THURROCK Council Leader, Cllr John Kent, says he welcomes the decision of the Schools Adjudicator over admission proposals by one of the borough’s new academies.
Woodside Academy in Grangewood Avenue, Little Thurrock, had wanted to change its admission criteria to give precedence to children in its nursery classes.
COMMUNITIES minister Brandon Lewis praised the apprenticeships scheme launched by DP World London Gateway and South Essex College as he visited the site on Monday morning. Showing a head for heights, Mr Lewis joined by local mp, Stephen Metcalfe, principal of South Essex College, Angela O’Donoghue and chief executive of DP World London Gateway, Simon Moore as they ascended the 200 metre cranes at the port.
SOUTH Essex College will safeguard the quality of teaching and learning despite the latest round of Government funding cuts, insists Principal and Chief Executive, Angela O’Donoghue.Angela said: “These are difficult times, but our focus and our top priority is our students. None of us will allow Government funding cuts to prevent this College from offering a fantastic education to the thousands of people who walk through our doors every year.”
NATIONAL Walk to School Week starts on Monday (20 May) will sees all 40 infant junior and primary schools in Thurrock encouraging their pupils to walk and ride bikes to school.
Thurrock Council’s transport portfolio holder Cllr Andy Smith, said: “It’s well known that walking is key in fighting childhood obesity, but walking to school can be good for children in other ways; helping them learn vital road safety skills, interact with their local environment and developing independence for example.”
LEADERS monitor the quality of teaching by visiting classrooms, tracking the progress of pupils and looking at the work in their books. Leaders are not yet routinely considering the results of this monitoring together to give an accurate picture of teaching over time. Teachers receive targets to improve their practice but these are not routinely followed through to subsequent observations to ensure that matters improve quickly.
Gable Hall students visit London Gateway London Gateway, Thurrock, 16th May 2013: Forty-five pupils from Gable Hall School, along with their teachers, recently visited the London Gateway to learn about future career opportunities. The GCSE students were given a presentation explaining the project by Helen Woolford, a graduate of the school, who now works in [...]
ACTOR, comedian and successful graphic designer David Brown returned to his former College recently to inspire the next generation of creative professionals. Over 200 Media and Creative Arts students from the Southend Campus of South Essex College were treated to a talk by The Mighty Boosh actor and director of London-based creative studio, APE.
HIS MANTRA was: “We are on the way up” but it looks like it is the opposite for him as Thurrock Council’s education boss has stepped down from his role. Cllr Oliver Gerrish has been in the post for two years.
First year student Dannie Slade, 17 successfully gained a place onto the Sutton Trust US Programme after impressing the judges with a strong application and performance during a 3-day residential in London. Palmer’s College recommended the programme to Dannie who aspires to be Hydrologist and has always dreamt of studying Geography at a top US university.
DAVY DOWN will be hosting its annual Bike and Hike event on Sunday May 12th between noon and 5 pm and
everything as usual is free. Every hour there will be planned walking and cycling activities suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.There will be a chance to go on led walks with Ann MacNamara who leads weekly walks on Friday afternoons too or to follow maps of the site. New this year is the Art Trail with an attractive leaflet showing you the mural and sculptures spread out around Davy Down and the Mardyke Valley.
THE HEADTEACHER at Hassenbrook Academy, Richard Glasby is set to quit his post at the Stanford-le-Hope school. The governors are hoping to have someone in position in January 2014 but earlier if possible. Mr Glasby will leave the school having gained 65% 5 A* to C in last years GCSE results, leaving it in fourth place in the borough.
OVER 150, Gifted and Talented (G&T) students across Thurrock attended a special information evening offering advice on applying to top universities as well as highlighting the challenges faced today by students. Palmer’s students, year 12/13 students from school sixth forms across Thurrock and their parents attended the brand new event put on by the College to help support students and their parents during such a crucial time.
SUPPORTED Learning students from South Essex College were awarded the top prize in the Best Green Solutions category at the Next Top Boss awards in Thurrock.
Next Top Boss is a Thurrock based initiative that encourages students to make a contribution to finding solutions that face businesses in Thurrock today in an environmental or operational context.
The young people who received awards have completed over 2,000 hours of voluntary service to the community, over the last 12 months. Activities included coaching various sports, altar serving, teaching children to read and caring for the elderly. Two gold participants, Hannah Mingay and Leah McArdle, presented the evening while other young people showcased their talents.
HUNDREDS of first and second year students got a fantastic opportunity to seek advice from local, national and global employers at the College’s annual Careers Fair, held on Thursday 25 April 2013.
Over 36 organisations ranging from media, finance, fashion, IT, accounting, health, sport and many more, were on hand to give students advice and information about careers and training in their sector.
THURROCK MP Jackie Doyle-Price helped pupils at Harris Academy take part in the Sainsbury’s Active Kids Challenge and Jackie teamed up with colleagues from Sainsbury’s Chafford Hundred to help pupils take part in the exciting new addition to this year’s Active Kids scheme, now in its ninth year.
CHILDREN at Woodside Academy were in awe last Friday when they met Paralympic champion Gemma Prescott during a visit organized by the Friends of Woodside. Gemma represented Britain in the London 2012 Paralympic Games where she won the bronze medal for the club throw.
THE blaze which damaged Treetops School earlier in the year meant pupils missed out on their Red Nose Day fun.
But the Thurrock Prince’s Trust Team 3 were determined that would be put right. The fire hit the Buxton Road, Grays school’s drama studio and hall and Team 3 spent the two weeks of the Easter break fundraising and planning an event for the pupils.
THURROCK’S under-fire Education boss has stood by his assertion that Thurrock primary education is on the way up. Cllr Gerrish made the bold statement a few months ago, despite a league table revealing that Thurrock primary schools were in the bottom three of the country for schools rated “Good” or “Outstanding.”
WITH THE vast majority of students getting their first preference for their primary school, Thurrock Council has also revealed that the vast majority have also been successful at gaining their first choice at secondary level as well.
CLLR Oliver Gerrish, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services including schools, said: “In recent years there have been issues around the Chafford Hundred schools, but that doesn’t seem to be so this year. “We have just five on-time applicants from the estate who will not be offered a place at one of its primary schools – this compares with over 20 at this time last year.” He added: “There are another five applicants who made applications after the deadline and they will be offered places at the nearest local school outside Chafford Hundred.”
ANOTHER week, another under-performing Thurrock primary school.1. Teaching is not yet consistently good for enough pupils to make good progress across the school. In some Key Stage 1 classes, teachers do not have high enough expectations of pupils and do not build on pupils’ prior learning to challenge them sufficiently well.
DAVY Down Trust, at Stifford Pumping Station, off Pilgrims Lane, will be hosting its seventh family Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday April 14th from noon until 4.30 for 5. A spokesperson said: “We are catering for 300 children this year based on our growing popularity” said trustee Pam Thomas.
OVER 50 Palmer’s College students showcased their final projects at their End of Year Show on Friday 22 March 2013 to students, staff and members of the public.
The exhibition featured a range of work including creative artefacts such as jewellery creation and script writing, dissertations about squatters’ rights, the death penalty, social media and more.
