Education News October 2009
Countryside comes alive for 3,000 kids
Dancing sheep, racing ferrets and demonstrations by sheep dogs and birds of prey were all on display at Countryside Live.
Over 3,000 pupils from seven inner London boroughs, including Hackney, got closer to nature at Leyton Marsh during the annual event.
Children from St Monica’s and Nightingale primary schools also got the chance to sail down the River Lee on a narrow boat, hunt for mini beasts and bird watch.
Hands-on activities included candle and corn dollie making, scarecrow building, willow weaving and apple pressing. The event on 23 and 24 September was organised by Lee Valley Regional Park and the Countryside Foundation for Education. Its CEO, Gary Richardson, said:
“We believe that all children should have access to the countryside and an understanding of everyday practices and issues, wherever they live. On Leyton Marsh, we not only bring parts of the countryside into inner London, we also celebrate the best elements of the local environment and combine these to provide a safe, secure and managed environment for children to discover countryside living.”
Leyton Marsh is part of the 10,000 acre, 26 mile long Lee Valley Regional Park, which boasts riverside trails, country parks, nature reserves and urban oases.
More information
To learn more about activities at the park, visit: www.leevalleypark.org.uk
19 October 2009
Open Up for architecture
The next generation of leading architects could be coming from a school near you.
As part of Open Up – a schools programme from architectural educational charity Open House – Stoke Newington School pupils have been invited to create drawings and models of their building ideas.
Students will tour some of London’s most innovative buildings, work directly with engineers and architects then create their own project plans. At the end of the programme, all those who took part are invited to enter their drawings and models in a competition to be judged by industry experts. The winners will be announced on 8 December.
19 October 2009
Support staff awards
Clapton Girls’ Technology College staff are celebrating three honours in national awards. Nicole Van Staeyen was presented with the learning support assistant of the year award, while Donna Grant and finance officer Yetunde Monz collected distinctions in catering worker and administrator categories, respectively, at the National Awards for School Support Staff. The annual event, which took place on 3 October, recognises the skills support staff bring to schools. Headteacher Cheryl Day said: “I congratulate all three winners and thank them for their outstanding contribution. They have every reason to be very proud of their achievements.”
19 October 2009
Film week freebies
Schools are being given a ‘golden ticket’ to the cinema to promote the use of film as a teaching tool.
As part of National Schools Film Week (NSFW), from 13 to 23 October, teachers and students have the opportunity to see an assortment of films at the Rio cinema in Dalston for free. Organisers said the programme focuses on ‘creativity and diversity’ and will feature a range of films – both current and classic – that address challenging issues from different viewpoints from around the world.
NSFW director, Nick Walker, said: “The week reflects the growing stature of world cinema and the ever increasing hunger from teachers for films from around the globe to give their students windows into new worlds and cultures previously unknown to them.”
Now in its 14th year, the festival also aims to support classroom teaching by providing schools with an experience for pupils that links directly with areas of the curriculum.
The festival is free to any school that signs up. Current participating Hackney schools include Petchey, Lauriston, Princess May Primary and Tyssen Community.
More information
For details visit: www.nsfw.org, and www.filmeducation.org
05 October 2009
Free lunch for a year!
The School Food Trust is giving 50 parents the chance to win free, healthy school lunches for one child for a full school year.
In conjunction with the launch of the ‘Little Book of Goodness’, which has been developed to offer parents advice on school meals, the Trust is offering free school dinners to increase their uptake.
Details of how to enter the competition are enclosed in the booklet.
More than 750,000 parents and guardians across England will receive a copy, which can be requested by contacting their children’s school.
Prue Leith, School Food Trust chair, said: “We want to take the pressure off parents and make sure they have all the information they need to make the right meal choice for their child. That’s why we created the ‘Little Book of Goodness’ – to help ease this process for parents and hopefully put some of their anxieties to rest.
“School meals are now the healthiest they’ve ever been. But many parents still don’t realise that choosing school dinners really is the best way to make sure their children are getting the nutrients they need to help them learn and succeed.”
More information
Find out more by visiting: www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk
05 October 2009
Black to the future at LSE
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has invited young black Hackney people to its college for an event to promote higher education and top-level career avenues.
As part of Black History Month, the college is set to produce a series of free workshops to discuss aspirational thinking, such as the definition of success, how to set goals – and achieve them – as individuals.
In addition, there will be speakers addressing parenting issues such as supporting children through the educational process.
Elly Hobson, LSE’s Widening Participation & Community Engagement Manager, said: “It’s important to endorse and demystify post-16 options to students so that they can make the right decisions for themselves and their education.”
The Black to the Future conference will take place on Saturday, 10 October, in the New Academic Building at The London School of Economics from 10am to 4pm. It is open to students (aged 13-16) from London as well as their families, teachers and youth group leaders. For more info visit: www.black-to-the-future.co.uk
05 October 2009
New diploma
More than 30 students from Cardinal Pole Catholic School and Hackney Community College are the first in the borough to enroll on the advanced level of a new qualification that offers an alternative to GCSEs and ‘A’ levels.
The diploma in Society, Health & Development focuses on the health, children’s services, community justice and adult social care sectors. As well as acting as a stepping stone for further education, the course can also lay the foundation for careers in social work, counselling and educational psychology. Diplomas were rolled out nationwide last year.
Speaking at an induction session, run by Inspire!, Brenna Dunne, 16, from Cardinal Pole, said: “I chose the diploma because I would like to work with children, but I don’t know exactly how yet. This seems to open up so many different career pathways for you.”
For more info, visit: www.shd.skillsforhealth.org.uk
05 October 2009
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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