Education Choices - Plymouth Herald September 2015

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The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

Plymouth is pushing the boundaries where other cities follow T

places like UTC Plymouth have opened, offering a practical education alongside core subjects.

UTC Plymouth – Plymouth’s university technical college – opened in September 2013 as a cutting-edge engineering and advanced manufacturing college which aims to produce work-ready students.

The Royal Navy-affiliated college works with both local and national companies and students can enrol for the beginning of Year 10 or Year 12.

UTC celebrated its first set of GCSE and A-level results this summer and saw an overall pass rate of 97 per cent at A-level.

Early figures suggested that 53 per cent of students in Plymouth achieved five A* - C grades at GCSE this year.

The results were similar to last year, with encouraging figures for the number of students getting the grades they needed in English and maths, but the final position won’t be known locally or nationally for some months.

Peter Nash, chief executive of Plymouth Learning Partnership, told The Herald that schools across Plymouth are improving and that progress is “significantly better than the national average”.

He said: “Plymouth schools continue to strive for improvement in a landscape that is increasingly diverse.

“We have greater migration, growing deprivation and a fluctuating and transitory pupil population.

“Within this context we have made improvements against the national average and seen a number of schools move from satisfactory to good Ofsted judgements.

“Schools constantly monitor and evaluate progress and where necessary support is put in place.”

Academies have been springing

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Jon Rhodes, Steve Mooney and Katherine Endacott have at Plymouth Studio School

Co-operative Academy, believes that becoming a co-operative academy has changed his school for the better – but said that academies need to use their autonomy wisely.

Lipson became one of the first schools in the country to convert to co-operative academy status.

Co-operative schools place a high emphasis on schools, teachers and

Education reporter Chiara Giordano on the state of education in the city HERE is more choice than ever for education in Plymouth after another two new schools open their doors this month.

The latest addition to the education landscape in the city comes after dramatic changes in recent years.

Ambitious projects such as Plymouth School of Creative Arts have come to fruition and Plymouth College of Art, awarded higher education institute status in July 2014, is now working towards becoming the city’s third university.

This is the first year young people up to the age of 18 are legally required to stay in education, training or get a job with accredited training – something the Government calls ‘raising the age of participation’.

Fortunately there is a wealth of choice for these young people in Plymouth and, with more than 100 schools in the local education authority (LEA) area, there really is something to suit everyone.

At the start of the new school term, St Matthew’s Church of England Primary and Nursery Academy opened its doors at Derriford, while Plymouth Studio School – the city’s first – opened at The University of St Mark and St John, affectionately known as Marjon.

There are also plans for the university to expand from 2,500 to 5,000 students, with annual turnover scheduled to grow by £16 million to £40 million over the next 10 years.

Meanwhile, city leaders have been making fierce attempts to tackle a skills shortage and Plymouth has undertaken a huge push in recent years to boost practical skills through apprenticeships and on-the-job training.

There has been greater emphasis on STEM – science, technology, engineering and maths – subjects and

The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

the community working together to provide the best environment they can for young people – something Mr Baker believes has contributed to a better work ethic among pupils.

He said: “Parents, students and staff all have a big say in the running of the school and we thought that was in danger of being less so with the general academy status.

“I find it’s a way of bringing the whole school community together and focusing on what we call ‘self-responsibility’.

“I think people get that sense of belonging and feel it’s their school since they are contributing to the decisions and the general dialogue so work ethic is better.”

Mr Baker believes that academies in the city need to work

together and share resources for the greater good of students.

He said: “We’ve got to use autonomy wisely and co-operatively; Plymouth schools have got to work together.

“There are times when working together is for the good of all.

“If we didn’t, each school would offer less and less but by standing together we can still maintain a

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reasonable offer.”

Some of the city’s talented young athletes have enrolled at Plymouth’s first studio school which opened its doors on September 7.

Studio schools are small free schools, usually with a capacity of about 300 pupils, where students are taught academic subjects but also work with local employers and a personal coach and follow a curriculum designed to give them the skills and qualifications they need in work or to take up further education.

Plymouth Studio School is based in Derriford at Marjon and has access to the university’s sports facilities.

Matthew Lennon, principal of the studio school, said: “The most important thing is the personalised learning as it means students are able to benefit from the learning curriculum and their performance at the same time so there’s no conflict. We are very unique in what we offer and we know that we are going to offer something that’s very different than what’s in the city and the best thing about it is that it suits our students.

“We’ve got former Commonwealth double medallist Katherine Endacott as a personal coach and students who compete for Great Britain in pentathlon, octopush and Taekwondo.

“I’ve always wanted to open my own school where school life and outside of school life work together.

“We feel like we are pushing the boundaries.”

Year 5 and 6 pupils and parents are invited to join us for our

Ridgeway School up across the country with increased pace over the last few of years – especially so after former education secretary Michael Gove was in office.

In 2010, Mr Gove wrote to the headteachers of every primary and secondary school in England, inviting them to convert to academy status.

Academies are publicy-funded independent schools which get

Developing apprenticeship programmes across the city is seen as one of the key ways of tackling Plymouth’s skills shortage, with a medley of construction projects on the horizon

their money directly from Government rather than a local council and some receive funding through sponsorship from business, faith or voluntary groups.

They have greater freedom over the running of their school and don’t have to follow the national curriculum and can also set their own term times and length of school days.

Steve Baker, head of Lipson

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It’s not to late to put yourself on a different path S

EPTEMBER is an exciting time: whether you are heading back to school or starting something new at college or university.

For some, however, the pleasures of catching up with old friends or starting a new course can quickly turn sour. What do you do if you don’t want to stay in school or if your course isn’t what you had hoped it would be?

If you are 16 or over and unhappy in your education or career choice, then it’s not too late to make a change. You can still apply for a full-time study programme or Apprenticeship at City College Plymouth.

Mike Jones, Employability & Enterprise Manager at City College, leads their expert team of careers and education advisors. He said: “We see many young people taking the bold step of saying ‘no this is not for me’ and turning to us for free, impartial advice.

“As a professional, vocational and technical College, we offer courses to suit a wide range of interests from construction to catering, business to beauty and science to sport.

“Courses start from entry-level right through to university-level degrees, and you don’t need to have a GCSE in English and maths to apply as you can study these as part

The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH

‘Outstanding’ in all areas

F

orward thinking with traditional family values, King’s School is warm and welcoming, stimulating and inspirational. It is a friendly and happy school providing an education and pastoral care that is second to none.

In the last SIS inspection King’s School was awarded ‘outstanding’ in all areas.

With a strong Christian ethos the dedicated and talented staff nurtures and encourages every child. By paying high attention to every child’s needs and strengths they ensure everyone receives a top quality education and achieve their full potential.

www.kingsschool-plymouth.co.uk

©LW

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Learning, caring and achieving E

pleted her Diploma in plumbing and heating this year. She said: “I already felt part of something the first time I walked into the College.

People say hello to you, it has a great atmosphere, which really helped me integrate into college life.

“The fact that I was able to find work experience through the College has also been of great benefit to me.”

With close links to City employers, industry-standard facilities and experienced staff, City College gives you the best start to your career so come along and be part of it.

Find out more at the College’s free information drop-ins taking place every Wednesday in September, 4-6pm at Kings Road.

Billie-Jay (left) has achieved a Diploma in Plumbing and Heating

“The quality of education provided throughout the school is outstanding”

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GGBUCKLAND Community College Academy Trust is a happy, supportive and exciting place to be a student. Set in a stunning 44-acre site, students at Eggbuckland experience the perfect learning environment.

‘Learning, caring, achieving’ is very much at the heart of our ethos; we want our students to enjoy their time with us, make the most of the wealth of opportunities available to them, and achieve to the very best of their ability.

Our curriculum provides choice and inspiration for students of all abilities. A very high proportion of our students gain places at the universities of their choice or secure employment and apprenticeships with top employers.

As important as great results is the fact that our students leave us with the skills, qualities and qualifications they need to go on to play a key role in their community as active and responsible citizens.

Communication with parents is fundamental to supporting our students.

of your study programme at the College.

“You don’t have to stay in school until you’re 18 - college courses and Apprenticeships can set you on the path to further study or a great career.”

City College apprentices’ success rate is 15% above the national average and those who have studied Foundation Degrees at City College have gone on to great success. A recent national student satisfaction survey scored City College at 97% (students registered directly with HEFCE), ranking them in the top ten institutions in the country.

Billie-Jay Holloway com-

An independent, co-educational school for children aged 3-11 years

The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

KING’S SCHOOL Class numbers are carefully considered in order to provide the support and attention that each child requires; this helps particularly when laying down the foundations in the core subjects.

For further information and details of King’s School open days visit www.kingsschool-plymouth.co.uk or contact Samantha Phare, Registrar 01752 753730 to arrange an appointment.

EGGBUCKLAND COLLEGE Through the use of a secure, personal log-in to our College network, parents are able to access up to date information about their child whenever they wish. Parents also have direct email contact with their child’s tutor so that communications can be picked up daily and acted upon promptly.

Eggbuckland offers a huge variety of extra-curricular opportunities from annual productions in dance, drama and music to College

teams in twelve different sports.

The College is also home to Joola Plymouth Table Tennis Club, one of only four centres of excellence nationally. There are also homework clubs and after College support available in every subject area. We understand that nothing replaces a visit, so do come along to our open evening or contact us to book a tour of the College at a time convenient to you. We really look forward to meeting you.

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The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

We before me: The message at our W

E ALL want the best education possible for our children. Above all else, we want them to fulfil their potential and be happy.

When you are considering which schools to look at for your children, of course you are going to hear lots about how each school puts its pupils first and how dedicated to academic success they are. It will be tricky to assess what these statements really mean for you and your family.

You will need to delve a bit deeper and get under the skin of the headlines. When you start to explore Lipson Co-operative Academy, we think that you will find that this really is a school which holds each and every child centre stage. Not only that, you will find that the underlying ethos is one of shared co-operative values producing happy, confident learners who are enjoying the fruits of their success, with smiles on their faces.

What are these co-operative values? We would be delighted if you would come and visit us and experience for yourself what we mean when we say we hold mutual respect, equality, responsibility, honesty, openness, democracy and care at our heart, each and every day.

We know you will be impressed when you see the results we are achieving by working in this way.

The School’s Commissioner recently highlighted the value added performance as being in the top four in the country and praised Principal Steve Baker and his energetic staff.

This is an Academy pulsating with excitement, energy and self-belief where learners, teachers and parents not only believe in value driven education but actually live it. These values are teaching our young people to respect one another, be socially responsible, caring individuals in a democratic, tolerant atmosphere – something we are confident you will see and feel the minute you walk through our doors.

At Lipson, our learners become part of a family not just a school.

This is a family environment in which everyone has a voice and where everyone is valued as an individual on the one hand, but expected to make a worthwhile contribution to that family on the other. On a daily basis, we are sharing with our young people our commitment to saying, “we instead of me”.

Another aspect of our family environment is the use of innovative

LIPSON ACADEMY

“This is a good school.”

Ofsted

Sir John Hunt Community Sports College

Choose a school that they will love.

HAPPINESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Open Evening

Wednesday 23rd September 2015 9.30am - 10.30am 2.00pm - 3.00pm 3.00pm - 4.00pm www.sirjohnhunt.plymouth.sch.uk Lancaster Gardens, Whitleigh, Plymouth, PL5 4AA Tel: 01752 201020

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school’s core Guilds, which pupils join after consultation whilst they are still at primary school. Every pupil is part of a Guild; each one has a specialist focus. Children nervous at starting a new school are supported by a pastoral system right from day one.

At Lipson, the embodiment of co-operation and working together really is encouraging our young people to aspire to great things and to be the very best they can, but most of all they are happy and as a consequence, successful.

Whether our learners are studying for academic or vocational qualifications, Lipson’s passion for its values encourages teachers to give children dedicated and timely feedback at all stages of their work, with personalised plans and support to make improvements.

These same energetic teachers handle modest class sizes, with good levels of pastoral and support staff. Our continued investment in the school’s facilities is paying off in improving success rates and recognition of our good practice.

We believe that there is nothing in this world as fulfilling as seeing your child reach their full potential.

We look forward to welcoming you to Lipson and to one of our Open Events in the near future.

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Challenging pupils to greater heights

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AKING the right choice of secondary school is one of the most important decisions you, as a family, make. We are a smaller school and we know all of our students as individuals; we are caring, supportive and aspiring. In joining Sir John Hunt you are joining our family, where we will challenge each

young person to excel “to greater heights”.

The College and community are proud of our academic success, incredible facilities, outstanding care and guidance and the range of inspirational activities on offer both within and outside of College.

Don’t take our word for it, come

and have a look. Find out how we can help your child to be the best that they can be!

If you are unable to make our open events then please feel free to contact Mrs Jordan on 01752 201020 or email newintake@sirjohnhunt.plymouth.sch.uk to make an alternative arrangement at another time.

E V E I H C A , Y O J N E LEARN, !

T S E B L A N O S R E YOuR P ?

Pupils make good progress. the learning they do!

It is an exciting place to be and pupils love Teaching is consistently good. r and have good Children are very supportive of each othe behaviour. riences to enrich their Children have good opportunities of expe

OPEN EVENING

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SIR JOHN HUNT

Why should your child come to Mount Street

Monday 14th September 2015 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Open Day

The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

learning.

Everyone matters.

What makes us special?

y child having a voice.

We work collaboratively together with ever e ‘play pod’ for den building and role play.

We enjoy being creative with our lunchtim chickens, a vegetable patch and a pond!

Our love of outdoor learning! We look after hers want us to achieve our potential.

We are challenged in our learning; our teac to help us in our learning.

Our teachers and staf go that ‘extra mile’ with the support of our friends and We take responsibility for our own learning teachers.

We love learning!

yond! be d an n ai nt ou m e th of p to e th to b im cl We will

MONDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER From 6.30pm until 8.30pm

OPEN AFTERNOON

THURSDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER From 2.15pm until 4.30pm For all prospective students and their parents RESPECTFUL EQUAL RESPONSIBLE HONEST OPEN DEMOCRATIC CARING Bernice Terrace, Lipson, Plymouth PL4 7PG Tel: (01752) 671318 www.lipsonco-operativeacademy.coop

CALL: 01752 205091

EMAIL: mount.st.primary.school@plymouth.gov.uk OR VISIT: www.mountstreet.plymouth.sch.uk Mount Street Primary School, Greenbank, Plymouth, PL4 8NZ ©LW

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The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

The school with the ‘extra factor’ T

HE new Plymouth Studio School opens its doors today to its first intake of Year 12 and year 10 students, offering them an inspiring way to learn which will give them the ‘extra’ factor when it comes to academic success and specialist careers in the sport, tourism and event management sectors.

Based at the University of St Mark and St John, the new government funded school which will have a total intake of just 300 pupils, boasts access to world-class sporting facilities, specialist pathways for elite young athletes and the support and mentoring of Olympic level coaches.

But it’s the experience of the teaching team, together with small class sizes and an individual approach for each pupil which really defines the school.

Principal Matt Lennon explains, “ Our philosophy is built around giving our students the mix of GCSEs, A levels and professional qualifications which are right for them combined with valuable industry based experience and a foundation in business skills.

“Our teachers have a wealth of experience in business, industry and sports, helping them to pass on skills like communication, problem solving, entrepreneurship, motivation, focus and performance.

“It’s these skills which are in demand from today’s employers and which will really give our students the ‘extra’ factor when it comes to their future careers.”

Paul White, Director of Business, Employability and Enterprise for the school has over 32 years’ experience at the cutting edge of elite sport and event management for corporations, sports teams and individuals, including mentoring of expeditions and challenges from scaling Everest to crossing the Atlantic.

He explains, “I’m looking forward to helping our students to expand their employability skills.

We already have some outstanding sports students who also want to

The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

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Preparing pupils for the future

PLYMOUTH STUDIO SCHOOL

A

T PLYMSTOCK School we focus on providing an outstanding range of opportunities that prepare students for their future. Outcomes for students are excellent, with all leaving here and entering further and higher education or going into employment or training.

We focus on students not league tables and provide an outstanding curriculum (Ofsted 2013), which delivers a suite of valuable qualifica-

County athletics star Lucy Robinson, Taekwondo under 16s world champion Tate Budge and county cricket player Matthew Petherbridge with the Principal of Plymouth Studio School, Matthew Lennon. The students are amongst the first who will start in Year 12 when the school opens this September

industry-based experiences possible.”

Olympic sports performance coach and associate lecturer in Psychology at Plymouth University, Jon Rhodes, also joins the PSS teaching team with Commonwealth medal winner, Katherine Endacott.

He explains: “We’ll be making sure that our young athletes get the additional support they need in

terms of strength and conditioning, coaching and performance. I will also be transferring techniques I use with top sports people into the classroom to help students focus on success in all subjects.”

Finally, the core teaching team, which includes a former civil engineer and former retail manager, will be ensuring that their style of teaching gives each student the support they need to be the best

they can be and gather a wealth of exciting and relevant experiences throughout their school life.

If you would like to be one of the next 100 students to join the school in 2016 when its new £4 million facility opens, sign up for our Open Event Day on 22nd October 2015.

Visit www.plymouthstudioschool.co.uk, email info@plymouthstudioschool.co.uk or call 01752 243900.

W www.plymouthstudioschool.co.uk T 01752 243 900 E info@plymouthstudioschool.co.uk

tions and is unique across Plymouth schools.

We respect the critical partnership with parents, carers and the wider community in developing young people and we are uncompromising in our pursuit of the best for all.

Our leadership across the school was rated outstanding (Ofsted 2013) and you can trust us to help your child reach their potential.

Support for students is at our core with a strong House

LEARN TOGETHER ACHIEVE TOGETHER SUCCEED TOGETHER

team located centrally in ‘The Hub’ our ‘one stop shop’ for students. The student council ensures that students have a real voice in the school. As a school we encourage students to get involved. Behaviour and safety at Plymstock School is also graded outstanding (Ofsted 2013).

We invite everyone to visit our Open Evening on Monday, September 14 at 6.30pm to see why Plymstock School is a special place to learn.

IDGEWAY School continues to go from strength to strength with 2015 representing the school’s best ever results.

Whatever aspirations you have for your children, Ridgeway School offers a sharp focus on individual success. You can be confident that high quality teaching and the stimulating learning environment will support exceptional progress for your children.

Ridgeway is a truly comprehensive school that supports children of all abilities whilst promoting the highest levels of challenge. An outstanding curriculum offers children the opportunity to excel in an extensive range of subjects to suit all interests.

Ofsted said in a report in 2014: “The wide curriculum gives students a very good breadth of choice of learning pathways and personalized learning programme.”

Opportunities beyond the curriculum abound at Ridgeway. Trips abroad are complimented by excellent

RIDGEWAY SCHOOL sporting activity and outward bound challenges, including the Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Outstanding drama, music and art clubs support a diverse range of interests and talents, and many after school groups offer additional support for academic progress.

Ridgeway School is a thriving community school, with a reputation for excellent care and support. It is a school where children can learn in a purposeful and

dynamic environment.

A letter from a member of the public recently said: “Clearly you have many talented young people whose interest and enthusiasm have been spectacularly harnessed by your gifted, hard-working and dedicated staff.”

Ofsted also said in their 2014 report: “Parents agree that their children are safe at Ridgeway School and well looked after, and that they would recommend Ridgeway to other parents.”

At Plymstock School we focus on providing an outstanding range of opportunities that prepare students for their future. Outcomes for students are excellent, with all leaving here and entering further and higher education or going into employment or training.

We focus on students not league tables and provide an outstanding curriculum (Ofsted 2013), which delivers a suite of valuable qualifications and is unique across Plymouth schools.

We respect the critical partnership with parents, carers and the wider community in developing young people and we are uncompromising in our pursuit of the best for all.

Our leadership across the school was rated outstanding (Ofsted 2013) and you can trust us to help your child reach their potential.

Support for students is at our core with a strong House team located centrally in ‘The Hub’ our ‘one stop shop’ for students. The student council ensures that students have a real voice in the school. As a school we encourage students to get involved. Behaviour and safety at Plymstock School is also graded outstanding (Ofsted 2013).

Plymstock School

Open Evening

Want a Career in Sport, Tourism or Events?

• Year 10 & 12 places • Based at the University of St Mark & St John • GCSEs, BTECs and A levels • World-class sports facilities • On-going industry placements

The key to successful future

We invite everyone to visit our Open Evening on Monday 14 September 2015 at 6:30pm to see why Plymstock School is a special place to learn.

JOIN THE WINNING TEAM Open Event Thursday October 22, 6pm - 8pm Register now at:

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PLYMSTOCK SCHOOL

pursue careers as doctors or stockbrokers.

“Whether our students want to be professional athletes, sports coaches and therapists, event organisers, hotel managers, fitness instructors, set up their own catering business or do something completely different.

“I’ll be working alongside employers locally, nationally and internationally to give them the best

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Monday 14th September at 6.30pm

WIN IT

CHURCH ROAD, PLYMSTOCK, PLYMOUTH PL9 9AZ Tel: 01752 402679 www.plymstockschool.org.uk

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The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

Engineer your education with UTC J

oin UTC Plymouth for their Year 9, 10 and 12 Open Day on Thursday September 17 at 5.30pm, to find out how they could transform your future.

UTC Plymouth is the perfect choice for students with an interest in engineering. Along with teaching the core subjects, UTC Plymouth focuses on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) to create the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the world of engineering.

Combining classroom teaching with sessions in high-quality learning spaces and workshops, students apply traditional theory to real life projects to gain a better understanding of how it is used in the workplace.

UTC Plymouth provides a number of pathways for students, including GCSEs, A Levels, BTEC courses and apprenticeships.

The Open Day is a great opportunity for students to tour the facilities including the college’s state-of-the-art workshops and talk to current students and teachers.

More information about UTC Plymouth can be found at www.utcplymouth.org

The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

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M

ARINE Academy Plymouth will be opening their doors to potential students for their next open days on Thursday, September 10 and Thursday, September 17.

For students in Year 5 or 6 moving into Year 7 in September 2016 or September 2017, the open days offer the opportunity to tour the campus, learn about studying at Marine Academy Plymouth and discover more about the oppor-

UTC PLYMOUTH

A great place to both learn and grow H

EXPLORE YOUR POTENTIAL WITH THE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL Year 5 & 6 Open Events 10 September – Join us at 5:30pm 17 September – Join us at 9am Call us on 01752 213939 Visit www.marineacademy.org.uk

FUTURE ENGINEERS –– GET THE EXPERIENCE YOU NEED TO SUCCEED Year 9, 10 and 12 Open Day Thursday 17 September –– 5.30pm www.utcplymouth.org

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Marine Academy Plymouth

HELE’S SCHOOL

ele’s is a school with a tradition of academic excellence, high aspirations and a big heart! A school where everyone is valued, learns, enjoys and achieves. A school we are all proud to attend. Expectations are high, but very simple; work hard to both do things right and to do the right thing... even when no one is looking!

Everything we do is to ensure that every child has a positive and memorable experience of school; that they thrive, flourish and, crucially, are happy.

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In return we expect students to display the highest standards of commitment to learning, pride and care.

Our inclusive, calm, and purposeful learning environment is often cited as a strength of the school, as is the quality of pastoral care and of our challenging curriculum.

Students have opportunities to enrich learning, discover new skills and interests, and master others through the many curricular and extra-curricular opportunities, available wherever their interests or aspirations may lie.

tunities on offer for students.

As an all-through campus for students aged 0-19, Marine Academy Plymouth pride themselves on their ability to nurture and encourage students to be innovative, creative, spirited, curious and pioneering to help them discover their talents and transform their future.

Join Marine Academy Plymouth at their open days at 5.30pm on Thursday, September 10 or 9am on Thursday, September 17.

Start your journey here

Open Day 17th October 2015

These are exciting times for Hele’s: a newly-appointed Principal; a state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre being built for September 2016; and a refurbished block for maths, computing and business studies being completed soon afterwards.

Visitors always comment on the purposeful, caring and happy ethos of the school, so what better way for you to find out more about our vision and values than to come and experience them first-hand?

A very warm welcome awaits you!

marjon.ac.uk 01752 636700

To all Year 6 parents and children Hele's School

You are invited to join us for tours of the school, and presentations on Wednesday 16th September at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm.

Open Evening at Hele’s School

A great place to learn. A great place to grow.

If you are unable to make this date please contact the school to arrange another convenient time.

For further information please contact us at Seymour Road, Plympton, Plymouth PL7 4LT Tel: 01752 337193 www.heles.plymouth.sch.uk

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Aspire and learn

The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

SALTASH.NET

The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

T

anniversary of its founding in Plymouth, and there is a lot to celebrate!

Notre Dame was judged by Ofsted in its latest inspection as being a ‘good’ school and a Diocesan Inspection rated us as ‘outstanding’.

Girls from across Plymouth and beyond enjoy what the inspectors recognised as a ‘very strong family and faith atmosphere’ and are supported in their progress because ‘relationships between teachers and students are excellent’.

This, together with ‘excellent spiritual, moral, social and cultur-

al development’ means Notre Dame students are ready to make the most of their futures.

In the past year, the school has seen students leave to take up a whole host of opportunities, including Oxford University, starting employment, or beginning apprenticeships.

Whatever their plans, Notre Dame girls are prepared because of the school’s focus on education of the whole child: ‘head, heart and hands’. For further information, please call 01752 775101 or visit our website at www.ndonline.org

HIS year continues to be a very exciting year for students and staff at saltash.net community school.

In March, two Year 9s had the opportunity to meet with Sir Richard Branson following their involvement in the national Digital Youth Council.

The students had been asked to enlighten Sir Richard on the future of technology in education – something they did confidently and maturely, drawing on their excellent learning experiences at saltash.net. Supporting the Digital Youth Council members over the past year has been staff member, Mr Scott Wieprecht, who was the National Teaching Award’s South West Regional winner for the innovative use of new technologies in 2014.

This year, Mr Wieprecht has been honoured once again after being invited by Microsoft to be part of its newly formed World-

wide Education Advisory Council.

Mr Wieprecht is one of only three ‘expert educators’ selected from across the world and the only UK representative.

The reputation that saltash.net has for ICT excellence means that it regularly hosts visits from teachers near and far. During the month of May the school welcomed the Principal of an outstanding secondary school in New Zealand.

He was able to observe, first-hand, the Year 7s ‘one to one’ technology device initiative – which he described as ‘stunning’ – as well as speaking with the highly competent student Tech Team members.

In a year which sees the school celebrating 50 years of education in Saltash, it is especially fitting that its students and staff should now be excelling in skills and competencies which will prepare them well for the challenges of the next stage of the 21st century.

“Educating girls: head, heart, hands”

H

ERE’S a few facts about Tor Bridge High, the school judged as a “Good School” by Ofsted in 2015.

• Oversubscribed in Year 7 for the last three years.

• Highly personalised and challenging curriculum.

• Extended curriculum activities in sport, music, the arts plus access

to whole school themes of Enterprise, Internationalism and Outdoor Challenge.

• Outstanding and truly supportive team of staff.

• Strong working partnerships between students, staff and their families.

• ‘Small Schools’ system ensuring close monitoring of students’ aca-

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demic progress and pastoral support.

For further details, visit our website: www.torbridge.net. Find us at Tor Bridge High, Miller Way, Plymouth, PL6 8UN, telephone: 01752 207907, email: receptionhigh@torbridge.net Tor Bridge High Open Evening is at 5pm on Thursday, September 24.

Year 5/6 Open Evenings

Wednesday 30th September & Thursday 1st October 2015 at 6.30pm

We look forward to seeing you there!

www.saltash.net

01752 843715

enquiries@saltash.cornwall.sch.uk

Open Evening Year 4, 5 & 6 Children Thursday 24th September 5.00pm

Principal’s welcome at 5.00, 6.00 & 7.00pm Followed by tours

Friday 25th September 9.00am

Notre Dame Plymouth

Further tours for year 4 & 5 children & families

Open Evening Wednesday 23 September • 4 - 7pm Presentations at 4.30pm, 5.30pm & 6.30pm

t: 01752 775101 w: ndonline.org

e: info@ndonline.org

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If you would like your school, college or education institute to be part of future education pull-outs in The Herald then please get in touch.

Contact Gareth Driscoll by email at Gareth.driscoll@dc-media.co.uk or call 01752 293030

TOR BRIDGE HIGH

ICT excellence

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A school in demand

NOTRE DAME

OTRE Dame is Plymouth’s only comprehensive school for girls. Part of a worldwide network of schools founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame, this is a Catholic school that welcomes all those who want to learn in a supportive, caring and aspirational environment.

Notre Dame offers a broad and balanced curriculum, with increasing choice and focus as students’ progress through the school, alongside a wide range of extra curricular activities.

This year the school sees its 150th

Tweet us @plymouthherald

Tor Bridge High, Miller Way, Plymouth, PL6 8UN Telephone: 01752 207907 Email: receptionhigh@torbridge.net

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PAGE 14

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Tweet us @plymouthherald

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The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

Seeking the future of football

The Herald, Monday September 7 2015

Tweet us @plymouthherald

Aiming to be outstanding

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

ST BONIFACE’S COLLEGE

S

T BONIFACE’s Catholic College in Manadon Park is an eclectic community that welcomes families from all faiths and backgrounds – they are not

A

RGYLE’S Football in the Community Trust are currently recruiting for their highly successful football scholarship programme to start in September 2016.

We are looking for young players of school-leaving age, with a passion to play football at a high level, to take academic studies under the guidance of Plymouth Argyle, whilst at the same time developing

their football talent.

The programme is structured to allow 16-18 years-olds to participate in tailored academic studies, alongside the football scholarship run by Plymouth Argyle Football Club.

The programme is designed to give people excellent academic qualifications that can take them forward into a variety of possible future avenues, such as a British University, overseas Universities,

full-time employment and work placements.

In addition to this, the course provides young people with the opportunity to train and play as a football scholar alongside their studies. Previous students have progressed into the professional game, climbed the football pyramid and also gone overseas, whilst others have improved on their football ability and continue to play an

excellent standard of non-League football.

We do not prevent players from training or playing for their local teams. In fact, we encourage this and would like players to stay within local football. The programme would not affect your games or training schedule, as the course is an academic programme and runs during term-time. On top of this, we now have a team competing in the

exclusively for Catholic children; all they ask is that their ethos is respected. With over 150 years of rich history, St Boniface’s has far-reaching links with many local

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families and owns a place in Plymouth’s education system.

St Boniface’s uniqueness in the South West as an all-boys faith school allows its dedicated staff to ensure all pupils reach or exceed their potential. Academic and sporting achievements are encouraged, with recent leavers headed for universities including Oxford, Plymouth and Bath, and boys gaining scholarships with local colleges and sports clubs – such as Plymouth Argyle.

YEAR 7 The transition from primary to secondary school can be a daunting experience for parents as well as children, that’s why St Boniface’s has a dedicated transition team to help make the move as smooth as possible. Mrs Swann – Head of Transition at the school works closely with primary schools to identify which families would benefit most from her support.

SIXTH FORM The St Boniface’s Sixth Form is coeducational and welcomes girls from across the city either as permanent students or as members of The Link Partnership. There are a wide range of A-Level, BTEC and vocational courses to suit everyone’s pathway. Get in touch to arrange a tour and meet the Sixth Form team by calling Mrs Cox on 753966.

Join us for our Open Evenings on September 15 and 22 – and our VI Form Open Evening on October 22.

Apply for a place today – www.stbonifaces.com/apply

PAGE 15

Entrepreneur Chris Dawson, founder of The Range, gives a talk at Acacia Training

ACACIA Earn while you learn...

A

CACIA Training and Development is one of the largest independent training organisations in Plymouth, rated good by Ofsted.

Acacia offers apprenticeships and traineeships in the work place offering one-to-one training with your assessor. We find employers for prospective Apprentices and make sure that they are supported at all times.

We provide high quality training services, supporting employers and individuals in achieving their business aims and individual aspirations. Apprenticeships

give people live changing experiences and prepare them for a successful career.

We love apprenticeships and aim to offer the best in the region.

You can pick an apprenticeship in office skills, accounting, hairdressing, childcare and health and social care amongst others.

We know that apprenticeships are a great option for people seeking practical skills in the work place and prefer hands-on experience.

An apprenticeship will prepare you for the future, earn money; receive a qualification and a step-up the career ladder.

Earn while you learn

South West Peninsula League, with players on the programme competing as team-mates with youngsters from our Academy at Plymouth Argyle and first-team professionals.

If you are interested in the programme or would like more information about open evenings and trial dates, then please contact lee.britchford@pafc.co.uk or call the office on 01752 562561 ext 4.

with Acacia Training and Development Apprenticeships

Want to get a Scholarship with Argyle?

• Early Years Care

Visit the Agyle lounge at home park, 6:00pm on Monday 19th October

Reach your full potential

For current year 11’s.

We are also running an open training session on Monday 26th October for more details, contact lee.britchford@pafc.co.uk

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• Hairdressing/ Barbering • Business Skills & Accounting • Health & Social Care

www.acacia.ac.uk 01752 670811 Plymouth, 10 Sawrey Street, PL1 3LA ©LW

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01752 305300

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CITY ACHIEVER

Anton Piotrowski … from City College student to MasterChef winner and Michelin starred Chef

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