Education News
Young ambassadors
More than 100 primary pupils found out how they will be contributing to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As Hackney 2012 Primary Ambassadors, the group discovered they will welcome visitors to the borough, and travel as far as Glasgow to speak about this year's events.
The youngsters, from 51 borough primary schools, have been learning about different aspects of the Games to share with other pupils, both in their school and around the UK, and will attend public speaking workshops in preparation.
Five ambassadors have also already taken part in a sporting exchange with young people in Scarborough.
Cllr Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, took questions from the young ambassadors at the training session on 6 December in Tomlinson Centre, E8.
He said: "I can tell you that public speaking is absolutely nerve-racking, but it's also great fun to be able to stand up and share things with people. There will be some fantastic moments next year."
Contact Steve Herbert, 'Schools at the Heart' project manager, on: 020 8820 7308 or e-mail: steve.herbert@learningtrust.co.uk
9 January 2012
The Prince's prize
A team of Clapton Girls' Academy students had an audience with the Duke of Edinburgh after coming first in a debating competition.
Najma Ahmed, Rommana Delair and Jamiah Okeye won the English Speaking Union London School Debate Challenge, which saw them pit their reason and logic against pupils from the capital's 32 other boroughs.
The 15-year-olds were awarded prizes by Prince Philip and also received a tour of the palace.
Najma said: "I couldn't stop smiling when I saw the Duke of Edinburgh."
Michelle Fennell, who leads the debating programme at Clapton, said: "The girls felt so special being recognised by the Duke of Edinburgh for all their hard work." For more info, visit: www.esu.org
9 January 2012
Youthful entrepreneurs praised
Three secondary schools are set to receive funding for projects aimed at repairing the damage done to Hackney communities after last August's riots.
Young entrepreneurs from Stoke Newington School, Cardinal Pole Sixth Form, and Clapton Girls' Academy will get up to £500 each from charity, Envision, to reverse negative perceptions of young people in Hackney.
The Stoke Newington team plan to develop allotment-style green spaces; while sixth formers at Cardinal Pole hope to make a website based on the game Monopoly to raise awareness of poverty; and Clapton Girls' are planning mural painting sessions in schools.
Over the last three months the teams received mentoring as part of programme 'Pitch4Change' and presented their plans to a panel of business people to win the funding.
9 January 2012
Schools in CitySafe campaign
Students have been commended for improving their community by introducing a Neighbourhood Watch-style scheme for businesses.
The Our Lady's Convent School pupils linked up with Clapton shopkeepers to get them to join the London-wide CitySafe campaign. The initiative sees businesses report crime and antisocial behaviour to police and offer their premises as a haven to those in immediate danger.
Pupils also worked towards raising awareness of the Living Wage drive and to improving facilities on bus routes. The students' work saw them beat more than 100 other London schools to win the school of the year award on 7 December, from social action charity London Citizens, which runs the CitySafe campaign.
9 January 2012
Page updated: 18 Jan 2012
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