STAR COMMUNITY

TIBHS earns Microsoft Showcase status

Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School (TIBHS) has been selected as a Microsoft Showcase School just two years after embarking on a digital transformation programme.

The school was commended by the multinational tech corporation for its innovative digital programme, which used Microsoft’s Education Transformation Framework to improve outcomes for pupils. TIBHS began its Showcase School journey in 2019, when it looked to Microsoft to discover new ways of using technology to aid pupils’ progress. Staff explored how technology could invigorate teaching and learning practices in the classroom and beyond. Teachers found that by embedding Microsoft technology into their practice, teaching and learning was no longer defined by traditional school hours or the school building. As the closure of schools to the majority of pupils was announced at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the school was able to capitalise on its digital approaches and accelerate its plans to deliver more mobile and flexible teaching practices to enable pupils to continue their learning uninterrupted at home. Teachers at TIBHS used their new digital tools with creativity to ensure pupils remained engaged and focused, and continued to make progress. The technology also allowed teaching to take place at different rates so that pupils were able to progress at a pace tailored to their individual needs. This gave teachers greater opportunity to differentiate lessons and to create a more personalised learning experience for pupils. Teachers reported that the introduction of more efficient feedback tools, including the use of ‘digital inking’ - technology that digitally represents handwriting - and a greater ability to track pupil progress in detail, has helped to reduce overall workloads. By achieving Microsoft Showcase Status, TIBHS is now part of an exclusive community of 48 schools in the UK and 325 from around the world, which have been recognised for their digital transformation.

Majid Ditta, Principal at TIBHS, said: OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE POWER OF OUR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME HAS PROVEN ITS VALUE TIME AND TIME AGAIN. BEING ABLE TO SWITCH SEAMLESSLY FROM TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM TO TEACHING PUPILS AT HOME HAS ENABLED US TO ENSURE OUR PUPILS’ EDUCATION FACED MINIMAL DISRUPTION DURING THE PANDEMIC. I KNOW THAT THE INNOVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT AS A RESULT OF THIS BODY OF WORK WILL HAVE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY BENEFIT OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.”

PRESTON PUPILS PLANT CELEBRATION TREE

Pupils at The Olive School, Preston were joined by the Lord-Lieutenant for Lancashire to plant a celebration tree at their new school site as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) scheme.

The Preston primary school is one of only 69 schools across the country to be gifted a QGC Celebration Tree, which commemorates Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The initiative aims to highlight the importance of trees to our environment and the significance of giving young people access to nature whilst encouraging wider engagement with the QGC across the school curriculum. Staff and pupils welcomed a number of special guests for the event, including Lord Shuttleworth, Her Majesty’s LordLieutenant for Lancashire, and Kam Kothia, Deputy Lieutenant and Chair of Star Academies. The guests were treated to performances by pupils, including speeches, recitations and a specially-written poem to celebrate The Queen’s 70 years of service. Lord Shuttleworth, along with the school’s head boy and head girl, planted the acer tree in the school grounds at its new purpose-built site, which it relocated to in April. Principal Parveen Yusuf said: “It’s an honour to take part in The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. We hope that this tree will serve as a lasting reminder of Her Majesty’s incredible legacy for future generations of pupils. As a school, we are committed to educating our pupils about the importance of living sustainably and to making environmentallyfriendly choices. Our celebration tree and the wider Queen’s Green Canopy initiative not only celebrate Her Majesty’s remarkable 70 years of service but also teach our children about the positive impact of trees on the environment.”

Her Majesty and The Prince of Wales planted the first Jubilee tree in the grounds of Windsor Castle in March to mark the launch of The Queen’s Green Canopy.

HIGHFIELD PUPILS SLEEP OVER AT SCHOOL FOR CHARITY

Pupils at Highfield Leadership Academy spent a night at school to raise funds in support of youth work charity, Streetlife.

The Blackpool-based charity holds an annual ‘Big Sleep Out’ with the aim of raising vital funds for their emergency night shelter. With younger pupils unable to participate in the sleep out, pupil leaders at the school organised their own ‘Bill’s Big Sleep In’ – led by the school’s mascot, Bill the Bull – raising more than £450 for the local charity. The pupils enjoyed team-building games whilst exploring the causes of youth homelessness. When darkness fell, they spent time outdoors in the cold and dark to experience the conditions that many homeless people suffer each night. They also took part in a street art workshop and decorated stones for the school’s ‘peace cairn’. After a night of activities, the pupils slept overnight in their sleeping bags on gym mats in the library. Year 10 pupil Caitlyn Bowie said: “I really enjoyed it. I didn’t know what hidden homelessness was before the workshop. It was sad to listen to some of the stories but good to know that even though we are young we can make a difference and help others.” Andrew Galbraith, Principal at Highfield Leadership Academy, added: “As a school we wanted to do our bit to support a charity that does such amazing work in our community. The sleep over was a fantastic way for our pupils to gain a deeper understanding of the harsh realities of youth homelessness and the wonderful work of Streetlife. It is heart-warming to see our caring pupils once again demonstrate their unwavering commitment to those less fortunate than themselves.”

Eden Girls’ pupil named Coventry’s Young Poet Laureate

A pupil from Eden Girls’ School, Coventry has been named Coventry’s first Young Poet Laureate. Competition organisers were looking for someone with a love for poetry whose prose would appeal to a broad audience.

Year 11 pupil Hawwa Hussain was encouraged by her English teacher, Miss Hamman, to submit two poems to the

Coventry City of Culture 2021 Young Poet Laureate competition.

After a nerve-racking wait, 15-year-old Hawwa was awarded the title of Young Poet Laureate. She was invited to receive her title from the Lord Mayor of Coventry at a special ceremony at The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. Hawwa will now take up a two-year writing tenure for the city of Coventry, where she will write poems to commemorate significant moments, give performances of her work and encourage an interest in poetry across the city. Hawwa said: “I was so surprised to hear the news – it was such an incredible feeling. I really enjoy writing and Miss Hamman is very passionate about the subject. Her classes are amazing and her teaching is very inspiring. I can’t wait to get started in my role and to use my writing skills to capture all the wonderful events and activities taking place in Coventry.”

Miss Hamman added: “Hawwa has grown into a confident, bright and articulate young woman and we are so very proud of her. This latest achievement demonstrates her exceptional talent for writing and her enthusiasm for poetry is second to none.” Shazia Hussain, Hawwa’s mother, said: “Hawwa absolutely loves her school. She has a wonderful set of teachers and is enjoying every single day – she is simply thriving. Hawwa has always enjoyed writing, so for this to have been identified by her English teacher and for her to have received encouragement to really stretch her skills is truly wonderful. It shows that she is really seen by her teachers and that her potential has been recognised and developed. As a parent, it is such a comfort to receive such wonderful support from your child’s school.”

East London girls uncover stories of Black and Asian WW2 soldiers

Year 9 pupils at Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest have been part of a major project to uncover the hidden history of ethnic minority soldiers in World War II (WW2).

Pupil Saeeda Amidu discovered that her great-grandfather, Henry Braimah, was a colonel in the British Army who fought in Burma during WW2. “I’m really happy to get to know that one of my relatives fought in the war,” she said. “It did make me feel differently about remembrance because people don’t really talk about all the Black and Asian soldiers who fought in the world war.” The girls hope to raise public awareness of the contribution of Black and Asian soldiers to WW2 through a project called Remember Together. Speaking about the initiative, pupil Zaynab Sedoo, said: “It can feel like the contribution of Black and Asian soldiers in WW2 is overlooked in our history books. As a student from a Muslim background, I’d like other people to realise that our great-grandfathers served alongside theirs. It makes Armistice Day more meaningful knowing that this is history we all share.” Over 2.5 million soldiers from pre-partition India – what is now India, Pakistan and Bangladesh – served alongside servicemen and women from Africa, the Caribbean and other commonwealth nations. The project hopes to underline how this shared history can help bring people together in remembrance.

Dr Avaes Mohammad, Science and Drama Teacher at Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest, who led the project, said: “This is an exciting project that is bringing history to life for our pupils through the stories of real people from families in their community. Every year the school marks Armistice Day and we discuss with the pupils why it is important. Now they will connect that moment to the sacrifices made by ancestors from their own communities, and from people with similar ethnic and faith backgrounds.” The project was launched in 2020 with charity British Future, and pupils shared their research at a special remembrance event for the local community in November. British Future has made a short film about the project, featuring some of the pupils from Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest and their relatives. You can watch it here.

SAFETY FIRST AT LAISTERDYKE

Pupils at Laisterdyke Leadership Academy have participated in a series of workshops to learn vital life skills to help them to remain safe.

In a practical session about essential emergency first aid skills, pupils were taught what to do if someone is choking or has an allergic reaction.

They were also shown how to perform CPR if someone’s heart stops and how to use a defibrillator. Medical instructors taught pupils how to establish if someone has a serious head injury and the emergency response required in different scenarios, including what information they should give the call handler when phoning 999 for an ambulance. also learnt about bullying and the role they can play in creating a bullying-free school. During the interactive workshops, pupils discussed what bullying is, different ways bullying can manifest itself and what scenarios might cause an individual to bully someone. The pupils learnt practical tips to identify bullying behaviours and, through roleplay, discovered how they can help to prevent bullying from taking place. The pupil safety workshops also included other topical issues such as knife crime, online grooming, consent and the dangers of sharing images online. Pupils learnt about the dangers through a series of case studies and were shown practical tips for keeping themselves safe, such as how to set privacy and security settings on their social media accounts.

Bolton boys compete in digital climate challenge

Year 9 pupils from Eden Boys’ School, Bolton have taken part in a nationwide digital challenge along with schools from around the UK. Organised by British Interactive Media Association (BIMA), the UK’s largest digital and tech community, the day introduced the young people to the potential of a career in the digital sector.

Agent Academy – a company who help young people achieve careers in the digital, creative sector – set the pupils a task of developing a digital solution to the problem of climate change.

Across eight teams, pupils worked in small groups to analyse the client brief and research existing climate change campaigns before getting to work on creating their own solution. As part of the challenge, pupils were tasked with devising a marketing plan to promote their idea. The ideas they came up with included an app that scans objects and provides information on their environmental impact, virtual football tournaments that raise money to fund the clean-up of oceans, and a nationwide project to collect reusable items and clothing that would be sent to deprived countries. Richard Foster, Assistant Principal at Eden Boys’ School, Bolton, said: “The pupils were enthused by the real world element of the digital day and took a lot from the opportunity to put their skills to work in a real life scenario. They really got stuck in and their ideas were fantastic. This event really appealed to the school as we deliver a Creative iMedia course to pupils, so this real life exposure to digital careers in action was an invaluable opportunity.”

Feeding the homeless in Birmingham

The Olive School, Small Heath has committed to making 100 hot meals for homeless people supported by the Snow Hill shelter in Birmingham every half term.

This is a legacy from lockdown when they began making meals in the school kitchen for those in need.

The initiative is in conjunction with Birmingham’s Active Wellbeing Society and As-Suffa Homeless Outreach. A group of Year 5 and 6 pupils and their parents have been taking part in the project. They collect and prepare the food to make nutritious curries for members of their communities who are less fortunate than themselves. Shawkat Chowdhury, Principal, said: “We believe practicing our STAR values makes us acknowledge what we gain from being an outward looking, giving community. From peeling potatoes together to sharing cookery skills, the experience and memories our pupils, their families and staff gain are invaluable. Joining hands with volunteers who serve the most vulnerable people in society adds infinite value to our school. Their selfless dedication fills our lives with inspiration and teaches us that by giving we become rich.” As well as distributing nutritious hot meals, the school also collects 100 items every week for two local foodbanks. The pupils involved gain community service points towards their Star Mini Diploma, which embodies Star’s ambition to develop well-rounded, ethical and accomplished leaders of tomorrow. The Diploma comprises three elements of attendance, behaviour and community service.

RAINBOW BRINGS BOOK CHARACTERS TO LIFE FOR STAR READERS LAUNCH

Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy – the latest school to join the Star family – added a splash of fun to a special reading day by bringing their favourite books to life. Pupils and staff at the Bradford school dressed up as their favourite book characters to celebrate the launch of the Star Readers initiative.

As the gates opened at the start of the school day, the playground was filled with witches, wizards, fairies, superheroes, Gruffalos and many other wonderful characters from the pages of classic books. Star places a high importance on reading and established the Star Readers initiative to promote the joy and benefits of reading to pupils. From Reception to Year 13, pupils of all ages are encouraged to read a range of inspiring books that have been specially chosen to spark their imaginations. Experienced Star staff have carefully curated a reading list for each year group, which includes contemporary and classic literature. All of the Star Readers books are aligned with Star’s leadership specialism and have been selected with the curriculum and pupils’ ages in mind. The books have been hand-picked to give pupils a window into other people’s worlds, promote discussion and build reading resilience. Sally Mills, Assistant Principal and English Lead at the school, explained how the aim is to get pupils to read at least 10 of the books on the Star Readers recommended reading list for their year group. In doing so, primary pupils will have been exposed to over 70 incredible books and will leave Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy with a lifelong love of reading. She said: “Over the year, there will be challenges and competitions to encourage the children to read the books, but we will also just look forward to reading our Star Readers books to the children every day. “Reading is a huge focus for the school and we want our pupils to appreciate the joy and wonder of reading books. Apart from the obvious advantages in terms of vocabulary building and understanding, reading is fun. As teachers, we love to read and we want to inspire our pupils to develop their own love of books.”

Pupils certainly appeared to have had a good day, with big smiles on their faces as they left the school, many of them holding a new Star Reader book to enjoy over the weekend.

Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy joined Star

Academies on 1 July, the fourth primary school in Bradford to join the trust.

Eden Girl’s win COP26 engineering project

A group of Year 9 pupils from Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham have won a prestigious national civil engineering competition.

The competition, which was linked to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), challenged pupils to work in teams to design and build a road that met a range of sustainability targets created by the United Nations. Two groups of girls from Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham competed against seven other schools nationally for the project. The pupils had to develop an innovative sustainable road of the future as part of the Sustainable Solutions – Roads of the Future Challenge, using recycled materials for their roads, signs, bridges and other street furniture. One of the Eden Girls’ teams beat off strong competition from the other schools to win the low carbon category. They impressed the judges with their ideas to use solar power to run electric cars and for road markings, signs and lamp posts to power charging ports and service stations. The pupils also came up with an innovative idea to use kinetic and thermal energy sensors on the road to convert the heat and kinetic energy from vehicles’ wheels into electricity to generate more power to the car charging ports, and for using permeable pavements to help with the drainage and to reuse rain water. The judges also marvelled at the girls idea to place kinetic hydro turbines in the river under the road bridge to harness kinetic energy from water and turn it into electricity. As well as a receiving a trophy, each team member also received a certificate and £100 for the winning team to enjoy a day out. Commenting on the competition the girls’ teacher, Shazia Amer, said: “This was an amazing project that encouraged the girls to research, be creative and think outside the box. The whole design worked around using recyclable materials, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and decreasing emission of greenhouse gases. They worked tirelessly on this project, staying after school and meeting outside of the school to complete it. They really put in one hundred percent effort and thoroughly deserved to win.” The Roads of the Future Challenge aims to inspire young people to pursue a career in engineering and give them the confidence and motivation to become the engineers of tomorrow. All those taking part in the complex exercise had to consider 17 goals and 169 specific targets for those goals when designing and building roads.

RAF cadets pay their respects at remembrance centre

A group of 31 RAF cadets from Small Health Leadership Academy visited the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield in October for a day of reflection, respect and remembrance. The pupils spent a day exploring the 350 memorials nestled in the beautifully tranquil Staffordshire countryside.

The arboretum, which is part of the Royal British Legion, was created 20 years ago to recognise the contribution of those who have served and sacrificed in our Armed Forces is never forgotten. It exists to provide a yearround space to celebrate lives lived and commemorate lives lost.

Ashley Dye, Assistant Principal, said: “The pupils were a credit to the school as they attended the daily service held at 11am to pay tribute to the fallen men and women. The symbolism of key points of the arboretum was beautifully explained by the brilliant volunteers and the pupils were full of keen curiosity to understand the stories behind the engravings.” Small Heath Leadership Academy is one of a number of Star secondary schools with its own Combined Cadet Force (CCF). There are CCF contingents in over 500 secondary schools all over the UK, offering young people a broad range of challenging, exciting, adventurous and educational activities. Their aim is to enable the development of personal responsibility, leadership and self-discipline. Small Heath Leadership Academy’s RAF cadets, known as CCF Squadron, meet weekly and activities are led by Captain Jason Till, the school staff instructor. Earlier this year, the cadets also attended a residential weekend in North Wales where they climbed Snowdon, enjoyed some canoeing and visited the National Slate Museum. The spring and summer terms will see pupils participate in first aid, navigation skills and marching activities. Some cadets will also be given the incredible opportunity to take to the skies. Following a culmination of training, studying and preparation, pupils will have the chance to pilot a glider.

Aamira takes on Ben Nevis climb for charity

Aamira Hajee, Deputy Head Girl at The Olive School, Bolton, spent her summer holiday raising more than £4,500 for charity. The 10-year-old’s fundraising culminated in her climbing Ben Nevis – the UK’s highest mountain – with her aunt and uncle.

The Year 6 pupil undertook the tremendous challenge to climb the 1,345 metre Scottish mountain to support the Penny Appeal charity. Aamira underwent a rigorous training schedule during the summer holidays to prepare her for the trek, which included climbing the Three Peaks in Yorkshire – Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent. Sabina Saeed, Principal, said: “We’re incredibly proud Aamira’s exemplary fundraising and for successfully conquering Ben Nevis. Aamira’s passion for helping those less fortunate shines through and she clearly understands the importance of being charitable. I know that this was not an easy challenge, but I am in no doubt that her efforts are greatly appreciated by all those who she’s helped. Aamira is an inspiration to fellow pupils.”

STARBANK TRAINS ANTI-BULLYING AMBASSADORS

Starbank School is training a group of secondary pupils to develop the skills to become anti-bullying ambassadors. Pupils from all year groups participated in a practical training session where they learnt active listening and communication skills, and all about confidentiality. Through a series of tasks and role plays, the young ambassadors developed different techniques to manage conflict and support the victims of bullying.

The pupils said that the session helped to develop their confidence and ability to support others. As anti-bullying ambassadors, the children will provide valuable care and support to their peers. The next stage of their training will see pupils work with the school’s safeguarding lead to develop their mentoring skills. They will also be encouraged to share useful information about bullying with their classmates and will help to organise fundraising activities during national Anti-Bullying Week. The pupil ambassadors have volunteered to support other pupils by having a presence at a designated ‘mentor meeting point’ during break and lunch times. By offering friendship and peer-to-peer support, the ambassadors hope to nurture relationships and support their fellow pupils to resolve minor conflicts.

Commenting on the initiative, Gaetano Ferrante Principal of Starbank school said: “We have already felt the benefit of added pupil support to our ethos and are excited to watch the ambassadors’ impact grow over the year. Raising the pupil profile around the school has been one of our priorities this year, and it’s great to see how the ambassadors are actively demonstrating our culture and values to the rest of the pupils.”

Olive Blackburn pupils learn to restart a heart

From reception to Year 6, all 637 pupils at The Olive School, Blackburn took part in the national Restart a Heart Day In October.

The school’s youngest pupils learnt the basics of CPR thanks to a video featuring Baby Shark, while older pupils were shown how to give CPR using a dummy. The school defibrillator was demonstrated to the children and they were told when and how it should be used. They learnt how defibrillators restore a normal heartbeat by sending an electric pulse or shock to the heart, and, using a life size model, the children were shown where to put the defibrillator pads. Following the demonstrations, some of the children put their learning into practice by creating information posters to explain what steps should be taken to restart a heart in an emergency. The Restart a Heart Day initiative is run by The Resuscitation Council UK along with the British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance, NHS Ambulance Service who work together to help raise awareness of cardiac arrest and teach CPR. Fauzia Mulla, Assistant Principal, said: “We recognise the need for first aid and how vital it is to support a life. Sadly, due to pandemic, many children have experienced loss of life in their family and wider community. Exploring the support out there that helps save lives has helped our children understand how to identify an emergency and practice life-saving skills.”

Manchester boys sing nasheed medley at cultural festival

The school choir from Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Manchester were invited to perform at the opening ceremony of Cheetham Hill Cultural Festival.

The devoted pupils dedicated their breaks and lunchtimes to rehearsals, as well as hours of practice after school. Their commitment was rewarded with a stunning medley performed in front of guest of honour Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. The annual cultural festival celebrates one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse areas of the UK. During the four-day event, people from across Manchester represented their culture and ethnicity through music, art and dance. Year 8 pupil Maurice Martin commented: “When it was our turn to go on stage, I went up to introduce the school and gave a short speech about our imminent performance. Our hardworking performers then took to the stage. We had painstakingly perfected a lovely nasheed medley and the quality really showed during the performance – it was stunning! I absolutely loved the festival and can’t wait for next year’s show. It was incredible way for everyone to meet up after a difficult year.”

Tong pupil tees up major golfing honour

A pupil from Tong Leadership Academy has been crowned the Under 21 Boys English Golf Champion. Year 13 pupil Habib Khan achieved the accolade following his recent victory at the ProDreamUSA English Golf Championship.

Habib – who was one of 22 young English players competing in the tournament – was leading by eight shots right up until the 18th hole when he made a crucial error. Fortunately, Habib fought back to take the title by one shot. Commenting on his achievement, Habib said: “I think it helped playing on home turf as I know the course so well. It’s fantastic to make my family proud. I’d like to play professionally, so the next step is to progress from amateur competitions. My dad is my role model and I couldn’t have achieved any of this without him.”

Habib has been playing golf from a young age – first playing almost as soon as he could walk. He first picked up a club at just 18 months old and practiced on a golfing green behind his house. The Bradford pupil has played competitively since the age of seven and is coached by his father at Willow Valley Golf Club, Yorkshire’s largest golf facility, where his father is a member.

Following Habib’s success in the English Golf Championship, he won a place at the Junior European Open, which is widely considered to be the toughest tournament in junior golf across Europe. Former winners include US Open Champion Justin Rose and former world number one Luke Donald. This year’s Champions Week Finals took place in Cadiz on the Costa Del Sol and were broadcast on Sky Sports. Following five tough rounds, Habib finished in a very respectable 14th place against a field of 104 boys.

Theatre company writes French play for Slough school

Pupils from Eden Girls’ School, Slough were treated to a performance of a French play which was written and produced especially for them.

The Onatti Theatre Company, which specialises in performing accessible foreign language theatre in education, came into school to perform the play.

‘Mon père ne me comprend pas’ – which means ‘My father does not understand me’ – is about a girl called Hélène who does not get what she wants for her birthday so she wishes for better presents, a better family; in fact, better everything! When her wishes start to come true she regrets being so greedy and misses normality. Francoise Cusimano, the school’s Deputy Director of Learning who arranged the performance, said: “It was a wonderful opportunity for the pupils to see a play which has been written and produced specifically for them. It will help them in their speaking and listening skills, a key part of their GCSE French studies. The plot reflected many similarities to the pupils’ own lives, but in a humorous and exaggerated manner, making them relatable and increasing their enjoyment by empathising with the characters and storylines. All actors are trained to perform with clear, slow delivery and good use of mime to ensure the pupils can follow the play. Pupils were engrossed, enthused and amazed by how much they could understand. Everyone had a wonderful time.

The Onatti Theatre company produces plays in French, Spanish, German and English. Native actors perform in schools in the UK, Ireland and France, giving pupils an accessible way to experience native language in a fun, relaxing way.

Inktober illustrates talented artists at Eden Boys

Budding artists at Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East have honed their drawing skills by taking part in a month-long international art challenge.

Kasim Zubair 10C Adnan Hussain 7B Ahyan. S Javed 8A Tahseen Ul Haq - 9C

The annual Inktober drawing contest, created by renowned American illustrator Jake Parker, was established as a challenge to improve Jake’s own creative inking skills and develop positive drawing habits. Since its creation in 2009, Inktober has grown into a worldwide phenomenon with thousands of artists participating in the online art challenge every year. As part of the school’s Inktober project, pupils were challenged to create their own works of art using only black ink. Pupils from across all year groups submitted their hand drawn illustrations into the contest - with works of art covering themes from fantasy to wildlife. Entries were judged by the Art department with a winner being declared in each year group.

Barkerend launches Star speaker series

Barkerend Primary Leadership Academy is running a series of speaker sessions to help improve its pupils’ knowledge of the world of work, and raise their career aspirations.

Every Tuesday an external speaker attends the school’s assembly to talk about their career as part of Star’s Rising Stars initiative.

The first guest speaker was Joe Drury, who runs a Forest School business. He talked about the value of working with nature and protecting the environment. Children then asked Joe a series of questions about his career – the children particularly enjoyed hearing about the times he has been chased by wild animals!

Year 5 and Year 6 pupils spoke online to Mrs Rashid, a Crown Prosecution Service barrister, who inspired them to begin to think about a career in law. She gave the children an insight into criminal law and showed them her wig and gown, which she wears in court. Another popular speaker was Emma Reiner from Bradford Museums. Emma told the children how the skills she has learnt throughout her career have prepared her for her current job in the education team at Bradford Museums, which include Cartwright Hall Art Gallery and Bradford Industrial Museum. She also shared with the children some of the activities that museum visitors can enjoy, including one about archaeological digs. The school also welcomed Rob Atkin from Living Streets who came to congratulate pupils and staff on their participation in the WOW challenge, which encourages children to walk to school. Not only is the school ranked number one in West Yorkshire in the WOW travel tracker, but it was recently the top school in the whole country for tracking journeys to school. More exciting speakers are lined up for the coming weeks including an architect, a professor from Cape Town University, the keyboard player from the band Embrace who have had a number one album, a director from Tappit Technologies, a fashion designer, a TV producer from BBC’s The One Show, a Disney designer and Star Academies Chief Executive Sir Mufti Hamid Patel.

Eden Girls’ pupils celebrate their love of

Pupils at Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Manchester shared their love of poetry when they took part in a UK-wide celebration of poetry on National Poetry Day.

The day started with pupils watching a series of spoken word poetry videos followed by discussions about the meaning of ‘choice’ in the context of poetry – this year’s National Poetry Day theme.

Year 7 and Year 8 pupils explored poems surrounding the themes of childhood and growth, including classics First Day at School by Roger McGough and In Mrs Tilcher’s Class by Carol Ann Duffy. The pupils were able to identify themes on awareness, journeys and fear, and were able to make personal connections to their own experiences of primary school and of starting secondary school. Year 9 explored the theme of ‘fake news’ using poetry. The girls wrote poetry about fake news and explored the poem Misinformation Age by Karl Nova. London by William Blake – who is considered to be a seminal figure in the history of the poetry of the Romantic Age – was the focus for Year 10 pupils. They linked the poem with their current study of A Christmas Carol. Meanwhile in Year 11, pupils studied Charge of the Light Brigade by Lord Alfred Tennyson to identify the hidden meanings concealed within its words.

The day of celebration culminated in a Poetry Slam competition. Pupils and staff gathered in the library to perform and enjoy a plethora of creative performances, ranging from original verses written by pupils to recitations of classic poems. As well as hearing poems from their peers, pupils also enjoyed performances from staff in the English, Mathematics and MFL departments. Mr Balcombe, the school’s Director of Learning: Maths, summed up the day with these words from his poem:

‘I’ve always loved words and their meaning, And try to speak poems with feeling, The girls’ skill today, Really blew me away, There’s a bright future ahead, I’m believing.’

Climate project connects pupils to their home town

Lancaster University has teamed up with Year 9 pupils at Bay Leadership Academy to work on a project to examine the physical and social environment of their home town.

Through the ‘Timescapes of Morecambe’ project, pupils worked with the university’s geography and architecture departments to connect with their local area and discover more about the Lancashire seaside town, Morecambe.

The project used data collected by university researchers to help the pupils consider how Morecambe’s coastline has changed and how it might change in the future, given the projected impact of climate change and the rise in sea levels. Lecturers and PhD students from Lancaster University delivered four sessions for pupils, including a fieldtrip to the town’s promenade to look at the landscape, its fragile ecology, important fauna and flora, and to observe the sea defences. Another session focussed on the town’s interesting history. The pupils had the opportunity to look at fascinating artifacts, photographs and recordings from the seaside town’s past. The project concluded with a discovery session exploring what the future might hold for Morecambe and how climate change could impact its coastline. Pupils created images, which will be digitally edited into 3D images, for an art installation of stereoscopes – a device used for viewing pairs of photographs as a 3D image. The images will be displayed along the town’s promenade to illustrate the pupils’ ideas and perceptions about how the town may look in years to come. Dr Serena Pollastri from Lancaster Institute of Contemporary Art said: “It has been very inspiring to see how young people’s creativity and care for their communities enabled them to rise to challenges that even seasoned professionals can find very complex to tackle.” Geography teacher, Emma Spooner, said: “This project provided a great way for the pupils to interact with Morecambe’s past, present and future. They examined, for the first time, the coastline and historic buildings and we talked about some of the management strategies in place to protect them. The ‘Timescapes of Morecambe’ stereoscopes will be available for all the public to view, which makes it very exciting for our pupils.”

TIGHS scoops acclaimed International School Award

Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College (TIGHS) has become the first Star school to be reaccredited with the British Council International School Award.

The award acknowledges schools that have embedded a significant element of international work into their curriculum and have successfully fostered an international ethos throughout the school. TIGHS, which has been awarded the accolade for 2021-2024, has incorporated a global dimension into its curriculum for the past eight years. The reaccreditation will help to raise the profile of the school’s language department as it brings together other departments with curricular and extra-curricular activities. As an award holder, TIGHS acts as Star’s ambassador for the International Award and works with other Star schools to support them to gain the foundation accreditation. Commenting on receiving the award, Mary Carrington, Director of Learning: MFL, said: “This award raises the significance of the international dimension. The programme has supported us in fostering an international ethos throughout the school and embedding it within the curriculum. It has helped us look at a longer term vision for the school and what we can do across all departments both within curricular and extra-curricular activity. By engaging pupils in international activities they benefit from a wider awareness of cultures.” During the pandemic, TIGHS pupils participated in a series of video calls with international guest speakers. The sessions, which covered subjects including eco-waste and climate change, were one of the many ways the school delivers its commitment to developing responsible global citizens. The school has also established links with a school in Ghana to enable pupils to share their cultural experiences. Through Zoom, the pupils were given a view of the African school, which helped to bring the partnership to life by seeing the differences between the two schools and exchanging their experiences of school life with pupils in the Ghanaian school. This has developed into a new initiative called TIGHS on Tour where the school plans to virtually visit every continent without leaving a carbon footprint. On the next stage of pupils’ learning journey, they will connect with children in South America through a Colombian project that works with street children.

Hip, hip hooray for drama project!

The performing arts have been brought to life for primary pupils at Starbank School thanks to lessons and a special after-school club delivered by the Hippodrome Education Network (HEN). For the last three years, the HEN project – Birmingham Hippodrome’s schools network – has enabled pupils to benefit from a host of exciting music, drama and arts activities.

Year 6 pupils recently explored the Second World War from a child’s perspective, learning about children’s experiences of The Blitz, air raid shelters and evacuation. The pupils then performed in a play that incorporated these themes. Cheryl Mok from HEN, who directed the play, said: “The children worked hard in rehearsals for the performance and showed real empathy and enthusiasm throughout the sessions.” As part of the school’s Black History Month activities, Year 6 pupils visited the Birmingham Hippodrome to see the debut performance of Marcus. The play is based on the life of Marcus Garvey (pictured right), a Jamaican civil rights activist who dedicated his life fighting for equality and justice for Black people in America and across the world. Set in modern times, the play follows the experiences of Jermaine, a young descendant of Garvey, who was guided by his ancestors’ morals and legacy. Shabir Ahmad Assistant Principal at Starbank School added: “This was a brilliant opportunity for the children, as it allowed them to celebrate a notable figure in Black History as well as to recognise his values of determination, perseverance, ambition and respect.” In partnership with HEN, a group of Year 2 pupils also enjoyed a trip to the Hippodrome where they saw a performance of What the Ladybird Heard, based on the award-winning children’s book written by Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson. For many pupils, it was their first visit to a theatre and they were on the edges of their seats as they marvelled at the bright costumes, singing and dancing.

SCIENCE AND FOOTBALL UNITED FOR PRESTON PUPILS

A trip to Manchester United’s Theatre of Dreams brought science to life through the medium of football for a group of Year 10 pupils from Eden Boys’ School, Preston.

The football mad teenagers, some of whom play for the school team, were given a tour of Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium as well as visiting the museum and attending a careers session at the football ground. The educational tour was used to highlight the role science plays in creating a world-class playing surface, which enables players like Red Devils’ favourites Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes to perform at their peak. As the boys walked out of the tunnel, they were struck by the perfection of the dazzling chequerboard pitch. They enthusiastically asked lots of questions about how the grounds staff got the grass to look so perfect. The tour guide replied with a single word: ‘science’. He explained the pitch was constructed of 97% grass and 3% artificial fibres – with more than 20 million pieces of stitched nylon interwoven amongst the natural grass. The pupils were told how the pitch is painstakingly maintained, which involves a series of water pipes beneath its surface to keep the grass fertilised and underpitch heating used to ensure the pitch doesn’t freeze during the winter months.

The pitch was covered in rows of artificial lights, which also drew the interest of the inquisitive pupils. The tour guide explained that they replicate the conditions of photosynthesis to nurture the grass to grow naturally and recover after matches. After the scientific stadium tour, pupils benefitted from a careers session with Manchester United’s education officer. During the session, pupils explored how their values and attitude to their learning is key to success. Parallels were drawn between how the key values critical to education – such as hard work, punctuality, respect and discipline – are equally important to professional footballers. Saarah Bhana, science teacher at the school, said: “It was amazing to hear the education officer, Mark, mention values that are so closely aligned with our STAR values and how they are vital to the success of footballers too. The boys left with an understanding of the importance of education and the ingredients needed to be successful in all walks of life.”

Bookworms complete 25 reading challenges

More than 60 pupils at High Crags Primary Leadership Academy completed a sponsored reading challenge during the autumn term.

The fun literary competition involved completing 25 different reading challenges. From reading a page in a funny accent to reading a story to an animal or cuddly toy, the contest encouraged pupils to read regularly through a series of light-hearted tasks. The names of the pupils who completed all 25 challenges were entered into a duck race with the winners receiving a collection of new books. Like all Star schools, reading is a key focus for staff and pupils at High Crags Primary Leadership Academy. Pupils are actively encouraged to read regularly to develop their skills and to nurture a love of reading. Each week, pupils attend a reading assembly where staff act out key scenes from Star Readers books – with pupils voting for the books they’d like to feature. During the autumn term, the school opened its renovated library and a group of children have been appointed as Reading Elves and Librarian Elves to encourage their peers to read and to recommend books they may enjoy, as well as helping to keep the school’s library areas tidy. Inspired by the Star Readers initiative, the school has installed literature-themed wall art incorporating quotes from books at each key stage including pupils’ favourites Going on a Bear Hunt, Aliens Love Underpants and classic Roald Dahl and Harry Potter books. Helen Riley, the school’s English and Reading Lead, said: “This was a fun reading challenge to encourage the love of reading. It ran alongside our ongoing Star Readers challenge. We have great facilities here with the refurbished library areas and the children are really keen to help keep it tidy and support each other. Books can bring so much pleasure throughout life, so we want to inspire a positive and passionate attitude towards reading at this early stage.”

Eden Boys’ Birmingham creates Peace Garden

As part of the community service element of their Star Diploma, thirty Year 10 pupils from Eden Boys’ School, Birmingham helped complete the construction of a Peace Garden at their school this autumn.

The final phase of the project, which began two years ago, saw pupils help to build a purpose-built canopy to provide cover over part of the Peace Garden. Thanks to the canopy, pupils will now be able to complete some lessons outdoors, as well benefitting from a covered area where they can eat lunch whilst being protected from the elements. The covered area will also be used for the school’s foodbank to provide easy access to members of the community. Lendlease, the main construction contractor for the nearby Perry Village and Alexander Stadium where the Commonwealth Games will be held next year, is supporting the project as part of its social responsibility programme. The same group of pupils who completed the initial phase of the Peace Garden have been working with Lendlease to complete the project, which was put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The initial phase of the project involved pupils clearing the area by removing several tonnes of soil, weeds and bark chip. They then levelled the ground before building raised beds and planters using recycled railway sleepers. Finally, pupils planted herbs and flowers to create a bright, welcoming space for reflection.

Alongside Lendlease, the project was also supported by Kier Construction, Wilmott Dixon and Careys. Collectively, the project partners provided careers guidance to pupils – covering a wide range of careers including architecture, engineering, accountancy and project management. Pupils learnt about apprenticeship opportunities in the construction, engineering and utilities industries, and found out about the work experience opportunities available to them, which could serve as a stepping-stone into careers in these sectors. Executive Principal Asiyah Ravat said: “Involvement in a restoration project like this can have a significant impact for futures and career paths. The pupils were also able to enhance their teamwork and communication skills to enable them to work in harmony to get the job done with maximum effectiveness. The project was very labour intensive, and the boys worked really hard to complete the Peace Garden. It looks fantastic and is a wonderful space for everyone to enjoy.”

Science accreditation awarded to Bradford primary

Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy has achieved the Primary Science Quality Mark in recognition of the high standard of its science provision for pupils.

The year-long programme, run by the Primary Science Teaching Trust and the University of Hertfordshire, supports schools to enhance the quality of teaching in science and to embed science into multiple aspects of school life. The accreditation provides professional development to subject leaders and results in improvements to the way science is strategically planned and taught across the whole school. It focuses on developing effective, confident science leadership for whole school impact on science teaching and learning. Despite lockdown disrupting pupils’ education for the last two years, staff at the school strived to ensure that children were still able to learn about science in creative ways. Children learning at home and those in school bubbles were transported virtually to Bradford Science Festival. Festival learning packs were produced for children who were encouraged to participate in a number of science challenges, with prizes awarded for the best entries. The school has recently benefited from a new science lab that opened earlier this year to give pupils a practical space to carry out experiments and take part in practical demonstrations. A science club has also been established for children with a keen interest in science.

As part of the accreditation process, staff, pupils and parents were asked to share their views on how science is taught in school. The consultation was used to shape a review of the school’s vision for science.

Science lead at the school Michael Spalton said: “We have been working with the entire school family to shape the future of science learning at Thornbury. A shared vision, principles and goals for the science education of all our children is a key priority. As a result of this programme, science is now a very visible and important part of school life.”

PEDAL POWER PUSH AT HACKNEY SCHOOL

Nearly 50 children at The Olive School, Hackney used pedal power to get to school every day during Bike to School Week. The national annual initiative is a celebration of cycling and a great way to kickstart active travel to school and encourage a healthy school run for all pupils.

There was an incredible 150% increase in the number of children who participated in Bike to School Week, with all participants being awarded a certificate. As a result of the school’s initiatives to encourage pupils to cycle to school, the number of pupils travelling to school each day by bike has increased by nearly 70%. In November, the school ran Bikeability training – which is the government’s national cycle training programme – to give Year 6 pupils the practical skills, confidence and knowledge to cycle safely. A total of 24 pupils achieved their Level 1 and 2 Bikeability awards. The Bikeability training was followed by national Road Safety Week, the UK’s biggest annual road safety campaign. Every year thousands of schools join other organisations and community groups to raise awareness of road safety to make streets and communities safer for everyone. As part of Road Safety Week, the school’s Junior Road Safety Officers were on duty outside school. They offered advice and tips to cyclists and pedestrians using a cycle path next to the school. Working in partnership with Hackney Council and pupils from nearby St John & St James Primary School, cyclists were encouraged to slow down and watch out for school children.

School develops next generation of sports leaders

Pupils at The Valley Leadership Academy have embarked on a sports leadership programme to give them the skills and knowledge to lead and officiate at local schools sporting events. Through the Sports Leaders initiative, pupils experience a range of roles including refereeing at football matches, being responsible for completing score sheets, managing time keeping and measuring distances during athletics events.

This year alone, over 40 pupils have joined the Sports Leaders Academy and have given up their time to volunteer at sporting events. Ten pupils have already completed more than 50 volunteering hours and have achieved officiating awards in athletics, dodgeball and football. The initiative is led by Rossendale’s School Games Organiser, Nathan Bibby. He organises sports competitions and festivals for more than 5,000 primary school pupils every year, the majority of which are held at The Valley Leadership Academy. He explained: “I work with pupils at The Valley to give them the skills, confidence and knowledge to lead and officiate at these sports events. The Sports Leaders go above and beyond, giving up their own time after school to help out at events. The Sports Leaders support school events to ensure that the primary school pupils have a fantastic time and give them lots of encouragement throughout the events.”

Year 8 pupil Kenzie Jourey said: “Being a Sports Leader has really encouraged me to speak in front of big crowds of people. I started being a sports leader when I was in Year 7 and it has been one of the best decisions of my life. If I wasn’t doing this, I would be at home not doing a lot. Instead, I am helping children with sports. It has changed my life and I hope the work I am doing is changing the lives of primary school pupils.” Maddy Mee, in Year 8, added: “Being a sports leader has been an amazing experience and I hope to take the skills I have learnt into my future career. I would love to see more children feel encouraged to get involved in more sport and improve their own skills and self-belief. When I first started sports leading I felt really shy but now I feel confident in my role.”

Bradford boys inspired by sustainable activities

Inspired by COP26, the 26th meeting of the United Nation’s annual climate change conference, pupils from Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Bradford took part in a series of activities to raise awareness of environmental sustainability.

Members of the school’s Eco Committee visited a picturesque village in the Yorkshire Dales. During a day exploring the village of Austwick, pupils enjoyed a host of activities including a woodland walk, woodcraft activities and whittling. After building a fire, the pupils went back to basics and cooked their lunch on the campfire. The whole school participated in a ‘COP26 Sustainability Day’ to explore themes around climate change, connecting with the environment and reducing our carbon footprint. A series of experts visited the school to impart their knowledge and inspire pupils to instigate change. Representatives from Green Robin – an eco-friendly social enterprise that delivers zero waste workshops – and Yorkshire Millennium Trust – a charity that protects the landscape and wildlife of the Yorkshire Dales – spoke to the boys about practical ways they can take ownership of climate change by reducing their own carbon footprint. Each year group focused on one area of sustainability. The school’s Eco Committee members, who visited Austwick, supported their retrospective year group peers by utilising the leadership and practical skills they had gained during their visit. Yorkshire Millennium Trust led a ‘connecting with nature’ workshop with Year 7 and 8 pupils to make bird feeders and bees wax wraps. In true Dragons’ Den style they pitched their sustainable projects to persuade businesses to stock them to help protect the environment. The project involved marketing the products, including designing a logo. One group devised a snappy slogan for their product - Better for you, better for the environment.

Pupils in Year 9 turned their hand to upcycling, using old fabrics to make baskets, while Year 10 pupils took part in a ‘crisp packet project’ which saw them learn how to transform empty crisp packets into blankets. Crisp packets can take 80 years to decompose so finding a sustainable use for them has a positive environmental impact. The pupils’ blankets will also have a social benefit as they will be distributed to homeless charities. The Sustainability Day helped the pupils become more aware of how they can support sustainability efforts as a school and individually. They were left with the inspiring call to arms that: “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something!”

SCIENCE WORKSHOPS GO WITH A BANG

Pupils at The Olive School, Birmingham have been immersed in the world of science thanks to a series of exciting workshops.

The workshops began with a visit by a mobile zoo. The educational animal encounters made learning about animals and their habitats fun for Year 1 pupils. The session was delivered by Mo Safeer, a former zookeeper who runs the Animals in Hands mobile zoo. The zoo features over 70 species of animals – from Pythons to Barn Owls. Mo talked to the children about the welfare of animals and the responsibility of having pets. After rescuing many of the animals in his zoo, he stressed the importance of researching pets thoroughly before taking them on to ensure owners are able to look after them properly. Moving from animals to amps, the next workshop sparked pupils’ interest in electricity. Year 6 pupils got hands-on with science in an interactive electricity and circuits workshop delivered by Hands on Science. Following practical demonstrations to learn how electricity works, the children worked in teams to make their own circuits. Their faces lit up as they put their learning into practice – watching electricity flow around their circuits to make buzzers sound and lights illuminate. In the final session, Fizz Pop Science brought their breathtaking science show to the school. The show’s scientists demonstrated a range of incredible experiments to ignite pupils’ curiosity in science through spectacular displays of colour, smoke and bangs! After marvelling at the experiments, which were enjoyed by members of the school’s science after-school club, pupils tried their hand at setting up their own imaginative experiments.