6 — KEMPSTON CALLING
MARCH 2019
We’re going to the zoo – how about you? STUDEnTS, staff and special guests attended a special ceremony to mark the progress of the foundations and steel structure for a brand new £3.65m Zoological Education Centre at Shuttleworth College. Guest of honour, Owen Craft, General Manager at the world renowned ZSL (Zoological Society of London) Whipsnade
Zoo, near Dunstable, was joined by student ambassadors, The Bedford College Group CEO and Principal ian Pryce CBE, Centre Curator Carl Groombridge and College Governor, Alasdair Simmons to tighten one of the structural bolts for the steel frame at the land-based learning campus at Old Warden near Biggleswade. Bringing the Amazon and The Outback to Bedfordshire, Shuttleworth College’s ZEC will be the only Further Education centre in the UK to have a specially-designed biome for housing tropical creatures from around the world. The unit will follow an “Evolutionary Pathway” along which students will learn how to look after every “order” of the animal kingdom. it will include an aquatic room, bird flight area and outside paddocks for the bigger animals. This highly specialised training which young people can undertake at The Bedford College Group facility will prepare them to
follow the trails cut by earlier students who are now working in prestigious zoos and conservation centres. Carl Groombridge, Centre Curator said: “The facility will allow us to expand the range of animals we have here. For example we already have some caiman small-sized crocodilians, but will now have Mississippi alligators too in their own pool. “We are already part of an international conservation and educational network, but this new facility will put us firmly on the world map. For me it is a dream come true.” Carl and team have been working closely with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) which owns London and Whipsnade zoos, to create an environment where animal welfare is paramount. if you would like to work with animals then visit The Bedford College Group on bedford.ac.uk for details of courses and careers.
TEL: 07724 905406 or 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: pat@rosettapublishing.com
Pictured above: Governor Alasdair Simmons tighten the bolt at on framework of new Zoological Education Centre.
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New GCSE programme unveiled at Wootton Upper School event
PAREnTS and pupils are being invited to Bedford’s top-achieving Wootton Upper School to discover the range of GCSE options available for year 10 students. The information Evening is being held on Thursday, March 14 at 7pm and is open to parents and both current and prospective pupils, who will be entering year 10 in the 2019 academic year. The school, based in Hall End Road, Wootton, offers a wide range of subject options for GCSE students alongside a host of extracurricular opportunities and competitive sports provision. it recently became one of only nine schools in the UK to receive the coveted Secondary Geography Quality Mark (SGQM) in recognition of “excellence in teaching and learning in geography” in the 2018 awards scheme. The award, presented by The Geographical Association, follows a rigorous assessment process in which the national Moderation Team examined how well the school embraced new and innovative approaches to teaching, pupil attainment and achievement levels, student understanding and knowledge of geography and the quality of teaching available. Also, in november the school was recognised as one of the top ten
schools in the country in terms of the percentage of year 11 pupils successfully completing the national Citizenship Award after sitting their GCSE examinations. The school was presented with a gold plaque and a framed certificate signed by the Prime Minister.’ These achievements have followed high praise from Ofsted in 2017 which commended Wootton Academy Trust’s clear and strategic leadership and its “effective” teaching standards which has seen pupil attainment rise at the school - particularly in English and Science. Michael Gleeson, Executive Principal, said: “The educational, social and sporting opportunities at Wootton keep on growing every year which is strengthening our reputation as one of the leading providers of education in this county. “We’re very proud of what we have to offer GCSE pupils embarking on their first steps to a fulfilling career and look forward to meeting parents and students and sharing our ambitious programme while supporting young people to make the best decisions for their future.” if you would like to attend the event please contact Linda Gray on 01234 767123 to reserve a seat or book attendance via Eventbrite at: https://rebrand.ly/WUSyear9.
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