Stratford-upon-Avon School and Stratford-upon-Avon College feature in government review

Stratford upon Avon School and College have been featured in the Parliamentary Review.

The review is a key fixture in the political calendar and showcases some of the best practices in the public and private sector.

Copies of the paper are sent out to tens of thousands of leading policymakers and it is also used as a blueprint for reform and success.

Stratford College and Stratford School have both been recognised in the review’s higher education and secondary education sections respectively.

School headteacher Neil Wallace said: “We are honoured to have been selected nationally as an example of best practice for such a prestigious publication.

“It is another affirmation of the outstanding progress that we have made as a school over the last few years.

“The case study highlights the cultural change at the school and the impact of employing high-quality, engaging teachers who create a unique atmosphere in an area where grammar schools are often presumed to be superior.”

Stratford College was equally as delighted – thanking those who have helped achieve success.

Principal Nicola Mannock said: “We are immensely proud to have our ethos and achievements recognised and to be selected to represent the best that the country has to offer in further and higher education.

“It reflects on everyone associated with the college and I should like to thank them all sincerely for their contribution in making us worthy of this honour.”

Director of the review, Daniel Yossman, has spoken out about the quality of the organisations featured in the paper.

He said: “It’s been an utter privilege to work with a range of organisations from across the country in this year’s review.

“Without their input, our aims of spreading expert knowledge and raising standards would not be achievable.

“They’ll be a hard act to follow and next year’s organisations will have to be on the top of their game to meet the challenge.”

Published by Stratford Observer at 7:53am, Sep 26, 2016: http://stratfordobserver.co.uk/news/outstanding-stratford-school-college-feature-government-review/

The Parliamentary Review is available here.

Campion pupils receive special Duke of Edinburgh award

Top row from left: Isabel Leon, Jessica Floyd.

Bottom row from left: Daniel Leon, Jacob Floyd, Jonathan Archer

Five Campion School pupils recently received a special version of the Duke of Edinburgh award in aid of its 60th anniversary. Jonathan Archer, Jacob Floyd, Jessica Floyd, Daniel Leon and Isabel Leon worked together to complete the Diamond Duke of Edinburgh award. To earn the award, they had to complete a personal challenge which is particularly difficult to them while raising at least £60 for charity. All five completed a two-day, 20-mile hike across the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire and held a cake and plant sale to raise money for their charities.

Published by Leamington Courier at 14:54 on Friday 23 September 2016. http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/campion-pupils-receive-special-duke-of-edinburgh-award-1-7594775

Bilton Junior School Pupils...where are they now?

Its been a very happy return to Bilton Junior School for former pupils Jonathan Evans and Beth Gale, who are now on the teaching staff and are pictured here with head Alex Norton, launching the hunt for other past students. 

It's got to be a good sign when past pupils are happy to kick off their teaching careers by heading back to their former school.

That’s certainly the case at Bilton CofE Junior School, which currently has two teachers who grabbed the chance to return to the place which proved an inspiration to them in their younger days.

The two in question are Beth Gale, a Year 5 class teacher and English co-ordinator, and Jonathan Evans, a Year 4 teacher and PE co-ordinator.

And while they are in an ideal position to inspire the current generation, the school is also looking to track down other past pupils to show the wide range of things people have gone on to do.

Head Alex Norton said: “Our motto is ‘Inspire, Challenge, Achieve’ and we are always looking at ways to inspire our children. “I have been teaching at the school for 13 years so know the university graduates coming through now and I would love to see what people went off to do after their good grounding at our amazing school.”

Both Beth and Jonathan had no doubt about the decision to come back. In a curious turn of events both started teaching in what had been their own Year 6 classroom, while they also had to adjust to some of their new colleagues having been on the staff when they were pupils.

Beth was at BJS from 1999-2003 and said: “Many of my memories are of the fun stuff. We made Greek pots and because we had a kiln we were able to fire them. We did rounders on the field, there was the Millennium event and the Year 6 play when my twin sister got the lead role and I was gutted!” By now she had declared she wanted to be a teacher, going on to Bilton High, Warwickshire College and then to York St John University.

Jonathan, two years older than Beth, planned a different career, intending to go into design. He went to Ashlawn and then to Coventry University to study product design but as he finished his degree he realised he wanted more than the office job that seemed to lie ahead.

Published by Rugby Advertiser at 19:08 Sunday 25 September 2016: http://www.rugbyadvertiser.co.uk/news/education/bilton-junior-school-pupils-where-are-you-now-1-7596525

Rugby High pupils hide their memories away

Students at Rugby High have filled time capsules to be buried inside their new sports hall.

Each form has filled toolboxes with items which reflect their lives at Rugby High.

A school diary, a memory stick containing photos taken round school, a school jumper and a bus pass are among the objects that will be buried as the interior walls of the hall.

A spokesman said: “Who knows when these boxes will come to light again? A plan of exactly where the boxes are will be filed away. “Imagine the delight for future generations looking back at life in 2016.”

Pictured are Mae Howard, Vicky Holmes and Amelia Dickens.

Published by Rugby Advertiser at 17:33 on Monday 26 September 2016: http://www.rugbyadvertiser.co.uk/news/education/rugby-high-pupils-hide-their-memories-away-1-7598047

Henley School pupil crowned UK’s best young driver

A TEENAGER has been crowned the UK’s best young driver – at the age of just 13.

Luke Swallow, who attends Henley School, took to the road like a fish to water and made his way around the British Motor Museum when he was put through his paces during the Young Driver Challenge.

The 13-year-old – who is still four years away from applying for his provisional licence – impressed the judges at the Young Driver Challenge finals with his ability behind the wheel.

Luke said: “I still can’t believe I’m the winner and I can’t stop smiling.

“Making it to the final was something I was really pleased to have achieved but then to be crowned overall winner in my age category was just amazing.

“Everyone at the final was driving at a really high standard so the competition was tough, and the test itself was hard work – but great fun.”

The Young Driver Challenge is part of an initiative to drill into youngsters the importance of being responsible and safe on the road before they can officially learn to drive.

Luke added: “As well as doing independent driving, we had to demonstrate things like parallel parking, reversing, tight steering, emergency stops and turns in the road.

“Luckily my Young Driver lessons have taught me well and it has prepared me when I can officially learn to drive.

“Hopefully I can live up to my best young driver title.”

 

Published by Stratford Observer at 1:12pm, Sep 23, 2016:

http://stratfordobserver.co.uk/news/henley-school-pupil-crowned-uks-best-young-driver/