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Degrees of
learning 16 page education special
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The 16-year-old pinch The new academic year is often a time when people try to take a good, hard look at their finances. But for parents of teenagers, the amounts being shelled out on their offspring may come as a shock when the outgoings are added up in the cold light of day. Financial pressures may have also changed quite a bit since parents themselves were teens - with gadgets like mobile phones, tablets and laptops now part of the routine expenses for many households. Research from Aviva suggests parents typically spend more than £28,000 raising a teenager. Excluding household costs such as food and energy bills, parents typically put the average cost of raising a son or daughter from the age of 13 to 19 at £28,767. While parents say they spend just over £4,100 a year on raising a teenager on average, the average cost rises to £4,800 for a 16-year-old.
Technology plays a major part in ramping up the cost, according to the findings. More than half (53%) of parents spend on technology for their teenagers, such as mobile phones and laptops, forking out £225 per year on average. Even if your offspring are planning to fly the nest in 2017, parents should not necessarily expect they can draw a line under their financial commitments to their children. Aviva also found another £15,406 is needed by parents on average to help each child between the ages of 20 and 25 years old - a time when many young people may “boomerang” back into the family home after leaving university. So how can parents create better relationships with teenagers where money is involved? Here are some tips from Louise Colley, customer propositions director at Aviva: - Talk to your teen about managing their finances and make sure they know the basics of budgeting, particularly at key milestones such as moving away from home for university or college. - Encourage them to put money aside each month and take responsibility for managing their own money. - Be open about the family’s finances, particularly as teens get older. - Plan ahead. If your teen is planning to go to university, make sure they understand how much money they will receive and how to make this last.
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Class from the past
This month’s Class from the Past is from Nutgrove School. The photo was taken in 1928. Maybe
Anne Turner MUSIC TEACHER GDMuS. CertEd. ALCM
Voice/Piano Keyboard Theory Choral Direction Anne also works with choirs and community music groups For more information, contact Anne on:
Tel: (0151) 426 6606 Mobile: 07767 815916
Email: j.anneturner@btinternet.com
DBS Certified
you can spot a familiar face, such as a parent or grandparent? Remember, if you have a photo you’d be willing to share, contact us today by emailing sthelensnews@locallife247.co.uk
School makes progress A Prescot primary has secured a ‘good’ rating from Oftsed. St Mary & St Paul’s CE, on Bryer Road, was told it puts its pupils’ needs at the centre of its work and supports them and their families well. In a letter to acting headteacher Paul Brooksbank, Ofsted inspector Mark Quinn said: “You have effectively addressed the areas for improvement that inspectors identified in the previous inspection report. Your checks on the quality of teaching and learning are now more thorough. You observe lessons, for example, and feed back strengths and weakness to teachers so that they can improve their practice. In most cases, the work that is provided by teachers for pupils is now a good match to their abilities. “The governing body now holds the school more effectively to account for its performance and no longer relies solely on reports from you.”
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30 years of Carmel Carmel College is celebrating its 30th year this autumn. The institution opened in September 1987 on the site of Mount Carmel Girls’ school following the reorganisation of the local high schools. Back then, there were around 400 students enrolled at the college. As well as offering A Levels and vocational courses, a small number of students with moderate learning difficulties followed a Skills for Life course in the college’s bespoke Foundation Learning department which was, and still is, an important part of the college. 30 years later and, as well as offering over 50 courses including a wide range of A Levels, BTECs and Foundation courses, you can also study for a degree at Carmel and there are now almost 2000 students! As well as links with several universities, Carmel has international links too – with a school in France for 25 years and for the last 3 years with a school in China. Alongside their studies, students are encouraged to take part in a range of enrichment activities and the opportunity to learn Mandarin is one of many options available.
To accommodate the increase in students over three decades, Carmel has continually expanded and improved its facilities and the original Mount Carmel buildings have been replaced. Most recently, three new buildings were added which house the arts, humanities, sciences as well as Student Services at a cost of £23m. Principal Mike Hill said: “I feel extremely privileged to become only the third Principal to lead such a fantastic college. “From day one, Carmel College has delivered an outstanding sixth form education to thousands of students from across St Helens and the wider region. We will continue to serve the community for hopefully another thirty years and enable even more young people to fulfil their dreams.”
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Results success Over 450 A level students joined their parents and teachers at Cronton Sixth Form to celebrate their results. Achieving an overall 99.4% A level pass rate and 81% high grades, once again the college is delighted to be sending record numbers of students off to a wide range of prestigious universities and employers. Over 25 A level subjects boasted an impressive 100% pass rate and high grades have increased at the college for the sixth year running. Equally impressive is the college’s vocational pass rate of 100% with 92% of students achieving BTEC grades at Distinction* and Distinction level, and 48% achieving triple distinction star grades (equivalent to 3 A*
grades at A level). These results and high grades build upon last year’s which placed the college as 3rd in the Country in the Department for Education performance table. Many students are now progressing on to some of the country’s top universities including York, Leeds, Bristol, Nottingham, Exeter, Liverpool and Manchester. Mary Murphy, college Principal said: “We are thrilled with the exceptional A level and vocational results our students have achieved again this year, especially the number who have achieved high grades. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate today with staff and proud teachers who have all worked so hard to achieve these spectacular results.”
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Former students Sophie Yorke and Ellie Jackson, who took part in the college’s MDV programme, went on to degrees in children’s nursing
Doctors and the medics Winstanley College’s annual Medics, Dentists and Vets (MDV) day took place recently allowing aspiring healthcare professionals to experience what the future may hold for them. The event is organised as part of the college’s MDV programme which supports students in their applications to university. Five former students, now studying on medicine, dentistry or veterinary degrees, came in for a question and answer session with
this year’s cohort of aspiring medics, along with, Dr Catherine Gallagher, who gave a talk on ethics. Liverpool University also hosted a practical workshop, demonstrating medical techniques and students were encouraged to ‘have a go’ at skills such as suturing a wound on imitation skin. There are over 100 former Winstanley students currently studying medical, dentistry or veterinary science and the strong alumni links are instrumental to the success of the MDV programme. Dave Woods, MDV co-ordinator, said: “We’ve had a great day to launch what is the start of a very busy application process. Last year an impressive 57 offers were made to students at universities all around the UK, and, looking at the calibre of applicants this year, we are looking to achieve similar again. A big thank you to all the external people such as former students, local doctors and universities, who help to make MDV day such a success.”
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Royal seal of approval St Helens Chamber welcomed the Queen’s Representative, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mark Blundell, and local dignitaries including The Mayor of St Helens, as they were officially presented with The Queen’s Award for Enterprise. St Helens Chamber received the good news that they had been awarded the prestigious Award back in April, and on Friday The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise flag was flown high at the Chamber building on Salisbury Street as the official presentation took place. Chamber staff and board members were in attendance for the presentation, as Mr Blundell read out the official notice on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen. The annual Queen’s Awards recognise British businesses that have excelled in exporting, social or environmental good works, or innovation. The Chamber was one of just six winners of the new
Promoting Opportunity Award, introduced for the first time this year. Accepting the Award on behalf of St Helens Chamber, chairman Graham Worsley, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of the work we do to promote opportunity and support social mobility. The commitment of our staff is exemplary and the work we do makes a huge impact on people and businesses in St Helens. The Chamber is an asset to St Helens and we are proud to have had this recognised at the highest level.” St Helens Chamber works to promote enterprise opportunities for the St Helens community, through every part of the business, supporting people to achieve their maximum potential, whether it is supporting local entrepreneurs to start or grow businesses, providing people with valuable skills and qualifications, supporting young adults into their first job, or encouraging children to aim higher when they leave school. Visit www.sthelenschamber.com
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Diary Dates
Location
Event
Date
October:
Merchant Taylors’
Open Morning
7th October
Lord Derby Academy
Open Morning
7th October
Byrchall High School
Open Evening
10th October
Cronton Sixth Form
Open Evening
11th & 12th October
Merchant Taylors’
Sixth Form Open Evening
17th October
Carmel College
Open Events
18th October
Winstanley College
Open Evening
19th October
The Sutton Academy
Open Evening
27th October
November:
Cronton Sixth Form
Open Evening
7th November
Carmel College
Open Events
9th & 18th November
Winstanley College
Open Evening
16th November