NEWS...
Activate Learning Education Trust rolls out digital curriculum to Thames Valley schools
programme.
An award-winning education programme that gives students a head start into digital careers is rolling out to three Thames Valley schools – UTC Reading, UTC Swindon and UTC Oxfordshire - following its successful launch at UTC Heathrow.
The Digital Futures Programme, which was developed in close collaboration with leading digital infrastructure industry employers, is a first for any UK school. Aimed at 14-19-year-olds, the programme, which contributes to a BTEC Level 3 National Diploma / Extended Diploma in Engineering (NQF), equips students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to thrive in technical careers within the digital infrastructure industry, comprising the network cabling and data centre sectors and other digital environments.
Industry partners not only provide support in developing the curriculum but also by giving valuable time to deliver a mix of employer-led projects, challenge days, masterclasses and skills workshops to the students as part of the
The programme is already having an impact, with the first set of UTC Heathrow graduates taking up apprenticeship roles with industry partners as a direct result of the programme. This is hugely important to the digital infrastructure industry, which is relied upon so heavily by our modern, digitally connected world, but is facing an ongoing skills shortage. Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET) and its supporting partners are proactively working to educate students in these important, transferable skills, helping to build a stronger, more sustainable future for the industry, as well as highlighting a new and rewarding career path option to the students.
With that in mind, UTC Heathrow, part of the Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET), is delighted to see the Digital Futures Programme rolled out to three of the Trust’s sister schools – UTC Reading, UTC Oxfordshire and UTC Swindon.
Jo Harper, CEO of ALET, said: “The UK is facing an unprecedented skills shortage: we need engineers, computer scientists and other digitally skilled staff. The Digital Futures Programme is focused on equipping students with the skills to succeed in the digital industries, bringing together companies which are serious about acting to address the skills shortage with STEM-focused schools with specialisms in digital, engineering and science prepared to forge a new path for their students.”
www.heathrow-utc.org/employers/digital-futures-programme/
Overall attendances linked to after-school sports surge at Ysgol Eirias
A secondary school has experienced a surge in pupils taking part in extra- curricular sport.
Learners at Ysgol Eirias in Colwyn Bay have engaged with football, rugby, basketball, dodgeball, badminton, hockey, volleyball, netball, and gymnastics sessions more than 5,000 times since September. Cooking and Health and Wellbeing activities have also proven popular, ensuring learners pick up independent living skills such as how to plan, prepare and cook a meal.
It is hoped that providing these opportunities will have a knock-on effect for overall school attendances, a nationwide issue following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Assistant Headteacher Alex Metcalfe said the after-school sessions have led to children being on-site from the first bell of the day, which is “heartening” given the pressures they and their families have faced in recent times.
“To have this many pupils attend this many sessions in just a few months has been incredible and testament to our amazing teachers and the support we’ve had from parents, carers and the local community,” said Mr Metcalfe.
“We have a new system which can track who is attending, what session they are participating in, and we can align that with overall attendance, which has been a game changer.
“Attendance at extra-curricular activities has a direct impact on learners’ health and wellbeing, social and physical attributes and builds the relationship even more between staff and learners as they are interacting
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www.education-today.co.uk February 2024 in a different setting.”
He added: “The more pupils we have taking part in sport not only provides opportunities for all, it gives us an even wider selection of players to choose from when it comes to the teams that represent the school for competitive or recreational fixtures.
“An example is the success of our rugby and football squads, which are competing with the best schools in their age groups nationwide, an amazing achievement.”
www.eirias.co.uk
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