10^th July 2013 - Press Release

This week the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, set all secondary schools a target of teaching 11-14 year olds two Shakespeare plays. But at St Benedict's Catholic Primary School in Atherstone, Warwickshire, children as young as 5 are studying Shakespeare. And on Wednesday (10th) and Thursday (11th) they will be staging their own performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The performance is the finale of this term’s topic work for Years 5 and 6. It’s not just about learning lines for the play, Shakespeare’s work is used as a springboard to improve speaking and listening skills by doing 'ensemble' approach drama work where the children explore the themes, characters and language of Shakespeare whilst learning about how these fit in to Tudor times. This approach also increases children’s confidence.

Modern day themes are related to Shakespeare’s plays with the children undertaking project work looking, not just at Shakespeare’s life and times, but also crossing into other subject areas, for instance designing and making fairy wings.

Previously pupils have studied Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet and the Tempest. A mixed group of children ranging from Reception to Year 6 has even performed their own interpretation of The Tempest in a festival at Stratford.

Teacher Mrs Niki Furlong-Smith is the school's Literacy lead: "We've taught Shakespeare at St Benedict's for years, even to Reception children, because his works can be accessed by all age groups if done appropriately.”

She continued; “The Royal Shakespeare Company has been very supportive too.We have worked with one of the RSC's Voice Coaches and last October some of our present Year 6s had their own poetry performed by members of the RSC at the theatre in Stratford.

Our main feeder school, St Thomas More School, has stated that the children we send to them are always open to the works of Shakespeare when they begin to study them as part of the KS3 curriculum."

Ends

1.    For further information contact Head teacher Mrs Susan Shannon – 01827 712320 or PR Co-ordinator (Parent Volunteer) Angela Baines on 07976 438710.

2.    Press photographers are welcome to visit the performance.  Please contact Angela Baines (Parent volunteer) on 07976 438710.

3.    Photographs show pupils from Year 5 &6 in the dress rehearsal of their performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and examples of project work.

4.    In November 2012 St Benedict’s was rated as Good by Ofsted under the tougher new inspection regime and noted children’s exemplary behaviour.  In March 2013 the School was also rated Good with Outstanding features for RE in a Diocesan inspection.

5.    St Benedict’s School is based in Church Walk, Mancetter, Atherstone and accepts children from all backgrounds in the North Warwickshire area.  www.stbenedictsonline.co.uk     Tel: 01827 712320

Three brilliant young inventors have won the National TeenTech awards with a life saving invention which could make them a fortune.

The Loreto Grammar School Year Nine pupils beat teams from 450 different schools with the prototype for a blood glucose monitoring device aimed at improving the life chances of diabetics worldwide.

Sarah Griffin, 14, from Altrincham; JessicaTaylor 14, from Altrincham and Sophie Kelly, 14, from Sale, have wowed Britain's science community, receiving their prizes from Prince Andrew at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The girls impressed judges including Professor Brian Cox, top theoretical physicist Jim Al-Khalili and BBC science correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones to win in three categories for 'International Collaboration', “Healthcare' and the top overall award.

The key to their success said Loreto Grammar School Mathematics teacher Elaine Manton 'was a forensic examination of the project from every angle covering market research, product design and development and the potential for marketing’.

Organised by TeenTech as part of a national drive to promote the STEM subjects, Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Technology, the competition asks gifted pupils to conceive, design, develop and market an original product ready for the market place.

“The first step,” said Sarah, who has ambitions to become a facial plastic surgeon, 'was to identify a gap in the market place. There are blood glucose monitoring devices, but they are too bulky.”

Jessica, who wants to study psychoanalysis and forensic science, added: “We then had to discuss our ideas with some of Britain top engineers and were grateful to be able to liaise with the research and development team at Airbus industries.”

Sophie, who is interested in studying both sociology and philosophy, added: “It was essential to talk to those who might use the device and to get some detailed feedback from the medical profession.”

The girls worked on the project for four months, spending all their available lunchtimes, putting together their entry, being given special dispensation to work on the project in mathematics lessons and then furiously emailing each other in the evenings as they perfected their submission.

Elaine Manton said: “I have beena teacher for20 years and have never seen such innovative and detailed work. Their submission blew the judges out of the water, winning the plaudits of many of Britain's top scientists and broadcasters.”

The trio are to appear on Breakfast TV and are being interviewed by the national media. The girls win digital photo frames and £1,000 for the school, but said: “We are not interested in the rewards, we are genuinely interested in the project and getting the product to the market place.”

Elaine Manton added: “Britain needs the next generation of young inventors to stand up and make their mark in the world and we are all incredibly proud of  Sophie, Sarah and Jessicafor their wonderful work.” 

Press release - 6 July 2013 

The Principal and staff at All Hallows Catholic College, a voluntary academy in Macclesfield, have been selected for a top role, supporting schools in challenging circumstances.

Tony Billings is one of only 96 headteachers to be appointed to the role of National Leader of Education (NLE) in the latest recruitment round. He will now be invited to the National College for Teaching and Leadership’s learning and conference centre in Nottingham in October for a formal induction and training for the role in driving school improvement.

NLEs use their success and professionalism as school leaders, along with the staff in their school - designated a National Support School - to provide additional leadership capability in struggling schools or those in transition to federation or academy status. The deployment is tailor-made to suit the needs of each school. The type of support provided is flexible and can involve NLEs becoming acting or executive headteacher of the client school or schools. They also have responsibility for bringing on the next generation of NLEs and National Support Schools. 

Jacquline Feeley, Chair of Governors said: “This is such exciting news! The awarding of "National Support School" to All Hallows Catholic College and "National Leader of Education" to our Principal, is timely recognition of the great work of all staff inspirationally led by Tony Billings.  It reflects our Mission "to be more rather than have more" and the high standards achieved by our staff and students. We will now be able to share expertise, knowledge and skills with other schools to raise expectations and standards of Teaching and  Learning to enable all to fulfil their true potential. We, the Governors, are very proud of this excellent achievement which places Tony Billings as one of the National Leaders of Education, and of all our dedicated staff members who work and study selflessly and tirelessly as a dynamic team for the good of all our students. Congratulations and Well done to everyone!”

Many in the National Leaders of Education/National Support Schools scheme see improvements in exam results at both the support and client schools with progress achieved in excess of the improvements nationally. 

There are now well over 800 NLEs across the country and the number is set to rise to about 1,000 by 2015. Tony Billings, Principal of All Hallows said:  “This is a recognition of the extensive work we are already doing, sharing best practice with a number of schools facing challenging circumstances. We are delighted to be invited into such important work making a difference to the lives of students and their teachers.”

Charlie Taylor, Chief Executive of the National College for Teaching and Leadership, said: “It’s great that heads like Tony Billings are willing to look beyond their own school gates to help more pupils achieve. Their efforts will be at the heart of a self-improving, school-led education system.

“School-to-school support is having a growing impact and the results speak for themselves with benefits for both the schools being supported and those providing the support.”

Notes to editors:

For further information contact: All Hallows Catholic College, Principal, Tony Billings at 01625 426138 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

All Hallows Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy, drawing students from Macclesfield, Alderley Edge, Congleton, Wilmslow, Handforth, Poynton,Stockport,Whalley Bridge, Knutsford and surrounding areas.

For press enquiries about the national NLE programme contact Richard Earle on 07776 494545, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit: www.education.gov.uk/nationalcollege   

Pupils at Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe are supporting the CAFOD Big IF campaign “Hungry for Change”. CAFOD, the Catholic Association for Overseas Development works in many countries to tackle poverty, encourage development and fight for global justice.

The pupils have learnt that there is enough food in the world for everyone, but it’s not shared fairly. They know that the way forward is to act collectively to push for change hence they signed a pledge which was sent to David Cameron and to bring up at the G8 summit to end world hunger.

“The pupils were very keen to support the Hungry for Change campaign after learning that nearly one billion people go to bed hungry every night and two million children die from malnutrition every year,” explained Miss Kathryn Meehan, RE teacher at Saint Paul’s. “Our pupils were inspired by the values of the CAFOD charity – compassion, hope, dignity, solidarity, partnership, sustainability and stewardship, As part of the Catholic community, we were eager to support this charity and help those in need.”

“At Saint Paul’s, pupils are encouraged to consider their place in the wider community, develop a strong sense of social responsibility and support those less fortunate than themselves.” commented Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s. Our hope is that, through their exposure to a range of activities and causes, our pupils will develop a sense of the type and scale of need that exists in modern life.”