Tag Archives: school

News

Number 4 high school in Wales attracting sixth formers ahead of ‘opportunities event’

A SECONDARY school ranked in the top five in Wales is attracting students from across the region to its award-winning sixth form.

Ysgol Eirias in Colwyn Bay is preparing for an ‘Opportunities Evening Event’ that will showcase its post-16 offering and academic support.

The school – listed fourth in Wales in the Sunday Times Parent Power league table earlier this month – will hold the session from 5.30pm-7.30pm on Tuesday January 16.

Headteacher Zoe Evans hopes parents and prospective students can join them to see the wide range of options available.

“We are proud of our sixth form provision, as in addition to award-winning teaching from subject teachers who have a wealth of experience, we provide a strong support network which provides our learners with the care they need to help them thrive both personally and academically,” said Mrs Evans.

Recognised by Estyn and national awarding bodies – Ysgol Eirias was also named Secondary School of the Year at the North Wales Education Awards – Head of Sixth Form Dr Michael Greenslade said their success in securing career pathways and university places for graduates is “second to none”.

“We are very proud of our A Level results, which are consistently high – in 2023, our learners gained 36% A/A*and 60% A*-B, and there were 42 A* grades awarded – and every pupil that applied to university was successful,” he added.

“We offer a wide range of subjects and ensure all students can take the courses that best suit them, helping them to gain the most appropriate educational experience at this stage.

“Our delivery of the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales qualification is timetabled and overseen by a designated coordinator, there are two fully staffed areas that Sixth Form students use as supervised study locations, a common room, and the facilities across the school are first class.”

While the academic offering at Ysgol Eirias is lauded far and wide, Head Prefect Oliver Rothnie says providing a community of support and trust is a top priority.

“At Eirias we place a key importance on respect, both towards each other and to staff, and aim to create a positive, friendly environment,” he said.

“The thing about a school is that it is nothing without the people. As a student you contribute to the school community. You can join the badminton club, you can join history club, you can join the orchestra, and to a large extent you get out what you put in.

“It’s about going above and beyond, not just seeing the school as a place to exist but as a place to flourish – learning is never over, and that’s definitely the case here at Ysgol Eirias.”

For more information, visit the website www.eirias.co.uk/sixth-form or email Dr Greenslade at greensladem6@hwbcymru.net. Alternatively, call 01492 532025.

News

Revamp, investment and celebrity visit for leading Welsh independent school

ST GERARD’S SCHOOL has undergone a period of significant development and investment in past months.

Improvements have been made to the building and gardens at the beloved Bangor institution, in addition to new fencing, better access, signage, lighting and landscaping.

Over the autumn, the independent school was sandblasted, the roof and guttering cleared, there was a revamp of  parent areas, the ‘mindfulness room’ and entrance, and a ‘wellbeing walk’ has been created in picturesque woodlands around the seven-acre site.

A ‘careers café’ was hosted in partnership with Bangor University, a state-of-the-art computer system implemented – streamlining communications with parents and carers, and internally among teachers, students, and staff – and to top it off their popular Bayside Radio show welcomed a very special guest to help raise their profile even further!

Business Manager Steve Griffiths said progress made since the beginning of the academic year has been “incredible” and revealed there is even more to come in the months ahead.

“We have been really busy making improvements and renovating areas around the buildings, as well upgrading the technology and IT infrastructure to ensure St Gerard’s remains at the forefront of academia in this region,” he said.

“The whole environment looks brighter, as you drive or walk onto the school grounds it looks so fresh and new, which is a real positive.”

Steve added: “And we were delighted to have architect and TV presenter George Clarke join our regular radio show, which focuses on health and wellbeing, education, and news from St Gerard’s.

“He was filming a programme locally and dropped in to show his support, which was fantastic.”

St Gerard’s headteacher Campbell Harrison says 2024 will bring even further good news and enhancement of the school’s sporting and academic facilities, with plans for a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and tennis courts on the horizon.”

“This is the first step in a series of improvements and upgrades,” he added.

“We are renowned for being one of the best independent schools in the country for education – our GCSE and A Levels results were again among the highest in North Wales during the summer – so for us now the focus is on maintaining and improving those standards while enhancing the environment for our learners.

“We have made a really good start, and the new year will see further developments so it’s an exciting time for everyone at St Gerard’s.”

For more on Ysgol St Gerard’s, visit the website www.st-gerards.org and follow them on social media. Alternatively, email sgadmin@st-gerards.org or call 01248 351656.

News

School receives illustrious family award for helping parents improve the lives of their children

YSGOL EIRIAS has been lauded for its work in helping parents and carers improve the lives of their children. 

The Colwyn Bay secondary school is one of just a handful in North Wales to receive the Investors in Families Bronze Award.

The quality mark is awarded to settings that demonstrate a commitment to working with families and evidence of activities carried out in and out of school hours, communication with parents and carers, and setting high standards.

In 2022, Ysgol Eirias introduced extracurricular provision based on Areas of Learning and Experience – a key part of the new Curriculum for Wales – to encourage wider learning and mindfulness via extra-curricular sessions, with wellbeing trips and educational overseas visits in the pipeline.

As well as sports matches and fixtures, there have been cooking and nutrition lessons that will see pupils take the food they prepare home, ensuring vulnerable children are guaranteed a warm, cooked meal.

The school’s successful Duke Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award scheme enjoyed a surge in learners, with more than 100 taking on the Bronze and Silver categories, and as part of their Welsh Baccalaureate studies, groups of Year 10 and Year 11 pupils organised environmental impact days.

Assistant Headteacher Andy Davies said these examples of pupils reinforcing their academic efforts with a positive social impact on their community, and health and wellbeing, have been embraced and supported by their families.

“The Areas of Learning and Experience extracurricular provisions are just one of the many ways our activities can indirectly benefit parents and their children,” he said.

“The cooking classes are teaching learners skills that will be useful at home. They can in turn help their mums, dads or carers preparing meals, improve their nutrition, as well as building confidence and independence.

“These were just some examples of more than 21 case studies we provided from the last 12 months.”

Mr Davies added: “Talaxy, the school parental communication software, is another way we have opened further lines of communication with families.

“We were one of the first schools in Wales using it, and the system allows us to share everything from grades to attendance, weekly bulletins, parents’ evenings, and more, which means they can keep up to speed with all the latest news and information.

“That has been very well received and for our staff and pupils it is a way to ensure everyone is connected and up to date with their child’s needs.”

Ysgol Eirias engaged with Investors in Families at the beginning of the last academic year and will now work towards the Silver and Gold Awards, which will mean developing more activities and case studies.

Staff and pupils were also praised for inclusivity and equality – the school’s Diversity team meets regularly to champion equal rights, present assemblies, and conduct student surveys and earned a place on the Young Ambassadors Project for Show Racism the Red Card Wales.

Home visits, uniform banks and many other initiatives ensure a smooth transition from primary to secondary school for prospective pupils.

As one of the Top 10 Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’ high-performing schools in Wales, Mr Davies is confident they will continue to strengthen ties with stakeholders over the coming years.

“We are really proud to be just one of three secondary schools in North Wales to be accredited by Investors in Families and will not rest on our laurels,” he added.

“A healthy, transparent, and proactive relationships with the families of our pupils is pivotal to them getting the best possible education, to being happy and enjoying every aspect of their time with us.

“Historically, parental engagement will drop off when a child starts life at secondary school, but we are managing to reverse that trend.”

For more information on Ysgol Eirias, visit www.eirias.co.uk and follow them on social media @ysgoleirias. 

Visit www.investorsinfamilies.co.uk for more from Investors in Families. 

News

School DofE figures surge in tandem with record-breaking year for youth organisation

THE number of children signing up to the Duke Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award at a leading school has risen in tandem with national figures.

Ysgol Eirias in Colwyn Bay has enjoyed a surge in pupils beginning the youth scheme over the last 12 months, with more than 100 taking on the Bronze and Silver categories.

Teacher Sam Hawkins – who leads on DofE provision at the school – has plans to introduce the Gold standard from next September and hopes even more learners from across different year groups will get involved.

It comes as the DofE revealed more than 320,000 participants started their Award journey in 2022/23, the highest number in its 67-year history and a huge 10% increase.

The charity aims to reach one million young people by 2026, and Sam said Ysgol Eirias is proud to play its part.

“The school has seen a significant rise in pupils looking to partake in extra-curricular activities, notably the DofE awards scheme,” he said.

“They and their families recognise the value it can have in the future, towards their chosen career, applying to university and for their CVs, given the commitment to completing an expedition, volunteering and the physical and skills aspect outside of school hours.

“Since the pandemic we’ve seen more interest, with an initial 40 completing Bronze last year, and now Silver, and that is reflected in the huge number of people across the UK joining the scheme.

“Our progress has followed national progress, which has been really heartening and looks set to continue.”

Each student will contribute an average of 11 hours of voluntary work in the community, from litter picking to sports coaching, supporting vulnerable family and neighbours, and more.

“Our aim is for the vast majority of pupils to take part in the DofE scheme in the future, given the impact and achievement involved,” Sam added.

“It shows independence, brings together administrative and transferable skills, and shows that the participant is willing to go the extra mile, a big USP for potential employers.

“And the expedition enables them to demonstrate teamwork, navigation and map reading skills, first aid and other factors that can play a part in everyday life – it is an amazing foundation for them.”

Ysgol Eirias has introduced designated weeks where Areas of Learning and Experience can host innovative activities and events to encourage learning and mindfulness outside of school hours.

Led by Assistant Headteacher Alex Metcalfe, the sessions are held on-site in addition to schemes like the DofE, where learners give their own time at home or locally.

For more information on extra-curricular activities at Ysgol Eirias, visit www.eirias.co.uk and follow the new social media channel at @experienceeirias.

Visit www.dofe.org for more news and information on the DofE.

News

Rise in pupils attending after-school clubs thanks to innovative new learning programme

THE number of pupils attending extra-curricular activities designed to support their health and wellbeing has surged in past months.

Ysgol Eirias has introduced designated weeks where Areas of Learning and Experience can host innovative activities and events to encourage learning and mindfulness outside of school hours.

Led by Assistant Headteacher Alex Metcalfe, the sessions are held on-site in Colwyn Bay, but wellbeing trips and educational overseas visits are also in the pipeline to build a stronger culture of togetherness post-pandemic.

As well as sporting activities and fixtures utilising their outstanding facilities, there will be cooking and nutrition lessons that will see pupils take the food they prepare home, ensuring vulnerable children from challenging backgrounds are guaranteed a warm, cooked meal.

“The pandemic had a huge impact on extra-curricular numbers as we were all in lockdown and self-isolation, so of course it’s understandable given the last few years that building those numbers up again was going to take time,” he said.

“But since the start of this academic year we have had a phenomenal response from pupils and parents, which has been really heartening.”

Mr Metcalfe added: “Having six weeks of the year dedicated to additional extra-curricular activities – with a set area responsible for each of those weeks – gives us a focus and foundation on which to build.

“The recent health and wellbeing week was very well-received, with more than 175 students from years seven, eight and nine attending – an incredible result.

“There is an appetite for out-of-school clubs and activities and given the unprecedented period we’ve all experienced and the pressures facing families in the region right now, it’s important we continue our work at the heart of the community, supporting them and vulnerable pupils when they need it most.”

Mr Metcalfe is proud their vision has been embraced, and hopes others follow suit in the future, as they also look to build on partnerships with the DofE and Careers Wales.

“We have reinvented what we do, reimagined the offering, and so far, it’s been a success,” he said.

“I must thank our amazing staff because many have organised fun and educational sessions, including photography and nutrition, using their expertise and interests.

“We are proud to be thinking outside the box and offering a greater range of activities alongside celebrating the new curriculum, engaging with our learners and improving their wellbeing, which is a top priority for us.”

Meanwhile, Ysgol Eirias has again been named among the Top 10 Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’ high-performing schools in Wales.

For more information on extra-curricular activities at Ysgol Eirias, visit www.eirias.co.uk and follow the new social media channel at @experienceeirias for a chance to win a £20 Adventure Parc Snowdonia voucher.

Education, Education News, Midlands News, News, Space

Everton Free School launches space balloon to mark decade of success

Everton Free School – the school set up by Everton in the Community – has marked its milestone 10th anniversary by launching a weather balloon into near-space, kicking off its next decade in style.

Former students joined teachers, current pupils and key partners on Friday 23 September for the occasion at Welshpool, with the balloon travelling a total of almost 30km.

The event was the culmination of a week-long schedule of activities designed to inspire and encourage youngsters to consider a career in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths).

Throughout the week, students had been given the chance to try their hand at a range of skills and hear from experts within areas such as forensics, medicine, astrophysics and web virtual reality development, as well as a visit to the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

The launch was an opportunity for them to track the balloon’s journey, while a 360-degree camera on board also captured images of Earth.

Set up by Everton in the Community, the club’s charitable arm, the school offers alternative educational opportunities to young people who have either been expelled or are at risk of exclusion.

Former student Zack Kelly, who says it “saved his life”, enrolled at the school when he was 13 years old after being expelled from the mainstream school he was attending, having spent much of his childhood in and out of the care system.

Zack, 23, who now works as an intervention mentor at Everton in the Community, said: “Looking back, mainstream education was just not right for me. I’d spent a long time in care and got into a lot of trouble at school – I was getting into fights and generally getting into trouble.

“But Everton Free School was completely different. I’d always been known by teachers as the ‘naughty kid’ or the ‘class clown’ but I felt I was seen as a person rather than a number at Everton and that made a huge difference to my behaviour.

“Being there 100% saved my life, I have no doubt about it. It scares me to think where I could have been now if I hadn’t gone to Everton Free School as I was headed down a very different path.

“It’s incredible to celebrate the school’s 10th anniversary – it’s a real credit to the amazing teachers who go above and beyond every day.”

As part of the launch, a specially-created Everton kit designed by an Everton Football College student was attached to the balloon, as part of a school-wide competition.

Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Everton Women’s player Izzy Christansen selected Ethan Westray as the winner, with club sponsor hummel* bringing the design to life and creating 500 shirts for students and staff.

Both the men’s and women’s first teams signed the kits before they were launched into near-space, with plans to auction them to raise money for disadvantaged students in the school and college.

Jordan said: “Everton Free School is an incredibly special place and it’s a real honour to be helping the staff and students celebrate such huge milestone.

“Ethan’s design stood out to us as it’s creative and unique – it perfectly captures the theme of the occasion and looks great too. It’s amazing to see it being launched into near-space today.”

During the event, year 11 students used GPS technology to track the balloon as it descended back down to Earth, with it landing in Eccleshall.

Principal Steven Baker, who was awarded an OBE last year for his services to education, said: “Our success during the last 10 years is a true testament to the efforts of our fantastic team, together with our students’ ambition and drive.

“Our students’ achievements have gone from strength to strength each year. But it’s not just about the qualifications they take away – it’s the life skills and experience that they take into the world after education.

“We are incredibly proud to have reached such a milestone in our history and to mark it by taking Everton into near-space is extremely special, especially with our one-off kits on-board, thanks to our talented students and hummel*.

“Now, we’re looking forward to the possibilities of the next 10 years as we continue to build on our success.”

Education, News, South West

Devon primary school voted as a Surprise Supplies winner

Bridgerule CofE Primary School has been voted as a winner of RGB Building Supplies’ Surprise Supplies initiative and now has £1,000 to spend on materials at RGB’s Holsworthy branch.

RGB invited charities, schools, community groups and care homes from across the region to get in touch and explain how a donation of materials would help to complete a project. Alongside Woodside Animal Welfare Trust in Plymouth, Bridgerule Primary School received the most votes following a public poll and each winner has received a donation of £1,000.

Bridgerule Primary School is aiming to transform an area of grass in its playground into an all-year-round sensory and quiet garden where pupils can go to talk or enjoy some calming space. The project will include plants that provide gentle fragrance and some seating for chatting with friends. The £1,000 donation will be primarily used for this project.

Anne Bunning, Principal at Bridgerule CofE Primary School, commented:

“We’re delighted to have been voted as a Surprise Supplies winner and thank you to every parent and member of our community who voted for us, and to RGB for the donation. The new area of garden will be an important part of our school and we have a group of parents who are on standby and ready to help bring it to life – we’re excited to get started with the project.”

Tony Curtis, Branch Manager at RGB Holsworthy, visited the school to learn more about their plans. Tony added:

“This is exactly the type of project that we want to help with Surprise Supplies. Congratulations to Bridgerule Primary School and good luck with the project – we look forward to helping with materials and ensuring the £1,000 goes as far as possible. I can’t wait to return to see how the donation has been used.”

 

Construction, News, South East

Schoolchildren given building lesson on visit to Barking Riverside development

Bellway London Partnerships welcomed pupils from nearby Southwood Primary School in Dagenham to its Fielders Quarter development to give them an insight into how the regenerations project in Barking Riverside operates.

The pupils visited the site offices at the development, where they were given a presentation by Bellway’s civil engineers about the construction process, the importance of health and safety, and career opportunities in the industry.

They also took part in an exercise to build basic structure models with straws and were then taken onto a rooftop viewing platform from where they were able to see the work being carried out at Fielders Quarter, where Bellway is building 371 apartments and townhouses.

The development is part of the wider Barking Riverside scheme which is transforming the former Barking Power Station site in East London, delivering 10,800 new homes to the area.

Tony Whitbread, Head of Technical at Bellway London Partnerships, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome these excited and interested youngsters to Fielders Quarter and to be able to give them an insight into the work that is taking place at this landmark scheme.

“We pride ourselves on being part of the community and this day was a chance to explain what we do to a class of local schoolchildren, some of whom may one day live in a home in this rapidly growing neighbourhood.

“It was also an opportunity to teach the pupils the basics of construction and the importance of health and safety on site, as well as opening their eyes to potential future careers in housebuilding. The children were incredibly receptive, and we’d like to think we might just have inspired some of them to join us when they leave school or university.”

Miss Sultana, from Southwood Primary School, said: “This was a great opportunity for children at Southwood Primary to see what engineering is all about. Children enjoyed getting involved in the workshop and learnt a lot about construction.”

A selection of one and two-bedroom apartments are currently available at Fielders Quarter, with prices starting from £258,655.

For more information, call the sales team on 020 3993 4396 or visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/london-partnerships/fielders-quarter.

Education, Midlands News, News

Leicestershire pupils have a tale of a time at virtual storytelling event

In celebration of National Storytelling Week (30th January – 5th February), stories were brought to life for pupils at Fleckney Primary School thanks to a virtual storytelling event organised by David Wilson Homes.

In light of the pandemic and, at a time when many school pupils want a personalised experience, David Wilson Homes has transformed its usual storytelling event into a virtual event so that children can still enjoy the stories.

The school is based near the housebuilder’s Fleckney Fields development on Kilby Road, and the event is another part of the developer’s outreach to the local community.

Over 300 pupils attended the sessions as part of a morning of magical storytelling, hosted on Zoom by experienced storyteller Richard York, who created a tailored experience for classes from Foundation right through to Year 4.

Richard is a traditional storyteller, multi-instrumental musician and composer who brings stories to life at many events, schools, museums and heritage sites across a wide range of counties.

Richard said: “It was a delight to work with the school to celebrate National Storytelling Week. Traditional storytelling can give so much to people of all ages, as well as children and these days it’s more important than ever.

“Their responses show how much the magic of these stories, often passed down over many hundreds of years, can still come through despite the limitations of having to work online rather than the shared experience of being in the room together.

“Thank you to David Wilson Homes for providing this opportunity, and to the school for being so cooperative.”

National Storytelling Week, an annual event organised by the Society for Storytelling, is celebrated by people of all ages and aims to keep stories new and old alive.

Tim Leah, Headteacher at Fleckney Primary School, said: “The children really enjoyed the engaging storytelling sessions with Richard. We had truly captivated audiences across the school. Thank you to David Wilson Homes for enriching our school’s National Storytelling Week celebrations.”

The children experienced first-hand how oral storytelling has allowed stories to survive and evolve over thousands of years, and across continents.

Rachael Harrison, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “It was a pleasure to invite pupils from Fleckney Primary School to join us for a storytelling morning and Richard’s stories really enchanted the children which was great to see.

“Events such as these give us the opportunity to make a difference in the communities in which we build and encourage skills such as reading, writing, listening and creativity.”

More information about Richard’s work can be found at: http://www.taleteller.co.uk/

Now over 90 per cent sold, just 11 homes remain for sale at David Wilson Homes’ Fleckney Fields. For more information about the development, call the sales team on 033 3355 8483 or visit www.dwh.co.uk/new-homes/dev001262-fleckney-fields/.

News

Festival of Learning: A third of adults can’t afford adult education

The biggest barrier to British adults continuing their education is cost, with more than a third (35%) saying they’re unable to afford to study, while almost a fifth (19%) say they don’t have time.

A YouGov survey of 2,109 GB adults commissioned by distance learning provider The Oxford Open Learning Trust found that, although more than two thirds (69%) of respondents said they could be motivated to learn for any type of new qualification – from GCSEs to PHDs and industry certificates – only just over a quarter of Brits (27%) are likely to actually do so.

The other barriers that Brits said most commonly stop them from studying are that they don’t have the time to devote to it (19%) and feeling that another qualification would be unnecessary because they feel they are educated enough (18%).

As well as respondents also saying that they lack the motivation to study (17%), the same number also said they lack the energy. Many Brits also commented that they deem themselves too old.

The research also revealed that many British adults would be happy to continue learning if they felt they could. Receiving a boost to their pay packet is only the third most common incentive, agreed by three in ten (30%) of  Brits, whereas 42% would be more likely to take a course simply out of their own general interest in the subject.

 

The five most common issues that stop adults from continuing with education in the future are:

1.    Lack of affordability (35%)

2.    Time constraints (19%)

3.    Not needing any further qualifications (18%)

4.    Lack of motivation (17%)

5.    Lack of energy (17%)

 

Greg Smith, head of operations at Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “The fact that so many would like to study further but don’t feel that they can, points to a lot of misconceptions that people have about adult education.

“For those who think they’re too old, adult learning isn’t only about furthering a career – it’s also extremely beneficial in terms of mental health. There’s evidence to show that, not only does keeping the brain active combat depression and anxiety, but also helps prevent dementia in later life and boosts confidence.

“Studying for a new qualification with a distance learning course is also vastly different to a classroom, and can be spread over a longer period to fit in with your current work or lifestyle.

“The initial cost is often far outweighed by the benefits of gaining a new qualification, through an increase in pay, a promotion or a career change.”

 

Oxford Open Learning’s Top Tips for Adult Learners:

  • Make the learning experience as relevant and useful as possible. Draw on your personal experiences and link the subject matter to real-world benefits for your work and personal life
  • Make learning as engaging as possible to boost motivation. Use a variety of learning stimuli, such as images, activities, videos, lectures and podcasts to find what works for you
  • Breaking down information into bite-sized chunks can also help to make it easier to process, and don’t forget to take regular breaks to help you maintain concentration
  • Master your skills by playing an active role in your learning experience. Exploring the subject matter through self-study and active participation can help you to learn in a way that is meaningful to you
  • Let learning occur through mistakes. Trial and error can make the learning experience more effective, while the sense of overcoming a challenge can help to boost confidence

More advice on how to overcome perceived barriers to adult education can be read here:

https://www.ool.co.uk/blog/successful-studying-time/