Jamie Roberts and Sam Warburton go head to head to support schools rugby

Posted by Now Cardiff on Apr 23, 2012

Two of the Blues’ Grand Slam heroes will be breaking ranks next week to support their old school rugby sides, at the Welsh Schools Cup Final.

Ysgol Glantaf and Whitchurch High School will contest the final at the Millennium Stadium – with Blues stars Jamie Roberts and Sam Warburton cheering from opposing sidelines.

The two teams have already played each other once this season, with Whitchurch High School coming out on top with a 9 points to 7 win.

Whitchurch High School won this cup competition in 2007, when Welsh captain Sam Warburton was in the victorious side against Neath College.

The same school-year produced cricketer Tom Maynard, Spurs and Wales footballer Gareth Bale, and rugby league international Elliott Kear. The school also boasts Olympic cyclist Geraint Thomas as one of its sporting alumni, and its football team has also qualified for the equivalent schools final this year.

Sam Warburton attended one of the final training sessions at his old school earlier in the week, to wish good luck to a side that has won 8 out of 9 games this season against 1st Division league opponents:

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School’s out for summer

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 19, 2011

Leisure Centres across the city are gearing up for the most fun-filled summer holidays to date!

Children and families can expect to be kept entertained for the six week break with an exciting and new activity programme.

There are hundreds of different activities taking place at 12 venues across Cardiff with each facility running their own individual schedule of events throughout the school break.

Trampolining, dodgeball, cricket, street dance, cheerleading and indoor golf are among some of the events going on around the city with new arrivals such as teen Zumba, skate ramps and free running being added to the bill.

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Western Leisure Centre is hosting the renowned Street Striker Competition for football enthusiasts whilst Pentwyn returns with the hugely popular Pentwyn Academy of Performing Arts (PAPA), great for boosting children’s confidence and meeting new friends.

For children who like to get on their bike Maindy Centre are running their cycling activity Track Attack as well as holding Mums and Sons, Dads and Daughters football sessions.

At Llanishen Leisure Centre children can call into the Fun House or for those who like to have their cake and eat it, they are hosting Creative Capers which gives children the chance to have-a-go at creative activities such as cake decorating.

Fairwater Leisure Centre is preparing to give kids a forces experience with Army Orienteering and Eastern Leisure Centre are juggling the fun with circus skills and parachute party games.

There are soft play and inflatable sessions running for the under fives and the free school holidays swimming scheme for children is back for the ninth year running.

The free swimming initiative is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and allows all children and young people aged 16 years and under living in Cardiff to go swimming absolutely free of charge in any of the seven swimming pools

There are also several free swimming activities on offer such as fun with snorkels and masks and Wet and Wild Pool parties with pool inflatable and floats and for children who are less confident in the water the Council offers half price crash-course swimming lessons.

Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, said: “Every year we strive to provide children and families with an exciting and varied range of activities throughout the school break.

“We understand only too well the needs of parents and carers to keep children occupied and entertained during the summer holidays and we are committed to providing activities that keep children active and interested.”

For more information call in to your local Cardiff Council leisure centre to pick up a free programme of activities or browse the online brochures at www.cardiff.gov.uk/leisure

Cathays High wins Robo-Doc challenge

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 13, 2011

Bright sparks from Cathays High School have scored success in a competition at Cardiff University’s School of Engineering.

A team of six Year 8 pupils entered the Faraday Challenge at the university, competing against students from other high schools in the Cardiff and surrounding area. The event was one of 50 Faraday engineering challenge days involving pupils from 300 schools across the UK, organised by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Amber Arnold, Gethin Jones, Jamal Mohamed, Catherine Nicholls, Tejan Sesay and Jodie Voss tackled the challenge brief to develop a remotely-controlled surgical instrument that would allow surgeons to operate on their patients without actually touching them.

Marks were awarded for the initial designs, the video log, teamwork and the final challenge. The challenge organisers were extremely impressed with all the teams’ efforts, praising the high scores of the top three schools in Cardiff and the excellent engineering work from all involved.

The Cathays team won with a score of 155 out of possible 175 and were presented with a glass trophy which is now on display in the school’s reception area, and £15 worth of iTunes vouchers for each team member.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “Many congratulations to the team of young engineers from Cathays High School. The Faraday Challenge sounds like an extremely interesting event and it’s good to hear that the competition in Cardiff was of such a high standard.”

Design and Technology teacher, Mrs. Karan Durrant, said: “I knew that these pupils had what it takes to win this challenge. They went about the day in an organised and mature manner and did themselves and their school proud. Most importantly though, these pupils were introduced to engineering and how much it can affect life in the real world.”

Cardiff gets multi-million pound schools’ investment

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 13, 2011

Around £180m of approved investment has been committed to school buildings in Cardiff in recent years as part of the Council’s aspiration of developing viable and successful schools across the city.

A report detailing the past achievements and the existing financial model in the Schools Organisation Plan will be received by the Executive next week as it considers a future funding strategy in preparation for the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools investment programme.

In tackling issues such as surplus places, school building repair backlogs and the increase in demand for Welsh-medium provision the Council has committed significant investment as part of its vision to offer good quality learning opportunities in order to raise standards of achievement at fit for purpose, local schools for local children. This is illustrated by:

• £7m for 10 new nursery units (five granted and five being progressed) including investment in primary provision also
• £3.9m for three new Welsh-medium primary schools, including investment to Bryn Celyn Primary
• £7.9m for two existing Welsh-medium primary schools transferring to new build premises
• £14m for the award winning state-of-the-art new special school, Ty Gwyn, in Caerau
• £17m for amalgamations of 10 sets of infant and junior schools into all-through primaries (six complete and four underway)
• £6.5m for four new Integrated Children’s Centre facilities (two complete and two underway)
• £12.2m investment at the two existing Welsh-medium secondary schools,  Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr, including new Special Educational Needs (SEN) facilities, technology and teaching blocks as well as upgraded sports facilities
• Planning permission has been submitted for the construction of two new secondary schools – St Teilo’s (which is being relocated to new premises) and the new high school in the east of the city, while there are plans for the refurbishment of the existing St Teilo’s premises to create the city’s third Welsh-medium secondary school. The St Teilo’s plan also includes investment in Cardiff High School and Llanishen High School. The total amount of investment committed to these projects is £63.6m.

The report outlines how the Council has been the body driving investment in Cardiff’s school buildings with 70 per cent of funding to date being provided by the Council and 30 per cent being provided by the Welsh Government. However, for future schemes the majority of funding will need to be provided by the Welsh Government.

The Council is awaiting the outcome of its bid for 21st Century Schools Band A funding to continue its investment programme in schools in Cardiff where it is hoped that investment from the Welsh Government over the entire programme will at least match the investment delivered by the Council. The report also highlights a planned consultation with head-teacher representatives on Cardiff’s School Budget Forum which could enable some £6 million of investment in schools IT to transform the learning environment for the 21st century.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “We have accomplished a great deal over the last few years as part of our vision of creating 21st Century schools across the city. The level of investment in schools is evidence of this Council’s strong commitment to education in the city.

“We are keen to keep the ball rolling and ensure that the excellent progress we have made is continued. 21st Century Schools funding from the Welsh Government will be key to ensuring we can make further progress with our plans to provide all children and young people in the city with the best opportunities to achieve their potential.”

Council Executive considering nursery consultation recommendations

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 11, 2011

Recommendations to consult on the establishment of nursery provision at three schools across the city will be considered by Cardiff Council Executive next week.

The proposals are to:

• establish Millbank Primary School at one form of entry with nursery provision thus extending the age range of the school from four to 11 to three to 11
• establish nursery provision at Ysgol Pen Y Groes thus extending the age range of the school from four to 11 to three to 11
• establish nursery provision at Ysgol Pen y Pîl thus extending the age range of the school from four to 11 to three to 11

The Council has been reviewing the role of nursery schools as part of its vision of viable and successful schools and wherever possible, is seeking to create all-through primary schools catering for children aged three to 11.  In these instances this can be achieved by opening nursery units attached to existing primary schools.

The proposal to create nursery provision at Millbank Primary forms part of wider schools organisation proposals to reorganise primary provision in Caerau and will create additional Early Years education places in the area, bringing Millbank in line with other all-through primary phase arrangements and reducing existing pressure on oversubscribed maintained nursery settings in the area.

The proposal would be implemented from September 2014 with 24 full time equivalent, or 48 part time, nursery places operating for two sessions a day.

Ysgol Pen Y Groes in Pentwyn was permanently established in 2009 and since then there has been the commitment to consult on the establishment of a Welsh-medium nursery unit at the school. Demand for provision continues to grow and there is need for a long term solution to accommodate the growth.

The proposal is to establish a nursery unit as part of the primary school from September 2012 at the earliest with 24 full time equivalent places or 48 part time places, operating for two sessions a day.

Ysgol Pen y Pîl was established as a starter class in 2007 and permanently established in the premises of the former Trowbridge Infant School in January 2011. The establishment of a nursery at the school will help meet local demand for high quality, Welsh-medium nursery education.

The proposal is to establish 24 full time equivalent, or 48 part time nursery places, operating for two sessions a day from September 2012.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “These proposals will allow the Council to continue creating all-through primary schools across the city to provide continuity and consistency in primary phase education.

“The proposals have been developed to meet demand for both English-medium and Welsh-medium primary places with high quality nursery education.”