Education watchdogs have been singing the praises of Burnley Brow school after a recent inspection.

Crumpsall’s Irk Valley Community School, which will also be an environmental centre open to the public, will open later this month and replace the existing St Thomas School.

Chaired by head of Pleckgate High School, Robin Campbell and principal of St Mary’s College, Kevin McMahon, the group will bring together representatives from local primary and secondary schools, governors, Blackburn College and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

About four out of 10 pupils at the Queen Victoria Street school have already passed their English GCSE at grade C or above after results were announced last week.

Seven teams from the school were given the chance to work with professionals from radio station, Key 103 as they took a trip to the school grounds.

The series-four finalist launched the art work put together by pupils from The Hollins Technology College, in Hollins Lane, Accrington, from Quattro’s Italian Restaurant in Accrington town centre.

Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove said the proposals are part of a plan to raise the status of teaching as a profession.

]]> education http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/education/s/1185064_take_up_teaching_and_well_pay_40k?rss=yes#comments 2009-12-04T11:31:31 http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/education/s/1183216_kids_write_idea_to_stop_waste?rss=yes YOUNG inventors at an Ashton school have won a national competition after designing a device to help Wipe Out Waste.

Pupils at Canon Burrows primary came up with the ‘pencil hugger’ after they were asked for ideas on how to help the environment and stop unneccesary waste.

The award recognises that the school has been involved in promoting internationalism, intercultural understanding and helping pupils become global citizens by increasing their awareness of the world around them.

St John’s RC Primary School in Rochdale will use the money to buy guided reading books and notebook computers for its pupils.

Rochdale Sixth Form College, which will opens its doors in September 2010, launched its website www.rochdalesixthformcollege.co.uk over the summer and in just two months it has received over 2,000 hits from youngsters across the borough.

Year 7 pupil Aleena Ali scooped the prizes after entering an annual draw at Moses school wear store in Oldham Road.

The entire student population from St Thomas Community Primary School in Crumpsall took part in a day of activities highlighting what they would like in the new school, which is due to open in February.

The percentage of classes missed during the autumn 2008 to spring 2009 term because of unauthorised absence is up since last year in both primary and secondary schools, latest figures released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families have revealed.

Girls at the school on Wellington Road pulled out all the stops to persuade a number of retailers to loan them designs.

This was sold in aid of a charity that sponsors children through their education in the Andrha Pradesh region of India.

Youngsters brought dozens of items of food, which were taken to Petrus homeless hostel and Great Howarth hostel in Wardle at the end of the day.

Youngsters at Hamer and Springside primary schools were invited by leading North West scientists to participate in the pioneering project, which aims to encourage children to explore their local environments.

In scenes echoing popular TV drama CSI a 'body' was discovered in a science lab at Oulder Hill Community School and Language College in Rochdale.

Youngsters took part in a morning workshop that ended with them learning about mosques in a very unusual way.

It was no surprise that the event was well attended by pupils and staff.

Mohammed Ullah, 19, of Bacup Road, whose dream job is to work as an optician, was delighted with his A-grades in chemistry, biology, psychology and law.

The students from Oldham Hulme Grammar have all secured university places and start their courses in September.

Ashfield Valley Primary School presented the Childer Award to Saida Din Kisana, aged nine, who couldn’t speak any English at all when she first came to England from France with her family two years ago. She is now doing extremely well in school and is also described by staff as an excellent role model for other pupils.

The leavers arrived in a collection of stylish cars, including a Ferrari and an old style Cadillac.

The Year 9 youngsters at Falinge Park High School have spent the past year studying issues like climate change, global warming and environmental sustainability as part of the science curriculum and decided to take matters into their own hands.

The dynamic half-minute commercial is being used to promote the College, the only boys’ media arts school in the northwest.

It will premiere this Friday just seconds before the opening credits of ‘Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince’ and will play throughout the film’s opening week.

Spotland Primary School pupil Ali Shah, aged eight, suffers from a form of autism but doesn’t let the disorder get him down.

The children and teachers were introduced to the mosque and its role in the community and were taken on an interactive learning experience.

Get Ahead is an extension to the LSC's Get On campaign, which was first launched in 2001 and is part of the Government's Skills for Life strategy.

The fitness conscious youngsters have managed to raise more than £350 for the British Heart Foundation by taking part in a sponsored skip.

But the 11-year-old doesn’t always have a choice about what he can wear because of a chronic skin condition which covers his body.

Students from The Barlow RC High School, Manchester showed off their brilliance to proud parents, family and friends at the annual art and design exhibition.

The ceremony formally launched the construction of the new development, situated opposite the Hopwood Hall site on College Road, which is due to open in September 2010.

Shamaa Akhtar, 11, was presented with her statuette by Councillor Angela Coric, who sponsors the award, in front of her peers and proud parents during the school’s weekly achievement assembly.

Pupils paraded 192 full-size flags from across the globe in a 50-minute ceremony held in conjunction with the World Peace Prayer Society.

The scheme, which has taken on 70 volunteers so far, aims to improve health services and give participants the chance to give something back to the community.

BOXING is making a return to schools - with a series of out-of-hours clubs which really pack a punch.

Both boys and girls have been learning about the noble art which stopped in schools in the 1970s.

The 12 eggs were kept in an incubator and the children were able to watch them hatch and develop into healthy chicks.

The Year 5 pupils at Spotland Primary School in Rochdale donned caps and gowns and were presented with their diplomas after completing the Higher Futures for You programme.

Tanzeela Mazher has been given the award in recognition of her hard work and dedication to school activities. She was nominated by all of the teachers at the primary school.

Pupils’ personal development, well-being, care, guidance and support and the effectiveness of the early years foundation stage were rated as "good".

The school was one of several in Rochdale to be visited by a group of headteachers and educational staff from Spain.

Year 11 dance students at Falinge Park High School showcased their talents during their energetic performance of ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’.

The pupils at Alice Ingham Primary School took part in the problem solving sessions with a difference with the help of visiting sports coaches.

An awards evening was held earlier this month to celebrate the success of the 13 students who started the two-year apprenticeship scheme in 2006.

Ofsted inspectors found that procedures for improvement have been put in place since Balderstone was strongly criticised in November 2007.

James Allonby and Louise Cleary visited Heybrook Primary School in Rochdale to educate the pupils about the role of young people in the community.

The move comes as figures reveal a big increase in absences from city classrooms for `religious observance'.

Year 11 pupils showcased their creative coursework at Falinge Park High School’s first design and technology expo.

The recent inspection saw the college score the highest grade in all six of the main categories judged, including a near-unparalleled 33 "outstanding grade 1" scores.

Amina Siddiqi, who attends Falinge Park High School in Rochdale won a competition run by the Royal Exchange to find the best new Muslim talent in the region.

Eight-year-olds’ Jordan Coupe and Rehaan Khokhor have received free home computer and internet packages aimed at providing disadvantaged children with the same opportunities as those from more affluent homes.

Pupils and staff transformed the classrooms and halls into a makeshift airport and an aeroplane.

They took part in a cycling taster day at Springhill sports centre, Rochdale where they were able to try out the latest equipment.

Members of Heybrook Primary School’s choir wowed the judges at the Rochdale Music Festival and scooped highly commended for their unison singing.

There were recently fears that the plans would be put on hold because of the credit crunch, but now Rochdale Council officials are looking forward to a September 2010 opening.

Proud mums and dads were in the audience to watch their children perform at the college, in Manchester city centre, on two consecutive nights.

The youngsters at Hamer Primary School in Rochdale were given the chance to learn more about the system of raised dots – which is widely used by blind people to read and write – after their teachers organised an awareness session.

The Connecting Classrooms School Leadership Conference will bring together head teachers, ministers and education specialists from the UK, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to look at school leadership in the community and explore how cultural identity can be shared and celebrated.

Manchester's Chorlton High School pupil Sana Arif Choudry has won the national Good Citizens Award run by education specialist Select Education.

The specialist language college is supporting the Fairtrade Foundation by being part of the world’s biggest banana-eating record attempt.

But these are no pirate pupils; their ‘local looting’ is part of a project on the gems we walk past every day in the area.

More than 350 people attended the celebrations, which were staged by staff and students at the Wilmslow Road school.

The Year 2 pupils were shown round the Idara Masjid Mosque as part of their religious education work.

Christian and Muslim students from Mount Carmel, Accrington Academy and St Christopher’s will speak frankly about their religions to promote community cohesion.

The pupils at Heybrook Primary School tested their knowledge – and picked up some new skills – during a week of maths-themed activities.

Mr Denham was speaking as he launched new guidance for FE colleges to help them promote mutual respect and understanding and encourage debate around the social challenges posed by the threat of extremism.

Government inspectors have given the Glodwick school the highest possible ranking in their latest report.

Storytime sessions for children under the age of five are held every Tuesday and Friday at Smallbridge library in Stevenson Square, Rochdale.

More than 50 pupils from two Year 5 classes at the Rochdale school enjoyed halal chicken, kebabs, flatbreads and figs in a banquet prepared by the school cook, known to the children as Auntie Pam.

Pupils and staff donned their trainers and took to the playground for a fun run in aid of charity Action for Children.

The Manmohan Singh Undergraduate Scholarship programme, which will enable more Indian students to study at Cambridge was announced in New Delhi by Vice-Chancellor Professor Alison Richard.

The course, which begins on 2 February is part of the centre's long-running 'continuing education' initiative.

The pack, Did You Know? 2, by West Yorkshire diversity in education publishers Primary Colours, features 10 illustrated biographies of inspirational black and Asian people that also include president-elect Barack Obama, racing driver Lewis Hamilton and author Malorie Blackman.

The two Year 11 pupils – Iram Jabeen and Christian Stansfield – have been chosen from students across the North West to have their work featured in a special anthology from the Manchester Metropolitan University.

St James’ Primary School was given a ‘good’ overall verdict from inspectors, while the behaviour of learners and the welfare of early years’ pupils was described as ‘outstanding’.

The proposals, which have been two years in the making, will see the construction of a host of new structures and the demolition of all but three of the existing buildings.

CHILDREN from two Rochdale schools have taken part in a joint event aimed at bringing them together before they merge in two years’ time.

Pupils in Years 7 and 8 from Balderstone Technology College and Springhill High School attended a morning of live scientific demonstrations at Balderstone.

Sandra Hartley has been the head of the Holborn Street school for nine years and is leaving to take up a similar post at Greenbank Primary School.

SCHOOLCHILDREN are reaching for the stars – using a telescope almost 2,000 miles away.

Instead of setting up an astronomy project in school, pupils at Deeplish Primary in Rochdale are able to access a telescope on Mount Teide in Tenerife to learn about the solar system.

The Year 6 youngsters took a trip down memory lane and participated in a Victorian workshop at the museum.

Zoeyah Shaheen, 17, of Blackburn Road, Accrington, a student at Clitheroe Grammar School, has secured one of the 40 available places after writing an essay and speech on the efficiency of the United Nations.

A college spokesman said: "The lectures are aimed initially at the college’s science students, but with a view to hosting a broader audience in the future.

The Rochdale school has been learning about the history and culture of Africa with a whole range of events, from constructing model African villages to sampling exotic and healthy South African-style school dinners.

The entire school took part in practical puzzles and problems designed to help improve their mathematical skills in an enjoyable way.

The merger of the two schools, to form a new foundation school, is now set to go ahead in 2010 following approval by the Schools Adjudicator.

This means that both schools will close their doors on 31 August 2010.

Hopwood Hall is one of 27 colleges across the country to have asked the government for permission to offer degree courses.

Yet only eight concerned parents attended a drop-in session at Balderstone and no-one showed up at a similar event at Springhill.

The play was part of the Shakespeare Schools Festival, which involves more than 3,000 secondary schools across the UK.

Recent figures revealed that there were only 56 men working in state nurseries in the whole of England – with NONE aged under 25.

This comes as a reported 90,000 learners are still waiting for their EMA applications to be processed, more than a month after the start of the academic year. This leaves 50,000 learners still at risk of dropping out.

Pupils were treated to expert tuition in the ancient classical and folk styles fused with the modern Bollywood beats as part of their PE lessons.

In total 18 children from Aspinal Primary School, Gorton Mount and also Old Hall Drive Primary School quizzed a panel of officials about the crime and safety in their area.

Over a third - 41 per cent - of the Asian participants said, without prompting, that their family were the key people to ask when choosing future career paths.

The shocking figure emerged as the council {ndash} which has among the worst truancy rates in Britain - prepared for a major crackdown on the parents of school-skipping children.

The centre is inviting everyone along for a first taste of the internet.

The youngsters from Burnley, Padiham, Nelson and Brierfield learned about radio, film, and photo-journalism.

Students from Pendle Community High School and College gave their families a tour of the new Oxford Road building over the weekend.

The pupils at Withington Girls’ School donned all manner of interesting headwear for their race dubbed Wigs For Life.

The setting up of a new secondary school could happen sooner than originally planned under proposals put forward for consultation by Rochdale Council.

Amina Ahmed, aged 22, from Leicester, will see her winning designs in a five-page-spread in this months’ edition of the Asian Woman magazine.

The 18-year-old, from Thirlmere Avenue, Haslingden, paid tribute to her teachers at Haslingden High School, but she also deserves praise herself because she studied critical thinking in the last year without any lessons and achieved a B grade.

Asma Wali, 16, faced an uphill struggle when she arrived in February from her home city of Lahore in Pakistan.

Uzma Ahmed is to study medicine at Newnham College, Cambridge, after securing the top grades in biology, chemistry, physics and maths, while Jessica Shepherd is to study philosophy and theology at Keeble College, Oxford, after earning A grades in English literature, religious studies, government and politics and general studies.

Bryony Makin, a former pupil of Falinge Park High School, achieved three As and a B in English literature, history, film studies and critical thinking.

This is considerably above the national average of 97.2% and reinforces Bury College’s recent Government Inspection which awarded uutstanding grades for every single area of provision, including outstanding support for students.

Preliminary talks have been held to discuss the proposal and education bosses will travel to Leeds next month for a meeting with government officials.

Six years after receiving an award from the Helena Kennedy Foundation, 32-year-old mother of four from Manchester, Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar has now graduated from Manchester University as a medical doctor.

Former hairdresser Shamaila Wahla dropped out of school at 16 with a handful of poor GCSE grades and quickly got in trouble with police.

For the facility wasn’t only closing for summer, but preparing for a major overhaul which will see it open as a new school in September – the juniors are amalgamating with the neighbouring Werneth Infant School.

Rod Weatherhead left his role, as joint headteacher of Heybrook Primary School after 12 years at the helm. He will now embark on a new career as a school improvement officer.

The children took part in the event which aimed to raise awareness of the importance of free speech.

The prom committee, including ten pupils aged 16, and three teachers, decked-out the Errwood Road school’s hall in black, silver and pink.

The diverse portrait exhibition, including contributions from college students, celebrates the borough’s diverse and varied society, at work, at prayer and in the community.

Accrington and Rossendale College students Eshan Nasir, Tee Jay Sayers, Beverley Tiller, Zunnoorain Shabbir, Matthew Poole, Jade Atherton, Kayleigh Fletcher, Kenneth Walters, David Bradley and Chris Clayton were all presented with the awards at a special ceremony held at Horizons restaurant, in the Globe Centre, Accrington, last week.