SCHOOL LIFE

Cockburn MAT’s charity challenge

Students and staff from the three Cockburn Multiacademy Trust secondary schools (Cockburn School, Cockburn John Charles Academy and Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy) ended a successful Autumn term in December with a nonuniform day.

Having seen on the news the widespread hunger and the onset of freezing winter weather in Afghanistan, they decided to raise funds for the Save the Children Afghanistan Crisis Appeal.

Almost every child in the country did not have enough food to eat and half of the population were at crisis levels of hunger.

The impact of this on the children of Afghanistan would be alarming and everyone across the Cockburn schools wanted to make a difference.

The total raised was £1,518.27. According to the Save the Children charity, this would be enough to fund: • 607 baby blankets or • 134 school-in-a-bag kits or • 88 week’s food for a family or • 67 family hygiene packs.

Nikita Zigel-Chodyrev, a member of the School Council at Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy said: "We believe that education should reach everyone in the world, not just the welldeveloped countries. At Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy, we are so lucky to have an excellent school building and community with everything we need to learn.

“At our school, we are not just focused on learning, but also on helping others. It was a pleasure to improve the lives and education of the children in Afghanistan with our donation.”

Tian Cai, Head Girl at Cockburn School said “As students, we are very privileged to have an excellent education in a safe environment and we realise that this is not the case for very child in every country.

“We hope that one day, the children in Afghanistan have the same privileges that every child deserves. For today, we are glad that our donations have made a positive impact on their lives.”

At Cockburn John Charles Academy, Head Girl, Sumayyah Hafeez-Jabeen said “Giving is not just about donating, it's about making a difference. I am proud of every single one of us who is collaborating to make a difference in the lives of those in need and showing the caring nature of our school, as when we all unite, we can make everything possible.”

Head Boy, Patrick Butuza added “It is truly incredible to see how each of the student's small actions, when multiplied, will have the impact of helping so many of those in need.”

Tammy Hoskins, Community Fundraising & Engagement Manager for Save the Children said “We’re really grateful to Cockburn Multi-academy Trust for their support in raising such an incredible amount for our Afghanistan Crisis Appeal. Save the Children’s work is only possible thanks to our supporters in the UK and their amazing commitment to make the world a better place for children.

“Together with Cockburn Multiacademy Trust’s support we’re determined to help every child become who they want to be.” For more information on Save the Children, visit www.savethechildren.org.uk

David Gurney, Executive Headteacher, said “I am extremely proud of the students and staff for raising this huge sum of money. We aim for all of our students to become confident, independent and successful citizens and they showed great pride in supporting children in Afghanistan in the run up to Christmas.”

Hunslet Carr Primary improves with ‘Good’ Ofsted report

Hunslet Carr Primary School has been declared a ‘Good’ school following a recent Ofsted inspection.

At its last inspection in 2018 Ofsted found it ‘Requires Improvement’.

Ofsted grades schools on a four point scale from Outsanding, to Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate. Primary Schools are graded across five categories: • The quality of education • Behaviour and attitudes • Personal development • Leadership and management • Early years provision

Hunslet Carr was found to be Good in four areas and Outstanding for Personal Development.

The inspectors wrote:

“This school lives out its motto that ‘Impossible is Nothing’. Pupils are nurtured from the moment they step into this school community.

“Leaders are passionate about raising aspirations for the pupils in their care. Parents spoke highly of the support they receive.” Hunslet Carr Primary School. Photo: Google Streetview

Commenting on the report, Headteacher Martin Lumb told South Leeds Life:

“We are all very proud of the hard work that was recognised in the report.

“From the moment we spoke to the lead inspector the day before the inspection, we were excited to show her and her team all we do to get the children to believe that ‘Impossible is Nothing’.

“Having been part of 5 Ofsted inspections, I can honestly say that this one was the most collaborative and understanding process, where the three inspectors were genuinely interested in the school, what we are doing well and where we could do more to help our community.

“It really was a joyous couple of days that celebrated the hard work and dedication that has taken place over the last 4 years.”

You can read the full report at bit.ly/HCPSOfsted.

Schools get new bicycle and scooter storage

Nineteen schools across Leeds, including Lane End Primary School, Hugh Gaitskell Primary School, Low Road Primary School, and Ingram Road Primary School are receiving new bicycle and scooter storage, in a project worth £100,000.

The schools will gain a total of 162 secure bicycle parking spaces and 200 scooter parking spaces.

The project uses active travel funding allocated to Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority from the Department for Transport. The new storage facility offers greater security and weather protection.

The active travel fund supports local authorities to improve cycle and walking infrastructure. This project aims to make it easier for children to use active and sustainable modes of transport to get to school.

Leeds City Council runs a programme of active travel and road safety workshops for schools and community groups. The training develops children’s skills and confidence so they can walk, cycle or scoot to school and use the new storage facilities.

These initiatives contribute to the Connecting Leeds transport strategy and help to create a city where you don’t need a car.

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council executive member for infrastructure and climate, said:

“Walking, cycling and scooting to school are healthier and more sustainable ways to travel so it’s great to see new facilities installed at schools all over Leeds.

“If more people cycle or scoot to school, there will be less traffic around the school gates, which will improve air quality for the local community. Studies suggest children who ride their bike or scooter to school are happier and more engaged in the classroom.

“As we continue to develop our green infrastructure and build segregated cycle lanes in Leeds, it’s becoming safer for children to ride their bike to school.”

Applications open for new Construction T Level

Surveying students at Leeds College of Building South Bank campus in Hunslet

Anew Construction T Level qualification is now open for applications at the UK’s only specialist further education construction college.

Leeds College of Building is one of a select number of education providers across England chosen to deliver a T Level programme in Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction from September 2022.

At the heart of the course, a 45-day industry placement opens opportunities for the brightest talent entering the market.

T Levels are a new, two-year qualification for 16- to 19-yearolds. Designed with employers, each T Level is equivalent to three A levels and has been developed to meet industry needs and prepare students for work.

To gain approved provider status, the College applied to the Department for Education demonstrating a positive commitment from local employers and detailing the specialist equipment and expertise offered. This application was backed by the College’s Good Ofsted rating in 2019.

Leeds College of Building is one of only a handful of providers in Yorkshire to offer the Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction T Level, and the only specialist further education construction college to offer this in the UK.

The T Level will use industrystandard equipment at both its North Street and South Bank Campuses, delivered by expert staff from the construction industry.

According to the Department for Education, T Levels give students the skills to progress and help rebuild the economy following the Coronavirus pandemic. Typical employment on completion might include technician roles in architecture, building services, civil engineering, surveying or town planning.

Nikki Davis, Vice Principal at Leeds College of Building, said:

“Leeds College of Building is the UK’s only general Further Education college specialising in Construction and the Built Environment.

“As such, we are perfectly placed to work with our established network of regional and national employers to enhance T Level opportunities for students.

“T Level students at Leeds College of Building will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and specialist teaching expertise. Students also benefit from established progression opportunities within higher and degree-level apprenticeships at the College and employment opportunities through our construction partners.

“Leeds College of Building is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. This new qualification will help us to better serve the region’s young people and workforce, opening up even more opportunities into high paying, skilled jobs.”

Caddick Construction Limited is one of the employers offering Leeds College of Building T Level students work placements. Debbie Watson, Social Value Manager (Yorkshire) at Caddick, said:

“The new T Levels are a great alternative to entry-level qualifications as they help students gain valuable ‘on the job’ experience whilst undertaking their qualification, which will give them a great advantage going forward in their career.

“It will also help employers gain an early insight into the latest talent pool, helping with recruitment and social value benefits.

“It also helps us to develop the knowledge, attitude, and skills of the students entering the built environment.

“Whilst working with us, students will spend time in each department at both our offices and on our sites to understand the workings of the main contractor. Students will also spend time with our consultants, such as the Architect, to understand how projects get to site, as well as spending time with subcontractors on our projects learning more about life on site.”

Time is split between 80% classroom learning and 20% industry placement lasting approximately seven weeks. All students will develop a general understanding of construction, including accurate and appropriate measurements, construction methods and building regulations, digital engineering techniques, design principles and processes, mathematical problem solving, and sustainability and environmental impact.

In addition to the core content, students at Leeds College of Building will specialise in surveying and design for construction and the built environment.

They will also study laser scanning – a land surveying method that can accurately measure and collect data from buildings and landscapes.

For more course information and entry requirements, visit www.lcb.ac.uk or email admissions@lcb.ac.uk.

Alternatively, if you are a business owner who could support students through T Level work placements, please email epearson@lcb.ac.uk and find out more about the business benefits and financial incentives available.

Zero-carbon seminars boost construction students’ industry awareness

Students across various trades and professions at Leeds College of Building took part in a unique set of seminars in January.

Thanks to support from the recently formed Joseph Aspdin Skills Trust (JAST), a carousel of specialist talks was held at the College’s South Bank and North Street Campuses, focussing on achieving zero carbon in the construction sector. 140 students rotated around talks delivered by experts from diverse industries. Topics covered reducing carbon in the home, passive house construction technology and airtightness, retrofitting existing properties, insulation for retrofit solutions, and air & ground heatpump technology.

According to the World Green Building Council, the built environment sector is globally responsible for 36% of energy consumption, 38% of energy related carbon emissions, 50% of resource consumption, and expected to double in total footprint by 2060.

The seminars are one component of the JAST Business Plan, assisting the College to contribute towards the UK’s zero-carbon agenda and sustainability goals. The events aimed to raise student and staff awareness of local and national green initiatives in the construction and built environment sector by liaising with other bodies working in this field.

Derek Whitehead, Principal & CEO of Leeds College of Building, said:

“Leeds College of Building is very appreciative of this investment. JAST is raising the awareness and developments needed to help support the knowledge and skills that young, and older, people will require to achieve major zero-carbon targets set locally and nationally.

“Furthermore, this work will help inform students of the needs of the construction industry. The sector continues to face unprecedented skills shortages across all occupational areas, which include expertise in zero carbon. We are working hard with employers to address these skills gaps and welcome this support from JAST.”

JAST was set up in 2021 by trustees Geoff Driver, Ken J Patterson, Jackie Coates, Sir John Battle and Baroness Judith Blake. Named after Joseph Aspdin, the 19th century Leeds entrepreneur and manufacturer of cement, its aim is to promote and educate about energy efficiency.

JAST trustee Geoff Driver, who is also an ex-governor of Leeds College of Building, Honorary Alderman, and former Leeds City Councillor for Hunslet and South Leeds, said:

“JAST approached the College to help support and offer opportunities to all young people. We hope to raise awareness of the zero-carbon agenda in communities across Leeds and further afield through the development of vital skills and knowledge, and via important training and workrelated opportunities.”

In 2021, JAST showed their commitment to zero carbon and the College by funding a temporary two-year Construction Skills Project Coordinator post.