Liverpool Echo - School Assembly

Why Our Lady of Good Help school in Wavertree is right not to toe party line

2009-11-04T09:06:29Z

Party hats off to Sue Horncastle, headteacher at Our Lady of Good Help Catholic Primary School in Wavertree.

As we revealed she has written to parents reminding them that her staff are teachers and not party planners.
She has told parents that teachers do not mind handing out children's birthday invitations but the school draws the line at staff actually writing them and selecting the party guests!
This was a genuine demand from one parent who presumably read far too much into the school's name.
Yes schools pride themselves on being extensions of a family.
But let's get a grip, parents must take some responsibility for themselves and not wash their hands of their duties thinking schools will pick up the slack.
The school's actions must be saluted.
I mean where would it stop? Selecting the flavour of jelly and ice cream?
Teachers must be allowed to be teachers.

Gabby's Liverpool Schools' Parliament column wins plaudits

2009-10-14T08:33:08Z

THE new column in ECHO Education to give young people a voice has been approved by Liverpool's former education boss Paul Clein
Broughton Hall sixthformer Gabriella Holmes (pictured), a prime minister of Liverpool Schools' Parliament is bringing a youth perspective in her fortnightly column.

And Cllr Clein (pictured) is keen to congratulate the teenager - but has gently corrected her assertion regarding the history behind Liverpool Schools' Parliament which allows young people to feed directly into council policy.

Cllr Clein got in touch with School Assembly to say: "Good to see one of the Schools Parliament PMs writing a column today in Echo Education but I would wish to correct her statement that it was started nine years ago "because the Government wanted to give young people a voice".
"They didn't - we the city council did. In our first budget in 1999 we made grants available to schools to encourage start-ups of school councils because we had inherited only a handful in 1998.
"That worked well and the number increased very quickly from 12 to about 90. Nearly all our schools now have one.
"The following year we Cllrs. Richard Marbrow, Jan Clein and myself came up with what we thought was the logical next step - a bicameral Schools Parliament which we believed would empower the city's young people and give them an insight into how democracy works in practice.
"Since then we have given them an annual budget and made provision so that motions from the Schools Parliament are treated on the same basis as motions from councillors.
"We also consult them on any matter which directly affects young people and duly take notice."
He adds: "We are very proud of this initiative and the way young people in the city have got involved over the years. We hope some of them will turn out to be councillors of the future."
Sparking debate so early, Gabby may be already on the right road.

Liverpool education chief Cllr Keith Turner: Could do better

2009-09-22T20:08:22Z

In March Liverpool's education chief, Cllr Keith Turner was praising pupils who had notched up 100% attendance records as part of a city council Celebrating Success event.

Six months on it now seems clear that Cllr Turner should take a leaf out of their books.
His attendance, or rather non attendance, has caused a right old stink with the city's governors.
Since he was installed as Liverpool's executive member for education in May, 2008, Cllr Turner has been somewhat elusive - attending just one paltry termly meeting with chairs of governors who quite rightly wish to grill the elected member on school issues and council policies.
Diary clashes, as he states, are unavoidable.
But to miss one meeting is unfortunate, two careless, but four simply inexcusable.
If you want to hit home the importance of attendance to the city's pupils - then it has to start at the top.

* Check out our city editor David Bartlett's take on Cllr Turner's attendance record in his Dale Street Blues blog

Practical lessons needed to prepare pupils for real world

2009-09-05T07:04:27Z

MUCH has been made about the suitability of SATS tests and whether the National Curriculum is in need of an overhaul.
But one thing I would like to see is a more practical approach to lessons.

I remember spending hours studying pi in maths, yet I don't recall ever using it in later life.

So here are my suggestions for things that should be included in the school timetable.
Bed making lessons: How to master the tricky double duvet. How I would have benefited from that!

Stress / anger management: Take pupils to any Post Office between noon and 2pm. Only those who resist the temptation to mouth "You'd think they'd put more staff on" and tut loudly as they stand in the painfully slow moving queue can successfully complete this module.

Seriously though knowing how to change a tyre, re-wire a plug and defrost the fridge is as important as remembering 3.142 is the approximate value of pi.

What would you like to see taught at school?

Time to end SATS tests for Merseyside's primary school pupils

2009-08-26T07:04:29Z

SO the boys are still lagging behind the girls when it comes to the three Rs.
Key Stage One tables show that, like their national counterparts, seven year-old boys in Merseyside are being out shone by girl classmates when it comes to reading, writing, maths and not forgetting science.

But the fact that seven-year-olds of any sex are having formal tests at all is still problematic for me.
At that age shouldn't we be following the lead of many of our European neighbours and just let children be children?
My memories of being seven are kiss chase and British Bulldog in the yard and a pretty impressive contribution to the school production as Bashful in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Granted I will have done academic work in between.
But that's precisely my point, school did not feel like a testing factory.
Sure children go to school to learn, but it should complement and not substitute play.
One teaching contact told me some pupils are wetting the bed at the mere prospect of SATs exams.
While some headteachers have freely admitted children, albeit older students, have on occasions been taken from their sick beds to take exams so not to jeopardise a possible fall in the league tables.
Yes we need accountability, but you can get that from Ofsted or a visit to the school.
And while pupils' progress needs to be tracked it should not be at the expense of a well rounded childhood which allows children to develop at their own pace.

Free school meals stigma still on the menu

2009-08-07T09:22:06Z

PINK custard, soggy semolina and Turkey Twizzlers may be a thing of the past but sadly it seems some pupils remain too ashamed to get a free school lunch.

Figures show that thousands of the region's pupils entitled to free school meals are not taking up their allocation - meaning in Liverpool alone more than half a million quid worth of nosh is not being claimed for each year.

Now when I was at school I could understand why classmates on free school meals would feel stigmatised.

They would be asked to join disabled students (also ridiculously singled out) at the front of the queue and produce their flimsy plastic covered cards which entitled them to a daily dinner.

The headteacher may have well have shouted over the public address system: "Can all the less well off please stand up."

But nowadays the school canteen experience should be worlds apart.

Schools are always crowing about their fabulous menus and comfy eating experience which is meant to be akin to visiting a restaurant.

More importantly cashless systems mean those on free school meals should not be isolated.

However reluctance remains on the part of low income families to access the free school meals they are entitled to.

This is not small change either - just less than £2 per meal per day, per pupil is being forfeited .

But why?

Charities believe barriers and stigmatisation remain and free school meals for all is the answer.

Food for thought isn't it?

Either that or families believe despite Jamie Oliver's crusade they would rather fork out for alternative grub than make their children eat what's on offer at school.

Gateacre Comprehensive School's community service

2009-07-21T09:20:03Z

I had the pleasure of visiting Gateacre Community Comprehensive School for this week's School of the Week feature.
The focus was on its commitment to using arts and music to lighten up the community.
Here are some photographs we took to highlight the raft of projects going on at the school to make this happen.

Great minds think alike over St Hilda's move to Littlewoods Building

2009-07-20T18:12:29Z

Louise Baldock (pictured), Labour councillor for Kensington and Fairfield Ward in Liverpool is publicly claiming a victory.

She cannot hide her joy following Liverpool council's decision to put forward plans for St Hilda's CE High School instead of originally proposed St Margaret's CE High to join fellow city secondary Archbishop Blanch within the dormant Littlewoods Building by 2014.

The Labour councillor proudly boasts that SHE was approached by governors at St Hilda's over the possibility of filling the void after St Margaret's governing body made it abundantly clear they would not up sticks.
She stresses it was your faithful Labour ward councillor who helped broker the move as stated in her blog on June 14.
Days later Liberal Democrat councillor and former education boss Paul Clein (pictured) publicly stated the merits of the St Hilda's move on my School Assembly blog.

This has lead to Cllr Baldock to claim he must have "read my blog".
For the record Paul's wife and fellow councillor Jan Clein insists she came up with the idea weeks before any of the blog posts.
Quite frankly I could not give two hoots whose light-bulb moment or brokering skills we have to thank.
It is not rocket science that if one school is clearly excited about the Littlewoods idea then it should replace another that wants to stay put.
This is not about political point scoring - but how the city's schools will best serve their pupils.
And as Cllr Baldock states "the idea came from the school itself, nobody else."
I'm glad that's cleared up then.

Bee-loving St Cuthbert's Primary School, Old Swan is buzzing

2009-07-18T06:37:00Z

ST Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School in Old Swan can rightly state it's the bee's knees.

The school has won a scarecrow design competition set by the National Wildflower Centre, Huyton after creating an eye-catching version based on a bee.
But the success has created an extra buzz due to the fact the teacher who oversaw the pupils' efforts is known as, wait for it, Mrs B.
And even more fitting is that Mrs B (art coordinator Jean Biart) is herself buzzing off - retiring after 18 years at the school.
But the school was always destined to win the contest as its postcode ends with B, B.

The school is set to display its scarecrow in a new garden - so birds will get anything but a 'swarm' welcome.
Sorry!

Pet blessings by vicar in playground of St Oswald's Church of England Primary School

2009-07-16T11:15:33Z

NOW I know vicars wear dog collars, but until now I did not think that meant their calling included carrying out pet blessings.
I am not going barking mad honest.
St Oswald's Church of England Primary School in Netherton requested the services of Reverend Debbie Statter, the vicar of the neighbouring church, to carry out a sermon and hymn service with a distinctly furry twist!

But any of you tempted to smirk at the mere thought of a vicar blessing 40 hounds, two ants and a rabbit, take yourself to the doghouse.
Granted it is a strange tale (or should that be tail?).
However the service was done at the request of the pupils themselves in a bid to salute and show their love for God's creatures.
In a world where young people get such a bad press and are often tarred with the same brush, it is fantastic these children were so inclined to be compassionate.
And well done to the Church of England for not letting any fears over political correctness get in the way and fully backing the idea.
Schools are told to be as engaging as possible and it is clear St Oswald's head Emma Murtagh is doing all she can to achieve this while involving parents at the same time.
And I suppose it gives a whole new meaning to teacher's pet!
What do you think?

Plagiarism detectors for university students? I feel cheated

2009-07-09T19:38:25Z

Now followers of my blog know I have defended students over the regular kickings they get from critics queuing up to have a pop at the quality of education today.
But the decision of our universities to allow students to run their essays through cheat detectors - BEFORE - submitting them is pure madness.

Lecturers stress most forms of plagiarism is innocent and the technology is just a helping hand to let students learn the error of their ways.
Excuse me?
Surely students should know that simply pasting chunks of text from the internet is wrong?
There is a difference in missing the odd quotation mark than passing the work of others off as your own.

If students do not know this and the basics of constructing an essay by the time they get to university then something is badly wrong.
A pep talk every now and then on the rules surrounding written assignments would be fair enough.
But flagging up to students whether their plagiarism, deliberate or otherwise, will be detected when they get round to handing it in is barmy.
What do you think?

My unintentional geography lesson with St Vincent de Paul primary school

2009-07-01T10:28:06Z

Top of my Christmas card list this year is Phil Stewart (pictured), headteacher at Liverpool primary school St Vincent de Paul.

We all know how busy headteachers are but kind-hearted Mr Stewart got me out of a large, self-created, hole.

I turned up at his city-centre based school, notepad in hand, expecting to do what I thought was a pre-arranged feature on the primary.

Unfortunately I got my Saints horribly confused and was actually supposed to be in St Cleopas primary school - several miles away in Dingle!

But rather than send me packing with a flea in my ear, Mr Stewart, knowing I was on foot, calmly said: "Leave it to me."

He then directed me outside and told me to "hop in" the school minibus which he drove to my intended port of call.

Not only did he help me brush up on my geography, but gave me an education in hospitality. Top class.

A-levels? Sat-navs more like

2009-06-18T18:48:42Z

SPARE a thought for students sitting their A-levels this month.
While they strive to secure a passport to university - the snipers are already belittling the annually maligned qualification.
Believe the critics and many of the subjects are now the exam version of sat-navs with students guided along and receiving a "hollow preparation" for university.

That is the damning conclusion of a new report from independent think-tank Reform which analysed the views of academics in English, maths, chemistry and history.
Professor Rosemary Bailey, professor of statistics at Queen Mary, London University who took part in the study said: "Sitting a mathematics A-level paper is now more like using a sat-nav system than reading a map.
"The result is that students retain very little knowledge and develop very little understanding."
If you believe the report it means teenagers are no longer able to think for themselves and are simply lacking the skills needed for university.
Spoon-feeding at its worst.
Maybe so, but putting the boot in during exam season is not just predictable but a distraction students could well do without.
After all they can only do what it is put in front of them - with or without their eyes closed.

Other takes on this issue worth a look include an article by Nikki Barr for the Daily Express.

Schools' move to Liverpool's Littlewoods building - a catalogue of disaster?

2009-06-17T08:17:28Z

IN four years time some pupils' school run could be to Liverpool's Innovation Park.
Council chiefs want two city high schools to move into the iconic Littlewoods building in a £45m project aimed at regenerating the area and dovetailing the technology specialisms of St Margaret's and Archbishop Blanch schools.
But alarm bells are already sounding.

Governors at St Margaret's don't want anything to do with a move.
And for some blending schools with cutting edge business is an awkward mix that simply will not work.
Nothing is a done deal stress the council.
With the voices of dissent already surfacing it is a good job.
Safety, access, traffic congestion, and fears sharing a site with hundreds of pupils will actually deter new development seem legitimate concerns.
While the vision to save the Littlewoods building and give students real hands-on experience is a noble one - I remain to be convinced whether putting two schools bang in the middle of a prime business park is the best course of action.
What do you think?

A glowing concern...

2009-06-10T15:50:02Z

FOR those hellbent on caking themselves in fake tan - the future is far from bright for pupils at Deyes high school in Maghull.

Those regularly being a bit too liberal with their tanning cream and make-up face being sent home to take it off, the school has warned parents.

While you can sympathise with the school not wanting an army of orange pupils - a quiet word would surely be the best course of action.

Rather than headteacher Peter Reed warning parents of "persistent offenders" their children will sent home to "to correct their appearance accordingly."

But even more questionable is the rule that girls should tie their hair back at all times as "tied hair is a health and safety issue."

While it may be wise to do so during science experiments and PE - how hazardous can walking down a corridor with your hair down be?

At least they won't be dazzled by orange classmates.