Educate magazine jan 2014 by Educate Magazine

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The Magazine for Parents and Pupils January – April 2014

Bröadgreén Íntêrnãtiønal Sçhòol THE SKY’S THE LIMIT AT BROADGREEN

In Pictures:

Educate Awards a huge success

+ Global Greatness Behind the headline figures

E-Learning A game changer for schools?

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StCatholic Vincent de Paul Primary School Pitt Street Liverpool L1 5BY “Serving With Love … Striving For Excellence”

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OFSTED May 2013 - ‘St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School is an outstanding school.’ Convenient City Centre Location Places Available Breakfast Club: open from 7.30am Range of After-School Extra-Curricular Activities

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Two Computer Suites Educational Visits in our Private Minibuses Healthy Schools Award Activemark Gold Basic Skills Quality Mark Liverpool Hope University Articled School Status Archdiocesan Religious Education Inspection “an outstanding school”

For further details, contact the Headteacher: Mr P Stewart on

0151 709 2572

Fax 0151 707 8942 email: vincent-ao@st-vincentdepaul.liverpool.sch.uk

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Educate Contents Welcome...

61-63

Hello and welcome to the January 2014 edition of Educate Magazine. We ended 2013 on an extremely high note with the Educate Awards ceremony at Liverpool Cathedral, where schools’ successes were celebrated and hard work recognised. Musical and theatrical performances stunned the audience as awards were presented to top teaching, innovative learning and projects which have furthered pupils’ abilities and aspirations.

As we shone the spotlight on Merseyside schools, global league tables once again highlighted UK education in the national media – we examine the price to be paid by some countries in their drive to race to the top.

7-18 Features

75-85

07-18

Educate plus Your chance to set sail

A night of celebration Educate Awards 2013

103

28-29

Viewpoint E-Learning: A game changer for schools?

Meet the headteacher Sally Beevers, Broadgreen International School

42-43 Meet the headteacher Stephen Brierley, St Margaret’s C of E Academy

104-105 Clutter control A place for everything and everything in its place

107 Book review This season’s must reads

61-63 Global Performance Behind the headline figures

110

Away from the classroom who would like to get their children’s clutter under control? We find the best home storage solutions to suit all ages.

My school days Neil Buchanan

Many thanks

108-109 Where can we go? Our pick of what’s happening

66-68 School eco news Eco-classroom to generate cash for school

Entries to Educate Awards 2014 are already open and with the The International Festival for Business 2014 and the Apprenticeship Cup also taking place in Liverpool this year, it’s great to see further new and exciting opportunities for young people to be involved in events supporting education.

69 Dates for your diary Get involved with key events

72 A week in the life Fiona Wood, headteacher, Netherton Moss Primary School

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, Natasha Young, Stephen Hurrell Design & Production Mersey Mirror, 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS. Tel: 0151 706 7411 Email: post@merseymirror.com 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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A night of celebration

The second annual Educate Awards, sponsored by Connex Education, was once again a highlight of the year for Merseyside schools as it provided an evening of performances and presentations within the beautiful Liverpool Cathedral.

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EDUCATE AWARDS 2013

The achievements of schools and teachers across Merseyside were celebrated in spectacular style, when the Educate Awards took place for the second year running. Around 300 guests including Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Gary Millar, attended the stunning Liverpool Cathedral for the event, which also raised around £800 for partner charity The Teenage Cancer Trust. Throughout the evening a selection of fine food provided by the luxury 60 Hope Street restaurant, along with fantastic musical performances and recognition for some of the area’s most inspirational learning environments, was enjoyed by all. The standard of entries for the awards was extremely high, as a year of success was recognised across 16 categories during the spectacular ceremony. According to judge Mark Beedles from Connex Education, which was also the main sponsor for the 2013 Educate Awards: “The standard was absolutely excellent. We’re an agency that supports education so it’s great to be involved in something that celebrates that. “It raised the profile of teaching which is also a great thing.” Fellow judge Chris Walker, regional managing editor of Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales and also a longstanding school governor, vice chair and chair of the curriculum committee, added: "It was a pleasure to look through all the entries. The standard was high, demonstrating creativity, innovation, hard work and no little talent. “The quality and breadth of entries was a tribute to the dedication of teachers and the enthusiasm and commitment of those they teach." Patrick Richardson, chief executive of energy solutions provider Concept LHP, was also a member of the esteemed panel of judges of the Eco Project Award. He went on to say: “All three shortlists to the Eco Project Award

were excellent. The winners, Moss Pits Lane demonstrated how an eco project such as their ‘Big Dig’, which transformed a baron piece of land into a vegetable garden and nature reserve, can completely capture the imagination of children whilst also improving the environment.” The Archbishop Beck Catholic Sports

College saxophone ensemble and The Academy of St Francis of Assisi choir helped get the night off to a flying start, providing entertainment while attendees were treated to a reception with delicious canapés. Following the performances, Lizzie McManus, chaplain at The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, said: “Most of the students haven’t had many opportunities like this in their lives. A lot of them haven’t even been in this cathedral before never mind performed here. To have the opportunity to sing solos and do songs that they love has been a really big experience for them.” As guests took their seats to enjoy a mouth-watering menu of deconstructed shepherd’s pie, followed by jam roly-poly and milk bottles of custard, they were also served a further helping of fantastic entertainment. Talented students from Merchant

Taylors’ Schools delivered a showstopping medley of songs from Les Miserables, and proud girls’ school headteacher Louise Robinson highlighted: “We think performing arts in our school is very important across the schools. One of the girls singing tonight has got a choral scholarship from Oxford already and one of the boys came back from Bristol to perform for us.” Formby High School’s award-winning world music choir, Mundo Africa also livened up the stage with a-cappella vocals, vibrant outfits, traditional dance and upbeat drums. According to assistant head Steve Cook, who lead the performance, the students “all had great fun” performing at the cathedral with its “fantastic” acoustics. Liverpool comedian, actor and writer, Neil Fitzmaurice, returned to host the awards ceremony for another year, as it applauded both primary and secondary schools for their success across 16 categories. Commenting on this year’s glittering event, he said: “I do quite a few awards shows but this is just one night to pat people on the back who work so hard. “It’s surpassed itself this year. The cathedral is extraordinary and the kids entertaining were just out of this world so all in all I think it’s been one of the best awards dos I’ve been to, and I include the BAFTAs and other ones in that, I really do.” With the event proving to be the biggest so far, anticipation is already building for the 2014 Educate Awards. Educate magazine’s executive director, Kim O’Brien, said: “This event was all about shining a spotlight on the excellent work that takes place within schools across Merseyside. From the nominees across all categories to the performers throughout the night, pupils and teachers really raised the bar in terms of talent. “This year’s event was the biggest and best yet, and I’m looking forward to seeing it continue to grow in 2014.”

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EDUCATE AWARDS 2013 - THE WINNERS

Science Project of the Year sponsored by Liverpool Life Sciences UTC The Academy of St Frances of Assisi won after impressing judges with its ‘science week’. Receiving the accolade the school’s head of science, Wendy Williams, said: “I’m really excited and proud of The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, it’s fantastic. A lot of work went into it, there was a whole week of different activities that the kids were doing and they really enjoyed it.” Gateacre School was named runner-up in the category after three Year 7 students solved a murder mystery to win the Salter Challenge, and Holly Lodge Girl’s College also featured in the shortlist.

Innovative and Creative Literacy Award sponsored by One Vision Housing Calderstones School picked up the prize as its @CaldiesLiteracy Twitter account, boasting over 1,000 followers, was among strategies raising the profile of literacy and helping students to exceed their targets. Lucy Duffy, the school’s literacy co-ordinator, said: “We’re really proud of this award. We’ve tried really hard at Calderstones School to make sure we cater for all of our students and make learning really fun.” The runner-up was St John Bosco Arts College for its practical methods of developing students’ language skills. Evelyn Community Primary School were also shortlisted.

SEN Provision Award sponsored by The UK Military School St John Bosco Arts College won this award, after judges recognised its “very cohesive and structured approach”. Louise Godfrey, SENCO at St John Bosco Arts College, said: “This is for all of the staff at St John Bosco who have worked tirelessly for our children with special educational needs.” Kirkby High School was runner-up having shown commitment to create an “inclusive environment” so that all pupils can achieve. Formby High School was the third and final shortlisted school in this category.

Spirit of Enterprise Award sponsored by The City of Liverpool College Judges awarded Archbishop Beck for its enterprising ‘Archie’s Mob’ phone shield initiative, and on collecting the accolade IT and business teacher, Suzanne Birchall, said: “I can’t believe it, I’m really pleased. The lads worked so hard and they’ll be thrilled.” The runner-up title went to St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary for its ‘Superhero Seeds’ project, which embraced entrepreneurial skills while delivering a healthy eating message. The shortlist was completed by Sandfield Park School and St Julie’s Catholic High School.

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EDUCATE AWARDS 2013 - THE WINNERS

Community Partnership Award sponsored by Vivark Ltd Gateacre School’s community co-ordinator, Lisa Mitchell, was “really, really shocked but really happy” after the school won the award for the second year running. Having been recognised for working with the local community, Gateacre School was joined on the shorlist by Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School and Childwall Church of England Primary School. Childwall was named runner-up after its Festival of Safety received support from the community, emergency services and politicians.

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in a Primary School

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in a Secondary School

sponsored by Connex Education

St John Bosco Arts College won the award following an ‘outstanding’ 2013 Ofsted inspection, coupled with the best exam results in its history. Headteacher Anne Pontifex said: “We’re thrilled to receive the award. It’s testimony to everything that has been achieved over the past 12 months.”

Winner Jacqui Davies, from St Sebastian’s Catholic Primary School, was described as a “beacon of inspiration” by the ex-pupil who nominated her. Picking up the award, she said: “I’d just like to say that I’m really humbled by the award and it’s a privilege working with such dedicated, wonderful staff and such amazing children.”

Runner-up, Rainford High Technology College was recognised for its summer festival success, and Belvedere Academy and St Ambrose Barlow Catholic High School completed the shortlist.

Mary Jackson from Rice Lane Infant & Nursery School was named runner-up after being nominated by a parent and colleague, and judges also presented a special award to third nominee Rachel Mutch; a teaching assistant at Childwall Sports and Science Academy. Charlotte Pyne, from Calderstones School, was the fourth teacher to be shortlisted.

WOW Recognition Award sponsored by 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – Sticks and Stones Roscoe Primary School won the final prize of the evening, in recognition of its successful computer programming and robotics-themed ‘Robotics Week’. Rachel Davidson, deputy headteacher, said: “We are the first primary school in Liverpool to hold a robotics week and to get recognition for that and the work the children have done is absolutely fantastic.” Formby High School, which has enjoyed a year of success with its G: Force Gospel Choir, was named runner-up. Archbishop Beck Catholic College, Cronton CE Primary School and Netherton Moss Primary School were also shortlisted.

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EDUCATE AWARDS 2013

All a Twitter

Young guests attend the event, Joseph Ormesher and Lawrie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien

Cronton CE Primary School

John Cheatle Ltd

Annie Gosling, Business in the Community with Dave Sennett, head of student recruitment, Liverpool Hope University

Shining solo performances

Michelle Beech and Ollie Docksey Youth Enterprise Ltd

Students entertain

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EDUCATE AWARDS 2013

60 Hope Street’s delicious canapés

Stunning vocals from Formby High School’s Mundo Africa choir

Anne Pontifex, headteacher at St John Bosco Arts College (centre)

Darren Smith from Vivark (right)

Hottest ticket in town - Educate Awards 2013

Justin Cheatle MD of John Cheatle Ltd

Guests arrive

The UK Military School

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EDUCATE AWARDS 2013

Raising the roof of the Cathedral

Dermot McNiffe, principal, The Acadamy of St Francis of Assisi with colleagues

Adlib, sponsors of Outstanding Arts Performance, enjoy the night

Sian Day, Teenage Cancer Trust with Harriet Mould, The Design Foundry

Merchant Taylors’ Schools attend the awards

Perfect drumbeat

Archbishop Beck Catholic College’s saxophone ensemble

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EDUCATE AWARDS 2013

Bruce Hicks, assistant head teacher, Archbishop Beck Catholic College

Amazing acapella African vocals

Delighted winners

Team Calderstones

Louise Robinson (centre), headmistress, Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School with GMLPF and Neil Fitzmaurice

The UK Military School

Lydia Seed, Merchant Taylors’ Schools as Madame Thenardier, Les Miserables

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EDUCATE AWARDS 2013

Calderstones School with Neil Fitzmaurice

Rachel Mutch (centre), Childwall Science & Sports College

Guests enjoy the evening’s reception

Merchant Taylors’ Schools perform

Kim O’Brien, executive editor, Educate Magazine hosts the Educate Awards table

Enjoying the occasion

Formby High School

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EDUCATE AWARDS 2013

60 Hope Street

Milk bottles of traditional custard

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi scoop Outstanding Arts Performance in a Secondary School

Natasha Agarwal, Merchant Taylorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Schools, as Cosette, Les Miserables

The choir from The Academy of St Francis of Assisi command silence with their beautiful singing

Mundo Africa, Formby High School

Alex Roberts, Merchant Taylorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Schools as Valjean, Les Miserables

The Design Foundry, sponsors of the Communication Award with guests

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Primary News

Pupils of St Aloysius Primary School, Huyton celebrate their fundraising with a special assembly

Africa bound School supports Gambia project The pupils of St Aloysius Primary School, Huyton helped raise nearly £1,000 to present to Charlotte Henshall, the daughter of one of their early years teaching assistants. Charlotte along with Perpetua Jones, who works for Carmel College, St Helens, visited Gambia, a place where Charlotte helped to build and decorate a new school called Kuloro. Charlotte and Perpetua were supported by the charity Goal for Gambia whilst in the country. The school’s early years foundation

unit decided to collect money and equipment to send with Charlotte for Kuloro School. Class teacher, Becky Colfar, said: “The children raised a huge amount of donations including medical and dental care, clothes, football kits, pencils, pens, and resources for the classrooms. “We were extremely overwhelmed with the support given from our parents and children. “Our school also kindly donated lots of school uniforms and PE equipment to send over to the school. Charlotte also raised £935 by doing raffles and

fundraising in and out of school.” In school the reception team decided to celebrate their successful fundraising by having a class assembly. The reception children worked very hard to learn lines, prayers and a special song, which they performed for the parents and carers. The school invited Perpetua Jones to their assembly and she was extremely pleased with their hard work and fundraising. Headteacher Sheryl Wrigly, along with all the staff, was really proud of the children’s and parents hard work.

SPORTING SUCCESS

Bleak Hill assistant headteacher, Mrs Hemingway receives the School of the Year Primary winner award

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Bleak Hill Primary School were celebrating success at The Merseyside Sporting Champions dinner recently. The event, which was held at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool and organised by Merseyside Sports Partnership, rewards the dedication and commitment of people in sport in Merseyside. The school was voted the School of the Year Primary catergory winner. Assistant headteacher, Mrs Hemingway represented Bleak Hill School at the ceremony and was proudly presented with the Primary PE School of the Year award. She said: “This prize is the first award of its kind in this category, and it is an amazing achievement for all the staff and pupils at Bleak Hill”. The school represented Lancashire in the Chance to Shine Celebration Cricket tournament at Lords, reached national finals in the Tag2 Twickenham competition and also reached the primary premiership finals representing Everton Football Club.

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Primary News

Peddling to success

Kids Court Pupils raise awareness of road safety

Two young cycling fans from Knowsley were thrilled to win brand new bikes of their own after watching their sporting heroes race through the borough. Mollie Haslan, 10, and Sophie Watterson, nine, were winners after entering a competition run by Knowsley Council’s road safety team when the Tour of Britain took place at Knowsley Safari Park. The winners took part in a cycling safety workshop, and then had to use what they had learnt to spot all the mistakes being made by a cyclist in a picture. Mollie, a Year 6 pupil at St Luke’s Catholic Primary in Prescot, and Sophie, in Year 5 at Stockbridge Village Primary, were thrilled to be told they had won. Both girls received a new BMX bike as well as helmets and bike accessories.

The Kids Court ready for their next case

St Luke’s Primary School, Formby have been learning about a range of topics relating to road safety including crossing the road safely and safe cycling, so when they were approached to hold a kids court at their school they were really interested. Paul Manford from Merseyside Police said: “This was set up to make people reflect on their poor and generally unsafe driving. “Usually if a person was exceeding the 30mph speed limit they would have a £60 fine and three points put on their license or offered a driving awareness course. “Instead as an alternative they could come in to school to spend time in front of the ‘Kids Court’, helping kids with road safety as well as raising their own awareness of speeding and seeing the effects and consequences that are involved. “We then show them a short video clip and send them on their way. There is no financial penalty, but hopefully the effects of this will be longer lasting”. Recently Merseyside Police, along with Lianne Harper from Radio Merseyside and John Toker and Jean Hunt from Sefton Council road safety team visited the school. A speed camera was set up on Queens Road, a road that will be staying at 30mph with police around

flagging down speeding motorists and giving them the choice of a fine and points or sitting before St Luke’s Kids Court. The initiative was explained to the school council children who were eager to take part. Five children at a time took 15-minute turns sitting in the courtroom thanking the speeding motorists for taking time to talk to them and asking them a range of questions about the way they were driving. Sharon Cowey, headteacher, said: “We are trying to spread the message beyond the classroom and hoping that with the children asking the questions and telling their parents about it, the message would be more powerful.” Ten motorists were caught that morning and escorted into the school building to sit before Kid’s Court. One speeding motorist said: “Even though they are young children, I found it quite intimidating but it’s made me realise I need to be aware of my speed and the possible consequences. I’m not going to forget this any time soon. It’s definitely had an impact!” School council co-ordinator, Alison Dwan, said: “We were very proud at the manner in which our children handled themselves and the situation. They were serious and professional throughout, showing empathy when necessary”.

Mollie Haslan from St Luke’s Catholic Primary in Prescot, with the bike she won

The prizes were the perfect way to cap off the excitement of watching Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins win the time trial event, which spurred him on to overall victory in 2013’s Tour of Britain. Cllr Dave Lonergan, Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, economy and skills, said: “Watching the world’s elite cyclists competing in Knowsley was a really inspirational experience and it’s great that two of the young spectators can now get on their own bikes and enjoy cycling for themselves. “I hope that Mollie and Sophie will really enjoy their prizes, and remember the lessons they learnt along the way about how to stay safe on the roads.”

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Primary News

Head above the rest School gets behind pupil’s charity hair chop An entire school has come together to support a six-year-old girl who is having her long locks chopped off for charity. Lola-Mae Thomasson, a Year 1 pupil at Mosscroft Community Primary School, Huyton, volunteered to get her waist length hair cut short to raise money for the Little Princess Trust – a charity that provides wigs and hair pieces for children who suffer hair loss following cancer treatment. When the school’s headteacher, Penny France, found out about Lola’s plans, she decided to get the whole school behind her to help raise money for the charity. The school held a ‘mad hair day’ where pupils were encouraged to come into school with crazy hairstyles if they gave a donation to Lola’s chosen charity. One of the school’s teachers, Ms Gratton, upon hearing that Lola was having her hair cut for the Little Princess Trust, decided to take the plunge herself and have her long hair chopped off in front of the entire school during assembly. In total, Lola managed to raise more than a staggering £1,000 for the Little Princess Trust – a combination of the money she raised from family and

Lola-Mae Thomasson (centre) is joined by her classmates in the ‘mad hair day’.

friends and from the school’s mad hair day. Headteacher Penny France, said: “Lola’s mum got in touch to tell me that Lola was having her hair cut short to raise money for Little Princess Trust,

after learning that some children lose their hair when battling cancer. “It was such a heart warming story and we were really eager to support Lola in her quest to raise money for such a worthy cause”.

Schools WOW factor All Saints Primary School, Liverpool, were celebrating after being nominated for the inaugural ‘School of the Year’ award at the Merseyside Sporting Champions Dinner 2013. This capped a year where the school’s commitment to sport and outdoor activity has taken off, largely due to a new initiative called ‘Work Out Wednesday’ (WOW). All pupils attend school each Wednesday in a school tracksuit and take part in a wide range of sporting, artistic and athletic lessons including multi-sports training, basketball, swimming, kayaking and bouldering. Musical and modern foreign language lessons are also woven into the afternoons. Jean Walker, head of PE, sport and enrichment at the school, said: “I couldn’t be happier with the way staff have embraced the idea – there are so many involved in the coaching sessions both within the school day and after it. Pupils are loving every minute of it.” Part of the initiative is planned with the LFC Foundation whose coaches are part of the programme, and the school was recently given an extra boost when reds’ defender and France international Mamadou Sakho pledged to become one of the available staff on duty whenever he can. Jean said: “He will be helping to coach the football team and assist with the MFL provision in class. 22

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

Liverpool FC player Mamadou Sakho takes a French lesson at All Saints Primary

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Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Primary News

A Bootle primary school has revolutionised its playgrounds following a major fundraising drive. Bedford Primary School in Bootle has raised over £37,000 from a variety of local organisations, funding bodies and fundraising activities to create two playgrounds with exciting new features and play facilities for all of its pupils to enjoy. Working in partnership with Southport-based company Edenplay, the school sought the advice of pupils, who worked alongside staff to come up with themes and ideas to completely transform both the infant and junior play spaces. Headteacher Ruth Braithwaite said: “Our dream is to provide safe, natural play spaces that pupils feel proud of and want to take care of. “We want to inspire our children and keep their motivation levels high for when they return to the classroom. “The new zones feature

State of the art Pupils help to create playgrounds

state-of-the-art sound systems, physical challenge and climbing zones, performance areas for

children to sing and dance and quiet, reflective spaces where children can opt out of busy play areas.

Elysia leads by example Elysia Loasby, aged 10 from Waterloo Primary School, has been selected from 100 applicants to be a National Anti-Bullying Ambassador Youth Board member. Sarah Maciver, deputy headteacher said: “We are immensely proud of Elysia’s commitment, as chairperson of our school ambassadors, but also of her desire to further this role by sitting on the national youth board in order to help more children across the country. “Elysia is the youngest person on the panel and is giving her own time to attend meetings in London, which is commendable. “Our thanks also go to Elysia’s family who have and will be supporting her in this role. She is currently in the process of working with me to interview and select new members for our school team.” Thirteen inspirational young people, aged from six-10 from different regions across England, have been selected to sit on the youth board. The youth board will represent the 24

views of thousands of schools and young people from across the UK, offering advice on anti-bullying policies and practises. The Diana Award runs the AntiBullying Ambassador’s programme, a nationwide peer led initiative with 2,000 trained ambassadors in over 300 schools across the UK. The Diana Award helps the ambassadors by holding training events, giving them inspiration, practical ideas and top tips. Elysia said: “I am delighted to be part of the National Anti-Bullying Youth Board and I am looking forward to representing young peoples’ views about bullying and sharing good ideas. “By being a board member, I feel I will definitely make a difference to the lives of other young people who have experienced bullying or have been a bully themselves.” The Diana Award was established in 1999 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, as a legacy to her belief in the power of young people to change the world.

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

Pupils from Bedford Primary School show invited guests their new state-of-the-art playgrounds

Kids learn life-saving tips More than 700 children from across Sefton learnt advice that might one day save their lives. The week-long ‘Crucial Crew’ event saw Year 5 pupils being taught tips including cycle and public transport safety, stranger danger, fire advice in the home, and water and beach safety. Agencies involved included Sefton Council, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, British Transport Police, Arriva and Merseytravel. A total of 18 primary schools attended the event and all received a safety resource goody bag to take away. Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for transportation, said: “This is a great way to ensure hundreds of children learn vital advice and thanks to our travel awareness and road safety team for organising the event. “If this means just one young life is saved in the future, then the event has been well worthwhile. “I should thank all the agencies for giving their support to Crucial Crew, and I hope the young people take on board these important lessons and pass them on to friends and family in future years.”

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Primary News

Staff and pupils celebrate another ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted for St Thomas

Outstanding again! School celebrate Ofsted report St Thomas Church of England School is celebrating its second consecutive “outstanding” report from Ofsted.

The inspectors came to the school at the very end of term in July, almost five years to the day since the previous inspection.

Bringing words to life The school hall at Dovedale Juniors served as a gallery and performance space recently as families of children enrolled in the ‘Extraordinary Worlds’ after school club were invited to share their creations. Packed with multi-arts activities, the club, delivered by local company, As Creatives, saw pupils from Years 3 and 4 penning a collective story before bringing it to life through a series of art and drama activities, including improvisation, script writing, character design and puppet making. Jo from As Creatives said: “With the wealth of great sports after school clubs available we wanted to offer a quality alternative, to spark the imaginations of children who love to create. “Those children were clearly delighted to have the opportunity to perform their 26

play in front of an audience, and to exhibit their works of art. “One parent, whose daughter last year refused to even put on a costume for the school nativity, said: “I can’t tell you how much this has helped her confidence – she spoke lines!”

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The inspection team were delighted with the school and awarded Grade 1 in all four areas of the inspection. The inspectors concluded that “teaching was exemplary”, “pupils’ achievement was outstanding” and “exceptional behaviour makes an excellent contribution to pupil learning”. They also commended the work of Mrs Lock, the headteacher, and her senior leadership team as outstanding as well. “The senior leadership team lead the school with compassion and commitment and ensure that all staff and pupils learn and work together in a well-planned and exciting environment.” The school has just received a letter of congratulations from Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty’s chief inspector of schools. He said that the judgement of outstanding means “you are exceptional and significant elements of your work are exemplary.” Headteacher, Ann Lock, said: “We are extremely proud of our whole school community who have worked so hard during the past five years to achieve another “outstanding” Ofsted report.

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Primary News

Life savers Life-saving equipment for every Knowsley school Knowsley Council recently launched a scheme to provide every school in the borough with a life-saving defibrillator. The launch saw the council invest £70,000 in equipment and training for all primary, secondary and special schools within Knowsley. It is supported by the Oliver King Foundation, which was set up in memory of 12-year-old Oliver King, who sadly died at his Liverpool school in March 2011 from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS). The initiative saw the culmination of the scheme with a special celebration at St John Fisher Primary School, Knowsley Village. Oliver’s father, Mark King and George Howarth MP, presented the school with its defibrillator. During the launch, hosted by Liverpool councillor Jake Morrisson, staff, children and parents listened to a presentation on the importance of defibrillators, the children then launched 61 blue balloons from the playground, each balloon representing a Knowsley school receiving a defibrillator through the scheme. Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for children and family services, Cllr Graham Wright, said: “I’m delighted that we are introducing defibrillators in all Knowsley schools and it is fantastic to have the support of the Oliver King

St John Fisher Primary School, Knowsley Village is the last school in Knowsley to receive the life-saving equipemt

Foundation. “It is absolutely crucial that children and young people are well looked after during the school day. Having a defibrillator on site means that trained staff will be able to take swift, lifesaving action in the thankfully rare event that one may be required.” Mark King, founder of the Oliver King Foundation, said: “It is a great pleasure

that The Oliver King Foundation will be working in partnership with Knowsley Borough Council. “It’s fantastic news that Knowsley Council are ensuring that each school will have fully trained staff who can use a defibrillator and all schools in the borough will now have the much needed access to life-saving equipment.”

Fundraising for Young Carers Primary school children in Knowsley have been raising money to help make a difference to the lives of young people who care for family members. Pupils at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School spent their break times selling cakes to staff and parents in aid of Knowsley’s Young Carers, raising £722. It is a cause close to the school, which has several pupils who

Pretty in pink pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

care for their parents. Knowsley Young Carers has supported the pupils during difficult times and arranged enjoyable time away from the stress of caring. The week of fundraising culminated in a day of pink celebrations. Staff and children made a donation and wore an item of pink clothing in memory of the mother of two pupils. The whole family received support from the Young Carers group throughout the mother’s illness and bereavement. Emma Tuffin, learning mentor at St Joseph`s Catholic Primary School, said: “Knowsley Young Carers provide fantastic support to young people who help look after an ill or disabled family member. “I was delighted when pupils decided they wanted to raise money for this worthy cause in memory of their classmate’s mother, after the family had received such immense support from the group. “It really makes such a difference to a young person to have some well deserved time off from the daily stresses and strains of being a carer for a family member. It’s great that through the group they get to have a fun time with other youngsters who know what they are going through.” Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Meet the Headteacher Sally Beevers, Broadgreen International School

Broadgreen International has invested in new sixth form facilities and is the only state school in the city to offer the International Baccalaureate qualification. We catch up with headteacher Sally Beevers to talk about life at the school.

Being at the heart of things by Stephen Hurrell Taking the reins at Broadgreen International School is Sally Beevers’ first headship. Having previously taught in three schools in the Wirral since starting out in 1985 she decided to make the move to Liverpool in 2010, a move that had taken some time before the correct opportunity was identified. She says: “When I was looking for a headship I wanted to work in a school where I would be happy to send my own children and where I thought I could be part of that community and continue to move things forward. That was very important to me. It wasn’t a question of just getting a headship. It was a question of getting a headship in the right school and it took a while. “I think I was very lucky in that I was taking over essentially a good school. Our catchment area is very diverse but that is something we celebrate.” Diversity is certainly one of the school’s main focuses. Broadgreen International has a large catchment area and offers resource bases for children 28

with physical disabilities, children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and deaf children, which means diversity is at the forefront of day-to-day activity in the school, says Sally. “Part of the challenge is making sure that we keep that balance going and that we are a harmonious community within school. We’re very good at it and that is something that has been picked up on during the last couple of Ofsted inspections.” However, Sally’s main focus since taking over has been creating an environment where pupils can easily transition from primary school to secondary school and on to the sixth form and beyond. She says: “To me education is about preparation for life. That’s a trite thing that everyone says but again you’ll see it in action at Broadgreen. “Obviously exam results are so important because they open so many doors for students but actually what we’re also hearing from employers more and more is that it’s about experiences that children bring.” “All our students have top quality

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Part of the challenge is making sure that we keep that balance going and that we are a harmonious community within school

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information and guidance. We actually employ our own Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) advisor so the students all get plenty of guidance. We’re very keen on world of work days and we bring employers in to do CVs and mock interviews with the students.” The school also holds regular trips to India and, in future will head to China to give pupils more exposure to other cultures. Sally explains: “I think children can be very insular. Liverpool is so vibrant and has so much to offer but we also try to say there is a big wide world

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out there and that’s what life is all about. I suppose that’s what makes us a bit more distinctive and it certainly underpins my view of what education is all about.” Key to the schools sixth form offering is that for several years the school has offered an alternative to A Level qualifications. Broadgreen International has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme since 1992 and has been embraced by Sally and her staff. “To be honest it was something I didn’t know much about because all the schools I taught at previously were regular 6th forms and A Levels and BTEC vocational qualifications.” She says. “When you get to understand the programme it is really good and it gives our students a unique selling point. When they’re applying to university it makes their application stand out. We’ve found it’s been very successful in making sure our students can access university courses.” Sally insists she ‘wouldn’t go back to A Levels’ because although academically challenging, the

International Baccalaureate allows pupils to study a wider breadth of subjects, including vocational-style courses, and even allows pupils to experience community service as part of the course. However, the success of the school and sixth form is not purely down to its international intentions. As with all headteachers, Sally believes having the right staff can be significant when it comes to results. She says: “As a head you cannot be an expert in everything. It’s your job to just make sure you’ve got good people there who can advise you appropriately. You have confidence and trust in them and I’m lucky I’ve got the most fantastic staff here. They’re brilliant and so passionate about what they do. That’s unusual. That stems from the whole ethos of the school. It’s a very open and

friendly school and the staff are like that as well.” There also has to be a limit on the consultation process and Sally is not scared to make key decisions and chief among them is how to use space at the school. The school has invested in new facilities including a Bistro with a conservatory for sixth form students to use as a common room facility, while the former common room has been converted into modern study space. “We like taking risks here.” says Sally, “If there’s all this consultation nobody is going to do anything but as long as it’s an informed risk that’s what we’re about. You do those things to make sure that things move on because you cannot stand still. But what is at the heart of what you do is the students. If you keep them at the heart of it all those decisions will be the right decisions.”

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Primary News

KPMG supports Action for Literacy Children from St Cuthbert’s Primary School in Old Swan, Liverpool, enjoyed stories and activities led by Dyslexia Action with support from volunteers from the local branch of KPMG. The ‘storytime’ sessions are part of KPMG’s Action for Literacy campaign. Dyslexia Action and the National Literacy Trust. During this period KPMG is funding and providing volunteer help and support for a variety of projects across the country. “We are extremely delighted and grateful to receive this support and to be able to work alongside schools in our local area,” says Trish Jones, organiser of the event and senior teacher at Dyslexia Action’s Liverpool Centre in Woolton. Dyslexia Action is a national charity working to support students of all ages with literacy difficulties. Trish Jones is one of its many specialist teachers that are trained to deliver individual teaching programmes and appropriate support strategies, to help develop literacy skills. Dyslexia Action chief executive Kevin Geeson said: “Through great projects such as story-time in schools, Action for Literacy with KPMG’s support is helping to bring reading alive and engage children more in books by making it a fun experience. “Literacy difficulties can result in limiting the life chances that all people deserve and the potential for social exclusion is consequently far greater. We are delighted that KPMG is supporting children in this way.”

Pupils from St Cuthbert’s meet a member of staff from Knowsley Safari Park’s bug house

Rachel Choong meets pupils from St Nicholas CE Primary

Star visitor Rachel Choong, England Para-Badminton World Champion, paid a visit to St Nicholas CE Primary School recently. She helped to lead worship in a special assembly focusing on the Christian value of endurance and showed off a clutch of gold medals won at recent championships in America and Germany. Rachel and one of her coaches, John Howell who is Chair of Governors at the school, then led an interactive badminton session with some of the pupils who were amazed at Rachel’s skill. Manolis Ponoris, aged nine, said: “It was very encouraging to have a champion teaching us how to play badminton and meeting Rachel has inspired me to take up the sport.” Emily Hill, aged nine, added: “It was a real privilege to meet Rachel. We were really lucky to be able to play badminton with her. She has given us some good tips on how to hold our rackets properly and how to move across the court.” Becky Woods, headteacher, said: “Rachel is an inspirational young woman who has worked hard and shown such perseverance to excel in her field. “We were thrilled to welcome her into school and I know that the children will remember the message that she gave to them, that if they work hard and never give up, they can achieve their dreams.”

Recording stars Liverpool's finest young voices were given a starring role on the Lord Mayor’s charity Christmas CD The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Gary Millar released a special Christmas album to raise money for his charities. Lord Mayor, Cllr Gary Millar said: “I had the idea some time ago to create, record and produce a Christmas album called ‘Voices of Angels’ and thanks to the help and support 30

of schools, individuals and my consort Steve MacFarlane I now have a fantastic CD full of inspirational and uplifting tracks “I am delighted with the CD, the mix of voices is truly heartwarming to hear.” One very special school involved in the CD is Springwood Heath Primary School in Garston, a unique school that has a mix of disabled and able bodied pupils, who recorded two fantastic tracks.

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Lord Mayor Gary Millar meets pupils from Springwood Heath Primary School

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Primary News

Laughter is the best medicine Poet Paul Cookson recently visited St Cecilia’s Catholic Junior School, where he had the children and staff splitting their sides with laughter as he performed a selection of his poems. Paul later ‘officially opened’ the school’s new library which has been transformed by parent helpers, staff and donations from St Cecilia's children. The school library adopted a ‘spooky’ theme, to coincide with Halloween, for the grand opening and parents, grandparents, staff and even the site manager volunteered to tell a story during lunchtime for all the children. Andrea Lea said: “We also had a visit from Jan McVerry who visited two Year 6 classes to share with them some top tips for writing play scripts. “Jan talked about her childhood and what inspired her to write, she also promoted the importance of ‘reading for pleasure’. “The children of St Cecilia’s were impressed when Jan showed off her BAFTA award. “All agreed that it was a great week!”

Poet Paul Cookson opens the new school library at St Cecilia's Catholic Junior School

Celebrating reading

Cllr Connor presents the Festive Reading Challenge Cup to Park Brow School (represented here by three brothers, (L-R) Kyle Pooley, 7; Tyler Pooley, 9; Josh Pooley, 7)

Hundreds of children and young people took part in a festival of reading across Knowsley. Now in its 14th year, the Knowsley library service holds an annual reading challenge to encourage children to keep reading over the school holidays and develop a love of books. This year over 700 children took part in the challenge to read at least six books. Every child who completed the challenge was presented with a medal and certificate at their local 32

library, children from each library went on to attend a special celebration event in Huyton Library. This year’s challenge for four to 11 year olds was based on ‘The Creepy House’ and was all about frightful reads that thrill children without being scary. Park Brow Community Primary in Kirkby received the summer reading challenge cup from Cllr Connor after 21 pupils completed the challenge, the highest number of any primary school in the borough.

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Bulb planting helps campaign to grow

MORE than 1000 crocus bulbs were planted recently in the grounds of Tower College, Rainhill to help eradicate polio around the world. Focus on the Crocus is supported by Rotary clubs across the country and is a fun, environmentally friendly way to highlight the plight of children who are still dying unnecessarily from this preventable disease. The pupils at the school planted the batch of ruby giant crocus’s and the purple flower they produce will symbolise the dye used to mark a child’s little finger once they have been immunised against polio. Just 20p per bulb means that for every five crocus’s bought and planted, the £1 raised will immunise five children. Polio was eradicated from the UK in the 1980s but is still endemic in countries like India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, The Rotary Club of St Helens invited Tower College pupils to join in the Big Bulb Plant by fundraising to buy the crocuses. The school raised enough to plant hundreds and hundreds of purple crocus bulbs in the grounds of the school.

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Tower College Because if your child is happy – you’re happy too! Imagine waving your child off to school knowing the care and love you give them at home is also given there. Where class sizes are small enough to ensure they get the individual attention they deserve. And the Principal Miss Oxley is everyone’s Mum and her six cats are everyone’s pets. An independent school with a real home from home feeling that welcomes all faiths and where everyone is part of the Tower College family. Where fees are easily affordable and top results are easily achievable so you know you are giving your child the best possible start in life.

And where children learn the Tower College ABCs: Achievement, Belonging, Compassion If you would like to book a visit or attend our

OPEN DAY 6th March Talks and Tours: 10am, 11am and 12pm email: janehunt@towercollege.com

Mill Lane, Rainhill, Merseyside Tel: 0151 426 4333 www.towercollege.com

For Girls and Boys aged up to16. Extensive coach service. Member of ISA Christian Schools Ltd. Registered Charity No 526611 Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Secondary News

Ready Steady Cook The green peppers take the title Celebrity chef Brian Turner made an appearance recently at St Ambrose Barlow High School to judge pupils’ gastronomic talents, during a cookery challenge. Under the watchful eye of the TV cook, who attended as ambassador for Yorkshire Bank, students competed to produce a healthy lunch with the same six ingredients, in a ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ - style challenge. Following a close fought battle, team ‘green peppers’ creation of mushroom soup, salt and pepper chicken with chips and chocolate and raspberry cupcakes, saw them edge ahead to be crowned overall winners on the day, each receiving a £10 voucher. But the losing team didn’t walk away empty handed, as well as sampling some delicious food, team ‘red tomato’ also took away some top cooking tips from the chef. The experience has been invaluable to the pupils because it has been a fun learning experience. Brian Turner’s visit has given them the chance to be resourceful in the kitchen while learning about healthier meal alternatives and hopefully has brought a new meaning to the term “fast food”. Stewart Cook, head of Yorkshire Bank’s business and private banking centre in Liverpool, said: “It was great to see how the pupils at St Ambrose Barlow High School responded to Brian’s

Celebrity chef Brian Turner and the ‘Ready Steady’ chefs

visit, and the creativity they showed when faced with devising a healthy dish from scratch. “I hope they’ll all take away some valuable kitchen skills and an appreciation how to make food which is not just delicious, but also nutritious.”

Pupils lead tribute to teacher Following the unexpected and sudden death of Phil Gibbons, head of PE at Calderstones School, colleagues and pupils have led the way in remembering their much loved teacher with the following tribute. “Phil was a supremely talented, dedicated and inspirational teacher who always gave freely of his time to encourage our students towards both sporting and academic success. “He was rightly proud of all the individuals and teams across the school, particularly those who achieved sporting honours. “As a dear friend to all his colleagues and those associated with the school, he will be remembered for his unique personal gifts.

“He had a brilliant sense of humour, but his genuine warmth, kindness, and consideration for others that never waivered, made him a truly outstanding and rare individual who many would aspire to be a shining example of goodness to us all.” Heartfelt tributes have been flooding in from past and present staff and pupils. Keen to do something to mark their respect and immense sadness at the loss of such a popular and highly valued teacher; the PE department and student charity leaders organised a charity Santa Dash which the staff and pupils took part in. All the money raised from this event was donated to ‘MIND’, the selected charity by Phil’s parents.

Pupils take part on the charity Santa dash in memory of former teacher Phil Gibbons

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Scholarship success

Michael Callaghan with school teacher Mr Walker

This year promises to be an exciting one for Sacred Heart Catholic High student, Michael Callaghan. Recently it was announced Year 12 student, Michael had been awarded a prestigious Arkwright scholarship in recognition of his design work - one of only a handful of students in the North West to receive the honour. Michael said: “As part of the aptitude paper, I was asked to produce a range of designs for interactive refuse bins. “These included a sweet-dispensing bin and one that played Kool and the Gang’s Celebrate whenever someone put rubbish in it.” Being an Arkwright scholar means Michael will receive a bursary to support his studies in upper school. Michael added: “Ultimately, I’d like to study a degree in some form of engineering. The Arkwright scholarship is a fantastic opportunity and I’m certainly enjoying the experience.”

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Secondary News

Embracing diversity Students sign up with charity

Emily West, Ms Harrison and Faye Dolan at Formby High School

LESSONS FROM AUSCHWITZ

Rainford High students Annie Jones and Hannah Tabernacle

A group of sixth formers who live in a small rural town in Merseyside have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of valuing cultural diversity. The group from Rainford High Technology College joined up with national charity Fixers, which supports 16-25 year olds in their quest to address issues they care about, and their campaign featured on television programme ITV Granada Reports. The group say they are eager to learn to respect, tolerate, appreciate and enjoy other cultures - and they want to encourage other young people to do the same. They have decided to make a short film with Fixers to get their message across. “Rainford is very rural and sheltered so there aren’t many different cultures, and about 99 per cent of students at our school are white British,” said Fixer Annie Jones, 16. “I think that at a younger age we should be encouraged to embrace and mix with different cultures so that we are never in a position where we might become ignorant.” As part of their project, Fixers 36

arranged for the girls to travel to an inner-city school in Liverpool to meet pupils there. Fellow Fixer Hannah Tabernacle, 17, added: “I really hope that we can change things with our Fixers campaign and try to make people a little bit more open-minded.” Staff at Rainford High Technology College are supporting their students’ Fixers project. Principal Ian Young said: “This project is so important because issues of prejudice and racism come out of ignorance and a lack of understanding. “We want tomorrow’s communities to be stronger than today’s and this, I think, is a very important way of moving that forward.” Fixers works with young people across the UK. Each Fixer is supported to create the resources they need to make their chosen project a success, with creative help from media professionals to make their own promotional material, such as films, websites or print work. Fixers has already supported more than 10,400 young people across the UK to have an authentic voice in their community.

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Two sixth formers from Formby High School, Emily West and Faye Dolan, have been taking part in the 'Lessons from Auschwitz Project' run by the Holocaust Educational Trust. The history students both secured their places on the programme after successfully submitting a selection essay. Emily and Faye journied to Poland to see first-hand Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site where more than a million people died during the Second World War, they also had the opportunity to meet a Holocaust survivor and visit a Jewish synagogue. Emily said: “When I started at Formby High School in Year 7 history immediately became my favourite subject. I studied it at GCSE and I am so enthused by it I chose to study both modern history and ancient history at A Level. I am hoping to study history at university as well.” Faye said: “As well as studying history at A Level I also study religious studies. This combination has increased my curiosity of the subject of World War Two. In my opinion, in order to fully understand the events of World War Two, in particular the role of concentration camps, is with primary sources and from witness testimonies.” Ms Harrison, A Level history teacher at Formby High School, said: “After taking part in the Lessons from Auschwitz programme myself I believed that our students would benefit greatly from it. The trip to Auschwitz itself was one of the most thought provoking and eye opening experiences of my life. I felt it was necessary for our students to have the opportunity to take part in such an amazing, inspirational and life changing programme. It's something which will remain with them forever.”

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Secondary News

New beginnings Work starts on new Holly Lodge Girls’ College Mayor Joe Anderson has kick started construction of the new £7 million Holly Lodge Girls’ College in West Derby. The scheme will see a new main teaching block comprising new humanities classrooms, new arts, music and drama spaces including an activity hall, and a new sixth form with a central atrium and café area. The aim at Holly Lodge is to significantly reduce the number of school buildings, some of which are over 100 years old and unsuited to delivering a modern curriculum. Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “I pledged to rebuild a dozen schools to help transform the experience for tens of thousands of present and future school pupils, and this is the fourth scheme that we are starting work on. “This investment in Holly Lodge Girls’ College is much needed to make sure pupils get the most out of their learning.” The scheme includes a small extension to the existing sports hall with new administrative offices and a new look reception. There will also be a new half-sized floodlit artificial grass pitch, which will be made available to the local community. Headteacher Julia Tinsley said: “We absolutely love our site but time has caught up with it and it is a sad fact that the age and layout is just not suitable for today’s teaching. “The new school will address this and enhance the beautiful campus on which the school is built, maintaining the unique character of Holly Lodge. “We are thrilled and delighted that the girls and staff will be given the accommodation and ICT facilities they deserve. It will also be a much more

Mayor Anderson took part in a turf cutting ceremony with headteacher Julia Tinsley, pupils and local MP Stephen Twigg.

environmentally friendly school which will cost us less to heat, maintain and repair.” The new building is arranged in proximity to the five buildings which are being retained, which will greatly reduce lost teaching time as a result of pupils having to walk long distances between lessons. It is proposed that around a third of the existing site at the front nearest Queens Drive will be sold when the work is completed. The new building is scheduled to open in February 2015.

On Saturday 26th April 2014 Holly Lodge Girls’ College will be holding a 92nd Birthday celebration for pupils old and new. The event will provide an opportunity to say a fond farewell to the old site and some of the old buildings as well as an opportunity to celebrate the bright new accommodation for Holly Lodge future and current students. All ex pupils will be invited and further information will be available on the school website and Twitter account. www.hollylodge.liverpool.sch.uk

Former student pays flying visit At St Margaret’s Church of England Academy, old boys often drop back in for a visit. Recently, old boy Edward Janion, who left St Margaret’s in 2002, literally dropped in controlling a Navy Black Cat helicopter. Edward, who works as a naval engineering technician, contacted the school earlier in the year wanting to replicate another helicopter visit by another old boy back in 1996, when Edward was in Year 7. He landed safely on the school field at lunchtime and stayed for an hour giving the boys an opportunity to explore the helicopter and talk to the pilots. 38

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Secondary News

Sporting visitors Bellerive welcome special guests Staff and students at Bellerive FCJ College welcomed some very special visitors from a faraway sister school. A group of 30 girls from Genazzano FCJ in Melbourne, Australia spent three days in Merseyside as part of their European sports tour. They have already visited Belgium and London and

are heading to Limerick in Ireland and Paris before returning home. After meeting their hosts the group soon departed for a football coaching session with Liverpool Ladies FC at the University of Liverpool’s Wyncote Centre followed by a tour of Anfield. An action packed day of games

Lucy Moorcroft, Clementine Scheffers, Beth Storey and Megan McClaughlin at Anfield.

including basketball, badminton and tennis took place at Upton Hall followed by a free day for the visiting girls to spend time with their host families and get to know the city region. The girls stayed with FCJ students from Bellerive and Upton Hall on the Wirral to gain an insight into local family life. Some of the sights their hosts were keen to show off included the Albert Dock, Liverpool One, the cinema and the Beatles and the Maritime museums. Mr McGrath, the Merseyside trip coordinator and a history teacher at Bellerive, said: “We were very excited to welcome our Australian visitors to Merseyside and enjoyed showing them the best of our city despite the rain!” Sarndra Kennerley, head of netball at Genazzano said upon arriving at Bellerive: “We’ve had an amazing trip so far and even though it’s a sporting tour we’re also building friendships with other FCJ schools and students around the world. These relationships will last a lifetime; I know many girls who have met on previous trips are still in touch today.” There are 16 Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) schools all over the world from Canada, the USA and Belgium to Ireland, Australia and the UK.

Building a brilliant future THE first image has been released of the new £16 million Archbishop Blanch High School in Liverpool set to be the centrepiece of the ongoing regeneration of Wavertree. Consultation is underway on plans to move the school from its cramped buildings on Mount Vernon Road near the city centre to a new purposebuilt site on Earle Road, off Smithdown Road in Picton. The site has been earmarked because it is in close proximity to the existing school and has good transport links. It will educate 900 girls aged 11-16 and have a mixed sixth form. Mayor Joe Anderson said: “The new Archbishop Blanch High School is a really exciting scheme which will be a catalyst for strengthening the local community and 40

supporting local businesses. It will make a huge difference to Picton and underpin the improvements that are being made. “The pupils and staff desperately need a new building to replace their existing facilities, which are in need of major investment and updating. The area is going through significant transition to bring forward high quality housing

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which will complement the new school. The new complex will include on-site sports fields so the school can, for the first time, have its own pitches to deliver outdoor activities for pupils. Headteacher Jane Griffiths said: “We are delighted at the pace with which this exciting scheme is coming together. The vision for the area where the school will be relocated is

fantastic, and will allow us to build on the quality education for our students. “We are all greatly excited by having the chance to plan a new building from the ground up, enabling us to create a brilliant, modern learning environment for our students.” Subject to planning consent, construction work is expected to start in late 2014, with the school being completed in 2016.

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Meet the Headteacher Stephen Brierley, St Margaret’s C of E Academy

It may have only been a term since principal Stephen Brierley took the helm at St Margaret’s C of E Academy, but he’s had no problem settling in. While he may have spent the past few months getting to know new colleagues, new pupils and a new community, the headteacher is no stranger to the top job.

Leading from experience by Natasha Young His appointment at the school signalled the start of Stephen’s third headteacher post, and he explains that it was the renown of the Aigburth Road-based boys’ secondary school that primarily attracted him to the role. “St Margaret’s has a really strong reputation and when you see a school with such a strong reputation looking for a headteacher, I think many people would be attracted to it because it’s obviously such a good school to work in,” he says. The move to St Margaret’s also prompted a return to the city and its familiar “educational landscape” for Stephen, who previously headed up fellow Liverpool church school Archbishop Blanch from 2003 to 2007, before moving on to The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form in Wigan between 2007 and 2013. Stephen believes the decisions he has made to move between the schools as headteacher make him well equipped to 42

help maintain the success that St Margaret’s has achieved. In its most recent Ofsted inspection the school achieved a ‘good’ rating, which was then followed by an ‘outstanding’ inspection by the National Society Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools (SIAS). “I guess there are some people who will stay in one school and there are people like me who will move around a bit and, to be frankly honest, a good school probably needs a balance of the two,” he says. “Every school has its little ways of doing things and has its outstanding teachers, people from whom you can draw inspiration. Every school has things where you think ‘I can make a difference here, I can improve things, I can move things on, and I can help’.” Reflecting on his career as a headteacher so far, Stephen says he has been “fortunate” to take the lead in three successful schools with above average results. Therefore, the principal’s future plans for St Margaret’s are not to implement big changes but to build on the resources that are already

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The moment teachers stop learning is the moment their teaching starts to become less effective

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in place. For instance, Stephen has joined the school as it begins to see the ongoing benefits of a volunteering scheme that was launched during a recent term. Set up by a teacher leading PSHE, known in the school as ‘Learning for Life’, the programme requires Year 10 pupils as well as some sixth form students to give up their time and help the local community. With many participating students completing an average of 20 hours of voluntary work, Stephen says: “I think one reason why so many kids have been prepared to put so many hours in is

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because, as a school, there is a strong Christian ethos and they learn and understand that actually it’s not all about what you can do for yourself, it’s about what you can give to society as well. That’s one of the things that make St Margaret’s a particularly exciting place to lead.” He also goes on to say: “When you come to a school which is already successful you don’t come in and think there’s a large amount that needs changing. “We have a good programme of continuing professional development for teachers. I’m very keen to see if we can make that even stronger because the most important resource that any school has is its people - both the staff who work there and the children who come – and we invest many hours of teaching in the pupils. I think it’s right to invest

in the staff as well, and we can encourage them to be the best teachers they can be. “I’ve often thought that as a headteacher, it’s important to invest in myself as well because nobody’s got it completely right. I should be called a head learner rather than a headteacher because the moment teachers stop learning is the moment their teaching starts to become less effective.” Teaching is something that Stephen has always continued to participate in himself, avoiding the danger of being a headteacher “tied to the desk”. In his subject of maths, he currently teachers a Year 9 class and says maintaining this level of involvement allows him to “be out on the yards and talk to the kids about what’s going on,” but it also lets him lead by example. “I can’t ask people to do what I’m not

prepared to do myself,” says Stephen. While St Margaret’s may be the seventh school that Stephen has worked for since teaching straight from university, it’s the first time he has worked in an academy. It’s a model that was put in place by predecessor David Dennison, but while Stephen says the status “certainly brings some advantages”, he explains the school has not yet made use of freedoms such as changing the curriculum or teachers’ pay conditions. He also insists the school’s “very strong links” with the local authority will continue under his leadership. He says: “St Margaret’s is a confident school, and if you’re a confident school it’s something you can take on board. “It’s something I’m sure we’ll grow in to. We’re all getting used to the academy world which we’re in now.”

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Secondary News

Remembrance invite for pupils

Come dancing! On the way to the finals Archbishop Beck Dance Ensemble recently competed in Liverpool’s ‘Just Dance Competition,’ in Ellesmere Port Civil Hall. They competed against 10 other dance schools in the under 21’s and the open age sections. In both of these sections they gained first place for Musical Theatre Genre of Dance. They were also placed fourth overall in the Under 21’s section. The results have secured their place in the ‘Just Dance Final’ in the Empire Theatre on 30 March 2014. Headteacher, Paul Dickinson, said: “This is a brilliant achievement for Archbishop Beck dancers as the standard of dance in north west dance schools is incredibly high. “All of our committed and hardworking dance performers are honoured to be going through to the final and I would like to congratulate them and wish them the best of luck in March!”

Respect for school Crosby High School has been awarded a Level 1 Rights Respecting School Award by UNICEF UK, the United Nations Children’s Fund. UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School Award recognises schools which show a

commitment to promoting children’s rights and encourage children and young people to respect the rights of others. Crosby High School is the first special school in Sefton to receive a Level 1 award.

Crosby High headteacher, Toni Oxton-Grant and students with their Level 1 Rights Respecting School Award

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Year 9 teacher, Miss Rogers and four students from The Lord Derby Academy, Huyton, were invited to attend the service of remembrance in Huyton. The Mayor and other dignitaries representing the armed forces, British Legion and Fire Service, joined Year 9 pupils Ben Hearn, Chloe Ball, Casey Regan and Connor Butler. Students laid a poppy wreath and stood alongside the Mayor as they observed a twominute silence for those who fell in World War One and all other conflicts since. This was particularly poignant, as Year 9 has been studying the causes and consequences of World War One in their history lessons. Miss Rogers said: “I would like to thank our four representatives who were excellent ambassadors for the school, and Knowsley Borough council for inviting us to this moving event.” Crosby High has been working with UNICEF UK since May 2010 and has been awarded with the Level 1 certificate to mark their achievement at a special ceremony at the school. Crosby High headteacher, Toni OxtonGrant, said: “We were very keen to work with UNICEF UK on the rights respecting school Initiative and embed the United Nations convention on the rights of the child into the school culture. “Respect has played a major part of their learning and is the main ethos of our school. We are delighted to receive the award and so are all the staff, governors and pupils. Special thanks must go to our music teacher, Sian Banks, who led on the project and made this happen.” UNICEF UK programme director for rights respecting schools, Frances Bestley, said: “We are delighted that Crosby High School has fully embraced the CRC and is being accredited with UNICEF UK’s rights respecting school Award. The school impressed us by how they actively promote children’s rights and how knowing about rights led to a strong sense of respect between pupils and staff.”

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Secondary News

Bridging the gap Preparing students for the future Halewood Academy has joined forces with the Career Academy UK, which will bring a programme that prepares students for the world of work. The academy model focuses on linking students to the real world of work, through guru lectures, mentoring, workplace visits and internships. Career Academies UK provides this structured programme and support to the schools and colleges around the UK who operate Career Academies. It also helps raise young people’s aspirations and bridge the gap between education and work by giving them access to real experience of the world of work. The Career Academy will provide a structured programme of paid internships, mentoring by employer volunteers, motivational lectures and workshops to give 16-19 year olds the work experience and skills they need to be able to perform more effectively in the wider world. This highly successful programme, running for over ten years, is designed to complement students’ studies. They work with more than 4,000 volunteers from over 1,400 employers large and small. Their employers are from the public, private and voluntary sectors and include major multi-nationals and almost a third of the FTSE 100 companies. Gary Evans, principal at Halewood Academy, said: “We are hoping that by linking up with local businesses we will be able to raise the aspirations of the students taking part in the programme. “But, also the students in Years 7 to 11, because ultimately we want to see our students become the best they can. “We hope that working with the people from the businesses involved, such as Jaguar Land

Leslie Martin-Wright, CEO, Knowsley Chamber of Commerce; Gary Evans, principal, Halewood Academy; Carl Worral, head of careers, Halewood Academy; Phil Woolstencroft, manager of estate engineering, Jaguar Land Rover and Gary Oldfield, group manager, MFRS

Rover or Everton in the Community that learning on the job they will gain more experience and place them at the head of the job search and make them more employable. “The students at Halewood Academy are really motivated about the links we are creating with business as see this as a way forward. “They will be able to experience what they will need to work in the outside world and to get the best jobs out there. The Careers Academy work with 140 schools and colleges who operate 180 Career Academies across the UK. Over 2,700 students from all parts of the UK are currently on the programme. Since they began in 2002, almost 4,000 students have graduated from the programme.

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Future foundations

Year 9 students from St John Bosco took part in a construction day to raise awareness about job opportunities within the construction industry. The students built houses out of mini bricks, constructed a tetrahedron and took a workshop to develop their employability skills with volunteers from Wates Construction, Vinci, BITC and CITB. Headteacher, Anne Pontifex, said: “Not only did the students find out about jobs for women but learnt some valuable lessons on how to be interviewed, working as a team and using their initiative. “The day was extremely fun and a big success and some of their students can see construction in their future.”

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Secondary News

Outward bound Pupils enjoy royal appointment

By royal appointment, Broughton Hall staff and pupils at St James’s Palace

Year 9 students from Broughton Hall High School participated in a weeklong outward-bound course in Aberdovey, Wales. The course was attended by schools from across the country including Nottingham, Leeds and Manchester. Teams were made up of an instructor, DHL mentor and students from a mix of schools. The course focused on increasing self-awareness, teamwork,

communication and co-ordination. Five of the students, Alees El-Saiegh, Hollie Byrne, Jessica Kelley, Louise Robinson and Hannah Tichen were awarded their Gold Duke Of Edinburgh Award at St James’s Palace. Expedition leader, Miss Taylor, said: “The girls have achieved so much, completing all five sections of their Gold DofE programme is an incredible accomplishment.

“The award is recognised by universities and employers as a mark of a very special person, someone who is prepared to make a commitment and is capable of ‘going that extra mile’ to achieve their objectives. “It was a lovely experience being at St James’s Palace, meeting and speaking to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh about my involvement with the group of young adults I was looking after”.

A day without pens at Fazakerley If asked to give a top 10 list of the basic equipment required for everyday teaching a pen would be there. However Fazakerley High School made an unusual decision by banning pens for a whole teaching day! No pens? How could pupils work and learn? Well, their ‘no pen day’ demonstrated the power of speech and discussion at developing pupil understanding. The day was a challenge to their staff as they 48

planned lessons ‘outside the box’ - no computers in ICT, debates in PE and drama in science! Teachers had to re-think teaching styles to extend and develop opportunities for communication, debating and selfexpression. English teacher, Miss Mathews, said: “It was a challenge to make lessons meaningful and ensure learning took place but pupils responded really well and enjoyed the day, I’ll definitely be re-using some of the ideas.”

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Secondary News

SCHOOL LEADS FIGHT TO IMPROVE RESULTS A school in Knowsley is leading the fight to improve standards and results in the region. Martin Campbell, principal at St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Centre for Learning, Whiston, said: “At a time when we see Knowsley taking a knocking for their exam results it is worth noting that once again our Year 11 students had achieved the highest ever recorded results for 5 A* to C GCSE’s including English and maths (58.1% 5 A* to C). “Not only that, they broke the record for the number of A* and A grades gained 18 individual students achieved at least one A* grade whilst another 35 individual students achieved at least one grade A. “This is further evidence that students can achieve the highest possible grades at this centre. “We are committed to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning, to raising the standards of achievement, to effectiveness in management and administration and to those processes which will enable teachers to meet the changing needs of pupils and the high expectations of parents. “The centre is one of the top 20% performing schools in the United Kingdom. Its insistence on high standards has resulted in GCSE results improving at four times the national average and KS3 results graded at A and A* levels when compared to other schools. At the recent Ofsted inspection, St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic CfL was judged to be ‘good with outstanding features’. Martin continued: “We set high expectations for all our pupils but also provide a remarkably high level of supports to ensure that these expectations are met, we regard ourselves as a caring school. “We pride ourselves on the way in

Martin Campbell, principal at St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Centre for Learning, Whiston

which new pupils quickly become part of our community. We smooth the transition from primary to secondary school through a creative programme of teacher links, pupil visits, induction days and close liaisons with parents. “Throughout a child’s time at the school we have an innovative pastoral programme to ensure the support, care and direction of each individual. “We also have very strong links with the local community”. The centre also enjoys a great variety of school clubs and after school clubs which range from a cinema, gardening, Duke of Edinburgh, debating and a host of sporting clubs. The Liverpool Archdiocesan inspection team judged St Edmund Arrowsmith to be “outstanding” and said “St Edmund Arrowsmith is an outstanding centre for learning, committed to its mission to provide all members of the community with the opportunity to have ‘Life in all its fullness.’”

ACADEMY SCOOPS SOCIAL MEDIA AWARD Childwall Sports and Science Academy has become the first in Liverpool to collect a new social media award. The 1000-pupil school scooped the #FabSchool accolade beating off competition from across the UK on Twitter. Henry Platten, from eTreble9.com (the social media police), who run #FabSchool said: “We were very impressed with the work Childwall is doing in recognising the high achievements of pupils and endeavours of staff. They are doing a lot of great work on social media and we know how vital effective communication and engagement is for schools.” Childwall will now go forward into the annual awards and Rachel Mutch, media technician, said: “We love using Twitter as it’s a great platform to engage with a wide range of people including our school community, people across the area and even other schools around the globe. Helping young people achieve is so rewarding and it’s great to Tweet about the successes and fun involved. We have the added accolade of being the first Liverpool school into the #FabSchool hall of fame.” 50

Kindle launch

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Reading is an essential keystone of the KS3 and KS4 English offered at St Michael’s C of E High School, Crosby. Schemes of work encourage students to read widely in fiction: prose, poetry and drama both contemporary and from the literary heritage and also in non-fiction: travel writing, autobiography and diaries. Headteacher, Dr Simon J Hulme, said: “We encourage the reading of complete works with all classes, rather than relying solely on extracts. “All Key Stage 3 English lessons begin with a period of uninterrupted, sustained, silent reading. Students are encouraged to have a book with them at all times. “This routine is now well established and enjoyed by the majority of those we surveyed this year. “To support this ethos, the school has invested in providing Kindles for the entire Year 7 cohort this year. “The Kindle is an e-book reader and enables students to access books, newspapers, magazines and blogs electronically. “It is a light, easily carried device that will enhance the students’ reading experience, enabling them to access a wide and vibrant choice of books.”

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Secondary News

School invests in the future

A £15 million contract for the construction of a new home for St Hilda’s Church of England High School in Sefton Park has been awarded by the Mayor’s cabinet. The proposal will see a new four storey building on land at Sefton Grange on Croxteth Drive, adjacent to the existing site. The present school building will then be demolished and used for games pitches, a sports hall and a car park. It will be the sixth scheme to be delivered under the Liverpool schools investment programme. Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “This is great news for pupils at St Hilda’s and is part of our commitment to making sure our children are taught in fantastic surroundings. “This proposal will see a much-needed new building for current and future

pupils and also the development of improved sports facilities. “Work on the investment programme is moving forward apace.” As part of the scheme, the school will also become co-educational when the new building opens on the site in September 2015. The sports facilities will be completed by February 2016. Headteacher Eleanor Benson, said: “St Hilda’s is looking forward to this once in a generation opportunity for a completely new school. “Staff and students have achieved magnificent results, but our premises are outdated. “We are closely involved in the design of all aspects of the school and excited about getting facilities tailor-made for St Hilda’s.” Construction work is expected to start in April 2014.

Rebrand brings about pupil ‘sea change’ The head of Kirkby High School has welcomed a ‘sea change’ in pupil behaviour following a rebrand which has seen students create their own code of conduct. Bill Leyland says placing the decision process into the hands of pupils has made them feel a greater sense of belonging to not only the code but also the school as a whole. Formerly known as Kirkby Sports College, Kirkby High School has undergone a wholesale rebrand which has seen it adapt not just a new name and website, but also uniform and wider ethos across the campus in Southdene. Called ‘The Kirkby Code’, it was drawn up in full consultation with the school’s form representatives who gathered the opinions of pupils in their classes and fed back to teachers. The developments follow the school’s record GCSE results in the summer which saw five or more GCSE grades A* - C (including English and maths) rising by 8.7pc to 43.3pc. Mr Leyland, who has been in post since the start of 2013, said: “It has been really positive to see the pupils adapt so wholeheartedly their Kirkby Code which was undertaken as part of our rebrand. “At its core is behaviour and respect for teachers, fellow pupils and the wider community. The improved levels of both these qualities tell me that the code and rebrand have been fully worth it. This will ultimately prepare pupils more fully for the wider world and crucially the world of work”.

Kieran is a rising star Kieran McHugh, of Maricourt Catholic High School, Maghull has been recognised as an engineering rising star and is one of an elite set of engineering students who has been awarded a diamond jubilee scholarship by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). He is among the first cohort to receive this highly prestigious scholarship and is one of just 540 students from 382 schools in the UK to receive the scholarship worth up to £4,000 per year. Mrs McGlone, director of sixth form said: “What a fantastic achievement for Kieran after his outstanding A Level results. He had a conscientious approach to all aspects of academic study and was always willing to develop his expertise in subject related challenges. “As project manager, Kieran’s ability and leadership skills were highly acclaimed when he had direct control of the technological and editorial aspects of the new school prospectus. Kieran is a great ambassador for the school and is a shining example to students of all ages as they strive to achieve their career aspirations.” Kieran said: “I am absolutely delighted to have won the IET’s diamond jubilee scholarship for my academic achievement whilst at Maricourt. “It is the culmination of years of hard work and determination; not just for me, but also for my teachers who stopped at nothing to ensure that I was always well prepared for my examinations, applications, and interviews.” 52

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Kieran is congratulated by Mr McLoughlin, headteacher

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Education News

Sponsors sign up for Educate Awards 2014 With people able to nominate their schools and teachers for the 2014 annual awards, Educate Magazine is thrilled to announce that five sponsors, are already confirmed. Connex Education and The Apprenticeship Hub are sharing title sponsorship of the event, and will bring with them a wealth of experience, understanding and passion for innovative education worth celebrating. New title sponsors, The Apprenticeship Hub, are a partnership of six local authorities dedicated to providing working apprenticeships for young people in Greater Merseyside who are looking to pursue vocational avenues. Meanwhile, Connex Education, are returning as sponsors for the Educate Awards and the prestigious Teacher of the Year award. Connex are leading providers of supply staff, and specialise in recruiting and placing qualified teachers in primary, secondary and SEN schools. CEO Mark Beedles, an advocate of celebrating high teaching standards, says: “As an organisation that works closely with many schools within Merseyside, we feel strongly of the importance of recognising achievement. Excitingly, Carillion PLC, The Design Foundry and GMLPF are also reprising their role as awards sponsors, supporting the Eco Project of the Year, Communication and Career Aspiration

awards, respectively. Carillion PLC, an integrated support organisation, are outspoken about the importance of sustainability, protecting the environment and enabling low-carbon economies, and have provided ‘energy makeovers’ for schools throughout the UK. They have elected to support the Eco Project of the Year award to further encourage and reward this eco-positive attitude so readily seen in Merseyside schools. GMLPF, who also sponsored the award last year, offer free support services to schools that want to raise awareness of apprenticeships among their pupils. CEO James Glendenning, who last year presented the award to Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School, says: “Careers advice and guidance in schools is such a crucial aspect of children’s education. “Schools are in a unique position to provide their pupils with the right information about careers and promising “Schools are already approaching careers advice in new and exciting ways and we look forward to more schools raising awareness of apprenticeships as a valid route into a career alongside other more academic routes.” The Design Foundry are also experts in their sponsored category and have previously worked with numerous schools and colleges. As a PR and design agency they

understand the value of strong marketing and communication. In their work, the company develop active engagement between schools’, teachers, parents and the community at large, and as such see first hand the benefit of clear, creative communication. Fiona Barnet, the company’s director, says: “Whether it's through innovative use of digital media, developing public speaking skills, or simply putting an imaginative twist on traditional methods like coffee mornings, good communication in schools is essential. “To be given the opportunity to celebrate and encourage those schools going the extra mile to ensure their children’s communication skills are challenged and encouraged is really wonderful.” Executive editor of Educate Magazine, Kim O’Brien commented: “We are very lucky with our sponsors, as they have always been esteemed representatives of the categories they’ve supported. This year is no different, and we are delighted to be working alongside organisations that have invested in all areas of education, and truly want to celebrate those schools and individuals who excel within them. “We have only just begun preparation for the 2014 awards, and we are already optimistic that these will be the biggest and best Educate Awards yet.”

Aspiring pupils follow their paths At Hillside High School, Bootle they believe that nothing is too good for their pupils and they encourage them to do the very best they can throughout their time at school.

Hillside students on the Magdalen Bridge over the River Cam

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They also make sure that pupils get the chance to see for themselves what the top universities in the country can offer. One of the aims of these visits to Oxford and Cambridge Universities is to provide information and guidance to pupils so that they make the best possible A level choices and ensure they are fully informed to allow them to follow their chosen career paths. Mrs Ryan, headteacher at Hillside, said: “Our pupils deserve an excellent education and many of them go on to universities and gain professional qualifications. “We recently ran two trips for our pupils, the first was to Magdalen College, Cambridge were pupils were given the opportunity to gain first hand information about studying at Cambridge University and meet students, staff and lecturers. “Following the success of our Cambridge visit a further 10 pupils were taken to Oxford University for an overnight visit which included interactive workshops focussing on A level choices Said Mrs Ryan: “We are determined that pupils from our community will have every opportunity to see for themselves where their studies and efforts can take them and to feel encouraged to aim for the very top”.

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Education News

Sainsbury’s School Games receives £25,000 boost This year’s Merseyside Sainsbury’s School Games Festival is set to build on the huge success of previous years, thanks to £25,000 of National Lottery funding. The local organising committee for Merseyside has been awarded the funding from Sport England to deliver the school games festival this year. It will be the culmination of year-round competitions within schools and between schools, with the most talented athletes progressing to compete across more than 30 sports including athletics, wheelchair basketball, hockey, volleyball and badminton. Sport England’s strategic lead – youth, Suzanne Glavin, said: “The Sainsbury’s School Games Festivals play a critical role in inspiring a generation of youngsters to play sport by providing them with opportunities to take part in competitive school sport. “It also introduces talented athletes to high level competition, and with the help of the sport governing bodies, they are supported and signposted to further opportunities to compete and develop their talent. “We are delighted to award this funding to Merseyside and

would like to thank them for the work they do in making these events happen.” The Merseyside School Games Level 3 Winter Festival will take place week beginning 17 March 2014 and Summer Festival 4 July 2014.

Theo Paphitis says ‘I’m in’ Dragons Den star to be new ambassador A National Enterprise Competition that last year delivered to over ten thousand young people in the UK has announced that Dragons Den star Theo Paphitis will be the new ambassador for this year’s challenge, following on from Lord Sugar. The Ryman National Enterprise Challenge team held their launch event at the Wayra Academy in London with last year’s key stage 4 winners Strood Academy from Kent being presented with a cheque by the exam board OCR for £500 and Theo Paphitis and Charmaine Eggberry (Wayra) pledged a further £1000 each to the winning team. Students and teachers from all over the country as well as sponsors Ryman, Gandys Flip flops, OCR, Staffordshire University and the challenges main ambassador Theo Paphitis, attended the event. Youth Enterprise CIC, a not for profit organisation, aims to promote enterprise skills and provide training for young people across the country. They launched The National Enterprise Challenge in the last academic year and held their first finals in July, which was attended by over 700 people including last year’s ambassador Lord Sugar at the Troxy Theatre, East London. As well as Theo Paphitis becoming the main ambassador of the programme, this year his company Ryman will also become the main sponsor. Commenting on the deal Theo said: “I 56

Dragons Den star Theo Paphitis at the launch of the Ryman National Enterprise Challenge at the Wayra Academy, London

am delighted to be getting involved with this year’s National Enterprise Challenge, which will also be sponsored by my business Ryman. “It is vitally important that young people develop the skills they need to succeed in the world of work and The Ryman National Enterprise Challenge helps to develop young people’s skills in this area. I’m looking forward to working with the team this year.”

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Youth Enterprise CIC director, Michael Dyer, added: “We are all looking forward to working with Theo Paphitis and his company Ryman this year and making the challenge even bigger and better for the students taking part.” Bookings for this year’s challenge are open with 50 schools already signed up for this year’s programme. They anticipate around 120 schools and over 25,000 students taking part this academic year.

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Education News

Literary speaking Ykids host first Bootle children’s literary festival Over 3000 Bootle children took part in the first ever Bootle children’s literary festival, an event organised

by Ykids - a Bootle based childrens charity. The festival hosted a variety of events

Chloe Roberts from Our Lady Star of the Sea reads her winning poem ‘Starfish’

which saw 10 childrens authors, illustrators and poets visit local schools and 500 children from 17 schools take part in a two day ‘Word Fest’, designed to capture the imagination and promote literacy. Headlining the events were renowned Toxteth poet Levi Tafari along with prize winning local authors Alan Gibbons, Tommy Donbavand, Bali Rai, Tom Palmer, Dan freedman, Fiona Dunbar, Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore and local rap artists Jamie Broad and Outcast Youth. Children were treated to performances of poetry from Levi, rap from Jamie and a story from Alan. They then had the opportunity to work with the artists and authors on creative workshops exploring words, rhyme, rhythm and story. The event was also an opportunity to launch a new poetry book written by children in Bootle. ‘If I ruled The World’ was the result of a competition and judges worked through hundreds of entries before deciding on the final 40 poems to include. Winner, Chloe Roberts from Our Lady Star of the Sea read her winning poem ‘ Starfish’ to the assembled schools. In addition to copies of her poem in print, she won £100 in theatre vouchers and a free author visit to her school from Smartie book prizewinner, Alan Gibbons.

Marketing agency goes MaD! Award-winning educational marketing agency Printel has rebranded with a new name – ‘Media and Digital’ – or MaD to their friends. After 22 years, the firm’s owners, husband and wife Stuart and Gill Atherton, have decided the name Printel no longer reflects the agency’s core business - so they’ve gone MaD with a new logo and website. When the couple founded the firm in Widnes in 1991, much of their work involved graphic design and print. And although this is still important, it now forms a much smaller share of the total business. Managing director Stuart explains: “Hopefully schools and colleges won’t think we’re bonkers for changing our name and will appreciate why we’ve gone a bit MaD. “The creative media world has changed massively in the last couple of decades. Although we are still asked to supply a large number of print items, such as prospectuses, signage and displays, the digital market is now huge. “People are accessing information in dozens of different ways in addition to the traditional medium of print. Our firm has wholeheartedly embraced the digital revolution. We also provide cutting edge films, social media, apps and websites, as well as great scripts and copywriting to support the digital content. 58

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Gill and Stuart Atherton with the MaD Team

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Education News

Hold the press IFB 2014 to form Junior Press Gang The biggest business festival of 2014 has joined forces with the Liverpool Learning Partnership (LLP) to recruit young people from across the city to report on the International Festival for Business (IFB 2014) in words and pictures as journalists and photographers. The initiative is one of many announced aimed at promoting the festival to young people and developing their business skills which also include: IFB 2014 Young Executives – an opportunity for Year 9 to Year 12 pupils to be based at the heart of IFB 2014 activity in the newly announced IFB hub, the trade and nerve centre of the festival at Mann Island. School to Business Links Showcase – where LLP schools will be invited to present and promote their active and significant links to business during IFB 2014 Youth Parliament Debates – motions for debate will be developed at both the European Youth Parliament UK taking place in Liverpool in July 2014 and at regular Liverpool Schools’ Parliament meetings throughout the year. Mayoral Art Competition – supported by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson this competition will give

youngest school pupils to the eldest the opportunity to respond creatively to the theme of ‘Liverpool - Global City’, recognising the truly international flavour of IFB 2014. Max Steinberg CBE, IFB 2014 chairman and chief executive of Liverpool Vision, said: “This is an innovative and exciting way to stimulate business ambition in young people. “IFB 2014 is a major UK event hosted in Liverpool and it is vitally important that all our people, especially young people, can take advantage of the incredible opportunity that the festival presents. “Liverpool is a global city to be proud of, a city that successfully hosts major international events and competes in an international marketplace. “Young people will learn this and more in a very direct way through this practical activity. “This is not about simply attending a series of lectures or writing essays. It is about utilising the major event on our doorstep to inspire our young people, develop awareness and a desire to learn more about the world of business.” One component of the package of initiatives announced is the IFB Young Reporters & Photographers competition,

Max Steinberg CBE

for pupils in Year 6 or above. This will enable up to 25 winning pupils to report from headline festival events and to interview some of the festival’s keynote speakers. Liverpool Learning Partnerships’ joint chief executive Phil Daniels said: “Young people are much more media savvy these days. They have questions and opinions and voice them regularly through social media platforms and they are interested in business and in their home city so this initiative offers a perfect opportunity to promote awareness of IFB 2014.” Information on all the initiatives have been sent directly to schools via LLP working with the Head Teachers Associations.

Hillsborough Cup to remember 96 A football competition for Liverpool schools to mark the 25th anniversary of Hillsborough has been launched. The Hillsborough Cup and Hillsborough Plate – the brainchild of Mayor Joe Anderson – is an under 13s competition involving 19 secondary schools in the city. The first matches in the knock out competitions, the finals being held in Spring 2014 at Liverpool Soccer Centre in Walton, a few weeks prior to the 25th anniversary service to be held at Anfield. Mayor Anderson said: “Every person who died at Hillsborough in 1989 was a football fan and the Hillsborough Cup and Plate is a fitting and appropriate way to remember them as we approach the 25th anniversary of the tragedy. “It is really important that we do all we can to educate current and future generations about the tragedy so that we never, ever forget it.” The Hillsborough families and Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs are also backing the initiative. 64

Mayor Joe Anderson is pictured at the launch with Cardinal Heenan Under 13s football team, who are taking part in the Hillsborough Cup

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School Ec News Sponsored by

The opening was performed by Lord Mayor, Councillor Gary Millar, alongside pupils and staff.

Eco-classroom to generate cash for school A unique eco-classroom – the first of its type in the country – has opened at a Liverpool primary school. Children will use the new ‘pod’ at Childwall Church of England Primary School for a series of environment related activities at the school as well as music lessons. Pupils have recently formed a gardening club, and over the next few months will be landscaping the area around the building. It has been designed by UK Pod Living Ltd and is clad with cedar and real oak flooring, to give a feeling of serenity. It has received the highest possible environmental ranking for energy efficiency and has solar panels on the roof, which could generate over £1,000 of income for the school every year as it returns power back to the grid. Canon Gary Renison, chair of governors, said: “As a school with a distinctive Christian ethos, we are delighted with the pod. “The eco-friendly nature of the building sits squarely alongside our desire to teach the children in our care to be good stewards of God’s creation. “As well as being a beautiful and contemporary space for us to use in a variety of ways, the pod models something fundamental about our understanding of how we should manage the earth’s finite resources.”

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Waste Savvy Schools get support to reduce waste Halsnead Primary School, Whiston have joined schools from across Merseyside that will benefit from a whole host of support activities to reduce their waste and become more resource efficient, thanks to a project being funded through the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) and Veolia Environmental Services Community Fund. The School Waste Action Programme (SWAP) project is managed by the eco resource network, who are a group of Merseyside based charities, and will offer schools hands on support to reduce their impact on the environment and to engage with and trial different ways to reduce their waste from purchasing to recycling. More than 50 schools across Merseyside and Halton have applied to join the school waste action programme, and eight have been selected for one to one support.

The SWAP project will provide a dedicated officer to enable the whole school community to engage with and trial different ways to reduce their waste from purchasing to recycling. The aim is to enable the eight SWAP schools to reduce their waste by up to 25% by May 2014. The remaining forty plus schools won’t miss out though as they will be able to access other support to reduce waste including a workshop which will provide learning and networking experience to help schools create and embed a sustainable procurement plan. Included in the support for all the schools will be the textile challenge, which enables the whole school community to get involved. A school assembly will launch a textile collection in each participating school and all kinds of textiles - from curtains to cardigans can then be brought in for recycling with every item contributing towards a recycling payment to each school too.

The Halsnead Primary School Eco-team

Pupils Nathan Kelly, Lilly Shaw and Selvi Yakar with chef Jamie and their pasta ragu.

Jamie puts healthy eating on the menu A Knowsley Council chef has taken the healthy eating message to local primary school pupils. Jamie Bowen, chef at the council’s Huyton Suite, followed in the footsteps of his famous namesake by staging a cooking demonstration for children at Hope Primary School at Lordens Road, Huyton. He showed the pupils how to cook with vegetables grown in the school allotments – demonstrating how to prepare them and create tasty, healthy dishes. Jamie’s demonstration in the school kitchen was filmed and relayed to all the pupils watching in the hall. The youngsters then had the chance to sample the dishes – and try cooking them themselves in the classroom. Cllr Graham Morgan, Knowsley’s cabinet member for neighbourhood delivery said: “The council is committed to encouraging healthy diets for all our young people – either by providing nutritious, high quality school meals, supporting schools in growing their own vegetables, as well as staging events such as Jamie’s cookery session. “We hope pupils attending the session will take home the healthy eating message and put it to good use at family mealtimes.”

BLOOMING GOOD! Pupils and staff at Bishop David Sheppard CE Primary School, Southport were blooming as they received their award from The Royal Horticultural Society and North West in Bloom recently. After a visit by North West in Bloom, following a busy year growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, pupils were delighted to receive a level four Neighbourhood Award - which means their school is thriving! Pupils are now preparing their allotment for next years crops.

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Education News

THE EVERYMAN IS BACK

The new look Everyman Theatre The Everyman will begin the next chapter in its history with a parade and event on Hope Street on 1st March and a ‘housewarming’ on 2nd, before the theatre bursts fully back to life with artistic director Gemma Bodinetz’s production of Twelfth Night, from Saturday 8th March. Designed by Haworth Tompkins, the new Everyman is a reincarnation of the 400-seat theatre with its dynamic ‘thrust’ auditorium, and much more. A new incarnation of the basement bistro will be joined by a new ground floor café, first floor bar and balcony above the iconic red sign. The building will be full of new creative spaces, with a rehearsal room, workshops, sound studio, a Writers’ Room, and EV1 – a special studio dedicated to Young Everyman Playhouse, education and community groups. The front of the theatre features 105 portraits of people from across Merseyside whose images have been etched into metal shutters to create a unique piece of public art. Executive director Deborah Aydon said: “After ten years’ planning and two years’ construction we are thrilled to be able to announce the Everyman’s reawakening. “We have a very busy few weeks ahead, getting ready for that extraordinary moment when the people of Liverpool can take possession of their beautiful new theatre. “The reaction to the exterior has been really wonderful and we can’t wait to 70

have the Everyman fully back to life, thronged with people making it their own.” Everyone will be able to take full possession of the new theatre on the weekend of March 1 and 2. Lights Up, on the Saturday night, will be a parade and people’s celebration, created in collaboration with the Liverpool Lantern Company and Walk The Plank. Then, on Sunday, the Everyman throws open its doors with a housewarming, to welcome everyone in to make themselves at home. The artistic programme springs to life from March 8 with Shakespeare’s anarchic tale of love, loss and transformation. Twelfth Night sees the return of two members of the celebrated Everyman company of 1974 with Nick Woodeson playing Malvolio and Matthew Kelly as Sir Toby Belch.

Financial qualifications endorsed The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) welcomes the announcement from the Department of Education that both its A level and GCSE equivalent qualifications have been included in the national UK performance tables. This means that the CISI has met very high standards for qualifications that can be taught in schools from September 2014. It is the first time that the CISI has offered a qualification for young people from the age of 14. This brings the possibility of a career in global financial services a step closer for 16-18 year olds all over the UK as their schools and colleges can now be assured that a quality, benchmark qualification offering access to the industry is officially available and endorsed by the DfE. Even more importantly students can start learning about financial services and business from the age of 14 through CISI’s level 2 qualifications. The CISI is the professional body for those working in capital markets and wealth management and has a global membership of over 40,000. Both qualifications now on the national UK performance tables will allow schools and colleges throughout the UK to begin teaching their students these qualifications from September 2014. Ruth Martin, CISI managing director said: “We are very pleased to have the DfE confirm both our Level 2 “Certificate in Fundamentals of Business and Finance” (GCSE equivalent) and our Level 3 “Diploma in Finance, Risk and Investments” (A level equivalent) qualifications are officially endorsed and available to be taught to students from September 2014.

College have Saints collared St Helens College have announced a significant new sponsorship with St Helens Rugby League Club. The Club will proudly wear the educational institution’s logo on its home and away shirts for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons. Dave Hutchinson of St Helens Rugby Club said: “St Helens College have been a sponsor of the club for some time in various ways but we are now very excited to have them on board as one of our main partners. “This is the start of a bigger and new partnership, creating unique opportunities for students which will hopefully help open up doors for them in the future.”

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Education News

Support for pupils City cracks down on school bullies A crackdown on cyber bullies is to form the focus of Liverpool’s new anti-bullying strategy for schools. The new document – Challenging Bullying is Everyone’s Business – has been developed by the city council in partnership with schools and will run from 2013-2016. It is being backed by hate crime campaigner Peter Tatchell, and was launched at the town hall by Mayor Joe Anderson. Peter Tatchell said: “The bullying that takes place in many school classrooms and playgrounds would be a serious criminal offence if it was happening outside the school environment. “If unchallenged, bigoted, ill-informed attitudes fester; often being the gateway to bullying and other hate crimes. We have a responsibility to protect young people against discrimination, harassment, threats and violence.” The launch follows the success of the previous strategy, which was launched in 2006. There has been a 12 percent drop in the number of pupils reporting bullying in the city’s annual survey. However, more pupils have been reporting cyber bullying – with 11 per cent being abused online in 2012 (up two per cent on 2011) and 12 percent

being bullied via mobile phone (up three percent). In order to tackle this, schools will be able to bid for grants for projects, which highlight the issue of cyber bullying. Cllr Jane Corbett, cabinet member for education, said: “We know that bullying can lead to children missing school, failing exams, dropping out of sport, staying away from extra-curricular activities and limiting their life choices. “Young people are communicating in so many different ways now that bullying is no longer just taking place on the schoolyard, but is also happening at home anonymously through computers or on mobile phones. “It is absolutely vital we provide the right level of support and assistance to our young people who suffer bullying, so they know where to turn for help.” At the launch, pupils from Hope School in Woolton talked about their work with the anti-bullying ambassadors programme, run by the charity ‘The Diana Award’ set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. Also present were children from Sandfield Park Special School in West Derby, who have made a DVD about the issue.

New Junior and Young Lord Mayors sworn in Liverpool youngsters are set to play a part in civic life when they were sworn in as Junior and Young Lord Mayors recently. 24 new Junior and Young Lord Mayors took their places at Liverpool Town Hall at a special ceremony in the presence of Lord Mayor, Cllr Gary Millar. Cllr Gary Millar said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our young people to take part in all aspects of life in and around the Town Hall and I am delighted that so many pupils have taken such an interest in civic life. “This will be an interesting year for all of them. I know they will all grow in confidence and I am sure they will all enjoy their time as Junior and Young Lord Mayors as much as I enjoy being Lord Mayor! “I aim to show them as many aspects of my life as possible. “I wish them every success for the next 12 months, I am sure they will all do a fantastic job of representing their city.” Jeff Dunn, director of Liverpool Schools’ Parliament said: “Almost 80 students stood for election. They showed great confidence when delivering speeches of the highest quality and all of them would have been worthy of representing the city. “Those voting had a difficult task in deciding upon the fortunate 24. In October 2009 Liverpool became the first authority in the UK to actively involve its children and young people in the civic process on a regular basis when 12 primary school children and 12 secondary school pupils were sworn in at Liverpool Town Hall as the city’s first Junior and Young Lord Mayors. Each child takes part in civic life by shadowing the Lord Mayor for one month. This involves them accompanying the Lord Mayor to a number of civic and community event, ranging from services in one of the city’s magnificent cathedrals to judging a fancy dress competition.

Launch of anti-bullying strategy by Mayor Anderson and pupils from Hope and Sandfield Park schools Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Fiona Wood A week in the life of Fiona Wood, headteacher, Netherton Moss Primary School, Bootle

etherton Moss Primary School picked up the Outstanding Arts in a Primary School award for the second year at the recent Educate Awards. Fiona Wood not only provides an insight into how music and creativity plays a part in the school’s day-to-day routine, but also shares her busy schedule during a typical week in her role as headteacher. Monday: The week starts with an 8.30am meeting with Horizon; a group of heads from our local schools. We work together to plan joint activities for staff and children, such as joint training events, and all our school choirs gathered together to sing carols at Tesco raising funds for the Phillippines Typhoon appeal. We are currently working on a link with schools in Poland, as well as planning joint maths activities for some of our older children. There is always a lot to arrange! Lunchtime sees me usually in the dining room - a good chance to chat with the children and ask them about their morning. We have a wide range of lunchtime clubs on offer; it’s sketch club today! Tuesday: Doors open at 8.45am and whenever possible I am out on the junior playground each morning to meet and greet the children as they arrive. I’ll then pop in to several classrooms on my way back to my office. Tommy, our site manager, updates me on the premises; decisions about roofing work and other building plans. Then it’s time for emails and paperwork, and some training in the afternoon about our computer systems in the office. Not very exciting, but necessary. Wednesday: Time to start gathering information for our weekly newsletter; attendance figures, diary dates, etc. We are starting to prepare for our next full governors meeting, which means going through the proposed agenda with our school 72

bursar. We also spend time going through the finances, looking at the different budget headings. At lunchtime we have our weekly visitors from the ‘Chess in Schools’ initiative. They help to run a lunchtime club, and then spend an hour teaching our Year 5 chess. It’s great to see the progress they are making, and there is plenty of hard thinking and concentration going on. After school we have our weekly staff meeting; an important time for the team to get together for updates and training. Thursday: The whole school gets together for our weekly family assembly, with family and friends joining us. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate things like birthdays, attendance and good behaviour as well as giving children the chance to share what they have been doing outside of school. This could be trophies, certificates, writing, drawing and even Lego models! Then it’s back to the office, calling into some classrooms on the way before dealing with emails, etc. I’m out in the afternoon interviewing prospective teachers at Edge Hill; it’s always interesting seeing the candidates and deciding who might have the potential to become a teacher in the near future. Friday: I love Friday mornings as there is so much music going on. All our older children learn how to play an instrument, whether it’s the recorder, keyboard, brass or clarinet. They are all doing so well; some even played with the Hallé last year! Later on I’ll the give Year 6 their next piece of homework from me, which they love!?! In the afternoon I try and go into the nursery to meet some of our newest children who started in January. Time flies in this busy job, and it won’t seem long before they are in Year 6.

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Childwall C of E Primary School

Supply staff within Special Needs Schools

Hannah McDaid, Team Leader

Supplying SEN schools for the past eight years has given me an invaluable insight into their specific needs and requirements. If supply staff are not suitable, then it can have a knock on effect for other members of staff within the school, and the pupils themselves.

Please contact the school

on 0151 722 1553

It’s my job to make sure this does not happen. Each SEN school is very different and as their dedicated consultant I like to get to know them individually. I regularly take time out of my day to visit my SEN schools. Not only is this enjoyable – as I get to meet staff and pupils – but is also imperative in placing the “right” candidate. I get to see how the school is run, how the classes are set up and what the schools’ expectations of me and my staff are. Mrs Redwood at Crosby High recently commented that “having Hannah out to visit the school, has given it that personal touch.” I know exactly what I am looking for in an SEN teacher/teaching assistant. Firstly, I want a candidate who genuinely wants to work with SEN children, and cares as much as I do about the impression they leave on a school. You know you have got this right when the schools want to employ your staff themselves – Mr Pearce at Bank View has done this on numerous occasions “The staff provided have been of a very high standard and this had been reflected in the fact we have taken a number of their staff on a permanent basis” Receiving such praise from my schools about the staff we place makes my job very rewarding

Compton House, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BT (off Hanover Street) TEL: 0151 329 2727 FAX: 0151 329 2728 liverpool@connex-education.com Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Education News

Sandfield triumph Players put heart and soul into tournament Sandfield Park School were celebrating after triumphing at the Merseyside Schools PD/SLD football tournament at Greenbank Sports Academy in Liverpool. The event was certainly high energy, fast paced and high scoring. The competitor’s enthusiasm and passion for football was obvious. Eleven schools overall took part in the day with 15 teams and 120 pupils involved. Miss Barry from Sandfield Park School said: “This is always a really exciting day for our young people, there is great anticipation, they talk about it all year. So many pupils of all levels and disabilities come along and put their heart and soul into it and it’s wonderful to see.” Organiser Steve Sullivan, from Merseyside Sports Partnership said: “Congratulations to all the players who took part, the standard of play was exceptional and the tournament was played in a very competitive though fair manner.

Sandfield Park players collect their winners medals

“There were some excellent games throughout the day, especially the finals in all categories, which were great to watch with very closely matched teams. The hard work that teachers and coaches are providing to ensure the

teams are ready to play is clearly evident with several talented players on show. “A big thank you to all the volunteers and referees who did an excellent job throughout the day to ensure that the tournament ran as smoothly as possible.”

Vivark pledge to invest in local apprentices Knowsley based facilities management company and social enterprise, Vivark, has outlined a pledge that commits to local apprentices accounting for five per cent of its workforce. Vivark, part of the First Ark Group, has already made headway on this pledge, taking on 11 apprentices amongst its team, which include both office and operative positions. Since 2011, Vivark’s parent company, First Ark, has created openings for 51 apprentices in total. Last year Vivark took on five apprentices, four of which are now permanent employees. Three of these team members fulfill practical roles within the company, including Lee Cargin, who secured a role in the business support team at Vivark after just five months of his apprenticeship. Speaking about his apprenticeship, Lee said: “Securing a permanent position at Vivark is a huge opportunity for me and I’m grateful to the team for believing in me and helping me to progress. I’m delighted about my promotion and look forward to seeing what the future holds.” Another of Vivark’s latest recruits is Amy Roberts, who joins the team as an apprentice plumber. and will undertake a level two NVQ in plumbing, which will be a great boost to her career. Speaking about her appointment, Amy said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Vivark and have had a great time learning my craft, as well as learning other skills as I work. Pictured left to right Nathan Webster and Lee Cargin - Nathan will fill the apprenticeship vacancy created when Lee moves into his Vivark has encouraged me to develop as many skills as I permanent role can in order to progress my career as far as possible. 74

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EDUCATE PLUS Sponsored by Greater Merseyside Learning Providers Federation (GMLPF)

Your chance to set sail Unique opportunity for apprentices on tall ship voyage GMLPF is sponsoring three places on board a tall ship for Merseyside apprentices to compete for the new Apprentice Ship Cup this summer. In June 2014, Merseyside Adventure Sailing Trust (MAST) 2014 is hosting ‘The Apprentice Ship Cup’ with the support of both private and public sector employers. Jim Graves, the chairman of MAST, says “The Apprentice Ship Cup is a life changing experience for the apprentices involved as they will learn many important life skills when sailing the tall ship.” This regatta will provide the opportunity to stretch and develop apprentices in a challenging but safe environment to compete for the ‘Apprentice Ship Cup’ Eight tall ships will participate in the regatta which is scheduled to run from June 13 – 28, 2014, during the International Festival of Business in Liverpool as part of Mersey International River Festival. The Apprentice Ship Cup will culminate with an awards ceremony involving all ship crews and sponsors at the end of June. GMLPF is covering the cost of £400 each for three apprentices to participate in the regatta. These places are specifically for young people who are currently doing an apprenticeship with a GMLPF member. Full training will be given and fully qualified personnel on board will supervise apprentices. GMLPF is encouraging its members to speak to their apprentices and find out who would like to step up to this exciting challenge of a lifetime.

To apply for one of GMLPF’s sponsored places in the Apprentice Ship Cup, apprentices should think about the skills they have already developed since starting on their apprenticeship and answer the following question: How will the skills you have already developed on your apprenticeship come in useful when you are participating in the Apprentice Ship Cup race? Apprentices should answer in no more than 50 words, and email their answer to ayesha@gmlpf.net by the end of February 2014. Three lucky apprentices will be chosen and invited to visit the ship to find out how they will prepare for the exciting voyage.

RINGING IN THE CHANGES AT MICHAEL JOHN ACADEMY Exciting things have been happening at Michael John Academy in Liverpool with the launch of a new website, a massive increase in custom for their Spa of Tranquility and some excellent feedback from schools regarding their new study programmes. The recent advanced level apprenticeship competition week was also a great success with learners and their employers receiving framed photographs of the work the apprentices produced so it can be proudly displayed in the salon workplace. As knowledge and information regarding 24plus advanced learning loans increases they are also seeing learners take up this excellent opportunity, with their first two learning loan students now fully approved by the Student Loans Company. A course directory showing the whole range of courses available at Michael John Academy can be found on their website at www.michaeljohnacademy.com.

10 YEARS CHAMPIONING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING ON MERSEYSIDE

www.gmlpf.net

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Top class venue Regional business magazine holds debate

Merseyside’s apprentices to be recognised at graduation event Over 1,000 Merseyside apprentices will graduate at Liverpool Cathedral on 29 April this year. Apprentices from six boroughs will attend the graduation ceremony over two separate sessions at the cathedral to make sure that each and every qualifying apprentice is recognised. Level 3 and 4 NVQ apprentices will be invited to attend the prestigious event, which aims to give apprentices the same recognition that university students receive on the completion of a degree. Patrick McCarten, head of employment and skills at Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “The Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Hub is very proud to announce the launch of the region’s first ever apprenticeships graduation event, celebrating the achievements of thousands of committed young people from the Merseyside area who have successfully completed a higher level apprenticeship over the last year. “The high-profile, spectacular ceremony will be held in April 2014 in the stunning surroundings of Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. “A particularly exciting project for the Apprenticeships Hub, the establishment of a formal graduation event represents a milestone in achieving equal footing for apprenticeships as a proven route into a successful career alongside more traditional, academic options.”

(Left to right): L20 Hotel School director, Mike Mounfield with Bob Prattey and Alastair Shepherd during the Move Commercial lunch debate

Liverpool’s L20 Hotel School restaurant welcomed experts from across the hospitality industry as it provided the setting for a recent debate. The venue within Hugh Baird College, which provides a work-based learning facility for students training to work in hospitality, was picked by the North West commercial property and business magazine Move Commercial for its latest lunch debate feature. L20 Hotel School director, Mike Mounfield was joined by fellow panellists Bob Prattey, chief executive of ACC Liverpool; and Alastair Shepherd, director of Liverpool-based architects Falconer Chester Hall, as they talked about the current rise in hotel developments across the region. The discussion, set to feature in the February issue of Move Commercial, considered the driving force behind the hotel industry’s growth and the types of hotel being built, to the skills needed to secure the industry’s success and whether it is sustainable in the long term. Delicious courses from the L20 Hotel School’s menu were also served to the panel by students and apprentices as the debate took place. Following the debate, Mike said: “It’s nice that the sector has embraced what we do. To be sat around a table with people from the sector is something that wouldn’t have happened a year ago, but it has happened because we’re being taken seriously.” For more information about L20 Hotel School, visit www.L20hotelschool.co.uk.

SHOW SET TO INSPIRE Thinking about your future career? Explore all your options at Liverpool City Region’s biggest ever careers event. As part of the International Festival for Business, the Employment and Skills Board of the Local Enterprise Partnership is hosting a free interactive careers event for 6,000 14 to 24 year olds at the Liverpool World Museum on 19th and 20th June 2014. This is the first event of its kind in Liverpool City Region and is taking place as part of The Skills Show Experience, supported by The Skills Show, the European Social Fund and the National Careers Service. School pupils and other young people will be able to speak to employers and careers advisors to find out about careers in different industry sectors, including Liverpool City Region’s important growth sectors. There will be hands-on activities to take part in, as well as presentations, demonstrations and the opportunity to have careers questions answered. The event is free, however places are limited and schools interested in attending should contact the organisers to find out more via: info@lcrskillsforgrowth.org.uk

DID YOU KNOW? Greater Merseyside Learning Providers Federation (GMLPF) has a membership of over 50 apprenticeship providers across Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. These specialist training organisations offer apprenticeships in many career sectors. GMLPF works with its members to offer free support services to schools who want to raise awareness of apprenticeships amongst their pupils. Services available free to schools: • Attendance at careers evenings and information events • Pupil-friendly presentations • Apprenticeships Q & A sessions for pupils and/or careers teachers • Parent workshops • Talks by ex-apprentices who have built successful careers • Resources: apprenticeships case studies, lesson plans, leaflets To find out more call the GMLPF School Support Team on 0151 707 8775 www.gmlpf.net

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Key To Apprenticeships Helping 16 to 18 year olds into Apprenticeships www.key2apprenticeships.co.uk /key2apprenticeships

Apprenticeships opportunities at MACTAC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Children & Young People’s Workforce Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools Playwork Teamleading & Management 0151 482 2541 admin@mactac.org.uk www.mactac.org

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Specially engineered gift Students pride in special commission Father Christmas had a role reversal when he received his own generous gift from students at St Helens College. Engineering students spent months carefully crafting a new sleigh for him which was commissioned by Prescot Rotary Club. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of students the sleigh hit the streets on time, starting its journey in Knowsley Village to collect donations for charity. The NVQ Level 2 fabrication and welding students who enrolled on the course in September began work on the project and throughout the construction process learnt how to read drawings, fabricate shapes and weld. They were also assisted by some of the Level 3 students who attend the college on day release. Level 1 & 2 diploma motor body students painted the sleighs body work. Fabrication and welding student, Luke Baker said: “I enjoyed working on the project as I felt like I was giving something back to the community. “The project has helped me with my course; I’ve learnt new skills and feel more confident.” Gemma Hyland, fabrication and

Mapping out your future Greater Merseyside Learning Providers Federation and The Liverpool City Region Apprenticeships Hub have recently produced Mapped Out: Apprenticeships - a brochure which opens out into a poster listing all the different apprenticeships available across Merseyside. It also contains useful information about what is involved in doing an apprenticeship and who they are for. There are also case studies outlining local young people who have completed different apprenticeships. The Mapped Out: Apprenticeships brochure/poster is being offered free to schools right across Merseyside, and to any other agencies that deal with young people. To claim a copy call the GMLPF Schools Support team at Greater Merseyside Learning Providers Federation on 0151 707 8775 or email ayesha@gmlpf.net

welding student said: “Working on the sleigh helped me to overcome my shyness when working with other people – it’s really helped me learn how to work as a team.” Jim Clarke, college lecturer added: “The project has been really worthwhile and

has given the students valuable experience of working in a realistic working environment. “The whole group have responded well to the project and considering they had no experience coming into the project, they’ve done a remarkable job.”

Wonderland impresses audience A Myerscough College horticulture apprentice has earned rave reviews after creating a festive ‘Winter Wonderland’ display at the garden centre where he’s based. Lewis Morris is serving his apprenticeship at White Moss Nursery & Garden Centre in Widnes. Following seven weeks of extensive planning and construction his winter wonderland and grotto opened its doors to the public for the first time in December. 17-year-old Lewis, from Speke, should complete his qualification by next summer. He’s serving his apprenticeship under the watchful eye of Myerscough College

Educate Plus sponsored by GMLPF

workbased assessor, Neil Gravener. Neil said: “Lewis and the team have clearly worked extremely hard to create the seasonal attraction. It’s fantastic to see an apprentice going the extra mile and working to such a high standard.” Lewis said: “I really enjoy the variety of work here at White Moss. The team give me lots of support and I am learning new things all the time’’. ‘’I am really glad I chose to do an apprenticeship as it gives me the chance to gain a qualification and earn some money at the same time. I would recommend them to other young people.”

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www.gmlpf.net

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Motoring ahead College helps graduate engineer career with Jaguar Land Rover A graduate of Merseyside further education college Hugh Baird is looking forward to a long and successful career in the engineering and manufacturing sector after securing a place on a prestigious apprenticeship programme with Jaguar Land Rover. Sean Reece studied the NVQ Diploma Level 2 in light vehicle maintenance and repair at Bootle-based Hugh Baird College covering a broad range of skills for engine and vehicle maintenance. He beat nearly 3,000 other applicants to be taken on to the four-year apprenticeship programme run by the manufacturing giant. Mr Reece, 23, is currently studying full time for the first year of the programme and said he owes everything to Hugh Baird College. “It’s no exaggeration to say I would not have been accepted onto this apprenticeship programme without my experience at Hugh Baird College,” Mr Reece said. “I chose Hugh Baird College because of its good reputation. The time I had there and the range of subjects I studied really prepared me for the interview with Jaguar Land Rover. I am one of only 10 apprentices, from a total of 3,000 applicants, to have been accepted on for this intake so the competition was tough. “From next year, we will be spending one or two days a week on the shop floor

at Jaguar Land Rover and gaining more experience. We have been assured there will be jobs for us at the end of the programme and I could easily see myself being here for the rest of my working life”. Lisa Morgan, Mr Reece’s tutor at Hugh Baird College, said she is very proud to see another of the college’s graduates progress onto a career programme with really great potential. “Sean is another fine example of the type of graduates we see at Hugh Baird College on a regular basis,” Ms Morgan

said. “Our ongoing relationships with employers of all sizes, from small businesses to giants like Jaguar Land Rover, shows how studying here can help to open doors with employers. “We wish Sean every success and are proud that he not only chose to study with us but attributes his career progression to the time he spent at Hugh Baird College. “We want to encourage parents and students to consider the courses on offer at Hugh Baird College and the future careers prospects which can result”.

Proposals to close skills gap The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is calling on schools and colleges to be measured on the education, training and employment destinations of their leavers, and not just on their academic achievements. This is one of the key recommendations being made by the institution as it launches a new framework for Government, industry and education to work together to narrow the gap between the demand and supply of engineers. Peter Finegold, head of education at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: “The UK is facing a severe engineering skills gap. It is clear that much more needs to be done by Government, industry and education providers to attract and train more UK engineers. “A key problem is that many young prospective engineers are poorly informed by schools and colleges about potential careers in engineering - just 17% of young

Educate Plus sponsored by GMLPF

people are happy with the level of careers advice they received from teachers. “Measuring a school’s success on the progress made by students once they’ve left school would be a key way of encouraging better careers advice. “It is imperative that Government works to make it more attractive for industry, especially smaller companies, to develop meaningful relationships with schools and colleges. “The UK should be inspired by work in Germany which sees local employers provide rich opportunities for work experience, and where students are taught about the country’s labour market. “While it is imperative that careers advice is impartial, it is also vital that careers advisors are upfront in explaining that some subjects and qualifications, such as science and maths, have a greater value in the labour market.” The Institution of Mechanical

Peter Finegold, head of education at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Engineers’ - closing the skills gap framework and the engineering skills for the industrial strategy policy statement were published to coincide with Tomorrow’s Engineers Week back in November 2013, which held a week of activity that showcased all the exciting businesses and industries - including space, construction, transport, cosmetics, medicine, food, and fashion - that rely on the work of creative engineers.

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www.gmlpf.net

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Knowsley to host second Apprenticeship Awards The Apprenticeship Awards (Greater Merseyside) returns for its second year on the 20th of June 2014. Taking place in an exquisite marquee situated in Lord Derby’s estate in the borough of Knowsley, the awards will once again recognise the achievements of Merseyside apprentices. The first Apprenticeship Awards took place last year with a fantastic inaugural ceremony at St George’s Hall in early 2013 and the event is set to be even bigger this year. The awards ceremony, which celebrates the region’s most promising apprentices along with the most committed employers, will be coinciding with the Liverpool International Festival for Business in June. Greater Merseyside Learning Providers Federation (GMLPF) will be the main sponsor of the event for the second year running and continue to help establish the Apprenticeship Awards (Greater Merseyside) as a key date in Liverpool’s commercial calendar. Debbie Tagoe, chair of GMLPF, says: “The awards are a very important event for our region as they bring the local community together and allow us to celebrate the hardworking, high achieving individuals in our area. The awards, which are driven

by local providers and employers, also recognise the dedicated employers who train our region’s talented apprentices.” Patrick McCarten, head of employment and skills at Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, says: “The Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Hub is proud that this year’s apprenticeship awards are being held in Knowsley in June. “This is the second year of the event and promises to be even bigger and better than last year.”

How to get ahead with Mode Training provider Mode is busy recruiting young people onto its range of traineeship vacancies. The vacancies are ideal for anyone interested in breaking into a career in music technology, performing (music), hairdressing or barbering. Mode’s traineeships consist of a period of intensive training with Mode, followed by up to five months of high quality work experience with a local employer. The work experience adds a great boost to young people’s CVs, as do the maths and English skills they can develop on the programme. Young people who complete their traineeship with Mode are guaranteed an employer reference, and if a suitable position becomes available with their work experience company, they will be offered a job interview. If you’re aged 16 or over, find out more about traineeships at Mode by calling 0151 709 4640 or visit www.modetraining.co.uk

Educate Plus sponsored by GMLPF

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Launch of ‘Michelin Star’ apprenticeship Hugh Baird College launches scheme with celebrity chef Hugh Baird College has teaming up with renowned celebrity chef Nigel Haworth to launch an exclusive apprenticeship, enabling students to gain employment in Michelin star restaurants. The Bootle-based college launched its pioneering L20 Hotel School in August in a bid to ramp up training standards available to the UK’s hospitality sector. Nigel Haworth is famous for reaching the BBC2’s Great British Menu final with his Lancashire Hotpot. The Michelin Star chef has also appeared on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and the Market Kitchen, and has been involved in running the Northcote Group and Ribble Valley inns since 1989. L20 Hotel School director Mike Mounfield said the new L20 Northcote Apprenticeship will go the extra mile providing “on the job” training and field trips to regional food producers. It will further deliver extensive knowledge based training on subjects including the origins of ingredients and the mechanics of running profitable kitchens, covering food management and stock orders. Adding to the mix, the partnership will also see Nigel visiting the college each term to meet students, lead training sessions, devise seasonal menus and run the kitchen service.

L-R: Charlotte Jones, Kieran Fox, Danielle Minshull, Will Wilson, Yana Williams, Nigel Haworth, Tom Pymer, Joanne White and Matt Sharp.

“This is another terrific development for the L20 Hotel School,” said Mike. “We are delighted to be working alongside a chef of Nigel's outstanding calibre and also combine with the restaurants and hotels within the Northcote Group. “We have been in discussions with Nigel for months refining the details of the apprenticeship package. Essentially, this is about providing added value. We are teaching for a vocation not a qualification.

We want you! Independent educational charity The Smallpiece Trust is seeking hundreds of 12 to 17-year-old students to sample their engineering sampler course. Any student can apply to attend a wide range of subsidised residential courses. Next summer, Liverpool John Moores University will be sponsoring and hosting a renewable energy course for 40 students, aged 14 and 15 (Year 10). Taking place from 30 June to 3 July, this course provides students with an interactive introduction to renewable energy generation and distribution through a series of compelling masterclasses and lectures. Courses details and application forms can be accessed from smallpiecetrust.org.uk.

Educate Plus sponsored by GMLPF

“Our apprentices will be given intense jobbing experience and will gain a deep knowledge of food production and regional produce. We will look to nurture talent and develop passion. “For the best performing students there will also be a glittering opportunity to gain employment at one of the Northcote Group establishments, which include Michelin Star restaurants, as well as the L20 Hotel School itself.”

tpm’s Juicy link

tpm has teamed up with Juice FM to launch an exciting radio campaign, highlighting its range of quality apprenticeships and skills training. The radio campaign coincides with the launch of tpm’s new corporate video depicting the different apprenticeships it offers school leavers and other young people. In other news, the Skills Funding Agency’s most recent FE Choices survey indicates that students at tpm score the Liverpool based training organisation a massive 9.5 out of 10.

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…training for great futures

As featured on

✔ Apprenticeships with top local employers ✔ Students score tpm 9.5 out of 10* ✔ Specialist services for dyslexic students Hairdressing

✔ High student success rates ✔ Nurturing, caring culture ✔ Smart facilities with cutting edge technology

Barbering Customer Services

A young woman from Liverpool has shown how apprenticeships can be the perfect alternative to studying A-Levels to reach university. Sasha always wanted a childcare career. After completing her GCSEs she found sixth form wasn’t for her, so she signed up on a Childcare apprenticeship with tpm. After completing her level 2 qualifications, Sasha progressed onto an Advanced Apprenticeship, working at Childwall Valley Day Nursery. Mercedes Redmond, Business Manager, recalls how focused Sasha was: “Sasha always remained dedicated to achieving her apprenticeship qualifications. She has a bright future in childcare ahead of her, and we look forward to working with her for the long term future.” Sasha is now doing a Foundation Degree in Childcare at Liverpool’s John Moore University. She works full time at Childwall Valley Day Nursery and attends university twice a week. She hopes one day to own and manage her own children’s nursery: “The apprenticeship route has been ideal for me, helping me fulfil my dreams of working in childcare and attending university.” Brian Quinn, Operations Director at tpm, concluded: “Sasha is an excellent ambassador for apprenticeships and an inspiration to others.”

Childcare

CASE STUDY Sasha: Apprenticeship in Childcare

Business and Administration

*Skills Funding Agency’s FE Choices Survey August 2012 – July 2013

0151 709 6000 www.tpmnow.co.uk t: @tpmUK f: Training Plus merseyside

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SKILLS FOR SCHOOLS Helping young people to fulfill their career potential Over 250 head teachers, principals, careers, education and business leaders from across the Liverpool city region attended the Skills for Growth for Schools Conference at Aintree Racecourse, which was organised by the Liverpool City Region Employment and Skills Board. Throughout the day, attendees were updated on the job opportunities available to young people across the Liverpool city region as well as highlighting their role in helping young people to fulfill their career potential. Representatives from a range of employers delivered presentations on their requirements, both now and in the future, including Getrag Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Peel Ports, Crowne Plaza and Merseytravel. Mayor Anderson said: “I’m delighted that so many people attended our Skills for Growth Schools conference, which demonstrates the commitment of everyone involved in education.”

Claudia Garvey, Natasha Vasconcelos, Jessica Mullen and Danielle Minshull, Hugh Baird College

Lisa Humphries, St Helens College

Evi-Anne White and Michelle Doyle, SYSCO

Joanne Rymer and Sharne Kelso, GMLPF

Leah Jones and Lynda Manning, Knowsley Community College Nicki Ross from the NHS

Vicki Metcalfe and Rebecca Duncan of Liverpool City Council, schools improvement

Amanda Davis, John Moores University and Kirsty Macdonald, Liverool Hope University

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St Julies’ students bring the Great Fire of London back to life

TIME TRAVEL DAY IN WAVERTREE Pupils are transported back in time Pupils from Christ the King Catholic Primary School, Liverpool had a surprise on arrival at school, and were all very concerned to find a mysterious time machine, billowing smoke in the car park. Events became even more worrying when strange characters from the past started to appear. The children certainly had a shock when characters from the Great Fire of London appeared. With help from the talented St Julie’s drama students, pupils met Thomas the baker and his friends. Luckily a paramedic was also on site, to deal with any distressed or injured characters. In order to program the time machine, pupils needed to know when and where the characters came from. A successful day ensued and the children learnt a great deal about the past.

The PTA still standing after their journey through time and space

Pupils interviewed characters on arrival

The School Council check out the ‘TARDIS’

The mysterious ‘Time Machine’

The Chair of Governors had been transported to Ancient Rome and back!

A Roman visitor shared adventure books

It’s all too much for this Egyptian priestess

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Author Kate signed her book ‘Shine’ for each girl and sprinkled some magic dust!

RISE AND SHINE AT MERCHANTS Twenty five lucky girls from six local state primary schools were invited to the launch of Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School SHINE (Support and Help in Education) programme, now reaching its final year of a three year funded programme supported by the SHINE Trust. The girls, have been selected by their headteachers to participate in the exciting 15 week programme called ‘Serious Fun On Saturdays’. The launch event was the first chance for the girls to meet each other and they were joined by famous author Kate Maryon. Sarah Ladbrook, the SHINE co-ordinator for Merchant Taylors’ said: “We enjoyed working with both the girls and staff from local primary schools now and in the future”.

All Saints, Bootle

Forefield Primary, Crosby

St Luke’s, Formby

Longmoor Primary, Aintree

Great Crosby Primary

St Oswald’s, Bootle

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ACADEMY ENJOY COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Students get their skates on

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi opened its doors to the public and the local community to join them in their now traditional Christmas fair. Attractions included an indoor ice-rink and a bouncy castle, plus an eight foot inflatable Father Christmas. The Academy also continued its long and fruitful partnership with Merseyside Polonia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the organisation for Polish residents of Liverpool and Merseyside for their Christmas carol service, with the sixth form catering students providing traditional Polish food. Some last minute work for Rudolph

Guests enjoy a traditional Polish festive feast

A SPECIAL AND UNIQUE DAY

Pupils from St Teresaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Primary School perform

Enjoying their day are pupils from Emmaus Primary

St John Bosco recently held its first Archdiocese Day when 200 Year 6 students and their teachers joined together to celebrate their shared Catholic ethos with a retreat style day ending with a shared liturgy. Each individual student celebrated their unique talents through artwork by creating an altar cloth to be used for their school leavers mass. They drew a self portrait and surrounded it with words describing what makes them special and unique. Collectively the students celebrated what makes their school special by creating a banner for their whole school. The cloths created were sewn together to make several bright and beautiful banners that were used during the liturgy.

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THE STORY OF FLIGHT IN KNOWSLEY

Pupils take to the air using trampolines

Knowsley Park staff and students welcomed Year 6 pupils from local primary schools to take part in a day of exciting activities around the theme of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Flightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Pupils worked on different activities including; building and flying their own rockets, using trampolines and trampettes and even a visit from Barn Owl Bill with some of his rescued birds of prey. Pupils were also involved in artistic activities linked to the theme of flight, they designed and produced kites, flags and insects.

Getting up close to some birds

Learning how to design the perfect paper airplanes

STUDENTS DASH FOR CASH

With a little help from my friends!

Kind hearted students from Broadgreen International School braved the icy weather conditions recently to raise money for Cash for Kids. Every student in Year 7 took part in a fun filled Santa Dash round Mystery Park to support this wonderful cause. Organised by the PE department, students donned colourful Santa suits and had great fun whilst giving themselves a workout. Everyone is a winner Thumbs up for a good cause

Under starters orders

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A GREAT DAY OF COMPETITION Merseyside Schools Boccia Tournament took place at Greenbank Sports Academy, Liverpool with 180 primary and secondary school pupils from both mainstream and specialist schools, and a variety of impairment groups, the event was divided into categories: SLD (Severe Learning Disability) MLD (Moderate Learning Disability) and sensory impairment. 52 teams took part from 21 schools across Merseyside. Andrew Miskimmin from Alt Bridge, said: “The kids had a great time, the referees were great at explaining everything and the schools have all mixed in really well.”

Secondary SLD winners - Lansbury Bridge

Secondary MLD winners Knowsley Central

A NIGHT OF STARS

The Year 11 GCSE dancers

The intermediate dance company perform Singing in the Rain

Primary School winners - Lansbury Bridge

Shannon McManus entertains the audience

November brought ‘A Night of Stars’ to Litherland High School with a show featuring a medley of dances from around the world. The first group of dancers took the audience on a trip to Canada were they performed in Ontario. Another group of girls then transported them to Hong Kong and Taiwan were they performed a number of dances with one of their link schools in Taiwan. The evening then followed with the junior dance company performing their first ever production which included a lindy hop routine to Christina Aguilera’s Candy Man. But the entertainment didn’t stop there, the intermediate dance company pulled out their umbrellas and performed a routine to ‘Singing in the Rain’. The evening then came to a close with the Year 11 GCSE dancers wowing everyone with their own pieces that they have choreographed for their exam in the spring. The students also chose their own theme, music and costumes.

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CONSIDERED A SUCCESS A showstopping performance leads to a sellout show A show stopping performance of ‘Oliver’! took place at Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School recently. Total audiences in excess of 1000 people gathered over five consecutive nights to watch the senior schools’ rendition of Lionel Bart’s musical adaptation. Many who arrived on the door were disappointed as the last three nights were a sell-out. The production was directed and produced by Head of Drama and Theatre Studies at the Girls’ School, Ms Siân Tickle. Local primary schools were invited to a matinee performance on the morning of the opening night. Over 100 boys and girls from both senior schools were involved on stage, behind the scenes, on front of house and in the band. Mrs Angela Bramhall from the reprographics department and school librarian Mrs Anita Barry made a staggering 200 Victorian costumes which they produced with help from the girls in Costume Club.

The Workhouse

Please sir, I want some more

Mr Bumble and Oliver

Mr Brownlow’s House

The Undertaker’s

Oliver (Harry Gascoigne)

Safe at Mr Brownlow’s Home

Nancy (Beth Davies) at Fagin’s Den

Oliver is caught by Sykes (Peter Nelson)

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Winter arrives at the Bucket household”

A CHOC-FULL SHOW! Fantastical treats dazzle senses at Gateacre The deliciously dark tale of young Charlie and the mysterious confectioner was brought to life by a cast of over 50 students on stage, plus over 150 students behind the scenes as Gateacre School transformed itself into its very own chocolate factory recently. Kitchen staff prepared delicious confectionary, artists designed chocolate bar wrappers, the technology department invented new machinery and dance choreographed the quirky moves of the OompaLoompas. A chocolate garden, a psychedelic boat ride and the curiously peculiar OompaLoompas must have been seen to have been believed in this colourful show that was choc-full of fantastical treats.

Michael White and Ben Quigley-Buckley

Ben QuigleyBuckley

Rebekah De Asha

Rebecca Mcdonough and Liam Stoddart

“The set is almost complete”

Gemma Gregory

Daniel Anderson and Ben QuigleyBuckley

Amy Youd

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Viewpoint

E-Learning: A game changer for schools? With the increasing introduction of iPads and tablets into schools for every pupil, what do the panel think will happen over the next 12 months? – Is it essential that each pupil has access to an iPad or tablet as an integral part of their learning?

Dr Mark Anderson

Debbie Silcock

Phil Rothwell

Amanda Anders

Dr Mark Anderson, department of computing, Edge Hill University The adoption of mobile technology to enhance teaching and learning gives greater opportunity for student engagement through the development of innovative and richer resources. One of the main challenges that needs to be overcome is to ensure that the devices are used effectively and to their full potential. Tablets and iPads open the opportunity for communication between pupils and their teachers alongside interaction with the apps available. There is also the opportunity for teachers to observe and evaluate student progress in realtime, and offer timely intervention for students within the widening learning environment. The prospect exists for learning to take place anywhere and anytime, and so making use of this technology opens exciting opportunities for future teaching and learning activities. Debbie Silcock, headteacher, Liverpool Blue Coat School At the Blue Coat we are regularly reviewing the use of technology and how this may impact on the teaching environment, both in the short-term and long-term. Currently we’re creating a ‘bring your own device’ policy which will review how portable devices such as iPads and tablets could be used in the school for the benefit of our students. As always, we will look to test new ways of working using a pilot programme, which will then be reviewed and used to feed into our future plans and strategies regarding the integration of technology. Whilst technological advances offer exciting and innovative ways to interact in the classroom, we must ensure that they are used in a way that benefits our students and enhances the learning environment.

The iPad, tablets, mobile phones, computers and the internet have become daily and integral parts of all our lives. Pupils are now finding themselves at the forefront of a technological revolution. It is claimed that interactive technology makes learning more engaging and memorable and digital technology is increasingly being used in schools across the region. Can value be added to pupils’ education by utilising iPads and tablets in the classroom?

Phil Rothwell, AV/IT technology technician, Liverpool John Moores University The use of tablets and mobile devices is increasing across higher education and at John Moores, much of our innovation deals with their use in order to enrich teaching and learning. Many students and staff already use their mobile phones and tablets to read their emails, access their blackboard portal, complete, and submit work. We have recently purchased a number of devices for group work to help facilitate the gathering and sharing of information. In addition we have been developing the use of Apple TV in order to decouple lecturers from the lectern and allow greater freedom to move around teaching spaces and interact with students. We are aiming for these innovations, combined with an increase in the use of video lectures and cloud technologies, to help make our delivery of technology more flexible and engaging for students. Amanda Anders, headteacher, Roscoe Primary School, Liverpool Children have a wide range of technology at their fingertips in their home lives and unless schools keep up with this, we risk them becoming disengaged. At Roscoe we know from experience that mobile technology, and iPads in particular, is the single biggest motivator of our pupils and the best method of enhancing our curriculum. I can’t imagine returning to a classroom where children do not have access to iPads. Over the next 12 months, children will direct, select how to present and then share their own learning. Programming has a high priority in the new 2014 National Curriculum, so software and apps which support children to develop this key skill will be increasingly important as will children designing their own apps and games. Next steps for us at Roscoe include ensuring that all pupils have access to iPads at home as well as in school so that learning doesn’t stop when the school day ends.

Have your say: To suggest or contribute to a topic for debate in Viewpoint email us at: educate@merseymirror.com or to view our online poll visit: www.educatemagazine.com

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Book Review

In association with

by Ashley Armstrong

5-8 Years The Windvale Sprites by MacKenzie Crook £5.29 When a storm sweeps through the country, Asa wakes up the next day to find that his town is almost unrecognisable - trees have fallen down, roofs have collapsed and debris lies everywhere. But amongst the debris in his back garden Asa makes an astounding discovery - the body of a small winged creature. A creature that looks very like a fairy. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, Lauren Child £8.29 Pippi lives in Villa Villekulla with a horse, a monkey, and a big suitcase full of gold coins. The grown-ups in her village try to make Pippi behave in ways that they think a little girl should, but Pippi has other ideas. She would much rather spend her days arranging wild, exciting adventures to enjoy with her neighbours, Tommy and Annika, or entertaining everyone she meets with her outrageous stories. I am Not a Loser - Barry Loser by Jim Smith £4.99 I Am Not a Loser is a madcap must-read for boys who love funny books such as Mr Gum and Wimpy Kid. I've never minded that my name’s Barry Loser because my coolness has always cancelled it out, but ever since Darren Darrenofski joined school with his horrible little crocodile face he's been completely ruining my life about it.

9-12 Years Fiction Wonder by R. J. Palacio £5.24 'My name is August. I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.' Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things eating ice cream, playing on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside. But ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. The Last Wild by Piers Torday £5.29 This is a story about a boy named Kester. He is extraordinary, but he doesn't know that yet. All he knows, at this very moment, is this: 1. There is a flock of excited pigeons in his bedroom. 2. They are talking to him. 3. His life will never be quite the same again... A captivating animal adventure destined to be loved by readers of all ages Beginners Cookbook by Fiona Watt £9.79 This is a new edition of the hugely popular "Beginners Cookbook", which introduces children (and kitchen-shy adults!) to the basic techniques of cooking through a selection of mouth-watering recipes. Recipes include ideas for pizza and pasta dishes, vegetarian dishes and delicious cakes and cookies, giving novice cooks something to create for every occasion. Each recipe is shown through easy, step-by-step instructions.

Teenage Fiction Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins £5.24 Anna is less than thrilled to be shipped off to boarding school in Paris, leaving a fledgling romance behind - until she meets Etienne St Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Etienne has it all... including a girlfriend. But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with a longed-for French kiss? Gone by Michael Grant £5.99 Suddenly there are no adults, no answers. What would you do? In the blink of an eye, the world changes. The adults vanish without a trace, and those left must do all they can to survive. But everyone's idea of survival is different. Some look after themselves, some look after others, and some will do anything for power ...Even kill. Ashes - Ashes Trilogy Book 1 by Ilsa J Bick £4.99 Alex has run away and is hiking through the wilderness with her dead parents' ashes, about to say goodbye to the life she no longer wants to live. But then the world suddenly changes. An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky zapping every electronic device and killing the vast majority of adults. For those spared, it's a question of who can be trusted and who has changed... 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 Sarah Hughes, Children's Department, Liverpool ONE, 12 College Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 3DL. Tel: 0151 709 9820

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WHERE CAN WE GO? Our pick of what’s happening out & about in the region

Dinosaur Zoo e On the r fo mily fa

Friday 14 March Longview Drive, Huyton, Liverpool L36 6EG 0151 443 2200 Tickets £12 Adults, £10 Children, £40 Family ticket 2 adults, 2 children

Aimed at families and children. Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo has an impressive cast of prehistoric creatures, live on stage. Dinosaur Zoo creators ‘Erth’ use ingenious puppetry to bring dinosaurs to life in this interactive and imaginative live show, suitable for all the family (age 3+). Audiences are introduced to a range of creatures from cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing giants, including a carnivorous theropod known as the Australovenator, based on the most complete meat-eating dinosaur skeleton found in Australia. During the show, intrepid audience members brave enough to get up close and personal with the dinosaurs are brought onto the stage to assist the zoo keeper in her daily tasks - but be warned - not all of these ravenous reptiles are as tame as they seem! Fast-becoming a worldwide hit, Dinosaur Zoo has played to family and schools audiences all over the world, from Australia to Los Angeles exciting children with its popular mix of entertaining humour, adventurous daring and informative learning.

17-23 February St George’s Place, Liverpool L1 1JJ www.lovehistory.co.uk

Exclusive tours which have never been revealed to the public, before now. Promenade performances will explore the dark cells below the grandness of the Great Hall, where those waiting to be condemned would spend their final moments and in the shadows of Liverpool’s past, spectators will encounter the characters that will tell their tormented tales and illuminate their history.

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it 5-8 March Book ! Playhouse NOW Williamson Square Liverpool L1 1EL Tel: 0151 709 4776 Private Peaceful relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young First World War soldier awaiting the firing squad at dawn. During the night he looks back at his short but joyful past growing up in rural Devon: his exciting first days at school; the accident in the forest that killed his father; his adventures with Molly, the love of his life; and the battles and injustices of war that brought him to the front line. Winner of the Blue Peter Book of the Year, Private Peaceful is by the third Children's Laureate, Michael Morpurgo, award- winning author of War Horse.

Friday 4 April

Not to beed miss

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

The Reduced Shakespeare Company in The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) The Atkinson Lord Street, Southport PR8 1DB Tel: 01704 533333

FUTURE EVENTS

Tours of the catacombs of St George’s Hall

Private Peaceful

The Good Book Just Got Better! Yes, it’s an affectionate, irreverent roller coaster ride from fig leaves to Final Judgment as the boys tackle the great theological questions: Did Adam and Eve have navels? Did Moses really look like Charlton Heston? And why isn’t the word “phonetic” spelled the way it sounds? Whether you are Catholic or Atheist, Muslim or Jew, Protestant or Purple People Eater, you will be tickled by the RSC’s romp through old time religion. Remember… Someone is watching.

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1-28 February

13-15 March

FILM and GAME REVIEW The Book Thief Directed by: Brian Percival

Welcome to my World Tate Liverpool Albert Dock, Liverpool 0151 702 7400

Moving Time Paul McCartney Auditorium, LIPA, Mount Street, Liverpool L1 9HF 0151 330 3000

Welcome to My World is an exhibition of work by young people from three areas of Liverpool. Their work will explore issues relating to their lives and communities,drawing inspiration from Barbara Kruger’s Who Owns What? found in DLA Piper Series: Constellations.

Time passes quickly for an adult, for a child slowly. Airline passengers sense little movement as they soar across the sky, despite travelling at over 300mph. Eight dance professionals specialising in different genres to give their own personal takes on these very concepts.

Saturday 22 March

Sunday 23 March

Astronomy Evening Martin Mere Wetland Centre Fish Lane, Burscough 01704 895181 Martin Mere has formed a partnership with Liverpool Astronomical Society and Astronomia to offer special astronomy evenings. The event which starts at 7pm will finish at 9pm on Saturday 22 March, includes special talks, advice from experts on the wonders of the solar system and beyond.

Friday 28th March

Liverpool Sport Relief Mile Croxteth Country Park Muirhead Avenue East Liverpool L11 1EH www.sportrelief.com

Starring: Emily Watson, Geoffrey Rush, Sophie Nélisse, Ben Schnetzer Verdict: ★★★★✩ By Andy Kelly Markus Zusak's ‘The Book Thief’ is an enormously successful novel that has sold more than eight million copies and has moved many of its readers, me included. The film is set in Germany between 1939 and 1943 and is narrated by Death (voiced by Roger Allam), who goes about his job objectively even if he is perplexed and haunted by how people conduct themselves. He tells the story of 9-year-old Liesel Meminger (Nelisse) who he meets when her younger brother dies on a train on the way to the fictional town of Molching, Germany. Their mother, who is on the run from the Nazis, was delivering the siblings to a childless couple, the Hubermanns, and Liesel must now stay with them alone. The Book Thief manages to capture the horror of war and the tension of life in the Hubermann household, and there are moments that will shock those not familiar with the story. The film is set to release on January 31

Take part in the Liverpool Mile in this spectacular parkland setting with the Edwardian Croxteth Hall as the backdrop. Afterwards, enjoy the park's attractions and specially arranged entertainment. Sign up to The Liverpool Mile now!

16-31 May

Joe Danger Developer: Hello Games Format: iPhone, IPad Verdict: ★★★★★ By Andy Kelly

REMEMBER Liverpool Cathedral St James Mount, Liverpool L1 7AZ. Starts 19:30 REMEMBER is a unique, commemorative concert which pays tribute to all who fought and fell in WW1. The theme reflects the enthusiasm, dedication and ultimate tragedy associated with the events which began a hundred years ago in 1914.

The Lion King Liverpool Empire Theatre Lime Street, Liverpool Tel: 0844 871 7627 Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains and to the evocative rhythms of Africa, The Lion King will redefine your expectations of theatre. the powerful and moving story of Simba – the epic adventure of his journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.

Joe automatically drives his little motorbike through the stage. A tap or a double-tap performs a jump or a double-jump, holding your thumb on the screen makes Joe duck, and you can perform tricks - like wheelies and backflips - by swiping. That may sound easy, but Joe Danger throws you into a veritable gauntlet of different obstacles and challenges. You might need to duck under a tunnel, hop over a saw blade, wheelie through a puddle of mud, and then leap over a shark in a paddling pool. You will need perfect timing, ninja-like reflexes and - for some of the later levels - a good few practice runs to nail the course layout. And that's just to reach the finish line. It integrates the nifty new game centre features, so you can challenge your mates to best your score on any level in the game. All in all, Joe Danger is the new gold standard for iOS conversions.

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My School Days Neil Buchanan – TV Presenter and Artist

My schools: Barlows Primary School, Fazakerley and Liverpool Institute High School. My favourite teacher: Without a doubt it was Mr Varley, he was totally inspirational and never patronised any child. He knew how to inspire pupils and how to get the best out of me. Favourite subject at school: That one is easy! It was art but I also loved football. Were you streetwise or a bit of a geek? When I was at school every child in Liverpool had to be streetwise, including me, so yes, I was streetwise. My favourite childhood band/singer: The Dave Clarke Five. I remember seeing them at the Liverpool Empire, my nan took me and she had no idea what was going on with all the screaming. My favourite extra-curricular activity: If you can call it an extra-curricular

activity but we all loved playing in the old bomb-site by the school, we called it ‘the bombies’ and it was a real treat for us to play there. Do you remember your first school crush? Yes, her name was Elaine Pilson, she lived not far from me and she had the most beautiful set of hair slides, we were in love. My favourite book: The first book I truly remember was Huckleberry Finn, I loved reading it, but my favourite has to be The Hobbit. School dinners: I never stayed for dinners seeing as I only lived down the road. I used to remember running all the way and timing myself. My record was seven minutes flat door-to-door. Nowadays school dinners are like gourmet dinners. My ambitions at school: I wanted to be, in order: a rocket driver, a train driver, a bus driver, Zorro, yes Zorro and then a football player.

Neil Buchanan is a television presenter and musician best known for his work on the CITV programme Art Attack, Neil fronted the art show that was beamed out to more than six million viewers every week. Running for 17 years and 500 episodes, Art Attack took children’s television and, in particular, art shows, to a new level. Now retired from the show Neil has become an artist and recently launched his first collection of what he calls “grown-up art”. As a youngster, Aintreeborn Neil tried to enrol at Liverpool Art College but was turned down. Neil said: “With Art Attack, I was just putting the mischief into the art, making it accessible to people. There was already Tony Hart, but because Art Attack looked quite modern it made the others look quite dated. “We won three Baftas and were nominated 12 times – we became the yardstick by which they measured everyone else. “I’ve been asked to do the jungle, Big Brother, all of them… but no, not for me. I don’t do the celebrity thing – it just doesn’t appeal.” Neil was also in a band called Marseille, They made two albums and five singles and were part of the new wave of British heavy metal scene.

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