Education News - September 2008
Getting out of class
Woodberry Down Primary School has been shortlisted for a national award.
The Learning Outside the Classroom awards recognise schools’ commitment to providing innovative learning for young people in non-classroom settings, including in school grounds, on visits to museums, art galleries or farms, or cultural and language visits abroad.
Woodberry Down was shortlisted for its determination to make learning outside the classroom an essential part of the curriculum. It has made wide use of the local environment, helping students to understand literary themes in books about the area, and using their surroundings to learn about geography.
The judging panel was impressed with the inspirational approach to teaching and learning.
Judge Peter Carne said:
“We recognised Woodberry Down’s commitment to integrating learning outside the classroom fully into the school day. They have recognised that this type of learning has huge social, emotional and educational benefits, increasing motivation and self-confidence and helping young people to understand the world around them.”
Announcing the shortlist, Schools Minister, Andrew Adonis, said: “The great work at Woodberry Down demonstrates just one of the many ways learning can be taken outside class for the lifelong benefit of children.”
A total of 27 schools have been shortlisted for nine regional awards. Regional winners will be announced on 22 September with national winner unveiled on 2 October in London.
Be a mentor
The Children’s Society, a national charity that provides help for disadvantaged young people, is seeking volunteers from Hackney to become mentors.
This would involve regularly meeting up with a child or young person to enjoy activities together, and provide support and guidance.
Hackney Free and Parochial School will be the local base, starting from the autumn school term, following a successful pilot in South London. The initiative aims to help more young people develop their confidence and skills through mentoring.
It is hoped the project will work with 240 children in the next year, and eventually be rolled out across the UK.
Research shows mentoring has many positive benefits for young people with 52 per cent of those taking part less likely to skip school, 46 per cent less likely to begin using illegal drugs and 27 per cent less likely to begin using alcohol.
Any adult aged 18 and over can apply to be a mentor and The Children’s Society offers full support and training.
More information
To find out more about becoming a mentor call: 020 7358 2000.
Laying out for the summer
Five students from Hackney’s New Visions Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) gave up three weeks of their summer break to take on a publishing assignment.
The girls, aged 15 to 17, formed an editorial team that worked alongside staff at Disorder magazine to produce their own music, fashion and lifestyle publication, Candii.
They decided on content, wrote articles and modelled for some of the photo spreads. They also tackled issues like teenage pregnancy and gang culture. The initiative was organised by Inspire!, Hackney’s education business partnership, in conjunction with Disorder, and funded by The Learning Trust.
Candii was unveiled at a celebration event in Chat’s Palace Arts Centre, Homerton. Copies will now be distributed around the borough. Gloria Dada, Inspire! Programme Officer, said: “On the first day, I sat them down with a blank sheet of paper and asked them to jot down their ideas. Ten minutes later, they had completely filled the page.”
Blessing Benton, 16, took on the role of editor. She said: “It’s been really good, but doing this magazine has made me realise just how hard it is.”
Robin Childs, Inspire! Engagement Programme Manager, added: “Students find themselves at the PRU for reasons including exclusion, problems that prevent them attending school full time, lack of good English or because they have been unable to find a place at secondary school. We felt it was important to keep everyone motivated with a challenging, exciting programme that grabbed their attention, was careerrelated, and gave new skills.”
All five girls were due to start college this month.
GCSE results are on the rise again
GCSE results across Hackney are up again for the sixth consecutive year, according to figures confirmed this month.
Alan Wood, Chief Executive of The Learning Trust – which runs education services in Hackney – praised the results. He said: “We are delighted to have successfully maintained the significant improvement in our borough-wide GCSE results, up by two per cent from last year. We congratulate all pupils who have sat exams and applaud them on their hard work, delivered with support from their teachers and headteachers. We hope they continue to build on their achievements and wish them success in their further education, training and future careers.”
| School | 2008: % provisional achieving 5+ A* to C grades with Maths & English |
| Cardinal Pole Roman Catholic School | 37 |
| Clapton Girls Technology College | 53 |
| Hackney Free & Parochial CE School | 22 |
| Our Lady’s Convent High School | 58 |
| The Skinners Company School For Girls | 37 |
| Stoke Newington School: Media Arts & Science College | 52 |
| Yesodey Hatorah Secondary School for Girls | 83 |
| Local Education Authority average (inc. special) | 44 |
Students win scholarships
Two students from Skinners’ Company’s School for Girls have won prestigious international scholarships.
Farzanah Ausaluth, who got 11A*s in her GCSEs, will go to Atlantic College in Wales, and Edanur Yazici, who achieved 11A*s and 1 A, will go to Li Po Chun in Hong Kong. Both girls will study for the International Baccalaureate, a programme of six subjects equivalent to five A-levels. They will also carry out community service.
Edanur will help monitor fragile coral reef eco-systems in the South China Sea, while Farzanah has volunteered as a lifeboat crew member.
Headteacher Jenny Wilkins said: “We are proud to see their achievements recognised and look forward to them sharing their experiences with us.”
It can pay to keep learning
If your GCSE results have inspired you to keep learning, but the cost is a worry, help is at hand.
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) gives students aged 16 to19 an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) of up to £30 a week.
An EMA can be used to help with the costs of books, travel, equipment or anything else you need to continue learning, and it’s paid straight into the learner’s bank account.
Bobbi-Jay Thompson did a BTEC sports course at Hackney Community College with support from an EMA.
A talented basketball player, she achieved a basketball coaching award level 1, a customer service award, plus first aid and basketball table official level 2 qualifications.
She volunteered at the British Basketball League London United Games and won two British championships, as well as many other medals and awards.
Bobbi-Jay, 19, said:
“The EMA helped me immensely while I was studying. I travelled a lot with the basketball team all across the UK, and found the EMA useful in maintaining me on the trips, especially for faraway games.
“I also used the EMA to buy any sports equipment I needed to progress on my course. I would definitely recommend others to apply for it while it is available. It’s always good to have that bit of support."
More information
Freephone: 0800 121 8989; or visit: www.direct.gov.uk /ema.
Page updated: 8 Oct 2008