NEWS
Parents start
campaign
to promote
state schools
A sense of fair play
by Sam Phipps
ing the morning and evening school tudes to state schools from watch-
runs. ing Grange Hill or they have their
Kevin O’Donnell, who is on the own experiences 30 or more years Cricket is well-known for gramme which aims to bring cricket Dr Ruth Jeanes, who led the
Parents are planning to leaflet parent council at Trinity Academy, ago which are nothing like schools encouraging a sense of fair play to at least two million primary and research, said: “While Chance
private schools in the Scottish said the recession made it a perfect today.” – but now researchers have secondary children in England and to Shine is undoubtedly having a
capital as part of a campaign time for many middle class par- The Scottish Council for found that the game improves Wales by 2015. positive impact on general cricket
to attract more pupils into state ents to reconsider their children’s Independent Schools (SCIS) says youngsters’ behaviour too. This year, 350,000 youngsters provision and the development of
education. schooling. private schools throughout the A new study has revealed that from 3,000 state schools have been opportunities for young people,
Back to School, a new action The council “should be promot- country are defying financial pres- playing cricket leads to more involved in the project. The study its contribution to improving the
group, says Edinburgh state schools ing its own schools in the same way sures on parents from the downturn. “sportsmanlike” conduct, better found that the programme has par- social wellbeing of many of its
are struggling at the hands of the that they promote the city’s festi- About 32,000 children, or 4.4 per social skills and improved fitness ticularly benefited children living in participants illustrates that it is
independent sector, which com- vals”, he told Scotland on Sunday. cent of all pupils, attend Scotland’s levels. deprived areas and has helped to cut more than just a cricket develop-
prises a quarter of the city’s pupils “If councils won’t promote their 70 independents. The average The research, carried out by truancy as well. More than half said ment initiative.”
– a far higher proportion than any- own schools, then parents are per- annual fees are £8,000 but they the Institute of Youth Sport, part they looked forward to school on Meanwhile, Ashes hero and
where else in the UK. fectly entitled to step in and do the go as high as £23,000 for certain of Loughborough University, also Chance to Shine days, compared to Chance to Shine ambassador,
Set up by parents in the Trinity job themselves.” boarding schools. showed that cricket helped girls a third on normal school days. Andrew Flintoff, said cricket
and Craiglockhart areas, it says it His local schools, Trinity A SCIS spokeswoman said: “If to overcome “restrictive gender The initiative has had a huge benefited youngsters for many
intends to promote state education Primary and Trinity Academy, did anything, having people thrusting beliefs” and become more confi- impact on 13-year-old Caitlin Byrne reasons. “First and foremost, it’s
rather than denouncing private just as good a job as “an expensive leaflets at you would be more likely dent at playing sport. from Durham. Caitlin had never a lot of fun,” he said. “But it
schools. private school” while also fostering to convince you that you were right Researchers questioned more played cricket before but quickly dis- can also teach you a lot of good
Members will hand out leaf- community spirit, he said. to send your children to an inde- than 300 pupils taking part in the covered that she was a talented left- things – respect, self-confidence,
lets to parents outside independ- Another member of Back to pendent school.” Cricket Foundation’s Chance to arm seam bowler. She now plays for discipline, all things you need to
ent schools, including George School, Gavin Corbett, said: “I City of Edinburgh Council was Shine initiative, a three-year pro- her age group at Durham County. grow up as a good person.”
Watson’s, Edinburgh’s biggest, dur- think some parents form their atti- not available to comment.
Music ‘postcode
Significant progress made
lottery’ review
on Northern Irish campus
The “postcode lottery” which also among the 32 signatories on Significant progress is being A previous attempt to pilot a asset, which will sit at the heart of Ms Ruane said: “Significant
sees some students pay for extra- the 2006 letter. made in developing a campus shared campus model in County the community”. work has been completed in mov-
curricular music education in “It’s not right that a young incorporating up to six secondary Antrim failed to win widespread The minister says such a cam- ing this exciting project to the next
Wales and others receive it for person, say here in Cardiff, has and primary schools in Northern support. pus opens up many possibilities to stage of development,”
free is to be reviewed. the chance to have a harp lesson, Ireland. There is, however, backing for share resources, which can only “The process to appoint a pro-
The decision comes after let’s say, but a person in a differ- The North’s education minis- the Omagh project, which could benefit the children and young peo- gramme director based in Omagh
years of campaigning by stars ent part of Wales, of the same ter, Caitriona Ruane, is supporting contain secondary schools from ple attending the schools. is underway and we are tendering
concerned about the effect of the age, perhaps doesn’t have that radical plans to transform a former both Catholic and state-controlled It is expected to provide facili- contracts for design, financial, legal
disparity on the nation’s musical opportunity. Ministry of Defence site at Lisanelly sectors. ties for more than 3,000 pupils in and technical teams to bring this
heritage. “I think that’s where the prob- in Omagh, County Tyrone, into a It is a locally-led, locally-owned a more co-ordinated and effective project to life.
In 2006, Bryn Terfel, lem lies and I think we have to shared education campus. project. way than is possible now. “An intensive period of work
Katherine Jenkins and rock band give that opportunity to every- Ms Ruane says the develop- It will be up to the people of More than £2 million has lies ahead of us as the parents,
Super Furry Animals, signed one.” ment of the new model is “a unique Omagh and surrounding areas to been allocated by the Department pupils, schools, teachers and the
a joint letter to first minister, Between 1999 and 2005 the opportunity for education”. When make the key decisions that will of Education and the Strategic wider community engage with
Rhodri Morgan, calling for an Assembly government-backed completed it will be the first cross- determine the shape of what is Investment Board to be used for its the design team to create their
end to Wales’ postcode lottery Music Development Fund sector shared facility in the North. being described as a “valuable development. educational campus.”
for provision of young people’s provided £17 million, financ-
music lessons outside the ing musical activities through
curriculum. workshops and master classes.
Now, education minister, Jane But since then, funding for
Website celebrates words of wisdom
Hutt, has announced that a task music has no longer been ring-
group will review music educa- fenced, meaning some Welsh
tion and identify any areas for local authorities can opt to spend An online dictionary with a “Some kids find it much more
improvement. more on music services than difference has dedicated a week to engaging to hear about word mean-
Emyr Wynne Jones, music others. celebrating words from the world ings, rather than looking trough a
adviser for Carmarthenshire A Welsh Assembly govern- of education. dusty old dictionary, particularly
and Ceredigion, is to lead the ment spokesman said it was Celebrities and educationalists if it’s someone they respect that is
review. expected the team would meet have been describing what words telling them.”
“I think it’s clear that some- before the end of September and like inspiration, achievement and Among the celebrities defin-
thing needs to be done,” he said. would report back next year. risk mean to them, before uploading ing words as part of the Week
“In some parts of Wales young The group will look at the them to Wordia, which uses short were comedian and writer, Arabella
people are paying for provision current state of music education, videos to define words as opposed Weir, children’s laureate, Anthony
but in other parts of Wales it’s both within and in addition to to traditional written definitions. Browne, and SecEd columnists, Ian
free. the curriculum, in different parts It was all part of the site’s Whitwham and David Torn.
“In some parts of Wales, tui- of Wales. It will also look at Modern Education Week, which Ms Weir, who defines the word
tion is available for instruments the extent to which music can took place last week after a number “achievement”, describes her rise to
that is not available elsewhere. I improve learners’ health and well- of teachers got in touch saying they prominence in the comedy world.
know one county doesn’t have being. had used the resource in class. Mr Browne, talking about the word
a centrally co-ordinated music But the Assembly government Site co-founder, Ed Baker, told “creative”, described how he devel-
service at all.” will tell the group that any recom- us: “We get emails every week oped his drawing style.
The move to review the matter mendations it makes must take from teachers saying that they love Mr Whitwham tackles the world Anyone can upload a definition original lexicographer, Dr Samuel
has been praised by former royal into account constraints on public the video definitions, so we thought of “tests”, while Mr Torn takes to the site, and previous weeks’ Johnson.
harpist Catrin Finch, who was finances. we’d have a week dedicated to edu- us through what it means to be a themes include a look at the words To check out Modern Education
cation words. “teacher”. of Henry VII, and the world of Week, visit www.wordia.com
4 SecEd • September 17 2009
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