Educate september 2017

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Educate - The Magazine for Schools, Parents and Pupils

September - December 2017

September - December 2017

The Class of 2017 Celebrating students’ achievements

Best of Both Worlds The value of degree apprenticeships

www.educatemagazine.com

+ Of Primary Importance

Bold not Cold

Choosing the right school for your child

Autumn fashion trends

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Inspiring Inspiring personal personal a and nd a academic cademic

excellence e xcellence OPEN OPEN E EVENING VENING TTuesday uesday 3 3rd rd O October ctober 6.00-8.00pm 6.00-8.00pm

‘‘Pupils Pupils are ar e m otivated and and motivated c ompassionate... compassionate... w ell p repared ffor or well prepared ttheir heir role role in in m odern ssociety’ ociety’ modern Ofsted 2016

Welcoming W elcoming students students ffrom rom a allll a areas reas of of Liverpool Liverpool & beyond beyond Bellerive is a very popular choice for girls from across Liverpool.

Contact us for a guided tour and find out why we are such a unique school.

Bellerive ellerive FCJ FC CJ B Catholic C atholic College College ark, LLiverpool iverpool L1 73 AA 1, Aigburth 1, Aigburth Drive, Drive, Sefton Sefton P Park, L17 3AA TTel: el: 0151 0151 7 27 2 064 www.bellerivefcj.org www.bellerivefcj.org 727 2064 S Specialisms pecialisms in in Sciences, Sciences, A Applied pplied LLearning earning a and nd M Maths aths & C Computing omputing

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Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Educate Contents Welcome...

40

Welcome to the September edition of Educate

44

68

61

Features

78-79

09-11

School eco news Liverpool at the forefront with food education

All Change The overhaul of A-levels and GCSEs

88-98

12-15

Educate 16+ Education, training and learning

A-level results 2017 Educate joins students on their results day

91

16-19

Best of Both Worlds Degree apprenticeships

GCSE results 2017 Students celebrate their exam successes

111

34-35

Book review This season’s must reads

Meet the headteacher Nadine Carroll, executive headteacher at Whitefield Primary School and Faith Primary School

112-113 A helping hand Tips for supporting your child’s learning

52

118

Viewpoint Focus on physical activity

Bold not cold Make a fashion statement this autumn

57

120-121

Thoughts worth sharing Bitesize thinking

Where can we go?

Our pick of what’s happening out & about in the region

64-65 Meet the headteacher Catherine Twist, headteacher at St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School

122 My school days Katrina Johnson-Thompson

Published by Mersey Mirror, 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS. Tel: 0151 709 7567 Fax: 0151 707 1678 Email: post@merseymirror.com Executive Editor Kim O’Brien Advertising Sales Tel: 0151 709 7567 Photography Liam Deveney Editorial Alan Birkett, Christine Toner, Hannah Fowler Stylist Emily Bonnon, Carmel College Design & Production Mersey Mirror, 36 Henry Street, Liverpool L1 5BS. Tel: 0151 706 7411 Email: post@merseymirror.com Distribution Barbara Troughton Tel: 0151 733 5492. Printed by PCP. Educate magazine is published by Mersey Mirror.

The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted or reproduced without permission.

Disclaimer The information contained within Educate we believe to be correct at the time of printing, no responsibility can be accepted for errors or omissions. © Copyright Mersey Mirror 2009.

Summer may be over and a new academic year may have begun, but as the first students of the new system of A-level and GCSE exams only collected their results last month, we bring you all the celebratory photos from across the region’s schools.

Adapting to such an overhaul of the education system has not come without its challenges for both students and teachers; however it’s clear from visiting so many schools on results day, and talking to headteachers, that exam grades this year reflect the incredible hard work of students and staff, with many students gaining strong outcomes and fantastic results.

With A-level results firmly in their hands, many students will soon begin the next step in their educational journey. Introduced only in 2015, degree apprenticeships have created a new pathway allowing students to gain on the job practical training while still achieving a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree. Faced with such a new choice we decided to find out exactly what this different type of degree offers students. Read our full report on p91.

Last issue we were eagerly awaiting all of the schools’ submissions to this year’s Educate Awards, in partnership with Copyrite Systems and Ricoh, and the hundreds of entries that were sent in are proving to once again be a difficult, but rewarding task, for the judging panel to judge.

However in a few weeks’ time the shortlist for the Educate Awards 2017 will be announced, taking us one step closer to presenting the 21 winners with their awards on Friday 18 November at the glittering red carpet ceremony held at Liverpool Cathedral. Keep updated with all the awards news and shortlist announcement via www.educateawards.com

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Education News

Harmonious talents Bright young musicians awarded at summer concerts Aspiring young musicians and singers gathered to display their harmonious talents at the town hall summer concerts, where the prestigious Music Hub Awards were presented.

The awards were launched last year to celebrate and support young musicians, with one dedicated to the memory of courageous schoolboy Harrison Ledsham – a pupil in the council’s Music Service – who died aged 12 in 2015 after battling bone cancer.

The awards are open to 1018-year-olds who live or are educated in St Helens.

Applicants were nominated by their school teacher, instrumental tutor or other adult mentor connected with their music making, like a band or choir conductor.

Guitarist Toby Barker of Lansbury Bridge School won the Harrison Ledsham Award for showing exceptional musical talent and potential, nominated by guitar teacher Mr Garner.

Harrison’s parents Karen and Paul Ledsham presented the award to the Year 8 student who performed as an electric guitar soloist at the summer concerts.

Nathaniel Chesworth, Year 10 Cowley International College violist, and Dominic Francis, Year 11 Rainford High trombonist and pianist, a member of the St Helens youth brass band, both received a Music Hub Award for musical achievement.

All three winners were invited to a musical development weekend with

Music Hub Award recipients Dominic, Nathaniel and Toby (leftright) with Mayor and Mayoress of St Helens, and parents of Harrison Ledsham, Paul and Karen

the music service, and have been given personal development plans to support their musical progress over the next year.

Councillor Pearson said: “It

was wonderful to see so many young people show their passion for music – to perform in such a cohesive way clearly shows the great lengths they’ve gone to in rehearsals.

PUPILS ARE A CREDIT Each year the Year 9 pupils at Broughton Hall Catholic High School work towards a special diploma diploma.

The diploma is launched with the pupils at the start of Year 9 and the girls collect credits which are then collated and pupils are awarded their diploma which ranges from distinction star to pass level with a small number of pupils achieving a certificate.

Credits are awarded half termly from subject staff and each form class was given a challenge to raise as much money as they could for their chosen charity, pupils were also encouraged to collect community credits.

The achievement of all is then celebrated during a diploma ceremony held in the sports hall in July. All pupils wear gowns and mortar boards and parents and staff come together to join in the celebration. This is a recognition of the pupils passing into the next stage of their academic journey as they move forwards to GCSE.

Celebration of achievements Greenbank College celebrated the end of term and the achievements of its students at an event attended by local councillor Laura RobertsonCollins and James Roberts.

This included an opportunity for departmental tutors to select a student from their department, based on progression, academic achievement during 2016/17, overcoming barriers to learning and other achievements.

This year there were 15 award categories available and each nominee received a certificate and £20 gift voucher.

The overall Greenbank College 6

Student of the Year 2017, was selected by a panel from the departmental winners, as Hayder Hameed.

Education and curriculum manager, Anne Kinsella said: “It’s been a really successful year for our students and it’s lovely to get everyone together at the end of term to celebrate what’s been achieved.

“Congratulations to our award winners and thanks to all students, staff and volunteers for their hard work throughout the year.

“I really enjoyed the event and it was so nice to witness how supportive everyone is of each other.”

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

Student of the Year Hayder Hameed with tutors Steve Jones and Ann-Marie Edgar

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HELP A CHILD ACHIEVE Would YOU like to help children in Merseyside to have a better start in life?

Much Woolton Catholic Primary School

YOU could dramatically improve a child’s chances in life by helping them read in schools.

Find out more at www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk Contact: 0151 722 4743 or Email: northwest@beanstalkcharity.org.uk

With Jesus we love, learn and grow

Open Day Thursday 19th October 2pm-3pm & 5.30pm-6.30pm All children and parents interested in joining our thriving school community in September 2017, or before, are warmly welcome to view our school.

A short presentation will be held at the start of both sessions in the school hall.

Mr M White Headteacher Watergate Lane, Liverpool, L25 8QH 0151 428 6114 www.muchwoolton.co.uk

ART TEACHERS

Showcase your talented pupils! dot-art Schools is an online, inter-school art competition for Year 5 and Year 9 students in Liverpool and Cheshire, culminating in an exhibition and prize giving ceremony.

Proud to be working in partnership with LJMU

Red Line Events - Prom Specialists

SIGN UP NOW FOR 2017-18 Find out more and enter your school by contacting us on 0345 0176660 or schools@dot-art.com dot-art Schools

@dotartSchools

schools.dot-art.com

Working with Schools and Colleges across Merseyside to put on the best events in the city Contact:

Ryan 07543 883227 or Tom 07889 226684 Email: redlineproms@gmx.co.uk Twitter: @RedLineEvents Facebook: Red Line Events Liverpool Instagram: redlineevents Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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All Change

All Change Every summer brings with it nerves and anticipation for those students sitting exams. This year however those nerves were heightened as A-levels and GCSEs were overhauled and students - and teachers - were facing the unknown, Christine Toner reports.

RESULTS

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All Change

In English, 72.7% of students achieved a grade 4 or higher, above the national average of 71.9%. And in maths 66.1% received a grade 4 or above, compared to 59.9% for the rest of the country.

Councillor Nick Small, assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for Education said the figures were ‘promising’.

“The changes made to the exams this year have been the biggest since O levels were scrapped almost 30 years ago, and it is always difficult for those students who are the first to take new style tests,” added Councillor Small. “The figures that we have got so far are really promising, and although it is difficult to make comparisons, it appears that we have seen improvements in those areas we know the grades are broadly similar.

“We have spent a lot of time working with schools on different initiatives such as the Liverpool Promise, City of Readers and Liverpool Counts to drive up standards and the quality of teaching in subjects, and I am pleased that this is being reflected in exam grades.”

In Sefton there was also an improvement in GCSE results. Councillor John Joseph Kelly, Sefton Council’s Cabinet member for Children, Schools and Safeguarding, said: “While all of the data has not yet been released, provisional figures are very positive with 62.5% of students achieving grades 4 – 9 in English and maths compared to the equivalent last year (grades A*-C) of 60%.” And in Knowsley 46.6% of students achieved Grade 4 or above in both English and maths, compared to 39.6% achieving the equivalent (Grade C or above in both English and maths) last year.

“It’s fantastic to see GCSE passes on the rise across the borough,” said Councillor Joan Lilly, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.

But while the results look to be quite positive on both a local and a national scale (according to reports sixth formers have achieved some of the best A-level results in years) the changes to the system have been criticised by teaching groups.

“The reformed GCSEs taken by this cohort in English and maths, and which will be taken in almost all subjects by next year’s students, are the legacy of Michael Gove,” says Kevin Courtney, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers. “Their syllabuses are less engaging and less accessible, and involve a large reduction in coursework and other non-exam assessment methods. This reduces the opportunities for students to show what they can do and increases the highstakes nature of the exams. Putting more emphasis on final exams is hitting hardest those who require the most support, such as disadvantaged students and students with special education needs. A narrower and less accessible curriculum reduces both student motivation and engagement with learning.”

Kevin says in terms of accountability, the new 9-1 GCSEs bring with them damaging side-effects for schools, colleges and teachers.

“Despite the approach of ‘comparable outcomes’, which may make the national picture look broadly similar, schools and colleges will still experience volatility in their results. In a climate where test results are used as a hard and fast measure of school performance and to make judgements on teachers’ performance and their pay, this volatility can have unfair consequences. The indicators used to measure schools in England are not fit for purpose. They do not measure what they are set out to, they cause unnecessary stress and anxiety and they are driving educational practice that does not put the needs of the student first.”

After a tumultuous few years for the education sector, Kevin believes the stress “emanating from unfair and inaccurate accountability measures and the less-engaging, restricted curriculum” add to a storm gathering over the educational landscape.

“...In terms of accountability, the new 9-1 GCSEs bring with them damaging side-effects for schools, colleges and teachers.”

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, shares Courtney’s concerns.

“Whilst school leaders are celebrating their students’ achievements, they will also be concerned about the way their schools will be judged after this latest set of results,” he says. “The reality is that many schools are now trapped between a rock and a hard place when deciding upon which subjects to offer students in the future.

“On the one hand, schools will be determined to offer a wide range of subjects so pupils can choose GCSEs that best fit their abilities and aspirations. But on the other, they’ve got the government’s performance measures that are scrutinised

by Ofsted, regional schools commissioners and others”.

Paul says in order to get to the best possible scores in performance tables, schools would have to get as many of their students as possible through both English language and literature GCSEs as well as the other EBacc subjects that the government favours.

“The problem is that what looks good for schools on paper, and what’s right for students in reality are now potentially conflicting with each other, and that can’t be healthy.”

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All Change

Those teachers operating on the front line are all too aware of the challenges the sector faces.

Ian Young, principal at Rainford High says adapting to the changes had been difficult.

“It has been a challenge for students as teachers have been unsure about what the final exam expectations were going to be so developing the students to know what to do to get the best grades has been challenging as sometimes teachers have not been able to give students definitive answers to questions,” he says.

Ian says the multiple linear exams and the resilience students need to complete them in a single exam season is “a challenge of stamina and focus for the young people”.

“Our results were OK but there were some unexpected outcomes for some of the students,” he adds.

The school is now looking ahead to 2018 and Ian says teachers will take on board the lessons learnt this year - including “preparing for the mental challenge of taking so many exams in a short period of time so students performance does not reduce as they become fatigued”.

The current crop of A-level students will be experiencing the new style of assessment for a number of other subjects including music and modern foreign languages while all A-levels will fall under the new system by 2019.

New GCSEs are currently being taught in science, languages, music, geography and history (with a third phase of subjects rolled out a year later).

But the class of 2017 will always be known as the proverbial guinea pigs for an education overhaul that shook the sector to its core.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS While the government’s overhaul of the education system may be causing clashes of opinion, what isn’t up for debate is the fantastic achievements of students across the region - as their proud headteachers say.

Rainford High Principal Ian Young: “We are incredibly proud of the young people who have done so well this year in gaining strong outcomes for their future opportunities and ambitions.

“As we continue to move towards delivering excellence for all our students, these set of results demonstrate the hard work of all Rainford students and staff.”

St Mary’s College Principal Mike Kennedy: “I am delighted with these results which reflect all the hard work of our pupils, and the support they have received from staff and their families, throughout their time at the school.

“The high percentage of passes at the highest grades is particularly pleasing, and shows that our students have the academic strength in depth to do well in future at A-level, at university and in their chosen careers. All our students and their parents should be very proud of what they have achieved in these important GCSE examinations, and rightly I am sure they will be celebrating their many successes over the next few days.”

St Francis Xavier’s College Headteacher Gez Flowers: “The GCSE results today are testament to the hard work of our Year 11 students, and the dedication of both our wonderful teachers and parents in supporting the boys and ensuring that they reach their full potential.”

Executive headteacher Les Rippon: “What a fantastic results week it has been for St Francis Xavier’s College! We would like to wish those students leaving us for pastures new the very best of luck and for those who will be progressing into sixth form at SFX College, here’s to the next two years and to your continuing success!”

St John Bosco Headteacher Darren Gidman: “I am very proud of all our students, who have worked tirelessly alongside staff, and with the support of parents and carers. While some grades look a little different today, with the introduction of the new 9-1 grading system, what’s not changed is our students’ great achievements which will propel them to exciting careers and further education.”

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A-level results 2017

Top grades Tributes paid to hardworking pupils Early reports show that A-level results show a rise in top grades despite tougher exams Sixth formers have achieved some of the best A-level results seen for several years, despite the introduction of tougher exams in England that depressed grades in several popular subjects, including the sciences.

Driven partly by improved performances among boys nationally, the proportion of students awarded the

top A* and A grades rose for the first time since 2011. Overall, the share of papers gaining A or higher passed the 26% mark, up by half a percentage point since 2016.

But the improvement was tempered by a more downbeat performance in the 13 subjects – such as English, science and history.

The national figures showed boys outperforming girls in the share of top grades for the first time since the last

Students at St Mary’s College in Crosby are celebrating another excellent set of A-level results recording a 99% pass rate

major A-level reforms in 2002.

This year, 26.6% of exam entries for boys across the UK gained As and A*s, compared with 26.1% for girls. Last year, 25.7% of boys were awarded A and A*s, 0.3 points below girls.

Though in several subjects, the new content was regarded by teachers as tougher, with subjects such as chemistry and physics having a heavier emphasis on maths.

To view our full gallery visit our website on http://www.educatemagazine.com

Archbishop Blanch head girl, Caitlin Cavanagh, got an A*, A + B

Chloe Shakeshaft (Archbishop Blanch) proudly shows off her grades

Celebrations at Holy Family Catholic High School with over 56% of all the grades achieved were at A*/A or Distinction*/Distinction

Alsop High School students Paul and Patrick Birkenhead both achieved A,A,A* in biology, chemistry and history A-levels

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Charlotte Boyle and Megan Ramsay from Rainford Sixth Form

Celebrating success James Fairhurst and Peter Greenhall from Rainford Sixth Form

Calderstones’ Luke Peters (right) got three A* and an A

All smiles at Notre Dame

Megan Campbell and Aisha Hakoum did brilliantly at Notre Dame

Carmel College students Ellie-Rose Petterse, Lauren Watson, Heather Bouse and Ellie Edwardson

All smiles for Carmel College students Grace Barret, Laura Swain and Antonia Gaskel

West Derby School pupil Jack Clarke (right) is off to Cambridge University

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Jumping for joy Merchant Taylor Boys celebrate

All smiles from Maghull High School students

Cause for celebration for these Alsop High School pupils

Bellerive FCJ Catholic College students Isabelle Bailey, Zakiyyah Hoskins and Chloe Roberts, all heading to the University of Liverpool. Isabelle will study biogical and biomedical sciences, Zakiyyah will study medicine and Chloe will study architecture

A successful line-up from Merchant Taylors Girls School

Harry Edwards, St Margaret’s Academy, off to study medicine at The University of Liverpool

St Francis Xavier’s College (SFX) celebrating a successful A-level results day

All smiles from Broughton Hall Catholic High School pupils

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The Academy of St Nicholas head boy Connor Duffy (AAAA), who is now off to study computer science and mathematics at Durham University

Demi Murphy from The Academy of St Nicholas who had five Distinction* (BTEC), she leaves to study business management at The University of Liverpool

St John Bosco Arts College headteacher Darren Gidman with pupils

David Comerford, from St Francis Xavier’s College who achieved A*A*A and will be studying history at Lancaster University

James Hennessey, current Chair of the Liverpool School’s Parliament from Gateacre Community Comprehensive School is heading to university to study criminology

Rebecca Rigby from Childwall Sports and Science Academy achieved an A in art, a B in sociology and a C in film studies

Proud students from St John Bosco Arts College

Cause for celebrations for these happy students from Maricourt Catholic High School

Jumping for joy at Gateacre Community Comprehensive School

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GCSE results 2017

Exam celebrations Schools and students celebrate GCSE results After two years of hard work, revision and exams, hundreds of students across the Liverpool city region collected their GCSE results and celebrated with family and friends.

Educate Magazine visited schools up and down the region to celebrate their success.

This year was the first year of reformed GCSEs in English and maths in England. The changes, introduce a numbered grade system, with an extra

grade at the top for the highest achievers. Syllabuses have also been given more content.

Comparing the results achieved by 16-year-olds between this year and last, performances showed an improvement in English language and maths, but the influx of pupils taking English literature may have pulled down results in the top grades.

In English language there was a good performance in the top grades, with 16.8% getting 7 or above

compared with 16.2% last year. But in English literature, the percentage getting the top grades dropped from 21.7% last year to 19.1%.

Some 70.7% of pupils aged 16 in England gained a 4 or higher in maths, compared with 69.9% getting the equivalent grades in 2016 To view our full gallery visit our website on http://www.educatemagazine.com

Holy Family High students couldn’t stop smiling!

Students celebrate fantastic results at Gateacre School

Big smiles from these Broughton Hall students

Fiorella Gallardo from the Academy of Saint Francis Assisi achieved 11 GCSEs at grade A*-A.

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Students open their results at Hugh Baird College

Girl power! Halewood Academy students proudly display their results

Jumping for joy at St Cuthbert’s High School

Students from West Derby School celebrate successful results

A very pleased Grace O’Malley and Maddie O’Connor-Manson from Merchant Taylors’ School

Happy pupils from Archbishop Blanch C of E High School

Student James Woods from SFX College

Joash Griffiths from St Margaret’s achieved 8 A* or above, 2 As and 1 B

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St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Centre for Learning continue to improve year on year

Trio Hannah Briant, Adam Bennett and Georgia Shirley from St Mary’s College achieved a staggering 37 top-level passes

Ayesha Jamal from St John Bosco Arts College with her family and headteacher Darren Gidman

Smiles at St Julies on GCSE results day

Bellerive girls hold their GCSE results proudly

Students proudly display their results at St Mary’s College in Crosby

A quick check on her results, a pupil from St Hilda's Church of England High School

Girl power at The Blue Coat School with Alica Code, Georgina Beese, Olivia Moloney and Eve Pimlott

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Anthony Li from The Academy of St Nicholas achieved a prestigious Grade 9 in his maths and took his AS maths exam a year early, achieving an A*

A real cause for celebration for three Calderstones School students

Students at Childwall Sports and Science Academy Kaie Hicks, Abbas Gulzar and Cameron Mumtaz-Wong

Celebrations from Alsop High School Mark Bonnerson - head of mathematics with Dominik Nemeth who achieved Level 9 and Tony Williams - head of year 11

Celebrations at St Margaret’s Academy

Some superb individual performances from St Michael’s CE High School pupils Karina Woldon gained 2A*s, 2As, 3 7s, 3Bs and a Dist *, Joe Martin who gained 5 A*, 3 As, 2 8s a 7 and a Dist* and Jack Burke-Kelly who achieved 4A*, 3As an 8, 2 7s and a Dist *also, Priya Haran achieved 6As and 8, 7, 3Bs and a DIst *

Jumping for joy students from Maricourt Catholic High School who achieved excellent GCSE results

Toasting success, students from Rainford High Technology College

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Greenbank Primary School Mossley Avenue, Liverpool, L18 1JB Tel: 0151 522 5748 Fax: 0151 522 5749

What a productive year we have had here in Greenbank Primary School! To say our children have worked hard would be an understatement. They have truly excelled themselves. From producing end of year test results across both Key Stages that are above national expectations in all areas to our final Year Six production held in the Capstone Theatre, every step has been one with real purpose and drive. We are so very proud of them all.

At Greenbank we believe children gain much from experiencing the world outside of the classroom and we make good use of this in the form of trips out of school. This can be something as simple as a trip to our local park to weekly bouldering sessions at The Climbing Hangar, or day trips to our cities excellent range of museums and galleries to visiting National Trust properties throughout the North West. We have seen our children make their first tentative steps in the world away from their homes at Crosby Hall Education Trust on their first residential trip and further up the school excel whilst at our yearly Kingswood Colomendy residential visit, reassuring our convictions in ensuring our children access the world around them.

Over the last three year’s we have expanded on our range of after school clubs which now include Judo, Gymnastics, Dance, Band, L.F.C Soccer coaching, Cookery, Art, Spanish, Yoga and linked to our very successful end of year production, Drama in collaboration with Helen O’Grady Drama Academy. These have proven to be very popular with our children, allowing them to once again, make the most of their time here and we look forward to these after school clubs continuing into the future.

We are delighted with all our children’s achievements in all areas of school life, but some take theirs further than we could ever expect. Although it was with some sadness we said goodbye to our 2016/2017 Year Six cohort, they took with them a huge array of extracurricular achievements including graded awards in music, regional awards in swimming and national awards in athletics. We are sure as their journey continues and they open the next chapter in their lives, they will do so with fond memories of Greenbank and their time spent here and we would like to wish them our very best in their futures.

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Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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SCHOOL PROM PICTURES 2017 End of Year 11 celebrations Year 11 pupils from St John Bosco Arts College in Croxteth and Calderstones School celebrated their 2017 proms in style.

The pupils from St John Bosco joined staff at a stunning four star location to let their hair down and dance the night away as they marked the end of Year 11 with the glamorous gettogether.

Students from Calderstones School celebrated their 2017 prom in style at Haydock Park Racecourse. Around 160 pupils joined staff to celebrate the double milestone of finishing their GCSE exams and the official ending of compulsory education.

Organised by teachers Natalie Quinn and Mike Withers, the Year 11’s gathered at the school before being driven to Haydock Park Racecourse where they danced the night away.

Staff and pupils mingle ahead of the prom

The girls looked stunning for the Year 11 prom

The staff dressed up too!

Headteacher Darren Gidman commended the girls on their hard work

The girls could relax after the end of their exams

A quick pose before entering Suites Hotel

The evening was a celebration for the girls

The pupils paid tribute to the hard working staff

A moment of calm before they danced the night away

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A group pic before the buses set off for Haydock Racecourse

The pupils posed on the school lawn ahead of the prom

Let’s hear it for the boys!

Enjoying a mocktail on the racecourse terrace

A quick selfie!

The girls looked stunning in their dresses

The boys wore tuxedos and smart suits

The prom marked the end of compulsory education

The staff looked amazing too

The girls looked beautiful

Just some of the Year 11 staff who had worked so hard

Teacher and co-organiser Mr Withers paid tribute to the pupils

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Primary News

Over the rainbow Broad Oak School win national singing competition Twenty lucky students at Broad Oak Community School, St Helens have been crowned the winners of the ‘Over the Rainbow’ singing competition from national children’s charity WellChild.

Broad Oak students have not only been titled WellChild School Choir of the Year but have won the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at the prestigious WellChild Awards in London.

Last year’s ceremony was attended by Prince Harry and a host of celebrity guests including Sir Rod Stewart, Gaby Roslin, Diversity’s Ashley Banjo, Katie Piper and Dragon’s Den star Touker Souleyman.

The competition saw schools from across the UK go head to head in an online public vote with each school posting a video of their rendition of the Wizard of Oz classic, Over the Rainbow.

You can watch Broad Oak’s show stopping video at www.wellchild.org.uk/over-the-rainbow which was recorded at SAE recording studio in Liverpool with the help of ukulele player and teacher Sean Moore.

Teacher, Sean Moore from Broad Oak School said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the WellChild national singing competition.

“Our children work incredibly hard, have shown off their amazing talents and now have a once in a lifetime opportunity to sing their hearts out at such a prestigious event. We can’t wait!”

The winning students from Broad Oak Primary School

Broad Oak’s performance stood out in the live public vote in July, which saw them receiving an incredible 1,039 votes and qualify as one of ten finalists for the final judging by a panel of musical experts and celebrities including professional classical singers Laura Wright and David Webb.

WellChild chief executive Colin Dyer said: “This has been a fantastic

opportunity for schools across the UK to get involved in a fun musical competition with a great prize. At the same time they are helping WellChild to continue its work supporting a growing population of seriously ill children and young people across the UK to be cared for at home with their families instead of hospital.

“A huge congratulations to Broad Oak Community School!”

Pupils spread the message that ‘20 is plenty’ Primary school pupils in the Sutton area of St Helens joined forces by taking to the streets as part of a road safety campaign.

Co-ordinated by local community group Sutton Smile and supported by St Helens Council’s road safety team and Merseyside Police, the ‘20 is Plenty Walk' gave children the opportunity to learn about traffic pollution, danger and transport choices.

First launched by Sherdley Primary School in 2015, this year’s event involved Key Stage 2 pupils from Sutton Oak, Robins Lane, Eaves and Sherdley primary schools walking along some of the busiest roads in Sutton accompanied by staff, while brandishing banners encouraging local drivers to slow down, and chanting: “Slow down - 20 is plenty.”

The campaign also aims to encourage parents and guardians to consider alternative methods for the school run, such as cycling and walking, with the average distance from home to school less than 1.5 miles.

St Helens Council’s cabinet member for community safety, Councillor Lisa Preston said: “I applaud the maturity shown by the children and for the passion shown in raising awareness to road safety - they should be very proud of themselves.

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“The purpose of this campaign is to not only educate our children and young people on how to be safe on and near roads, but to also make sure that motorists and other road users - the vast majority of which are responsible drivers - are driving carefully near our schools”.

Local primary schools in the Sutton area of St Helens took part in a ‘20 is Plenty Walk’ to highlight road safety

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2018 ADMISSIONS

OPEN EVENING 27TH SEPTEMBER 2017 6.00PM PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME AT 6.15, 7.00 & 7.45

We’ve done it yet again with 77% of students passing five or more subjects, including English and Maths at grade C or above (new level 4 and above).

Why not join us on Wednesday 27th September to see about becoming part of our success story by writing your own.

For more information or enquiries call 01744 885914 or visit www.rainford.org.uk “We are incredibly proud of the young people who have done so well this year in gaining strong outcomes for their future opportunities and ambitions. As we continue to move towards delivering excellence for all our students, these set of results demonstrate the hard work of all Rainford students and staff.”

Ian Young. Principal

EVERY EVERYONE ONE Matt Matters ers EVERY EVERYONE ONE Helps EVERY EVERYONE ONE Suc Succeeds ceeds

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Mosspits Lane Primary School

OPEN DAY

applying for a primary school:

Of Primary Importance Education is full of important choices. Choosing which GCSE options to take. Selecting your A-levels. Deciding on a university, a degree, a career path. But one of the most important choices is actually made much, much earlier than all of that - it all begins at 4 years old. Yes, choosing a primary school for your child is the first step towards academic success so it’s obviously important to get it right. But how do you choose? How can you tell what your tiny little person, whose interests so far have been limited to play, parks and Peppa Pig, is going to need from a school to best support them?

We take a look at how you can decide.

Come and join us in Early Years Foundation Stage on

Saturday 14th October 2017 10:00am – 12:00 noon Mosspits Lane ■ Wavertree ■ Liverpool L15 6UN ■ 0151 722 1716

Find out about SATS results Let us be clear here. SATS results are most certainly not the most important factor when deciding whether a school is good enough. However it doesn’t hurt to at least find out how the school has performed.

Ask for a tour Taking a tour of the school will do more than just show off its facilities. You’ll also be able to get a feel for its ethos and

Halsnead Primary School part of The Heath MAT Pennywood Drive Whiston L35 3TX Contact details: Tel: 0151 477 8130 Email: Halsnead@knowsley.gov.uk Website: www.halsnead.co.uk School Motto: Strive to Achieve We offer: • 30 hours free Nursery provision for 3 & 4 year olds • Breakfast Club from 8.00am • After-school Club until 6.00pm • A wide range of out-of-hours clubs • Childrenʼs University • Forest School on our well-resourced allotment site • Weekly baby and toddler group To arrange a visit or find out more information ring 0151 477 8130

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School & Nursery Hall Lane , Kensington, L7 TQ 0151 709 1782 We are a proud Catholic Primary School & Nursery in the centre of Liverpool and we offer wrap around care from 8am-6pm.

Pupils are outstanding in the way in which they contribute to and benefit from the Catholic life at Sacred Heart' RE Inspection 2015.

Broadgreen Primary School Oakhill Road, Liverpool, L13 5UE Telephone: 0151 228 6692 Fax: 0151 221 0235 www.broadgreenprimary.org.uk Email Headteacher: headteacher@broadgreenprimary.org.uk

Broadgreen Primary is a one form entry school with places for 30 Reception pupils. Our warm caring ethos and drive for every child to succeed is the perfect starting point for your child's journey into school life.

Ofsted 2015 rated Broadgreen Primary as a ʻGood School with Outstanding Behaviour and Safety.ʼ ʻHigh quality care and support ensure that pupils feel safe and happy.ʼ Ofsted 2015 ʻImpeccable manners, mutual respect and courtesy are hallmarks of pupilsʼ outstanding behaviour.ʼ Ofsted 2015

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primary importance:covers 14/09/2017 12:45 page 2

hints and tips

Starting this September we are offering 30 hours free childcare and also we are also proud we now have a new after school club provider, Fun 4 Kids which is available until 5.45pm.

We also have breakfast club from 8.00am.

teaching methods. Is it bright and colourful with lots of work displayed on the walls? Is the library well stocked? Make a mental note as you’re shown around.

Look for longevity Fresh talent is a great thing for any school and newly qualified teachers (NQTs) can bring a new enthusiasm to the classroom.

However, if the school is staffed almost entirely by NQTs (and it’s not a brand new school) you might want to question why there’s no older staff sticking around.

Be on behaviour watch Kids will be kids and there’s nothing wrong with a bit of boisterous fun but while you’re being shown around the school check how the children generally behave. Are they unruly and does their behaviour go unchecked? While an overly strict environment is not what anyone wants for their children, a lackadaisical approach to discipline is in no one’s best interest.

Ask yourself: Will my child be happy here?

You know your little one better than anyone. Does the environment seem like the type of place they’ll enjoy being at?

If you have a niggling feeling that they won’t, trust your judgement.

Greenbank Primary School Mossley Avenue, Liverpool, L18 1JB Tel: 0151 522 5748 Fax: 0151 522 5749 Email: greenbank-ao@greenbank.liverpool.sch.uk Website: www.greenbank-primary.co.uk Twitter: @GreenbankSchool Headteacher: Mrs D Wrigley "If you believe it you can achieve it!"

Special, Valuable People- successful, visionary and proud - We are a welcoming, highly inclusive, successful and forward thinking community primary school - exemplary indoor and outdoor learning environment - Highly trained staff providing exciting and challenging learning opportunities for all children - excellent parental links and involvement - eyFS graded oUTSTaNDiNG by ofsted (march 17) - 15 hours free entitlement can be taken flexibly - Limited places for children to access 30 hours from September 17 please visit our website for more details about what makes us so special - http://www.stockbridgevillageprimary.co.uk Call the school on 0151 477 8020 to apply for a nursery place or to arrange a visit to see us in action

Much Woolton Catholic Primary School “With Jesus we love, learn and grow” Open evening Thursday 19th October 2pm-3pm & 5.30pm-6.30pm Mr M White Headteacher Watergate Lane, Liverpool, L25 8QH 0151 428 6114 www.muchwoolton.co.uk

Hope primary Lordens road Huyton, Knowsley L14 8UD email. hope.primaryschool@knowsley.gov.uk Website: www.hopeprimary.com Twitter: @hopeprimaryblog provision for children aged 2-11

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Primary News

Retiring deputy head scoops lifetime achievement award The deputy headteacher of a St Helens primary school has been recognised for his service to teaching after picking up a lifetime achievement award.

Mark Thomas, who has taught at Parish CE Primary School in Charles Street for the past 13 years, was one of just 56 winners across England, Northern Ireland and Wales who celebrated earlier this year after being presented with his prestigious Silver Pearson Teaching Award.

The Pearson Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers, created to recognise the lifechanging impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they teach.

Mark, who retired after a 31-year career in teaching, will now join fellow Silver Award winners at the UK final of the Pearson Teaching Awards, a glittering ceremony held in central London on 22 October. There, they will find out which of them has won one of just 11 Gold Plato Awards, the UK’s “Oscars for Teachers”.

This ceremony, titled “Britain’s Classroom Heroes”, will be filmed and

Deputy headteacher Mark Thomas receives a celebration cake off his pupils

broadcast by the BBC as a showcase of excellence in education.

Previous award presenters have included former prime ministers David Cameron and Tony Blair, acting legends Alison Steadman, Sheila Hancock and Timothy West and sports and TV personalities including Helen Glover, Brendan Cole and Nadiya Hussain.

Commenting on Mark’s accolade,

headteacher Lynne Ryder said: “During my career I have worked with many talented teachers, but Mark stands head and shoulders above the rest.

“The example he has set throughout his career has been truly inspirational.

He is an exceptional teacher and leader and I am delighted that his achievements have been recognised by this prestigious award”.

Developer donates new play area to primary school Local school children are enjoying a new sandpit and play area thanks to Kirkby town centre developer St Modwen.

Kirkby Church of England Primary School was chosen by St Modwen as their local school to support.

To celebrate this, a sandpit has been donated and installed into the school’s nursery. The sandpit has been fitted with a roof allowing children between the ages of three and four to play in it all year round.

Elaine Parr, extended services manager at the school, said: “We would like to thank Kirkby town centre and St Modwen for this amazing new play area.

“The builders worked tirelessly to fit the sandpit and we’re incredibly grateful. It has already made a huge difference to the learning experience of all the children.”

Town centre manager Mike Matthews, who organised for the sandpit to be installed, said: “Kirkby Church of England Primary School is an integral part of the local community and we are looking forward to further establishing our official sponsorship with the school. We hope the children will enjoy the sandpit for many years to come.”

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Nursery school children from Kirkby Church of England Primary School enjoy playing in the sandpit donated by St Modwen

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Primary News

Romeo returns to Sefton

St Anne’s pupils graduate at Hope

Pupils enjoy creative workshops

Seventy-eight pupils from St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Overbury Street, attended their graduation ceremony at Liverpool Hope University to receive their Children's University awards.

Pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 enjoyed the ceremony with their family and friends.

Headteacher, Janice Shields, said: “We are immensely proud of all our graduates who throughout the year have shown true commitment, dedication and hard work and thoroughly deserve their awards”.

Amazing production Actor George Caple and Year 6 pupils from St Luke’s CE Primary

Year 6 children from St Luke’s CE Primary, Formby were lucky enought to visit Stratford and watch the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) performance of ‘Antony and Cleopatra’.

In addition, the RSC outreach team guided the children through two fantastically creative workshops, showing them how to become ‘human’ props, how to enhance a performance with musical instruments and how to end a performance with a dance.

Back at school, staff wondered how to answer the many questions and develop the pupils’ understanding further.

Enter stage right: George Caple, who has just appeared in the role of Romeo in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.

George came into school and talked to the children about acting, especially in Shakespearean plays.

His advice to all the children was, “Learn your lines. Learn your lines.

And learn your lines again. Perform them to your family and friends. When you’ve finished, learn them again!”

George is a past pupil of St Luke’s and the eldest son of Neil Caple, from Brookside and Deborah Caple, who now works at St Luke’s.

After leaving Range High School, George went on to study performing arts at Southport College. He then auditioned for the prestigious London Drama Schools and was offered places at the Guildhall and RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts). George took up his place at RADA and won the Sir John Gielgud award in 2015.

George has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at the Lowry Theatre in Salford. He made his television debut in ‘Doctors’. His run at the Everyman Theatre finished at the end of June.

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Staff and pupils from Our Lady of Walsingham Primary School were thrilled at their latest production of Andrew Lloyd Webbers Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

The production was put on through an after school club (Monday, Thursday) for all volunteers in Year 3, Year 6 and Year 2 provided the choir.

Claire McKinnon, acting headteacher, said: “We’ve never put on a non-Christmas event before so we’re thrilled that it was so successful and all pupils involved were true stars!”

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Want a first class education?

West Derby School 364 West Derby Road Liverpool L13 7HQ

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Primary News

Big school week Calderstones School hosted eight local primary schools as part of Big School Week this year.

The school welcomed more pupils than ever, with approximately 600 pupils from Greenbank, Gilmour, Sudley, Rudston, Woolton, Booker, Mosspits and Dovedale primary schools and could not have asked for more engaged and polite pupils from each.

Pupils were able to take part in taster lessons across the curriculum, from PE and catering, to business studies and science.

The aim of the week was to aid transition from primary to secondary and make the move as easy and as exciting as possible.

The pupils were supported throughout the day by Calderstones student ambassadors who showed them around the site, helped in lessons and along with the sports leaders ran brilliant activities at lunchtime.

The student ambassadors have continued their work with transition week, presenting Young Citizen of the Year awards in each of the participating primary schools to celebrate pupil success.

The whole two weeks proved to be a great success and Calderstones have said that they are looking forward to continue working with each of the primaries, and hopefully more, in the future.

A Calderstones student ambassador helps out

Learning through music Primary students team up with ASFA to pen song The Academy of St Francis of Assisi (ASFA) in Kensington teamed up with primary schools across the city to promote music and literacy through song-writing.

The Academy Primary Singing Project 2017 began earlier this year and culminated in a concert held at ASFA. Six primary schools took part in the project including Whitefield Primary School, St Anne’s Overbury, St Margaret’s Primary, New Park Primary, Sacred Heart Primary and Smithdown Primary.

Led by staff from ASFA, each school looked at the song ‘I’m gonna do it all’

by Scottish singer and songwriter Karine Polwart.

The students analysed the lyrics and created new ones based on their own hopes and dreams.

The students created 19 new verses and each school chose their favourite to sing at the final showcase event at the Academy.

Over 178 primary school students came together and joined the academy’s choir Vocalise to form a superchoir for the concert which was attended by proud parents and teachers.

The aim of the project was to get young children thinking about their ambitions, but also to have fun with literacy through looking at song32

One of the school choirs enjoy their moment

structure and lyric writing.

Karine Polwart herself noticed the schools efforts on social media and has been tweeting her support.

She tweeted: “I’m delighted to have my song utilised in this way!”

Tracey Greenough, head of school at ASFA, said: “Creating a caring community is a huge part of what we do

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

at the Academy and so it has been an honour to work with local primary schools to promote music and literacy.

“The final concert was a huge success with lots of parents and teachers left beaming with pride throughout the performance. We’re already looking forward to beginning next year’s project!”

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Meet the Headteacher Nadine Carroll, executive headteacher at Whitefield Primary School and F

The rise of the executive headteacher is one of the biggest changes to education over the past few years. Nadine Carroll understands this shift well, as she is now executive headteacher of both Whitefield Primary School and Faith Primary School in Everton. Nadine tells Educate about the leap from running one school to two and her vision for the schools’ future.

Nothing but the best

by Hannah Fowler When Nadine Carroll took the role as headteacher of Whitefield Primary School in 2010, it was only meant to be on a temporary basis. But seven years later, Nadine is still at Whitefield and thoroughly enjoying her position.

“I can honestly say it is the best place I have ever worked and the most rewarding, interesting and challenging role I have ever had,” says Nadine. “The children capture your heart and working with them and seeing them do so well makes my job completely worthwhile.”

If you thought being a headteacher at one school was challenging enough, in March this year Nadine became executive headteacher across both Whitefield and Faith Primary School, a neighbouring school in Everton.

“We understand just how it feels to be on a journey of improvement and our commitment, tenacity and ability to deliver mean we are ideally placed to work in another Everton school,” explains Nadine.

As executive headteacher, Nadine is seeing what successful strategies can be implemented at Faith to drive improvement and says the collaboration between the schools is mutually 34

rewarding. “We are never complacent and as well as implementing tried and tested strategies we are not adverse to risks and to trying new approaches,” she said. “I am supported by an excellent team in Faith and the school is making accelerated progress.”

Nadine’s headship at Whitefield has been nothing short of impressive. In 2016, reflecting on his five years as Ofsted’s chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw named Nadine as a headteacher who is “showing what can be done in areas of significant social and economic disadvantage.” And with a mission statement of ‘nothing but the best’, the school continues to excel.

“When I went to Whitefield I was determined that the children in the local catchment should have a brilliant school to be proud of,” says Nadine. “I know the area of the city as my mum and dad lived there when I was born and I felt privileged to be back there.”

In 2016, Whitefield had 94% of pupils achieving the expected standard in Key Stage 2 reading, writing and mathematics – that’s 41% higher than the national average. School attendance is also high, it’s been above 97% for five years.

“We work a lot on developing confidence and self-esteem in the

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

children and we have a great team who strive for success,” Nadine explains. “At Whitefield we are strong communicators, team players, problem solvers, changemakers and transformational leaders. We truly work as a team. This all builds a cohesive, united, expert and successful school.”

The school’s focus on mental health and wellbeing is something Nadine believes enables their pupils to make the most of their educational journey.

“Children are taught how to maintain good mental health and well-being through the strong PSHE curriculum, various additional mental health and well-being interventions such as yoga, LEGO therapy, Time to Talk, Think Yourself Great and individual counselling,” she said.

“We prioritise the mental health of our pupils to ensure their access to the full curriculum and we offer therapeutic support as part of our offer.”

With these outstanding outcomes, it’s no surprise Whitefield has been rewarded for its success. “We were delighted to be successful as the Most Inspirational Primary School at The Educate Awards in 2014 and since then we have gone from strength to strength,” said Nadine.

Whitefield is also a flagship school for

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nd Faith Primary School

“

We truly work as a team.

This all builds a cohesive, united, expert and successful school

”

the National Inclusion Charter Mark, a School of Sanctuary and a Reading Recovery school.

Nadine says everyone at the school is pretty uncompromising when it comes to overcoming any barriers in the way of children’s learning. “Our school ethos tells every single child, adult and our school community that where you come from, who you are or the deprivation you experience should not limit your educational experience or its quality,” explains Nadine.

“Ultimately it is my job to ensure that every child has a successful and happy time at the school. I would like to improve outcomes for the children and build on the strengths of the school in the local community,” she said.

The September term brings with it some exciting developments at both Faith and Whitefield. “We will be working on some joint projects such as Lesson Study and Safeguarding,” Nadine explains.

“My job in one sense is quite straight forward, it is firstly to completely believe and be committed to this ethos and then to create the conditions for it to deliver success.”

“We also hope to have a maths quiz and football tournaments between the schools so the children get to know each other. We will be implementing the new curriculum at Faith and hoping that the Wow Factor will make a huge impact.”

Now as executive headteacher at Faith Primary, Nadine says it’s not about cloning Whitefield’s success but building on the school’s own strengths.

Nadine is brimming with passion and drive, qualities which are much needed when leading two primary schools. “I enjoy a challenge and I suppose I just

never get tired of the job. I am very lucky to say that I get paid for doing something I love doing.”

“Don’t get me wrong being a headteacher is pretty demanding and is also a big juggling act. I am very grateful that I have a supportive family and great colleagues. We are there for each other and that is important.”

And in this big puzzle of life, Nadine said she feels “very lucky and privileged to be part of the jigsaw that helps children to be themselves, be happy, be safe and be successful.”

“My greatest reward is seeing the children do well when they go to secondary school and later to college and then to University, work or study.

Most of all I like to see our children happy in whatever their life choices are and that they feel fulfilled and positive in whatever they do in future.”

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Primary News

Learning bears fruits School wins BBC visit in national competition Liverpool primary school, St Michael in the Hamlet, received a high energy, interactive food-and-science spectacle from BBC’s Stefan Gates, after winning a nationwide competition to learn about South African food and culture.

The school’s collage on the theme of ‘A taste of South Africa’ won first prize, along with £1,000 for school resources.

Kirsty Knutsen, Year 2 teacher at St Michael in the Hamlet, said: “We were so excited that we won the 2016 Help a South African School competition.

“Putting the collage together was such a fun and novel way to teach St Michael’s children about the fascinating history, culture and geography of South Africa, as well as the importance of Fairtrade.

“We loved learning about the different fruits they grow, and to win £1,000 as well as the amazing and educational show by Stefan Gates was just brilliant.”

Primary schools across the UK submitted collages based on the theme.

St Michael in the Hamlet School presentation with Stefan Gates

The aim of the competition was to increase awareness and provide support for South African fruit farming.

Alongside the competition was the opportunity to donate unwanted books, which were collected from schools free of

charge and shipped to South Africa.

Illiteracy is a big problem in South Africa and their schools are in desperate need of resources; particularly reading and text books for under 13-year-olds.

Level 1 award for St Paschal Baylon In January 2016 St Pascal Baylon Catholic Primary School in Childwall embarked on a journey to become a UNICEF Rights Respecting School.

A steering committee was established with children from different year groups, two staff members and a governor.

They held weekly meetings and

produced a monthly newsletter focusing on a particular article from the convention so that gradually the whole school was familiar with all of the 54 articles.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the group along with governor, Mrs Kelly; teaching assistant,

Maria Eagle MP collects the petition from the pupils

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Mrs Maclean and the training delivered to other members of staff by the lead teacher, Mrs Ashton, the children are rapidly becoming global citizens.

They now have a voice in all matters affecting them and can see that rights are something they, and all children throughout the world, are entitled to.

They can also recognise when these rights are being denied.

One of the articles of the month concerned refugee children and, as the school has a campaign group led by Year 3 teacher Mr Gowans, they focused on drawing attention to the plight of refugee children separated from their parents by collecting signatures to send a petition to local MP Maria Eagle.

She was very impressed and visited the school to collect the petition in person and to meet some of the children.

A UNICEF representative visited the school, evaluated all the written evidence and spoke to children, staff, parents and governors.

At the end of the assessment visit the school was informed that they had achieved their second milestone (the first milestone being recognition of commitment) of the UNICEF award and St Paschal Baylon is now proud to be a Level 1 Rights Respecting School.

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WITH A LITTLE HELP Primary school celebrate Sgt Pepper at 50 Staff and children from Rice Lane Primary School in Walton celebrated their Beatles day event, organised by Mrs Carroll, a teacher at the school.

Everyone came dressed to take part in the events of the day which included a Beatles sing-off in the hall.

Each year group had been busy learning a different Beatles song with the children belting out the wellknown tunes of the Yellow Submarine and Help! Members of staff pulled together to help throughout the day, showcasing their talents, providing Beatles themed face painting and helping the children to make food.

Headteacher Mrs Chatburn, said: “Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away, it was a truly amazing day!”

‘Peace and love’

‘Love, love me do’

Pupils had fun dressing up for the day

The pupils enjoyed a range of activities

All smiles!

Staff and parents also joined in the fun

A choir sang during the day

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Ashurst lift the trophy

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY Rugby tournament hailed a success Thirteen primary schools from across St Helens took part in the Year 5 and 6 Wargrave Primary School Contact Rugby Festival, cheered on by some of St Helens’ top players. Ashurst, Bleak Hill, Queens Park, Wargrave, St Aidan’s, Newton-le-Willows, Nutgrove, Sherdley, Willow Tree, Broad Oak, Legh Vale, St Peter’s and Rainford all took part, with Ashurst, Bleak Hill, Broad Oak and Sherdley making it through to the semifinal stage. Refereed and cheered on by Saints’ first team members Ryan Morgan, Regan Grace, Dominique Peyroux, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley and Adam Swift, Ashurst and Bleak Hill made it to the final.

Extra time was needed but eventually Ashurst came out on top with the golden point try!

Wargrave business manager and tournament organiser, Lynn Dove, said: “Can I please say a massive thank you to all the teams that took part in the rugby tournament.

“The behaviour of all the children was excellent and they are a credit to the schools, and I send congratulations to our 2017 winners, Ashurst Primary School, well done everyone!

“The Saints lads did a great job of refereeing the matches. They are wonderful ambassadors for the sport.

Huge thanks also to Gareth Friar from Saints Community Development Foundation for all his help and support in running the tournament.”

An Ashurst player takes the ball in

It proved to be a physical game

A great pass TRY!!!

Deciding the kick-off

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Try celebrations

Ashurst lift the trophy

Bleak Hill - valiant runners-up

Looking for the gap - the break is on

Ouch!!

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A JOURNEY INTO ADVENTURE Children, families and community come together Pupils from Rudston Primary School along with their families and community came together to produce an exhibition based on the book ‘Journey’ by Aaron Becker.

Headteacher, Miss Wendy Walters, said: “The exhibition was an immersive set that exhibited every child’s piece of writing and artwork in a multi sensory way which included music the children had written in response to each page.

“It was a journey through a child’s bedroom, woodland glen, waterfall, castles, a hot air balloon ride, a cage, magic carpet ride ending back through the door to the street that the character lived in.

“Each year group took a different aspect of the book to study in depth and to represent in the exhibition, through their English focus work, visits, visitors and experiences.

“The children have had fun, thought hard, collaborated and produced work for this exhibition.”

Above: Mr Carney, Mr Griffiths, Mrs Jones, Miss Burke, Miss Fitzsimmons, Mrs Todhunter, Mr Clarke and Miss Webster Right: Isobel, Hannah, Libby and her sister

Leaving a memory on the wall

Ruby, Freya and Louise

Mrs Bronstein, Mr Clarke, Miss Fitzsimmons, Harry and Rebecca

Mr Carney and Mrs Jones take a journey in a balloon

Mrs Pierce, Isobel, Hannah

Annabella and her brother Oscar

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VICTORIOUS DOVEDALE GIRLS’ Triumph at primary girls’ football champs Year 3 and 4 pupils from Liverpool primary schools took part in Liverpool School Sports Partnership’s (LSSP) girls’ football tournament. Held at Walton Hall Park, six primary schools – Bishop Eton, Broad Square, Croxteth, Dovedale, King David and New Park – represented a European country and displayed their impressive football skills. The event was themed around the Women’s Euro 2017 competition that took place in the Netherlands earlier on this year. Dovedale Primary won the tournament but each school went home a champion and received special Lionesses merchandise and medals. LSSP has been supporting PE, physical activity and school sport since 2000. Its aim is to help all children and young people access high quality PE, physical activity and sport in their school and community.

All the teams were winners

Skill on the ball

Spotting the break

A Dovedale team member has a shot Goal celebrations

The competition was fierce

A goal is on

Close control

The victorious winners – Dovedale Primary School

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A MAGICAL CELEBRATION

Cathedral Dean, Canon Tony O’Brien leads the party songs

Pupils celebrate Cathedral Golden Jubilee Pupils from St Nicholas Primary School, within the parish of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, gathered to help celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Cathedral.

A garden party was arranged for them as a treat, but unfortunately the rain poured down and plan B was put into operation with a retreat to the Gibberd Room for sandwiches, jellies and cakes. The garden party games had to be abandoned due to lack of outside space but the party food, a little bit of singing, followed by Mr Trix, the magician in full clowns outfit, kept the children entertained for the afternoon.

Cathedral Dean, Canon Tony O’Brien said: “I think the adults, myself included, enjoyed the fun as much as the children. I still can’t work out how the magician made the live white rabbit appear! It made a welcome change from all the more formal Jubilee occasions and you can’t beat a bit of jelly if you want to create a party atmosphere”.

The pupils were amazed by Mr Trix

Everyone enjoyed the fun

Mr Trix kept the children and adults amused

A special gift for one pupil

There were plenty of volunteers to help Mr Trix

Staff joined in the fun as well Lots of tasty delights

Trying to work out how the magician made the live white rabbit appear

There were smiles all round

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Education News

Pitch perfect Schools hit the right notes at sixth annual iSing More than 1,500 pupils performed at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall for Resonate’s sixth annual iSing.

Participants from 35 schools took part in a special tribute to the Beatle’s Sgt Pepper album before coming together for a spectacular concert in which children sang with a live band and special guest performers.

Resonate, Liverpool’s music hub enjoyed a week of celebrations with highlights featuring some spectacular singing performances from the city’s

schools.

Earlier in the week, St Georges Hall was packed for a ‘Let’s Play’ performance in conjunction with In Harmony, the initiative from the Philharmonic that uses music to enthuse and motivate children, families and communities.

Head of service at Resonate, Jonathan Dickson said: “Every year at i-Sing, we bring together hundreds of school children and their teachers from 35 schools to celebrate the amazing singing

talent that exists in schools across our wonderful city.

“This year the young people spent the morning rehearsing songs including a special tribute to the 50th birthday of the Beatles Sgt Pepper’s album.

“In the afternoon, their exciting day culminated in a spectacular concert, in which the children sang with a live band and special guest performances. Let’s Play received the same rapturous reception and what a great way to end the year!”

Barefoot for charity Twenty-three schools from Southport and surrounding areas encouraged their children to go home barefoot at the end of the school year to help provide school shoes for children in poorer parts of the World.

The initiative was organised by Southport Learning Partnership, a co-operative of Southport schools who work together on a wide variety of initiatives and projects.

Not only did schools from across the town take part, but also schools from outside the area heard about the appeal and joined in.

Children took off their school shoes at the end of the day and left barefoot as a symbol of support for children across the world who go to school in barefoot each day. The children's shoes were then collected, bagged and will be transported to the Sal’s Shoes charity who will distribute them to areas of the world where the shoes can be used again.

Approximately 5000 pairs of shoes have been collected and can now have a second life helping a child elsewhere go to school in shoes. Free transport has been provided from Southport to Sal’s Shoes in Redhill, Surrey by AnyVan Ltd who have been great partners of this charity.

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Pupils from Tarleton Holy Trinity Primary who went barefoot

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Education News

Launch of new qualification School Improvement Liverpool have announced the launch of their accredited National Professional Qualification (NPQ) leadership courses. They now offer courses for middle leadership, senior leadership, executive leadership and headship that are locally delivered, schoolfocused and nationally accredited.

You can learn how to develop, improve and sustain high-quality teaching within a team and identify strategies to help close gaps in attainment. Gain a qualification that gives you national recognition of your leadership development and professional

achievement within a school setting.

The courses involved are NPQML which is for middle leaders who want to gain additional leadership skills. NPQSL is for leaders that have whole school responsibilities; NPQH is for those aspiring to headship within the next 1218 months and NPQEL is for those aspiring to or are currently in executive leadership roles. Liverpool NPQ courses follow a blended learning approach that will include face to face events, online materials, online tutors and school-based tasks and feedback.

Find our more information by emailing sil@si.liverpool.gov.uk.

To the fore!

St John Bosco welcome students

Pupils practice their putting skills

Schools from across Sefton took part in a mini golf tournament at Greenbank High School

Primary school pupils from across Sefton borough got into full swing ahead of the Open Golf Championship held in Southport.

Sixteen schools took part in a mini golf tournament at Greenbank High School, just a short pitch away from the famous Royal Birkdale course which hosted the 146th Open in July.

The special tournament was organised by Greenbank High School to leave a lasting legacy of the golf championship for young people across the borough.

Councillor Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council's cabinet member regeneration and skills, said: “It was great so many young people took part in the mini golf tournament at Greenbank High School - just yards away from Royal Birkdale.

“We want the legacy of the Open Golf Championship to be a lasting memory for as many people as possible, especially young people.

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“Playing in a tournament like this and seeing the world’s best golfers head to Royal Birkdale will hopefully ingrain a passion for the game or any other sport for many young people.”

Following two golfing sessions on Greenbank’s astro-turf, run in partnership with Elite Sports Academy, St Luke’s in Formby won the morning event and Holy Family Catholic Primary from Southport were crowned champions in the afternoon.

Ian Raikes, headteacher at Greenbank High School, said: “As part of Sefton’s commitment to ensuring a legacy is left to hosting The Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale, we thought it would be a great way to bring schools together and celebrate this sporting spectacle.

“The mini tournament was an astounding success with pupils able to see the venue of this major world sporting event in the background giving them instant inspiration”.

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

St John Bosco Arts College has welcomed a delegation of Chinese students to the city for a cultural exchange.

Students from its sister school, Wenzhou No.2 Foreign Language School visited Liverpool for a three-day trip which saw them take part in a whole host of activities.

This trip follows St John Bosco’s visit to Wenzhou in February 2017 to begin their exciting cultural partnership.

St John Bosco was selected as an ambassador school by Access China UK, an organisation which funds school partnerships in China and promotes the exchange of ideas through different international programmes.

While in Liverpool, the Wenzhou students were paired with a ‘Bosco Buddy’ and experienced all aspects of British classroom life, which included taking part in music and drama lessons and helping St John Bosco students learn Mandarin.

St John Bosco Arts College introduced Mandarin to the curriculum in September 2016 and currently offers the language to 20 Year 7 students. Sixth form students can also learn the language as part of their enrichment programme.

Headteacher, Darren Gidman said: “It was a pleasure to welcome students from Wenzhou to St John Bosco after our successful trip earlier this year. This visit continues our exciting partnership and gave us the opportunity to share some of our British values and experiences with the students”.

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Wednesda Wednesday da ay 27th September Septem mbe from 4.30pm7.00pm 2017 from 4.30pm-7.00pm Come and see our incredible school in action, talk to our staff and students and experience first hand the opportunities we have to offer.

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Viewpoint

Focus on physical activity Schools should be inspected for the fitness level of their pupils as much as for their academic achievements, according to the former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio.

The 2003 World Cup winner wants Ofsted to look at how physically active pupils are when assessing school performance as part of government efforts to tackle the childhood obesity crisis.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Dallaglio said extending Ofsted’s focus so that schools are assessed on the amount of exercise pupils do would transform the nation’s health.

Stephen Brierley, principal of St Margaret’s CofE Academy It’s always good to hear celebrities’ (or anyone else’s) views on education.

After all, education is a publicly-funded service, and it’s a human right – everyone should have a say! That’s what democracy’s all about.

And Lawrence Dallaglio has made a shrewd observation about the way 21st century education works in this country: if you want something to change, try and persuade Ofsted to inspect it!

To be honest, that’s a pretty sad reflection on the way things are. We have such a high-stakes inspection system that when someone thinks we need to change, they bypass the Government, they bypass school leaders, and instead appeal directly to the inspectorate. Oh, for a system where inspection was a servant and not the master!

Of course there have been lots of moves recently to make our curriculum more academic, more stretching. Not all heads are 100%

happy with the EBacc curricula we are now being firmly encouraged to follow (I’m not).

Even Ofsted are starting to ask questions about it. I’d agree definitely with Lawrence that physical activity for youngsters is hugely important and sadly undervalued in our brave new EBacc world. By the way, I’d also put in a strong case for music, for drama, for the arts, for technology, for vocational education and for all the other areas that languish outside the EBacc limelight.

But to say the academic and the physical are equally important? Sorry, Lawrence, that’s going a bit too far. I’m all for a better balance between the two, but let’s not over-egg the pudding. After all, over-egged puddings would probably only make our national obesity problem that much worse…

James McGinn, North LSSP partnership manager It is an obvious fact that physical fitness is an intrinsic element to a person’s health and wellbeing, and unfortunately, be it the fast pace of life, or the incessant ‘motivation’ for improved academic achievement, unfortunately, schools are struggling to find the time to provide enough high quality PE and school sport experiences for their pupils; a very worrying fact given that lifelong habits are developed during these formative years.

Once upon time, and not very long ago, spurred on by the lack of medals won at the Sydney Olympics, the nation was moved to address the perceived inadequacies of school sport. As a result, the Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) Strategy was introduced and despite having significant impact, the programme was cut by the former Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Despite this, schools still do recognise the importance of providing at least two hours a week of high quality PE and school sport, indeed,

LSSP support schools to attain the nationally recognised School Games Awards.

In addition, the PE and School Sport Premium, which all primary schools received, does go some way in supporting schools to provide additional, and sustainable, activities which encourage pupils to participate and develop a life-long sporting habit. However, it is clear the quality of a school is judged on its academic performance rather than a holistic view.

As providers of a vast array of services which support schools to develop their pupils’ physical, social and emotional wellbeing, LSSP would welcome a greater focus from Ofsted in ensuring that all schools provide at least two hours of high quality PE. But I would not like to see the inspection of pupils’ physical fitness as I believe this would be ultimately detrimental to encouraging all pupils to participate in lifelong physical activity.

Michael Dooling, English schools track and field championship secretary I totally agree with what Lawrence is saying, I have been involved with athletics and school sports at all levels for over 50 years.

Ofsteds perspective is far too narrow, children need to be involved in sports not only for their health but also for their wellbeing. Ofsted have missed out on a trick especially on the social side, the people I work with say that sports do so much for the kids health and also their social wellbeing and can lead to so many opportunities.

I am very passionate about children being given the opportunities that sports offer and the healthy impact it has on their lives.

I have seen it first hand as a sports teacher, if you give the child an

opportunity to express themselves through sports the benefits are infinite, I have seen the changes in children through sport.

I am currently running a cross country scheme to address the different levels in the sport where children are given the opportunity to run at the same levels as other athletes through a staggered starting point, not only will this keep the child interested in sport but will also boost their moral. I would like to see this go national and taken up by all athletic clubs, just think of the benefits it would have for schools.

But yes, Lawrence you are right on the point they are not looking at the whole child just the academic child.

Have your say: To suggest or contribute to a topic for debate in Viewpoint email us at: educate@merseymirror.com www.educatemagazine.com 52

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Education News

Promoting safety Pupils’ road safety work recognised

Deputy and junior road safety officers with their certificates outside St Helens Town Hall

Primary school pupils from 19 schools across St Helens have been rewarded for helping to make their schools a safer place after taking on roles as deputy and junior road safety officers.

Almost 50 pupils from 13 schools across the borough attended a recent celebration event at St Helens Town Hall -organised and hosted by St Helens Council’s road safety team - to celebrate their achievements in promoting road

safety within their schools.

At the event, pupils took part in several workshops to showcase their work throughout the year, and to come up with ideas for the next academic year to further improve road safety education.

Each pupil was then presented with a certificate and memento by St Helens Council’s head of traffic, urban traffic control and road safety, George Houghton – while school staff received a certificate to display in their school.

St Helens Council’s cabinet member for community safety Councillor Lisa Preston said: “The importance of road safety can never be over-emphasised – and it’s vital that we engage with children as early as possible in their lives.

“The junior road safety officers programme is a great way of getting schoolchildren thinking about road safety, discussing it with their friends and coming up with new ideas to promote it”.

Reading for pleasure The Liverpool Learning Partnership has been supporting numerous initiatives this academic year including the ‘Liverpool Promise’ to the city’s children and young people and a schools ‘Readathon’ to encourage reading for pleasure.

Liverpool City Council is launching the Liverpool Promise on Friday 15 September. It’s a commitment by headteachers, the Liverpool Learning Partnership, the Liverpool Cultural Education Partnership, Liverpool City Council and School Improvement Liverpool to act together to improve children’s education and wellbeing.

In a mission to promote young people’s participation in art and culture whilst also raising awareness of mental health we are supporting the 2018 ‘Now Young people’s performing Arts Festival’ at the Epstein Theatre. This is organised by Merseyside Youth Association and schools can book at: http://nowfestliv.co.uk/.

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In October, boy wizards, hungry caterpillars and vampires could be on the curriculum for schools across Liverpool as pupils in the city’s nurseries, schools and colleges join forces for the country’s firstever mass readathon (9-14 October).

The Liverpool Learning Partnership is organising the event with charity Read for Good, which has been running its Readathon in individual schools since 1984. More than 30 Liverpool schools (some 10,000 pupils) have already signed up to participate in the mass sponsored read, with the aim of motivating whole schools to read for fun.

Money raised will be used for school libraries and by the charities to fund their work in Liverpool, including Read for Good’s mobile bookcase and resident storyteller at Alder Hey. The Readathon is running during this year’s inaugural National Libraries Week.

Children taking part in the event will be sponsored to read whatever they like – from comics to classics – with the

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

emphasis on reading what they love.

20% of whatever a school raises will be used to buy books for its library, 10% is going to support Liverpool Learning Partnership’s wider work on reading for pleasure and the rest funds Read for Good’s unique programme bringing a regular supply of books and storytellers into all of the UK’s main children’s hospitals, including Alder Hey. For more information and to sign-up, email liverpool@readforgood.org or visit readforgood.org/partnerships/liverpoolrea dathon/.

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Secondary News

Doing the business Mini business helps generate money for centre As part of their GCSE business coursework, thirty Year 10 pupils from West Derby School devised and planned a small business venture.

Each mini business were tasked with thinking of a novel way to generate money for Clatterbridge Cancer centre during school lunchtimes.

Firstly, the pupils had to research their own business idea and present it to the rest of the pupils, then in small teams the pupils conducted formal business meetings where each idea was discussed.

These meetings had an agenda to outline what was to be discussed and ‘minutes’ (a record of what was said) were recorded by a team member.

Next the pupils had to plan and prepare their business event. This involved costing up any stock and resources that were needed before deciding on what prices they should charge.

Finally, they decided on what roles and responsibilities team members should have to ensure the events ran as smoothly as possible.

The events took place in June and July with mixed weather keeping the boys

thinking throughout.

The boys had been checking the weather forecasts beforehand and it was decided that the majority of the football events would have to move to the MUGA for safety reasons.

All in all the pupils learnt valuable lessons about the planning, promotion and running of a small business for the day.

Headteacher Sian Graham, said: “It

Pupils present a cheque to a member of Clatterbridge Cancer centre

The Blue Coat Jazz Band perform for Earl

The Blue Coat director of music Mr Simon Emery greets The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward

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was heartening to see how well the boys responded to the task. Their maturity and diligence was great.

“In addition, their coursework will now be much stronger as a result of their hard work and they managed to raise £418 for the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity in the process, which was a brilliant achievement.

“A massive well done to all the boys involved!”

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

Throughout 2017 the Bluecoat arts centre have been celebrating the building’s landmark 300th anniversary, bringing the building’s history to life with a series of special art exhibitions, heritage and music events and community projects.

As part of their anniversary programme, The Blue Coat School Jazz band were invited to the contemporary arts centre to welcome The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward during his visit in June.

The band, comprised of over twenty talented clarinettists, flutists, saxophonists, trumpeters and percussionists, from Year 7 to Year 13, greeted the Prince and the waiting public with an exuberant and confident performance of Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

On his arrival Prince Edward spoke with students and the director of music Mr Simon Emery, with members of the

band sharing their passion and enthusiasm for music and performing.

During the Prince’s tour of the Grade One listed building the band continued to perform, with their swinging sounds emanating out into the surrounding streets.

As the event drew to a close the spotlight also fell on three of their sixth form students, who shared their excitement of performing for royalty during a special television interview with Made in Liverpool.

Simon Emery said: “Prior to The Blue Coat School vacating its city centre location in 1906, the School Band would tour the city during the annual St George’s Day parade, as depicted in Richard Ansdell’s painting, Recollections of the Blue Coat Hospital, St George’s Day 1843.

“Therefore it seems particularly fitting that Blue Coat students should return to the site to once again fill its courtyard with of music”.

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Thoughts Worth Sharing

Headteacher Talk

Darren Gidman From St John Bosco Arts College

One thing I wished I had learned at school: Is Mandarin. I took a group of Year 9 students during February half term to China. Having the ability to speak Mandarin would have allowed me to speak, without the need of a translator to our hosts. We visited Number 2 Foreign Language School in Wenghou China. It was a fabulous cultural opportunity for the students at St John Bosco and the students and staff learned a great deal. We have incorporated Mandarin into the curriculum which has helped the students develop strong friendships with their Chinese counterparts.

The book I haven’t read that I must: I know I must read the Harry Potter series. At St John Bosco developing students’ literacy skills is a real focus which allows our students to make better progress in all their subject areas.

Each year we have a Harry Potter evening where the staff and students dress up as key characters from the series of books. It really is a pleasure to see our students discussing their favourite characters and scenes from the book, the joy our students get from the books is infectious and the evening has a magical quality; however I haven’t dressed up myself …yet!

The education story that has caught my eye: Television presenter Chris Packham praises two inspiring, passionate teachers who helped him become a successful naturalist. I read this article in the Guardian newspaper and it reminded me of how great teaching can inspire and motivate

all students to achieve. Chris talks about his biology teacher being so enthusiastic and this has inspired him to achieve in this subject area. We truly are in a great profession and are in a position to shape the future and provide lasting opportunities for the students in our care.

What I am most proud of about our school: The students! Our students come to school eager to learn and are a pleasure to teach. They are open, honest and ready to take on the challenges of the 21st Century with both hands. The students this week have blown me away by their supportive nature, certainly supporting the new Year 7’s settling into life at St John Bosco.

Our students are never afraid to speak their minds; whether that’s through the Student Council or the Liverpool School Parliament.

I am also proud of our staff who work hard to provide the best opportunities for the students. This includes a whole range of extra- curricular activities after school at weekends and during the holiday period. St John Bosco truly is a fabulous place to learn and work!

Tweet all about it The five best educational tweets Liverpool Council @lpoolcouncil Provisional #GCSE results show Liverpool is above the national average for English and maths.

Sue Murphy @CllrmurphySue Congratulations to the Headteacher, staff, children and Governors you did it OFSTED have confirmed Garswood School is OUTSTANDING. Stephen Twigg @StephenTwigg As the school year begins let's celebrate the hard work of students, teachers & support staff in schools & colleges.

Mr. D @theOnlyMrDee Best of luck to any #NQTs or trainees joining the education family today. You're joining the best job in the world.

Halewood CofE School @halewoodcofe Thinking of all of our children moving on into Year 7. Be confident and believe in yourselves - you're all amazing. #NewBeginnings Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Secondary News

Hear us roar!

Caldies students put in a LionHeart effort

The judges ready themselves for the challenge

Calderstones School hosted an inspiring day for students as they took part in the LionHeart Challenge.

The LionHeart Challenge is a customised suite of enterprise and citizenship programmes for school pupils aimed at nurturing them as the UK’s future business leaders.

The nationally acclaimed programme was sponsored by local solicitors MSB Solicitors, who kindly offered to fully fund the initiative at the school.

All Year 10 students took part in the enterprise challenge, which introduces young people to real topics of national importance including community action,

environmental issues, fire prevention, crime prevention, health and wellbeing, radicalisation and road safety.

Judges on the day included Paul Bibby, managing partner at MSB solicitors; Emma Carey, head of family department at MSB solicitors; Liam O’Donnell, founder and CEO of Skiffl; headteacher Lee Radcliffe and Keith Leadbetter, head of Year 10. Councillor Nick Small, cabinet member for education also attended the event on the day.

Sharon Ellis, deputy headteacher, said: “The LionHeart Challenge has proven to be of real benefit to our students.

“Not only did it serve to develop a raft

of transferrable skills required for the world of work but it also enabled students to consider community based projects from a moral and ethical perspective.

“At Calderstones we try to allow our students to have as many enrichment opportunities as we can. We endeavour to prepare them for the best start in their life beyond school as we fully appreciate that they live in a very competitive world.

“We are truly grateful to both the Lion Heart organisation and MSB Solicitors, our sponsors, who facilitated the event and enabled it to happen.”

It’s a hat-trick for model citizens Three students from St Margaret’s Academy (SMA) were recognised with a prestigious award in a special service at St George’s Hall as part of the Roscoe Lecture series.

Sponsored by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), the Good Citizenship Award recognises the outstanding contribution of students in school and in the wider community.

Sixth form students Bupe Chanda, Harry Edwards and Vivien Bahire-Sibo received the award for their exceptional citizenship services.

Bupe’s mentors praised her commitment to work placements and her dedication to a career in medicine, as well as her work in Christmas gift appeals for the elderly and the schoolmentoring programme

Likewise, Harry has also participated in a number of work placements on his journey into the medical profession and is heavily involved in charity initiatives, whilst Vivien has developed impeccable leadership skills on the sixth form

committee and hospitality team. Vivien was also fundamental to the organisation of various charity events and acted as student host at the school’s annual senior citizen christmas lunch.

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Year Six Open Evening Tuesday 12th September at 6.30pm St Francis Xavier’s College A foundation for learning since 1842 We value your child’s education, that’s why we have invested £7.5 million in 11 new science laboratories, sports hall and music suite. These contribute to maintaining a platform for high-quality teaching and learning, whilst sustaining our position as a centre of academic excellence.

To find out more please call 0151 288 1000 or email admin@sfx.liverpool.sch.uk St Francis Xavier’s College, Woolton Hill Road, Liverpool L25 6EG

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Secondary News

Harnessing technology Crowdfunding campaign to ‘revolutionise’ maths St Francis Xavier’s College (SFX) in Liverpool has crowdfunded over £1,500 to help revolutionise its maths learning.

Maths teacher Kenny Glover started the project on Rocket Fund, a fundraising platform for schools which empowers teachers to harness the latest technology in the classroom.

Over 80 donors, including ex-pupils, staff members, parents and governors supported the crowdfunding effort which will introduce ‘Hegarty Maths’ to all of the academy’s 1094 students aged 11-16.

The initial idea for Hegarty Maths was created by maths teacher Colin Hegarty in 2011 when he would make YouTube videos to support his own classes.

The updated Hegarty Maths online platform launched in 2016 allows pupils and teachers access to lessons, assessments and tutorials both in and out the classroom.

It is used by 5,000 children a day in 200 different territories around the world.

The website provides ten minute tutorials for each topic in the syllabus as well as a robust set of questions which they can complete. Pupils can leave feedback for their teachers to reply to, and then respond to online.

Kenny says the tool will benefit every student at SFX, as staff can see how long pupils spend on each task and how they answer questions. This can then be used

Pupils from St Francis Xavier’s College (SFX) help launch their crowdfunding campaign

in lessons to deal with any problem areas or misconceptions.

Maths teacher Kenny Glover, said: “Like many schools now, we are constantly seeking avenues to source the best resources for our pupils who deserve nothing but the best. It’s been so rewarding to have ex-pupils, parents and staff members support our campaign and help us hit our target!

“Hegarty Maths promotes independent learning and enables pupils to regularly communicate with their teachers as well as providing an at home ‘personal tutor’.

“This pioneering online maths tool shows how technology can be used for good in the classroom.”

Executive headteacher Les Rippon, said: “The Maths department in St Francis Xavier's College is constantly striving to make online learning and support a key component for the progress of pupils in the school.

“At a time when school budgets are under pressure, it’s reassuring to know we can rely on our school community to invest and support in new learning tools at SFX.”

Alfie is a true inspiration Alfie Butler a Year 8 student at St Michael’s High School has been recognised for his commitment to the school’s eco alliance by being shortlitsted for the Liverpool Echo Award Personality of the Year.

Despite a number of barriers to his learning including Down’s syndrome, Alfie has put his heart and soul into the St Michael’s eco alliance.

Irene Melia, strategic business development manager at St Michaels, said: “Alfie has been a member of their eco alliance since he was in Year 4 having regularly attended our eco fun learning club from when he was at

primary school!

Since then he has continued to be an enthusiastic eco member who actively engages in all aspects of our eco work giving hours of his own time each week attending the after-school club every Wednesday in addition to participating in all our other extra meetings, community work and fund raising activities including numerous raffles, cake sales, christmas and easter stalls.

“Alfie works extremely hard during all our outdoor sessions; he always gets stuck in to whatever needs doing regardless of weather conditions (as long as there are plenty of refreshments!)

“He’s worked tirelessly on

our woodland walk, clearing debris, planting trees and creating wildlife habitats.

Alfie has also planted numerous fruit and vegetables in our allotment area which he regularly tends to all year round again regardless of weather conditions.

“Alfie is an enthusiastic cook who is always eager to volunteer for chef duties when our home-grown produce is ready to be harvested. He has cooked us delicious jams, cakes, pies, chutneys and soups. However, there’s nothing he loves more than testing the end produce himself!

“Alfie has also been a dedicated member of our Farm Club. He loves cleaning the

donkey stables and is now an expert on grooming and hoofing our four-legged friends, Ted and Sunshine.

Alfie has often been up to his knees in mud and water but he never shies away from what needs to be done”.

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Secondary News

Raising standards Halewood Academy celebrates Good Ofsted rating Halewood Academy in Halewood is celebrating after transforming its inadequate Ofsted rating to Good in just two years.

Inspectors highlighted the “culture of aspiration” at the school and said that improved teaching has transformed pupil’s attitudes to learning. It also said the support of the Wade Deacon Trust has been pivotal in the school’s successful journey.

Effectiveness of leadership and management; the quality of teaching, learning and assessment; support for pupil’s personal development; behaviour and welfare and the school’s 16-19 study programme were all judged as Good.

Principal Gary Evans, said: “I am absolutely

delighted with this Ofsted report. It reflects two years of determination and effort from the staff to ensure we improved the quality of teaching and learning in every classroom and raise standards across the school.

“I am proud to work for better outcomes for Knowsley students as a former Knowsley student myself. This Ofsted report means everything to the school and our community.”

Pamela Wright OBE, chief executive officer of The Wade Deacon Trust, said: “The Trust is delighted that Ofsted has judged Halewood Academy as a good school.

“Halewood Academy is now truly a good school on a journey to outstanding.

We value the excellent relationship that we have with Knowsley Council and its school community.”

‘Inspirational’ Liverpool teacher wins award A teacher from Childwall Sports & Science Academy has won a Silver Award at the Pearson Teaching Awards.

Assistant headteacher Christine Williams, who also teaches geography and sociology, was praised for creating a ‘positive climate of trust’ with students and changing their lives.

Christine has been teaching for 12 years and works across many different areas in the school, including Year 6 transition, school training for staff and has even implemented an in-house tracking system to help students who fall behind in their studies.

One student said Christine has brought them up to believe they can do ‘absolutely anything’, adding: “We all feel that if we have any worries about anything we can go to her any time of the day and she will always have the time to listen. All students truly appreciate her.”

Headteacher James Kerfoot nominated Christine for the national accolade which celebrates outstanding local heroes of education across England, Ireland and Wales.

James said: “Christine Williams is quite simply the best teacher I have ever worked with. I am a headteacher who has taught for 23 years and I have never come across anyone as dedicated and inspirational.

“To walk into her classroom is to see total engagement from her students, who are inspired to learn and to produce work far beyond their potential.

“Christine is effectively the ‘face of Childwall’ as I asked her to work on Primary Transition to ensure student numbers and I now have a huge number of parents of Year 5 and 6 pupils 62

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

citing Christine as the reason they wish to attend our school.”

The school celebrated the award win by hosting a whole school assembly and surprising Christine with the news.

Christine Williams receives her award from headteacher James Kerfoot at the school assembly

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Meet the Headteacher Catherine Twist, headteacher at St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School

St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School in St Helens has been on quite the journey. With the school celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, headteacher Catherine Twist tells Educate about its diamond successes and bright future ahead.

Success for all

by Hannah Fowler Like many students when they leave school at 18, Catherine Twist didn’t quite know what she wanted to do as a future career. Not wanting to go to University, she got on the job ladder and took a role as a school lab technician at St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic High School in St Helens.

But a few years down the line, Catherine got the teaching bug, “I decided I wanted to go in to teaching because it’s about being with children and working with kids. So that’s what I did,” she explains.

Catherine gained her degree from Manchester Polytechnic (now known as Manchester Metropolitan University) and entered the world of teaching. Luckily, her first foray as a teacher was somewhat familiar, as she landed a job at St Augustine’s, where she was the lab technician only a few years earlier.

“I stayed there for 16 years and was a science teacher; head of year; exams officer; Key Stage 3 manager; all of those different kind of jobs that you pick up when you’re trying to build your portfolio,” she said.

With her teaching career taking off, Catherine was, and still is, unwavering on what community she wants to serve – her native St Helens. “I’m St Helens born and bred,” she says. “I haven’t been very far,

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apart from holidays. It’s about wanting the best for our children and our area.”

The only role Catherine hadn’t gone for was head of department, and when an advert came up at St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School (known as St Cuthbert’s Catholic Community College for Business and Enterprise at the time) she jumped at the chance and landed the job.

As head of science, Catherine was soon asked to take on the maths department too and after that (“very suddenly,” says Catherine) she became assistant headteacher for teaching and learning in September 2013.

But sadly that same year, Monica Gallimore, St Cuthbert’s headteacher since 2008 passed away. Described as a ‘wonderful leader and teacher’ who changed lives for the better, the impact on the school was great. “That left a big hole in the school, a massive hole in the school,” explains Catherine.

The School Leadership Team rallied together and after temporary replacements stepped up and took the lead, Catherine became the permanent headteacher of school in September 2015.

“So it’s been quite a rapid journey up this corridor,” said Catherine. Rapid it might be but she has wasted no time getting to grips with her new role.

In 2015, the school embarked on a new identity which included changing the

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“

St Cuthbert’s is brimming with shiny ideas and innovation.

”

name to its current form and creating a fresh new brand to be rolled out across the uniform, prospectus, signage and website.

“We are competing with schools that are quite big schools and quite new – shiny buildings we call them,” Catherine explains. “We did use the phrase we might not have a shiny building but we’ve got shiny staff, shiny students and shiny curriculum!”

With a new modern image, the next milestone for Catherine to achieve was receiving a Good Ofsted inspection. “We knew we were a Good school, the results might not have shown that, but we knew we were a Good school and that the children were getting the best possible day to day education that they could,” she said.

But the pressure was on. The school had been in ‘Requires Improvement’ for two Ofsted sessions and was in risk of being put in special measures.

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But seemingly unfazed, Catherine was confident that Ofsted’s visit on 20 September 2016 (a date forever etched in her memory) was going to prove successful.

“So Ofsted came and we showed them that we are a Good school,” says Catherine. “I could go to staff and say we have proved what we already know.

Even at Christmas when everyone is tiring, everyone was still smiling because we had got our Good!”

This August’s GCSE results day brought yet more good news for the school. 54% of students achieved five standard GCSE passes including English and maths, consolidating the improvements the school is constantly making. “When you see children coming in to school who have worked really hard and then they get that piece of paper and they open it up and their faces light up, that’s what it’s about,” said Catherine.

Ofsted praised Catherine for creating an ‘ambitious and aspirational culture’ and noted how she has taken the whole of the school community with her on this journey of improvement. Catherine says everyone at the school has worked hard to foster a “success for all” attitude.

“We foster this aspiration that nothing is beyond anybody,” she said. “So anybody can go to university, if that’s what they want to do, anyone can go in to apprenticeships, anyone can go in to work, so it’s all about aspiration and success.”

And despite not having a ‘shiny building’, St Cuthbert’s is brimming with shiny ideas and innovation. The first day back in September saw the school host a live feed throughout the day, which was streamed on social media. “We do a live feed throughout the day so that the parents who sit at home and go ‘What’s he doing?’, ‘How is she doing without me?’, they can see them going in to class, they can see them having their lunch so they get that little idea of being part of the day, even though they’re not here,” Catherine explains.

With St Cuthbert’s celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Catherine says it’s a time to reflect on the school’s journey and exciting future. Plans include a

whole school mass at Liverpool Cathedral, creating a lasting piece of artwork and lots of activities throughout the year which will see staff, parents, past students and primary children join together to celebrate.

Even with a Good Ofsted under her belt and results constantly improving, Catherine isn’t resting on her laurels.

Gazing at the five year plan on her wall, she says there is still much to do. This

includes working towards Outstanding, developing a teaching school and making sure all students leave with the best possible outcomes.

“We want to be the ‘talk of the town’ for the right reasons and because we’re all working together,” she said.

“So really it’s just the beginning. It’s been a really exciting couple of years but there’s still a long way to go.”

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Secondary News

Thank you Sister Brigid School celebrates headteachers 38 years of service

Pupils from Bellerive FCJ Catholic College join Bishop Tom Williams at a special Mass at Liverpool Archdiocesan Cathedral

It was a mixture of joy and sadness as the extended Bellerive FCJ Catholic College community came together in July to give thanks for the outstanding service given to catholic education by Sister Brigid Halligan FCJ MSc OBE. Sister Brigid announced her retirement during the academic year after 38 years of service to Bellerive, 24 of them as headteacher.

During her time as headteacher, the school has experienced significant growth and improvement, she leaves behind a very healthy legacy for the new headteacher, Mrs Niamh Howlett who joins Bellerive from St Anselm’s College.

Staff, students, governors and parents, past and present, joined in the celebration of Mass, led by Bishop Tom Williams, himself a former chaplain to Bellerive.

Among the concelebrants at the Mass were Canon Tony O’Brien, Canon Aidan Prescott and Fathers Des Seddon, Peter Morgan and James Preston.

Music was provided by the Bellerive 66

school orchestra and the Year 7 choir who were supported by, cathedral organist, Mathew Searles.

The musical choices provided a fitting accompaniment to the occasion and the congregation was especially moved by the ‘FCJ Magnificat’.

Sister Brigid was joined by Sister Brid Liston FCJ, who is the FCJ provincial for Europe, as well as fellow sisters from the FCJ community across the country.

Bellerive also welcomed Dame Lorna Muirhead, the Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside.

In his homily, Bishop Williams paid a warm tribute to Sister Brigid’s many years of service and her determination to ensure the best possible experience for all students in her care.

He spoke with great fondness about his own long association with Bellerive dating back to 1973.

In paying tribute to Sister Brigid, Sister Brid Liston reminded Bellerive students past and present how blessed they were to have had her as their headteacher with

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her gentle but firm manner, which combined with her deep faith and commitment to excellence had ensured that Bellerive moved into the next stage of its history with great hope and, in the words of Marie Madeleine FCJ foundress, ‘great courage and confidence’.

Further tributes were paid during refreshments in the Piazza and a number of messages were shared including two from some of Sister Brigid’s favourite singers namely Daniel O’Donnell and Father Martin O’Hagan from the popular choral group ‘The Priests’.

In addressing the Bellerive staff following Mass, Sister Brigid offered her sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who had helped her in her mission to build a school to be proud of.

She finished her remarks by reflecting that as she sat and observed the impeccable conduct of the students during the Mass, she felt that the mission she had embarked on in 1993 when she was appointed as headteacher had been accomplished.

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Secondary News

Reversing roles Alsop students make an impact Twenty-six Alsop students had an amazing evening, at Liverpool Everyman Theatre, as they watched Romeo and Juliet.

The play, a modern interpretation, reversed the gender of Juliet and portrayed them as gay lovers.

This version of the play, directed by Nick Bagnall, saw a mass of talent from the Everyman's youth wing join the rep company regulars for the season's Shakespearean climax.

Rival dynasties, were played as gangster families, both ruled by the kind of shinysuited patriarchs who might once have propped up an episode of Only Fools and Horses, and each had its own legion of street-fighting scallies sniffing out blood.

English teacher, Mr VanGordon said: “There were many other schools in the theatre but students from Alsop High stood out. So much in fact that the marketing department took a picture of us all and tweeted it when we arrived.

“At the end of the play in front of the whole theatre the cast specifically thanked our

school for its support with the flags and then happily agreed to get on a picture with all of us.

“Alsop students made a huge impact on the production, you could tell that they brought out something special in the cast (we were sitting right at the front so you

couldn’t miss us!).”

Headteacher Mr Joe Mangan, said: “We are delighted that Alsop students had the opportunity to watch this brilliant production. Alsop has worked extremely hard to earn a reputation for being an inclusive school community where diversity is recognised

and celebrated.”

Our 2017 Ofsted inspection report notes that: “Pupils say that diversity is recognised and celebrated within the school community. In addition, “pupils and parents say that bullying is rare, including racist and homophobic bullying.”

Fazakerley High receives funding to launch breakfast club Fazakerley High School is launching a new breakfast club this term, after securing funding from Copyrite Systems.

The new breakfast club comes after a successful initiative was launched earlier this year by business manager Wendy Torley.

Wendy was looking at ways to contact the businesses the school works with to see whether they would give something back to the school community.

As a print supplier for the school, Wendy contacted Copyrite Systems who were happy to be involved and provide funding.

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Established by Tom Doyle in 1992, Copyrite Systems has been operating for 25 years and its team works in the education sector to transform learning environments and to increase productivity.

Copyrite is the headline sponsor of this year’s Educate Awards, alongside Ricoh UK. The free breakfast initiative launched during Year 11 exam season and invited students to come in to school early to eat a selection of breakfast items including fruit, toast and bacon rolls.

Many studies show that those who eat breakfast have better concentration, alertness and comprehension ability.

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Fazakerley High also used the free breakfast to address attendance and to get students in the right frame of mind before taking their exams.

Due to the success of the free breakfasts and after securing additional funding from Copyrite Systems, Fazakerley is introducing a permanent breakfast club this September.

The club will be offered to pupil premium and disadvantaged students at the school in the hope it will improve attendance, academic attainment and behaviour.

Wendy hopes the new breakfast club will make a big difference to the families in their school community.

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Education News

Creative agency delivers suite of new brands for multi-academy Educate Awards sponsor The Foundry Agency has launched a suite of branding for the All Saints Multi Academy Trust in Liverpool.

The agency was briefed with creating four distinct yet connected brands for The Academy of St Nicholas, All Saints Sixth Form College and The Academy of St Francis of Assisi to sit under the All Saints Multi-Academy Trust.

Formerly ESLA, the new

logo for The Academy of St Nicholas needed to reflect its heritage and new identity going forward under the Trust.

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi’s logo was refreshed to give it a uniform look and adapted to fit within the suite of brands.

All Saints Sixth Form College is a new college for Liverpool students, offering quality post-16 education, careers advice and enrichment.

To reflect its identity as a separate Sixth Form facility, the college has its own unique brand and colours, yet it is still connected to St Nicholas and St Francis of Assisi through the use of logo motifs.

The new branding, launched to coincide with the September term, provides a clean, modern look for the Trust and reflects the schools’ active, close knit community.

The new branding has been used both online and offline,

across prospectuses, exterior and internal signage and school stationery.

Fiona Barnet, director of The Foundry Agency, said: “The new branding creates a uniform approach across the All Saints Multi Academy Trust and provides a consistent visual image for the whole school community.

“The feedback to the launch has been fantastic and we are looking forward to working together again.”

Educating UK given Diamond Approval

Enriching teaching Schools in the North West are leading the way when it comes to using technology to enrich and enhance their teaching and learning.

Supporting them is hi-impact consultancy, a Merseyside based team of education specialists, who utilise the plethora of opportunities that technology brings to the classrooms, from sending science experiments to the edge of space to assemblies led by humanoid robots, and from filming PE lessons in slow motion, to using digital microscopes to help dissect a heart.

Michael Mellin, headteacher at Park Primary School: “It’s hard to believe that technology has become so accessible that Primary aged pupils are taking photographs of Earth from space. It was one of those awe and wonder moments I will not forget.”

Understanding the importance of staying safe online is at the top of the agenda for hi-impact and as with all their workshops, teaching eSafety is fast-paced and engaging as children are drawn into a simulated real-life identity theft investigation; using a wealth of technologies to solve the crime.

Paul Bradshaw, senior school improvement officer at Liverpool Council said: “This has been one of the most powerful online safety sessions I have ever seen. Really engaging and inspirational.”

Managing director at hi-impact, Alan Thompson, says the company is delighted to be sponsoring the Educate Awards and recognising those schools who strive to transform education through technology.

Training Provider and consultancy service Educating UK Ltd have recently been approved to offer the new accredited qualification Level 5 Certificate in observation of teaching and learning.

The Diamond Approval from the Awarding Organisation Training Qualifications UK (TQUK) is the highest standard of approval TQUK offer to providers and confirms that the qualifications Educating UK offer are of the highest possible quality standards.

Andrew Walker, managing director of TQUK said: “TQUK are delighted to work with Educating UK to certificate their qualifications.

“Educating UK have Direct Claims Status (DCS) and Diamond Approved Centre Status with TQUK, which is the highest standard of centre recognition we offer.

“Their dedication to exceptional standards of delivery, assessment and internal quality assurance is excellent”.

When you need help CER, formerly Capita Education Recruitment, have invested heavily in both candidates and clients through the introduction of a candidate engagement manager and a number of school partnership programs and campaigns.

Recognising that schools often struggle with pupil attendance, CER offer attendance campaigns in an attempt to tackle the issue directly.

The attendance campaign runs three times a year; September, January and April, and worked with schools to identify their individual attendance and punctuality targets and provide incentives for children to attend school each day.

Such prizes include Kindles, activity vouchers and books.

Children that meet the eligibility criteria (such as 98% attendance or 100% punctuality) are entered into a prize draw, where one lucky winner is presented with a prize donated by the agency.

Longmoor Primary School, Florence Melly, Norman Pannell, Knowsley Lane, St Maries and St Paul’s RC were just some of the schools that have partnered with CER on the issue in the past 12 months.

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Arts News

Innovative art College exhibition showcases exam artwork St Mary’s College in Crosby recently mounted a special exhibition showcasing the work of its A-level and GCSE art students.

A studio at the Everest Road school was transformed into a gallery for the exhibition called simply ‘Found’ - which included an exciting range of paintings, prints, photos, sculptures and installations.

St Mary’s has a thriving art department and staff say the standard of work this year was exceptionally good. Head of art, David RasoresParry, said: “This year’s exhibition proved to be a great success thanks to the range and quality of the pieces on view that was absolutely stunning.

“It is a great credit to our students here at St Mary’s that they are producing innovative work of such a high calibre.

“It was also clear from talking to their family members that they really appreciated the opportunity to come and look at the pieces their children have put so much time and effort into.

“They are rightly very proud of the diverse range of work on show which is beautiful, dramatic, thought provoking and in some cases even frightening”.

Head girl Elisabeth Moore (right) and Jemma Baines pictured at the St Mary’s art exhibition

Pupils bring art to life Pupils from St Mary and St Pauls Primary in Prescot were on hand at the unveiling of a new colourful mosaic in Prescot town centre The tile mosaic which the school helped to design celebrates Prescot’s diverse heritage and incorporates historic photos of the town and the industries such as pottery, coal mining and watch making and Prescot’s links to cultural icons William Shakespeare, Edward Lear and John Philip Kemble.

The artwork was created by artists

Bernadette Hughes and Susan Whittle with input from local residents and schools on the design and content of the mosaic.

Bernadette said: “We heard stories about the town’s history, people brought in pictures and objects to be incorporated into the mosaic and about 150 people actually created the final artwork by putting tiles in place. It’s great that so many people got involved and it’s lovely to see the final piece in place for people to enjoy.”

Cllr Graham Morgan with artist Bernadette Hughes and children from St Mary and St Pauls Primary in Prescot who were part of creating the mosaic

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Cllr Graham Morgan, cabinet member for regeneration and economic development said: “It’s wonderful to see the completed mosaic. The pupils should be really proud of their input towards the artwork and it has really changed the look of the town centre and the addition of artwork like this really brings the area to life and complements the historical restoration work.”

NEW STAGE ADAPTATION SET FOR CHRISTMAS Chester’s striking new £37m theatre, and cultural centre Storyhouse, are set to produce a new stage version of Enid Blyton’s childhood classic, The Secret Seven, for Christmas 2017.

Between 1 December and 14 January, audiences will be delighted by a magical production in one of the UK’s newest and most exciting venues.

Working with Enid Blyton Entertainment, Storyhouse’s awardwinning team will deliver a stylish new production of this beloved book – perfect for families or fans of Blyton’s charming books.

The entire building will come alive with Enid Blyton’s work as the library spaces which weave their way around the building are filled with material and images from the world of The Secret Seven. As well all Storyhouse’s work, under 12s go free.

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Myerscough College, Croxteth Hall and Country Park, Croxteth Hall Lane, Liverpool L12 0HB Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

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Maricourt Catholic High School ‘A place of learning, growth, respect and fellowship’ ‘From the moment they join the school, students benefit from excellent care and support. Each is well known and cherished; potent ial is spotted; problems are shared; the vulnerable are sensitively supported.

Personal guidance and an expectation of hard work and academic success go hand-in-hand.’ (Ofsted)

YEAR 5 AND YEAR 6 OPEN EVENING Wednesday 13th September 2017 from 6.00pm All welcome

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Hall Lane, Maghull, Liverpool L31 3DZ Tel: 0151 330 3366 Information available at www.maricourt.net 72

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Arts News

The last resort Schools drama opens the gate Last term, Gateacre School’s drama department’s own theatre company Open the Gate performed ‘The Last Resort.’

The performance involved 20 students from Years 7-10 on stage but was supported by the wider school community backstage and front of house, making the magic of the production come alive!

Mrs Elle Gash, head of drama at Gatecare, said: “It has been fascinating watching this play develop and evolve over the past months. The students involved have been amazingly hardworking, creative and engaged.

“It’s been a genuine pleasure to work with and help shape the play into the (frankly hilarious) comedy performance that our audiences enjoyed.

“The skills the students have developed here will serve them well over the years, and hopefully the friendships formed will last the time too.

“It is with overwhelming pride that Miss Walker, an ex-Gateacre drama student herself, successfully took on the

challenge of directing this comedy production for our students.

“Performing in front of your family and peers is hard enough, but to perform a comedy is one of the most challenging

things an actor can do, and the fact that students as young as 12 have been able to make audiences cry with laughter night after night is a true testament to their skill and hard work.

Walliams at the Williamson Children from across the Wirral had the fabulous opportunity to showcase their artwork at the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum to an extraordinary 426 parents, children, teachers and headteachers.

From Gangsta Granny to Mr Stink, the gallery was filled truly inspiring pieces of artwork that interpreted the stories of David Walliams.

The artwork even caught the eye of David Walliams himself who said: “I am speechless. They are genius”.

Organised by Edsential Community Interest Company, the exhibition was opened by Mark Palios, Tranmere Rovers Owner. Pupil’s from Bidston Avenue, Park Primary, St Alban’s Catholic Primary, Riverside Primary, Hillside Primary, Devonshire Park Primary, St George’s Primary, Heygarth Primary, Greenleas Primary and New Brighton Primary had worked alongside artists and their class teachers to produce the artwork.

Stuart Brady – headteacher at Bidston Avenue Primary School said: “We were delighted to be part of the Walliams at the Williamson project. It was a great opportunity for our children to work, up close, with an artist-in-residence to create something that was going to be on public display.

“The children loved learning about new art techniques and then having the opportunity to put the skills into practice. It was humbling to see their faces as they spotted their work up on display in the Williamson Art Gallery.

“Thank you to Edsential for bringing us closer to art and to the books of David Walliams”.

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Arts News

Umbrella project Iconic art installtion launched in Liverpool A huge splash of colour arrived in Liverpool with the help of pupils from St Oswald’s Primary School as 200 brightly coloured umbrellas were suspended over a busy city centre street.

The goal behind this initiative was to raise awareness and understanding, encouraging discussion around Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism.

Devised and curated by Liverpool-based ADHD Foundation, which this year celebrated its tenth anniversary as a charity, the Umbrella Project transformed Church Alley (leading up to the Bluecoat) into a canopy of colour.

The individual umbrellas were also personally signed by children from St Oswald’s and schools across Merseyside, many of whom have ADHD, autism and other neurodevelopment conditions.

Explaining the idea behind the Umbrella Project, Dr Tony Lloyd, chief executive of ADHD Foundation, said: “The name for the project was actually chosen by the brilliant children who work with the foundation.

“ADHD and autism are ‘umbrella terms’ for a whole variety of neurodevelopment difficulties, and we want to highlight that fact and challenge the stigma of what can be ‘invisible’ disabilities.

“The Umbrella Project is about reminding adults - be it parents, teachers or potential employees - that young people with ADHD and other conditions possess many gifts, talents and skills to offer their communities. Their condition is not a disabler, but an enabler, a superpower!

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “I wholeheartedly support ADHD Foundation’s Umbrella Project. Liverpool City Council is fully committed to supporting the education, mental health and employability of people with ADHD and autism.

“Raising awareness is fundamental in engaging conversations and promoting the general public’s understanding of ADHD. “I want Liverpool to truly be an ADHD and autism friendly city. We have to work together to remove the barriers that are preventing people from being able to reach their true potential. The Umbrella Project is a great way of showing that commitment and engaging those Pupils from St Oswald’s Primary School practice their conversations.”

‘Singing in the rain’ routine

Merseyside’s best young artists crowned Two budding young artists are celebrating after battling it out with more than 900 pupils from schools across the Liverpool City Region to be named the area’s best young artists.

Erin Gerrard, a Year 9 student from The Sutton Academy and Grace McKeown a Year 5 student from Knotty Ash Primary School, were crowned the overall winners of the dot-art Schools competition at a special prize-giving ceremony at St George’s Hall.

Erin’s winning pen drawing titled “Intergalactic” and Grace’s charcoal drawing titled “Lost Soul” both featured alongside the other shortlisted artworks, in the 74

fifth exhibition in the dot-art schools competition’s history.

Following the exhibition at St George’s Hall, prints of the artworks were displayed at

Merseyrail’s Lime Street lower level train station. dot-art schools is already a well-established fixture in the academic calendar for many

Overall secondary winner Erin Gerrard with Lord Mayor Malcolm Kennedy

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Merseyside schools; since its inception almost 4000 students from over 200 schools have taken part.

This is the fifth year it will take place in the Liverpool City Region and due to its success and a new partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, a pilot scheme for Cheshire was launched this year. dot-art schools project manager Carolyn Murray said: “The standard of work was outstanding again this year and it’s thrilling to see we have so many talented young artists in the region.

“The exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for the public to check out the best work by some of region’s rising stars”.

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Open Evening We welcome visits at any time, just give us a call. #StCuthBEST

We are St Cuthbert’s

Make us your choice for September 2018 T: W:

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SCHOOL

SPONSORED BY

Liverpool at the forefront with food education Liverpool primary schools are at the forefront of an innovative approach to healthy eating, as three edible playgrounds are launched across the city, to encourage outdoor learning, growing and engaging food education.

The three primary schools St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary and Monksdown Primary in Norris Green, and Holy Name Catholic Primary in Fazakerley – served up seasonal home-grown feasts to their local school communities as part of a nationwide initiative by charity, Trees for Cities, to get children outside growing and learning about healthy food.

The edible playgrounds which were officially opened

by Cllr Nick Small - mark an experiential and innovative approach to food education; each a bespoke design for the school and their pupils to create outdoor learning hubs in the heart of the school grounds.

Councillor Small embarked on a tasty road trip across the city; cutting celebratory ribbons of the new edible playgrounds and enjoying the home-grown delights pupils have been growing; including herbs, salads and seasonal vegetables.

Councillor Small said: “This is a fantastic scheme which has so many benefits for school pupils, including encouraging outdoor learning and growing and eating your own food.

The launch is of particular significance to St Teresa of 78

Cllr Nick Small at the opening of the new edible playground

Lisieux Catholic Primary School, which is a flagship school for the edible playground programme; made possible thanks to nearly £250,000 Dream Funding available from the generous support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

In addition to incorporating outdoor learning throughout the wider school curriculum, the school has also created an interactive cookery classroom where their school cook delivers outdoor cooking lessons to students.

Andrew Tremarco, headteacher of St Teresa de Lisieux Primary School said: “We encourage our pupils to get outside, stick their hands in some soil and learn about the benefits of healthy eating.

“Our edible playground is all about trying to create a healthier, happier future for the children taking part.

“We want everyone to have those all-important memories of growing their own food, knowing where it comes from and experiencing the tasting of a wider variety of fruit and vegetables”.

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Sponsored by

A school’s hidden gem Headteacher inspires with forest school area As Lancashire Wildlife Trust expands its Forest School project into Liverpool, a hidden gem of an outdoor learning paradise has been revealed within the school grounds of St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Junior School in Huyton.

Headteacher Marcella Armstrong is a woman with a vision, and for the last two and a half years has been drastically improving the school’s outdoor education facilities.

In that time, local contractor Simon Lyon has built an entire forest school area, a fully-functioning cabin classroom with electricity, a tipi, prayer and memorial garden, and is now working on a mini replica of the Shakespearian Globe Theatre.

Marcella said: “My vision has been inspired by a dream to provide the children with the best possible outdoor educational, recreational, and environmental areas. I truly believe that learning principles are equally as beneficial both inside and outside of the classroom.

“St Margaret Mary’s is in an area of low aspiration and has its fair share of social problems. The outside improvements will offer the children a deeper appreciation of culture, raise aspirations of the school’s curriculum and will have a positive effect on their health and wellbeing.

“The prayer and memorial garden was constructed to incorporate the catholic symbolism of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so hence the three paths joining at the central water feature representing the Circle of Life.

“We wanted the area to be an area of peace and tranquility, and somewhere for any child to go and think. The memorial section is particularly focused on the Hillsborough event, in which many people tragically lost their lives.”

Simon said: “There were a couple of people in the area that had relatives who passed at Hillsborough, so I gave them the opportunity to get involved planting 96 individual flower boxes, one representing every person that died.

“Any of the children, adults, staff or visitors are now free to go in there, sit and reflect.”

Marcella said: “We’re also currently building a miniature Shakespearian Globe Theatre which would offer, amongst many things, theatrical learning, presentation and confidence building for the children.

“An association has been formed with Professor Elspeth Graham from Liverpool’s John Moore’s University (LJMU) who has provided advice on how

Marcella Armstrong (headteacher) and Simon Lyon (contractor) have worked together to create some amazing outdoor learning facilities at the school

the structure could be translated onto the playground. I’ve also met with representatives from the Globe Theatre

in London who are thrilled with the concept and are keen to become involved and provide support and guidance”.

Minimal impact from Wray Bros Wray Bros are giving one school the chance to honour their unsung hero with a free custom made polo shirt using its print and embroidery service.

Following on from their sponsorship of the coveted Most Inspirational Secondary School award, Wray Bros want to encourage readers to submit nominations for a person they think works hard, but often goes unnoticed. It could be a caretaker, dinner lady, receptionist or lollypopper, just tell Wray Bros their name, what they do and why you would like to thank them.

Wray Bros works with many educational institutions including University of Manchester, John Moores, Hope and Keele University, as well as over 300 schools in the North-West.

Joint owner of the business, Graham Wray, is extremely proud to partner the ceremony, he said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Educate Awards as we continue to expand our services into the often undervalued education sector.”

Mark Wray, the other owner of the company, echoed his brother’s sentiments, he said: “I think it is excellent that the whole ceremony praises the wonderful people who are so vital in shaping the minds of future generations.”

But the charity does not stop there. Wray Bros believes not only should we all strive for cleaner work place, but for a cleaner planet as well. With a nod to the Eco School Project of the Year, Wray Bros supply an Enviro Range of janitorial cleaning products that are formulated to have a minimal impact on the environment; none of which have been tested on animals either. Added to that, a percentage the sale for specific cleaning chemicals goes directly to Macmillan cancer charity.

So, if you would like to get involved and nominate your unsung hero, email lewis@wraybros.co.uk and the team will present the winner with their free unique polo shirt by the end of October.

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Education News

MILK Education develops new digital recruitment platform for schools MILK Education has developed an innovative recruitment platform to help pair schools with exceptional teaching talent.

Sponsors of the Educate Awards 2017, MILK Education is a specialist education recruitment agency providing quality supply talent to nurseries and schools across Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

Its mission is to work with schools to really understand their teaching personalities and the types of individuals that won’t just teach but inspire pupils, forging the working relationships that won’t just fill a gap today, but build teaching partnerships for the future.

MILK Education and Ed-Search’s expert recruiters have developed Search360, a digital recruitment platform, to increase school’s acquisition retention; improve interview to placement ratios and dramatically reduce hire time.

With its intuitive interface and easily accessible dashboard, Search360 enables users to explore a diverse catalogue of

multimedia resumes, view advance competency testing and compare candidate statistics online to ensure a truly targeted shortlist.

As industry experts, MILK Education wants a school’s recruitment process to reflect the quality of the school.

5,000 reasons Copyrite Systems and Ricoh hand over charity cheque Staff from Copyrite Systems and Ricoh presented a cheque for over £5,000 to Roy Castle Cancer Foundation.

Named as the company’s chosen charity for 2017, Copyrite and Ricoh donated a percentage of sales from their printing products to the lung cancer charity, which raised an impressive £5,000.

Copyrite Systems and Ricoh UK are two of the UK’s most innovative companies which are passionate about collaboration, technology and communication.

Both companies are lending their support to this year’s Educate Awards, as headline sponsors.

The money raised will go towards Roy Castle’s charity work, which includes the youth charity Cut Films.

Cut Films is a unique project which aims to prevent children and young people from smoking.

A Cut Films youth worker, with professional filmmaking skills, helps groups of young people to create twominute short films. The brief is simple: the film should persuade their peers not to smoke.

Founded in Liverpool in 1990, Roy Castle is the only UK charity to focus solely on lung cancer care. It funds more than £1 million worth of research every year and offers information and support through its helpline and support groups.

Paula Chadwick, chief executive of Roy 80

Paula Chadwick CEO of the Roy Castle Foundation and Andy Sampson of Copyrite

Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: “Tackling the UK’s biggest cancer killer is a tough challenge. Copyrite Systems is helping us to educate people about key symptoms, such as a persistent cough

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which lasts for three weeks or more.

“The more we inform people about lung cancer, the more lives we will save. Thank you so much.”

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Education News

Educate Awards gearing up to announce shortlist!

The shortlist for this year’s Educate Awards is just weeks’ away from being announced.

This year’s judging panel are busy selecting their shortlists from the hundreds of entries that were sent in across the 21 award categories.

Making those difficult decisions are Michelle Dow, managing director of All About STEM; James Tartt, Merseyside track athlete and architect; Radio City breakfast host Leanne Campbell; Olympian and managing director of Raise The Bar, Steve Smith; Councillor Gary Millar, assistant mayor and mayoral lead for business and international trade; Chris Walker, regional managing editor of Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales; Lesley Martin-Wright, chief executive of Knowsley Chamber; Fiona

Barnet, director of The Foundry Agency; Andrew Pimbley of Wirral’s Claremont Farm; Sue Cronin, head of teacher education at Liverpool Hope University and the education team at the respected Everyman and Playhouse Theatres.

Held at Liverpool Cathedral, the Educate Awards is the one night of the year where the excellence of schools in the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire and Lancashire is celebrated and rewarded in a unique fashion, bringing together inspiring leaders and support staff to showcase the brilliance within the region’s education sector.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, which takes place on Friday 18 November.

MILK Education is the latest company to join the 16 other sponsors which have

already signed up this year, including Copyrite Systems and Ricoh UK as title sponsors.

Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards and executive editor of Educate Magazine, said: “In a few weeks’ time we will be a step closer to presenting the 21 Educate Awards in November,

as we announce the shortlist for 2017!

“With hundreds of entries to read through, it’s proving to be a difficult, but rewarding task for our judging panel. The entries this year have been amazing so thank you to each and every school that entered and best of luck to everyone.”

The big bang Air Products inspires future engineers Science Ambassadors from Air Products were out in force at The Big Bang North West event, inspiring students to get involved with STEM. Air Products’ stand gave visitors the opportunity to see their famous liquid nitrogen demonstrations, analyse food packaged using modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), have a go at simulated welding and take a look inside a hydrogen car.

There was a ‘What’s the question?’ quiz to test the students on their science knowledge and an interactive table that provided information about Air Products.

Lynn Willacy, STEM ambassador at Air Products, said: “It was a great day, our stand was busy for the whole event with students taking part in the activities and asking questions of our team, although the noise in the area was accelerated thanks to exploding balloons during the LIN demos!”

Air Products also sponsored the Young Engineer of the Year Award, which was won by a student from Alderley Edge Girls School who designed a playground clock 82

and traffic light system.

The Educate Awards sponsor also arranged transport for a number of schools to attend the event, including students from Sir William Stanier School in Crewe.

External account manager, Claire James, said: “The Big Bang North West was a fantastic event to be involved in, the enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

from the students who attended was brilliant. We were asked interesting and searching questions about how we produce industrial gases, how they are used in everyday life.

“Hopefully, we have encouraged the students to continue to be involved with STEM subjects and maybe even be one of our engineers in the future!”

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PROMS IN THE PARK Sun shines for St Mary’s spectacular music show Talented young performers from St Mary’s College were the stars of a summer evening spectacular of music, fireworks and family fun. There was glorious sunshine for the seventh St Mary’s College Proms in the Park concert at the school’s Blundell Park playing field, attended by more than 2,500 pupils, family members, friends and local music lovers. The event showcased the musical skills of around 250 students from the college and its preparatory school, and was conducted by director of music, Andrew Byers.

There were also performances by the choirs from two other local schools – Valewood Primary in Crosby and St Luke’s C of E Primary in Formby.

St Mary’s College principal, Mike Kennedy, said: “Once again the standard of music at the concert was incredibly high, and I would like to thank all the performers and audience members for supporting the event and making it another evening to remember”.

The St Mary’s Prep Concert Choir performed ‘Tick Tack’ by J Papoulis, cleverly using Tic Tac sweets as improvised percussion instruments

A member of the St Mary’s College Symphonic Windband

Pupils from Valewood Primary School

Guest soprano Rachael Russell with compere Roger Phillips (left) and St Mary's director of music, Andrew Byers

The choir from St Luke’s C of E Primary School

WHERE PERFORMANCE MATTERS

Open Days for September 2018 entry

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'6;'1#'8 ¥ '2;8@

To T o book your your place or to download an application pack, visit: www www.lipasixthformcollege.org .lipasixthformcollege.org

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COMPANY SETS THE TREND Schools look to the future in business Over 100 schools from across the region descended on Liverpool Football Club as it played host to the School Business Manager Conference.

Business managers from primary and secondary schools are invited to the conference to keep up to date with new trends, listen to talks from leading professionals and visit exhibiting businesses. The day focuses on the emerging changes that are providing new challenges to the role of school business management professionals such as the increasing use of social media; HR and employment law and new curriculum requirements.

Attendees also got the opportunity to meet fellow colleagues and visit the different exhibitors’ stands, which included Liverpool School Sports Partnership (LSSP), YPO and Copyrite Systems. Copyrite Systems, title sponsor of the Educate Awards, showcased its printing software on the day and received ‘substantial interest’ in the technology.

Above: John Naylor - Copyrite Digital Systems Ltd; Donna Donaldson - St Hugh’s Primary; Jenny Fargnoli St Hugh’s Primary (school business manager) and Danny Mannix Copyrite Digital Systems Ltd Right: Question time Below: John Naylor Copyrite Digital Systems Ltd

A chance to network

Finding out about the latest technology available to schools

The conference drew a large audience

A software demonstration featuring the Educate Awards website

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LIVING HISTORY Maghull High School visit Krakow Forty five students from Maghull High School (MHS) made a memorable visit to Krakow. The group visited the Auschwitz concentration camp where they were taken round the site and learned how holocaust victims were selected for the gas chambers or forced labour. They then moved on to Birkenau, the death camp. Here, they saw one of the cattle trucks used to transport the victims, the gas chambers and the conditions in which the prisoners lived. Following this, the students were taken back to Krakow for a tour of the city. On the final morning, the group visited the Galicia Jewish Museum where they experienced a tour of the museum which detailed Jewish history within the city of Krakow. Although the students were clearly exhausted from the the trip and the miles of walking covered, staff and students alike all agreed that it was very worthwhile.

Students relaxing at the Plasow Concentration Camp memorial before heading to the airport

Some of the 40,000 pairs of shoes belonging to the victims of the holocaust

MHS students listening intently to stories of Jewish history

MHS students at Birkenau

VISIONS OF GRANDEUR Archbishop Blanch and the magic of Disney

The cast of Beauty and the Beast Jr

The Beast!

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Over 75 students were involved in preparing and producing Archbishop Blanch School’s (ABS) production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr. From the onset ABS had visions of grandeur for the production which, with lots of hard work, fund raising and determination had transformed the heart of the school into a 300 seat proscenium style theatre complete with some professional scenery, over 40 lights, a haze machine and around 30 microphones. The show was performed to around 1,500 people in total.

Headteacher Miss Heather Duggan, said: “All of the students involved in the production yet again surpassed all of our expectations, proving the abundance of talent we have at our school as well as the overwhelming friendly, compassionate and professional nature of our students. A massive well done and congratulations to everyone who was involved in the production!

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EDUCATE Education, training and employment

16+

Identifying suspects Chemistry at the crime scene Thirty Year 9 pupils from Bebington High School were invited to Liverpool John Moores University as part of the universities ‘Chemistry for All’ programme.

The pupils took part in a day of forensic science where they tested crime scene evidence in the university science laboratory in order to identify a suspect.

The days activities included fingerprint examination, fibre and hair analysis, blood identification, flame tests to identify metals and weapon identification through cast marking. The pupils then had to make conclusions using the evidence gathered and present the findings.

Three pupils were then awarded as scientist of the year. First place was given to Mia Cartlidge, second place was awarded to Ryan Bond and third place went to Ben Clarke.

Headteacher, Ms Catherine Kelly said: “The pupils worked extremely hard all day and were an absolute credit to the school”.

New apprenticeship partnership confirmed A new partnership has been confirmed between St Helens Chamber and Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce to deliver apprenticeships across the Liverpool City Region.

The partnership, which started in 2017, will concentrate Chamber of Commerce delivery of apprenticeships and other training opportunities into St Helens Chamber, who will operate their service from their existing St Helens base, with an operation at Liverpool & Sefton Chambers’ offices at Old Hall Street.

As a result of the partnership, St Helens Chamber will deliver qualifications to apprentices previously 88

attached to Liverpool Chamber Training, the training subsidiary company of Liverpool & Sefton Chambers.

St Helens Chamber, recently awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, have an increasingly broad range of qualifications which includes apprenticeships, adult learning and traineeships across a wide range of sectors.

The portfolio of training services provides plenty of opportunities for local businesses to use the Chambers of Commerce as their preferred training partner, particularly as organisations seek guidance about how to spend their apprenticeship levy funds wisely.

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Kath Boullen, chief executive of St Helens Chamber said: “We’re proud of the apprenticeships St Helens Chamber has delivered to people of all ages across all industry sectors. Our Ofsted ‘Good’ grade is reflective of the quality we consistently deliver which will be replicated in Liverpool.

“We were rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted for the personal development we provide for our apprentices, which is an important focus of our approach.

"We’re particularly excited at the prospect of broadening our delivery to companies attached to Liverpool Chamber and to supporting businesses in extracting maximum value from their apprenticeship and training budgets”.

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Enhance Your Teaching Career Pearson have exciting opportunities for Teachers to become Examiners for our GCSE and GCE A Level TXDOLȴFDWLRQV This is a great opportunity for teachers across the UK who are currently teaching RUbUHFHQWO\bUHWLUHG $SSOLFDQWV ZLOO KROG DW OHDVW one year’s full time teaching experience of the relevant VXEMHFW DQG TXDOLȴFDWLRQ ZLWKLQ WKH ODVW \HDUV ΖI \RX DUH SDVVLRQDWH DQG NHHQ to explore new approaches WR WHDFKLQJ \RXU VXEMHFW WKHQ MRLQ RXU $VVRFLDWH WHDP DQG EHFRPH DQ ([DPLQHU IRUb3HDUVRQ

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)RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG KRZ WR DSSO\ SOHDVH YLVLW RXU ZHEVLWH ZZZ HGH[FHO FRP DD UHFUXLWPHQW or email us at DDUHVRXUFLQJ#SHDUVRQ FRP

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89

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School Improvement Liverpool has

New for 2017 National Professional 6ZFQNÄ…HFYNTS 356 Leadership Courses now available

established a reputation as one of the leading service providers in the North West.

2XU FRQVXOWDQF\ WUDLQLQJ DQG SURIHVVLRQDO development allows schools and settings WR EH WKH EHVW WKH\ FDQ EH +LJKO\ HÎ?HFWLYH TXDOLW\ DVVXUHG VHUYLFHV for EYFS through to KS5 including training, FRQVXOWDQF\ TXDOLW\ PDUNV DZDUGV and conferences.

90

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Toxteth Annexe, Aigburth Road Liverpool L17 7BN t. 0151 233 3901 e. sil@si.liverpool.gov.uk w. www.ednet.co

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A Different Degree

A DIFFERENT DEGREE Practical on the job training or an academic achievement?

Students no longer have to decide, as Christine Toner reports.

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A Different Degree

What are they?

“For those looking to become a degree apprentice, they are an attractive, but demanding, route into a career...�

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A Different Degree

What next?

The Institute for Apprenticeships should -

Universities should

What is the apprenticeship levy?

The higher education sector should -

The government should -

Source: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk

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Going for gold Region’s universities rated Gold in Teaching Excellence Universities across the region are celebrating after achieving the highest possible gold rating in a newly launched excellence assessment.

Published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) recognises UK university teaching quality for the first time.

Universities taking part have been accessed by an expert panel in three areas: teaching quality; the learning environment and the educational and professional outcomes achieved by students.

Students and staff at the Hugh Baird University Centre were celebrating after receiving a gold rating for their higher education provision.

When finding out what students themselves thought about the centre, the panel’s report indicated exceptional

levels of satisfaction in relation to support and assignment feedback.

Colette Mawdsley, dean of higher education at the Hugh Baird University Centre, said: “Receiving the TEF gold award is a fantastic achievement. It is testament to the hard work undertaken by teaching staff at the university centre and those who from across the college who support our learners on their journey.”

“We believe that university level study is for all and we are proud to be working with many learners who will be the first in their family to gain a university degree.”

“Here at the Hugh Baird University Centre we have a consistent culture of selfimprovement for both staff and students and outstanding levels of student engagement.

This generates a great sense of community between students, staff and employers.

Staff from the Hugh Baird University Centre celebrating achieving the TEF Gold award.

I am extremely delighted that this was recognised by the panel in their report.”

Liverpool Hope University, Edge Hill University and The City of Liverpool College also received gold ratings.

Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Chester both received silver awards, while The University of Liverpool and Southport College were awarded the bronze rating.

Copyrite Systems wins new contract with The City of Liverpool College Copyrite Systems has secured a new contract with one of the city’s largest education and training providers.

After working with The City of Liverpool College for 18 years, Copyrite Systems has won a new contract to manage the college’s print and technology equipment across its six campuses.

The college’s £100m campus offers students access to some of the best training, learning and leisure facilities in the country.

Over 20,000 students benefit from modern, purpose build facilities including fully equipped workshops and studios.

By combining innovative technology with a strong focus on best practice, service and partnerships, Copyrite Systems enables clients to better manage their entire paper and electronic document input, output, manipulation and storage.

The new contract reaffirms Copyrite’s longstanding relationship with the College, who have been working together for nearly two decades.

Copyrite works with many of the college’s electrical students and invites them on work placements at the company’s head

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office in Speke. As a result of the placements, many students have gone on to gain full-time employment at Copyrite.

Established by Tom Doyle in 1992, Copyrite Systems has been operating for 25 years and its team works in the education sector to transform learning environments and to increase productivity. Copyrite is the headline sponsor of this year’s Educate Awards, alongside Ricoh UK.

PARTNERSHIP PRODUCES HAT-TRICK OF SUCCESSES A ground-breaking partnership between specialist education provider Progress Schools and top football club Marine FC has produced a hat-trick of successes among teenage boys who fell out of the mainstream school system.

One student has reached the major achievement in passing all his exams this year while another has secured an apprenticeship. The third, who had a poor history of turning up for lessons at his previous school, is now celebrating a brilliant attendance record.

Such has been the success of the project between Educate Awards sponsor Progress Schools and the fan-owned community football club in Crosby that the project is now about to begin a new season.

James Madine, chief executive at Progress Schools, said: “In class, learners who are passionate about sport can take a range of modules for an extensive array of BTEC sports qualifications which cover both practical and theoretical elements as well as English, maths and vocational subjects”.

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Ofsted delight Sefton Community Learning Service celebrate award The Sefton Council run community learning service which offers a diverse range of high quality courses for Sefton residents aged 19 and above is celebrating its latest Oftsed report.

Following an Ofsted inspection, the service is now a Grade 2 (good) provider

in all four areas of Ofsted’s common inspection framework; Quality of Teaching Learning and Assessment, Outcomes for Learners, Leadership and Management, Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare.

Courses are run at more than 30 venues throughout the borough and are

developed in response to the needs of Sefton residents to improve their prospects and raise achievement in the wider community.

Courses range from non-qualification courses for beginners up to accredited Level 2 qualification courses.

Courses include English and maths, ESOL, employability, family learning, leisure, health and wellbeing, horticulture, hospitality and catering, food hygiene, hair and beauty and many more.

Ofsted defined the service as a good adult education provider that has ‘highly effective relationships with a range of partners ensuring the service meets the needs of the community’.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s labour cabinet member regeneration and skills, said: “This is a fantastic achievement by the service and I would like to thank everyone who played a part in the successful outcome.

“Ensuring and encouraging further education opportunities for adults is key to enhancing skills for residents across the whole of the borough. It is also an important part of our growth agenda and by developing skills for local residents it helps provide opportunities when they are applying for jobs.

“The service offers so much and if you are looking to learn something new and develop your skills, you can easily find a course to suit you”.

Global sporting community comes together in Liverpool Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) was proud to host the 11th ICCE Global Coach Conference 2017, which brought together the global sporting community for an event showcasing and evaluating the important impact sport coaching plays throughout all levels of sport and society across the globe.

Previously held in Paris, Sydney and Beijing, the university successfully bid to bring the conference to ACC Liverpool.

The conference provided delegates with insight, experience and debate about how the global sporting community can extend the frontiers of knowledge and practice in order to pursue coaching excellence along the sport pathway.

Delegates also had the opportunity to integrate with international business, worldleading academics and internationally-respected expert practitioners though lectures, practical sessions, discussion and demonstrations.

England Rugby Union head coach, Eddie Jones, and Olympic gold medallist in hockey and LJMU Honorary Fellow, Kate Richardson-Walsh led the international sporting line-up as keynote speakers.

Kate Richardson-Walsh described the conference as a hub of ‘knowledge and energy’ as she talked through her career and how science and coaching impacts performance.

Eddie Jones told delegates in his keynote ‘Challenging Sports Coaching Frontiers’, “You can never stop learning -

don't be afraid to look at things without the bias of tradition”.

LJMU’s world leading research in sports coaching, was integral to ICCE choosing Liverpool as the host city for the global conference.

Excellence in delivering sport coaching educational programmes is recognised through awards such as the skills active and UK coaching’s higher education endorsement scheme and UKCC Level 4 accreditation.

The university is also renowned for being at the forefront of innovation and development in sport science – in 2015 the university celebrated the 40th anniversary of its sport science degree programme, the first of its kind to be offered in the UK. Tabo Huntley, chair of the

England Rugby Union head coach, Eddie Jones

conference committee and senior lecturer and sports coach at LJMU, said: “The combination of applied experience and academic research shone a global spotlight on Liverpool and LJMU as a key player in the development of sport coaching practice at an international level for years to come.”

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Nurse Cadet Programme to provide opportunities for young Hugh Baird College and Aintree University Hospital have announced that they are working in partnership on a number of initiatives aimed at providing exciting and rewarding career opportunities for young people living in the Liverpool City Region.

Hugh Baird College and Aintree have launched a Nursing Cadet Programme, a pre-nursing cadet programme and a wide range of apprenticeship opportunities will also be available.

The Nursing Cadet Programme will offer twenty students, aged 16 - 18, the opportunity to take their first steps towards becoming qualified nurses and healthcare practitioners.

Dianne Brown, Aintree University Hospital’s chief nurse, said: “We are keen to recruit tomorrow’s nursing professionals through this programme and we are looking forward to welcoming cadets to Aintree.

“Young people will benefit from working with a range of highly skilled health care professionals in a range of areas, including one of the most modern emergency centres in the country.”

Through the cadetship scheme, students will gain a unique blend of theory-based study and hands on work experience, as they split their time

Hugh Baird College chief executive Yana Williams (left) with Dianne Brown, Aintree University Hospital’s chief nurse

between the college and placements at a variety of services across Aintree.

The first intake of nursing cadets will start this October and recruitment is underway now with a closing date for applications of 15th September.

Those with an interest can find out more about the programme and can apply via the College’s website, www.hughbaird.ac.uk/nursing In order to provide 14-year-olds with the opportunity to prepare for the full Nursing Cadet Programme, the college and Aintree have worked closely to

establish an innovative pre-nursing cadet programme.

Based at Hugh Baird College’s 14-16 college, the programme will not only give students the theory, skills and GCSEs needed to move seamlessly on to the full cadet programme, but the learning experience will be enriched with masterclasses from healthcare specialists and visits to the range of clinical settings at Aintree.

Yana Williams, principal and chief executive at Hugh Baird College said: “We are delighted to be working together with Aintree on these exciting new developments.”

“Hugh Baird College have a strong reputation for providing learning opportunities complimented by employer involvement either in curriculum development or through work placement opportunities and masterclasses.

“It was this approach that enabled the college to become the UK’s first career college in 2014 and I am delighted to say that the career college will be working with us on our Nursing Cadet Programmes.”

“The nursing cadet initiatives we are launching are aimed at gifted, talented and driven students who are passionate about helping others.”

Rainford build links with Ghana A group of Year 12 students from Rainford Sixth Form have returned home after successfully building Ghana’s first STEM centre.

The trip was the fourth time Rainford Sixth Form has supported the UK charity Book Cycle by teaming up with Ghanaian charity Thrive Africa.

Book Cycle is a local volunteer-run charity which seeks to empower children and adults at home and abroad through the provision of free books.

Thrive Africa uses volunteers to turn community spaces and classrooms into libraries by painting and building furniture in Ghana.

During the trip, the students transformed three empty rooms in local schools into libraries providing much needed resources.

These libraries will provide a lifeline for local children, allowing them to access much needed educational materials and allow local teaching staff to inspire and equip a whole generation of children with the power of learning, knowledge and education.

As well as building school libraries, the students also built hand-washing stations. These stations in schools and the local orphanage will allow children to wash their hands and learn about the importance of hygiene through information posters and games.

In conjunction with Year 10 students and Unilever, the sixth formers trialled 98

different soaps and next year will return to the same area to see how much of an impact these hand-washing facilities have had.

Hannah Moreton, pastoral manager said: “The main focus of the project was to build Ghana’s first ever science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) centre.

“The students painted the local community centre, installed computers in one room, and turned the other into an information library.”

This STEM centre will loan science

Educate The Magazine for Parents and Pupils

and maths equipment to over 300 schools across the Ashanti region.

Hannah adds: “The sixth form aim to return next year to fill the STEM centre with even more equipment and will build on this year on year.

“The trip was an absolute success and the sixth form would like to thank Thrive Africa, AJ Bell, Cowley International College, book cycle and STEM UK for their kind donations.”

The new Year 12 intake will soon begin their fundraising efforts and will return to Kumasi next July.

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Athletes gather for the Summer Games 2017

SUMMER GAMES 2017 Young sporting stars take to the stage Thousands of young athletes from the region’s primary and secondary schools descended on Wavertree Sports Park to compete against each other at the prestigious Summer Games.

The final and biggest of all the 2017 Merseyside School Games, the multisport event offers young participants a high-level experience and an Olympic-style atmosphere. The event is jointly organised by a network of 14 school games organisers and Merseyside Sports.

The county-level event brought together the ‘best of the best’ of Merseyside’s young sporting talent who had qualified from a series of events across Merseyside.

It’s the culmination of an entire year’s worth of competitions between schools in each of the county’s six boroughs (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) and those schools who made it to the event worked hard to beat off stiff competition.

There was also a range of taster activities to encourage children to to try activities they might not have tried before, including futsal, handball and a skipping challenge.

The ceremony gets under way

Jack HunterSpivey, Rio 2016 table tennis paralympian

The athletes warm-up

The skipping challenge

Competitive sports included Tri-golf

Boccia was also included on the day

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Swimming was one of the competitive sports on the day

Representatives from each of the six boroughs

Girls touch rugby union for Years 7/8

Quicksticks hockey for Years 5/6

Tennis

The prestigious medals

Selfie-time

Tri-golf

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SPORTING CHALLENGE 500 students take part in sports event Over 500 students from 16 secondary schools took part in Liverpool School Sports Partnership’s (LSSP) annual secondary school sports event.

The day included activities such as gladiator duels, outdoor challenges, football, netball, tug-of-war and even a human version of hungry hungry hippos.

Participating schools included ESLA, Calderstones, Childwall Academy, Archbishop Beck, King’s Leadership Academy, Notre Dame and King David High.

As the day came to a close, a presentation ceremony was held and all participating schools received a certificate and trophy.

LSSP has been supporting PE, physical activity and school sport since 2000. Its aim is to help all children and young people access high quality PE, physical activity and sport in their school and community.

The LSSP team organise a co-ordinated programme of events and competitions throughout the year which make a difference to teachers and young people.

A human version of hungry hungry hippos There was plenty of fun to be had

The day included many team sports

Working together

There were mental as well as physical events

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Netball

Football always a favourite

Girls football was also included on the day

Dodgeball proved very popular

Tug-of-war proved a huge pull!

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THE ART OF THE GRANGE

Brass ensemble members back row - Harry Dale, Chloe Tedstone, Annie Leyland and Izabel Roberts. Front row Georgi Walker, Elizabeth Cordell and Siobhan McCaw

Learners get creative with culture festival Learners at The Grange School really do know how to make a song and dance of things. They can also draw on their own inspiration to create stunning original art works. So, when the talented young people and their teachers decided to put on a celebration of all things arty - they certainly weren’t short of material. More than 700 learners contributed to the school’s first ever creative arts showcase.

A packed audience of family, friends, invited guests and members of the wider Grange family converged on the school for the two hour spectacular.

The Grange’s head of creative arts, Joel Beavon, who organised the event, said: “We have so many talented young people at The Grange and we really wanted to celebrate this with the entire school community. The arts and performance are crucial to a wellrounded education and they can really help to build a young person’s confidence and self-esteem.

“Events like this are characterbuilding. Exhibiting and performing in front of others is a challenge and tests the soft skills that we encourage learners at The Grange to develop each day.”

Headteacher Janette Vincent admires her likeness with Year 8 creators left to right - Chelsea Schofield, Iliana Keoghan and Estelle Smith

Young artist Ilyana Welby Cornet player Georgi Williams

Jessica Robinson (Year 7)

Acting out a scene from Cinderella are Zoe Van Heerden, Elizabeth Cordell and Jessica Thomas

Hope Ireland and Rhiannon Walker

Learner Shannon Willis shows off her works

Head girl Chloe Hillan with her self-portrait

Young performers Milly Dyer, Mia Kelly, Amelia Blundell, Zoe Van Heerden, Elizabeth Cordell and Jessica Thomas

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Experience the true glamour and misery of Weimar Germany in Portraying a Nation: Germany 1919 – 1933, open until 15 October.

Featuring over 300 works, the exhibition presents the ‘real faces’ of Germany during the inter-war years told through the eyes of painter Otto Dix and photographer August Sander. This exhibition is a must-see for History, Art and German Language students.

BRING YOUR SU B JEC TS TO LIFE AT TATE LIVERP OOL Book your visit before 15 October!

Visiting Tate Liverpool with a school group couldn’t be easier - book online: tate.org.uk/learn/teachers or call +44 (0)151 702 7400.

Albert Dock, Liverpool Waterfront

Otto Dix artworks: Self-Portrait with Easel 1926, Reclining Woman on a Leopard Skin 1927 © DACS 2017.

August Sander, Police Officer 1925 © Photograph. Samml. / SK Stiftung Kultur - A. Sander Archiv, Köln /VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn and DACS, London 2017.

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Book Review

In association with

5-8 Years The Fox and the Ghost King - Michael Morpurgo £5.99 Every fox in the whole town, in the whole country just about, is a football fan... And we all have an impossible dream. In a cosy den under a garden shed lives a family of foxes. They love to watch football - all foxes do. But their favourite team keeps losing and losing, and it seems like things will never look up. That is, until Daddy Fox finds the ghost of a king.

Kid Normal - Greg James, Chris Smith £5.49 When Murph Cooper rocks up to his new school several weeks into the beginning of term, he can't help but feel a bit out of his depth. And it's not because he's worried about where to sit, and making friends, and fitting in, or not knowing where the loos are. It's because his mum has enrolled him at a school for superheroes by mistake!

Isadora Moon Gets in Trouble - Harriet Muncaster £5.99 Half vampire, half fairy, totally unique! Isadora Moon is special because she is different. Her mum is a fairy and her dad is a vampire and she is a bit of both. When Isadora's cousin, Mirabelle, comes to stay, Isadora is really excited. Mirabelle, who is a witch, is older than Isadora and always has the best ideas for things to do. So when she suggests that instead of taking Pink Rabbit Isadora should take a dragon to 'Bring Your Pet to School Day'.

9-12 Years Fiction A Place Called Perfect - Helena Duggan £5.99 They've got their eyes on you… Violet hates living in Perfect. She doesn’t want to have to be neat and tidy and perfectly well-behaved all the time, where’s the fun in that? Then Violet starts to question other things… Like why does everyone have to wear special glasses to stop them going blind? Why is mum acting so weird?

Simply the Quest - Who Let the Gods Out? - Maz Evans £5.49 Elliot Hooper's troubles are far from over: his mum's health worsens, he's struggling at school, and a bunch of anarchic Greek immortals have moved into his home - including teen goddess Virgo, who's in trouble with the Zodiac. What's more, death-daemon Thanatos and his scary mum are at large. As even more immortal allies and enemies emerge, Virgo and Elliot must learn how to be heroes...

Goth Girl and the Wuthering Fright - Karen McManus £5.49 People are flocking to Ghastly-Gorm Hall from far and wide to compete in Lord Goth's literary dog show. But there's something strange going on at Ghastly-Gorm - mysterious footprints, howls in the night and some suspiciously chewed shoes. Can Ada, the Attic Club and their new friends the Vicarage sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) work out what's going on before the next full moon?

Teenage Fiction The Miseducation of Cameron Post - Emily M. Danforth £7.99 When Cameron Post's parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief.

Relief they'll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl. But that relief doesn't last, and Cam is forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother.

A Change Is Gonna Come - Various authors £6.99 Featuring top Young Adult (YA) authors and introducing a host of exciting new voices, this anthology of stories and poetry from black, Asian and minority ethnic writers on the theme of change is a long-overdue addition to the YA scene. Contributors include Tanya Byrne, Inua Ellams, Catherine Johnson, Patrice Lawrence, Ayisha Malik, Irfan Master and Nikesh Shukla.

One Of Us Is Lying - Karen McManus £5.49 Five students go to detention. Only four leave alive. For fans of Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars, this is the perfect high school thriller. Yale hopeful Bronwyn has never publicly broken a rule. Sports star Cooper only knows what he's doing in the baseball diamond. Bad body Nate is one misstep away from a life of crime. Prom queen Addy is holding together the cracks in her perfect life. And outsider Simon, creator of the notorious gossip app at Bayview High, won't ever talk about any of them again.

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Tips for supporting y Exam season may be over but for millions of parents around the country it’s time to start planning ahead.

Whether it be preparation for next year’s GCSEs and A-levels (amid tougher exam standards imposed by the Department of Education), getting organised for the S.A.T.s or getting a little extra help to achieve success in a school entrance exam - if you’re looking to help your kids go that little bit further, now’s the time to start.

“The best time to provide extra tuition would be even before the summer holidays end,” says maths tutor Paul Hughes.

“Students tend to forget the key concepts over a prolonged period outside of the classroom, and touching up on this, even just once a week, will go a long way to hitting the ground running in September.

“By the time exams come, it should be a much calmer and routine life outside of school as to not add on any extra stress to the student. If you introduce a tutor in March with exams in May, it can be too much and too different, and although it would be useful, it may result in added stress. Think about training for a marathon but leaving all the training to the last few weeks; it's much better to have had that consistent training over the many months before.”

Time it right Of course, it’s not just what month to commence tuition that should be a consideration but what year. Naturally, depending on what exam your child is preparing for, the school year in which you might consider hiring a tutor will differ.

“I have taken children through entrance exams and some start in Year 5 with sessions every two weeks, building to once a week as the exam approaches in Year 6,” says Dr John Ankers of Woolton Tutors. “I think it’s most important to consider your child’s wellbeing. Increasing their workload with additional tutoring sessions – however fun I try to make them – inevitably puts them under more pressure. This is motivating and encouraging for some, but not right for others and so we adapt our plans. This is why offering feedback to parents regularly is so important.”

Know what to look for Trusting (and paying!) someone to educate your child and prepare them for an important exam is a big decision so you’ll need to feel comfortable with the tutor you choose.

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your child’s learning English tutor Chris Wilson says generally speaking, parents will go on recommendations along with checking the numerous websites that offer a platform for tutors to create profiles for parents to peruse.

He adds: “If I was to seek a tutor for my own child, I would want the tutor to be a qualified teacher who was currently teaching (meaning they are up to date with curriculum reforms), experienced in teaching the particular key stage or topics required, able to create a rapport with my child - learning is better when the teacherstudent relationship is positive and, finally, reliable - particularly if a tutor is required for a two year GCSE course.”

“

It’s also incredibly important to listen

”

Of course there are safety precautions to take into account too. All tutors should have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS ) certificate (previously called Criminal Records Bureau certificates), which shows they have no criminal convictions.

If you don’t want to hire a tutor or don’t have the resources to do so there are plenty of things you can do to help your child get ahead.

“Parents can help first and foremost by maintaining a good relationship with their child’s school and trusting the teachers’ comments and insights,” says Dr Ankers. “Help at home can be assisted by buying established study guides, or using some of the many free resources on the internet. But it’s also incredibly important to listen. Are there any subjects your child “doesn’t like”? What specifically is the issue with the subject? Is it a particular topic, a particular type of question?

The more specific the issue, the easier and faster it will be for a teacher, or a private tutor to deal with.

And while the internet may be packed full of resources it doesn’t hurt to go back to basics either.

“Read with your child,” says English tutor Chris. “Discuss what you have read and ask questions.”

TSL established in 2012 is gaining a reputation as a leader in after school home tuition.

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BIG BANG NORTH WEST 2017 A STEM-sational success with schools!

The Big Bang North West hit The Exhibition Centre Liverpool in July and thousands of young people from across the region enjoyed exciting exhibits, sensational shows and ingenious innovation while celebrating science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)!

The Big Bang North West is part of a programme led by EngineeringUK STEM to life! Big Bang events enable young people to discover the exhilarating and rewarding STEM based careers available in their local area via fun, hands-on activities.

Adding to the excitement, the event hosted the semi-final of The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Competition.

Visitors to the event took part in surgical operations, hopped on a digger, walked on custard, immersed themselves in virtual reality, tested their own nasal flora (bogies!) and enjoyed fire shows, dry ice, gadgets, robots, coding, forensics, slime and much, much more – there was even a planetarium and a balloon that flew into space!

Qualifying finalists from The Big Bang North West

Marty was joined on stage by Tom Warrender – the human guinea pig

Selfie time

They even threw flames and popped cow trumps

Dr Marty Jopson, star of Sky One’s Brainiac

Visitors to the event took part in surgical operations

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The AstraZeneca STEM Team of over 40 scientists, engineers and technical subject matter experts from across the Northwest

This has been their biggest and best event yet!

All About STEM managing director, Michelle Dow

The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition at the event

AstraZeneca offered an inspiring selection of experiences and activities

Great fun was to be had

The All About STEM team

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What have we been up to over the summer?

An update from Shaping Futures, formerly MNCO Who are we?

Shaping Futures, (also known as the Merseyside Collaborative Outreach Programme) is a new outreach programme for the Liverpool City Region formed by 12 local Higher Education (HE) providers and led by the University of Liverpool. The full list of HE/FE providers which form Shaping Futures is: • Carmel College • Edge Hill University • Hugh Baird College • Liverpool Hope University • Liverpool John Moores University • The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts • The University of Chester • The City of Liverpool College • The University of Liverpool • Riverside College • St. Helen’s College • Wirral Metropolitan College Shaping Futures will deliver a programme of activities designed to raise aspirations and provide impartial HE information, advice and guidance to local 14-18 year old learners, to support them in fulfilling their educational potential.

These activities will be wide ranging, aiming to increase understanding and aspiration of choices at both KS4, post-16 and HE level, broaden knowledge of sectors and opportunities available and offer support with the entire university application process; from a ending Open Days, to choosing a university and completing a UCAS application.

During the first nine months of the Shaping Futures programme we have been focused on building our delivery team, relationships with priority secondary schools and launching our website www.shaping-futures.org.uk.

The first Shaping Futures delivery took place during the summer term and included Shaping Futures taking a role as Platinum Sponsor of the Big Bang Northwest; a series of Higher Education Conferences at Liverpool Hope University; and the launch of the Through the Eyes of Boys project.

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Photos: Gareth Jones Images © Big Bang North West

Advertising Feature

The Big Bang North West took place on July 4th 2017, at The Exhibition Centre Liverpool, with thousands of young people from across the Liverpool City Region enjoying hands on, innovative activities from a wide range of STEM organisations. The BBNW helped them to discover more about the range of exciting STEM careers available in their local area, as well as understanding the role STEM plays in everyday life.

As a Platinum Sponsor, Shaping Futures had our own area focused on HE/FE, with each partner institution hosting a stand displaying an area of STEM excellence from their institution. Stands included virtual welding (Riverside College), a sound and light mixing desk (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) and a Formula One Racing Car (Liverpool John Moores University). The event was a huge success, best summed up by a young person a ending the event who said “I wish I had 8 million eyes to see it all!” Shaping Futures also sponsored the award for STEM Club of the Year, which was won by The Presco School. A er the success of our partnership with All About Stem as MNCO, we were thrilled to be involved for a further year and look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.

The visit day was a great success with lots of the students commenting on how much they’d enjoyed visiting a university and city they had no prior experience of, and we were pleased to find so many of the students already excited about the next parts of the project.

Following the summer break, we’re now gearing up to start our full suite of delivery with all priority schools in the autumn term. Please visit our website, www.shaping-futures.org.uk, to find out more about what we’ll be offering and to keep up to date with our activities.

Our Higher Education Conferences with Liverpool Hope University took place over two days in July, where six of our partner schools were invited to visit the Liverpool Hope campus to take part in an Introduction to University talk, campus tour and a university marketplace where Shaping Futures partners were represented. Over 200 students a ended and we were pleased with the positive feedback we received. Ruth Jacob, a teacher from Wade Deacon said “The pupils got so much from the experience, it was wonderful to see them engage with so many different Higher Education providers, marvel at the beautiful grounds and facilities of the university and begin to reflect upon the opportunities that await them”.

The Through the Eyes of Boys project was launched in May 2018, working with male Year 10 students from 5 of our priority schools who are from a working class background. The programme aims to introduce them to concepts around Higher Education, support them with their Post-16 choices and equip them with the skills to support them in the next stages of their educational journey. The first event of the project was a launch event for parents and the young people to find out more about the project, followed by a visit to the University of Chester in July, where students toured the Parkgate Road campus and took part in an interactive pathways game to get them thinking about their options following Year 11. The students then explored Chester city centre on a walking tour, to experience an alternative university city and to get to know the other students on the project.

www.shaping-futures.org.uk

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DON’T GO COLD GO BOLD Make a statement this autumn with jackets you’ll fall head over heels for.

Sylist: Emily Bonnon

Palm Springs bomber jacket £29.99 Zara Kids F&F palm leaf print lightweight mac £14.99 Tesco Kids Yellow matte anorak £34.99 New Look

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Bold not Cold

Pink floral print bomber jacket £35 Dorothy Perkins Red tipped ‘Japan’ print bomber jacket £55 River Island Kids Girls white iridescent rain coat £25 River Island Kids Boys purple colour fade bomber jacket £22 River Island Kids Lilac suedette biker jacket £29.99 New Look Dark green coach jacket £40 Topman Black crackle print oversized bomber jacket £39.99 New Look

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WHERE CAN WE GO? Our pick of what’s happening out & about in the region

5 November - 2 December

Shakespeare Schools Festival Show r e stopp

War Horse Liverpool Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool L1 1JE Tel: 0844 871 3017

At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France.

He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey.

Though still not old enough to enlist he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized horses

by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.

War Horse is an unforgettable theatrical event which takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France.

Wednesday 15 - Friday 17 November Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park, Longview Drive, Huyton L36 6EG

Shakespeare Schools Foundation (SSF) is proud to present the world’s largest youth drama festival at the Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park.

Whether you are a parent, friend or another local school, we invite you to an exhilarating evening of theatre where you will see Shakespeare’s stories brought to life like never before.

SSF is a cultural education charity, transforming lives through the unique power of Shakespeare. In the celebratory finale of their festival journey, 30,000 young people from primary, secondary and special schools across the country will unite in their local professional theatre in thrilling performance evenings. It promises to be the most exciting festival yet!

Performances start at 7pm. Ticket prices: £9.50/£7. Group rate £6.50 call 0151 443 2200

Portraying a Nation: Germany 1919-1933

21 - 29 October

Southport Halloween Festival Town Centre and various venues, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 1DA From giant spiders to monster petting zoos, fire breathers and scary scarecrows plus scarily great offers and events in shops, bars and restaurants throughout the town, there is all manner of ghoulish goings on in Southport this Halloween!

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FUTURE EVENTS

Scarets nigh

Do mi n’t ss

Until 15 October Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4BB Tel: 0151 702 7400 Portraying a Nation presents the ‘real faces’ of Germany during the interwar years, as seen through the eyes of painter Otto Dix and photographer August Sander. The exhibition will allow students to better understand this period by experiencing the true glamour and misery of Weimar Germany. A timeline, developed in collaboration with the German Historical Institute will run through the exhibition documenting the notable historical moments which marked this era, from the Treaty of Versailles to hyperinflation and the rise of The Nazi Party. With over 300 drawings, paintings and photographs this exhibition is the perfect opportunity for your students to explore this fascinating period. Admission: Adults £12; Children 12-18 £10; Senior Citizens £10; Students £6.

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23-24 September

Sunday 8 October

APP and FILM REVIEW Duolingo FREE iTunes Apple’s iPhone App of the Year!

Verdict: ★★★★★ By Andy Kelly

Trampoline, Tumbling & DMT British Championships Echo Arena, Liverpool See history-making Olympic Silver Medallist Bryony Page as she takes on 2016 European Championship bronze medallist and double Olympian Kat Driscoll. It will be a great showdown, as the high-flyers of the women's GB trampoline world battle it out for gold.

Tickets: Adult £25; Concession: £16.90 20 - 22 October

Alder Hey 10k Croxteth Hall and Country Park, Croxteth, Liverpool L11 1EH Alder Hey Children’s Charity, one of the largest of its kind in the UK, will for the very first time be holding its own 10k run. Entries are open at just £16 for an event that will be held completely within the beautiful 500 acre site at Croxteth Hall.

27 - 28 October

One weekend and one weekend only of film, fun and food in the Anglican Cathedral. Films include: The Goonies, Matilda and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Tickets £12.

Around the World in 80 Days Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square, Liverpool L1 1EL The mysterious and fabulously wealthy Phileas Fogg wagers his life's fortune that he can circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days. Join Fogg and his loyal valet, Passepartout, as they voyage from the misty alleys of Victorian London to the exotic subcontinent and the Wild West.

6 November

1 December - 6 January

Cinema in Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool 7.00pm-11.00pm

Professor Robert Winston The Brindley Theatre, High Street, Runcorn, WA7 1BG. Tel: 0151 907 8360 Robert Winston is one of the most instantly recognisable scientists in the country. This exciting, illustrated talk shows how recent research highlights not only how valuable learning is, but also what we all can do to improve our learning in and out of school, and reap the rewards long afterwards.

The Jungle Book Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool This Christmas time our fun festive treat for ages 5+ will be an imaginative, all new retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale The Jungle Book.

Filled with music, dance and song make sure that you join us for a whole host of jungle fun.

Don’t forget to practice your ROAR! Don’t miss this theatrical family festive feast!

Tickets £9.

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This free app currently supports Danish, Dutch, French, German, Irish, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. Or more practical choices, like Esperanto and Klingon.

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie DVD and Blue-ray release date: Tuesday September 12 Starring: Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Thomas Middleditch, Nick Kroll and Jordan Peele Verdict: ★★★★★ By Andy Kelly

George Beard and Harold Hutchins are two overly imaginative pranksters who spend hours in a treehouse creating comic books. When their mean principal threatens to separate them into different classes, the mischievous boys accidentally hypnotise him into thinking that he's a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants. Luckily, two students come up with an outrageous idea that actually seems to work in their favour. Clad only in his underwear, and the requisite cape, Captain Underpants is so much more noble than Mr Krupp could ever be. However, it doesn't seem as if this ruse is going to be able to last a long time, and there may be stark consequences for the students' bold actions.

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My School Days Katarina Johnson-Thompson – Heptathlete

My School: St Marks Catholic Primary School and St Julies Secondary School My Favourite Teacher: I had two really – Mr Coakley and Mr Willis

My Favourite ExtraCurricular Activity: Athletics, Comedy shows, Music gigs and seeing friends Do you remember your first school crush?

That would have to be Gareth Gates

My Favourite Subject at School: I loved all the subjects in Year 7, but then it gradually whittled down to P.E. (of course!) and English! Or the 'bring in a toy day' in primary school Were you streetwise or a bit of a geek?

I suppose I was a bit of a mix between them both My Favourite Childhood Singer/Band: I remember that I cried when Gareth Gates lost to Will Young in Pop Idol

My Favourite Book: Russell Brands Autobiography(s) School Dinners: I liked the potatoes that are shaped into smiley faces, but I was a packed lunch sort of person My Ambitions at School: I always wanted to be a spy!

Halewood born heptathlete Katarina Mary Johnson-Thompson is an English track and field athlete specialising in the heptathlon. She represented Great Britain in the heptathlon at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, finishing 15th, then finished fifth at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. In the long jump, she is the 2012 World Junior champion and the 2014 World Indoor silver medallist. In 2015, she became the European Indoor champion in the pentathlon with a British record of 5000 points.

She also holds both British high jump records, outdoor with a height of 1.98m at the 2016 Olympic Games, indoor with a height of 1.97m at the 2015 British Indoor Athletics Championships, and the British indoor long jump record, with a distance of 6.93m.

This summer JohnsonThompson competed in the heptathlon, high jump and long jump at the 2017 World Championships finishing 5th in the heptathlon with a personal best.

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