NEWS UA92 students complete first year studies online


Students at University Academy 92 (UA92) have completed their first year of academic studies, having made a quick switch to fully online learning following the COVID-19 outbreak. Co-founded by Manchester United’s Class of 92 and Lancaster University, UA92 moved to fully


online learning from 19th March to enable studies to continue on schedule. Students were well-prepared for the change to entirely digital education as “Digital


Wednesdays” were already a structured part of the learning each week for the new higher education institution. One of the key elements of this success is the close partnership UA92 have with Microsoft,


who not only share space at the campus on Talbot Road, Old Trafford, but also support UA92 in the use of Microsoft Teams as the virtual learning environment for all students. UA92 offers degrees awarded by Lancaster University. In addition to subject study,


underpinned by the academic excellence of Lancaster University, each degree also has character and personal development at its core, inspired by the winning mentality of the Class of 92 - including resilience as a key theme. The curriculum, delivered in fixed morning or afternoon slots for the duration of an individual’s


degree, is designed to enable students from a range of educational and socio-economic backgrounds to access high quality higher education. This structure, designed to enable students to combine busy lives including work and family commitments with full-time studies, has enabled students to have some predictability in this time of uncertainty.


uwww.ua92.ac.uk


Kensington Primary School in Newham shortlisted for education’s 'Oscars'


At a time when schools are doing more than ever to support their communities, teachers across the country have discovered they have been shortlisted for the education’s ‘Oscars’ – the Pearson National Teaching Awards. Selected from thousands of nominations, Helen Harris, the SENDCO at


Kensington Primary School in Newham, is one of 84 extraordinary shortlisted nominees from lecturers, school staff and schools who have been put forward for the prestigious teaching awards. Kensington Primary School was shortlisted from thousands to the final six for Primary School of the Year. Helen, one of the shortlisted four SENDCOs,


was nominated for truly embedding the phrase ‘people before paper’ and initiating a range of systems and practices that share the inclusion and development of SEND pupils and the staff that work with them. Kensington Primary School has gone from


being judged as Requires Improvement by Ofsted in 2014 to being Outstanding in 2016. This was only the start of the journey, as the school has gone from strength to strength,


developing a curriculum that encompasses academic success, pastoral care and healthy living for all its pupils. The two entries


are in the running to be Silver Award winners. These will then compete to win one of 14 Gold Awards, which will be announced at the televised UK ceremony later in the year, broadcast on the BBC as ‘Britain’s Classroom Heroes’. Ben Levinson, Kensington head teacher, said, “We are delighted to


have been nominated for this incredible award. During this unprecedented time, the whole community has stepped up to make a real difference. What that looks like has changed significantly in the last few weeks, but the ethos and commitment remain the same. ‘A place everyone loves to be’: literally or virtually, now more than ever, we are striving for this.” uwww.kensington.newham.sch.uk


African children receive laptops donated by Stratford Girls’ Grammar School


Students living in Tanzania have recently received laptops sent to them by Stratford Girls’ Grammar School in partnership with UK based charity, The Meserani Project. The Meserani Project was established by


representatives of Acklam Grange School in Middlesbrough, who, after a trip to Tanzania, wanted to raise funds for children they discovered could not afford to go to school. Only one out of every nineteen pupils in the country completes their secondary education, mostly due to poverty. The 19 laptops donated by Stratford Girls’


Grammar School will be used by Tanzanian university students and will eventually also be


used by teachers at a new secondary school that is currently under construction. The Meserani Secondary School is the charity’s most ambitious project to date, with first pupils expected to start in January 2021. Peter Swan, Chairman of The Meserani


Project, said, “May we express our sincere thanks to everyone at Stratford Girls’ Grammar School for your recent generous donation of 19 laptops. Our thanks are on behalf of the trustees of The Meserani Project, but more importantly on behalf of the young people of Meserani, Tanzania.”


uwww.sggs.org.uk 12 www.education-today.co.uk April 2020


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