Schools and education

[Meleri]

They are now building 110 houses in the catchment area of Ysgol Awel Y Mynydd, pity CCBC didn't insist in the Developers giving a contribution to build more classrooms as they did in Dwygyfylchi.

[SteveH]

£11.7m super school failed to use cash given to help improve most vulnerable kids' chances - and now it's in special measures
Ysgol Awel y Mynydd only opened in late 2017

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/117m-super-school-failed-use-17776108

[Ian]

What's ironic is the report produced by Estyn and to which the DP article links. In the first page it says:

Standards: Unsatisfactory and needs urgent improvement.

Think that should be 'need' urgent improvement. It's not the only example of a curiously poor reporting standard.  Another sentence, in the summary section, reads:

The various pupil councils are beginning to have an effect on school life, and there are very few examples of where the pupil’s voice is effective

?

It might inspire greater confidence in Estyn's assessment were they to produce properly written and proofed reports.

[SteveH]

Schools in Scotland and Wales are to close from Friday in response to the coronavirus epidemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs further decisions on school closures in England were "to be taken imminently".

Wales education minister Kirsty Williams said she was bringing forward the Easter break.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51928400

[SteveH]

TV presenter Carol Voderman has launched The Maths Factor - a new website to help children learn numerical skills.

The Countdown star hopes to support children across the country with their basic maths skills through a variety of educational online resources - and the site is currently free to join.

While children across the UK are currently closed due to the ongoing health crisis, many parents are looking for alternative means to help their children keep on top of their education.

The Maths Factor site is designed to help teach maths skills through a variety of resources, with Vorderman featured in a number of educational videos, and has now been made available for free after schools were forced to shut their doors.

The website is normally subscription based, costing users £2 per week to access content, but is currently available to use free of charge during the school closure period.
Announcing the news on Twitter, Vorderman said: “My maths school http://themathsfactor.com is usually about £2 a week.

“I want to help so it's now FREE for children age 4-11 until schools open.

“We're uploading massive server capabilities, pls bear with us.
“With all my love #HomeSchooling @themathsfactor @PearsonSchools.”

More   https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18335847.carol-vodermans-maths-factor-need-know-new-educational-website/

[SteveH]

How to go on a virtual tour of Chester Zoo during the coronavirus lockdown
The zoo is letting you see the animals up close from the comfort of your own home.

The zoo is going to live stream all the most popular animals for an hour each on their Facebook page.

Despite the zoo being forced to close down, the zookeepers remain on site to care, clean and feed the animals while they wait to welcome people back.

Today (March 27) will be the first time the zoo has ever done a live stream - and it will run until 5pm.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/how-go-virtual-tour-chester-17991429

[SteveH]

"NATIONAL heroes'" have been implored to continue support frontline staff over the Easter holidays.

Education minister Kirsty Williams called on school staff to do what they can to keep schools open for NHS staff and carers during the two weeks that should have been the Easter holidays.

The minister thanked all school staff who had met the challenge of keeping more than 700 schools open to support with the immediate response to coronavirus before asking for help in what she described as a ‘time of national need’.

“I am now asking you to do more and keep schools open during what would have been school holidays.”

Cont   https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18342843.welsh-education-minister-kirsty-williams-calls-teachers-support-nhs-workers/

[SteveH]

Watching Graham Norton interviewing Michael Buble last night, the question of looking after his children during lockdown, he said how difficult it was to get his/all children away from the TV, and to do something educational, after trying and giving in, he came up with what I think is a brilliant idea, he turned the sound off, and and put it in sub title mode, thinking at least, it will help their reading and spelling.

[SteveH]

Virtual workshops being hosted by Welsh Mountain Zoo to help with home learning

A SERIES of virtual workshops exploring a range of animal species and subjects are being hosted for children by a zoo.

The Welsh Mountain Zoo, which is currently closed in line with government restrictions, said the 30-minute workshops are designed to be “fun, educational and engaging”.

They are being led by Margaret Warren, the zoo’s education manager.
The qualified science teacher, who has a background working in zoos and other conservation organisations, is trained in safeguarding, child care, behavior, special educational needs (SEN) child yoga, mindfulness, anxiety and confidence.

Margaret said: “We are running these sessions to help support home education during the lockdown period.

"We recognise that learning for many children is a lot different to what they are used to at the moment and this can not only be stressful for the children, but also their parents.

"As a result of this, we have designed fun, informal sessions that are suitable for a wide range of ages, from six upwards.
"Older children, from 13 upwards, can also join for revision.”

cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/19024938.virtual-workshops-hosted-welsh-mountain-zoo-help-home-learning/

[SteveH]

MAITRE d’hôtel Fred Siriex met students in Rhos-on-Sea to share his Michelin experience and time on popular TV shows.

The star of ‘Gordon, Gina and Fred: Road Trip’ joined in a virtual talk with Coleg Llandrillo where students had the opportunity to serve their burning questions over an hour.

Siriex, who is also known for its appearance on shows including First Dates, Million Pound Menu and Remarkable Places to Eat, gave his insight into topics such as roles and challenges within the hospitality industry, advice on what career path to take, and his blossoming career within the entertainment industry.

The college is the only place in Wales to offer full and part-time catering and hospitality courses from level one to bachelor honours degrees in hospitality management and culinary arts, as well as apprenticeships, NVQs and customised employee training.

cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/19323883.tv-star-fred-siriex-put-hot-seat-rhos-on-sea/

[SteveH]

A North Wales university is celebrating after moving up 41 places in a new guide.

Glyndwr University in Wrexham jumped to 66th place in the Guardian University Guide 2022, receiving an overall rating of 65.3.

According to the guide, Glyndwr received a rating of 87.2 for how satisfied the students were with the teaching on their course, which was the second highest in the UK and the highest in Wales.

Meanwhile, Bangor University dropped from 75th place in last year's guide to 86th in the most recent edition.

Bangor is now the lowest ranked university in Wales, but received a rating of 79.7 for how satisfied the students were with the quality of their course. The university was given an overall rating of 61.6.

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-university-moves-up-21559605

[SteveH]

Wales' first school for vets has opened at Aberystwyth University.

The five-year degree course is being run jointly by the university and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

Students will spend the first two years in Aberystwyth before completing the final three years at RVC's campus in Hertfordshire.

There were almost 150 applicants for the 25 places and the aim is to attract more students from Wales to enrol, with the course also available in Welsh.

Prof Darrell Abernethy, head and chairman of the university's school for veterinary science, said: "It's a culmination of years of hard work and the vision of people from years ago.

cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58623904?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA&IYA-reg=a05105fc-304d-4c50-9807-edab51f779a4

[SteveH]

Conwy Primary schools are '£145,000 worse off' than those in Gwynedd
Over £13m has been cut from Conwy's school budget over the last 10 years

The motion comes after recent education cuts and criticism of the cabinet voting to "plunder’"£307,000 from school budgets to fund a teachers’ pay rise.

Councillors heard how over £13m had been cut from Conwy school budgets over the last 10 years and that Conwy was ranked fifth in core budget funding out of the six North Wales counties.

But after a three-minute address to the council by Cllr McCaffrey, as well as a speech by Cllr Gareth Jones, chair Cllr Abdul Khan said the matter must first be discussed at the educational scrutiny committee.

Cllr McCaffrey said children’s education was being hampered by cost cutting.

“I don’t want to kick it in the long grass,” she said.

“We know this time next year we will be faced with imposing further cuts on our schools. Will that be 5%, 7% or 10%?

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/conwy-primary-schools-145000-worse-23276116

[SteveH]

ONE in five Conwy schools will be forced to make redundancies because of the 5% budget cuts the council has demanded ? and that figure is likely to rise.

Worryingly, Conwy?s cabinet member for education has warned the cuts could affect pupils marginalised by socio-economic factors as well as children needing extra emotional support and those with disabilities.

Conwy County Council has asked all its services to make 10% cuts across the board ? with only education and social services being asked to look at 5% savings.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23341156.one-five-conwy-schools-will-forced-make-redundancies/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Mochdre school merger consultation gets the go-ahead from Conwy

CONWY Council?s cabinet agreed to push ahead with the merger of two Mochdre primary schools, despite the risk of teachers and other staff facing redundancies.

The cabinet unanimously voted in favour of a public consultation on the proposed amalgamation of Mochdre?s Ysgol Babanod infants and Ysgol Cystennin junior school.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23593080.mochdre-school-merger-consultation-gets-go-ahead-conwy/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589