Graduation Saint Peter’s Primary School

Saint Peter’s Graduation Parts One and Two

In December 2012 Saint Peter’s Primary School in Wem held not one but two graduation ceremonies. With over one hundred students ready to graduate it was decided to hold two graduation ceremonies as we couldn’t fit all of the students, families, friends and local dignitaries in the school hall all at once.
Those students who attained Gold attended a separate ceremony with students from Lower Heath and Whixall at Keele University later in the month. Special thanks go to all Saint Peter’s staff and particularly to Gill Hiley for her hard work in compiling the data and organising the event.

Gill didn’t leave empty handed as she was presented with a Certificate for completing validation training in October. This means that Gill is now a trained CU validator along with all those who attended the event in October.

Arthog Outdoor Education Centre-Validated

In May of this year (2012), the Arthog Outdoor Education Centre celebrated fifty years of service to the schools and wider community of Shropshire. Over that time, several hundred thousand people from the county have passed through our doors. ‘Arthog’ has become a byword for an experience which stays in people memories and one which often influences future paths in life.
The subtle blend of adventure in wild places and firsthand experience of the natural environment provide a unique stimulus for personal growth and learning. We are now very pleased to be able to accredit the learning opportunities experienced during an Arthog visit as a ‘Learning Destination’ for the Children’s University.
If you would like to find out more about Arthog, please visit our website: www.Arthog.co.uk


QiSS Recognition-Emerged Status

Late in November 2012 Shropshire CU went through the Quality in Study Support recognition process at Emerged level. The process is aimed at ensuring that providers of extended services have processes and procedures in place to deliver a quality service. Needless to say we passed with flying colours and were awarded the QiSS quality mark. We found the QiSS process very useful in identifying areas of strength and areas of weakness. Although very process driven and incorporating a fair bit of paperwork the actual recognition meeting was very useful in sharing best practice and horror stories. Shropshire CU Director Pete Jones has attended QiSS critical Friend Training and is now a recognised QiSS critical Friend. For anybody going through the QiSS process or thinking about it…please get in touch as we can provide a critical Friend for Shropshire CU members at a discounted rate.

Saint Leonard’s Graduation

Saint Leonard’s Primary School in Bridgnorth held two graduation ceremonies in December. Both presentations were held in school assembly and another larger ceremony is planned before the Easter break. Pictured are Head teacher Kay Ferriday, CU Director, Pete Jones and Mabel-the first CU graduate from Bridgnorth!



About a New Member- Energy Club

Energy Club is a fun, free physical activity club for kids aged 4-11, delivered by trained volunteers at Primary Schools across England.
We believe physical activity should be a healthy and fun part of the lives of our children. Through enabling kids to be active we'll help ensure they remain healthy and happy; we'll also help them learn about the right food choices.
Energy Club is recruiting, training and supporting a community of volunteers (primarily parents and friends) to help run 30 minute sessions at Primary Schools outside of school hours.
Whether you're a school looking to host an Energy Club, our next Volunteer or a parent interested in signing up your child to join in, this site should give you all the information you need. And if it doesn't, then please get in touch.
Energy Club is funded by the Cabinet Office via the Social Action Fund and we plan to be in up to 900 schools in 2013, this means up to 9,000 volunteers active in communities throughout England.
Two sessions of Energy Club are worth 2 CU Credits!


Data and Graduation

Thank you to all those schools that completed data requests for our return to the National CU. This data will form part of the national evaluation document which will be launched in January at the House of Lords.
Graduation ceremonies have been booked for Lower Heath, Saint Leonards and Whixall primary schools for February and March next year. We will be attempting to plot a yearly graduation calendar in 2013 to give everyone adequate notice. I will be contacting all schools individually to discuss.

Gold Graduation

We are very grateful to Keele University for playing host to Gold Graduation on the 12th December at the University’s Sustainability Hub. Photos and report to follow in the next Newsletter

Sponsors

Do you have any old office equipment hanging around? If so please let us know as we are after something a little more substantial than the home printer to meet our printing needs! Also, would your business or company like to be associated with Shropshire CU? If so let’s start the conversation.

Name and Logo Stamp to Fit the CU Passport

Shropshire CU has negotiated a great deal with a local printer for providers wishing to purchase a stamp for stamping passports.
Although the cost will depend on content 3S Print has a special offer for CU providers wishing to create a bespoke name and logo stamp for stamping CU passports.
The cost will be approximately £30 for a self-inking stamp and if this is over the budget for some then the can provide a stamp without the ink pad for approx. £20
If you wish to take advantage of this offer please contact Steve at the address below and don’t forget to mention you are a Shropshire CU provider.

Stephen Cross
3S Print & Display Ltd
Unit 9 Hortonwood 33
Telford
Shropshire
TF17EX
sales@3s-signs.co.uk
http://www.3s-signs.co.uk/
Tel: 01952 677506

Stop Press Keele Observatory opens its doors on 8, 9 and 10 January 2013 as part of the BBC Stargazing Live activities. Check the website for details and other public opening times and dates http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/Observatory/ And a belated Happy New Year from all at Shropshire CU!

Welcome Aboard

Clun Museum

Clun Museum has been validated and comes highly recommended.
1 Visit-1 Credit
Town Trail-1 Credit
Living History Events-3 credits
For opening times in the summer and details of living history events visit the website.

Keele University Observatory

Keele University Observatory has been validated by Shropshire CU.
1 Credit for each visit
Check the website for public opening times and see below for details of BBC stargazing project

Arthog Outdor Education Centre

Arthog Outdoor Education Centre has been validated by Knowsley CU.
2 Credits per day are available

More information and links on Shropshire CU website

Market Drayton Junior School

Market Drayton Junior School will be launching CU at the end of January with over 350 passport holders!

Blog October 2012

Validation Training

18^th October Saint Peter’s Primary School

Firstly, a big thank you to Saint Peter’s CE Primary School in Wem for hosting the event and especially to Gill Hiley for all her hard work in getting everything ready and being such a welcoming host.

We were very lucky to be the first group to use the new facilities in the Learning Suite at Saint Peter’s that will open officially later this term. Lynne Upton from National CU headed the day providing background detail on the CU mission and practical sessions on the E-passport and how to validate learning provision within the National CU framework. There were ample networking opportunities across Children’s Universities, Schools, providers and destinations.

Delegates came from across the county and further afield and all those who participated are now approved CU validators and will receive their certificate shortly.

All the delegates found the day worthwhile and commented on the state of the art facilities, the welcoming staff and the wonderful catering arrangements.

Shropshire CU would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to all at Saint Peter’s.

Anybody wishing to hire the Learning Suite should contact Gill Hiley at Hiley.G@shropshirelg.net

Provider Profile

Communication skills, confidence, teamwork Skills, peer-analysis, self –reliance, motor skills, organisation, musical ability, cultural awareness and engagement… All developed by musical education and ensemble playing!

Shropshire Music Service, the lead partner in the Shropshire Music Education Partnership, provides opportunities for musical learning activities for young people in Shropshire, working in partnership with schools and other organisations across the county.

The aim of The Music Service is to provide, develop and support the highest quality of music education in Shropshire through the provision of instrumental, vocal and curriculum learning in schools and the provision of performing opportunities in schools and in the community.
Communication skills, confidence, teamwork Skills, peer-analysis, self –reliance, motor skills, organisation, musical ability, cultural awareness and engagement… All developed by musical education and ensemble playing!

Shropshire Music Service, the lead partner in the Shropshire Music Education Partnership, provides opportunities for musical learning activities for young people in Shropshire, working in partnership with schools and other organisations across the county.

The aim of The Music Service is to provide, develop and support the highest quality of music education in Shropshire through the provision of instrumental, vocal and curriculum learning in schools and the provision of performing opportunities in schools and in the community.

Shropshire Music service enjoys an excellent relationship with schools and take-up is high with 100% of secondary schools and 97% of primary schools.
“Shropshire Music Service continues to be a good music service with some outstanding features.” (FMS Review Report 2010)
More information:
http://www.shropshiremusicservice.org.uk/

A message from one of our newly validated providers:

FILMCLUB is an educational charity which is helping to transform young lives through film. Schools can set up their own Film Clubs, undertake a free webcast induction and DVDs sent directly to your school from our film distribution partners LOVEFiLM.

 As your School Support Coordinator I am here to offer you help and assistance to establish your club. This can range from providing film advice, sharing tips for growing attendance, visiting your club in person, helping plan special events or creating bespoke resources. If you need anything at all or just want to share your success stories, please get in touch. 

Before joining the FILMCLUB team, I was a secondary teacher (English, Humanities and Film Studies) and a primary school supply teacher, so I will be able to use my experiences in schools to support you as best as I can.

 FILMCLUB can offer you:

     A website packed with resources, information and an extensive catalogue containing over 4000 films;

      Review of the Week competition where students can earn fantastic prizes;

      Regular, exciting competitions are featured on the website;

      Events, which involve interaction with people from the film industry such as directors and producers;

      Teacher’s forum where you can share best practice and success stories with other FILMCLUB leaders;

Please visit the FILMCLUB website at http://www.filmclub.org/

 Adwoa

Schools Support Coordinator adwoa@filmclub.org

0207 2884551

Welcome Aboard October 2012

Tennis Coaching at Wem Tennis Club Wem Recreational Ground 1 Session-1 Credit

FilmClub Out of School Film Activities Watching, discussing and reviewing films after school. 1 session-1 Credit

Energy Club Out of School Fitness Sessions All ages and abilities 2 x 30 minutes sessions-1 Credit

VK Dance Contemporary Dance and Classical Indian Dance  Sessions All ages and all abilities 1 session-1 Credit

From Further Afield: Shropshire CU Partner News

Imagination Gaming

                       Huddersfield University Research: Games in Education

"Exploring the Holistic Learning Possibilities of Traditional Board Games, and Recognising their Potential in Supporting Long Term Outcomes."

What It's All About...

After years of using traditional style board and card games and activities to enhance engagement and learning on a variety of levels, we wanted to instigate some independent research into why what we do has such a positive effect.

Huddersfield University were approached with the idea, and, as part of their ongoing research programme, were very eager to explore this approach to teaching and learning.

This initial investigation focuses on the immediate and long term reactions of 2 different example schools, primary and secondary, on introducing this form of activity into lessons and play. It also contains background reference to help contextualise the researcher’s observations with previous recognised work on childhood learning and the changing face of education.

The result - "Exploring the Holistic Learning Possibilities of Traditional Board Games, and recognising their Potential in Supporting Long Term Outcomes." - is now available to all interested parties!

To get a free copy of the report click here

September Blog 2012

Celebrating One Year of Shropshire Children’s University

Earlier this year Shropshire CU celebrated our first birthday. Happily the birthday celebrations coincided with graduation ceremonies at Saint Peter’s CE Primary School, Whixall CE Primary School and Lower Heath CE Primary School. We had over 250 graduates presented with certificates over the three events. We also held a special graduation ceremony at the University of Birmingham for all our Gold graduates.

To mark the occasion of our first birthday Pete Jones was asked to appear on the Jim Hawkins show on Radio Shropshire-a recording of this will soon be available on our website

 What They Say About Us

‘It is a huge benefit to young people if their experience can be enriched and their imagination stimulated by extra activities beyond the regular school curriculum. The Shropshire Children's University deserves our best wishes and support. Let's hope it can build on its first year's achievements, and have many more successful years.’

Professor Martin Rees -Baron Rees of Ludlow, OM, FRS, and has been Astronomer Royal since 1995 and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge since 2004. He was President of the Royal Society between 2005 and 2010

I made my big career decision to become a writer in school when I was nine  It  was a decision from which I never wavered, and it was my dream. When I go into schools I want to encourage all children to follow their dreams. Being Chancellor of Shropshire Children's University enables me to do this in a whole new way.  It's a privilege to see children developing their interests and taking pride in their achievements. And the beauty of it all is that the Children's University is child driven. In everything it does it strives to put children in the driving seat. This is great for our children and it's great for Shropshire too’

Pauline Fisk -Award Winning Children’s Author and Shropshire CU Chancellor

Welcome aboard Harlescott Junior School

With all the out of school clubs now validated and a launch assembly in September pupils at Harlescott Junior School are now signed up members of Shropshire Children’s University. They now join CU members at Thomas Adams School, Sundorne School and Sports College, Cleobury Mortimer Primary School, Saint Leonards Primary School in Bridgnorth  and Whixall, Lower Heath and Saint Peter’s CE Primary Schools

The following providers and destinations have also been validated over the summer months.

New Providers for September 2012

Bright Owls Language School Gain Shropshire Children's University Credits when you study a language at Bright Owls Language School 1 Session -1 Credit

Teme Leisure-Wem Pool Visit Wem Pool to collect CU Credits Each structured swimming lessons attended = 1 CU Credit Each independent visit = 1 CU Credit

Jennie Dodd Author of The Gemini Spell. Jennie offers a range of interactive workshops and talks around the county at various venues. 1 CU Credit is available for each hour attended.

Dudmaston Estate Organised group educational visits to Dudmaston Estate have been validated 'Discovering Nature' Group Visit -  3 CU Credits More validations planned

1St Wem Scout Group  Gain Shropshire CU Credits when you attend 1st Wem Scout Group activities Beavers, Cubs and Scouts 1 Credit per session

Bishops Castle Heritage Research Centre  A research visit to the BCHRC for older children 1 Visit-I CU credit

Shropshire Music Service  Shropshire Music Ensemble at various locations across the county 1 hour-1 CU Credit More activities undergoing validation

House on Crutches Museum   Visit  the Museum to gain 1 CU Credit Open summertime only