Education News July to September 2011
Childcare fees advice
Parents needing advice on childcare fees are being directed to a free booklet produced by The Learning Trust.
'Help For Paying With Childcare Costs' has information on tax credits, free part-time nursery places, and schemes for families with children with special needs.
It was launched on 7 September, the same day that a national survey by Save The Children and the Daycare Trust found that thousands of parents in the UK are struggling to pay childcare costs, with some spending more than a third of their income on it.
Deirdre MacGinley, Hackney Family Information Service Manager at the trust, said: "Paying for childcare is tough for parents, so we've produced a booklet that shows parents what financial help is available. Not all families will be able to get help, but it's important to check if yours can."
Picking up a copy at the launch, Darrah, mother of nine-month-old Sian, said: "I'm just about to go back to work after having a baby, so it's great to be able to find out what support is available to me."
The Family Information Service helps parents of children and young people, aged up to 19, who are looking for information on childcare, education, things to do and family support.
More information
Tel 020 8820 7590; email fis@learningtrust.co.uk; or visit: www.learningtrust.co.uk/childcare
19 September 2011
Student set to showcase work on fashion week catwalk
A local student is about to see her designs modelled on a London Fashion Week catwalk.
Shaunette Vincent (right), 17, of Our Lady's Convent High School, has made it to the finals of the 2011 FAD Junior Awards, a contest offering young people an early break into the fashion industry.
She was selected from 100 16 to 19-year-olds who took part in FAD's Fashion Futures 2 project, a 10-week course targeted at young people from inner city areas in London and Manchester.
As a finalist, Shaunette took part in five days of workshops at the University of East London this summer, designing and crafting her collection.
The young hopeful is set to present designs inspired by the V&A Museum's ceramics, glass and jewellery galleries at the catwalk final on 20 September in Covent Garden. The winner will get a placement with a leading industry company.
Shaunette said: "I think it's just the accomplishment of knowing that I've got this far and knowing that I actually can do it. I think if you just believe in yourself, that your determination can get you there.
"Since I started coming to FAD, I feel like I've had a lot more opportunities, a lot more stuff for my portfolio. It's been really helpful."
More information
For more info, visit: www.fad.org.uk
19 September 2011
Treading the boards
Primary school pupils from across Hackney have written, rehearsed and performed their own show at the Arcola Theatre in Dalston.
Youngsters from six schools, who have been identified as 'being at risk of disengaging from education', took part in summer project 'Mind The Gap', a new initiative to help young people make a smooth transition from primary to secondary school. Working alongside theatre professionals from Okai Coller Company and New London Orchestra, the pupils spent two weeks preparing at their future secondary schools - either Petchey Academy or Urswick School (formerly Hackney Free and Parochial School). Rehearsing in both venues gave them a chance to become familiar with their new surroundings and journey to school before term begins. A 100-strong audience then saw them perform a short musical 'The Last Crystal of the Doominator' on 14 August.
The programme, which is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, continues in term time with a series of mentoring sessions and events to further support pupils. Hackney business education partnership Inspire!, which runs the project, hopes current students will become mentors to the next intake of new pupils in 2012. For more information, visit: www.inspire-ebp.org.uk
5 September 2011
Free Spanish lessons on offer
Birkbeck college in Stratford is offering a 10-week programme of free Spanish language lessons.
The informal drop-in classes are open to all ages and no prior knowledge of the language is needed. In addition, the children of participating students will receive free language activities during the adult classes.
Lessons take place at The Discover Children's Story Centre, 383-387 High Street, E15, on Tuesdays, from 4-5pm, between 20 September and 29 November, excluding half-term. Booking is required as places are limited. For more info, call: 020 8432 0018; or email: p.buddington@bbk.ac.uk
5 September 2011
Summer classes success for hackney's young people
A group of Hackney young people outside mainstream education took part in activities this summer to help them keep motivated during the holidays.
For six weeks, Inspire!, the education business partnership for Hackney, offered classes from cookery and drama, to fashion and beauty, for young people at New Regent's Vocational College, the borough's pupil referral unit. It caters for young people unable to attend conventional or special schools.
One student, Harley Von Haidenthaler, 15, said: "The nail day was really fun. I painted my partner's nails. I also really enjoyed the hip hop as I'm hoping to break into the music business."
Project manager, Dorothy Hodgson, said: "We see the summer project as a positive way to keep them focused and perhaps help them discover a new talent. Our hip-hop week, for example, uncovered some fantastic vocal talent and the students were motivated to write some rap that came out against the recent riots."
More information
For more info, visit: www.inspire-ebp.org.uk/
5 September 2011
Japanese visit to Ann Tayler Centre
Education staff from Japan visited the Ann Tayler Children's Centre in London Fields to find more about childcare provision in the capital.
During their Hackney stopover, the 21 Japanese teachers, teacher trainers and welfare officers showed particular interest in child-minding and how home childcare is regulated and inspected
in England.
In Japan, government-registered nurseries are said to be oversubscribed - with a shortage of quality childcare cited as a reason for a lower proportion of working mothers in the country.
The Learning Trust's Head of Early Years, Angela Scattergood, accompanied the group on their visit. She said: "They were really interested in how the centre is organised and the types of activities the children do. They're keen to develop a partnership with us and share ideas in the future."
The trip was organised by the Research Institute for the System of Childcare and Early Childhood Education in Tokyo, Japan.
5 September 2011
Ship ahoy!
Classrooms were swapped for ship decks when two Hackney students took part in an 11-day voyage manning the yards of a tall ship.
Skinners' Academy's Omoyemi Aileru and Levi Peterkin, both 17, were selected by their school for the Tall Ships Youth Trust Voyage of Achievement.
Along with 48 other students from across the country, the youngsters scaled masts, scrubbed decks, kept watch and practised dealing with 'man overboard' and other safety drills around the clock.
The trip began in Newcastle, with stopovers in Leith, Scotland, and the Dutch port of Scheveningen, before finally dropping anchor near Tower Bridge, London.
Throughout the voyage, the students were mentored by an experienced Tall Ships Youth Trust crew. The Trust's Operations Director, Tim Law, said: "The students have been living in close quarters with each other in a new and challenging environment.
"They have forged friendships, faced challenges and taken part in new experiences - at the same time developing skills that will stand them in good stead for the future."
The ship, Stavros S Niarchos, is a 60 metre long, steel brig dedicated to working with young people aged 14 to 25-years-old at sea.
More than 500 young people have taken part in the Voyage of Achievement scheme since it was launched 11 years ago.
More information
For more information on Tall Ships Youth Trust Voyage, visit: www.tallships.org
22 August 2011
New School gets local backing
A new secondary school could open in the borough after draft proposals received strong support from residents.
More than 200 people responded to a consultation by The Learning Trust, which asked for views on whether a new institution should be run as an academy or independent free school. Government funding is only available for these two options.
Roughly 70 per cent of those who responded were in favour of an academy, while 10 per cent wanted a free school. The Learning Trust therefore backed the academy idea.
Mossbourne and City academies have both expressed an interest in running the new school. If either is successful, they will work with The Learning Trust and Council to secure financial backing from the scheme.
The new academy could be built on the site of Cardinal Pole RC lower school in Victoria Park Road, E9, which is due to move to a new building on Morning Lane in 2012. The lower school is Grade II listed so any building work would have to preserve its existing character.
Steve Belk, Acting Chief Executive of The Learning Trust, said: "The feedback received through the consultation has given us a clear direction as we seek to create a new secondary school for Hackney.
"We'd like to thank those who took time to give us their views and we look forward to working with the community as we take forward our plans."
22 August 2011
One Year to Go celebration
Randall Cremer School celebrated 'One Year To Go' until London 2012 with a day of multi-discipline Olympic and Paralympic sporting action.
From duels between young competitors at Fighting Fit Fencing Club to ball tricks by Shoreditch Basketball Academy members, pupils got an opportunity to see athletes display their skills. There were also gymnastic and taekwondo shows and Hackney-born Olympic long jump hopeful JJ Jegede gave a motivational speech.
Schoolchildren learnt facts about other Olympic countries, created banners and completed a replica torch relay as part of their partnership work with Games organisers.
PE Coordinator Fiona Solomon added: "The point of organising this event was to give children a sense of excitement with regards to 2012.
"Being a school in one of the host boroughs, it is important for them to understand why the Olympics coming to London is so special and a crucial part of history. It also gave them a chance to hear from and see professional athletes who demonstrate that nothing is impossible."
22 August 2011
The future of television
Skinners' Academy students compared their experience filming a local festival to being like 'BBC reporters and camera crew'.
Sixth-formers from the N4 school were asked to document youth sports festival 'One Movement' as part of a BBC training scheme.
After receiving training in broadcast quality digital technology and the latest editing techniques, they were given their assignment to document the event in Clissold Park on 30 July. Student Daniela Gomez Vera said: "It was an amazing experience. We got the chance to be like BBC reporters and camera crew. Seeing all the people at One Movement that are excited about the Olympics and were trying to get involved as much as possible was great."
The project was organised by Rep London, a business skills programme for young people across the host boroughs. A spokesperson from BBC 21st Century Classroom, which carried out the training, said: "Skinners' students were keen to learn and showed potential aptitude to enter the world of media - highlighting exactly the reason why it's important to engage young people with programmes like this. We'll look out for them in the future."
For more info visit: www.replondon.org.uk, or: www.bbc.co.uk/21cc
22 August 2011
Sweet music
4,000 young people made themselves heard at the 14th Hackney Schools Music Festival.
Taking place at the Round Chapel, E5, the annual two-week event showcased dancing, singing and instrument recitals from young residents. Neighbouring borough Tower Hamlets also got in on the act, when its young musicians joined a 160-strong percussion event: 'Borough Beats'. The festival ended on 14 July with a singing event featuring junior school pupils. Speaking before his performance, Marvellous Iyoha, seven, from Princess May Primary School, N16, said:
"I'm a bit nervous. I like singing as it makes my voice sound better and I have to remember lots of words."
Teacher Emily Fetton, from Baden Powell primary, E5, added: "The children have been extremely excited about the festival and their enthusiasm has been infectious. A lot of hard work has gone into the performance."
Audience member Blessing Odukoya, who took part in the festival herself when she was a youngster at St Monica's primary, N1, said:
"It's been nice to come back and watch the pupils perform. I was really impressed with the infants, you could see how much they were enjoying themselves."
Acting Head of The Learning Trust's Music Service, James Thomas, said: "We are extremely proud of our young musicians, teachers and all the people who have helped make this year's festival such a resounding success. It provides a snapshot of the range and quality of music that goes on in Hackney schools all year round, and we hope our audiences and other children will be inspired by what they have seen and heard."
More information
For more information about the music service, go to: www.learningtrust.co.uk/musicservice
8 August 2011
Radio team makes some noise in school library
It was bound to be somewhat unpredictable when the pupils of Stoke Newington School and BBC 1Xtra came together - but listeners almost certainly didn't expect a student rap about kebabs.
Broadcasting live from the N16 school's library, the channel's breakfast team, led by presenter Twin B, were kickstarting the morning in Hackney on 18 July.
Twin B spoke to students about their favourite subjects, teachers and music, as well as their plans for the future. There was also a performance from the school's choir of Alicia Key's 'Empire State of Mind'. But it was year eight pupil Yousef's song that surprised the audience the most.
Taking his inspiration from the popular takeaway food, Yousef was praised by the presenter for his originality and 'entrepreneurial spirit'.
BBC radio stalwart Tim Westwood later made a guest appearance to help Yousef quiz deputy headteacher Patricia White. The 53-year-old DJ then cheekily divulged that he knew Patricia from her former night-clubbing days. And when she got a question wrong, about former Stoke Newington student Professor Green, one pupil pointed out that her punishment could be 'an hour's detention'.
8 August 2011
Reaching out this summer
A mentoring charity is offering young people art classes, sports sessions and the chance to brush up on maths, English and science skills.
The ReachOut! summer programme takes place at The Petchey Academy, in E8.
Attendees will benefit from 'subjectbooster' classes, as well as getting the chance to go iceskating, bowling, canoeing and on other trips. Activities are designed to keep young people active over the break, increase their confidence and help them make new friends.
The programme runs from 11am-4pm every weekday until 26 August. Registration is £10 a week, which includes the cost of excursions.
For more details, visit: www.reachoutuk.org
8 August 2011
You're hired
The winner of the first series of hit BBC show 'The Apprentice' shared top business tips with Hackney students.
Tim Campbell spoke to 200 young people from seven borough schools about the importance of mentors in his life.
Tim, who went on to carve out a successful career as a social entrepreneur and motivational speaker after winning a £100,000 a year job with Lord Sugar, also encouraged the students to make contacts and keep networking. He said: "Mentoring is a fabulous opportunity for young people and it was great to see so many potential future entrepreneurs at the event today."
The 16 June event at St John-at-Hackney Church, E5, was the finale of the Hackney Schools' Mentoring Programme (HSMP), a project that sees businesspeople from the City of London volunteer their time to offer advice to Year 10 pupils over the course of an academic year.
The scheme offers students support with key skills like CV writing and interview techniques, as well as organising social events such as ice-skating.
Set up in 1996 by the East London Business Alliance (ELBA), the programme aims to help Hackney young people get ready for the world of work, increase their self-confidence, improve academic performance and raise aspirations.
Mentoring takes place after school, with mentors receiving training, followed by support sessions, advice and feedback from HSMP.
More information
For more info call: 020 8820 7437; visit: www.hsmp.org.uk
4 July 2011
Poetry in Motion
Budding poet Ella Belton-Saunders has had her work recognised by the National Trust.
The 12-year-old, from Clapton Girls' Technology College, was inspired to enter the trust's 'Landlines' competition on the theme of the great outdoors.
More than 1,700 entries were whittled down to just 12, in two categories, by judges Joe Bell, Director of National Poetry Day, and Ian McMillan, presenter of Radio 3's The Verb. Ella's evocative work 'The Blue Lake' was named runner-up in the under-16 category.
The piece will now be published in the September edition of the National Trust's magazine and in an 'Ode to the Countryside' poetry book, and she will also receive a VIP day out at a National Trust attraction.
She said: "I was so surprised as I didn't think out of the whole country I would be a winner. I enjoyed writing the poem and am very proud it won."
4 July 2011
Top student lands RADA spot
IT's little wonder the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) auditions 3,500 hopefuls annually when its powerhouse alumni includes names like Lord Attenborough, Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes, Mark Rylance, Fiona Shaw and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Now E8 resident Rashmika Torchia, 19, is about to study at the 'Oxbridge of drama schools' after winning one of only 15 coveted RADA female actor spots.
The former Clapton Girls' Technology College student has already been making her mark as a talented performer. In 2008, she was commended for having one of the top-10 GCSE Drama results nationwide, and has appeared in BBC1's 'Spooks', 'Macbeth' at the Arcola Theatre and Hackney Empire's 'A Midsummer Night's Madness'. Rashmika, who also mentors other young actors in East London, said: "It feels like a dream come true. I hope I
can inspire other young people in Hackney to see that if you stay focused and work hard you really do achieve
your goals."
4 July 2011
Awards for local colleges
Two Hackney colleges have scooped prizes at this year's London Education Partnership Awards.
BSix Sixth Form College and Hackney Community College (HCC) both received plaudits at the ceremony, which recognised educational programmes that assist talented young people and adults to go on to higher education.
HCC's sports academy received the 'supporting journeys' award for its work with young sports people on the field and in the classroom. BSix won the 'building bridges' accolade for its 'raising aspirations' university partnership programme. It sees students attend lectures by university academics, and spend time studying at a university summer school. So far, three graduates of the programme have been offered Oxbridge places.
Ian Ashman, HCC principal, said: "It's great to see Hackney in the spotlight for all the right reasons. These awards are well-deserved recognition for the staff in Hackney's colleges and the organisations they work with - and the inspirational achievements of our students."
BSix Principal, Ken Warman, added: "We are so pleased to receive this acknowledgement for such an innovative and ground-breaking programme. Above all, it is an award for all our partners on the scheme.
4 July 2011
Page updated: 11 Oct 2011
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