SCHOOLS

ST CLARE’S SCHOOL NEWS

We are extremely proud of the fact that St Clare’s has been in the top 5% of top-performing A-Level schools in the UK for ALPS (A-Level Performance System) for several years. Our A-Level and GCSE results are consistently well above the national average. Last year, students celebrated our track record for outstanding A-Level results with 61.4% of all grades at A*/A and 86.4% at A*/B, with 100% of students gaining a place to study at their first-choice university destinations including many in the Russell Group such as St Andrew’s, Cardiff, Durham, Exeter, Manchester, Nottingham and Queen Mary, University of London. Our Sixth Form students benefit from an exceptional education with smaller tutorial-style groups, new Sixth Form Centre and specialised teaching delivered by experienced subject specialists and examiners. Students benefit from six lessons of tuition per subject per week. If you would like to find out more about studying A-Levels at St. Clare’s our Sixth Form Open Evening starts at 5:00pm on Monday, 7th February. To book or for further information about Sixth Form scholarships, visit www.stclares-school.co.uk or contact our friendly Admissions Team on (01656) 789966. We would like to wish Seaside News readers a very safe and healthy New Year!

Helen Hier, Head Teacher

Picture caption: St Clare’s Sixth Form Common Room

NOTTAGE PRIMARY - DEMOLITION

You may have noticed that the demolition of our decommissioned demountable classroom has now initiated. The classroom has been unused for over 10 years and is in a state of disrepair. The project timeline has been increased due to unforeseen circumstances. We would like to thank our local community for their patience and increased heavy traffic whilst the building is demolished by hand. We are excited about what could replace this space at the front of the school.

Tracy Foster, Senior Administrative Officer

PORTHCAWL COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL

Happy New Year, I hope you all enjoyed a restful Christmas break. Many congratulations to our Head Team who raised a staggering £2345.12 during our recent Charities’ Week at school. The week culminated in a non-uniform/ fancy dress day in aid of Children in Need. The Head Team (dressed as a SWAT team), raised money by leg waxing, selling doughnuts, guessing numbers of balloons in a car and sweets in a jar. As well as CIN, money was donated to the RNLI, MIND, Noah’s Ark Hospital and Cardiff Rivers Group. They said, “We felt all the charities chosen were local and very relevant to people of our own age”, “It was lots of fun and a very rewarding experience.” The school was delighted once again to take part in the annual Porthcawl Rotary’s Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints Church between 30th November and 5th December. Miss Davies, (Welsh), brought in the wood from her farm and 14 Year 7 pupils spent the morning making ‘Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer’ Christmas decorations. Pupils enjoyed cutting and drilling the wood by hand, personalising and assembling the reindeers and then hanging them on our tree to be displayed alongside other schools’ work in the church. Our ‘Virtual Carol Service’ was enjoyed again by everyone.

Andrew Slade, Head Teacher

YSGOL Y FERCH O’R SGÊR NEWS

We’re part of a cluster campaign to raise funds towards and awareness of the ‘Dogs Trust’ charity whilst also creating a unique piece of art that will be displayed in a prominent place within Bridgend County. The artist who’ll be undertaking the painting work will be taking elements of all designs when creating the final costume. We’re really looking forward to seeing the completed work. Neevah has raised over £700 for Cancer Research by cutting her hair. She’s also donated her hair to the Princess Trust so that they can make wigs for three girls who have lost their hair through the side effects of chemotherapy. We undertook a week of activities in support of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week on the theme of ‘One Kind Word’. The week culminated in an odd sock celebration – all different to one another but each one important just like every member of the school’s community. The School Council held a very successful meeting with the Bridgend Senedd Member. They discussed matters including democracy, the environment and a new building for Ysgol y Ferch o’r Sgêr. They also discussed work in the community and the possibility of using the new school building as a community hub in future.

Cyngor Ysgol School Council

CYNFFIG NEWS

This month our Student Parliament visited the Houses of Parliament and experienced the Chambers at the House of Commons and House of Lords first hand. After their tour, pupils debated “Should examinations be banned?” They also attended the Peace Schools Climate Justice Conference continuing the theme of COP26. This gave our pupils the opportunity to consider Wales and the world and explore the contribution they will play as healthy confident individuals in the future. To raise awareness and funds for Christmas Jumper Day our Student Parliament organised an assembly and activities. This included a ‘Swap Shop’ where pupils paid a pound for Christmas headbands, hats, glasses or personalised baubles. Pupils were able to ‘swap’ their item for a lunch pass for one day in the last week of term. Cynffig pupils prioritised acts of kindness during our Antibullying Awareness Week. They celebrated what makes us all unique by wearing odd socks, reflecting on ‘OneKindWord’ and creating vibrant displays across the school. Cynffig’s Children in Need fundraiser saw Staff and Sixth Form dressed in fancy dress costumes that began with the same letter as their name. From Ketchup to Spiderman they did not disappoint as we raised money for this fantastic cause.

N Morrison

SEND US YOUR SCHOOLS ARTICLE - IT’S FREE! Email: info@seasidenews.co.uk

GUITAR LESSONS SOUTH WALES

Catherine Tanner

BMus(Hons) ARCM PIANO TEACHER

*Beginners up to Diploma level * 25 years teaching experience * Progress through ABRSM Grades, or just for fun! * All ages welcome (01656) 782946 07779 555312

ENGLISH TUTOR

(BASED IN NOTTAGE, PORTHCAWL) 20 years of teaching experience as a comprehensive school teacher of 11-18 year old students Fully qualified for KS3, GCSE and A Level Current GCSE Examiner

Guitar Tuition

Russell Skellern BA (Hons) RWCMD Graduate of Guitar Institute, London

Xmas Discounts Available

Online Lessons Available

• All levels • Grades • Theory • Composition • Performance 07834 772030