STIFFORD primary head teacher Mark Jones has performed a remarkable feat. He has been running the school in Grays whilst also acting as executive head for Thameside Juniors. In that time. both schools have made remarkable improvements.
The report states: “The success of this school is due to outstanding leadership and management. The headteacher, leadership team and governing body share a commitment to ensuring high quality provision for all pupils, including those in the personalised learning centre, to enable them to achieve their full potential.”
The nursery and reception classes at Warren Primary School in Chafford Hundred work to the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and was first to win the Quality Mark.
The sport, known as Muggle Quidditch, was adapted for non-wizards in the US seven years ago, and has just started to catch on in the UK. Based on JK Rowling’s fictional game, the game is described as a cross between dodgeball and netball, though participants also mount broomsticks and chase a yellow-clad ‘snitch’ to end the game.
Later in the day they made a polymer bouncy ball that would bounce the highest and also attended a lecture on poisons. Science teacher Bill Woodburn said ‘I am very proud of all our girls who have worked so hard and beat some very stiff competition to win first place. This is a wonderful achievement’.
On the Wednesday both the teams had a rest from training and went to nearby Maastricht’s town centre to shop. For hours they explored the local Dutch shops and couldn’t believe the difference in lifestyles. They were amazed by talking to local people that the majority of Dutch people use bicycles everywhere and that not everyone owned a motor vehicle. As much as they couldn’t believe the differences in lifestyles, it didn’t stop the teams visiting KFC and McDonalds!
Jessica said: “I’m so pleased to have won and really surprised that so many people voted for my design. All the murals look great on the walls of the campus and make it feel a lot more welcoming.”
Former members of staff and some original pupils of the school came to see how the school has changed. When the school opened it was state of the art with speakers for schools’ radio in every class. Now it has interactive whiteboards and fast speed broadband.
A POWERFUL AND hard-hitting play based around sexual bullying is on tour across Thurrock schools this month. Produced by the Futures Theatre Company, the play is followed by a performance workshop where the students get involved.
Geography teacher at Ormiston Park Academy, Greg Master-Jewitt, said: "We were standing on a beach looking at coastal geography 10 kilometres away whilst managing three other reports simultaneously- the students were phenomenal.”
St. Clere’s started the stronger team in the first half with the score at half time 13 – 5 in their favour. Gable Hall changed their tactics in the second half and got the strong runners of Will Jameson, Jack Willis, Zack Morris and the ever impressive Alex Darnley on the ball.
Employers such as Tilbury Power Station and Essex Country Council attended the first meeting discussing a wide variety of topics from employers views on what they need from qualifications, how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects can be promoted to female school leavers, promoting different routes into engineering careers, to how the group can work to promote and create an awareness of logistics careers and the opportunities locally.
"This initiative has been possible with the support of The National Skills Academy -Retail, who are delighted with both the success and the outcomes of this pilot scheme. They are very keen to explore the partnership with The Academy further and in particular with the new Ockendon Academy Studio School so that both employers and young people benefit.
Every pupil was dressed in red and white or as a princess or knight so Jonathan had plenty of choice when finding actors to re-enact the story where the dragon was slayed using the heavy life size sword that Jonathan provided from the Museum collection.
