Literacy levels raised with the help of local businesses

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 19, 2012

Literacy levels have shot up in a number of schools across the city as a result of a successful Council reading scheme.

The Reading Power business volunteer’s initiative is an innovative scheme where volunteers from local businesses visit schools to read with students.

It is part of the Council’s literacy strategy which was launched in 2010 to help improve standards in reading and writing across schools in the city.

The campaign has seen impressive results, with standards of literacy rising at all the schools where the volunteers are involved.

One of the schools involved in the scheme is Glyn Derw High School, which has been supported by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and has seen dramatic improvements. In some cases pupils have increased their reading age by more than three and a half years in just one year.

For example an 11 year old who was previously assessed to have a reading age of an eight year old has, in just one year, caught up to the reading age they should have as a result of the scheme.

Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Julia Magill said, “I am delighted and encouraged by these results. Literacy plays a fundamental role in people’s lives and as a Council we recognise the importance of raising standards so that everyone can fulfil their potential.

“Poor literacy has a dramatic effect on both an individual’s life and wider society. Our schools are working hard to tackle the issue of poor literacy, and have embraced this campaign. We want to help parents and carers understand the importance of good reading and writing skills to help children succeed in the future, and the business volunteers are providing vital support with that message.”

More than 160 volunteers from local businesses and organisations have given time and support to 14 schools in the city, spending an hour a week in a school reading with pupils.

The feedback from volunteers based in secondary schools is that they have noticed clear progress in the students they read with, especially in terms of reading fluency and comprehension, concentration, confidence and enthusiasm.

Another example at one our excellent primary schools St Mary the Virgin Primary School, supported by Admiral, achieved 100 per cent functional literacy this year for their Year 6s.

Ten local Cardiff businesses, who have expressed an interest in signing up to the scheme, are set to attend a function tonight with the Council Leader Heather Joyce, who is strongly supporting the initiative and Cllr McGill.

It is hoped that the recruitment of more businesses will enable the initiative to expand into more schools in the city.

Cardiff Council Chief Executive Jon House, who helped to establish support for the scheme through his meetings with businesses, added: “The support and commitment from Head-teachers, local businesses and organisations working closely in partnership has had an extremely positive impact on students taking part. The excellent work the teachers and volunteers do is key to the good progress we are making and hope to continue.”

Education news: huge boost to school funding

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 4, 2012

Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Julia Magill has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement to invest millions in the 21st Century Schools programme in 2013-14 which will contribute £1.75m towards developing secondary education in the East of the city.

The funding of £1.75m has been allocated to Cardiff as part of the project to develop of a secondary school in the East of the city and comes on the back of the Council’s recent decision to consult on establishing the first Education Improvement Partnership (EIP) in Wales in the area to drive up standards.

Cllr Magill said, “I am absolutely thrilled that this extra investment will be directed towards such an important project, and will support us in providing a high quality learning environment for future generations of children in the east of Cardiff. The 21st Century Schools Programme is a chance for us to take another stride forward towards improving education standards for children and young people, while offering them the best possible opportunities.”

The Council’s own consultation is already underway on the establishment of the EIP in the east, which will cover the schools’ catchment areas there and will be made up of representatives from the school, local authority, and the community as well as key partners.

The focus is on improving quality in leadership, teaching and learning with clear emphasis on addressing the causes of under performance, so that pupils have the best possible chances to achieve their potential.

Cllr Magill said: “Work has to begin now to raise school standards and performance, including improvements in attendance and ethos, for young people in the area.  Previous plans to address the issues in the east have all fallen by the wayside but the time to act is now, which is why this additional funding is so important to help us to move forward with plans to establish an EIP and build a brand new, modern high school, with provision for academic and vocational courses for students over 16.

“This is great news; this type of investment is going to make a real difference to the lives of many pupils.”

CARDIFF NEWS: Education Improvement Partnership to boost standards

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 13, 2012

Plans to establish the first Education Improvement Partnership in Wales to transform life chances for pupils, and address concerns about standards of education are to be discussed by Cardiff Council’s Cabinet.

The EIP, which will cover the city’s east schools’ catchment areas and will be made up of representatives from the school, local authority, the community as well as key partners, will focus on improving quality in leadership, teaching and learning with clear emphasis on addressing the causes of under performance, so that pupils have the best possible chances to achieve their potential.

The model, which is being introduced first in the area where there is most need, could be used as a blueprint for improvements across the city.

Proposals to deliver a new secondary school in the east will also be considered by the Cabinet, which will be determined after a full public consultation. The previous suggestion to build on the site of the Eastern Leisure Centre has been ruled out by the Cabinet and will not be an option.

Cabinet Member for Education, Lifelong Learning and Libraries Cllr Julia Magill said: “It’s crucial that education standards in the east of the city are addressed and raised without further delay. Both schools have dedicated staff and Governing Bodies who have worked hard, however, there is a real need for a fresh approach which must begin at the earliest opportunity to ensure we are helping pupils achieve their full potential.

“Previous plans to address the issues in the east have all fallen by the wayside but the time to act is now and we cannot wait until we build a new school to start the process of turning these schools around which is why we need an Education Improvement Partnership which will involve representatives from the schools, the community and other key organisations to work together to start making a real difference.”

Previous proposals to build a new school in the east of the city have so far failed leaving two schools with falling rolls in poor accommodation and while a long term approach to establish a brand new school on a suitable site, with both academic and vocational provision for over 16s has already begun, there is a need for immediate action to raise school standards and performance in the east of the city, before this new school is built. The previous suggestion to build on the site of the Eastern Leisure Centre has been ruled out by the Cabinet and will not be an option.

An EIP would enable the Council to tackle the causes of educational under-performance and place resources and decision making at the heart of the community in the east of the city in order to ensure students have every opportunity to achieve the best of their potential.

It is planned that the EIP will gradually transfer pupils from poor accommodation in Llanrumney High School to Rumney High School. If the Cabinet agrees with the proposals a full public consultation will take place which will help and inform the plans as they move forward.

Cllr Magill continued: “We want to work with schools, parents and other professionals and also the wider community to develop sustainable long-term arrangements for schools in the east of the city. It is important that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their potential, supported by the right environment and culture.”

Teachers welcome grade boundaries decision by Welsh Government

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 10, 2012

The NUT has welcomed the Welsh Government’s decision to call for a re-grading of WJEC English papers at C and D grades following the changes to the grade boundaries and has urged the British Government to follow suit. 

“The NUT has been very vocal in calling for an immediate re-grading, not re-marking, of the English GCSE exam.  We are naturally delighted that the Welsh Government has recommended that this be applied for WJEC students in Wales.

“Between January and June, exam boards changed the grade boundaries in such a way that many pupils who would have scored a C in January, scored a D in June – for exactly the same work. This change was not explained and has disadvantaged many thousands of pupils and their schools.  That situation was simply unacceptable to the many pupils, parents and teachers who have been left feeling very angry at this action.

“The report published today by the Welsh Government recognises the injustice of the boundary grade changes and their impact on Welsh students.  Hundreds of Welsh learners have been disadvantaged by this change and we applaud the Welsh Education Minister for taking the action which he has today.”

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“The NUT welcomes the decision of the Welsh Government to award grades to young people who sat GCSE in English on the same basis as their peers who sat the exam in January.
“The NUT calls on Michael Gove to follow this lead.”

Primary schools admissions information

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 13, 2012

The first day at school is a key milestone in all children’s lives so Cardiff Council is reminding parents of the need to register their preferred options for primary schools for their child to attend in 2013/14.

Children born between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009 should start primary school in September 2013.

The Council wants to make the process of applying for a school place as easy as possible for parents and carers and is targeting parents and carers of pre-school children who are not currently attending any community nursery or who do not have a nursery place funded by Cardiff Council in a private or voluntary sector nursery. The Council is encouraging these parents to provide their children’s details to Cardiff Council’s Education Service by the September 3 deadline in order for them to receive a preference form for primary schools when they are issued in October.

Parents of children already attending a community nursery, or who have a Council funded place in other nurseries, do not need to contact the Council as their child’s details are already held and a preference form will be sent out automatically.

Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Julia Magill, said: “It’s extremely important that parents whose child was born between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009 but whose child does not attend a community nursery, or have a place in another nursery funded by Cardiff Council contacts the Council’s Education Service by 3 September to request a preference form for primary school admission.

When the preference forms for primary schools are sent out in October it is crucial that all parents and carers of children born between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009, complete and return the preference forms to indicate the preferred school for their child to attend. There are strict deadlines in place for applications so parents must ensure that the Council receives details of their preference by noon on 3 December 2012. Some parents have been very distressed over the last year to find that their child could not attend the primary school of their choice because they missed the deadline for applications”

There are three easy ways to make sure you receive a preference form – call the Admissions office on 029 2087 3816, email your child’s name, address and date of birth to admissions@cardiff.gov.uk or write to Schools Admissions, Education Service, County Hall, Cardiff CF10 4UW.

For the first time in Cardiff, parents will also have the opportunity to submit applications online using Cardiff’s online Application Service which will be available in October at www.cardiff.gov.uk

The published closing date for receipt of preference forms and online applications for all applications to primary and secondary schools is December 3, 2012 (12 noon). If parents do not submit their forms by this date, their application will not be considered in the first round of applications.

For more information on school admissions, visit www.cardiff.gov.uk/schooladmissions

A Grand Medieval Mêlée breaks out at Cardiff Castle

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 13, 2012

Take an amazing journey back in time to the sights and smells of castle life some 700 years ago at the Grand Medieval Mêlée on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August 10.30am – 5.30pm.

Knights in shining armour, amazing falconry displays and adventures with dragons await the crowds. The Castle Green, transformed into a medieval tented village, will be teeming with life with re-enactors going about their daily chores, cooking, sewing and preparing for battle.  Clashing armour and the sound of crossed swords will echo through the site as the knights take each other on in realistic combat displays. A highlight of the day will be the falconry show, with birds of prey swooping through the site, arriving on the gauntlet of the expert falconer with amazing speed and precision.

For children there is the chance to be a prince or princess for the day, dress up in authentic costumes, take part in the sword fighting school, Have- A-Go archery, or try out some juggling skills.  The story-teller, Dylan Adams will also be here to enthral with tales of the real and mythical characters that inhabited these times.  An appearance by a huge dragon is certain to create mischief on the day, with children invited to join the procession through the site.

Councillor Huw Thomas, Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, commented “Cardiff Castle has a 2000-year history to tell, and this event is an excellent example of how the castle team bring that story to life and make it meaningful and entertaining for visitors of all ages.”