Educate - Issue 7

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Educate educatemagazine.com

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The Magazine for Parents and Pupils January – April 2009

CURB THE SCHOOL RUN Meeting the challenges of a greener future

Beyond the classroom Changing options for pupils

Wannabe rockstars Latest fashion trend

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I KNEW MY MUM COULD DO IT! Roy Castle Fag Ends is here in Knowsley to help you stop smoking.

DROP-IN CENTRES KIRKBY MONDAY AM Northwood Community Centre 10.00am MONDAY PM Kirkby Fire Station 3.30pm TUESDAY AM Westvale Community Centre 9.30am St Peter & Paul School 9.30am TUESDAY PM Kirkby Leisure Centre 1.30pm Kirkby Health Suite 1-2-1 5.00pm (appointments only) WEDNESDAY AM Towerhill Resource Centre 9.30am St Martin’s Church 9.30am WEDNESDAY PM Kirkby Leisure Centre 5.00pm FRIDAY AM Busy Fingers (next to St Chad’s School) 9.30am South Dene Community Centre 9.30am

IF YOU’VE DECIDED TO STOP SMOKING, ROY CASTLE FAG ENDS CAN REALLY HELP, AND NOW WE’RE EASIER TO FIND THAN EVER.

FRIDAY PM Westvale Community Centre 1.00pm Kirkby Library 1.30pm

HUYTON, STOCKBRIDGE & PAGE MOSS MONDAY AM The Oak Tree Pub 11.00am MONDAY PM The Gate Community Centre 1.30pm Huyton One Stop 1-2-1 3.30pm (appointments only) TUESDAY AM North Huyton Resource Centre 9.00am Hillywood Community Centre 10.00am TUESDAY PM Swanside Community Centre 1.30pm Huyton Fire Station 1.45pm

WEDNESDAY AM Page Moss Library 9.30am St Georges Church 10.00am WEDNESDAY PM Heatwaves Community Centre 2.00pm Huyton Library 2.30pm Nutgrove Villa 1-2-1 5.00pm (appointments only) North Huyton Resource Centre 5.00pm FRIDAY AM Roby Community Centre 9.00am North Huyton Resource Centre 1-2-1 10.00am (appointments only) River Alt Resource Centre 10.00am FRIDAY PM Mosscroft Community Centre 1.00pm Huyton House 2.30pm SATURDAY AM Huyton Library 10.00am

WHISTON & PRESCOT MONDAY AM Whiston Health Centre 9.00am MONDAY PM Bryer Road Community Centre 3.00pm TUESDAY AM Prescot Library 9.15am TUESDAY PM Whiston Health Centre 1-2-1 5.00pm (appointments only) FRIDAY AM Prescot One Stop 1-2-1 9.30am (appointments only)

HALEWOOD TUESDAY AM Halewood One Stop 9.30am TUESDAY PM New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre 1.00pm FRIDAY PM Arncliffe Community Centre 1.00pm

Drop in or call FREE on 0800 195 2131 to find your nearest centre

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Educate Contents Welcome...

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Home economics How to feed a family on a restricted budget

Education for Life What is being done to help young adults realise their potential?

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Connecting two cities Cultural exchange visit

Primary Schools News The future is bright for pupils in Seaforth

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Celebration of Achievement Special day for special students

School News Minister opens first of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ schools

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Arts in Focus Students sink their teeth into productions

Meet the Headteacher Louise Robinson, Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School

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Sport in Focus Football from around the region

Follow the greener road Educate’s transport roundtable

30 National School News Schools spending to be brought forward

34 Meet the Headteacher Dewi Philips, Childwall School

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We also take a look at education and how Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley are celebrating an average rise of seven per cent in GCSE pass rates for 2008, whilst also offering greater nonacademic opportunities to pupils.

Lucy Oliver gathered together some local experts and parents to thrash out the challenges facing parents in tackling the greenest ways to get children to school safely.

58-59 School of Rock Latest fashion trend

We have all the latest school news from primary to secondary, showcasing schools, teachers and students achievements, talents and events.

61 Viewpoint What does 2009 hold for Education in Merseyside?

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Secondary School News Dominic gets on track

Book Review What’s new and what’s hot in this seasons must reads

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Secondary School News Students excel

Events Guide What’s on around the region

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Dear Educate Help and advice

Educate Competition Win a family ticket to see Mickey’s Magic Show

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Secondary School News Royal recognition for headteacher

My School Days Tony Snell takes a stroll down Memory Lane and tells us about his School Days

46 School News Creativity, initiative and genuine teamwork produce results

Welcome to the latest issue of Educate. As the current economic downturn drives an increasing need to budget, we take a look at family meals and just how parents can prepare quick and healthy food with less disposable income.

Educate meets up with the teachers, Louise Robinson, headteacher at Merchant Taylor’s Girls’ School who tells us why her school is unashamedly female. We also chat to Dewi Philips on how Childwall School is scaling Olympic heights.

Our wannabe rock stars Lydia and Lawrie strut their stuff wearing the latest fashion trend in T-shirts.

Finally, we interview Radio Merseyside DJ, Tony Snell who takes a stroll down Memory Lane and tells us how to this day he is still convinced that he is Sting!

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 Advertising Sales Liz Bold Tel: 0151 709 7567 Photography Tom Murphy Editorial Alan Birkett, Lucy Oliver, Marie Martin 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 Acorn Web Ltd. 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 2007.

Many thanks to our front cover models and wannabe rock stars: Lydia Fox (10) and Lawrie O’Brien (5).

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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“An Outstanding School” – Ofsted 2008

Choosing a Good School for YOUR child in Dovecot/Knotty Ash? Dovecot Primary School can offer: • A warm and welcoming Pupils say: environment “We get a lot of

• The children always come first

encouragement from our teachers”

“All children are encouraged to achieve their best in all aspects of their lives. This is reflected in the outstanding progress that is made throughout the school.”

(Inspection report, March 2008)

St Mary & St Paul’s Church of England Primary School, Prescot We offer high educational standards, a broad and rich curriculum and a caring and inclusive ethos.

We have a limited number of places available throughout the school from Nursery and Reception to Year 6

• High expectations for learning and behaviour

For more information or to arrange a visit to the school please contact 0151 426 6869 St Mary & St Paul’s CE Primary School Bryer Road, Prescot L35 5DN

• Dedicated and highly qualified staff

At St Mary & St Paul’s every child really does matter!

• A vibrant and creative curriculum • Enthusiastic and polite pupils who enjoy coming to school • Breakfast and After School Clubs • High quality childcare 50 weeks of the year

Worried about your Child’s education?

Do you recognise any of these problems?

Parents say: “A fantastic learning environment”

Parents say: “I would recommend this school to others”

Ofsted 2007 said: “Pupils achieve well in their time at the school” “Leadership and management are good” “Good attitudes, behaviour and relationships” “The school rightly judges itself as good”

Dovecot Primary School Grant Road, Liverpool L14 0LH Telephone: 0151 259 4065

Winner of Liverpool Safeguarding Award 2008 4

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

Counting on fingers when adding up Difficulty with subtraction • Can’t grasp times tables • Little interest in reading Finds reading hard • Poor spelling Poor handwriting • Poor concentration Learning problems such as these can blight educational progression. However,they can be overcome in as little as 4-6 months CALL TODAY for a free consultation Find out how your child can succeed.

Don’t fail your child. Help them to a bright and prosperous future.

One phone call is all it takes

0151 424 2765 Tom Ledson, BA(Hons) Msc PGCE Halton Bridge Therapy and Training 2 Vine Street, Widnes WA8 6DW

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Educational Resources

Promoting Sustainable Development

Here to There Pack

The pack ‘Promoting Sustainable Development’ is aimed at the 9-13 age range and will have three sections.

Each section will focus on the causes of global warming; ways of reducing carbon emissions and ideas to develop a smaller personal carbon footprint respectively.

The pack will use photographs and local case studies to meet the new national curriculum requirements. It is hoped the pack will be versatile enough to teach sustainable development either as a curriculum dimension itself or within the subject areas of geography, design and technology, science or citizenship. The pack will be available from Merseytravel in the summer term 2009.

The From Here to There pack contains 15 photo cards relating to promoting independence skills in the community.

The pack is written to support young people with specific needs to access local public transport. A range of key tasks has been identified to use public transport and a step-by-step list of skills to achieve each of them has been provided.

Better for Everyone Pack Moving with Merseytravel This pack contains 20 A4 colour photographs relating mainly to local transport issues. There are 60 work cards to support the photographs.

The pack is flexible and can be used with children of all age groups within primary schools.

The pack is written to support the geography curriculum but has the potential to be used in both Literacy and Numeracy activities.

How to Make a Bus Journey The How to make a bus journey Booklet has a series of visual drawings to show how to make a short bus trip. There are 9 simple outline diagrams that depict the important steps that need to be taken to make a bus journey.

The diagrams are very flexible and could be used to prompt speaking or writing tasks or sequencing activities. Students are encouraged to use the booklet to plan and carry out a journey in the local area by bus.

Inside Merseytravel

City Travel with Merseytravel This pack has been written to meet the requirements of the Foundation Stage curriculum for children aged 3 to 5 years as from September 2001. The pack has 15 colour A4 photographs.

In addition 30 different work cards for children to use in the classroom or at home with their parents. The pack promotes the notion that public transport allows people in the local community to get around and travel to different places.

‘Inside Merseytravel’ is a vocational educational pack supporting Business Studies and Leisure Studies for the 14 to 16 age range. It provides two case studies, a public business organisation and an important tourist attraction.

Each page of the pack contains up-to-date data, photographs and activities about the leisure and travel industry. The tasks and activities support students putting together a portfolio of coursework for specific examinations.

The Better for everyone Pack contains 16 A4 colour photographs relating to local transport issues and services. There are 32 work cards to support the photographs. The pack is flexible and can be used to complement a scheme of work relating to Key Stage 4 Citizenship requirements. The pack is divided into four sections covering the topics; Merseytravel as an organisation, social change, rights and responsibilities and sustainable development. A booklet containing teachers' notes is provided that suggests how the pack may be used in the classroom

Moving with Merseytravel Better for Everyone - Keystage 4 Citizenship From Here to There - Learning Difficulties (Independence in the Community) City Travel with Merseytravel Your Bus and Your Community

In order to obtain the education packs Please contact the Community Links Team on 0151 330 1200 or write to: Community Links Team, Merseytravel, 24 Hatton Gardens, Liverpool L3 2AN

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CHILDWALL CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

StCatholic Vincent de Paul Primary School

A Voluntary Aided School Founded by The Trustees of Salisbury House

Childwall CE School is a Church of England Voluntary Aided School for Boys and Girls in the age range 4-11 years and maintained by the Liverpool Education Directorate.

We at Childwall School welcome you as prospective parents whose children may join us for the first time, and look forward to a happy, contented and fruitful partnership over the coming years.

Our aim is to:

Pitt Street Liverpool L1 5BY “Serving With Love … Striving For Excellence” ◆

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• create a caring and happy community in which Christian values are upheld

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• Provide an education which will contribute to the children’s

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intellectual, social, moral, aesthetic, physical and spiritual

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development

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• Establish positive home, school and church liaisons and a partnership with parents

As from September 2008 the admission number has been increased to 60

Childwall CE (Aided) Primary School, Woolton Road, Liverpool L16 0JD Headteacher: Mrs D S Shaw B.Ed. (Hons) Telephone: 0151 722 1553 Fax: 0151 722 4989

◆ ◆ ◆

OFSTED Oct 2007 - ‘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 Two Computer Suites Educational Visits in our Private Minibus 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: stvincentdepaul@merseymail.com "And the child grew and became strong; He was full of wisdom and God’s blessings were upon Him." Luke 2:40

A Perfect Nursery in the City Centre Dukes & Duchesses Day Nursery is committed to creating a safe and secure environment in which: • Every child is happy and stimulated • Every child's efforts are valued • Every child has the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and understanding according to his or her abilities and regardless of their race, culture and gender • Children learn to respect and look after each other • Values parents as the primary educators of their child For Further details or to arrange a visit call 0151 709 1186 www.dukesandduchesses.co.uk

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Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

All children will benefit from sessions in our fantastic sensory studio

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Now available online.

Visit educatemagazine.com

Now, it’s all just a click away.

Constantly updated, educatemagazine.com the online magazine for parents and pupils is packed with all the latest school and education news as well as our comprehensive Merseyside schools directory.

Essential reading for anyone in Merseyside who has children of school age and a useful tool for school selection.

News and reviews | Interviews | What’s on guide | Events Merseyside schools directory | Competitions | Education & Learning Food & Health | Lifestyle | Shopping & Fashion | Sports | Arts

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Go to www.educatemagazine.com and click on ‘Subscribe to newsletter’.

Educate

The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Family Meals on a Budget

With money becoming tighter, finding ways to put nutritious meals on the table and on a budget is becoming a hot potato.

Just how can a working parent prepare a quick and healthy meal with less disposable income?

Home £conomics for the 21st century t’s no mean feat juggling work and a family, and then feeding that family on a restricted income. With so many stories in the press about child obesity, healthy eating is moving up the agenda, at a time when our budgets can’t always stretch to a trolley of fresh ingredients for nutritious home cooking. Here’s our guide to healthy family meals on a budget…

Getting a family to eat healthily can be difficult at any time, but a limited budget needn’t impede your efforts further. It needs both parents to sit down and decide to follow a pattern of eating in the home though, and an agreement to resist dropping in at the local pizza parlour on the way home, at least until you’ve found that you can manage the budget and everyone is eating sensibly the majority of the time.

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fridge and cupboards. If you bought the items a while ago, ask yourself why they’ve not been eaten. Make a note to stop buying things that you’ve forgotten about, or have opened without finishing, as this is where your hard earned cash is hiding.

MIX AND MATCH MENUS Make a menu of the meals you and the family enjoy eating, and a list of the ingredients needed. Add up the costs and see where you could make a saving, such as by cooking a corned beef hash rather than a roast lamb rack once a week. Adding more vegetables to your casseroles and sauces is a cheap and easy way to make more portions of a meal, with added nutrients.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

DON’T ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE OBVIOUS CHOICE

Start by checking the sell-by and use-by dates on what you already have on products in your

Cod is a very popular choice and depleting stocks have seen the price rise in recent years,

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Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

so try a different fish and the chances are that no one in the family will even notice. If you’re using cheese to cook with, be flexible with what you have and don’t rush out to buy just one ingredient; it’s a wasteful use of time, petrol and money. Just because you always use mature Cheddar doesn’t mean you should today when red Leicester is at the back of the fridge.

Look at the cheaper meals on the list, and see if you can think up a few variations on these recipes. Try using tinned tomatoes with herbs instead of the standard sort next time you cook a Bolognese sauce, for example, and look to see if they’re on offer. Think about what you can substitute for a more expensive item, and you’ll be varying your diet as well as saving money.

REAL MUMS IN THE KITCHEN Maureen, a mum in Childwall, says cooking on a budget can be easy if you prepare your menu in advance: “You can prepare a healthy Bolognese sauce using the best lean mince you can afford, tinned tomatoes, an onion, a little

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garlic, and some fresh peppers very easily, and freeze the extra portions. Brown the mince in a pan and add the onions, then add all the tomatoes and vegetables and bring to the boil before simmering to cook everything right through. Buy just what you need on the day you’ll be cooking, and use all the mince and all the vegetables up while they’re fresh. This means you’ll have no waste and you’ll also keep all the vitamins and goodness in the food.

“Another nutritious meal is a simple casserole. Braised chunks of beef can be stewed in the oven with fresh root vegetables chopped into chunks, like carrots and potatoes, and these are both really cheap. To add variety, try mushrooms, celery and courgettes, and alter the way you present it whether that’s with pasta or potatoes which you can boil or mash.

Although the meat is probably the most expensive item in the trolley, you’ll be saving on the types of vegetables you use, and by using plenty of different vegetables you’ll need less meat anyway. You could also put together a similar recipe with chicken breasts, legs or

“

Although the meat is probably the most expensive item in the trolley, you’ll be saving on the types of vegetables you use, and by using plenty of different vegetables you’ll need less meat anyway.

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thighs, and you could serve it with rice or potatoes. If you’re cooking for vegetarians use kidney beans or other pulses instead of meat, and many of these can be bought in tins which is really convenient. The Bolognese sauce actually works really well with pasta or a baked potato, and served with just a little dried parmesan.”

Serving the meal is also another way to alter the menu and keep the family’s interest, as no one wants to feel they’re eating the same dinner night after night. Maureen adds: “When you serve a meal, add steamed fresh vegetables which are in season, and always keep tinned and frozen vegetables in a good supply in case you can’t get to the shops.

If your child is a fussy eater, liquidize cooked fresh vegetable soup to disguise the different things they don’t like; it’s also a good way of feeding younger children. Saying that, if you can sit down to eat together as a family each day it’s likely that the children will want to see what’s on your plate and they’ll be more keen to try things. If you’re chopping

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Family Meals on a Budget vegetables at the table while they’re drawing at another table, let them try a piece of raw sliced carrot or pepper. They’ll probably be attracted to the bright colours, and it’s another way of getting them to digest different nutrients.

“If time’s the issue, try freezing portion sizes of the casseroles or sauces and microwave them to defrost thoroughly, and once again to get them piping hot. It’ll take just as long as the pasta does to boil when you’ve walked in from work, so it’s a quick and easy meal when you’re hungry or in a hurry.”

much tastier than imported or unnaturally grown strawberries and salads, which may have been flown thousands of air miles or contain all sorts of pesticides.

DON’T TRY TO DO A ‘BARGAIN SHOP’ Don’t buy anything unless at least one person in the family likes it and is sure to eat it. Six tins for 60 pence, which no one will eat, isn’t saving you any money.

DO YOUR OWN MATHS

BUYING ON A BUDGET When you’re out shopping, it can be easy to fall prey to ‘healthy’ looking packaging, only to find yourself weighed down with expensive products that actually contain more fat, salt or sugar than the standard variety. Follow our guide to buying wisely, for your family’s health and your wallet…

SHOP MORE OFTEN This sounds like a contradiction if you’re trying to save money, but by shopping daily and only buying what you need, you can see the instant savings on any reduced items and you won’t spend money on things that you don’t want. This strategy doesn’t work as well for supermarkets, as the layout and price tags fail to entice only the strongest- willed shoppers with their promises of savings. If shopping daily is going to be a struggle with work, then plan your menus and shop online to make sure you buy only what you’ll use, and only when you’ve used what’s already filling the cupboards.

BUY FRESH VEGETABLES AND USE THEM Don’t fill the trolley with things that will go mouldy at home. Know your menu in your head and buy vegetables which you can just add to the casseroles and stews, and make sure you use them all up as soon as you can. If you don’t want all the portions that evening, you can freeze the rest.

BUY SEASONALLY Seasonal vegetables are always cheaper than imports. Eating seasonally is also more natural, and will keep your body in tune with the weather and the cycle. In colder weather, root vegetables and leafy greens are what your body needs, so don’t deny yourself! They’re also

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Beware of the loudest price tickets which imply that this product is cheaper than another. Work out the savings for yourself and you may be surprised that buying two separate jars is cheaper than the larger one which is reduced by seven pence.

SHOP ALONE The supermarket aisle is the first hazard to any parent on a budget. If you take the children with you, the packets of sweets and chocolate, and cereals marketed towards kids, will have them asking you for food they may not even eat, just to receive the free toy or gift. If you possibly can, do your budget shopping alone and you’ll easily avoid these expensive distractions.

REAL MUMS ON A BUDGET A working mum, Eileen from Litherland, says that to feed her three young children takes imagination and determination, but needn’t stretch the budget: “I told my mum, who grew up in 40s, that I was finding it expensive to feed the family, and I was surprised when she reminded me that I was expecting to prepare a meal every night using prime cuts of meat like pork chops, chicken breasts and steaks. It reminded me of when I was young and we ate liver fried with onions, which is a good supply of vitamin A, or kidney, and we used the whole chicken from a Sunday lunch to make stock and soup to last the week. It can be difficult to find some of the more old fashioned cuts of meat in supermarkets, but local butcher’s shops still have a good variety of different meats. Now I try to cook liver fried with onions, kidney in a stew or casserole, or a sausage casserole which is popular choice for the children, and save the prime cuts of chicken, beef and lamb for the weekend.

“That also goes for things like packets of cakes for puddings. During the week, we’ve started serving tinned or fresh fruit for desserts,

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

and serve water with a meal. I don’t keep fizzy drinks, biscuits and crisps in the cupboards any more so that they’re not a habit with the children, and it’s much better for their teeth and for my purse.

“When I used to think I was doing my best to keep us healthy, I’d buy bags of salad or ready prepared carrots, potato or other vegetables to have with our dinner, and it was turning out to be really expensive. You can buy a huge bag of raw vegetables to last the week for less than I was paying just to feed us one evening! Now I try to buy whatever’s in season, and it’s really nice looking forward to citrus fruits in summer, and casseroles with carrots and turnips in winter; I feel more in tune with the changing seasons and it’s saving me a fortune.”

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TOP TIPS ******************************* Buy some tinned and frozen vegetables so that there’s always something nutritious on hand at home.

Cook more portions than you need and freeze the surplus for another meal.

Try a different type of fish, cheese or brand of food if it’s on offer, and don’t assume that a more expensive product will be better.

Buy good quality meat from a trusted butcher, but serve it with cheap seasonal vegetables.

Buy as many different coloured vegetables as you can for different vitamins and minerals, and liquidise into a soup any vegetables you need to ‘disguise’ from resistant children.

Take a list out to the shops but not the children – unless you want to fill the trolley with chocolate.

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St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School Queens Drive, Liverpool L4 8UA Tel: 0151 226 1871 Fax: 0151 226 5921 www.stmatthewsprimaryschool.co.uk

“The outstanding curriculum meets pupils’ needs because it is interesting, lively and exciting” Ofsted 2007 “Pupils behave very well, feel really safe and have an exceptional understanding of how to stay healthy Ofsted 2007

“The vast majority of parents are absolutely delighted with the school and the education and care the children receive” Ofsted 2007

“Outstanding leadership has successfully united the whole school behind its mission statement and this unity of purpose runs through all its work” Ofsted 2007

“Working Together to Develop the Whole Person”

Mosspits Junior School “…an outstanding school” (Ofsted 2007) L4 & L5 SAT’s results 2008: English 92.8% Maths 89.2% Science 100% A limited number of places available Contact us on 0151 722 1716 Or visit our website at www.mosspits.com

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Primary School News

Nicola paints a pretty picture Year 5 pupil, Nicola Gough from Hudson Primary School in Maghull recently won a prize in the Maghull Town Council ‘Amateur’ Arts and Crafts Competition 2008, which had the theme of ‘Capital of Culture’.

The Mayor of Maghull, Cllr Cliff Mainee, attended a school assembly to present the school with a cheque for £150 and the prize winner, Nicola, with her personal prize of an Artist’s Pallet for her painting entitled ‘Banana’. Nicola's winning painting was also on display in Maghull Town Hall.

The Bishop of Warrington joins pupils from Rimrose Hope CE Primary for a special blessing. Below: an artists impression of the new nursery section

Genes at work The pupils of Carleton House Preparatory School took part in the ‘Jeans for Genes Day’ and raised over £1,500 towards research into two rare genetic disorders. They were prompted by the case of Jamie West, brother of Carleton House pupil Stephany West, who suffers from the genetic disorders Rubenstein-Taybi and Absent Corpus Callosum.

“They took part in sponsored swims, skips, and had cake sales,” said Julie Smith of Carleton House.

“They also wore their jeans for the day.”

The West family keen to raise awareness of the disorders, also donated several prizes, such as a teddy-bear and a model car, for a school raffle.

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The future is bright Pupils count their blessings as Bishop attends special ceremony Pupils from Rimrose Hope CE Primary School, Seaforth got a sneak preview of their new school in a blessing ceremony by the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Rev David Jennings.

The new £6.5 million School is the replacement school for Beach Road and William Gladstone CE Primary Schools.

Rimrose Hope headteacher, Lawrence Crilly, said: “The two storey building will consist of 11 bright and airy classrooms, a self contained nursery, a base for pupils with special educational needs, a practical room for science/food, library, IT room and a large assembly hall with separate

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

activity studio. There will also be resource areas, dedicated staff accommodation and a multi-purpose room for extended school and community activities.

“The whole building will be fully accessible and wheelchair friendly for pupils and visitors with a lift giving access to the first floor”.

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Primary School News

School is top of the class

Growing glory

St Laurence’s voted best school A primary school in Knowsley has been voted Merseyside’s favourite school.

St Laurence’s Catholic Primary in Kirkby has won £10,000 after being chosen as School of the year, following a poll of the public and a panel of judges.

The school, in Leeside Avenue in Southdene, has seen a transformation of its fortunes in recent years.

When the current head teacher Paul Cronin took over 18 years ago, the school was on the brink of closure with just 165 pupils.

Since then, it has secured amongst its Ofsted reports, two outstanding reports, several major sporting successes and the commitment of parents, staff, governors and pupils to succeed.

St Laurence’s now has more people wanting to send their children to the

school and nursery than it can cater for and has more than 400 pupils.

The prize money from the competition, which was sponsored by Barclaycard, will be used to complete work to revitalise the school playground with an adventure activity area.

Head teacher Paul Cronin said: “We are all absolutely delighted to win the award – it’s a great tribute to both the school and the community who took the time and trouble to vote for us.

“To be chosen as the best from all the primary and secondary schools in Merseyside, both public and private, is amazing.

“The success is due to the hard work and commitment of staff, pupils, parents and governors. I think what might also have swayed the judges is the way we have transformed the school in recent years.”

Thousands of bulbs have been planted in a park in south Sefton by pupils at All Saints Primary School in Bootle.

School children planted the bulbs in a bid to create a future 'field of daffodils' at Bootle's North Park.

The planting initiative was to get the local community involved in the welfare of the park and improve the overall look of it.

During the day, school children planted thousands of daffodil bulbs and are planning to revisit the site in Spring to see the colourful plants in full bloom.

Suzanne McCumiskey, Parks Community Participation Officer, said: "We want North Park to be a real part of the local community and the bulb planting initiative drew all parts of the area together.

"By joining forces with Riverside Housing, our local schools and other partner agencies we can help create a beautiful and colourful field of daffodils in North Park.

"We are all looking forward to Spring now when everyone will see the daffodils in all their glory."

Some 190 billion emails are sent daily - more than 2 million per second - by 1.2 billion email senders.

About 70% (133 billion emails) are spam and viruses. There are about 1.4 billion registered email addresses.

Headteacher Paul Cronin celebrates with pupils from each year of the school Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Primary School News

Surprise Surprise Calvin’s magic hat trick The city of Liverpool seems over-run with artistic wildlife these days, first it was the gigantic spider; now it is a 20ft neon rabbit.

The big bunny was the brainchild of nine-year-old Calvin Tang, a pupil at St Vincent de Paul Primary School, Toxteth.

Calvin entered a competition at St Vincent’s school to create a design for artist Ron Haselden, whose previous light installations for Liverpool’s Biennial Winter Lights programme have appeared on landmarks in the city.

“Calvin’s absolutely thrilled to bits to see his rabbit on the side of the church, although he doesn’t understand why so many people are interested in it,” said teacher Chris Goodfellow. “It’s taken a long time to bring this design to completion, but we’re really proud of him. It is great to see his work lighting up the night sky and it is definitely a must see event.”

The work was commissioned by the Liverpool Culture Company and can be seen adorning St James’s Church, Toxteth until February 2009.

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Steven Gerrard makes pupils day Towards the end of last year, the children at Springwood Heath Primary School, Liverpool, were treated to a surprise visitor.

They were taken into the hall thinking that they needed to practise sitting still for an assembly, when in walked Steven Gerrard.

Headteacher, Phil Daniels, said: “The children were totally amazed to see him walk into their hall; there was a low hum of recognition building up to a scream as everyone realised who it was!

“There were grins on faces all round the hall – children and staff alike! Even the children who were not Liverpool

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supporters seemed impressed with the visit.

“Steve sat at the front and answered questions from the children, such as how much he earned each week, did he like playing for Liverpool FC, what it was like to play for England, how many goals he had scored etc.

“Afterwards, Steven went to each class and many photos were taken. He was kind enough to wait for a few children who were late coming out of the swimming pool so that nobody missed out. The children were left with fantastic memories and each had a personally signed picture of Steven Gerrard. What a day!”

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Primary School News

Route to the top

Singing a Rainbow Pupils win song writing competition

The pupils of St Christopher’s, Speke have been rewarded for devising a more environmentally friendly route to school.

The award was presented by writer and TV producer Phil Redmond on behalf of Mersey Travel, during a special awards ceremony in Liverpool.

“The idea was to come up with the best school travel plan,” said headteacher Peter Price. The award came as something of a surprise to the children of the school. “They were absolutely delighted,” said Peter.

“Most of them didn’t even know they’d been nominated for the award.”

St Christopher’s pupils have also undertaken their Cycling Proficiency test as part of the overall initiative.

They will soon be locating shelters and cycle storage sheds within their grounds and hopefully each year will add more facilities for the children.

Below: Vince Hall, St Christopher’s School Mentor receives the award from Phil Redmond

The pupils of Our Lady and St Swithin, Croxteth were on song recently, after they won a competition to write a song.

The song writing competition was part of the city’s Capital of Culture celebrations with the winners being given the opportunity to record an album.

The children of Our Lady and St Swithin have since performed their winning entry ‘Liverpool Rainbow’ for the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, and performed their composition on radio. They have also earned themselves a trip to London in the New Year.

“The children are all very excited and thrilled by their success,” said Music Co-ordinator, Sandra Hamilton. Over 3,000 copies of the album were printed in time for Christmas.

Foreign beginnings The pupils of St Joseph, Kirkby found a novel way to mark the introduction of Spanish into their school’s curriculum. They spent the day learning about the country’s culture and traditions, as well as its dance and music.

“Each class learned about a different aspect of Spanish culture, and then shared what they’d learned in assembly at the end of the day,” said Head Teacher, Christine Gordon. The school’s Spanish Day coincided with International Language Day. “We asked all the pupils and staff to wear something Spanish, or red and yellow – the colours of the Spanish flag.”

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Primary School News

School make a statement Believing in what it stands for

The Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Knowsley, Councillor Dave Smithson recently unveiled a mosaic designed and created by children from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Huyton.

Olivia Goulding from Year 2 designed the logo to commemorate the launch of her school’s Mission Statement, “Everyone together with Jesus”.

Headteacher Charlie Newstead said: “Our Mission Statement represents what St Joseph’s is here for. We all believe that everyone has an important role to play in developing the lives of our children”.

A recent inspection by Liverpool Archdiocese stated “the school is outstanding in promoting community cohesion”.

St Anne’s go green The pupils of St Anne’s Primary School, Liverpool have been showing how green fingered they are by planting daffodil bulbs, as part of a charity initiative.

The ‘Mini Pots of Care’ is a fun and creative activity idea to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The children plant and care for their own bulb, until they bloom next spring. When for a small donation to Marie Curie, they will be able to take the pot home to a loved one.

“The Mini Pots of Care is such a fun way for children to get involved and raise much need funds for the Marie Curie Hospice,” said Colette Byrne, Community Fundraiser for Marie Curie. The initiative is run in partnership with Yellow Pages directories.

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Digging deep A blossoming partnership between Knowsley’s park ranger service and children at two local schools is making sure there will be no shortage of flowers at local parks this spring.

Children from The Sylvester Primary School and St Gabriel’s School, both in Huyton, took part in bulb planting sessions at Sawpit Park and St John’s Millennium Green Park.

The youngsters helped park rangers plant hundreds of daffodils and gladioli – part of the annual planting programme which has seen more than 200,000 bulbs planted at parks across the borough over the last five years.

L-R: Billy Robinson, Nathan Wolland, Lewis Murray and Owen Walsh

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Primary School News

Birds aloud Pupils lose themselves in sea of colour

Pupils snap up top prizes

Lost in a sea of colour are pupils Tristan Kavanagh and Mia Spence

The children of Cherryfield Primary School in Kirkby joined in with the celebrations of Liverpool 08, by presenting their own GoGoSuperCultureVulture Sculptures! event.

Using the Liver birds and Super Lamb Bananas as their initial inspiration, they created almost 150 individually decorated bird sculptures, each standing 2ft tall!

No two the same, these magnificent yet peculiar feathered friends really are a sight to behold.

All of the birds have been designed and created by the children in special art lessons and the effort put into the project which can only be described as amazing!

Steve Dixon, Cherryfield Primary’s Headteacher said: “This superb project has been led by the school’s Art Co-ordinator, Sarah Whittle who has worked in close partnership with parents. It’s a great example of how a creative curriculum can be used to stimulate the children’s imaginative thought.

“Quite clearly, the children enjoyed working on the project too”.

A LESSON with a difference was on the timetable when more than 260 Liverpool schoolchildren swapped pens and paper for disposable cameras.

The youngsters were asked to capture images of what work means to them for a competition sponsored by public sector trade union, UNISON. St Finbars Catholic Primary School, Dingle snapped up the top prize of £500 to spend on photography equipment.

Year 6 pupil Meron Camillius, who took the winning picture of a postman, scooped a digital camera.

St Finbars head teacher Rita Bibby said the children will use the skills they developed for other activities on the curriculum.

She said: “The children spent a day taking photographs from all sorts of unusual angles. We have been impressed by their skill and enthusiasm and have now decided to build upon this talent later in the year through a project looking at architecture in our city.”

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School News

Minister opens new centre

First of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ The Rt Hon Ed Balls, MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families recently opened the first of Knowsley’s ground-breaking Centre for Learning.

Christ the King Catholic and Church of England Centre for Learning replaces St Edmund of Canterbury Secondary School in north Huyton.

The centre will house state of the art technology, as well as excellent facilities for sport, cultural and leisure activities.

After a tour of the facilities, Ed Balls said: “I have visited over 150 schools throughout the country but I must say, by comparison, this school can only be described as ‘brill’ and the pupils agree. It has such a capacity for making things happen. I believe that every child has the talent and ability and this facility is giving them this opportunity to make those things happen.

“This is a school but wants to be more than that, it is a facility to bring the whole community together. It is

Ed Balls, MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families unveils a plaque with Year 7 pupil Lewis Celoro-Steele.

also very much in line with our vision of 21st century schools, services coordinated, really ambitious and at the heart of the community.

“Talking to the young people at the school they say that the old school was dismal, old and decaying and it was

Real insight for pupils

Whodunnit Members of Holly Lodge’s after school Criminology & Forensics club recently worked with former Scotland Yard Chief Inspector and Forensic Psychologist Steve Gaskin, as well as officers from the Merseyside Police Crime Scene Investigation Unit to get practical experience of the topics they had been studying all term.

During a full-day workshop they took fingerprints and cast teeth marks from the crime scene that had been set up for them, as well as completing blood splatter pattern analysis.

They also heard about the many different cases that Mr Gaskin had been involved in investigating 18

during his career and got a detailed insight into offender profiling and the psychology of criminal behaviour; everyone who took part in the day got a certificate and also a full CSI kit to keep.

Shortly all members will be sitting their CSI exam to gain their ‘Holly Lodge Introduction to Criminology & Forensics’ course certificate!

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hard to be motivated and now arriving at the new school they said ‘wow’.

Christ the King is the first of seven of Knowsley’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ centres to be completed with the other six to be completed by January 2010.

Proud to protect Dovecot Primary have been named as winners of the Education Award at the first Liverpool Safeguarding Awards in 2008.

Alison Whittaker, Deputy Headteacher, said: “Because of its proactive approach, the school knows its pupils are safe and that their welfare is considered at every turn.

“The commitment shown by all staff is one hundred per cent, all the time, and the school will always look to improve what it does and to improve the experience for their children.

“Our children feel safe, supported, cared for, enjoy school and achieve above and beyond their potential.

“All staff are unrelenting in pursuit of this ethos. We are proud to be a safeguarding school!”

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Meet the Headteacher Louise Robinson, Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School

The name of Merchant Taylors’ is famous throughout the country. The Senior Girls’ School in Crosby has been described as a hidden gem with parts of the building dating from 1888. Headmistress Louise Robinson tells us more…

Unashamedly female Merchant Taylors’ Senior Girls’ School in Crosby has often been described as a ‘hidden gem’ and once you step inside the hallowed walls it is easy to see why.

Originally built in 1888 the school is a mixture of old and new buildings which manage to complement each other without taking away its original beginnings.

The school is celebrating 120 years of, as described by Headmistress, Louise Robinson, “Allowing our girls to sparkle and shine with their accomplishments and achievements”.

Originally founded by James Fenning, the Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company based in London, his original idea was to found a school in the north for people who could just afford a private education.

At the School's opening all of the female staff were graduates, a fact that is very impressive considering that at the time only four universities were granting degrees to women!

In June 1888 twelve pupils attended the school, by the 1920s this figure had grown to 300 and now has more than doubled to around 600.

The continuing increase in pupil 20

numbers enabled the school to purchase in 1911 the adjoining house, 'The Mulberries', which doubled the existing space and still adds to the charm of the school. The jewel of the buildings, the now Grade II listed 1620's building (currently housing the library), has always dominated the surrounding area and new buildings.

Two generous donations from a former headmistress ensured further development of facilities forming the basis of the network of buildings.

Headmistress, Louise Robinson has always been involved in girls school education and is proud that the focus of Merchant Taylors’ is “unashamedly female”.

Originally from Rochdale, Louise attended York University were she studied computer science and maths which she described as “giving me a tremendous insight to computers and how they would effect the future.

“After University I got a job at Bolton School Girls’ Division before going to Manchester School for Girls as the Deputy Head, I was there for just over five years.

“I then went to Howell’s School in Denbigh as Head, before finally finding

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my way to Merchant Taylors’ school”.

Louise has always been a great advocate in single sex education saying, “Girls and boys mature at a different rate from each other with girls maturing a lot earlier than boys and I believe that a single sex environment encourages girls to express themselves and to seek help when they need it. .

“Our achievements in external examinations indicate the highest academic standards, and we give our girls the encouragement they need to develop essential life skills: independent learning, teamwork, determination, flexibility and problem solving.

“This year's A level results have been ‘phenomenal', but then again the schools academic results have always been very high on the agenda and this year is no different with the girls achieving a 100% pass rate with 78.8% at grades A and B and 54% at grade A at A Level.

"This set of results shows that across all subjects Merseyside's top young women are a match for any in the country."

The extra-curricular programme is one of the school's strengths. Pupils are encouraged to develop their existing

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skills and to try new ventures.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is popular with some 50 girls each year working towards Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Pupils also have the opportunity to learn how to sail, using the facilities of both Crosby and Southport Marinas.

Louise added: All-round activities at the school are designed to develop well-rounded individuals - caring, confident citizens who 'learn by doing' and in doing so - have fun!

“We strive to balance tried and tested principles with current trends in educational thinking. Marrying the needs of tomorrow's workplace with today's educational provision creates a school ready and able to embrace the changes of a technological, global village - and helping our girls find their successful place in it”.

“One of the strengths of the school is that it draws its pupils from a wide variety of backgrounds. Individual support through a strong pastoral system is regarded as important.

“In a disciplined yet friendly environment we aim for every girl to grow academically, morally and spiritually”.

Another important aspect at Merchant Taylors’ is their links with the community.

“In 1911 the school adopted a 'waif' from the local children's home and formed a link which continued beyond the 1940s. A huge war effort was also undertaken during WW2, making camouflage netting, scrubbing floors at local hospitals and raising money for 'Warships Week'.

Today's Sixth Formers continue this tradition by helping local schools,

charity shops and nursing homes.

The school has also just completed work on a new glass-fronted entrance.

Louise added: “The new entrance named the ‘Vitreum’, threw up some very interesting surprises, most notably the discovery of a very creepy corridor and cellar lost for many years! The entrance will also include an internal viewing gallery as well as a climbing wall zone.

“We have also just invested in a new multi-million pound indoor sports development, this will be used by both the Girls and Boys schools and will

comprise of a sports hall, a dance and drama studio, multi-function classrooms and refreshment rooms as well as indoor and outdoor spectator facilities.

“Although based on the boys campus the facilities will be used by both junior and senior boys as well as the girls. It is an exciting new project that will extend our all year round sporting provision and will enable current and future generation pupils to enjoy all the benefits of contemporary sporting facilities and equipment – it is really an exciting time for the school”.

by Alan Birkett

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Invest in the future

Life can sometimes be a little unpredictable, but an education at Merchant Taylors’ Schools is a great start to a young life. We are passionate about education and understand the importance of the next few years in your child’s development. We have the best facilities and are proud of our outstanding exam results.

Monday 26th January 2009

To be part of our success, call us and book a place in our 11+ entrance exam.

Boys’ Schools 0151 949 9333 Girls’ Schools 0151 932 2414 Limited places are available in other year groups from Reception through to Sixth Form, contact the schools for more details 08/09 Term Fees Infant and Junior Schools £2,004 Senior Schools and Sixth Form £2,727

www.merchanttaylors.com The Best Education For Life

Senior Boys | Senior Girls | Junior Boys | Stanfield Mixed Infants & Junior Girls The Merchant Taylors’ Schools, Crosby: a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: Company Number: 6654276. Registered office: Liverpool Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 0QP. Registered Charity Number: 1125485

Gateacre Community Comprehensive School Arts and Humanities Specialist College “Specialist status has also brought about a rejuvenation of the school’s enrichment activities, especially in the arts, educational trips and visits.

This is having a positive effect on students’ levels of motivation.”

“Students enjoy school…”

“Specialist status is also helping to revitalise the after school enrichment activities in sport to add to students’ acquisition of healthier lifestyles.”

Ofsted inspection 2007

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Grange Lane, Gateacre Liverpool L25 4SD Tel: 0151 428 1569 Fax: 0151 421 1349 Email: gateacre-ao@gateacre.liverpool.sch.uk

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Clarendon College

Giving your child the freedom to learn and develop to their true potential We are a small independent school in Liverpool, providing high quality education for children from pre-school right through to GCSE level.

Pupils 3-16, no more than 14 children per class From ages 3-5 FREE child places still available!

Our Nursery class offers Montessori education in which children learn in a prepared environment allowing them to develop at their own pace and giving them confidence in their own abilities thus ensuring, early goals are achieved.

Infants and Juniors follow the National Curriculum. Senior children pursue GCSE courses.

Before and after school supervision is available.

There is after school tuition to prepare children for the Secondary Education exams (open to all school children).

Contact us today to find out more about this proven teaching method which has been successful the world over.

For a prospectus or more information on this unique local independent school Telephone: 0151 494 2094 Mobile: 07952 441 886 Clarendon College, Garston Old Road, Liverpool L19 9AF

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Focus Group

From left: Emma Hurst, Travelwise, Vince Hall, travel co-ordinator at Saint Christopher’s Primary and Jane Till, community physiotherapist

Follow the greener road Educate’s transport roundtable Taking your child to school is part of a parent’s daily routine, and getting there safely and in time to make it to work has to be top of the priority list. The distance to school, transport facilities, and the daily commute to work all add up to make using the car seem the obvious solution, but perhaps it’s time to rethink our attitudes and start seeing walking, cycling and public transport as the better options. At least, that’s what some schools have been encouraging in Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton, and Travelwise Merseyside is keen to increase the numbers.

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“

We’re promoting the idea of walking and cycling to primary school because it’s better in terms of safety, for health and weight reasons

”

e spoke to Emma Hurst from Travelwise, the partnership programme between the local authorities in Merseyside and Merseytravel, Vince Hall the travel co-ordinator at Saint Christopher’s Primary in Speke and Jane Till, a community physiotherapist and mother of two boys at Mosspits Junior School in Wavertree about their views on taking your child to school.

W

What are the options for parents taking their children to school?

EH: There are a range of options, but some are much better for a family’s health, safety and the environment. In an ideal world, all families would live in walking distance of a good school and have time to walk or cycle there before getting to work, but unfortunately this isn’t a reality. The concept of ‘parental choice’, which became legislation in 2006, means that a child’s school can often be quite a distance away.

Walking and cycling isn’t always realistic, and as a result the traffic is really bad. In Sefton, some schools are doing really well and Southport has been recognised as a ‘cycle demonstration town’ because schools like Christ the King High School have done so well promoting cycling. The government has set targets to increase the numbers of pupils cycling to school, and in the last three years 24,000 year 5 and 6 pupils received cycle training in Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley.

There’s also public transport which is a really good way to teach children vital skills. We don’t have as many school buses in Liverpool as we used to, mainly because the bus network is so good generally. Saying that, it’s also very expensive to run a school bus and it’s not a popular contract with local suppliers.

For private schools it’s a different matter

because parents are contributing to the costs themselves.

JT: I cycle with the boys to school occasionally, but I need to be in work 9am and there isn’t the time. If the school was nearer, then I would.

As Mosspits is an Infant and Junior School, many parents do seem to drive, and it can be dangerous then for children who do walk because of all the extra traffic, and parents who insist on parking right outside the school gates.

EH: We’re promoting the idea of walking and cycling to primary school because it’s better in terms of safety, for health and weight reasons, and for the environment. We also ask that parents who do park near the school do so sensitively; they’re being protective of their own child but they should think about the other children too. Walking to school is an excellent way for children to learn crucial road skills, such as looking out for traffic and crossing the road.

The casualty rate for teenagers on the roads is high but if children could learn better road skills at a younger age then that could be reduced.

VH: I take my daughter Megan, who’s five, to school before I go to work, and I have taken her on the back of my bike. We live in Gateacre, she goes to Saint Paschal Baylon, and I work at Saint Christopher’s in Speke, so we have to do the journey by parking and walking. Like many parents I do have to use the car for my job, which involves making home visits and I need to have it with me on the premises. If it was just about me, I’d cycle in, but that’s the situation for many parents.

What is the current proportion of parents using public transport, walking or cycling to take their children to school?

EH: In wealthier areas, we find that parents tend to walk with their children to school, but in the poorer areas children will walk to school on their own. Parents using a bus to take the

children to primary school is generally very low, perhaps because the school is nearer.

JT: At the boys’ school, I would say most children will either walk or be taken in the car, but there is storage for bikes and that seems to be a popular option.

Does it vary greatly between primary and secondary school?

EH: It tends to be at secondary level where public transport really comes into play as the school tends to be further away from where the family lives. Public transport usage increases from one to two per cent at primary school to 30 to 40 per cent at secondary school. In Sefton, there are large numbers of pupils who take the train because the service is so good, and they either go unaccompanied in secondary school, or with their parents at a younger age. We put together some statistics which cover the whole of Merseyside from 2007-08, and the report combines secondary and primary schools.

We found that walking to school really is a popular and realistic option, although it could see an improvement, with 45.8 per cent of pupils walking to school. Almost a third of children still go to school in the car though, at 30 per cent, although 3.3 per cent car share, and 19 per cent use public transport. The figures say that 1.2 per cent cycle, although that is on the increase, even if children aren’t cycling every day.

VH: At St. Christopher’s Primary in Speke, where I work, the great majority of pupils walk to school. We do have a travel plan to promote this, as it’s safer for pupils around the school as well as being greener, but there were already large numbers walking before I put the first plan together, about five years ago. The reason is probably that the catchment area is pretty small, and there aren’t a great many main roads to cross.

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Focus Group

Is the environment seen as an important consideration when it comes to getting our children to school?

EH: What we’ve found is that the environment is never going to be the motivating factor for taking the children to school. Parents need to see a personal benefit from walking or cycling to school, and factors like time and money are the primary considerations. Health and fitness also come up in the list, although further down.

If they can be green at the same time, then it seems that that’s a nice extra. To raise awareness, we organized a ‘Walk to School Week’ and held it in the summer term when the weather was more suited to encourage people to take us up on it, and the children at different schools designed characters like WalkDog to promote the week, and collected stickers.

VH: Children can be a huge factor in persuading their parents to walk them to school. Megan was very keen for us to walk during the ‘Walk to School Week’ and I would have felt terrible if we hadn’t. It’s seen as a cool thing to collect the stickers.

EH: Yes, with primary school children the stickers are seen as really exciting! We’re just looking at ways to reach secondary school age pupils, teenagers particularly, to talk to them about road safety issues, as stickers don’t have the same ‘cool’ factor at that age.

JT: I think for parents and families though, there are so many benefits of walking to school.

You can have some quality time and a real conversation about the school day without being in a rush or stuck in traffic. At different times of the year you can talk about the changing leaves on the trees, so it’s educational. Too many parents see walking to school as a waste of time, but it isn’t, and if the school your children attended was nearer then more people could walk there.

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For parents who do want to choose a green form of transport, what are the obstacles?

EH: Time, worrying about your child’s safety, the convenience of driving, and the distance to the school from home are all obstacles.

JT: I originally applied for places at the local school for the boys as it’s a good school and it’s at the end of the road. I would have walked with them there every day. As it is, some parents drive right up to the school and park on the zigzags, which is dangerous for the other children getting to school, and I take my sons to a school which is about a mile and a half away. They love the school and I don’t have any worries about them going there, but when the criteria for allocating places is being looked at it’s as though the distance from where you live to the school just isn’t brought up, in any way.

“

I think for parents and families though, there are so many benefits of walking to school.

You can have some quality time and a real conversation about the school day without being in a rush.

”

EH: Parental choice as a policy for parents to be able to choose where they send their children is something that was introduced in 2006. It took a long time to be passed, so it’s here to stay, and while that’s the case and parents choose their child’s school based on its OFSTED reports, recommendations and various other criteria, the distance to the school is something

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that comes much lower down. It’s as though parents are saying, ‘let’s send our child to that school’ and it’s only when they receive a place that they start to think, ‘how are we going to get them there every day!’

VH: I think time is possibly the biggest factor for parents who need to drop off their child and then get to work. I need to be in for 9am, and I wouldn’t want to wake Megan up so early that I could take her there and then get to work as it’s then a really long day. Breakfast clubs and after school clubs are great, but realistically they don’t mean that every parent can walk to school and then get to work on time. Some breakfast clubs are open from 7.45am, but getting your child in at that time would be a very early start. It’s also probably a cost issue for some parents who can’t afford to pay for breakfasts and lunches at school.

What is being done to help overcome these obstacles?

VH: Different schools have different travel plans, and I know that some put different slants on the benefits of walking to school to reach their target audience, the parent.

I’ve heard that some have calculated Weightwatcher’s points to be saved by walking, and different ideas can really get the message through. If it’s not necessarily by promoting the idea of being green, the other benefits are for safety by reducing traffic, and health reasons to walk.

EH: An extended day for pupils with breakfast clubs and after school clubs is helping some families. In terms of overcoming the traffic problems when huge

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numbers of parents are dropping off their children at school, ‘flexible learning’ is another concept that we’ll be seeing more of in schools.

Now that pupils are obliged to stay at school until they’re 18, many of them will be undertaking vocational work placements, for example at a hairdresser’s, two days a week.

Some pupils have also been visiting other schools to take certain subjects in the sixth form. Travel will increase, but the impact at the school gates will be reduced.

What still needs to be done and by whom?

VH: There’s a barrier in getting through to some parents that they shouldn’t just expect to drive right up to the school and park, but it’s getting the message out there.

JT: Some parents don’t want to engage, and it’s difficult to inform them. The cycle lanes in some areas are brilliant, but they aren’t marked everywhere, and then people who park or pull over in a cycle lane pose a real hazard to the cyclists.

Awareness of the safety issues around dangerous parking and the refusal of some parents to engage in any discussion about transport to school is also a real obstacle for other parents to be able to make a safe, green journey.

VH: That’s why getting the kids to pester them is such a good idea, and usually works.

Children take the environment much

more seriously than adults, and they like walking.

What can parents do themselves?

EH: Find out if your school has a travel plan and think about your options, such as the breakfast clubs, chat to other parents to see if you can share a car journey into or from school.

If you have to drive, park a safe distance away from the school and walk the rest.

“

There’s a barrier in getting through to some parents that they shouldn’t just expect to drive right up to the school and park, but it’s getting the message out there.

”

A family friendly setting We photographed our roundtable discussion in the colourful and relaxing interiors of Ego Mediterranean restaurant on Hope Street, a family friendly venue providing a full range of favourite Mediterranean dishes at lunch and dinner. We enjoyed Ego’s Mediterranean sharing platters which offer hot mixed tapas, bread and olives and a choice of wine for just £10.95 per person every Friday lunchtime.

To book a table at Ego on Hope Street telephone 0151 706 0707 or visit www.egorestaurants.co.uk.

JT: I think that society puts a lot of pressure on parents to be almost over-protective of their children, but children at secondary school are usually capable of using public transport and it teaches them important skills about the traffic.

Go with them a few times, and satisfy yourself that they are confident in the journey before letting them try it themselves. Also, I think parents should try using public transport at other times with younger children, as it can actually be really fun and a novelty for them to put their arm out for the bus and ring the bell, as well as educational and useful for them.

EG: It’s an excellent idea to practise the school journey with your child before they do it themselves, especially on a bus or train route as it can be quite daunting the first time.

Do it a few times so that they become familiar with it and know where the traffic lights are to cross and where to catch the bus home.

Useful contacts: For information about cycle training contact Cycling Solutions on 0151 234 9484.

For information about public transport contact Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.

To find out if your school has a travel plan and for more on how to get involved visit www.LetsTravelWise.org/schoolzone

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CALDERSTONES SCHOOL A Specialist Science College Harthill Road, Liverpool L18 3HS Tel: 0151 724 2087 Quotes from OFSTED, November 2007: “This is a good school that provides an effective education for its students and enjoys the overwhelming support of their parents” “… the care and guidance provided for students are outstanding” “.. students from many different faiths, cultures, and social and economic backgrounds work and play well together” “Standards are above average, and have been for a number of years, and students achieve well” “Personal development is outstanding” “Work seen during the inspection indicates that current students are making good progress in the vast majority of subjects. For example, this year, the mathematics GCSE results were the best ever” “Students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding” “…. well developed economic awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence which prepare students well for future life”

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Archbishop Blanch CE High School A Technology College & Training School

Mount Vernon Road, Liverpool L7 3EA email: admin@blanch.org.uk

tel: 0151 709 1452

website:www.abblanch.com

“The Sixth Form is well led and managed, with the Head of Sixth Form building on established strengths to improve, for example, students’ understanding of how they can achieve the higher grades in their examinations”.

“The Headteacher is passionately committed to make this good school outstanding…… she leads the school well and has a clear focus on school Ofsted 2008 improvement”

View our State of the Art Sixth Form Facilities

Sixth Form Open Evening 2009 4 February at 6.30 p.m.

“This is an effective sixth form, where students benefit from good teaching and high levels of guidance and support” Ofsted 2008

Religious commitment is not a requirement for Sixth Form entry Archbishop Blanch is a good school, where good teaching and pastoral care of an outstanding quality enable pupils to achieve well.

Pupils show outstanding levels of personal development, demonstrated by their excellent behaviour and maturity for their age.

Good collaboration with local schools helps to provide a wide variety of A-level courses Ofsted 2008

Make new friends at the popular Year 12 Induction Residential

Pupils speak positively of the friendliness and approachability of staff, and of how much they enjoy school.

SIAS Ofsted 2008

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National School News

Investment to be accelerated Schools spending to be brought forward Hundreds of school modernisation projects are to start this year after the Government announced it was accelerating up to £800 million capital investment by 12 months.

The recent Pre-Budget Report announced that funding originally earmarked for the Primary Capital Programme (PCP) and three other capital programmes in 2010-11 is now available in 2009-10.

Overall schools capital spending has risen seven-fold in real terms over the last decade – up from under £700m in 1997 to £6.67billion this year. The announcement adds to the £7.02 billion capital investment already being pumped into schools.

All 150 local authorities in England are being asked to identify building and refurbishment spending which can be brought forward - with the funding being released from April 2009.

Any accelerated spending will be taken off the 2010-11 local authority allocations.

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls (right) said: “It’s very good news for the construction industry and small businesses across the country that we are boosting the economy by accelerating capital investment in

schools over the next 12 months.

"This decision means that building or refurbishment projects, particularly in primaries, already costed, designed and ready to go can now start as soon as possible. It also means that local authorities can get even more value for money from current, larger projects by extending them with this funding advance.

“The vast bulk of the projects that can be brought forward will be small-scale modernisations and refurbishments – giving immediate cash injections to thousands of small and medium-sized businesses fitting out these new facilities.

"We’re sweeping away the historic legacy of under-funded and underresourced schools thanks to our sustained, record capital investment programme over the last decade. A world-class education system needs world-class facilities – that’s exactly what we are delivering.”

Cash for working in tough schools Good teachers are to be offered £10,000 in extra cash payments to encourage them to work in England’s toughest schools.

The government proposal aims to boost achievement among disadvantaged pupils as part of their White Paper on increasing social mobility.

It is estimated that about 6,000 teachers in 500 of the most challenging secondary schools will be offered these ‘golden handcuffs’.

Teachers will get the payments in return for three years’ service in the same school.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that it was part of the government’s drive to raise standards in schools and to provide support for children in their early years.

The National Union of Teachers said in response to the proposals: “Schools in the most challenging areas will always be fragile because of the social deprivation surrounding them and a top priority must be securing a stable and motivated staff.

This initiative will not do the job if the Government continues with arbitrary targets, league tables and lists of so called failing schools which could see schools in tough areas closed.

“We would prefer an approach where the money was spent on reducing class sizes and making links with the local community which has had some success in the past”.

Lost for Words Parents do not receive enough information The Children’s charity ‘I CAN’, who work for children with speech and language difficulties has reacted to a recently televised programme ‘Lost for Words’, which highlighted that in some parts of the country, 40-50% of children are arriving at school with poor speech and language skills.

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Virginia Beardshaw, I CAN Chief Executive, said: “I believe strongly that speech, language and communication skills are the bedrock on which children learn, achieve and make friends. This programme clearly identified the ‘golden age’ between 0-5.

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

“We believe that parents and carers simply do not receive enough information and support about children’s communication development. The UK needs to encourage all children to talk just like we encourage our children to walk.

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National School News

Girls wrongly stereotyped A recent survey of British teenage girls has revealed that they feel ‘disempowered’ and denigrated by society and are wrongly stereotyped by the media as, ‘chavs, criminals, wannabe wags and teenage mums’.

1300 girls aged between 13-19 were surveyed by teenage magazine, mybliss.co.uk and almost three quarters (72%) of girls felt unfairly portrayed by the media.

In fact the majority of girls would rather be a businesswoman, doctor or lawyer than a footballer’s wife with their ultimate role model being author JK Rowling (right).

Positive praise produces results British primary pupils are better behaved now than they have been for at least 20 years, according to a major new study.

The study led by Brian Apter, senior educational psychologist for Wolverhampton council, oversaw a team of 71 educational psychologists, who carried out observations in 141 classrooms. This was one of the largest primary school studies ever conducted.

Brian said: “They are more likely than their predecessors to listen to their teacher and to do the work assigned to them.

“We also found that pupils were wellbehaved and focused on their schoolwork for “an unexpectedly high proportion” of their time in class.

Children concentrated on work for 85 per cent of the time: a higher rate than has ever been recorded before in British schools.

This improvement in pupils’ behaviour began with a dramatic rise in the mid-1980s, and has continued steadily since. The researchers attribute this to the fact that the teachers provided clear and detailed instructions, and regularly praised pupils’ work.

Helping parents back into work New pilot scheme to help families A new pilot scheme aimed at helping the parents of children in poverty get into work, has been launched in ten Local Authorities.

Parents will have access to Jobcentre Plus personal advisers in Children’s Centres to help them access work focussed services.

The pilot which will run in 30 children’s centres from January 2009, was announced by ministers, Kitty Ussher, Beverley Hughes and Stephen Timms.

The Children’s Centres, which act as central hubs for families with children aged under five years old, supply parents with information to services for families regarding education and childcare.

As well as testing the impact of putting a full time Jobcentre Plus Personal Adviser into children’s centres across ten Local Authorities, the pilot will also test what other support may help parents move into employment.

The pilot will complement the existing

initiative of providing tax credits advice through Children’s Centres, which is being expanded following a successful pilot earlier in the year.

Child Poverty Minister Kitty Ussher said: “There are also 50,000 free childcare places available to help unemployed parents whilst they are training to return to work.

“Work for parents who can, remains the best route out of poverty and we are committed to supporting them to find work, stay in work and progress so that they can build a sustainable future for their families. Making Jobcentres Plus services more accessible will give parents a further helping hand to achieve this goal.”

The ten Local Authorities chosen to test the impact of embedding Jobcentre Plus services in children’s centres are: Westminster, Lambeth, Nottingham City, Southampton, Sandwell, Redcar and Cleveland, Somerset, Blackpool, Kingston Upon Hull and Ealing.

Schools use the force

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe went back to school to welcome 13 new dedicated police officers to secondary schools across Merseyside.

The officers will take the total of schools officers across the Force up to 36. The aim is eventually to have dedicated schools officers for the 116

secondary schools, and their feeder primary schools, across Merseyside.

Chief Constable Bernard HoganHowe , said: “Young people are our future and Merseyside Police is committed to working with our partners in education to provide a safe and positive learning environment.

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Bellerive FCJ Catholic College Specialising in the Sciences, Maths and Computing

SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING 9th February 2009 6.00-8.00pm for male and female students seeking a place in September 2009 Bellerive 6th form is housed in a separate building with three common rooms, kitchen facilities, two ICT suites and a fitness suite. A wide range of academic and applied subjects are offered together with enrichment activities.

In the recent inspections, carried out by OFSTED and the archdiocese, Bellerive was judged to ‘outstanding’.

For full details pick up a brochure at the open evening.

Windermere Terrace Sef ton Park Liverpool L8 3SB

Suaviter in Modo, Fortiter in Re

St Margaret’s Sixth Form Aigburth Road, Liverpool L17 6AB Tel: 0151 427 1825 www.stmargaretshigh.com

OPEN EVENING TUESDAY 3rd MARCH 6.45pm - 9.00pm ADMISSIONS PRESENTATION AT 7.00pm Thinking of a new start for your sixth form education?

With access to over 30 ‘A’ Levels, eight vocational subjects and with a 97% pass rate, we can find a course to meet your needs, and provide you with excellent teachers who really care.

You will study in a superb self contained sixth form centre comprising an internet lounge, study centre and diner and have an individual locker.

You will have access to the very latest technology as well as a new £2m sports and fitness centre for your leisure activities.

Take this opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of St Margaret’s highly successful sixth form. We look forward to welcoming you to our open evening.

A specialist technology and language college and a member of the faiths parternship 'Students speak very highly of the support and guidance they receive before they enter the Sixth Form, during the induction process and when they are considering their future options or careers' Ofsted 'Once they embark on courses students invariably complete them successfully' Ofsted

TEL: 0151 427 1825 www.stmargaretshigh.com 32

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Every Childwall child matters

CHILDWALL SCHOOL A Specialist Sports College

“ Childwall School has a positive ethos. This is a harmonious school where everyone feels safe, valued and secure� Ofsted 2008 Any parent wishing to view the school please telephone for an appointment Headteacher Dewi Phillips, J.P., B.A., M.Ed. Fiveways, Queens Drive, Liverpool L15 6XZ email admin@childwallsc.co.uk website www.childwallsc.co.uk

Tel: 0151 722 1561

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Meet the Headteacher Dewi Philips, Childwall School

Scaling Olympic heights T

his year will mark a twenty-year commitment to Childwall School for headteacher, Dewi Philips, who joined the specialist sports college as deputy head in 1989. Back then the school was spread over three sites and Dewi was the most junior of three deputies, earning him the affectionate but specific title of ‘deputy number three’. Two decades on Dewi has led the school through various changes, the most significant of which came six years ago when the school achieved specialist sports status.

Childwall School is, according to last year's Ofsted report, “a harmonious community where everyone feels safe, valued and secure.”

The school's prospectus describes a 'caring but challenging' atmosphere and, when talking about his staff, headteacher Dewi comments: “I often think to myself, I'd like those sorts of people teaching my own children.” The school breeds a sense of familiarity, of belonging and with close on 1300 students in attendance that's no easy task. But with dedicated staff members, who “go not the extra mile but the extra hundred miles” combined with the passion and commitment of their head, it's no wonder the recent HMI inspectorate said the school was both an “inclusive and successful” environment where youngsters enjoyed coming.

Dewi arrived at Childwall having taught in various schools in north Wales and his distinct Welsh twang reflects his charismatic but composed inner self. His background in teaching has been varied and the array of subjects he has taught reflects an adaptability that lends itself to his current 34

position, which Dewi describes as “a role like no other”. He considers this role as two-fold; with a responsibility to provide a “strategic lead for the school, making sure the staff have the time and space to develop

government for English and Maths.

Fittingly, for a school with a focus on health and fitness, Childwall pursues the Olympic ideals such as commitment, enthusiasm and teamwork.

Dewi says: “Whenever the youngsters undertake any activity in this school, whether it’s their Spanish, Maths or English lesson or if they’re taking part in a football match, I expect those principles to stay with them right the way through from 11-19. And many of our former pupils return to help out, for example with the sports teams or the drama

healthily, attend every single day and make commitments to the school and all their teams.”

And youngsters at Childwall get something in return for their pledge to the school; facilities were greatly enhanced with the funding that came via specialist sports status; the school built a health and fitness studio that is now used “virtually 24/7”.

Additionally staff at the school provide an extensive extra curricular programme covering music, drama, chess, after school groups focusing on a range of subjects, and of

“

Commitment, enthusiasm and teamwork are three of the ideals that have won Childwall School recognition as a specialist sports college...

”

their teaching skills and to get the best out of the pupils” and to nurture the youngsters who attend so that they are both happy and challenged at all times.

Childwall School is understandably proud of its strong humanitarian ethos but equally its impressive academic achievements.

Dewi explains that since the school was designated as a specialist sports college and the focus has been placed on sport and health, GCSE results have risen every year.

Last summer, the 60 per cent pass rate for five A-Cs exceeded the school’s own target and that set by the

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club, so it’s encouraging a long term commitment to the good of the school.”

When Childwall decided to go for sport as its specialism the school already had a strong emphasis on P.E and health but Dewi explains it helped to focus their strengths: “It was a way of funnelling our emphasis and getting extra money to develop more facilities. Every subject produces projects that link up with sport and P.E and health on a regular basis so the message is always being reiterated. It’s a health regime that we try and instil in all of our youngsters by encouraging them to eat

course, a broad sports programme.

Dewi admits it’s a far cry from his own experience at school: “It was a very boring kind of schooling I think when I look back on it; there were very few opportunities to do anything other than go to your lessons. It was almost a sausage machine; you went in, studied and hopefully passed your exams. Our youngsters are involved in every sphere of activity imaginable and I would love every child to have had the opportunities that they have.”

The school has just taken on science as a second specialist subject which will link in well

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with its current specialism and the curriculum is expected to be broadened which will “make sure our youngsters are on the right courses at all times, with the right assessment and the right guidance.” There are also plans for a health centre to be built on site within the next twelve months, housing GPs and nurses and offering specialist advice to both pupils and parents.

Dewi hopes this service will provide the opportunity for parents and pupils to come together when dealing with health issues as they already do in so many other areas of school life: “We have parents and children taking part in sporting activities, in the life of the school and in parents’ evenings and I would like to think that when there are any medical problems that as families they can stick together and get the advice that I hope we can provide in this centre.”

Childwall is a school with a bright future, a future that according to its mission statement ‘belongs to those who are educated for it’ and Dewi Philips is there to ensure that all students are given that education: “I see my main challenge as trying to make sure that everybody who works here, whether staff or student, is able to maximise their potential. I’m thrilled to have this job and I feel it’s a privilege to be working with youngsters, but it’s also a huge responsibility because in our hands we are holding the future of close on 1300 youngsters. So I aim to provide opportunities for all pupils to be happy and successful, and to be stretched to achieve the very highest levels.”

By Marie Martin Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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www.MerseysideBioBank.org.uk

RECORDING WILDLIFE IN SCHOOL GROUNDS Wildlife records are essential for understanding and protecting the natural world. School grounds can often provide an important refuge for wildlife.

Merseyside BioBank wants to know what wildlife you have in your school grounds.

All schools across Merseyside can get involved; rural or urban, large or small, primary, special or secondary. You can complete one record or make lots of wildlife records, include the whole school or just the lucky few. By involving your students in making wildlife records and sending them into us, you will be making a valuable contribution to conservation in your local area.

INVOLVING YOUR SCHOOL WILDLIFE RECORD - 2009 WHO? Holly Green

WHAT? Painted Lady Butterfly

Vanessa cardui

WHERE? Darwin Primary School, Merseyside L12 3AB On the playing field Grid Ref: SJ 456123 WHEN? 2nd February 2009

Making a wildlife record is great fun and it can be quick and easy too! You don’t even need to include a picture, although this is useful, especially if you need us to help with identification.

All you need to remember to include is the 4Ws: WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? More information on how to make a record & a variety of recording forms on our website,

www.MerseysideBioBank.org.uk

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YOUR LOCAL RECORDS CENTRE Merseyside BioBank is the Local Records Centre for North Merseyside, a not-for-profit organisation, collecting information on wildlife and habitats across Merseyside. We support education from primary to higher education level, involving students with the natural environment. We also provide plenty of opportunities for individuals and community groups to learn more about local wildlife and how to record it.

ENHANCING THE CURRICULUM Involvement in recording wildlife links to the Science Curriculum at all levels of education and provides good cross-curriculum links, especially with Geography, ICT, Literacy, Maths, PSHE and Art. Children from Roby Park Primary - Š Merseyside BioBank

WILDLIFE RECORDING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR Did you know House Sparrows, House Martins, Starlings and Swifts have all declined in our area in recent years? Involving your students in bird recording, at any time of year, can raise awareness about local wildlife and provide us with valuable information.

Download our Bird Survey Recording Pack from

www.MerseysideBioBank.org.uk

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Help conserve your local species and habitats

© Richard Burkmar

© Ainsdale Sand Dunes NNR

© D Miller (Merseyside BioBank)

SPRING TERM 2009

Remember to send your wildlife records into us:

Take part in our Amphibian Survey and help us to get a better understanding of the numbers of frogs, toads and newts in school grounds across Merseyside.

Don’t forget to send your records into us! Full details, including identification resources can be found at www.MerseysideBioBank.org.uk

Freepost RRXT-AGJR-YSXE Merseyside BioBank Court Hey Park LIVERPOOL L16 3NA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION How much do you know about Biodiversity Action Plans?

These plans help to conserve species and habitats of local and national significance.

Why not create a School Biodiversity Action Plan?

It’s a great way to connect your students with their local environment - find out more on our website.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE Find out more about Biodiversity Action Plans and lots of other information about wildlife across Merseyside.

For school information see our Education Section which includes:

LOTS OF PRIZES TO BE WON! SUMMER TERM 2009 BIG WILDLIFE RECORDING EVENT Take part in this unique opportunity to provide information about wildlife in schools across Merseyside. All you need to do is get recording in May, June or July and send your records into us – you could win a whole range of prizes to benefit your whole school. Register your interest now by emailing your contact details to:

Education@MerseysideBioBank.org.uk Recording packs will be sent out to schools in the Spring & Summer terms.

• Advice on recording wildlife & surveys to get involved with • Educational resources to download • Wildlife factsheets • Identification sheets & recording sheets Look out for facilities to input records online, coming very shortly.

www.MerseysideBioBank.org.uk Or contact

Education@MerseysideBioBank.org.uk Telephone: 0151 737 4151

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Secondary School News

Race to the top Economics students at Merchants Taylors’ Boys’ School are getting a head start in the race for top jobs in the Square Mile by studying for a diploma sat by the Securities and Investment Institute.

The top Crosby school is one of only 20 secondary schools and Further Education colleges nationwide, and the only school in the North West, to offer the new qualification set by the professional qualifications body for the investments industry.

Head of Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School Sixth Form John Farrell said: “Many former pupils go on to work in the City and many comeback and visit us and it was through chatting to Andrew that we got the lead. We now hope he will come back and give a master class as part of the course.”

Robert Edwards, who wants to study Economics at Lancaster, added: “It is extra work into our busy A Level schedules but it’s a different type of work and we can all see its direct relevance to our potential future careers.”

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Dominic gets on track Student has his own bush tucker trial Dominic Appleton from Formby High School, Liverpool, spent the day learning bushcraft skills with Ray Mears – courtesy of Ordnance Survey.

Every year Ordnance Survey offers 11-year-olds across the country a free OS Explorer Map. As part of the scheme, pupils were asked five mapreading and nature questions and were invited to design a new map symbol.

Dominic won his day with Ray thanks to being among the best dozen entries received.

For Dominic it was a fantastic chance to put the map-reading skills he learnt in the classroom into practice. He also picked up some useful life saving tips.

Ray said: “It was a real privilege to spend the day with such well

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

motivated youngsters. Their energy and enthusiasm for wild Britain was really refreshing. We covered some challenging concepts of navigation, which they grasped without difficulty.”

The word malaria comes from the words mal and aria, which means bad air. This derives from the old days when it was thought that all diseases are caused by bad, or dirty air.

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Secondary School News

New recruit unveiled at Shorefields Pupils and artist inspired by designs Merseyside Police ‘rescued’ a homeless Superlambanana and commissioned local artist Vince Cleghorne to work with pupils at Shorefields Technology College who came up with lots of police inspired designs.

Vince Cleghorne, said: “I have done several lambanana’s before with various organisations, including Superfiveday, Superstanley and the controversial Superabbeyroad (John Lennon). This lambanana has seen a commitment by the students which I haven’t seen before.

“They worked one hundred percent from concept to completion. We had a great time creating Superpeelerlambanana, and are

thankful to Wild at Art and Merseyside police for giving us the opportunity…

Thanks guys.”

The top seven designs were chosen

by Chief Officers and all officers and staff voted on the intranet for the favourite design. Pupils and Vince then painted the chosen design. Pupils also created the name.

Sean Buls, Head of Art, Shorefields Technology College, said: “The project has inspired some first class designs and a professional finish from the students. They should all be very proud of their achievement!”

‘Superpeelerlambanana’ will be on duty in the reception of Merseyside Police’s Headquarters at Canning Place.

Pupils from Shorefields Technology College and Superpeelerlambanana with (l-r) Larry Wilson, Associate Head, Neighbourhood Inspector Stuart Quirk, local artist Vince Cleghorne, Sean Buls, Head of Art, and Constable Geoff Sullivan, School Officer.

Hitting all the right notes Archbishop Beck Catholic Sports College Concert Band confirmed their status as one of the top school bands in the UK, by winning another first place at the Southport Music Festival, in October 2008.

The group were taking part in the Youth Ensembles section. This was the Concert Band’s 3rd winning performance at this Festival, which is one of the country’s oldest established music Festivals The adjudicator awarded top marks to the Liverpool school and described the performance as impressive, exciting and fantastic. The Concert band from Archbishop Beck were performing against St Mary’s College from Crosby and Bruce Hicks Director of the winning band described the event as a truly remarkable evening of music by all performers.

Earlier in the day pupils from the College also won all woodwind sections, Helen Goldsmith first in open woodwind, Radha Ramkalwon, under 16 woodwind with Bethany Mawdsley gaining 3rd place and Sarah Goldsmith winning under 14 woodwind.

Helen Goldsmith winner of the open woodwind section

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Secondary School News

Stephanie Shannon and Rebecca Grundy, pictured with Head of RE Corin Willis

Students Excel in exams Pupils amongst the top ten in the country St Julie’s Catholic High School in Woolton celebrated their exam results once again after learning that three students sitting a national Edexcel GCSE exam achieved results among the top ten in the country.

Stephanie Shannon, Rebecca

Grundy and Amy Bennett all sat the GCSE Religious Studies exam earlier this summer and the results, show that out of 67,731 candidates, the three girls each achieved marks amongst the national top ten.

Sister Ann Marie Gammack, Head Teacher at St Julie’s, said: “To have

one student amongst the national top ten is an outstanding achievement, but to have three in the same year is astonishing. We're all very proud of the girls and their teachers and have high expectations for their Sixth Form results.”

Launch of ‘Casa Blancha’ Pupils from Archbishop Blanch CofE High School recently returned from half term to enjoy their meals seated at a newly refurbished bistro style setting.

The school has also taken over responsibility for its own catering and has committed itself to a programme of Healthy Eating.

The dining room area was officially opened by Radio City DJ, Claire Morrow where the menu took on a multi-cultural theme for the day.

Headteacher, Miss Griffiths, said: “The pupils returned to enjoy their meals seated at comfortable new furniture within a bistro type setting and we hope that this will make their lunchtime experience more pleasurable. It was also important that we offered a balanced and healthy meal for our children”.

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Secondary School News

Pupils dig deep for Zimbabwean wells Charity work leads to recognition The pupils and staff of two local schools have been commended for their efforts to provide clean water supplies to villages in Zimbabwe.

St Mary’s, Astley and Maricourt School, Maghull have been taking part in a scheme set up by the charity Pump Aid, and AquAid water coolers.

For every four water coolers in the school Pump Aid install a well in Zimbabwe with an inscription showing their name: as well as receiving a letter of thanks from the grateful villagers. The charity estimates that 2500 people in Africa now benefit from the two schools good work.

“We’re delighted to be part of such a unique scheme,” said Head Teachers David Burnett and Brendan McLoughlin

in a joint statement. “To think that whilst we are encouraging our children to drink more water for their own health’s sake, we’re also saving lives in another part of the world is quite staggering. We love the partnership idea, and want to encourage our students to think about the wider aspects of helping other people.”

Pupils from Maricourt School

Pupils from St Mary’s School

Telling myths and tales Pupils from St John Bosco High School, Liverpool were recently involved with the Tales Project.

The project was a Liverpool Culture company production bringing, animators, artists, film makers and drama experts together to work with 16 educational organisations to create a wonderful event based around European Myths and Tales.

It was a stunning event with many young people all dancing, singing and acting in their own very beautiful St Georges Hall.

The event happened over three days and was seen by hundreds of people including the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.

St John Bosco students were given the theme ‘The Realm of the Banshee’ and worked with their

Music and Performing Arts department to create their pieces.

They also worked with costume designers leading up to the production creating a very atmospheric feel to the work they were doing.

Headteacher Anne Pontifex, said: “We had lots of wonderful feedback for this event well done to all those involved for a fantastic event”.

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Help and advice

Dear Educate

******************************************************* My son’s 11 and has just been given his first detention, for distracting others in class. He will need to stay behind after school for half an hour and, as far as I know, he will be with some other pupils and will be supervised. He seemed a bit worried when he gave me the letter. How can I reassure him that it’s not the end of the world, while making him see the importance of behaving himself in class?

My children are starting secondary school this September and are badgering me to let them walk to primary school on their own.

I’m a bit hesitant to let them just yet, even though I know they’ll be going along together. Do you have any advice?

Walking to school is a great way for you and your child to learn about road safety, get some exercise and for you to share some quality time together. If you don’t normally walk to school all together then begin by making the school journey on foot. That way you can familiarise your children with the route, and make sure that you feel comfortable and confident that they’ll be safe, pay attention to

crossings, and are happy in the route before you agree to let them go on their own. If you can’t walk them to school yourself, then leave it until the holidays and practise the route several times with them before you consider letting them try it themselves. To read more about taking your child to school safely, see our Transport feature on page 24.

I have a daughter, who’s ten, and when she stayed at her friend’s house during the holidays, her friend’s mum left them alone for half an hour while she went to see a neighbour and, on another occasion to the shops. What’s the right age to allow your child to stay in the house, on their own?

There is no legal age limit for leaving a child on their own, although the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) states that it is unacceptable for a child under 16 to be left alone overnight. As such, it very much depends on the individual child, for how long they’ll be left on their own, and on the time of day it is. I do think that your child’s friend’s parent should have checked with you to see if you were happy that your daughter was left in the house with just another child first of all. If you’re not happy about the situation, speak to

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the other mum about it and let her know your feelings on the matter. In general, a ten year-old child should be fine by themselves for a few minutes or half an hour during the daytime, but this depends on the child’s maturity. They shouldn’t be made responsible for any other children in the house, or for their friends during this time, but leaving them in for a few minutes, while they’re watching TV or are occupied with a book or some games, can be a good way to increase their independence from you and help them to feel more grown up.

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

There’s a delicate balance you need to strike here, and you’ve done well to recognise that. A first detention is something everyone remembers, but to make sure it’s not one of many it’s important to make sure that your child takes it seriously and understands why he’s received it. Ask him about what happened in class, if you haven’t already, and let him know that, while you don’t support what he did, you won’t be punishing him in addition to the detention.

Make sure he understands why he’s been given a detention and talk to him about avoiding those sorts of situations in the future. Make a note of the teacher’s name and the lesson, and keep an eye out if he’ll be coming home from school later on that evening. If it happens again in the near future, consider going into the school to discuss it with the teacher concerned and make sure it’s nipped in the bud.

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NOTRE DAME CATHOLIC COLLEGE FOR THE ARTS Everton Valley, Liverpool L4 4EZ 0151 263 3104 Headteacher: Miss C B McCann BA MSc e: ao@notredame.liverpool.sch.uk w: notredameliverpool.com

1%

We are in the top nationally for student academic progress GCSE results 2008 77% 5 or more A*-C grades 99% 5 or more A*-G grades ArtsMark Gold Inclusion Charter Mark Gold “Student behaviour was exemplary in lessons and around the college” Ofsted 2006 “A high proportion of students participate in an outstanding range of Performing Arts and sporting activities which take place out of college hours”. Ofsted 2006 First class Performing Arts facilities and resources including: • A 500 seat performance arena • A 200 seat drama studio • A fully equipped recording studio • A professional, mirrored Dance studio • State of the art music technology facilities • One to one music tuition • More Able and Talented provision for music, dance and drama • Composer in residence

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Secondary School News

Amazing space Young people from Broadgreen International School and Berrybridge Housing had their say on the development of a local playing field as landscape designers took their ideas for a new community woodland to the drawing board.

The teenagers are part of Berrybridge Housing’s Young Managers programme which is organised in partnership with Broadgreen International School.

They suggested a treehouse, climbing wall and sculptures to add the finishing touches to the £700,000 renovation of Mab Lane playing fields.

The Dovecot community has been involved with the project since it started and the students spoke up to encourage other young people to use the green space at the heart of their community.

Ben Pope, Liverpool 2020’s designer, said: “The project caught the young managers’ imagination and they were really enthusiastic about inventing unusual and practical features which young people will enjoy. We are using their ideas to transform the area into an amazing green space for everyone.

Berrybridge Housing and the local community have wanted to improve the land for many years and the development has now been given the green light”.

Rebecca Jones, and Kaylie Maffei create a level playing field with ideas to attract young people 44

Royal Recognition Teacher “very proud” of her award Pam Jervis, head teacher at Kirkby Sports College recently received the MBE at Buckingham Palace for her enormous contribution to the academic education.

Born and brought up in Liverpool, Pam went to Leicester University where she gained a degree in geography. She then returned to Merseyside to train as a teacher at Liverpool University specialising in geography and outdoor education.

Pam’s teaching career began in Liverpool 30 years ago. In 1986, she was appointed as deputy head at Brookfield High School and head teacher in 1992.

Pam is now the principal of Kirkby Sports College. She is also a governor of a local primary school and of Knowsley Community College.

As a member of the Sport England Lottery Panel, Pam had the privilege to be involved in sport both nationally and regionally - for example the Manchester Commonwealth Games. She was then appointed to the North West Regional Sports Board and chairs the Knowsley

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

Community Sports Network.

Pam said after receiving her award: “I found out that I had been nominated in June of this year and was delighted. It is a great honour to be awarded an MBE and I am very proud to receive it on behalf of all those people who have made it possible - and with whom I share it”.

In addition to all of this, Pam is a member of the Sports College Head Teacher Steering Group for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics and the education representative on the North West 2012 group.

Over the next few months, Pam will be guiding Kirkby Sports College as it prepares to reopen in September of this year as one of Knowsley borough’s Centres for Learning.

She said: “This is a very exciting time for me as we look forward to being able to offer our students state of the art, 21st century provision. I am very confident that we will be in an even stronger position to raise educational attainment for Knowsley’s young people”.

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Secondary School News

Big Sing – Big Record Pupils celebrate Guiness record in song

Pupils from Prescot School recently entered the ‘Big Sing’ campaign to raise funds and help break a world record.

The school were one amongst 3,509 schools who joined together for the biggest simultaneous sing along to not only break the world singalong

record but also to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care, CLIC Sargent and Youth Music.

The choir was led by multi award winning singer/songwriter Des'ree who will perform a specially commissioned version of her worldwide smash hit ''You Gotta Be'

live from The 02 arena in London.

Janet Madden, Music teacher at Prescot School, said: “The event was a real success with the children totally enjoying not only joining in with others schools but also getting into the Guinness Book of World Records”.

Olympic fever hits Sports College Childwall Sports College recently hosted an Olympic event in conjunction with the Department for Children Schools & Families (DCSF) and the Olympic movement.

Childwall played host to an event to publicise and support the 2012 Olympic Games and were joined by a number of important guests. Visitors included the Olympic Gymnast Beth Tweddle, the Paralympic Swimmer, Chris Holmes and the Olympic Canoeist, Ian Wynne.

Also visiting Childwall School were representatives from a number of Primary Schools including St Malachy’s Catholic Primary School, Hunts Cross, Dovedale, Wavertree C of E, Phoenix, Childwall C of E, St Anthony of Padua, Northway, Springwood Heath, Sudley Junior School, Lawrence, Mosspits, Heygreen, Greenbank and Our Lady of Good Help.

Dewi Phillips, Headteacher, said: “This was a fantastic day in the life of Childwall Sports College. Students thoroughly enjoyed the day and were thrilled when local band ‘Platnum’ performed for the audience. This will inspire our youngsters and all our neighbouring schools to Headteacher Dewi Phillips, centre, and pupils are pictured support the 2012 Games”. with athletes Ian Wynne, Chris Holmes and Beth Tweddle.

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School News

Creativity, initiative and teamwork

Get inspired

Enterprising school

Interactive exhibition comes to North West

Liverpool Business School has been involved in November’s National Enterprise Week at a local high school. Led by Dr Jo Meehan (LBS) and John Howey (BDC), they joined a team of inspiring alumni to deliver the ‘Building Enterprise Skills’ workshop at Broadgreen International School.

The students were welcomed with an enlightening talk about careers in business and the role of enterprise in Liverpool from councillor, Gary Miller, co-owner of Parr Street Studios and Liverpool City Council Executive Board member for enterprise and tourism.

Skills North West, the region’s biggest careers event, happens on 3, 4 and 5 February 2009 at Bolton Arena.

Young people from across the North West will have an opportunity to find out more about careers and skills. But this is a careers event with a difference; you can have fun as you find out about all the options available.

Supported by the Learning & Skills Council and Northwest Regional Development Agency over 60 exhibitors will be there. Visit www.skillsnw.co.uk to book your places.

The student ideas and presentations showed creativity, initiative and genuine teamwork. The business ideas included a city centre gaming studio, a river-based activity centre, a mobile fashion service, a holiday park and a tourist service package. Each group had to vote for who they believed was the winning team and give their reasons why.

The winning team created an extreme sports business idea that the students considered exciting, fun, unique and well presented. Sonia Cross, the Enterprise Co-ordinator for Broadgreen International School was delighted with the event, “I would like to thank Liverpool Business School and all the volunteers for such an enjoyable day. The facilitators did a marvellous job in energising and motivating the students as well as ensuring they delivered professional business pitches. We have had excellent feedback from the students and look forward to working with Liverpool John Moores University further in the New Year”.

Telling Tales in school The girls from St John Bosco school, Croxteth were involved with the Tales Project.

This was a Liverpool Culture Company production bringing, animators, artists, film makers and Drama experts together to work with 16 educational organisations to create a wonderful event based around European Myths and Tales. It was a stunning event with many young people all dancing, singing and acting in our own very beautiful St Georges Hall.

The event happened over three days and was seen by hundreds of people including the Lord Mayor.

The students were given the theme The Realm of the Banshee and worked with their Music and Performing Arts department to create their pieces. The students also worked with costume designers leading up to the production creating a very atmospheric feel to the work they were doing 46

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Top of the class St Julie’s High School Annual Prizegiving Ceremony was a particularly jubilant occasion in December 2008 for a number of former sixth-form pupils, now pursuing degrees and qualifications in their chosen field.

Clare Oliver, who achieved three A levels at grade A in English Literature, French and History is now studying Law with French at the University of Leeds. Clare was awarded the Student of the Year award, along with the Ann Connor Prize for Contribution to Liturgy, an award to recognise her role on the school council, and a 100 per cent attendance prize.

Whilst at St Julie’s, Clare’s favourite subject was History and, after graduation, she hopes to work as a practising lawyer within the European Union.

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Holly Lodge Girls’ College Specialist School for the Arts Holly Lodge is one of the most popular schools in Liverpool. In our mixed Sixth Form, we place a strong emphasis on not only academic achievement but also responsible citizenship and personal development.

Open Evening February 5th 2009 Starts 7pm Come along for an informative look at the college and see what we can offer your son or daugther.

Contact the school for further details

Holly Lodge Girls’ College Queens Drive, West Derby, Liverpool L13 0AE 0151 228 3772/220 4234 Email: hollylodge@hollylodge.liverpool.sch.uk Web: www.hollylodge.liverpool.sch.uk Ms J E Tinsley BA Hons NPQH

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Education

Schools across Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley celebrated an average rise of seven per cent* in GCSE pass rates in 2008. Yet, some school leavers across the three boroughs are still ill prepared and lack the qualifications to enter the workplace. What is being done to help young adults realise their potential? *Provisional Figures Supplied December 2008

Education For Life cademic achievements are clearly an important and relevant benchmark of a pupil’s suitability for work, yet some feel that the schooling system is ill-equipped to prepare students for work.

According to Liverpool Compact, an agency which promotes work- related education, for some students at Key Stage 4 ‘the National Curriculum does not meet all their needs, abilities or aspirations and as a result, an increasing number are at risk of “dropping out” of the education system.’

Peter Stoney, senior fellow at Liverpool University Management School, points out there seems to be a worrying gap developing between those adequately prepared and those who are not: “Merseyside also has a higher percentage than the national average of school leavers leaving without any qualifications.”

Recent changes in education guidelines show the government is addressing this issue; a new employment engagement strategy,

A

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Building Stronger Partnerships has been established to ‘encourage greater partnerships between employers and schools to boost learning and future prospects’.

Changes such as this are vital to strengthen the city’s future workforce and encourage businesses to invest in the area and the expertise on offer here. Jon Seal, director in charge at Rensburg Sheppards, said this is a huge magnet for drawing in investment: “The city has a strong clerical, financial and administrative workforce which we’ve seen grow, and when we acquired Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite we moved the administration department up here. The reason we were able to do that is due to the pool of talent in Liverpool; and that’s been recognised by the Bank of New York, Tilney and Rathbone.”

The government says ‘equipping young people with core skills and strong qualifications is vital for their own success and in the long term for the economy’ and is changing education to meet this need. The key changes in educational

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policy include: a greater emphasis on developing functional skills; inclusion of personal skills such as communication and teamwork; introduction of the Foundation Learning Tier to increase help to those who are under-achieving; updating GCSEs and A Levels; introduction of the new Diploma, offering a mix of practical and theoretical learning; an expansion of the apprenticeship scheme and increasing the age at which young people stay on in either education or training to 18.

The September Guarantee, which aims to offer a suitable place in education or training to every young person leaving compulsory education, has recently been extended to 17year-olds after the successful introduction of the scheme for 16-year-olds – 94 per cent of whom were provided with a suitable offer this year.

With the school leaving age being increased to 17 it’s now more important than ever that educational provisions are adequate to meet all pupils’ needs and prepare them for their future careers.

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qualifications more challenging and stimulating for students. In addition, the inclusion of an ‘extended project’, a separate qualification to add to their studies, is intended to develop research and independent learning skills that will help students when they move on to higher education or employment.

DIPLOMAS The Diploma is a new qualification that can be taken at selected schools and colleges across Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton.

Liverpool schools are among the first in the country to offer the Diploma since September 2008.

From September 2009 there will be 10 diploma subjects available, intended to teach students about the area of work they're interested in and explore subject areas without having to commit to a career in them. These include Creative Media, Construction and the Built Environment and Manufacturing and Product Design. The Advanced Diploma is a two-year course, which is equivalent to 3.5 A Levels.

The government has worked with employers and universities to make sure the Diploma equips students with life skills as well as the individual qualifications for their future careers.

They’re also designed with a more practical approach to learning through projects and work experience.

APPRENTICESHIPS Merseyside’s young adults can realise their potential through increasingly diverse and relevant options:

A/AS LEVELS One of the main routes into further education or employment has traditionally been A Levels, and more recently AS Levels. They’re useful for studying particular subjects in detail and are highly regarded by schools, colleges and employers.

Focusing on traditional study skills, in the past these qualifications have been quite restrictive in terms of coverage but have recently been extended to cover more diverse options. There are now around 80 subjects available to study at A/AS Level at schools across Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton covering a variety of academic and applied (work-related) subjects.

The revision of A Levels, introduced in September 2008, aims to make the

The Apprenticeship programme is a workbased route that allows young people to ‘earn while they learn’. Working alongside experienced staff, apprentices gain job specific skills and on day release receive training from a local training provider. There are approximately 180 career choices available covering around 80 sectors of industry and commerce.

Sean Johnson, 19, from West Derby, said: “I’ve always been hands on and never intended to follow an academic route, but I wasn’t sure what other options were available. When I spoke to a careers advisor at school she suggested an apprenticeship scheme with CITB. “I’ve completed two years of on the job training with a day-release course at Hugh Baird College, and I’ve come away with skills and knowledge but, as I’ve been able to earn money too, I feel I've had an added impetus to continue and finish training because I was able to remain financially independent.”

The government has announced further

funding of £140m to provide 35,000 more apprenticeships over the next year in a bid to revive the economy and have one in five young people on apprenticeships within ten years.

ENTERING EMPLOYMENT E2E is a programme for those at the preapprenticeship stage and is designed to offer advice, support training and work experience.

Participants are able to apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance, worth up to £30 a week, and are ‘expected to undertake learning in basic key skills, vocational development and personal and social development.’

Options for school leavers have been extended by the recent introduction of government programmes and legislation.

The emphasis has firmly been placed on tailoring education and training post compulsory education stage to provide young people with a more rounded experience that equips them with not just qualifications and academic knowledge but skills for employment.

Connexions Direct is a government support service for all young people between 13 and 19 that provides advice and guidance for personal development and to help them understand the variety of options available to them.

The professional landscape is changing rapidly and employers are looking for more than just academic qualifications; the world of education is responding to provide the facilities for acquiring job skills as well as scholarly success; it just remains for young people to grasp the opportunities available to make sure they get the best start to their futures in employment.

CONTACTS Visit www.connexions-direct.com for local Connexions services Liverpool Compact 0151 728 9454 email: info@liverpoolcompact.org.uk Learning Skills Council www.lsc.gov.uk Find out more about your local education providers through your local council: www.sefton.gov.uk/14-19 www.knowsley.gov.uk/education www.liverpool.gov.uk/education_and _learning

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Are you the parent of a Year 10 or 11 students?

Already considering the next steps after GCSE studies?

r 2 00 9 e t s Ea

Thinking A levels?

Consider the International Baccalaureate Broadgreen International School has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme since 1992 It is a compelling alternative to A levels offering students a truly broad and integrated curriculum.

You and your child are invited to find out more.

Come along to our information evening at Broadgreen International School on

Thursday 29th January starting at 6pm For more information please contact Mrs M Hedges I.B. Co-ordinator on 0151 254 6854 or by email martina.hedges@broadgreeninternationalschool.com We look forward to meeting you

Each year HCPT – The Pilgrimage Trust takes thousands of children aged 7-18 with disabilities or who have other needs on a Pilgrimage holiday to Lourdes in France. The children go in small groups, like families, with experienced volunteer helpers, many of whom are young people. The Trust also organises Pilgrimage holidays for people of all ages with disabilities to Hosanna House, a specially equipped house in the mountains outside Lourdes, as well as to our new property, the Bartrès Villa, which extends the work of the Trust to a wider range of pilgrims.

With your support, we can continue our work, so please pledge your support and help us do something wonderful today!

Oakfield Park, 32 Bilton Road, Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7HQ Telephone: 01788 564646 Fax: 01788 564640 Minicom: 01788 564642 Email: hq@hcpt.org.uk Website: www.hcpt.org.uk Any surplus monies raised will be used by the Trustees to further the Trust’s work.

Charity Registration No.281074 Registered in England as a Company Ltd. by Guarantee, No 1095198

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Connecting two cities A delegation of teachers from Norway recently visited Merseyside to see how schools in Liverpool compare to Norway.

The group of teachers from Stavanger on an exchange visit organised by Liverpool Compact, visited Broadgreen International School and Broughton Hall High School.

Mike Corley, Chief Executive of Liverpool Compact, said: “The Stavanger region was designated as a ‘European Capital of Culture 2008’ as was Liverpool, so both regions had a lot in common, we thought it would be a good idea for both regions to share and compare teaching methods”.

Some of the Art & Design projects at Broadgreen International

Technology students at Broadgreen International School Practical on-hand demonstrations from Broughton Hall students

Design and Technology at Broughton Hall

Broughton Hall 6th Form students showcase their designs

The Stavanger teachers gather a few project ideas

The Stavanger teachers at Broughton Hall School

The Stavanger teachers at Broadgreen International School

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St John Bosco Arts College To foster care, quality and equality for all in the tradition of St John Bosco

“The specialist arts status has enhanced the curriculum and encouraged other subjects to take a more creative approach to teaching and learning”, Ofsted 2007

Our recent Archdiocesan RE report 2007 confirmed “This is a good Catholic School with many outstanding features”.

Headteacher, Anne Pontifex says: “Everyone contributes to ensuring that our young people have a creative and stimulating learning environment, with state of the art resources and first class staff”.

We work hard together as a college community to learn together and enjoy our learning Stonedale Crescent Liverpool L11 9DQ 0151 546 6360 enquiries@stjohnbosco.org.uk

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Celebration of Achievement

Special day for special pupils Knowsley MBC recently held their annual ‘Celebration of Achievement’ awards at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

The awards are a way of recognising the work, enthusiasm, talent and determination of the children throughout their school years.

A special award went to Matt Smith from Halewood College. Although Matt is confined to a wheelchair through cerebral palsy, it has not stopped him playing a big role in raising funds for charity, but also in highlighting that children can achieve whatever they aim for and overcome barriers.

Cherryfield Primary School

Evelyn Community Primary School

Matt Smith, who received a special award for his Outstanding Determination

Eastcroft Park School Halewood Church of England School All Saints Catholic High School Plantation Primary School

Overdale Primary School St Laurence’s Catholic Primary School

St Mark’s Catholic Primary School

Knowsley Village School

ol lic Primary Scho Our Lady’s Catho Millbrook Community Primary School

Ravenscroft Community Primary School

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Students sink teeth into production Halewood College’s Orion Youth Theatre, recently showcased their latest project ‘A Dark Heart – Mina’s Dracula’ at the Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Klare Murray, Director of Community Arts at Halewood College, said: ‘Mina’s Dracula’ was a piece devised by the Orion Youth Theatre and explored the story using physical theatre as the main vehicle, it was one the the group’s greatest challenges.

“The play was well received and and was a complete sell-out with a fantastic response from the audience, I can only say the children were very professional”.

LtoR: Peter Greggs, Andrew McNeill, Anastasia O’Hare, Shaquiea Leary, Josh Bolt and Nicole Boardman

LtoR: Stephanie Daw, Bethan Brannan, Hannah Smith, James Morris and Beth Ormrod

Peter Greggs applies the final touches

LtoR: Emily Forster, Josh Hughes, Jonathon Peach, Rebecca Smith, Caitlin Stock and Ellie Floyd

Josh Bolt gets his teeth into his Dracula character

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A Dickens of a tale Snow and smoke machines and an authentic Dickensian set transported the audience to another time and place as St Edward’s pupils recently performed their version of Scrooge at the college. The show ran over three nights and prompted one audience member to say: “I’ve paid money to see professional theatre that wasn't as good as that”.

Charlotte Rowan (Year 9), who characterised the misanthropic, penny pinching miser Scrooge in such a way, that Dickens himself would have congratulated her (she truly was outstanding!)

Charlotte Rowan who played Scrooge

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Stockbridge 5-a-side shield

St Brigid’s triumph in tournament The Association of Stockbridge recently held their Annual 5-a-side Stockbridge Village School Shield for local Primary schools. Teams from St Brigid’s Primary, Brookside Primary and Ninetrees Primary competed at the Heatwaves Leisure Centre.

Tournament organiser, Helena Johnson said: “The teams totally enjoyed themselves and played some great football, all the games were played in a friendly manner with St Brigid’s being the overall winners.

The teams received their awards from the Mayor of Knowsley and enjoyed a post tournament party afterwards”.

Brookside Primary on the attack

Brookside goalkeeper makes a brilliant save

Talking tactics the coach lays down the rules

A well timed tackle

Ninetrees Years 6 and & 7 The fans just can’t get enough

St Brigids Primary School

es keeper nds from Ninetre A safe pair of ha Brookside Primary School

“Over here’

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Heenan win close game Cardinal Heenan proved the stronger team as they defeated Liverpool College in their seasonal inter-school football match. In what was a close game, closer than the scoreline suggested, Cardinal Heenan ran out 4-1 winners with goals from Paul Mooney, Jamie Lally and Thomas Halligan who netted two for Heenan and Callum Mullen replying for Liverpool College.

Liverpool College squad: Russel Cook, Jason Flack, Danny Yates, Matty Brabin, John Wood, Jesse Robinson, Tassos Botsis, Danny Taylor, Craig Bond, Callum Mullen, Lee Cook, James Conlan, Peter Ryan, Mark Watkinson, Ray Kenealy, Ryan Williams, Jamie Langton, Liam Burgess and Adam Mclean.

The Cardinal Heenan sqaud: Jamie Lally, Jack Backhouse, Oliver O'Connell, Ryan Leyden, Paul Mooney, Anthony Bradshaw, Alex Daley, Liam Smout, Myles McGowen, Thomas Halligan, Ryan Shaw-Twigg, Thomas Kinsella and Thomas Dowd

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Lydia wears 1. Guitar printed T-Shirt, £9, Debenhams 2. Pink Rolling Stones T-Shirt, £15-£20, Next 3. Pink Amplified T-Shirt, £10, Littlewoods Direct 4. Rock T-Shirt, £5.99, H&M

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Lawrie wears 1. Led Zeppelin T-Shirt, £18, Littlewoods Direct 2. Rolling Stones T-Shirt, £10-£15, Next 3. Guitar printed T-Shirt, £6-£11, Next 4. Rock T-Shirt, £5.99, H&M

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Stockists: Next 0844 844 5344, LittlewoodsDirect.com, Debenhams 0844 561 6161, H&M 0151 703 7350

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Top Tuition Encouraging, Enriching and Enhancing Your Child to achieve their educational potential Home Tuition in Maths and English Ages 5-16 All school Entrance tests and ‘Special Needs’ catered for

Call Top Tuition now for details 07984 936 990 or 0151 525 4164

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What does 2009 hold for Education in Merseyside?

Viewpoint

2009 sees the continued roll-out of the Building Schools for the Future programme in Merseyside, we also find what else is happening in 2009.

Graeme Wright – Labour The exciting challenge in Knowsley in the next twelve months is to continue delivering on our promises of transforming education through our Building Schools for the Future programme. We have already opened the first of our new Centres for Learning, Christ the King in North Huyton, and in the course of the coming year, four more will follow throughout different parts of the borough. All of them will be brand new state-of -theart buildings with flexible spaces to accommodate different learning needs and styles We will also be developing our strategy for primary schools, and again seeking to ensure that infant and junior children get the benefit of better buildings more suited to the needs of the generations coming up. We know our children have a plethora of talents, academic, sporting and cultural, and we are laying foundations for them to harness these talents to make a positive contribution throughout their lives.

Debi Jones – Conservative As Conservative spokesperson for Children’s Services, I am continually impressed with the standard the department consistently attains, and with the energy and vision of Bryn Marsh, the Director of Children’s Services.

A fantastic new Sixth Form College is being built in South Sefton and will be open for business from September next year. Building work will begin on the new Litherland High School in 2009. It will be the first Sefton school to be completed under the Building Schools for the Future OSP programme and will add to the ‘learning campus’‚ developing in Litherland. The year 2009 will also see the completion of the new All Saints Catholic Primary School and Rimrose Hope Primary Schools.

Keith Turner – Lib Dems 'We expect 2009 to start very well for Liverpool schools and pupils. Early in the New Year we expect the newly published data for 2008 attainment to show that Liverpool schools now out perform the national average attainment at 5A*-Cs GCSE. This is a huge achievement for our pupils and schools particularly given that Liverpool provides education for some of the most disadvantaged pupils in the country. Key stage 2 results will also reflect the highest attainment levels ever for pupils leaving primary schools. We will seek to build further upon these achievements.

2009 will also see us finalise our acceptance into the Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme and the Primary Capital Challenge programme. The BSF Wave 2 programme is already underway and will see significant investment in buildings at Alsop, Gateacre, Hope, Cardinal Heenan, Broughton Hall, West Derby, Ernest Cookson and King David High Schools.

Peter Cranie – Green Party The economy has entered choppy waters, a huge tax giveaway is going to be followed by huge cuts in spending. Britain has been spending on its credit card and the bills now have to be met. Education budgets will face pressure for savings like never before in 2009 and 2010. Liverpool is committed to inclusion. That means having as many children with SEN (Special Educational Needs) in mainstream provision. Under the Every Child Matters programme, we should be tailoring provision to meet the needs of our children.

Education must be about the individual rather than churning out a "one size fits all" system that might have been useful training for factory work in the early 20th century, but is wholly inadequate to the world we live in today. It's time to liberate teachers and let them get on with the job of teaching and enable every child to get on with the job of learning at their own pace.

2009 will see the continued development of schools in the Building Schools for the Future programme in Merseyside.

Liverpool and Sefton will see completion of new schools, whilst Knowsley will see the opening of several Centres of Learning in the Knowsley £150 million programme.

This programme includes the replacement of 10 existing secondary schools with seven new learning centres, the first of which opens in January 2009.

2009 also promises to see a continued improvement of exam results in all areas building on previous results.

All in all - each political party is of the same opinion that educational standards are on the rise and 2009 promises to be a good year for Merseyside.

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

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Book Review

In association with

by Andrew Foxley

5-8 Years Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear

by Andy Stanton £5.99 Winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, this wickedly entertaining comedy adventure is packed with memorable characters, gripping action and a great sense of the absurd. Andy Stanton is one of the best children's authors to have emerged in recent years, and this is his best yet.

The Magic Ballerina Series

by Darcey Bussell £3.99 Britain's best-loved Ballerina presents an enchanting new series of stories featuring Delphie, whose magic ballet shoes get her mixed up in all kinds of adventures. Fans of Rainbow Magic will adore these exciting tales of an ordinary girl propelled into an extraordinary world.

9-12 Years Cookie

by Jacqueline Wilson £12.99 Beauty Cookson's life is turned upside down when she and her mother run away from her domineering father - and find a whole new lease of life in a new town. Jacqueline Wilson's latest novel is a charming tale about being yourself, and not letting others get you down.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

by JK Rowling £6.99 Not exactly a bold new start for JK Rowling, but a wonderful volume of wizard fairy tales, as referenced in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This collection fleshes out the Potter universe, and features commentary on each tale from Albus Dumbledore himself!

The Famous Five's Survival Guide £15.99 Packed with essential guidance for the junior detective and adventurer, this loving tribute to Enid Blyton's popular heroes also includes a brand new unsolved mystery for the Five - and they need your help to crack it. Beautifully-presented, this will delight Famous Five readers old and young.

Teenage On The Edge: My Story (Junior Ed.)

by Richard Hammond £6.99 TV presenter and daredevil Richard Hammond has become a national treasure and hero to a generation. This is his life story - the crazy adventures, the love of cars and his devastating rocket-car accident and recovery. This edition of the Hamster's autobiography is specially abridged for younger readers. After all, why should the adults have all the fun?

Double Cross

by Malorie Blackman £12.99 Few authors can pack an emotional punch quite like Malorie Blackman, and this fourth instalment in the Noughts and Crosses sequence is as dramatic and explosive as ever, as Callie and Tobey struggle to survive in a world where danger lies around every corner.

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

by John Boyne £6.99 The film was brilliant, but the old maxim is true - the book is better. This is the tale of an unlikely friendship between two young boys in the bleakest of environments, and manages to simultaneously be one of the most funny, dramatic and sad novels I have ever read.

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 Vic Brazel, Sales Department, Waterstones Liverpool, 14-16 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4DS. Tel: 0151 707 1649

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Dyslexia Screening, Assessment and Consultancy; Providing Training and Advice to Schools and Parents 2009 Courses: • The Role of the LSA in increasing self-esteem and support for the dyslexic child • Dyslexia awareness: how to make your school dyslexia-friendly • Also, Parents Workshops available

Contact: Colette McCoy Email: mccoy2112@talktalk.net

EARN WHILE YOU LEARN. FE BURSARY SCHEME Q Get a job offer Q Receive up to £5,000 Q Access over 140 trades Q Experience Army life Find out more

armyjobs.mod.uk Text ARMY to 61110 Armed Forces Careers Office

Victoria House 15 James Street Liverpool L2 7NX 0151 236 1566

Educate

The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

Now available online.

Visit educatemagazine.com Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Events Guide Theatre

Arts

Parks and Nature

Activities and Adventure

■ Throughout the year Ancient Egypt World Museum Liverpool William Brown Street, Liverpool 0151 478 4393 Free entry Explore the incredible world of the Pharaohs and the remarkable culture that built the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Ancient Egypt. The exhibition contains 1500 fascinating exhibits.

■ Until 1st March Only a Game World Museum Liverpool William Brown Street, Liverpool 0151 478 4393 Free entry Exploring Europe’s love affair with football, bringing together UEFA’s most prized trophies and historical artifacts ■ Until 27th September Magical History Tour Merseyside Maritime Museum Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 0151 478 4499 Free entry Visitors take a fast paced journey of discovery of Liverpool’s history with the help of a time traveling taxi driver.

■ Until 1st November The Beat Goes On World Museum Liverpool William Brown Street, Liverpool 0151 478 4393 Free entry Showcasing the vibrant history of music in Merseyside over the past 60 years from Billy Fury, the Beatles to The Zutons.

■ Until 1st March The Art of Doctor Who Spaceport, Seacombe, Wirral 0151 330 1333 Adults £9.50, children £6.50 A brand new exhibition has been created for fans of the iconic TV show Doctor Who. ■ 20th January Greenhouse Plants 1.00-2.30pm Coach House, Calderstones Park 0151 233 3007 Free event Discover some of the fascinating plants of the greenhouse in Liverpool’s Calderstones Park ■ 23rd January Who put that there?

1.00-2.30pm St Lukes Church, Leece Street, Liverpool 0151 233 3007 Free event Test your powers of observation on a journey of discovery through Liverpool’s green heart

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■ 23rd-24th January Fifi Live - The Fairy and the Flowertots Liverpool Empire 0844 847 2525 Ticket prices £11.00-£13.00 A stormy day in Flowertot garden, and look what’s been blown in on the breeze - a magical fairy! But wait – her wand has been swept away.

■ 23rd-24th January British Supercross Indoor Dirt Bike Racing ACC Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool Tel: 0844 8000 400 Ticket prices £20.00£35.00 Indoor motorcycle racing with all the UK’s top riders coming to the Echo Arena.

■ 23rd-31st January A Midsummer’s Night Dream Liverpool Playhouse Williamson Square, Liverpool 0151 709 4776 Tickets £9.00 The lyrical and beautiful ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ will inspire delight in all who see it.

■ 24th January Titanic Learning Day 10.00am-3.00pm Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock Free entry Learn about the world famous liner.

■ 24th January Simple Orienteering 2.00-3.300pm Victoria Park, Waterloo 0151 934 2932

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

A simple orienteering course in Victoria Park, Waterloo. Aimed at all the family.

■ 24th-25th January Dragons and Lanterns 1.00-4.00pm Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock Free entry Celebrate Chinese New Year and create your own colourful lantern, fan and dragons.

■ 24th-25th January Chinese New Year 2009 Great George Street and Great George Square, Liverpool Tel: 0151 233 3000 Free entry The city streets will become a riot of colour and excitement during the Chinese New Year celebrations 2009.

■ 24th-25th February Billy Wonderful Community Tour Knowsley Community College, Rupert Road, Roby, Huyton 0151 443 5619 Tickets £3 Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres present this exhilarating production following a boy’s journey into professional football.

■ 26th-31st January Flashdance Liverpool Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool 0844 847 2525 Tickets £10.00-£28.50 Sparks will fly as the World Premiere production of Flashdance – The Musical explodes onto the stage in Liverpool.

■ 27th-31st January Sleeping Beauty Ellesmere Port Civic Hall 0151 335 9310 Tickets £6.75-£9.25 The Ellesmere Port Original Pantomime company presents their version of Sleeping Beauty.

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Events Guide Abandoned in the forest, Hansel and Gretel follow their noses to the sugary heart of darkness and a mother who just loves children – on toast!

■ 1st February Around the World in 80 Minutes 1.00-2.30pm Coach House, Calderstones Park, Liverpool 0151 233 3007 Free event Discover plants from around the globe in beautiful Calderstones Park.

■ 29th-1st February Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour. ACC Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool Tel: 0844 8000 400 Tickets from £11.50-£33.50 The only UK live show to feature both High School Musical 1 & High School Musical 2 plus exclusive High School Musical 3: Senior Years Special Bonus Experience!

■ 30th January Sailors Return 1.00-2.30pm St Nicholas Gardens, Liverpool 0151 233 3007 Free event Enjoy the ever changing views and hidden green oasis of Liverpool’s Water Front.

■ 30th January FEW Wrestling Night Crosby Civic Hall 0151 928 1919 Tickets £5 Superstars from around the world compete in 2 hours of wrestling action.

■ 31st January That Felt Good 1.00pm-4.00pm Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool 0151 478 4499 Make your own felt creation.

■ 31st January Hansel and Gretel 2.00pm Southport Arts Centre 01704 540011 Tickets £5.50

■ 4th February The Coast at War 7.00pm Meet at St Luke’s Church Hall, Formby 0151 934 2967 Free event booking essential The Sefton Coast played an important role during WW1 and WW2, find out in this illustrated talk.

■ 6th February Pussycat Dolls ACC Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool Tel: 0844 8000 400 Tickets from £30.00-£40.00 The Pussycat Dolls are set to send temperatures soaring when they bring their 'Doll Domination' tour to Liverpool.

■ 7th February Tales at Tate 1.00pm-3.00pm Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4BB 0151 702 7400 Free Join poet and Storyteller John Hughes as he tells his interactive poems in the gallery space.

■ 7th February Where There’s a Wool, There’s a Way 1.00pm-4.00pm Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4BB 0151 478 4499 Discover how wool was smuggled out of the country centuries ago and make your own woolly creation to take home.

■ 8th February Merseyside and Cheshire Theatre Championships Ellesmere Port Civic Hall 0151 335 9310. Tickets £5 A great day of dance championships and challenge events.

■ 8th February Codman’s Traditional Punch and Judy 1, 2 and 3.00pm Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock 0151 478 4499 A traditional Punch and Judy puppet show.

■ 8th February Great Victorian Environmentalists 1.00pm-2.30pm Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool 0151 726 9304 Discover the Victorian impact on the present-day environment.

■ 11th February Astronomy in your garden Greasby Library, Wirral 0151 677 5714 Tickets: £2.50 - £1.00 for children over 8 Friends of Greasby Library are holding this talk by a local astronomer. Learn more about the stars and planets.

■ 11th February Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Southport Arts Centre 01704 540011 Tickets £8 (£6 concessions) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tells the haunting human story of a young knight’s epic journey through the changing seasons to find the Green Chapel and keep his appointment with fate.

■ 12th February World Darwin Day 1.00-2.30pm Clarke Gardens, Allerton, Liverpool (meet at car park of Pub in the Park) 0151 233 3007 Free event How Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest is played out in our green environment.

■ 13th February-31st May Fashion V Sport Walker Art Gallery William Brown Street, Liverpool 0151 478 4393 Free entry Fashion V Sport explores the creative and fluid relationship between the two worlds of contemporary fashion and sportswear.

■ 14th-20th February Drop in Craft Activities Southport Botanic Gardens Museum Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Churchtown, Southport 01704 227547 Free Admission A fun week of spring-themed craft activities for all the family. Cchildren must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

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Events Guide Theatre

Arts

Park and Nature

■ 14th February The Art of Love 1.00pm-4.00pm Lady Lever Art Gallery, Poprt Sunlight Village Wirral 0151 478 4136 Be inspired by love stories in the gallery and make your own valentine for your sweetheart. Suitable for families.

■ 15th February 100 years of Liverpool’s Changing Environment 10.30am-3.30pm Sefton Park, Liverpool 0151 233 3007 Free event Explore Liverpool’s changing environment from 1909 to 2009 in the company of Liverpool’s Park Rangers.

■ 15th February Ding Dong 10.00am-4.00pm The Media Lounge, FACT, Wood Street, Liverpool 0151 707 4450 Free event Workshops for chiildren aged 5-12-years-old and their parents and guardians.

■ 16th February Half Term Games 2.00pm Chaffer Playing Fields, Crosby 0151 934 2331 Free A range of organised games for children.

■ 16th & 19th February First Notes & Adventures in Music Various times Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. Tickets £5 per children accompanying adult free 0151 709 3789 5-minute workshops introduce children aged 0-4 to music through games, singing, active listening, and hands-on music making with members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Activities and Adventure

sparkling family musical comes to Liverpool.

■ 16th – 20th February Spring Half Term Activities National Wildflower Centre, Court Hey Park, Huyton 0151 738 1913. Small charge applies Activities from 1.00pm-3.00pm. From making flowers, bird feeders, masks and features a minibeast trail.

■ 16th-20th February Spring Half Term Activities Atkison Art Gallery 0151 934 2110 Free Admission A fun week of spring-themed craft activities. All activities are free and can be completed in about 20 minutes. All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

■ 17th February Krafty Kev - The Cucumber Kid St Helens Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St Helens 01744 756 000 Tickets £4.00 Krafty Kev entertains with all kinds of Magic, Balloon Modelling, Juggling, lots of fun and games and sing-a-longs, and the kids get a chance to come onto the stage and help out!.

■ 17th March Half Term Games 2.00pm Duke Street Park, Formby 0151 934 2331 Free A range of organised games for children.

■ 18th February Make a Giant Wildflower National Wildflower Centre, Court Hey Park, Huyton, Liverpool 0151 737 1819 £2.50 Join the park wardens at the centre and help to make a giant wildflower.

Free event - booking essential 2 day workshops for young people aged 13-19-years-old, discover new ways of listening and performing using the media lounge.

■ 19th-21st February Daisy Pulls it Off 7.30pm LIPA Mount Street, Liverpool 0151 330 3000 Tickets adults £7.00 children £3.50 An energetic and witty play set in the 1930s prestigious all girl boarding school.

Performed by final year acting students.

■ 20th February-31st May French Impressionists Lady Lever Art Gallery Port Sunlight Village, Wirral 0151 478 4136 Free admission A selection of Impressionist and PostImpressionist pieces, including works by Renoir, Monet, Degas and Rodin.

■ 20th March Half Term Games 2.00pm Bedford Park, Southport 0151 934 2331 Free A range of organised games for children.

■ 23rd February Brainiac Live 7.30pm Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool Tickets: Family ticket (4 tickets, maximum 2 adults) £60, £16.50 under 16 year olds 0151 709 3789 Strap on your safety goggles, boys and girls: Science's greatest and most volatile show is arriving here with a vengeance.

■ 18th March Half Term Games 2.00pm Derby Park, Bootle 0151 934 2331 Free A range of organised games for children.

■ 16th-21st February Joseph Liverpool Empire, Lime Street Liverpool Tel: 0844 847 2525 Tickets £8.75-£13.75 Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's

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■ 19th March Half Term Games 2.00pm Marian Gardens, Netherton 0151 934 2331 Free A range of organised games for children.

■ 19th-20th February Ding Dong - Play, Experiment + Remix 10.00am-4.00pm The Media Lounge, FACT, Wood Street, Liverpool 0151 707 4450

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

■ 26th February-1st March Cirque Du Soleil - Quidam ACC Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool 0844 8000 400 Tickets £50.00 Critically celebrated entertainment group

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Events Guide ■ 8th March Mersey March Friendship Walk 10.30am Calderstones Park, Liverpool 020 7749 4126 Adults £10.00 under 16s £2.50 www.breastcancercampaign.org A five kilometre sponsored walk in aid of the Breast Cancer Campaign.

Cirque Du Soleil stage a UK arena tour of the breathtaking production Quidam.

■ 27th February American Wrestling 7.30pm Ellesmere Port Civic Hall 0151 335 7652. Tickets £12 adults £10 concessions Five championship matches, tag team titles and all nations showdown.

■ 28th February- 1st March Eco-festival 10.00am-4.00pm Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Fish Lane, Burscough, Lancashire L40 0TA 01704 895181 Help the environment by coming along to the family fun Eco-festival events. Reduced admission price for anyone who travels to the Centre without a car.

■ 1st March Sing-along-a-Hairspray 2.00pm Liverpool Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool 0844 847 2525 Tickets £14.00 A brand new Sing-a-long-a show based on the 2007 film starring John Travolta as Edna Turnblad.

■ 1st March St David’s Day Family Celebration 1.00-2.30pm Calderstones Park, Liverpool 0151 233 3007 Free event Discover all about St David, Druids, ancient stones and lots more.

■ 4th March The X Factor Live ACC Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool 0844 8000 400 Tickets £28.50 This spring, finalists including winner Alexandra Burke, from the hit TV show will take to the stage in the X Factor 2009.

■ 4th March World Book Day 4.00pm Huyton Library, Civic Way, Huyton 0151 443 5001 Free Poet Sarah MacClellan will be at Huyton Library where she will celebrate local talent.

■ 6th March Starry Starry Night 7.30pm-9.30pm Alt Centre, Lower Alt Road, Hightown 0151 934 2967 Join the Liverpool Astronomical Society for a slide show followed by some star gazing – wrap up warm.

■ 1st-14th March LEAP 09 Various venues in Liverpool www.merseysidedance.co.uk This year’s theme is Words in Motion, and the two-week dance-fest will see a diverse range of contemporary dance performances at venues all over the region.

■ 12th March-4th April Billy Wonderful Liverpool Everyman, Hope Street, Liverpool 0151 709 4776 Tickets £9.00-£14.00 Billy is in the squad and it's wonderful. As the Blues and the Reds come out to play, it's D day for Billy...Derby Day.

■ 6th March St Mary's at the Phil 7.15pm Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool 0151 709 3789 Tickets: £5.00 St Mary’s College in Crosby’s showcase of the musical skills of its pupils.

■ 6th-7th March CILT Primary Languages Show 2009 ACC Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool www.cilt.org.uk/pls A major exhibition aimed at primary school teachers and parents who would like their children to learn another language.

■ 1st March Sing-along Sound of Music 7.00pm Liverpool Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool 0844 847 2525 Tickets £14.50 Full-screen technicolor, complete with subtitles so that the whole audience can sing along!

■ 9th-12th March Going Global 1.30pm Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool Tickets: £3.50 per child - One free adult ticket for every 10 child tickets booked 0151 709 3789 This fantastic concert with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Matthew Coorey and presented by Alasdair Malloy, is aimed at Key Stage 2 and lower Key Stage 3 schoolchildren.

■ 7th March Renaissance Musical Spectacular Crosby Civic Hall 0151 928 1919 Tickets £7 Dance and drama performance from the children of Renaissance aged 5-19 years.

■ 7th March Tales at Tate 1.00pm-3.00pm Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4BB 0151 702 7400 Free Join poet and Storyteller John Hughes as he tells his interactive poems in the gallery space.

■ 7th-8th March Goldilocks and the Three Bears Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St Helens 01744 756000 Adults £8.50, Concessions £7.50 Goldilocks and the Three Bears show with puppets.

■ 13th March Friday 13th Ghost Walk 7.30-8.30pm Sefton Park, Liverpool (booking essential) 0151 233 3007 Free event Join the Liverpool Rangers for some chilling tales of days gone by.

■ 14th March The Creation 7.30pm Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool 0151 709 3789 Tickets: £12.00-£25.00 Birkenhead School Choral Society present Haydn's evergreen telling of the story of the Creation of the World.

■ 14th March Crafts for Mother’s Day Botanic Gardens, Southport 2.00pm Booking essential 0151 934 2932 Have a go at making a mothers day gift from natural craft materials found in the parks.

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Events Guide Theatre

Arts

Parks and Nature

Activities and Adventure

soldier awaiting the firing squad at dawn.

This remarkable book, winner of the Blue Peter Book of the Year award, is by third Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo.

■ 28th March St Helens Gang Show Theatre Royal, Corporation Street St Helens 01925 221316 St Helens Gang Show is a fast paced family variety show performed by members of the scouts and guides of St Helens.

■ 20th-22nd March Disney Live! Presents Mickey’s Magic Show. ACC Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool 0844 8000 400 Tickets £13.00-£19.50 In a never-before-seen combination, favourite Disney characters and professional illusionists come together live on stage in a performance that will excite and delight children of all ages.

■ 21st March Spring Day National Wildflower Centre Court Hey Park, Huyton Liverpool 0151 737 1819 £4.00 Celebrate Spring Day by planting decorated pots and making a Mother’s Day card.

■ 21st March Crafts for Mother’s Day Victoria Park, Waterloo 2.00pm Booking essential 0151 934 2932 Have a go at making a mothers day gift from natural craft materials found in the parks.

■ 24th-28th March Farmhouse Breakfast Week Ramble 10.00-11.30am Courtyard Café, Croxteth Country Park 0151 233 3007 Free guided walk A brisk walk around Croxteth Country Park followed by an opportunity to enjoy breakfast in the Courtyard Cafe.

■ 24th-28th March Great Expectations Liverpool Playhouse Williamson Square, Liverpool 0151 709 4776 Great Expectations is Charles Dicken's dramatic journey of romance and adventure re-told for the stage in a thrilling new adaptation from Clwyd Theatr Cymru’s Tim Baker.

■ 28th March Water Dowsing Fact or Fiction?

1.00-2.30pm Otterspool Park, Liverpool 0151 233 3007 Free event Discover for yourself whether there is more to this ancient art than legend.

■ 29th March Circus Hilarious in Lots of Laughs 2.30pm St Helens Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St Helens 01744 756 000 Tickets adults £11.00 concessions £10.00 Hilarious new routines and mad antics from comic geniuses Clive Webb and Danny Adams have parents and children doubled up in their seats.

■ 30th March-2nd April Sweeney Todd Carmel College, Prescot Road, Prescot 01744 452200 for info A musical production about the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Bloody and Gruesome!

■ 4th April How to grow veg in a box 10.00am 1 day course National Wildflower Centre, Court Hey Park, Huyton Liverpool 0151 737 1819 £25.00 One day course for all, young and old, on growing vegetables and companion planting in a small space.

■ 4th April Childrens Magic Gala Show Southport Arts Centre 01704 540011 Tickets £6 This show for the young and the young at heart will put the variety back into your Saturday morning!

■ 26th March Private Peaceful Southport Arts Centre 01704 540004 Tickets £8 (£6 concessions) Private Peaceful relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young First World War

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■ 6th April Time Flies - Dandelion Clocks and Shadows. National Wildflower Centre, Court Hey Park, Huyton Liverpool 0151 737 1819 £2.50 Join the rangers and find out how nature tells us the time!

■ 8th April Eggstra Eggstra!

2.00-3.30pm Formby Beach Lifeboat Road, Formby 0151 934 2967 Join the season trail around the dunes and woodland in search of Easter Eggs, meet at the car park.

■ 12th & 13th April Easter Egg Trail 12.00pm-4.00pm Speke Hall 0151 427 7231. Tickets £1 Easter fun for all the family with a trail around Speke Hall's gardens and estate.

■ 18th April Music from Outer Space 6.00pm Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool 0151 709 3789 Tickets: £5.00-£32.00 A mind-blowing journey through time with a spectacular programme of 'space inspired' science fiction music.

■ 19th April Chuckle Trek - The Lost Generation Liverpool Empire 0844 847 2525 To boldly go where no-one has gone for a while! Paul and Barry set off on a new adventure and this time find themselves hurtling through Space.

■ 22nd-26th April The Great Moscow State Circus Kings Parade, New Brighton, 0151 666 3188 for prices A real treat for all the family, with the large and colourful ‘Big Top’ being sited on the Dips at Kings Parade, in New Brighton.

■ 22nd April WWE RAW presents Wrestlemania Revenge Tour ACC Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool Tel: 0844 8000 400 Ticket prices £30.00-£50.00 World Wrestling entertainment action comes to Liverpool including John Cena, Baptista, Chris Jericho and many more.

■ 29th April Pink ACC Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool Tel: 0844 8000 400 Ticket prices £30.00-£50.00 Brit and Grammy Award winning, multiplatinum singer Pink comes to Liverpool.

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Favourite Disney Characters and World Class Illusions Combine in Disney Live!

Win tickets

Mickey’s Magic Show

In a never-before-seen combination, favourite Disney characters and professional illusionists come together live on stage in a performance that will excite and delight children of all ages. From the producers of Disney On Ice, Disney Live! presents Mickey’s Magic Show brings audiences into a world where Disney Magic takes on a whole new meaning – this magical show is coming to the Echo Arena Liverpool 20-22 March 2009.

Disney Live! presents Mickey's Magic Show features the special magic from legendary Disney films, performed right before your eyes: Cinderella's rags turn into a beautiful ball gown in a split second; Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine levitates into the air; and the enchanted dancing brooms in Fantasia help sweep Minnie off her feet; The Master Magician himself - Mickey Mouse - performs astonishing illusions along with Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter, and professional illusionists Brad Ross and Fred Moore. The magic is complimented by appearances from Disney princesses Belle and Snow White and Mickey’s pals from Toontown - Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy.

Educate is giving you the opportunity to win a star prize of a family ticket (four people) for the 20th March show. To be in with a chance of winning just answer the follwoing question: Q: Who is the Master Magician?

Send your answers on a postcard to: Educate Competition, Educate Magazine, 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS or log onto www.educatemagazine.com Competition entries must be in by 6th March 2009.

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My School Days Tony Snell – Radio Merseyside DJ

My School Queen of All Saints, Townsend Lane My Favorite Teacher A science teacher called Conor Hodge, Irish guy lovely man.

My Favourite Subject at School So predictable really...anything to do with sport, I did like woodwork and metalwork though.

My Best Friend at School Kevan Moss, he has recently become a granddad at the age of 43, frightening!!

My Favourite Childhood Book Always loved Robinson Crusoe, still have it today.

Do you remember your first school love God yes...Tracey Clelland her name was, she didn't want to know really, the girl obviously had sense! Love is tough when you are nine.

My views on school dinners I loved them, I honestly did, being frightened into eating things you didn't like put kids off, but it never happened in my school, well I was probably to busy eating to notice if it did.

My favourite childhood singer/band To this day I am still convinced that I am STING! I did go through a phase of being Paul Weller in his Jam days.

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What my teachers said about me in my school report?

I was a good kid up until about the age of thirteen and then I went off the rails a bit, thankfully I came back but I lost about eighteen months just being class clown, great shame.

What were your ambitions while at school?

I think just to get a job was a massive achievement for most kids who left school in the early eighties, I still think I have been incredibly lucky, I didn't study hard enough.

Where you streetwise or a geek?

Quite streetwise then, there were people you didn't get mixed up with, if you did it was your own look-out! I had my teenage moments but the most important thing as a young teen was “do I have the right traineeeees on!” Seems silly now but so important at the time. As for now, I think I'm pretty grounded but I am nowhere near as streetwise as my twenty-oneyear-old nephew, if I was that would be wrong wouldn't it?

What does the future hold for yourself?

Well who knows, life would be very dull if we had a script to look over, I love the cliché of, "Life is not a rehearsal" it's an oldie but a goodie.

Radio DJ Tony Snell has been a presenter on BBC Radio Merseyside since 1997 where he works on the Tony Snell in the Morning Show from 6.00am to 10.00am.

In the dim and distant past Tony has worked as a milkman and bricklayer but he eventually fulfilled his boyhood ambition of working in front of the microphone.

Tony is convinced that he is Sting and in the past was more worried whether he had the ‘right traineeeees on’.

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Smoking in Films – The main reason young people start to smoke.

Scary Movies

www.smokefreeliverpool.com