Education News
Fantastic voyage
Two Skinners’ Company’s School for Girls students have completed a five-day voyage as crewmates aboard an ocean-going yacht.
Courtney Wooley and Christy Ilesamni, both 15, joined the Sailing Academy run by charity the Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) for a round trip from Portsmouth, via the Solent, off the South Coast.
During the voyage, from 15 to 19 April, the teenagers learnt how to set and stow the sails, haul ropes and steer the yacht, as well as develop skills in teamwork, communication, problem solving and leadership.
The girls also completed their Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Competent Crew qualification, the first step on the RYA yacht training scheme, with Courtney picking up the award for most improved crew member.
She said: “I would love to come back again. I enjoyed learning to sail a Challenger yacht and would really like to try sailing again in the future. Overall though, I am very proud of my achievements this week.”
Paul Sinclair, from sponsor HSBC’s Global Education Trust, said: “We are supporting these sailing academies because we want to make a positive difference in the communities in which we operate. We have seen how sailing can be such an inspirational experience outside the classroom, and the academies will develop important life skills that young people can take back into their community, school or job.”
More information
For more information on the Tall Ships Youth Trust, visit: www.tallships.org
23 April 2010
The business of the Games
A business enterprise competition gave N16 pupils an initiation into public speaking.
Stoke Newington School students took on the roles of entrepreneurs in a London 2012-based competition, which asked them to develop a plan for a fictional pre-Games training camp for competitors. Each team focused on a field – such as athletics or water sports – and presented pitches that covered everything from design to budget.
The pitches were judged by a panel that included six-time world kayaking champion, Anna Hemmings. Head of PE, Tom Phillips, said: “A lot of pupils had never stood up, presented or promoted something before, but they all showed real enthusiasm that continued throughout the event.”
The winners were Team H20 Aberdeen – Millie, Suvannah, Mia and Molly, all 13 – for their aquatics venue idea. They will represent the school in a national competition later this year. The event on 26 March was organised by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games.
23 April 2010
Lean on me
Pupils from six Hackney primaries got an insight into secondary school life – in the unlikely surroundings of an Essex forest.
Twenty four youngsters took part in numeracy and literacy workshops, plus outdoor activities like walking the low wire, as part of the Move Up Mentoring scheme, which helps young people make a smooth transition to secondary school.
The event at Gilwell Park Scout Activity Centre, near Epping Forest, on 8 and 9 April, was designed as a get to know you session for mentors and mentees. The mentors, aged 18 to 24, are studying at local sixth form colleges or universities.
They will now meet with their mentees once a week, until the end of summer term, to focus on the subject areas which the young people need most help with, concentrating on maths, reading and writing.
BSix College’s Dominique Adamson, who will be mentoring Roxania Thomas-Rattray before she starts at Skinners’ Academy, said:
“Roxy wants help with literacy as she says she doesn’t like writing. She is excited by the prospect of going to Skinners’ and having a mentor to help her.”
The scheme is funded by Team Hackney and The Learning Trust, and organised by Inspire! Hackney’s education business partnership.
23 April 2010
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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