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.”

Drama curtain “going up” at Central Library

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 10, 2012

A unique way of enjoying theatre and drama will take place on Friday, October 26 at Cardiff Central Library. Going Up – a promenade performance will see the audience moving around the library to watch extracts of different famous plays.

Working with event partner Drama Association Wales the audience will meet in the foyer of Central Library, which, for the night will become an airport. “Airport workers” will mingle with the guests, checking tickets, assisting with check in, scanning luggage etc

The audience will then travel around the library following the various scenes as it plays up the escalators and through the rest of the library. Extracts from the following plays will be performed,  Departures by John Godber, Lady in the Van  by Alan Bennett,, A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller,  Private Lives by Noel Coward, The Helper by Stephen James Quantick, Oh, What A Lovely War! by Charles Chirlton, Assassins  by Stephen Sondheim/ John Weidman

Cabinet Member for Education and Life Long Learning, Cllr Julia Magill said,” Central Library has never been used in this way before and the event will bring a new dimension to the library and how we use it as a community space bringing many parts of the library to life with well renowned literature and plays.

“The event is also a fantastic opportunity to showcase local talent from the Drama Association Wales and deliver a unique and exciting performance.”

Tickets, which cost £5, are available at the library

For more information on Cardiff Libraries visit www.cardiff.gov.uk/librarieswww.cardiff.gov.uk/libraries

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.”

Youth orchestra winds up season on high note

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 19, 2011

Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Youth Orchestra will end their season of concerts for 2010 -2011 on a high note at Llandaff Cathedral this week.

The young musicians will perform Saint-Saens’ Organ Symphony on Thursday July 21 (7.30pm), featuring the new Nicholson organ which has been recently installed at the cathedral.

The organ will be played by the notable Welsh organist, Huw Tregelles Williams, former Head of Music at the BBC, who has given organ recitals at venues all over the world during his illustrious career.

The programme will also include Verdi’s “Force of Destiny” overture, Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Mussorgsky’s “Night on a Bare Mountain”. Tickets for the performance are available at the door, costing £10 and £6 for concessions.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “This is a terrific way for the youth orchestra to bring the year to a close in an inspiring venue and with such a distinguished performer in their midst. The youth orchestra concerts are always of an extremely high standard and I’m sure this week’s performance will be as enjoyable as usual.”

Success with “reading to children” road show

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 27, 2011

A series of road shows to encourage and support parents and carers to spend time reading with their children have been a tremendous success.

As part of Cardiff Council’s Reading Power literacy campaign, which seeks to drive up reading standards amongst children across the city and encourage parents to play an active role in their child’s learning, three events have been held in Cardiff to provide families with advice, resources and support.

The road shows have attracted a fantastic response with hundreds of parents attending each event.  Road shows were held at Channel View Leisure Centre in Grangetown, Eastern Leisure Centre in Rumney and The Dusty Forge in Ely where families were invited to come along and learn more about how best to help their children, whatever their age.

The road shows provided information on paired reading sessions, the chance to read together and play word games or board games that have reading opportunities. Many members of Cardiff’s education service along with the library service and were present providing information and plenty of interactive activities for visitors. Reading Power goodie bags including lots of useful information and materials were also available.

Both parents and children had the chance to sign up for a library card at the road shows and there was a great response at all three events.

Parents attending the events were also invited to sign a parental pledge and post it in a special post-box, promising to regularly undertake a reading-related activity with their children. Officers responsible for the Council’s literacy strategy will stay in touch with all those parents, offering support and advice.

The Reading Power campaign was launched last autumn and is fronted by the Power Readers, a duo of reading superheroes who encourage parents to give their children the power to read  because ‘Knowledge is Power’.

A website provides parents with information on how they can help their children, containing tips and advice as well as recommending books and links to other websites that promote reading as an enjoyable pastime, as well as an essential skill.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “The Reading Power road shows have been a fantastic success and we have been overwhelmed by the response from families who are keen to ensure they are doing what they can to support their child’s learning. We are now planning to hold more road shows in other parts of the city in the new school term.

“We want to ensure that the Reading Power campaign maintains a high profile in schools across the city and that parents understand how vital their role is in helping to end the poor literacy cycle. Advice and support is there for parents as part of this campaign.”