NEWSNEW S


Nationwide competitio n launched by Rounders England


Nationwide competition launched by Rounders England


Rounders England has launched a national


is aimed at broadening social Rounders competition for pri


a fun way to keep active.


The event – Primary Ready Rounders – forms part of Rounders England’s Competition Strategy, which promotes the social and fun aspects of rounders on a national scale to both broaden its appeal to players and encourage more rounders to be played within the Rounders community.


The announcement follows a period of detailed research, which explored the motivations and goals of the Rounders community. It found an increased focus on fun and social activity and increased competition were key to support the continued growth within the sport.


Rounders England has put together a programme of events and


competitions, which is made up of open contests for primary, secondary and independent schools and a special ‘Rounders Tour’ for universities. Community teams and leagues are also being encouraged to get involved by taking part in Roundersfest, a series of standalone open competitions for local teams that play in local leagues or for new teams formed by groups of Champion of Champions too, where the winners of the country (both ladies and mixed) have the chance to


leagues from acros s friends. There’s also


battle it out for the All of the activitie fun way to keep act


ive, while fostering team spirit and cr s are designed to both broaden socia prestigious Champion of Champions


competition amongst teams. www


l circles and create a title.


eating a sense of ww.roundersengland.co.uk/play/competition-and-events/


mary schools, which circles and creating


Tr Tributes paid to inspirationa trust CE inspirationall trust CEO


Tributes have been made following the death of Andy Bird, Interim CEO of Venturers Trust in Bristol and former CEO of FairfaxMulti Academy Trust in Sutton-Coldfield. He died in hospital on24 February 2019 following a short illness. He was 45-years old.


Mr Bird joined Venturers Trust in August 2018, where he had already put in place robust systems to accelerate Trust-wide academy improvement. His vision was to continue to develop Venturers Trust as an organisation that provides opportunities not only for students and staff but also for the local communities served by the Trust’s eight schools Gail Bragg, Chair of Trustees for Venturers Tr


ust describedMr Bird as “an .


energetic, inspirational leader who encouraged others to share his can-do approach to life.” She added that “Venturers Trust immediately embraced Andy’s enthusiastic, proactive way of working and in only six months, he ha d already set a course that strove for continual improvement in educational standards.”


SamWilliamson, Executive Principal forMerchants’ Academy, part of Venturers Trust, said: “Andy invested time in building a cohesive team who felt valued and he was held in high regard by all those who worked with him. He was encouraging and supportive and his enthusiasm was infectious.” Mr Bird became


Academy Trust in J


uly 2014 having previously CEO of FairfaxMulti-


been Head Teacher at Fairfax School from January 2012. His drive for school improvement saw the Academy achieve record-breaking GCSE results in the 2012/13 academic year .


Previously, he was Deputy Head Teacher at Cannock Chase High School, Vice Principal at Q3 Academy in Great Barr and Assistant Principal at The de Ferrers Academy in Staffordshire.


www.venturerstrust.org/


Scottis


the first ever diigitall ‘ ‘Farm Aniimal Welfare’ educational game The Scottish SPCA and University of


Edinburgh have recently published a study which discusses the findings of a ground- breaking, theoretically-driven digital game teaching children about farm animal welfare. Scotland’s animal welfare charity, along with experts from the university, recently developed and tested an application-based farming game with the aim of educating children on farm animal welfare issues, promoting beliefs about animal sentience, and reinforcing positive attitudes and compassion.


Scottish SPCA head of education and policy GillyMendes Ferreira said, “Many children inWestern countries have limited contact with and knowledge of farm animals and food production systems.


“Education can play an important role in children’s understanding of farm animal welfare issues but traditionally animal welfare educat ion has tended to focus on domestic pets. This project has provided an opportunity to utilise children’s interest in technology to help them connect or the natural world and


teaches them a reconnect with


8 bout the fantastic farming industry we have here in Scotland. www www.scottishspca.org ww www.education-today.co.uk.co.uk March 2019 2019


“The research into effects of ‘Farm Animal Welfare’ indicates the game had a positive impact on children’s beliefs about animal minds, knowledge of animal welfare needs and knowledge about welfare in different farming systems.”


Professor JoWilliams, from Clinical and Health Psychology, the University of Edinburgh said, “This intervention takes animal welfare education into the digital age. “Children really enjoyed playing the game and it led to improvements in their understanding that farm animals have thoughts and feelings and welfare needs. “The game also increased children’s


knowledge of the welfare consequences of different farming systems.”


This study presents an evaluation of the first digital animal welfare education


intervention for children, demonstrating the benefits of incorporating ‘serious games’ into farm animal welfare education .


The pioneering findings of this research will inform future practice around farm animal welfare education interventions for school aged children .


ttish SPCA and University of Edinburgh develop and evaluat the first ever d gita FarmAnmalWelfare


Scott h SPCA and Uni versity


ty of Edinburgh develop and evaluate e’ educational game


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