Warwickshire Youth Parliament and VOX

WCC releases single for Hate Crime Awareness Week

For Hate Crime Awareness Week 2017, Warwickshire County Council has teamed up with Coventry-based ‘The Voice’ star Letitia George and ‘Let It Shine’ star Jordan Charles to create a powerful music single, called Love Instead of Hate (Give it a Try), showing the true pain caused by hate crime.

The single, which has been produced in Warwickshire by music producers Neil Williams and Chris Welch, aims to raise awareness of hate crimes and increase the public reporting of them through a new website (www.reporthatenow.com) after a recent study suggested 3 out of every 5 Hate Crimes are not reported to the police.

The song, Love Instead of Hate, was initially inspired by poetry written by Stephen Crowshaw, a Nuneaton and Bedworth Police officer. Stephen’s lyrics were shared with Rugby-based music producer Neil Williams who immediately volunteered his time and considerable expertise to produce the track. Neil was able to very quickly form a team to work on the music, which featured Stourbridge Producer Chris Welch, Singer Songwriter Jordan Charles and Singer Letitia George all who gave their time and expertise to the project for free.

A music video has also been produced by Warwickshire County Council to accompany the single and featuring the acting talents of young people from Rugby school Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College.

Recycling and Composting Assemblies and Workshops for Primary Schools

Warwickshire Waste Partnership has developed assemblies and workshops to inform children how to recycle, what happens to their waste, and composting.

Activities can be adapted to meet the needs of the school and age of pupils.  We can offer assemblies to the school and specific year groups along with classroom sessions on making paper pots and planting seeds, the compost game, various film footage relating to composting, and general advise to the school on ways recycling could be improved in school.  Please note that the paper pot session is most suited to Year 5 & 6.

Wipeout Waste at Lunchtime

Take part in the waste reduction challenge and hold a Wipe out Waste at Lunchtime day at school.

Composting Workshops

If your school is keen to get composting, contact us to arrange a series of compost specific workshops or assemblies. We can also visit to give you advice on how to set up a compost bin, and explain in more detail what you need to do to compost successfully.

Composting SOS

Or maybe your school is already composting? Is it not very successful? Then contact us to arrange a compost SOS. In the compost SOS sessions, we can work with a member of staff or an Eco-club or class group. Your current compost bin will be assessed and advice is given on how to improve the composting process.

These are free sessions but in return all we ask is that a flyer promoting our compost bin offers are placed in all children's book bags to go home to parents.

We wish to offer this opportunity to Warwickshire Primary Schools on a Tuesday or Wednesday, from November 2017 until July 2018.  Places are limited, so if you are interested, please email me at your earliest convenience to waste@warwickshire.gov.uk to discuss your requirements and to arrange a suitable time to visit school.

Ruth Payne

Waste Projects Officer

Schools Library Service: Bringing resources into your school

Many schools opt in to the Schools Library Service (SLS) to bring high quality books and other resources into school to support the curriculum and reading for pleasure.

However, not all staff are aware of the benefits of borrowing resources in this way to supplement material purchased for school to use year on year.

The time saved as well as precious pounds can be invaluable in hard-pressed schools. SLS staff respond to requests from teachers and fill boxes for termly or annual loan afresh every time according to the needs of the pupils in school.

Subscribing schools also get free advice on library-related matters and discounted further services including CPD, re-furbishment and maintenance work and purchase of new books.

Subscribers can save thousands of pounds by borrowing. Ring 01926 413462 or email schoolslibraryservice@warwickshire.gov.uk for a no obligation discussion. 

Find out more on the Schools Library Service Website.

Warwickshire College Group opens STEM Centre

Warwickshire College Group (WCG) have opened a STEM Centre at their Royal Leamington Spa College.

The College's vision is to support local and regional primary and secondary schools in getting young people excited about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM subjects).

WCG would like to work with schools to provide activities that directly enrich and support teaching; they can also bring their equipment into schools.

To find out more about how WCG can develop a programme to suit your school's needs, please email stem@wcg,ac.uk. 

Further information is contained in this leaflet.

Wastebuster Programme for Primary Schools

Warwickshire County Council, Waste Management is offering all Warwickshire Primary Schools the opportunity to become Wastebusters!  The Wastebuster programme is a step-by-step guide that has been designed to support schools that would like a simple way to work towards a whole school approach to wastebusting.

Whether you are thinking of getting your recycling system up and running, making savings through sustainable procurement, or working towards an Eco-Schools award, this guide will provide helpful guidance and sign-posting to materials and resources to help your school go green.

The programme aims to:

• Support practical steps towards waste reduction
• Integrate environmental topics to support curriculum learning 
• Gain or maintain Eco-Schools awards 
• Improve Ofsted requirements for community engagement 
• Help promote your school ethos 

Resources available to teachers:

• Assemblies and activities for waste and eco-themed weeks or days
• A year planner and accompanying resources linked to national days and weeks to support eco-team activities across the whole academic year - a wide range of cross-curricular teaching resources including videos, topic info-packs, worksheets, games, activities and more...
• A children's site where pupils can independently explore, play and learn

ESFA Bulletin

Schools may be interested in subscribing for Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) e-bulletin, which is issued weekly in term time.

The bulletin provides the latest information and actions from Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for academies, schools, colleges, local authorities and other post-16 providers.

Warwickshire Music - supporting YOUR music

Against a backdrop of school budget cuts it is exciting to announce that Warwickshire Music has increased:

• Instrumental tuition in schools
• Instrumental individual tuition at music centres
• Music Centre activities
• County group activities

What is clear is that, despite considerable budget and curriculum pressures schools, parents and young people value music education and love taking part in musical activities.

It is also clear that many schools in Warwickshire are raising their commitment to music education to new levels and forging growing and long lasting partnerships with Warwickshire Music.

This article highlights very succinctly the extraordinary benefits that music education can bring to your school.

Warwickshire Music would be delighted to support your vision for music in your school.

Jeremy Dibb

Director

Warwickshire Music

Visit the Warwickshire Music Hub website.