It is difficult having conversations with any adult who’s education experience is 20th century but when we start thinking about what our children will need in ten or twenty years time – that’s probably not going to be what we’ve had.” With the issue of apprenticeships and youth unemployment still a major issue in the current climate I’m interested to know if Jack believes curriculum-stretching schools like ESLA can fill the void left by the lack of apprenticeships on offer these days. “All schools can fill the void,” he says. “Our particular academy is designed to do so.”
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Secondary News
ESLA celebrates ‘topping-out’ Academy marks special occasion
Gabriel, student of ESLA, signs steel framework at the topping-out ceremony - ESLA students (L-R) Gabriel, Kabita & Alexander with the golden spanner Students at Enterprise South Liverpool Academy (ESLA) celebrated a construction landmark to illustrate how the new academy building has taken shape on the Liverpool skyline. As the build now moves into the final stages, the topping-out ceremony marked the completion of the new academy's frame in preparation for the roof with special guests Liverpool council leader Joe Anderson, Garston and Halewood MP Maria Eagle and Cabinet Member for Education Jane Corbett showing their support for the academy, as well as students, sponsors and governors gathering for this momentous occasion. The Academy has been operating from the two sites of the predecessor schools, New Heys Community School and St. Benedicts College. The 8.5-acre scheme will incorporate a ‘learning park’, a learning space that allows ESLA’s curriculum to be taken outdoors and delivered in new ways. Elements of the build include a forest 28
school (classroom environment in a clearing under the trees), science and languages gardens (containing plants used in medicine and from around the world), a 30 seat amphitheatre for group work, a fitness trail as well as student and community allotments, including apiaries, which will be available to the whole South Liverpool community. Jack Pendlebury, Principal at ESLA said: “We are excited to reach this stage in the construction of our new building. Now that the roof is complete it means we are well on track in our plan to be ready in good time to move in February 2013. “This was a wonderful way to celebrate a significant landmark for the new academy. Our unique group of sponsors, Enterprise, Liverpool City Council, The University of Liverpool and the Anglican Diocese and Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool, all come with their own expertise across business and education and in driving real improvements and a real community feel.”
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Historical footprints As part of St John Bosco’s ongoing commitment to Holocaust Education a group of staff and students were privileged to accompany a group of 6th Form students on a trip to Poland. The group stayed in Krakow; however the focus of the trip was to visit Auschwitz. The students were taken on a tour of the camp and stood in the places where prisoners would have stood whilst the camp was in operation and although emotional, the students were full of questions. The pupils all agreed what an excellent opportunity this had been to experience history for themselves and also to experience the wonderful city of Krakow. The students were a credit to the college and to themselves, showing respect for those who lost their lives in the Holocaust and spreading the message of peace and tolerance on their return. All are keen to return and are already planning next year’s visit.
COLLEGE COMMISSION Archbishop Beck Catholic College, Liverpool, have announced they are commissioning a major new music work for concert band with the theme of “The Titanic”. The world premier will take place at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on July 9th. People can keep up to date with the progress of this work by visiting the college website: www.archbishopbeck.com The Titanic has many connections with Merseyside and the prolific composer Peter Meechan has agreed to accept the commission to compose the work. Peter Meechan said “The composition will mark the Titanic's important connections with the North West. The musicians on the ship were Liverpudlians, the Titanic's bell was made in St Helens and many of the crew where from Liverpool. The composition will try to recreate the excitement of the Titanic's maiden voyage, as well as remembering those who lost their lives in the Atlantic Ocean.”
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ROUNDTABLE
Educate’s roundtable
The Curriculum
Changes
Changes to the secondary curriculum have been making headlines, causing students, teachers and parents to re-evaluate the route to success and a rounded education. With new performance measures backing more ‘traditional’ subjects and concerns about the future of work experience for school pupils, schools on Merseyside are working harder than ever to prepare students for the changing future workplace, whilst giving them the essential skills they need for life. The Panel
Scott Davenport
Gill Ditchburn
Chris Routledge
Assistant Headteacher (MFL), at St Julie’s Catholic High School
Sefton Education Business Partnership Manager
Lecturer at University of Liverpool (American Literature and Studies) and Programme Director at University of Liverpool Continuing Education Department
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The new ‘English Bacc’ performance measures are expected to increase the numbers of students pursuing the humanities, sciences and languages to GCSE level. What has this meant for schools? SD: The English Baccalaureate isn’t a new qualification to alter the curriculum followed by students across Key Stage 4; it’s another performance measure put in place by the government to measure how schools are delivering a suite of subjects. The controversy surrounding this new measure has arisen because the subjects chosen are pretty traditional, and for some schools this part of their curriculum in previous years may not have yielded very positive results in this area. GD: For some schools, where these subjects have not been attracting large numbers, I would say that that’s not suddenly going to change because of this new performance measure. Schools have a responsibility, and good schools take it seriously, to provide individual pupils with their own path to success. If this would be to pursue another route, whether that’s different GCSE subjects or a more vocational route, then schools shouldn’t be discouraged. My concern is that if work-related learning is made nonstatutory for under 16s, then schools may not dedicate the time or the resources to invest in this area and pupils will miss out. What other sorts of changes are we seeing in the subjects delivered at schools? SD: At St Julie’s, we’re not seeing any big changes in response to the E Bacc itself, but this is because we have always offered a broad curriculum to cater for our full intake of pupils who achieve very well at GCSE. Languages are a core subject for, and the success of students following GCSE languages at KS4 continues to be very strong. We offer French, German and Spanish at KS4 and in the current Year 11 we have a cohort of 27% of students who could qualify for the ‘E Bacc’ badge. In our current Year 9 however, that figure is higher, currently at around 40%. There is a demand for language learning, and that’s not down to teachers pushing the E Bacc; there are obviously a number of factors, but the school’s reputation for languages has played a huge part.
“Students need to stand out and sometimes the best way to do this is to follow their interests and take a non-traditional route.” Chris Routledge
For Year 9 students when it comes to choosing their options, our policy is to offer a broad curriculum. We advise pupils to take options that will be most suitable for them as additional subjects to the core offer. We make parents aware of the E Bacc information we do have, as part of the guidance that is shared with students and parents during the options process. GD: That’s a large number. I don’t think all schools could say the same, but then their role is to cater for their own intake, and that’s going to vary. It would be unfair to make a comparison in this way. CR: In my subject, at university, we actually prefer to see students applying who haven’t necessarily followed a traditional core of subjects at GCSE and A Level, though the core is important. With the increased costs and competition, students need to stand out and sometimes the best way to do this is to follow their interests and take a non-traditional route. I see so many students who try to navigate their way through modules in the modular degree courses, as though there is somehow an easier path to follow, and this tactical approach seems to come with them from school. They don’t seem to realise that this isn’t perhaps the best way to follow a programme of study. Is it true that the ‘English Bacc’ will emulate a world-class education system? CR: There’s a problem using that term, because we see it all the time in the reports and the media, but it doesn’t tell us an awful lot. Yes, the government says it’s keen to see the standards of education improve, but the new performance measure isn’t in itself creating an international qualification or an internationally-pointing
curriculum. To me, it seems like a very traditional set of subjects, and typically English. SD: I think that that has been the intention since previous reviews have called for an overhaul of the examinations system as a whole. The E Bacc seems to be a watered down attempt to emulate the continental model where students pursue more subjects up to university level. However, it’s not a qualification, and there’s no guarantee of a ‘pass’ to a university place for students who achieve it. CR: Our university system is actually moving towards a modular set-up. The American system of studying for minors with a major is perhaps one influence. While we’re moving in this direction, however, the school system is moving back towards linear exams. SD: It’s ironic, isn’t it? Achievement in the humanities and languages is a key issue for the government; we do need to push those subjects at A Level to support the study of these subjects at university level and beyond. We will have to wait and see how it works ,but part of me thinks it all may not yet have been thought out fully. What else could we learn from our international counterparts? SD: The emphasis on life skills, such as literacy and numeracy, for one. I am pleased to see changes which are pushing literacy in every subject across the curriculum. Some schools are employing a specialist to oversee this in each department. This has got to be a change which, if implemented correctly, makes a big difference to the current figures concerning the key skills among school leavers. GD: Apprenticeships are conducted very differently on the continent, and I think we do have something to learn from this. In areas of Europe, students see schoolwork and working for an employer as interlinked through internships – and this continues through university. Whilst they may study for longer, the students are employed in a relevant field whilst they are at university. They build up contacts as they build up skills, and this network means that they are more employable afterwards. CR: The success of private schools has been to offer students contacts and access to networks in employment. If we want to see this in all schools though, we need teachers to be doing
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ROUNDTABLE
something rather different because this doesn’t come down to the curriculum. GD: Historically, in this country, there appears to be a divide between the academic and the vocational, and the idea of the diplomas was to go someway to counter this. While there’s an argument for vocational qualifications that they motivate non-academic students, and teach them skills to take into the workplace, the diploma was intended to marry skills needed in employment with the essential literacy and numeracy skills. There were some problems with some of the diplomas, perhaps because they relied so much on employer-intervention, and the fact that the industries are always changing, but they were a step in the right direction for those students who chose them because they saw them as a stepping stone into a career. At Sefton Education Business Partnership, we work with local schools to find opportunities for young people and help them to progress in life. We work with employers and help to recruit for apprenticeships. If the government decides that work-related learning is no longer mandatory pre-16, and schools discontinue their programmes, then these opportunities aren’t going to be as available. What does the new approach mean for less academic pupils? SD: I wouldn’t want to see pupils pressured into studying for GCSEs where they are not going to succeed when they could pursue another path which suits them better. I would be concerned if schools felt that this new measure was going to be the main benchmark in the league tables, that could mean cohorts of pupils identified and coerced into programmes of study purely by expected results rather than ability, enjoyment and their previous attainment. At St Julie’s we will not see this though, as our school take the job of educating the whole child very seriously. It would go against our pastoral role and everything that a good school stands for. GD: I have some statistics just to highlight the fact that work-related learning isn’t just for those who are ‘less academic’. The headteacher at one school in Sefton, where 100% of pupils achieved five grades A*-C at GCSE last year, is convinced that the increase in results has been
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helped by the extended work experience programme which ran for up to two years, for some of his students at the school. It worked as a carrot for the young people to work hard at school, and it gave them the motivation and the confidence to achieve in and out of school. It depends on the school and the intake, but this shows that linking the academic and the vocational can work exceptionally well for some young people.
“We’re seeing an increase in the number of adults studying on courses at the Continuing Education Department and in Go Higher, and they range from retired people with an interest in the subject, to those who desperately want to qualify in a particular area so that they can get back into education or work.” Chris Routledge
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Are we seeing a return to a two-tier education system? CR: I think that it certainly produces a more homogenous group of students, and we should be celebrating diversity and encouraging difference as this is what the workplace needs. What the government is forgetting, is that our role is to educate pupils for the workplace of the future – which we can only imagine – and not for the workplace of today. We have to think of how best to prepare them for those eventualities. In the late 90s, when I worked for an internetbased company, no one seemed to understand what I did. Look at how much the world has changed in the past decade even, and you can see why we shouldn’t be restricting pupils. GD: My concern is that we are not preparing young people for the world of work or adult life in general. Employers tell us that they need young people to be rounded individuals and I’m not sure the plans will result in this. SD: My main concern is that the E Bacc may actually narrow down the opportunities, even as it claims it wants to stretch them and make sue they receive a broad curriculum. For a faith school, like ours, Religious Education is a compulsory subject, teaching skills as relevant as the other humanities – and yet it’s not included in the E Bacc. What are schools doing in order to offer the best education they can to all pupils? SD: Schools are always striving to offer the best for each pupil’s individual needs. It is a partnership between school and home and parents don’t need to be concerned about the E Bacc, they have to think about their son or daughter’s needs and fulfilling their potential. GD: Yes, the performance measure isn’t
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“Historically, in this country, there appears to be a divide between the academic and the vocational, and the idea of the diplomas was to go someway to counter this. While there’s an argument for vocational qualifications that they motivate non-academic students, and teach them skills to take into the workplace, the diploma was intended to marry skills needed in employment with the essential literacy and numeracy skills.” Gill Ditchburn something parents need to worry about; I feel that the government will have to look at it though because if a large number of schools are ‘underperforming’ then they may need to review it. CR: I do agree that the raft of subjects is too narrow. R.S. is essential for an appreciation of literature at university level, and this is where schools are doing the right thing by advising pupils individually. The E Bacc is such an arbitrary selection for subjects that it raises the question, are we conducting social engineering here? You have to take into account that people always do better at subjects they enjoy. SD: The whole purpose of the National Curriculum was to bring in some form of standardisation to schools, and create a pattern for a reason. What is your advice for parents of young people choosing their options? SD: There is always a danger that we focus too much on exam performance, and lose sight of what the real purpose of education is. I don’t want to see this happen, and that’s why staff at St Julie’s take a rounded, pastoral approach to work with students individually when it comes to making big decisions about their future. CR: I would say that we’re not here purely to prepare students for work, but to allow them to mature into reasonable human beings, ready to take their place in society. GD: You have to advise pupils to do what’s in their best interests. Whether they’re at school, or in a work-related environment, they’ll be fed the same diet of deadlines, rules and responsibilities and the latter path can, with some, turn their whole secondary education around.
“I am pleased to see changes which are pushing literacy in every subject across the curriculum. Some schools are employing a specialist to oversee this in each department. This has got to be a change which, if implemented correctly, makes a big difference to the current figures concerning the key skills among school leavers.” Scott Davenport
What do universities and employers say? GD: I’ll be interested to hear back from employers over coming months to see what they think. At the moment, I’m hearing that they want to see young people prepared for work with basic skills like good numeracy and literacy, and the right attitude. How schools and businesses continue to work together is going to be different, and I’m disappointed that we’re moving away from what could have been a real and robust programme of study, with the diploma, towards an uncertain future for workrelated learning. For some students, extended work experience suits them; such projects have worked successfully for years, for students and their employers. CR: We’re seeing an increase in the number of adults studying on courses at the Continuing Education Department and in Go Higher, and they range from retired people with an interest in the subject, to those who desperately want to qualify in a particular area so that they can get back into education or work. Not everyone is ready for or wants to go to university at 18, and we wouldn’t want a society where that was the case. SD: I would like Mr. Gove and his advisors to go and visit more schools, not as part of an inspection – although that has its place – but to get a sense of normal life, and what school is like for pupils. I think we’re all in agreement that we want the best for our pupils, but whilst the government considers what that might be regarding exams and qualifications, we’ll keep on working with our pupils to prepare them in the best way we can so they continue to develop as confident, respectful and successful young people.
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Secondary News
Visit from Costume Baroness Newlove drama Staff and pupils at Litherland High School changed their uniforms for fancy dress costumes to raise money for UNICEF. Every year LHS raises hundreds of pounds for "Day For Change". Pupils paid a pound to not wear their uniform and come dressed up instead. Every year "Day for Change" has a theme and this years' was sport in Uganda. This included special themed lessons and assemblies. The costumes this year were amazing and all had a fun day and a lot of money was raised for charity.
Baroness Newlove meets St Julie’s pupils St Julie’s Catholic High School in Woolton were delighted to welcome into school Baroness Newlove who visited them as part of the Lord Speaker's Peers in Schools Outreach Programme. The Baroness met with students over coffee and shared some of her experiences of both her family life and her work in the House of Lords. Following this informal gathering Baroness Newlove moved over to a packed theatre to talk to the whole Sixth Form. She proved to be a compelling speaker, sharing with students the
operations of the House of Lords as well as her own inspirational personal story. Kate McCourt - Assistant Head Teacher for Key Stage 5 said: “We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to speak directly with someone who works within the heart of our parliamentary system. Our students were truly inspired by Baroness Newlove's story and her insight into what goes on in the House of Lords”. The visit was arranged through the Lord Speaker's ‘Peers in Schools’ programme, which has been running in the UK since 2007.
Pupils go above and beyond in head to toe fancy dress
Pop goes Pythagoras Recently, a team of Year 12 A-level maths students from Fazakerley High School took part in a pop maths quiz at Liverpool JMU. The quiz, described as being like a pub quiz but all maths questions and without the alcohol!, was hosted by the Liverpool Mathematical Society. Thirty-eight teams took part, mainly from the Merseyside area. Fazakerley High School performed fantastically and achieved a ‘Runners-up’ place, only losing out to teams from The Blue Coat School, West Kirby Grammar School for Girls and Ulverston High School. Teacher Mrs March, said: “I am extremely proud of them for giving up their Saturday and for achieving such a good result. They were a credit to the school.” Left: The triumphant team from Fazakerley High School 34
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Secondary News
Enterprising Parklands School Win Global Enterprise Award! Students at Speke Secondary School, Parklands High, were absolutely delighted when they beat off other Liverpool schools to win a prestigious Great Enterprise Challenge Award! They won Liverpool's Great Enterprise Challenge contest at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress event on 13 March at the Liverpool Echo Arena. The aim of the competition was to allow a team of up to six pupils from each school an opportunity to create a business enterprise that is sustainable, eco-friendly, and socially responsible. The students impressed the judges with their T's@The Park” Connecting Communities and Companies" project which designs and supplies promotional items such as T-shirts, hoodies, bags and waterproof jackets. The school were presented with their award at the congress by Virgin boss Richard Branson who said they were an example to follow after beating around 170 schools. Headteacher, Mrs Yvonne Sharples, said: “This is a fantastic award for the whole school and most importantly for the whole of the Speke community and will give the community a big boost. “Not only were we taking on the best, we beat the best which is a magnificent achievement for the pupils. “We streamed the awards back to our
Parklands pupils with Richard Branson and Max Steinberg school and when it was announced that we had won the whole school went wild, this goes to show how much, as a school and a community, we all wanted to win. “Our aim is that the high quality educational provision that we are striving to deliver is the right of all our students. It is only possible to achieve this through an equal partnership between everyone involved in the process: students, parents, teachers, employers and the
wider community. This award is the icing on the cake for us The excited students are now looking forward to the all expenses trip to Washington DC in September – home to landmarks such as The White House and US Supreme Court. As well as sightseeing they will also spend time at the Kauffman Foundation Headquarters and spend the day with high school students.
Beckett gets call-up 16-year-old Charlie Beckett, from Crosby, has been selected by the RFU for this year’s England Under 16s squad. The lofty 6ft 5in Year 11 pupil from Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School will join a 22-strong squad for the internationals against Italy Under 17s and Wales Under 16s. Charlie, who has been playing the game since the age of 5, comes from a rugby family with his father and coach, Mark Beckett, having played for the North of England Seniors and his Uncle, Andrew Taylor, having played for England in the Under 18s team. This is the pinnacle of an exciting season for Charlie who has also just been awarded a place to train with the prestigious Leicester Tigers Academy in 2013. This follows in the footsteps of former Merchants’ pupil and ex-England International Ben Kay. The Academy will allow Charlie to focus on developing his professional rugby career whilst maintaining his academic ambition, which is to eventually gain a degree in History. He said “I am both nervous and excited about the move to Leicester next year however my focus at the moment, alongside the training for England, is to study for my GCSEs.” In the last year he has worked tirelessly on his fitness regime training every day morning and night. Charlie said, “Last year I decided to really focus on my fitness and have worked a lot on my acceleration and speed. I would say my best skill is ball carrying. My favourite player is All Blacks star Jerome Kaino, he is a very physical player and I’d like to play like him.” Charlie said: “I am really appreciative of how supportive all my family have been through it all, especially mum and dad. I could not have done it without them.”
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In 2011 Parklands achieved the best results in the school’s history, as 82% of pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs! “The attainment of learners is rising rapidly. Inspection evidence confirms that this upward trend in attainment is being sustained.” OFSTED If you want academic success in a safe and friendly environment, choose Parklands. “Students feel safe at school and know who to turn to if they have any concerns” OFSTED Come and experience Parklands for yourself. Come and see our exceptional teaching and learning in practice. Call into school, phone or e-mail to book an appointment and meet Mrs Sharples, our inspirational Headteacher, and take a tour of the school. www.parklands.liverpool.sch.uk
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Secondary News
Students win debate Notre Dame takes the case at Liverpool Town Hall Notre Dame Catholic College have won the vote and taken home the title of ‘Best in Liverpool’ from the European Youth Parliament United Kingdom (EYPUK) during the North West Regional Forum in Liverpool Town Hall earlier this month. The Pan-European charity held a debate that saw Liverpool schools such as Liverpool College, Belvedere Academy, St Julie’s High School and St Edward’s College compete with Notre Dame for the prestigious honour. Caroline Walker, Drama Teacher and Debate Team Supervisor at Notre Dame Catholic College said: “We are incredibly proud of our students and their impressive debate skills at the EYPUK Forum. The girls have worked incredibly hard to research sound arguments and rebuttals while practicing their trade out of school hours. It was a well deserved win amidst tough local competition.” A group of Notre Dame’s Sixth Form students, Elizabeth Antrobus, Angela Chiweshe, Caitin Carey, Courtney Carey, Adina Khan and Katie Moran, made an outstanding contribution to the motion for resolution by the committee on Development. The young people feverishly discussed the topic of sustainable aid for Africa with Notre
Notre Dame Catholic College’s EYP Debate Team (L-R) Courtney Carey, Angela Chiweshe, Jeff Dunn (Liverpool Schools Parliament) Adina Khan, Elizabeth Antrobus, Katie Moran are presented with their award for ‘Best in Liverpool’. and holds local, regional, national and Dame delivering exceptional points. international events. Events such as the Adina Khan, Sixth Form student at Notre Dame Catholic College said: “It was North West Regional Forum seek to strengthen young member’s skills such a great opportunity to expand our as teambuilding, trust, understanding horizons.” and working with others from different The European Youth Parliament is backgrounds. active in over 33 countries across Europe
Bellerive’s Cracking ‘Eggsperience’ Two weeks before the end of the spring term, an incubator containing ten eggs appeared in the Learning Resource Base at Bellerive Catholic College. Fascinated pupils were able to view progress of the hatching chicks via a webcam. The chicks started to hatch overnight and by the last few days of term, nine cute fluffy chicks had arrived in time for Easter! With 24-hour live web coverage, staff, pupils, families and friends were able to watch the live hatchings and steady growth of the chicks as they moved to their brooder box. They even had ‘playtimes’ in an empty paddling pool to stretch their wings and legs. The chicks had their own 38
webpage called ‘Broodbox’. Thousands of visitors logged in from as far away as America, South Africa and Australia. Facebook and Twitter were also alive with chat about the new "Bellerive Belles".
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The chicks also helped raise money for CAFOD. For ten pence each, students and adults entered a “Name a Chick” draw. Seven winners, one from each year group, a staff member and Sister Brigid
all chose names ranging from ‘Poachy’, ‘Tweedle Dee’ to Sister’s choice of ‘Benedict’. The chicks have now been adopted, including by a residential home for the elderly.
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Notre Dame Catholic College
“Your teachers take excellent care of you and are determined to remove any obstacle in your path to success.� Ofsted 2012
Enrolling girls and boys from 2012 For more information please contact us on 0151 263 3104
Notre Dame Catholic College T
ES A H QU'IL
BON
LE BON DIE U
Established 1869
Everton Valley L4 4EZ Telephone: 0151 263 3104 Fax: 0151 260 1849 ao@notredame.liverpool.sch.uk www.notredameliverpool.com Headteacher: Mrs F Harrison BSc (Hons) NPQH
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Ciao! Buenos días Come stai? Merci Hola! beaucoup Willkommen Bonjour
Lingua Franca With the spotlight on our nation in London Olympics 2012, there’s never been a better time to celebrate our international worth and relevance before a multicultural audience. What’s more, with language learning at school once more in the spotlight, Educate has researched what and how schools are delivering to tomorrow’s global citizens, and the opportunities for our young people in Merseyside.
Since the world wide web joined up the near to the far, the world of work has continued to change at an incredible pace. In the past, those travelling for business could usually rely on their foreign associates’ excellent English to broker deals. However, as local companies go global and markets continue to emerge and develop, it’s a fair prediction that linguists will enjoy an advantage in the workplace – whether as employees or self-starters. It remains true that over 90% of EU schoolchildren learn English - English is certain to remain a significant global language for the foreseeable future - but the
“Student exchanges bring language learning to life and offer unique opportunities to develop social skills and a deeper knowledge of the language and culture.”
communication and transferable skills which linguists bring to the table are once again being recognised. European firms have long lamented the lack of native British linguists when relocating their businesses to the UK, but the government’s moves to include
languages in school performance measures has already seen an increase in the numbers of students opting for languages at GCSE. The coalition government is backing languages as part of the new ‘English Bacc’ which, it claims, will open up opportunities for future generations of students. Education Secretary, Michael Gove, said: “Subjects such as physics, chemistry, history, geography, French and German give students the opportunity to succeed in every field. The numbers studying a proper range of rigorous subjects has been in decline. Now, thanks to our English Bacc, that has changed. More young people are now following the courses which the best colleges and top
Scott Davenport Assistant headteacher St Julie’s Catholic High School
employers value.” At Enterprise South Liverpool Academy, Comenius funding allowed twenty Year 8 students and four members of staff
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Hola! to participate in a bi-lateral exchange with Finland. Pupils committed to weekly after-school sessions to write biographies which they then shared with the peers in Joensuu, Finland. Year 9 students have written a blog about their experiences of an exchange with students in Madrid, and how not only their language skills but their independence, confidence and sense of global citizenship has grown. As the school works towards achieving the full International Schools Award, students in Years 7,8,9 and 11 are enjoying Mandarin language lessons, Tai Chi, calligraphy and paper-cutting. One Year 9 pupil commented, “It was great to learn a
“It’s a competitive job market, and many programmes are now asking for a year’s work experience. When I graduate I want to travel and teach, building up my skills, so that when I apply I’ll have something I can share at interview.”
actively involved in international work in Bolivia, D R Congo and have already formed links with France and Germany. It is now one of our priorities to establish links with a Spanish speaking school, either in Spain or South America.” He added, “Our aim over the next three years, prior to reaccreditation, will be to maintain this degree of dynamism. We want to introduce students to other cultures, broaden horizons and continue to foster a global dimension into the curriculum by raising students’ awareness of the world around them.” Competition for university places is also a factor in many students’ decisions to study
new language. I thought it would be easy but it’s not! It’s been great fun though and the Tai Chi was really relaxing.” For many schools, of course, language learning has never been off the curriculum. Language teacher and deputy headteacher at West Derby School, Gary Evans, commented: “Like many schools, we always recognised the opportunities for our young people of learning to communicate in another language. It’s just the case now that the government has once again drawn attention to these subjects by including them in the English Baccalaureate. Now there will be a sustained drive among schools to boost results in these areas.” For academic pupils, the opportunity to develop their language skills on trips abroad is a tangible boost to confidence and achievement. However, closer to home,
and pupils always enjoy it. I was delighted to see that the boys made full use of their
a modern foreign language at sixth form. Daniel, 16, said, “I’ve always wanted to study history at university so I’m studying English Literature, History and Spanish at A Level. The prospectus said that they’re looking for students who can communicate their ideas and their research, and if I develop my language skills then I’m building up my confidence for the interview.” In an increasingly unstable job market, languages are also offering opportunities to gradates in the EU and further afield to teach and to travel. Law and French undergraduate Clare, 22, commented, “I’ve spent a year abroad in France, and when I returned I did an intensive TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualification which included online study and lengthy seminars alongside my studies. It’s a competitive job market, and many programmes are now
teachers are finding imaginative ways to place pupils in real-life scenarios to practise
language skills to communicate, and thoroughly enjoyed the day.'
asking for a year’s work experience. When I graduate I want to travel and teach,
and improve their skills. A recent day trip for pupils from West Derby School to Langtech,
In September, St Margaret’s CE High School was awarded the prestigious Full
building up my skills, so that when I apply I’ll have something I can share at interview.”
Standish Language College, gave pupils the opportunity to experience a market street
International School Award in recognition of the international work done across the
As the Educate roundtable found last issue, the English Baccalaureate has met criticism
and the opportunity to complete a variety of day-to-day tasks in their foreign language. As on a typical holiday, pupils began by exchanging their money in the bank and they booked a room in a hotel. Once on Market Street, pupils followed their individual shopping lists asking for goods in each of the shops. In the pavement café they sat and wrote a postcard home – not forgetting to buy a stamp at the local Post Office before sending it home to their families. Head of Languages, Suzanne Williams, commented: 'We’ve run this trip on a number of occasions
school as a whole, including not only the modern foreign languages department, but in R.E., geography, history, art and in extra-curricular activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Gareth Philip-Jones, MFL teacher, commented, “Over the next three years, it is our vision to expand the international curriculum provision to other subject areas in order to raise this profile within the school. At the present moment, we are
in some quarters, particularly for its separation of pupils at age 14 into cohorts pursuing either English Bacc subjects, or more vocational courses. However, schools – with the rounded education of their pupils at heart – are continuing to celebrate international links and cultures, despite the funding cuts to language specialist colleges. Languages have long been important
Clare Law and French Undergraduate
Ciao!
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Bonjour to enrichment activities and St Julie’s Catholic High School is no exception. A visit from partner school, IES Vicente Aleixandre in Madrid in March was exciting for staff and students. Plans are now afoot for 26 of St Julie’s pupils to visit Madrid on an exchange in September, as links continue to develop. Assistant headteacher Scott Davenport commented: “Student exchanges bring language learning to life and offer unique opportunities to develop social skills and a deeper knowledge of the language and culture.” European Day of Languages at St Julie’s was another event where staff and pupils took part in activities to celebrate opportunities for pupils in a global economy. Some designed recyclable bags which were themed by language to promote greater awareness of environmental issues, whilst other students were given a European country to research and participated in a ‘Euro quiz’ to test their new found knowledge. A Year 7 dance workshop exploring Chinese dance saw students work with staff at the Confucius Institute. For Year 12 pupils, a 6-week language and culture programme gave an exciting insight into language and culture. Tying in their global celebration with the more local community, Year 11 German students baked cakes and made coffee to host their own German style 'Kaffee und Kuchen' charity event for Macmillan Cancer Support. A European Christmas Market raised over £300 for Marie Curie. Headteacher Tim Alderman commented, “The school’s outstanding work to promote
“This kind of activity shows that other languages are not simply for learning as part of the National Curriculum, but they are living languages like our own. They really got to see language as a tool for getting to know a person, and expressing and exploring their beliefs. It’s been great fun.”
Anne Daniels Headteacher Carleton House
association with the European Life Long Learning Partnership eTwinning Programme. Anne Daniels, headteacher at Carleton House and an ambassador for this programme, commented: “The eTwinning programme allows schools to engage in partnerships with others across Europe and beyond, and they can celebrate cultural differences and share hobbies and interests in any shared language. Our pupils love the interaction and have really enjoyed meeting new friends and learning about their lives.” Carleton House pupils also took part in a 10-week Mandarin Chinese project from the Confucius Institute which ran after school. Anne added, “This kind of activity shows that other languages are not simply for learning as part of the National Curriculum, but they are living languages like our own. They really got to see language as a tool for getting to know a person, and expressing and exploring their beliefs. It’s been great fun.” It seems that, despite cuts to specialist colleges, schools are continuing to foster international links both to assist in their delivery of the curriculum and for loftier aims. From exchange visits to themed days and oldfashioned language learning, communicating with others and understanding cultures from across the globe continue to be central to the curriculum. With the introduction of the Baccalaureate, measuring schools’ success in delivering a rounded curriculum, the importance of language learning is assured – but with the opportunities for today’s pupils, the enjoyment of embracing other languages seems equally certain.
both language learning and the international dimension across the curriculum has already been recognized by the British Council with the International School Award. The school is currently awaiting the presentation of this award for the third time in July of this year”. At primary level, pupils are certainly not missing out on the opportunity to take advantage of opportunities to learn new languages. At Carleton House, pupils learn Spanish from the age of three. No English is spoken in lessons, and children learn through gesture, modelling, games, songs, dance and interactive activities. The school won the International School Award and has a long
Facts and Figures Fewer than 5% of all A Level entrants took a language exam in 2009 43% of schoolchildren took a modern language GCSE in 2010 From 2011, 52% of GCSE pupils will be entered for a language exam Sources: School websites and staff, DfE for statistics
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Education News
College scoops national award Flashmob proves a hit with judges Carmel College was recently presented with the ‘Most Creative Show Off’ award by Fairtrade Foundation Executive Director Harriet Lamb CBE. The Fairtrade Fortnight Awards, recognise the achievements and creativity of Fairtrade campaigners and supporters during the annual two-week Fairtrade Fortnight campaign. Carmel College also scooped £600 to be reinvested in the campaign to bring a fair wage to farmers and workers, through purchasing products qualifying for the Fairtrade Mark and campaigning against unfair trade rules. The winning idea of a Fairtrade flashmob was a brand new event that had never been done before. It required hours and hours of planning, health and safety consent and buckets of confidence. All students involved were superb and showed outstanding dedication to the promotion of Fairtrade. Students commented that “It made Fairtrade cool”, “It was unusual and
Carmel pupils perform their award winning flashmob interesting to see” and “It was nice to see everyone getting involved”. Veronica Pasteur, competition judge and Head of Campaigns at the Fairtrade Foundation said: “Yet again, we were overwhelmed with more entries than ever displaying the incredible creativity, hard work and community spirit of Fairtrade campaigners across the UK.
Scholatastic
“It’s not easy singling out winners from such a huge and inspiring network of activists, but the winners should feel proud that their activities are reaching more people than ever before with the Fairtrade message, and take action in their daily lives to support marginalised farmers to get a better deal, for themselves and their communities”.
Unstoppable Ambrose
Help for students Hugh Baird College has launched a support package to help students with the cost of coming to College. A Scholarship scheme has been introduced, which will see eight talented 16 – 18 year olds receive £1,200 per year for up to two years. Scholarships are available in four areas; Academic, Ambassador, Creative Arts or Sports. The Academic scholarship is for those who have outstanding academic ability and are applying to study A Levels, National Diplomas or Level 3 NVQs. A Creative Arts scholarship will go to someone with exceptional creative ability. For the Ambassador scholarship, applicants must show outstanding self44
motivation, along with empathy and support for family and friends. Young people competing in sport at county or national level would benefit from the sports scholarship, helping them to reach their sporting potential without the added pressure of having to take on a part time job. In addition, all students can receive a free breakfast before 8.45am, and for those who are eligible the College is providing £1,500 bursaries, free bus passes, meal vouchers, subsidised kit and equipment and a course completion bonus. For more information and to apply for a Scholarship, visit www.hughbaird.ac.uk, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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The Current year 10 students at St Ambrose Barlow Catholic High School have been crowned Sefton Schools League Champions, to prove they are one of the best school football teams in the borough. Not only did they win the Sefton league this year but it was the fourth consecutive season that they have won this. During there time at St Ambrose Barlow the students have also had good cup runs in the Merseyside and National Cup. They won the Sefton Cup in 2011 and are well placed to win it for back to back seasons in 2012. The team also boasts the top goal scorer in the Sefton league, James Hulme, who has also won this award for four years running. The manager Mr Michael Metcalf said: “The lads worked really hard over the course of the season often playing most days between fitting in school games, the boys deserve massive praise.
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Fazakerley High School A Specialist Engineering College "Staff are excellent role models and work alongside students to discuss their work and demonstrate different approaches." Ofsted 2012
A A c hieve m e nt for
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vel results e L A d n a ng GCSE i d n a t s t u O Room n o m m o C d Cafe an r e b y C m r f all ages o o s il 6th F p u p r o f ctivities a r a l u c i r r u g extra-c in it c x e f o e g l trips a i t Vast ran n e d i s e verseas r o d n a K U laptops / s r e Regular t u p m o Over 750 c Sherwoods Lane, Liverpool, L10 1LB Tel: 0151 524 4530 Fax: 0151 524 4532 Email: admin@fazakerleyhigh.org • www.fazakerleyhigh.org
Families are welcome to visit throughout the school year and can book a personal tour with staff and pupils
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Meet the Headteacher Ged Murphy, headteacher at Broughton Hall High School
When Ged Murphy took up the post of head at Broughton Hall High School in 1999 he was something of a pioneer. Founded in 1928, the Sister’s of Mercy school, had been run by nuns for 71 years. Indeed the Sisters still live in a convent at the school.
Pioneering Principal Ged became not only the first ever lay head but also the first ever man to take on the role. Now, 12 years on, Ged is still something of a vanguard, notably when it comes to the way in which his students learn. “The core subjects are always there and we do very well in exam results (Broughton Hall was the top performing non-selective school in Liverpool in 2011) but the way we teach things is changing because the world is changing,” says Ged. “The girls have to learn how to learn – we make them aware of how the brain operates.” One example of the innovative learning at Broughton Hall is its “opening minds” lessons. “We have a Spanish national, paid for by the Spanish government who teaches the students basic humanities through the medium of Spanish,” says Ged. “We think we’re the only school who does that.” Ged is keen to point out that although he wants to modernise the methods of learning at Broughton Hall, it is important that the values grounded in the school's history are upheld. 46
“It’s about caring for each other and showing respect for each other,” he says. “We haven’t changed that but we’re trying to make the way the girls learn more relevant for the 21st century.” Of course, taking the girls' education into the 21st century is not without its challenges, not least the logistical challenge Ged faced last year. In April 2011 Ged oversaw the moving of 1300 girls from the old Broughton Hall building to the new all-singing, alldancing one without disrupting the students education. The new Broughton Hall building is on the same site as the old building so the students were studying just a few feet away from where the construction team were working. The fact that learning was not disrupted is quite an achievement. The new building is cutting edge. But then, when you enlist the help of an award-winning architect you know you’re getting something good. The design for the school came from American architect Scott Prisco who designed the Microsoft High School of Future in Philadelphia. Ged was part of a team from the school who went to Philadelphia and met
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with Scott to share ideas. He says he wanted a design that was based around three key concepts – continuous learning, relevant learning and flexible learning. “We wanted to move away from the concept of 25 pupils with one adult in a
“
The way we teach things is changing because the world is changing
” box shaped room,” says Ged. “We wanted it to be able to flow, to be able to change the shape and size of the rooms. “We wanted the learning to be more relevant so we wanted access to IT almost like switching a light on.” All the students at Broughton Hall have access to a wireless environment and are provided with laptops. The sixth form area includes a large cyber café and
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study area, which is linked to neighbouring boys' school Cardinal Heenan. Broughton Hall already offers shared sixth form classes with Cardinal Heenan, something which Ged says means a wider variety of subjects can be offered in each school. “Finally we wanted it to be more flexible for all the different girls we have,” says Ged. “We have girls who will go on to Oxford, some are applying for Harvard at the moment, and then we have other girls who come in with specific special needs.” Innovative features of the building includes science laboratories in which equipment descends from the ceiling electronically.
“You can move the furniture round to change shape and focus of the room, we're one of only a few schools in the country to have that,” says Ged. The design also allows for maximum natural daylight to flood the building as, Ged says, young people work better in natural light. Interestingly the girls helped with the design of the building, picking the colours and furniture. A group were even taken to Philadelphia to meet the architect. “They have already worked very closely with the contractor Morgan Sindall,” says Ged. “We’ve had ‘Women in the construction industry’ days with some of the pupils going to Morgan Sindall for work experience.
The girls have spent a lot of time in hard hats on the site”. With Liverpool set for innovation and change itself, with the election of a city mayor, I want to know what Ged hopes the new form of leadership will mean for education in the city. “Hopefully the mayor can ensure that investment into resources is there and make sure those buildings that are not suitable for 21st century are brought up to proper standard,” says Ged. “But also I'd like to see the success of teaching and learning in Liverpool celebrated. We’ve made huge strides in recent years. That needs to be celebrated as widely as possible.”
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Local News
Students take on The Marines Liverpool’s young musicians experience life in the Navy Fifteen of Liverpool’s young musicians have returned from an intensive week in residence with the Royal Marines Band Service at HMS Collingwood in Hampshire. The one-week ‘taster’ course gives young people a chance to experience life with the Royal Marines as a member of the renowned musical outfit and investigate the musical careers within the RMBS. The young musicians, aged between 15-18, currently rehearse and play with the City’s Saturday Morning Music Centre based at Notre Dame Catholic College in Everton Valley. Exploring a Royal Marines musical career, the young people lived as prospective recruits in naval ‘mess decks’ (dormitories) as well as learning how a Marine makes a bed, parade training and even weapon handling in addition to one on one instrumental sessions and rehearsals at the Royal Marines School of Music. Jonathan Dickson, Head of Service at
Golden slumbers As part of Liverpool Mutual Homes' regeneration of a Victorian mansion on Belvidere Road in Toxteth, FACT’s Schools and Learning programme collaborated with a group of Year 9 students from the Belvedere Academy to create an artwork that would welcome new families to the area. Students explored the social history of the area and decided to develop a creative response that celebrated people, past or present, who they felt contributed to the area’s rich cultural heritage. Using their dreams as a means of storytelling, the students developed whimsical narratives to link people together, transcending historical timeline accuracy and physical gravity. To find out more about how your school can collaborate with FACT on a film, creative technology project visit fact.co.uk/get-involved / email anna.kronenburg.fact.co.uk 48
Students perform with the Royal Marines Liverpool Music Support Service said: “Through the Music Support Services’ association with Notre Dame Catholic College, Saturday Morning Music Centre members were offered a wonderful opportunity to explore one of the many varied careers available in
music. Music is often overlooked as a viable career option but the Royal Marines Band Service is just one of thousands of positions out there from session musicians and composers to studio engineers and orchestral conductors.”
LIFE-SAVING DEFIBRILLATOR INSTALLED School responds to e-petition Childwall Sports College, Wavertree, has become one of the first schools in Merseyside to purchase defibrillators for the school site in response to The Oliver King Foundation e-petition. The Oliver King Foundation was set up following the death of Oliver King, a 12-yearold pupil of King David High School in Wavertree, Liverpool Childwall Headteacher Dewi Phillips (right), is pictured who died at a with Cllr Jake Morrison (left) receiving the defibrillator swimming lesson in "Childwall Sports College should be March 2011. He died of a condition called congratulated for taking this step, and I Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) would encourage other schools to do the which takes the lives of 12 young people same." each week. "We must do all we can to prevent these Cllr Jake Morrison, a Patron of The Oliver deaths, and if by installing defibrillators King Foundation and a City Councillor for helps, we will push for this. I want to see all Wavertree Ward said: “This is really positive public buildings, specifically Schools & news that a School has heard of our petition Sports Centres, equipped with an adequate and decided they would take action straight amount of defibrillators on site, by 2017.” away."
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To advertise in the next issue of Educate Magazine phone Andy on 0151 709 7567 Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils
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School Ec Warriors Educate Magazine takes a look at Eco School Warriors – we bring you stories from local schools and groups as well as companies involved with the environmental issues that are relevant today. This issue we bring you more stories about the environmental issues being addressed in schools and projects helping to raise awareness of the world we live in and how we can all help reduce our carbon footprints as well as advice on recycling and other energy saving advice. The Government in England wants every school to be a sustainable school by 2020 and many schools in Merseyside are facing up to that challenge and starting their own environmental, garden and wildlife schemes and becoming ‘School Eco Warriors’ Sponsored by
Eco-friendly house opens Pupils help to celebrate opening of eco-class Pupils and staff at St Cleopas Primary School, Liverpool are settling in to their new environmentally built roundhouse or outdoor classroom. The building was built using environmentally friendly, natural materials such as mud, sand and straw. Over a period of weeks pupils, staff and members of the local community where involved in the design and construction of the roundhouse. The circular facility includes a Viking inspired wooden dome roof laden with plantation to encourage wildlife. It also has a sea theme and as well as the octopus shaped oven in which the Year 6 children baked hot cross buns for parents. The roundhouse is also the venue for 'Stay and Play', A regular event in the school which gives parents and families a chance to spend a morning/afternoon in school, viewing records of achievement, chatting with teachers about progress before 'staying and playing'. The school has gained awards for being eco-friendly and headteacher Ruth Frain said: “The new facility was a natural extension. It will also be a perfect avenue to take lessons outdoors. “We are an eco-school and any lesson can be done in there whether its drama, music, dance or literacy. “It is an inspirational building and it is something parents and pupils have been fully involved in.”
Pupils try out their ‘Octopus’ oven
Bidst
Gillmon & oss
Come and learn about what happens to your recycling The Recycling Discovery Centres, with their interactive experience and latest technology aims to educate children of all ages, and the local community, on the importance of recycling and protecting the natural environment. The Centres, which are a joint partnership between Veolia Environmental Services and the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority are now taking bookings for schools, colleges and community groups. To book call:
T: 0151 651 3200 www.veolia.co.uk/merseyside-and-halton
Parents receive the freshly baked hot-cross buns 50
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Wildlife EcoCruise The perfect choice for a fun, educational day out
Step on board and enjoy a journey through Merseyside’s waterfront heritage as you investigate the local wildlife within the River Mersey’s diverse ecosystem. Mersey Ferries in partnership with Climatlantic will be running two-hour long cruises along Liverpool’s renowned waterfront. Featuring top environmental experts and professional RSPB field teachers, the Wildlife Eco-cruise creates a living classroom on the water. Climatlantic is part of a European wide project in association with other countries located along the Atlantic coastline. Working in partnership with these countries, the scheme allows an opportunity for learning and development on ways to reduce collective carbon footprints around Europe. Highlights of the Mersey Ferries Wildlife Eco-Cruise include:
• Birdwatching and talks with the RSPB – see up to 25 varieties of birds! • Examine the Mersey’s ecosystem under the microscope
on the ‘Plankton Trawl’ with experts from National Museums and Galleries
• Burbo Bank Wind Farm and experts from Dong Energy discussing this new resource • Fascinating commentary from Mersey Ferries on the history of this renowned passage
• Liverpool’s Three Graces – The best views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site • Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ on Crosby Beach
Wednesday 2nd May and Wednesday 11th July Departs
Pier Head, Liverpool at 10.00am and Seacombe at 10.15am
Prices
£7.00 per child One free adult ticket for every 6 children’s tickets (additional adults £7.00)
To book please call 0151 330 1444
Free Wildlife Eco-Cruise workbook for passengers
Advanced booking is required as places are limited.
Investing in our common future
www.climatlantic.co.uk
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Sponsored by
Birds eye view of recycling Fazakerley Primary School recently visited the Gillmoss Recycling Discovery Centre with pupils from Years 3 and 4. They fully embraced the sustainable theme by walking the one mile journey to the Discovery Centre. The two hour visit proved inspirational to both pupils and teachers as they discovered what happens to their recycling. The trip followed the usual format of informative presentations and interactive activities, while the highlight for most was the tour of the Materials Recovery Facility. Pupils were able to grasp a greater understanding of the recycling process by seeing it in action from the 2nd storey viewing platform.
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Sponsored by
Unique Climatlantic project starts Climatlantic is a partnership of European countries located along the Atlantic coastline, who are working together and learning from each other to reduce their collective carbon footprints. As the world looks to technology and the future as a way of tackling climate change, it is equally important that we learn lessons from our shared past. This project will use archaeology as a means of directly encouraging young people to consider their carbon footprint and the impact their behaviours may have on our coastlines in the future. This new unique project will utilise the archaeology and history of the Merseyside coastline to deliver an important message on the need for carbon reduction and the effect that climate change will have on our seas and coastlines. Climatlantic will be delivering a series of Merseyside-based school workshops targeted at Key Stage 2 level pupils which will allow for the integration of the programme’s
themes into their National Curriculum History and Citizenship modules. To find out more contact 0151 330 1300.
Tree-mendous Holly Lodge Girls’ College in West Derby were lucky enough to be awarded 450 trees from the Woodland trust to plant to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee. However Holly Lodge decided to share this fantastic gift with primary and special schools across the city. So far about 20 primary and special schools all across the city received a pack of 10 native British trees including hazel, oak, beech and hawthorn to plant in their school. Students from Holly Lodge presented the trees in assembly and at some schools they have also been helping to plant the trees.
From little acorns Recenty, Mr Slater the Headmaster of Runnymede helped the Nursery children and the school gardener plant three trees to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee - a Royal Oak and two Dogwood. Mr Slater, said: “We wanted to celbration the Queen’s Jubilee and thought it was fitting that we plant three trees as well as a beautiful Old English Rose bush, these would be a permanent reminder for our future pupils. “The day was fine and the children donned their wellingtons and armed with lots of enthusiasm, excitement and spades, set to work. “We look forward to see them grow as our Nursery children grow”.
Bee good National primary school survey There has been a lot in the media recently about the decline of pollinating insects and how this impacts on the natural world and on people so now would be a good time to take children out into your school grounds to explore why this is happening. Plantlife, the wild plant conservation charity runs as part of the Wild About Plants project, a national survey called Bee Scene. This survey has been developed for primary schools and encourages children to discover the nature on their own doorsteps. Many wildflower and bumblebee populations have declined so much that they are in danger of becoming extinct in some places. By taking part in the Bee Scene survey children will help discover which wildflowers are out there and because wildflowers are a source of food for bumblebees, how likely an area is to support bees. When children have completed their surveys they can upload their results onto the Wild About Plants website and they will be added to a map of England that illustrates the biodiversity hot spots and not-so-hot spots identified by children up and down the country. Everything you need to take part in the Bee Scene survey including ID guides and ideas for lessons and activities can be found on the Wild About Plants website www.wildaboutplants.org.uk/beescene
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Secondary News
Sarah’s sporting values Athlete presents school awards St Ambrose Barlow Catholic High School was delighted to invite athlete, Sarah Storey to their annual sports awards assembly 2012. Awards were given to those students who displayed the Olympic and Paralympic values every day, both in PE and school sport but also in all aspects of school life. Values such as equality, Friendship, Determination, Respect, Courage, Excellence and Inspiration were all recognised. Sarah is one of the athletes who will be representing team GB this summer in the Paralympic games and is one of Great Britain’s most decorated and versatile athletes, having won World and Paralympic gold in both cycling and swimming. Not only has Sarah had an incredible career so far, she is hoping to add to her medal total this summer in the Paralympic games. Sports teacher, Liz Cunningham, said: “St Ambrose Barlow would like to thank Sarah once again for coming and
St Ambrose pupils show their support for Sarah at the summer Olympics speaking to us all, her speech was both inspirational and motivating. The schools two sports ambassadors Emily Penman and Sean Selah closed the awards presenting Sarah with well
Mock assessment day
Students from Broadgreen International School recently attended a mock assessment day at DWF law firm in Liverpool. It was brilliant preparation for future interviews and students gained such a lot out of it. Paul Maddock from DWF said: “At DWF not only are we committed to servicing our Education clients but also helping with the development of Educational Institutions in the city. “Our relationship with Broadgreen International school under the Business In the Community 'Business Class' initiative has enabled us to organise a recent mock assessment day for Broadgreen's eager Ilex students. The aim of this was to equip the students with the necessary skills required to impressive future employers. “On the day we met some outstanding candidates and we have been able secure work experience for the students involved. “This is the first in a long line of initiatives we hope to run with the school during our three year partnership and hopefully we can help raise aspirations and improve academic performance”. 54
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wishes, a gift and a St Ambrose Barlow banner. “Everybody wishes Sarah all the very best and we are keeping our fingers crossed for more winning medals”.
Spring Fling Local residents, school children and community groups were out in force recently for the Academy of St Francis of Assisi’s ‘Spring Fling’! This year the theme was regeneration as the Academy and its partners began the groundwork for a programme of renewal for Denman Drive Gardens at the entrance to Newsham Park. On the day dozens of volunteers from Plusdane Housing, Venture Housing, Riverside Housing, The friends of Newsham Park and Academy staff and students took part in a spring clean of the park and surrounding streets before getting stuck in to the redevelopment of the gardens. Academy Principal Dermot McNiffe, said: “Our specialism is sustainability and there is no better way to teach this than through pupils’ involvement with the environment on our own doorstep. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful setting here in Newsham Park, and it’s exciting for our students and staff to take such an active part in its revival.”
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c holi t a C ving 1844 r e lly s since u f h l Fait er poo iv in L
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Help and advice
Dear Educate
**************************************************** My son is in Year 10, and instead of coursework he seems to be receiving a number of controlled assessment tasks to complete. He tells me that this work can only be completed in school, and I know he has been stressed about finishing it to meet his target grade. He’s been warned by the head of year that if he doesn’t work harder, he won’t be allowed to continue training with the football team. How can I support him? The government introduced controlled assessment to encourage students to work independently, and the new restrictions in different subjects place a time limit and exam conditions upon the work completed. I would imagine that your son’s lessons will have prepared him well for the assessment, and by revising the topic he will do well. This may involve researching about a historical period, reading and revising pieces of poetry for literature, or studying a science or ICT project in greater depth. Encourage him to write down his homework tasks in his planner, so that you can monitor what he is being asked to do and how well he is achieving in this area. Make sure he has a quiet area at home to complete his work, without losing concentration, and encourage him with praise for the steps of progress that he’s making. If you honestly feel that he is doing everything he can to meet his target grade but needs more help, contact the head of year to ask if he can receive some extra tuition or time. This will show that you are supporting the school’s decisions and deadlines.
My daughter has been playing a trumpet at school for the past year, and really enjoyed it at the beginning. She attended lessons once a week and would practise at home, with gentle encouragement. Lately though she has seemed reluctant to practise, saying that she finds it difficult. One of her friends recently started a dance class and she has been asking to leave the trumpet and join her friend’s class. I don’t mind her starting dance, but I don’t want her to regret giving up a musical instrument. What would your advice be?
My son has recently had to change schools when we moved house, and he is finding it difficult to settle. In particular, he has been getting detentions for ‘forgetting’ to do his homework. This has never been a problem for him before, but I feel that he is protesting in some way. I’m worried about how he doesn’t seem to be engaging with his lessons and I don’t want his work to deteriorate. What do you suggest I should do? Moving house can be stressful for any member of the family, under any circumstances, and starting at a new school all at once can really put the pressure on. The fact that you have acknowledged this, though, means that you’re already halfway to addressing the matter with him. Beginning with the detentions for his homework, I suggest that you write a letter in or telephone his head of year to explain your concerns and ask for his teachers to be informed that you are taking an active part in the remedy to the problem. At home, show your interest with a friendly look over his homework diary or planner each evening to see what homework has been set and when it’s due, to help him complete it. If you find he hasn’t been filling it in, gently remind him how important this is. While this may address some of the surface issues for him, confront the matter of how well he is settling head on by talking gently to him about how he is getting on at school. Teaching
staff would be happy to talk to a parent of a new pupil to get to know a little more background so don’t be afraid to contact the school if any concerns are raised. Finally, give the situation time. Praise him when his homework is completed, and ask him about his schoolday.
For every budding Young Musician of the Year, there are many young people whose enthusiasm quickly deflates when they realise how challenging music lessons can be. Sadly, there are lots of pupils who don’t persevere and later look back with regret. However, it would almost certainly be a mistake to push a child into pursuing a ‘hobby’ which they weren’t enjoying. Telephone the school and ask if you can speak to the teacher to find out if your daughter is struggling, and see what advice you receive. It may be the case that arranging to work at a slower pace, or changing to a group environment, may improve her confidence and enjoyment easily. Encourage her desire to join the dance class, and remind her how her music training must be helping her sense of rhythm.
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SPORTING CHALLENGE Celebrating the year of sport
MILLBROOK BIKERS School children from Millbrook Community Primary School, Kirkby recently held two days of bike training with the help of Sustrans, the cycling charity. The first days training was for the Reception and Year 1 children to help teach them how to safely handle a bike. The second day was aimed at the older children who can ride proficiently and those who are using stabilisers and want now to ride unaided. A course was set out for the children to test their cycling skills, all the children brought their own bikes in and a cycling helmet. Headteacher, Mrs Maloney, said: “The Cycle training event went really well and we received personal thanks from parents. Over eighty children participated and they had a great time”.
HOCKEY STARS VISIT Great Britain hockey stars Kate Walsh and Helen Richardson were guests of honour at St Michael’s Church of England Specialist Music with English College recently. The visit came as part of a nationwide programme, the Hockey Nation, which will see British Olympic hockey players visit events involving more than 450 secondary schools over two months. The ‘Come and Meet’ sessions will give thousands of youngsters the chance to try In2Hockey, a version of hockey for 10 to 14 year olds, ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games this summer. Kate and Helen said: “We started playing hockey at school so it’s fantastic to be able to return to the playground, to meet the kids and speak to them about their sporting ambitions. The Olympic Games was always a massive inspiration to us growing up and if we can help inspire the next generation and recruit some new fans of hockey in the process then that would be great!” Hockey star Helen Richardson
Kate and Helen with St Michael’s Year 7 Hockey team
Kate Walsh meets the St Michael’s students
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GOING FOR GOLD Pupils from St Cleopas Primary School, Liverpool recently held a Mini Olympics Day which was linked to the whole school topic, 'Going for gold'. Children were split into mixed ability and age groups across both keystages and placed into house teams. The fabulous weather also ensured that the events were well supported by parents on the day and proved to be the perfect lead in to the London Olympics. The overall team winners were ‘Holt’ who, ran, jumped, skipped and hopped their way to a wonderful trophy.
Smells like team spirit! Above: Y1 have a sackful of energy
Hana making 'eggsellent' progress..
PUPILS SHINE ON The Light Cinema, New Brighton is offering a pioneering immersive learning offer to Merseyside schools and youth groups. Cinema Park has an international reputation for creating multi-sensory educational programmes, which have been adopted as compulsory curriculum in Israel, Poland and Florida. The half-day programmes are suitable for pupils from Key Stage 2 upwards (ages 7-15) and cover a range of themes from animals & habitats, science & nature, to alcohol & drug prevention. Pupils enter different screens to experience 3D and interactive technology, as they absorb information and engage with educational content through a familiar and enjoyable format that entertains as well as educates. Bernard Cassidy, Headteacher of Mount Primary School, New Brighton, said: “Our children thoroughly enjoyed the Edu-tainment experience at the Light Cinema. They learnt a lot and had a great deal of fun. We will definitely be using this again as part of our curriculum plans”.
Keeley's long jump technique would give Carl Lewis a run for his money
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MOVERS AND SHAKERS Pupils go head over heels to entertain Parents, families and friends of Sacred Heart Catholic College, Crosby packed St Edward Hall as the College’s annual dance and gymnastics display took place. Among the organisers was Head of PE, Mrs Hewlett, who said: “We rehearsed for several weeks and were ready to perform to our audiences. On the Tuesday, we had a full dress rehearsal in front of our feeder primary schools, which went extremely well. We had 116 girls and boys taking part, representing each age group. “We also had a guest appearance from one of our Year 12 boys, Jordon Ramos, who is a four times tumbling world champion. It was a fantastic night and everyone involved can be proud of all that they achieved in both shows.”
Pupils perform their Olympic themed opening routine
Cheerleaders build a human pyramid
The evening included Irish dancing to disco dancing
Pupils provide an Olympic gymnastic display
Olympic cheerleaders
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SWEET DREAMS AT BOSCO
Puck out to cause some mischief
Staff and students at St John Bosco Arts College produced a fantastic production this year. The production was a re-written version of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ combined with the ideas from the film and book Stardust. There were lots of students involved in the production not only acting but producing the set, making the costumes and providing the music. It was a fantastic production with wonderful feedback from the audiences.
THE GAME OF LIFE Year 6 from St Cecilia’s Catholic Junior School, Liverpool recently undertook an arts project entitled ‘The Game of Life’. For five days the school worked with Arts Insight, an arts organization, to create a professional working theatre production which included 60 performers and 180 backstage crew which included everything from set designers, costumes and even a marketing crew. The culmination of the week saw two performances of ‘The Game of Life’ in front of audiences made up of the local community, friends, family and the rest of the school.
A duel to the death The Fantastic Midsummer Chorus
The all important sound crew
Lets face the music and dance
St Cecilia’s cast and production crew
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3D isn’t just for cinemas but design and gaming
THE NEXT GENERATION Targeting the future game developers North Liverpool Academy recently ran a series of workshops set to inspire the North West’s next generation of game developers and digital creatives. The ‘I ♥ Gaming’ workshops held at The North Liverpool Academy and has been designed specifically to appeal to students interested in a career in gaming or digital media. Through a series of specialist workshops students gained hands on experience in 3D design, interactive TV and gaming, game creation, how to design an app and start a gaming business. They also accessed advice from key figures from both national businesses and from the North West’s thriving gaming and digital sector.
Hands on testing of gaming hardware
Seeing how things really work
The ‘I ♥ Gaming Team
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r
Be part of the remarkable success story...
at 10 e 0% fo p r as pu s pi ls
St. Ambrose Barlow CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL is one OF the best performing schools in the UK. t 100% pass rate for pupils attaining at least five good GCSEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (2011) t Small class sizes, giving great teacher/pupil ratios t Fantastic facilities, including state-of-the-art IT equipment t Subjects taught in ability sets t Caring, dedicated staff devoted to maximising the potential of every child t Happy, creative, inspirational atmosphere Awards:t School Achievement Award (last three years) t High Performing School status t Prime Minister Commendation
We expect the best, so you can expect the best
barlow catholic high school
www.stambrosebarlow.com www .stambro osebarlow.com
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BRINGING SCIENCE TO LIFE Pupils attend inter-active workshops Face2Face with Sports Science held its first workshop and exhibition at The Museum of Science and Industry recently with 60 students from six schools attending. The workshop incorporated a talk about sports science by Prof Greg Whyte and professional boxer David Price. Students were then able to try different disciplines of sports science and discover how science can help improve the performance of elite athletes. Events will continue to be run throughout 2012 with further exhibits for schools scheduled on the 22nd June and 6th July at the Liverpool World Museum and free public exhibits held on the 23rd June and 7th July. For more information www.ljmu.ac.uk/f2fss
Students with Olympic bronze medallist and professional boxer David Price
Students collect blood pressure measurements
Students using performance analysis software to analyse a football match Student races against a simulated Olympic cycling champion
Students making their own sports drinks using glucose, salt, water and orange squash
Right: Students play Nintendo Wii and learn just how much physical activity they can acheive
Left: Student races against an Olympic gold medalist in a simulated rowing race
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BROUGHTON HALL CELEBRATES School stages a “Legendary” Concert! In March, students and staff of Broughton Hall High School performed in the music showcase entitled ‘Legends through the Decades’. The showcase featured Key Stage 3 soloists, choirs and instrumental ensembles from Years 7-13. This year, Performing Arts students also helped organise the event for their ‘A’ Level and as always, the concert proved to be a great success celebrating the musical talent of their students, their dedication and achievements. Helen Crilly from the Music Department at Broughton Hall, said: “A massive thank you must go to parents and friends of Broughton Hall for attending and all who contributed to this fantastic event!”
The School Choir gave their rendition of ‘I Want You Back’
Year 9 soloist Alex Coogan sings ‘Your Song’
Staff Band playing ‘Dancing Queen’ by ABBA!
Year 8 soloist Katie Morse ‘Angels’ Elizabeth Rushton, Year 8, played ‘Ode to Joy’.
A Level Performing Arts student Rebecca Green
BHHS Guitar Ensemble ‘Take 5’
Vocal Group performed ‘Proud Mary’
Emily Dyer, Year 8 – ‘At Last’
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MUSICAL GALA FOR JUBILEE School celebrates with an eclectic mix of music Music has always been a great strength at Archbishop Blanch School and this was never more evident than at the recent musical gala concert held as part of a range of celebrations that the school is staging to mark the Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diamond Jubilee. The concert consisted of an eclectic mix of music ranging from Vivaldi to Take That, with choral contributions from the Chamber, Senior and Year 7 Choirs. Individual performances were given on the piano, guitar, alto sax, clarinet and flute, with the Senior Orchestra giving a magnificent rendition of the James Bond Theme.
Choir and orchestra performing together
Mr Costello keeps the beat
Some mellow cello!
Mr Moss joins in with the brass section
Flute harmony
Voices raised in song
Star bassoonist in action!
Chamber Choir with Mr Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Keefe
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LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION Cast ‘splurge’ out at Bugsy production Pupils from Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for Learning, recently held four magnificent performances of the musical, Bugsy Malone. The shows produced more than 350 attendees from neighbouring primary schools, the local community, students and parents. One member of the public commented: “I have seen a lot of performances in my time but this was, by far, the most amazing performance ever. The kid’s enthusiasm and talent is astonishing”. The grand finale even saw Bugsy, the cast and some of the audience getting ‘splurged’. The school Parent Teacher Association (Friends of HASCL) were also in attendance providing a much needed cuppa and cup cake during the interval.
The cast of Bugsy Malone
Bugsy Malone - Greg Holden
Singers and dancers from the Speakeasy. Jess Molyneux Emily Duke and Steph Connor
Siobhan Hooks - Shoulders Chinese laundry worker Charlie Ann Doyle
Dandy Dan, Fat Sam and Knuckles - Bobbi Lee Scott, Amy Horne and Libby Herbert
Blousey - Jess Finneran, Tallulah - Maggie Clarke and Fizzy - Brandon Williams
Smolsky and a reporter - Harry Duke and Olivia Wootton
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Take a closer look Calderstones Specialist Science College has excellent facilities including 15 Science Laboratories, extensive Sports provision, Art rooms and Drama facilities. Our exam results are amongst the best in Liverpool and we always aim to offer each pupil as many opportunities as possible both inside and outside the classroom.
“The school’s true commitment to ensuring that all students have equal opportunities to reach their potential is at the heart of everything it does. Students are known as individuals and feel extremely safe because of the school’s outstanding provision for their care, guidance and support.” OFSTED November 2010
CALDERSTONES SCHOOL A Specialist Science College Harthill Road, Liverpool L18 3HS Tel: 0151 724 2087
For a prospectus call 0151 724 2087 or visit www.calderstones.co.uk
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The cast of Oliver (or The workhouse Boys)
PLEASE SIR CAN WE HAVE MORE Standing ovation for Oliver stage show Following the huge success of last year’s musical (Grease), when the audience asked for more, that’s exactly what Calderstones School gave them again this year with their production of Oliver! A delighted Mr Sheard, the Head of Performing Arts, said: “With it being the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth it seemed an obvious choice for us to perform.” Audiences were thoroughly entertained even enjoying the raffle which the Artful Dodger led in his own inimitable style. After giving a standing ovation on the last night the audience left, happy but checking their pockets carefully!
Beth Boden as Nancy
Widow Corney (Niamh Mercer) & Mr Bumble (Toby Jones)
Oliver played by Callum Crighton
Bill Sykes played by Daniel Robinson
Mr Sowerberry's Funeral Parlour
Some of Fagin's Gang
Enjoying the Gruel!
Ben Sharples as Fagin and Daniel Robinson as Bill Sykes
Michael Welch as Mr Sowerberry
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BACK TO SCHOOL WITH JOSÉ AND SEB Liverpool stars José Enrique and Sebastian Coates went back to school as they took part in some fantastic LFC community initiatives. The duo, who were joined by Liverpool FC Ladies skipper Vicky Jones, visited St Silas Primary School in Toxteth for the LFC Equality 4 All Scheme, and then Shorefields Community College in Dingle Vale for the LFC Premier League 4 Sport event. One of the highlights of the day was Enrique, Coates and Jones taking part in a Q and A session with the kids in Spanish. A Spanish teacher was present as the pair were quizzed on their LFC career so far. The 11-year-olds at St Silas Primary also took part in a football session under the watchful eye of Enrique and Coates.
LIVING FOR SPORT Pupils receive masterclass
PUPILS GRIND A MASTERCLASS Sebastian and José with children from St Silas Primary School in Toxteth, Liverpool José taking part in football skills with children from St Silas Primary School
Sebastian, José and Vicky with the children at Shorefields Community College
Maricourt Catholic High School recently welcomed former European and British skateboarding champion Neil Danns into their school. Neil’s visit was made possible through the Sky Sports initiative ‘Living for Sport’ through which they are creating a skateboarding and skating project to increase participation in the already popular activity. Neil spent a half day with pupils; firstly delivering a very inspirational assembly to Year 8 pupils, sharing his story of local Liverpool lad to European and British Skateboarding Champion. A selection of students participated in a skateboarding coaching session with Neil and were taught the basic skills for skateboarding and a few tricks.
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Let’s make some noise The Liverpool Music Support Service have been providing music education in the city for over 40 years. With our expert instrumental and vocal tuition, free instrument loans and a wide variety of exciting performance opportunities, we encourage young people to make music together and, in turn, help to nurture some of the finest young musicians in our city. CLASSES AVAILABLE FROM
September 2011 to July 2012
“The best thing we have done in terms of music provision.” Paul Anderson, Headteacher at Northway Primary School
For further information call 0151 207 8580 or email musicservice@notredame.liverpool.sch.uk
T
ES A H QU'IL
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A H QU'IL
BON
LE BON DIE U
BON
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IN ASSOCIATION WITH NOTRE DAME CATHOLIC COLLEGE
liverpoolmusicsupportservice.com
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A DAZZLING PERFORMANCE
The cast of Beauty and the Beast
Blue Coat showstopper a winning production In February, The Blue Coat School community sat back, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed a fantastic performance of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast which saw Blue Coat musical theatre at its finest. It was a fantastic production involving over 100 students with superb music and talented performances supported by an energetic stage and lighting crew. The show was directed and choreographed by former Blue Coat student, James Lacey and based on the award winning Disney animated movie. Many members of staff, parents and friends ensured the show’s success by supporting the students behind the scenes – it was a culmination of hard work, effort and dedication shown since the very first rehearsals back in October.
Belle in full voice
The Beast realises his love for Belle The Beast with Belle
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Flying the flag With the Jubilee and Olympics in the diary there’s no better time for kids to dress up in red, white and blue. wis Le n is h Jo Lew 5 9.9 hn £2 6 Jo s s is £1 re t d red Lew is o n p n i h ew es p L Jo arg pum t £8 ohn l e J a l e h £6 u trip w Jo le ge s stra sses t t i L rita ow gla He pe b t sun i Str d spo Re tro e ’s r 70 lack 9 1 b O in ewis GP ne o nL ph Joh 9 £4
He mi ng F_S way C d de £5 5 J eck sign oh ch n L air ew is
“FS” shield polo shirt £10.99 Zara Kids Red twisted chinos £15 Next Converse Chuck Taylor All Star double tongue trainers £32 John Lewis
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Bo y £7 ’s U Jo nio hn n Le Jac wis k F lip
Gi r £8 l’s Str i Jo hn pe F Le lip F wis lop s
Flo ps
Po lo Ra lph La Ski ure nn nc y je Tea l a a m GB Na ssic Deni ns £ 26 vy m polo m tr 15.9 9 ilb pa ne esh shirt y ha Zara l fo esp £69 t Kid otb ad J £7 rille ohn Nex s all t s £1 L 2 J £14 ewis oh Ne nL ew xt is
All products are available in the following Liverpool city centre stores John Lewis, South John Street, Zara Kids, Liverpool 1 and Next, Church Street.
s Kid s a r id t ex 9 Za ra K N a .9 4 9 Z is £7 £2 er shirt 12.9 Lew z bla r t- irt £ hn ck lowe d sk 6 Jo ext a J f £ te 6N ion nd ea ses Un art a ot pl glas es £1 He lka d t sun edg Po d spo pe w Re pe ro i Str
Models: Olivia and Lawrie
s sse s a l wi ng Su n Le r h la gu 6 Jo n £ a ct Re s ’ y Bo
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Viewpoint
Government’s planned welfare reform, what do the changes mean for free school meals? More than 350,000 children will lose their free school meals under the Government’s radical plans to reform welfare entitlement next year, an analysis by the Children’s Society has warned. The report argues that the system does not need reform as it estimates that half of all schoolchildren living in poverty are missing out on free school meals.
Elaine Hindal
Sam Royston
Elaine Hindal, Campaign for Childhood Director, The Children’s Society The Children's Society has launched its Fair and Square campaign, calling for all children living in poverty to get a free school meal. The facts are compelling. At the moment, more than half of all schoolchildren living in poverty in England - 1.2 million - are missing out on a free school meal. And 700,000 of those children are not even entitled to one. This is unacceptable. There is clear evidence that free school meals provide vital financial support to struggling families. For almost a third of children in families we surveyed, school lunch is their main meal of the day. Not forgetting that eating a healthy meal at lunch-time improves children's concentration and can have improve classroom behaviour. Nutritious school meals for disadvantaged children can also help develop healthy eating habits. Extending free school meals to all children in poverty is a common-sense argument that already has widespread public support. When we polled adults across the UK, nine out of ten agreed that all children living in poverty should get a free school meal. Sam Royston, Poverty and Early Years Policy Adviser Thousands of low income families rely on free school meals, but the means-testing rules can create a real disincentive to work; unfortunately, this is set to get even worse when the new Universal Credit is introduced. Currently, families that get means-tested out of work benefits like jobseeker’s allowance qualify for free school meals for any children they have in school. Low income working families can qualify, but only if they work under 16 hours per week (24 hours for couples) and earn less than £16,190 per year. This can create a substantial work disincentive since working families can lose the key benefit (worth around £370 per child per year) no matter how little they earn. In fact, of families in receipt of free school meals, who The Children’s Society surveyed, six out of ten said that the threat of the loss of free school meals has a direct impact on their decisions about moving into work or taking on additional hours. One working parent said: the difference between me working or not is about £40, half of which is now paid out in school meals. It has a huge impact. Kevin Brennan MP, Shadow Minister for Schools This Children Society report is extremely worrying. The Government has not thought through the consequences of their reforms for some of the most vulnerable children and families. In addition eligibility for free school meals has been used to calculate the pupil premium and the Government is allowing Labour’s higher nutritional standards to slip. Despite all the Government’s rhetoric , it is the poorest children who will suffer from their ill thought through policies.’
Kevin Brennan MP
Over the coming months the Government will consult on the future of free school meals. The planned introduction of Universal Credit means that a completely new system of entitlement needs to be put into place in the next year. At the moment lone parents working 16 or more hours a weeks (or normally 24 hours a week for a couple) are not eligible for free school meals - no matter how little they earn. Six out of ten parents say that free school meal eligibility has a direct impact on their decision to move back into work, or work more hours. The Children's Society are urging ministers to listen not just to them and other professional bodies - but to the voices of the vast majority of adults up and down the country, who know the huge difference extending entitlement will make to the lives their neighbours, friends - or even themselves.
Have your say: To suggest or contribute to a topic for debate in Viewpoint email us at: educate@merseymirror.com or to view our on-line poll visit: www.educatemagazine.com
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ION EDUCATE COMPETIT
WIN
e v a h to l o o h c s r u o y A chance for ker a e p s t s e u g s a g n u o Claire Y
Claire Young, 32, is the straight talking, no-nonsense business woman who is well known for reaching the final of BBC1’s The Apprentice (2008). She has worked non-stop setting up numerous business ventures including www.schoolspeakers.co.uk and www.girlsoutloud.org.uk. School Speakers is an agency working with schools providing a selection of over 170 people who talk to students on subjects across the curriculum. Popular requests are; business and enterprise, careers and employability skills. Enterprise develops many crucial soft skills which are in demand by employers; Claire works ‘hands on’ with students; visiting primary and secondary schools.
HOW TO ENTER To win the chance for Claire Young to visit your school in the new academic year please email your name, school and contact number to: post@merseymirror.com
ample x e t s e b ; n a m o w s s e “A great young busin n Sugar la A rd o L ” r u e n e r rep of Apprentice to Ent
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Book Review
In association with
by Jennifer Dobson
5-8 Years The Magic Dress Shop: The Butterfly Tiara by Gwyneth Rees - £4.99 What could be better than a magic dress shop, where each gorgeous outfit takes you on an adventure through time and imagination? Ava puts on a beautiful trapeze outfit with an amazing butterfly tiara and is transported to a travelling circus. Can Ava reunite the baby with its mother before the ringmaster finds out? Danny Baker’s Silly Olympics: The Wibbly Wobbly Jelly Belly Flop by Steve Hartley - £5.99 Cheer Danny on and his friends as they bravely attempt the World Record for Jelly Belly Flopping! The competition is tough, but Danny is determined to hop, skip and boing his way to a gold medal! Not to mention a new record! Lady Lollipop by Dick King Smith - £4.99 Lollipop is no ordinary pig; she's the cleverest pig in the whole kingdom. When people stare into Lollipop's bright eyes, it seems to change them for the better. But will Lollipop win over spoilt Princess Penelope and the King and Queen? A really beautiful story for young readers.
9-12 Years Fiction Call me Drog by Sue Cowing - £5.99 Parker is a quiet, introverted eleven-year-old boy, coming to terms with his parents' divorce, when he stumbles upon Drog, an ugly green puppet left in the rubbish. But Drog is no ordinary puppet; he's a talking, sarcastic, obnoxious puppet... who won't let go of Parker's hand. Darkmoor: The Darkness Discovered by Victoria Barry - £5.99 Darkmoor: The Darkness Discovered is a new 1 of a 5-part adventure series. In the village of Filius, the old Victorian vicarage has stood empty for over a decade. With rumours of its haunted past, everyone stays away. Well, almost everyone... Intriguing from the first page! School for Villains by Bruno Vincent - £5.99 ‘I looked again at the door and saw a message scrawled roughly in the mud of the wall above it, as though someone had used their whole hand to gouge it out: RIDLEY GARNET'S SCHOLE FUR VILLAINS!’ Everyone's favourite orphan-turned-storyteller Daniel Dorey is back in this new tale. Will Daniel and his naughty schoolmates be able to put their grisly lessons into practice and help rescue his sister?
Teenage Fiction Crave by Melissa Darnell - £6.99 This is a wonderful new paranormal romance novel for young adults. Crave told from the point of view of Jacksonville High School students Savannah Colbert and Tristan Coleman. Tristan is a Descendant, a member of the Clann family who hold much of the power in their East Texas town. Soon Savannah discovers that she is descended from a far deadlier, more ancient family altogether – vampires. Young Sherlock Holmes- Fire Storm by Andrew Lane - £6.99 Fourteen-year-old Sherlock has come up against some challenges in his time, but what confronts him now is completely baffling. His tutor, Crowe, and Crowe's daughter, Ginny, have vanished. Their house looks as if nobody has ever lived there. Neighbours claim never to have heard of them. Young Sherlock Holmes is back for his fourth exciting adventure. Sherlock Holmes: think you know him? Think again. Snofjell by Jennifer M Smedley - £7.99 This is a lovely fantasy story that captures your attention from the first page. When Harriet goes to visit her Norwegian grandparents in the winter of 1927, she and her friend Espen are unprepared for the magical adventure that awaits them. Harriet tells us her story as an old woman, as she looks back on an experience that she will never forget. A truly stunning Norwegian fairy tale. Are you a librarian, teacher or purchasing manager? Do you buy books for your business or institution? Waterstones Liverpool offers a comprehensive account sales service. Contact Elaine Green, Children's Department, Liverpool ONE, 12 College Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 3DL. Tel: 0151 709 9820
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SPONSORED BY
Celebrating outstanding achievement Award Categories: Most Inspirational Primary School
Spirit of Enterprise Award
Most Inspirational Secondary School
Innovative and Creative Literacy Award
Community Partnership Award
Innovative and Creative Numeracy Award
Outstanding Commitment to Sport
SEN Provision Award
ICT Innovation Award
Science Project of the Year
Sustainable School Project of the Year
Outstanding Arts Performance
The Communication Award
WOW Recognition Award
Teacher of the Year
Entry packs will be sent out to your school soon. The Educate Awards will be held later in the year. For more information call 01517097567 or email educateawards@merseymirror.com Associate Sponsors
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Just off Bold Street... 88 Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DQ fact.co.uk / 0151 707 4464
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WHERE CAN WE GO? Your guide to what’s happening out & about in Merseyside
Not to be d misse
The Olympic Torch Route 2012
The Spellbound Forest
1st June www.sefton.gov.uk/london2012 www.knowsley.gov.uk www.liverpool.gov.uk
19th & 20th May Delamere Forest, Cheshire www.spellboundforest.org.uk
Greato one t h watc
For one weekend in May, a partnership between Wild Rumpus (the team behind the award-winning Just So Festival) and the Forestry Commission is bringing a fairy-tale world to life. Families can explore three paths of the naturally beautiful woodland, where visual art, theatre, music, dance and storytelling will combine to tell the story of traditional English fairy-tales. Families can follow Tattercoats on her journey from rags to riches, see how they fare against the quest of The Three Heads in the Well and become enchanted by the plight of the Earl Mar’s Daughter. Families are free to explore the beautiful woodland along the designated story paths, which converge at the King’s Ball in the centre of the forest. Tickets are available from the Forestry Commission Box Office through the Spellbound Forest website (www.spellboundforest.org.uk/tickets) or by telephoning 03000 680400.
Sefton: The Olympic Torch starts its Merseyside journey on Friday 1st June from Southport’s King George V College with torchbearers running along Scarisbrick New Road. The convoy will then head to Ainsdale along Liverpool Road. Torchbearers then reach Formby and run along Altcar Road before turning left onto Liverpool Road. The Olympic torch will be brought into St Helens in a special vehicle convoy along the East Lancs Road. From there it heads into Prescot Road before leaving the borough at the Prescot boundary.
Liverpool: Liverpool’s route officially starts in Knotty Ash at around 4pm, the route will travel along East Prescot Road through Old Swan onto Edge Lane and onto the two cathedrals, where both cathedrals will be holding special bell ringing musical performances whilst the torch travels down Brownlow Hill. The torch will then take a route via Hope Street and Upper Duke Street taking in the Chinese Arch and St George’s Hall and Scotland Road before entering the Kingsway tunnel at aprroximately 5pm. The torch route will finish with an evening of celebration and entertainment at Pier Head. The torch will return from Wallasey for the special 7pm ceremony, which is being organised by LOCOG (the Local Organising Committee for Olympic Games). Entertainment will be provided by the relay’s sponsors Coca Cola, Samsung and Lloyds TSB and by the city council. Culture chiefs are expected to showcase some of the city’s best young talent. At the end of the performances, a giant “celebration cauldron” will be lit by the last torchbearer of the day.
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FUTURE EVENTS
Knowsley: The historic flame is then carried into Knowsley through Knowsley Safari Park. The Olympic Torch will be touring the park for about 35 minutes before continuing in convoy along the Prescot Bypass (A58) through the roundabout and on to Liverpool Road (A57) through Huyton. before heading into Liverpool. The arrival of the flame will be marked by street celebrations and a major community event at Knowsley Safari Park.
Sturday 2nd June
Wednesday 27th June
Marcus Collins & Craig Colton Speke Hall, Speke, L24 1XD 0151 427 7231
Macbeth Speke Hall 6pm for 7pm performance Adult £14, Child £7
X factor finalists Marcus Collins and Craig Colton will headline the opening night of Speke Hall Concerts. Marcus and finalist Craig were two of the best and most loved stars from the show this year. Their friendship with both each other and mentor Gary Barlow was one of the highlights of the show.
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men return to Speke Hall to perform the Shakespearean tragedy, “Macbeth”. Enjoy an evening of intrigue, scheming and murder as power struggles unfold….. Be enthralled and spellbound by this tragic tale, performed on the North Lawn of Speke Hall.
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Friday 29th June
7th & 8th July
FILM and DVD REVIEW Avengers Assemble
Sing-A-Long-A Grease Liverpool Empire Theatre, Liverpool 0844 871 3017
Free Running 6pm for 7pm performance. Adult £18, Concessions £15, Child £10.
Ever wanted to know what it's like to be a T-bird or a Pink Lady but never quite felt cool enough to pull it off? Well, now is your chance to don those pink jackets, grease up those quiffs and let your inhibitions go for an evening where you are the stars and remember Grease is the word...
Awe inspiring acrobatics and martial arts. A high-energy production exhibits the agility and strength of some of the best freerunners in the country! Prepare to be entertained by a new kind of attraction!
14th-15th July
Friday 27th July
Scarecrow Festival National Wildflower Centre, Court Hey Park 0151 738 1913 The National Wildflower Centre will be opening their doors to the public to view the entries to their Scarecrow Festival submitted by schools in Merseyside. This years theme is Royal Recycling and Going for Green Gold
Saturday 25th August
Free t even
Peter Rabbit and Friends Norton Priory Museum & Gardens, Tudor Road, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire 0845 450 5157 Outdoor Theatre at its best! Bring a picnic and a blanket and join Quantum Theatre in the Walled Garden. Keep your eyes peeled for Mr McGregor!! Adults £12, Children & Concessions £7; Family £32.50
23rd June & 6th July - Workshops
Port Sunlight Festival 23 King George’s Drive Port Sunlight, Wirral 0151 644 6466 FREE entry
Face2Face with Sports Science World Museum Exhibit Dates - 23 June & 7 July
The groovy Festival, in partnership with International Beatle Week, will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Beatles. In addition to over 100 local producers and craft stalls, a vintage fashion market, children’s fairground rides and the ever-popular fun dog show.
Have you ever wondered why Usain Bolt can run so fast? Or why Chris Hoy is a multiple Olympic Gold Medalist? Face2Face with Sports Science will incorporate workshops targeted at secondary school students aged 14-19 years and general public exhibitions, suitable for 5 years and up.
Directed by: Joss Whedon Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson Verdict: ★★★★✩ By Andy Kelly What do you get if you cross a Norse god-king with an ego the size of a planet, a nervy science boffin with gigantic anger issues, a WW2 super-soldier with a very silly costume and a genius billionaire playboy with flying armour? Arguments, obviously. It takes Joss Whedon a while to assemble his Avengers, as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Phil Coulson (Gregg Clark) recruit the superheroes to save Earth after Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor’s power-mad brother, returns to enslave mankind with an allpowerful cosmic cube. By locking big egos in small rooms and letting the funnies fly, it lifts the movie’s pace machine-gun wit. Perhaps though, there’s never quite enough real drama or danger for our effectively invincible protagonists. But this 142-minute romp between gods, monsters, men and supermen packs so much crowd-pleasing colour and humour that it’s impossible not to walk out grinning.
Evolutions National Geographic Due for release on 7th May 2012 Catalogue Number: FHNG0084 Running Time: 144 mins RRP: £12.99 Verdict: ★★★★★ By Andy Kelly A three-part series that illuminates the unique and bizarre evolutionary journeys that have brought us some of the world’s most impressive animals. Part 1: The Walking Whale 50 million years ago, a hungry land animal foraged for fish in shallow sea water. Four million years later, it lives permanently in the oceans and seas of planet earth. Part 2: Last Living Dinosaur Using the latest dinosaur discoveries, leading scientists take the viewer on an epic journey evolution. The adventures starts 230 million years ago with the birth of the first dinosaur. Part 3: Bear Necessities The bear family has endured Titanic battles against severe climate change and the dominance of man. Some evolved unique and amazing weapons to survive but other bears – including the largest ‘monster’ species ever to walk on planet earth – were wiped out. Discover how animals originated and evolved by visiting their past in and get ready to discover their futures. Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils
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Family News
Festival fun Fancy a day out which is guaranteed fun for all the family? The fifth annual Festival of Health and Activity takes place from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday 3rd June at Lifestyles Tennis Centre in Wavertree and is packed full of activities which will not only keep you entertained but will also get you thinking about taking up a healthier lifestyle. Families can try out a whole range of free activities such as waterballs, bungee trampolines and sports from football and rugby right through to handball and golf. The city council’s sports development team will be on hand to give advice on how to keep fit and have fun at the same time. www.liverpool.gov.uk/lifestyles or call 0151 233 5433.
Swap shop Bring along your Lego
You can now visit John Lewis Liverpool to swap and collect new Lego Minifigures and build your collection. Also, with every new Minifigure you buy, John Lewis will give you another one FREE. Lego Swap Days will be held on the last Saturday of every month, from 12 - 2pm in the Toy Department, third floor. The next dates are 26 May, 30 June, 28 July, 29 September and 27 October.
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Get fit together Liverpool John Moores University has started a programme entitled: The GOALS - Getting Our Active Lifestyles Started - the programme is part of a city-wide campaign to encourage Liverpool's overweight children and young people to lead healthier lifestyles. What makes GOALS different to traditional weight loss programmes is that it involves the whole family: mums, dads and siblings not just the overweight children. Gareth Stratton, Professor of Paediatric Exercise Science at Liverpool JMU, said: “Parents exert a huge influence over their children, and their attitude to food and exercise affects what their kids eat and how active they are. By getting mum and dad directly involved in cookery classes and in playing games we can hopefully build the right foundations for long lasting lifestyle change.” 3-7 year olds + families - Kensington Childrens Centre 8-12 year olds + families - North Liverpool Academy 13-16 year olds + families - Everton Active Family Centre For more information contact Eve on 0151 231 4408.
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Competition
Martin Mere Win a family pass for 2 adults and 2 children (age 4 -16), children under 4 can go for free. Family pass can be used anytime in 2012 Just send you name and address on a postcard to: Educate Martin Mere Competition The Foundry 36 Henry Street Liverpool L1 5BS
A programme of inspirational singing Expert group vocal sessions Fun songs Big Sings with other schools Free trial of ten weeks
For more information please contact Stephen Mannings stephen.mannings@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk
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My School Days Natasha Jonas – Boxer
My School: Weatherhead High School, Wallasey. My Favourite Teacher: Without doubt it was my PE teacher Mrs Moretta; she inspired me to do my best in sports. Favourite Subject at School: Definitely PE, well it would have to be wouldn’t it. Were you streetwise or a bit of a geek? I was definitely in the streetwise crew but I joined every school group I could because they let you out of lessons early and then I would be first in line at the food queue, I loved my food and still do. My Favourite Childhood Band: I was a big fan, and still am of The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, but I have to admit to being a closet Take That fan which wasn’t very streetwise. My Favourite Extra-Curricular Activity: Football! I started to play for Glenavon JFC as a junior and spent 18 months in
America on a football scholarship but when I came back to Liverpool, I took up boxing in order to lose weight and get fit. It’s funny how things work out. Do you remember your first school crush? Yes, it was Peter Andre, I know! My Favourite Book: As a child I always remember ‘Which Witch’ by Eva Ibbotson but I was also a big fan of the Goosebump books. School Dinners: When you love food as much as I did you will eat virtually anything and that always included school dinners. My Ambitions at School: I always wanted to be the best especially at sport. I had a very sporting family and was always encouraged to do my best and be focused. However my ultimate ambition and dream was to take part in the Olympics, although I must admit it was not playing football or as a boxer but in track and field.
Natasha Jonas was born in Toxteth, Liverpool and is part of Great Britain's elite female boxing squad Initially intending to be a footballer, she spent eighteen months in the United States on a football scholarship, before returning to the United Kingdom and studying media studies at Edge Hill University, Lancashire. She took up boxing in 2005, and by 2010 had won the English Amateur Boxing Association championships five times, as well as the European Championships in the lightweight division in 2009. The BBC hihlighted Natasha as ‘being tipped to lead Britain's medal challenge’ at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where women's boxing will feature for the first time. She currently works for the Toxteth council and does part-time youth work. Natasha is also a ‘ Sky Sports Living for Sports’ mentor, visiting schools around the country and as she says: “Hopefully making a big difference to the lives of young people”.
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