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.”

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

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:

(more…)