Bradford City Runs on Sunday 29 October is Bradford’s annual festival of running with a unique choice of three distances: a 5km, a 10km and a half marathon along with a special kids’ mile run, all on closed roads in and around City Park in the city centre.
The one mile run for children, allows them to get involved before the adult races begin.
The race will use the same start and finish as the adults race, using Thornton Road and City Park.
Open to all children, children age 5 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult, whilst children age 6 and over MAY be accompanied by an adult.
The main route which was introduced last year, takes in parts of Little Germany and the Broadway Shopping Centre, as well as the University of Bradford, Bradford College, City Hall and the multi-award winning City Park.
Before the run Ajay L Mahajan, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Director of the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit will be presented with a cheque for £7,000 which was raised by the event last year.
Bradford City Runs will once again raise money for the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit, based at the University of Bradford. The unit was set up after the tragic Bradford City fire disaster thirty two years ago and continues to explore ground-breaking treatment techniques for burns sufferers.
Hundreds of people including many children and young people have already signed up to take part in this year’s Bradford City Runs, which is designed to welcome everyone from the Bradford district and beyond, no matter how fit and how fast!
The event, which is delivered in a partnership between Bradford Council and Bradford Athletics Network, is also being hugely supported by Bradford City football club and the Bradford Bulls as well as the University of Bradford, Bradford College, St Bede’s School (pupils will oversee the water station) and many of the RunBradford running groups, running clubs and hundreds of participants from across the district.
Mr Ajay L Mahajan, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Director of PSBRU, said: “We are delighted that the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU) at the University of Bradford has once again been chosen as the charity for this year’s Bradford City Runs. Last year, Su Shergill from our unit participated in the run and this year I am pleased to say that our new research fellow, Lucy Trevor will be taking part in it. I want to wish everyone taking part the best of luck whichever distance they’re running and thank them for their support, which is vital in helping us continue our work in the unit.”
A Bradford school’s girls’ cricket team who were crowned Yorkshire champions in their first year together have now launched their own academy to help younger pupils to follow in their footsteps.
The girls’ cricket team at Carlton Bolling, in Bradford, have been on a rollercoaster ride since coming together just three years ago.
In their first tournament the newly formed team won seven out of seven matches against some of the best school sides in Yorkshire to be crowned county champions and they have not looked back.
They have now won three Yorkshire titles, have just been crowned North of England champions and have also been recognised with a string of awards for their achievements.
Last week the team won four out of four matches in a regional competition, beating Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and Northumberland sides, to emerge as North of England Champions. Their next stop will be Lord’s for the National Finals in September.
Now the team of players who achieved this stunning success on the field are looking to pass on what they have learned to new generations of pupils at the school in Undercliffe.
Each week the under 15s team, led by the school’s PE teacher Zaheer Jaffary, host a training session for younger pupils at the school who are trying the sport for the first time.
Around 20 pupils are now learning to play the sport each week.
One of the original team members Zainab Goreja said they had started an academy to ensure that girls’ cricket can continue to grow at the school.
She said: “I definitely hope that the success of the team carries on because this is our legacy. We have started this academy, we have so many girls who are coming through and so many talents who are here. At the end of the day this is what we have started and when we leave next year we want this team to carry on. I hope the new players do well, carry on this legacy and hopefully it can keep on growing because we are going to change so many social barriers.”
The success of the Carlton Bolling girls’ cricket team has seen them receive many accolades in recent months. In November last year they traveled to Lord’s to receive a national Chance to Shine Special Recognition Award for their work supporting grassroots cricket which they were given by England cricketer Jason Roy.
The team have also won the student sport award category at this year’s Bradford Sports Awards and Mr Jaffary was named Secondary School Teacher of the Year award at the Bradford and District Teaching awards.
Vice-Captain of the team, Zainab Goreja, was recently presented with the 2017 International Rising Star award in London for her contribution to sport; in acknowledgement of her dedication and commitment to women’s cricket, and Captain Jasmin Akter was nominated for a 2017 Yorkshire Women of Achievement Award.
However for Mr Jaffary one of the team’s biggest achievements has been overcoming cultural barriers which saw many families express concerns about their daughters taking part in the sport.
He said: “It is something we have come up against, there has been some reluctance from families for their daughters to stay behind after school to play cricket. However we hope that our community can see what these girls have achieved together. What they have been able to bring to the team and what being a part of this team has done for them. It is brilliant that our girls’ cricket team are now carrying out coaching themselves at our academy.
“We want their success to inspire the younger pupils to follow their example. The future of the team relies upon the academy the girls have set up for future cricketers. The girls are extremely dedicated in sharing their story with others to help them see all that can be achieved through perseverance and dedication.”
Carlton Bolling College’s Headteacher Adrian Kneeshaw said: “The success of the girls’ cricket team has been inspirational for everyone at the school. At Carlton Bolling we recognise the important role sport can have in giving our pupils self-confidence and in showing them the rewards of hard work and of dedicating yourself to being the best you can be. This helps students on the sports field and in the classroom and I hope our cricket academy will inspire many more of our students to take up cricket and give it their all.”
Coun Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Education, Employment and Skills said: “The success of the girls’ cricket team at Carlton Bolling College is a story which we can all take inspiration from. They have achieved so much in such a short space of time.
“It is a great credit to the players involved that they are now committed to helping younger pupils at the school to follow in their footsteps.
“We know that participating in sport can be very rewarding for young people and have a positive effect on the rest of their education.”
Notes to editors
Energetic pupils from Clayton Village Primary School have been working together to improve physical, emotional and social health and wellbeing, and to combat obesity by implementing the new initiative called ‘The Daily Mile’.
The national initiative encourages school children to be more active and boost their fitness levels by running or walking a mile, around 15 minutes, every day.
Each day every child at Clayton Village Primary goes out in the fresh air and can run, jog or walk for fifteen minutes with most children averaging a mile each day.
Headteacher, Miss Rebecca Cradock said: “I think this is a terrific way to inspire youngsters to get fit and have fun as they complete their Daily Mile. We believe it also helps the children to focus and concentrate in the classroom and helps to raise educational attainment.”
Coun Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Education, Employment and Skills said: “This is a great way to promote healthy lifestyle and exercise to young people. Taking part in activities with their peers will see them benefitting whilst having fun and becoming more healthy and physically fit.”
Pupils from Clayton Village Primary School doing The Daily Mile
Richard Dunn Sports Centre also has a special offer of £15 for families wanting to both swim and slide.
Coun Sarah Ferriby Bradford Council Executive Member for Environment, Sport said: “It can be hard to find inexpensive things to do as a family during the half term holidays and this offer really cuts down the cost of a trip to the swimming pool.”
Children are classed as under 16. Please check exact times as they may vary slightly at different pools.
Children across the Bradford district are invited to try out some new sports, reignite an interest in more traditionally popular sports or bust some moves dance at classes over the February half-term holidays.
Bradford Council’s sport and leisure service is organising the Base Camps and Dance Camps which are the ideal way to keep youngsters occupied during the school break.
The Base Camps offer the opportunity for children aged 5 to 13 to try out activities like trampolining, dodge ball and volleyball as well as have a go at more popular sports such as football, cricket, basketball and athletics.
The camps will take place at Zara Sports Centre Heaton from Monday 20 to Friday 24 February and at Richard Dunn Sports Centre from Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23.
The sessions run from 9am to 3.30pm and kids will need to bring suitable kit with trainers and a packed lunch with drinks.
Children can attend the full five day or three day camps or can just do individual days.
The five day camp cost £56 for the first child and £42 for additional children. The three day camp costs £34 per child £26 for additional children and day sessions cost £14 a child. Bradford Leisure cardholders (formerly Passport to Leisure) can take part in day sessions for £11.
The Dance Camps are being led by Dance for Life and include street dance, break dance and musical theatre. On the final day of Dance Camp the youngsters will hold a performance to show off their newly acquired skills.
The Dance camps will be at Zara Sports Centre Heaton from Monday 20 to Friday 24 February from 10am – 3.00pm. Children can attend the full five day or can just do individual days.
The five day camp costs £50 for the first child and £38 for additional children and day sessions cost £12. Bradford Leisure cardholders (formerly Passport to Leisure) can take part in day sessions for £9.
Coun Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Sport and Sustainability, said: “Our Base Camps and Dance Camps are always very popular and are a great way for youngsters to try things, improve their skills and make new friends in a safe and enjoyable environment. I’m sure they will have lots of fun.”
Places are limited so booking is essential. People can book online at www.bradford.gov.uk/sport or telephone Bradford Council’s Community Sports and Activities Development Unit on 01274 522750 or email sportsunit@bradford.gov.uk
Welcome to the fifteenth edition of Educate Positive, a regular publication which highlights excellence in education and across the district’s schools and settings. In this edition we look at several instances of the impact being made in literacy and how apprenticeships are proving beneficial for the district’s young people, along with secondary students taking part in a Chemistry Festival at the University of Bradford and children reading bedtime stories together.
Literacy Corner – “Poetry in Motion”
Thanks to a literacy project and partnership working, two young people are celebrating winning a poetry competition where they told the story of life in Bradford through verse. One of the winners was Suma Abdulla from Dixons Marchbank Primary School whose poem “Big Beautiful Bradford” wowed the judges of the “Love Bradford” poetry competition, run by the National Literacy Trust Hub in Bradford, First West Yorkshire, the Telegraph & Argus and the Kirkgate Shopping Centre.
The winning poems are displayed on the walls of 100 local First West Yorkshire buses.
More than 100 budding bards across Bradford entered the competition whose aim was to inspire and motivate reluctant writers, especially boys, to do more creative writing.
The National Literacy Trust Hub in Bradford is all about providing fun ways to improve literacy skills across the area. Poetry is a powerful way for young people to express themselves which is why we are working with children and families through events, programmes and campaigns to inspire them to explore creative writing.
Impact of Roald Dahl Day at Thornton Primary
Pictured are children in their various costumes celebrating Roald Dahl stories.
Roald Dahl is always a popular choice for children and spending two days studying his work was an inspiration for the pupils at Thornton Primary School.
The children experienced his style of writing in different ways, with staff planning lots of exciting activities. There were many opportunities for classes to develop their writing skills and the work produced was wonderful, ranging from exciting description and marvellous recipes to play scripts. The children enjoyed the days and have been inspired by a well loved author.
Bowling Park Primary hosts “BD5 Bedtime Stories”
Almost 500 children and their families have taken part in the BD5 Bedtime Stories event. Nine schools in BD5 have worked together on this exciting project to encourage families to read at home. Reading every evening, even for just 10 minutes per night, can dramatically improve children’s reading ability and foster a life-long love of stories.
The group of schools is keen to maximise this potential, and inspire even more children to pick up a good book and share it with their families, hence the sessions which took place at the National Media Museum and in the City Library.
The aim is to develop a passion for reading, and encourage families to enjoy books together. There will be interactive shows from a variety of high quality authors, poets and illustrators, as well as tours of City Library and the Museum. Children were invited to wear their pyjamas for the bedtime event and a donation from a local company, Kemira Chemicals, meant that every child received a free book!
This group of schools works together on a number of projects that help to raise achievement in the BD5 area, including their training of Newly Qualified Teachers and the organisation of an annual Literacy Festival.
For more information please contact Fiona Phimister at Bowling Park Primary School, T 01274 770270.
Apprentice of the Year
Councillors Alex Ross-Shaw and Imran Khan with the winners at an awards ceremony for Bradford Council’s Building and Technical Services’ apprentices. (James is second from left in the second row.) Photo by Jamie Dobson Photography
James Scaife, a 19-year-old apprentice from Bradford Moor, is testimony to the value of Apprenticeships as he has won Apprentice of the Year for Bradford Council’s Building and Technical Services.
James is in his third year of his apprenticeship working on Council buildings. He was one of 16 winners at the awards ceremony held at the Banqueting Hall in City Hall, including carpenters, joiners, engineers, bricklayers, plasterers, painters, decorators and plumbers.
The awards were given for four categories which were Most Improved, Outstanding Effort, Best Portfolio and Trainers Choice, for each year from 1-4. James won the three categories of Most Improved, Outstanding Effort and Trainers Choice for year 2 and also achieved more points than anyone else to become Apprentice of the Year.
Duke of Edinburgh success at Parkside
Students at Parkside School have been put to the test both physically and mentally recently as the school not only introduced the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, but it also became a licensed organisation.
A number of Year 10 students have almost finished their award and have successfully completed their expedition section at Bronze Level with many more set to join this academic year.
As part of their team building skills, 14 Duke of Edinburgh groups from the Bradford area took part in the 34th annual Lane Fox Challenge event in Tong Woods. Parkside School entered a team of five students, who went on to be the champions completing the course, very wet and muddy, in the fastest time. Well done everyone!
For further information please contact Headteacher, Andy Taylor, T 01535 272752.
Students on a virtual expedition
Pupils experimenting with the Expeditions, a virtual reality tour of sights and locations, to help them engage with their learning in a new project launched by Google.
Students at University Academy Keighley were the first in the district to be given an exclusive opportunity to try Expeditions, a virtual reality tour of sights and locations, to help them engage with their learning in a new project launched by Google.
History, geography and science became a lot more interactive when the students visited marine life in the Great Barrier, toured The Palace of Versailles, climbed Everest and finally landed on the Moon – all without leaving the class room!
The event was arranged by the Academy’s Strategic Leader for e-Learning, Mr Turvey, who said: “This was an amazing opportunity for our learners not only to try new technology, but to experience a wide range of locations and places to help open their eyes and minds to the wider world. The students’ reactions have been a joy to see.”
With smartphones being such an integrated part of our lives, the Expeditions software runs as an app on a smartphone. The students get a 3D experience once the phone is inserted into a headset worn by them.
Pupils in “Battle of the Somme” project
Thirty pupils from Cullingworth Village and Farnham Primary schools will learn about their own history and any ancestral involvement with the Battle of the Somme by taking part in a new project. The “Children of the Somme” is a BBC Radio Leeds project which will allow pupils to explore the History of the Somme.
The sessions include workshops about writing, learning about poems and stories as well as listening to educational talks and learning instruments and dance routines with a South Asian influence.
A final concert at Bradford Playhouse on Thursday 17 November, will see both schools perform together to showcase what they have learnt.
People can listen to BBC Radio Leeds for extensive coverage on the “Children of the Somme” with Look North, The BBC Asian network and BBC World Service briefly covering it.
Engaging Families accreditation is a “mystery”
Not only has Thornton Primary School been awarded the prestigious Engaging Families Award, the school actively put this accreditation into practice when it invited parents to come into school to help solve murder mysteries.
School ran a Murder Mystery Week in the summer term and was able to display its engagement with families by allowing parents to help their children solve the murder.
An assembly was held to explain how the police needed the pupils to help solve the crime. The pupils became detectives for the week and took part in a range of Science and English activities such as fingerprint analysis and creating Newsround reports from the scene of the crime.
The rationale was that the week would create an engaging and exciting opportunity for children to enjoy the problem solving elements of the Primary Maths Curriculum and was a week which was enjoyed by all.
For further information please contact Liz Davison, Headteacher, T 01274 833839.
The chemistry’s right for crime-busting Parkside students
Chemistry skills helped Parkside School during their prize-winning visit to the University of Bradford.
The four Cullingworth students had to uncover what happened in the salt cellars when they took part in the Salters Festival of Chemistry. The students from Year 7 also had to create a rainbow of colours and colour chemistry section during the action-packed day.
They were finally treated to a ‘chemistry WOW’ show which included banana freezing and spooky smoke.
The “Parkside quartet” was specially invited take part in the festival, a competitive chemistry competition held across the UK.
Parkside chemistry teacher James Windle said: “Our students were exceptional in their performance on the day, really working together as a team and showing a real flair for chemistry.
“It was this high standard of performance that led to Parkside being crowned the winners of the competition, beating the other 15 teams who were taking part.”
Mr Windle confirmed that during the last 16 years over 44,000 students have experienced the fun of practical chemistry through the Salters’ Festivals. Sponsorship in support of the festivals has been raised from over 50 companies.
For further information please contact Headteacher, Andy Taylor, T 01535 272752.
Joining us this week to talk about the recent School Games Partnership U9 Open Football League Tournament is Jack Summers who organises the event.
The start of the 2016/17 competition calendar saw fourteen teams from twelve different Primary Schools in the Hanson Academy Partnership compete in the U9 Open Football League at Goals Soccer Centre, Bradford.
The freshly laid pitches at Goals and the bright sunny weather perfectly set up the first round of games.
Over the following weeks over 150 boys and girls competed to qualify for the Partnership Finals. However, a big part of our competition relates to the cultural aspects of the School Games so while ultimately the players are committed to winning they are also tasked with displaying one of the six School Games Values.
The Value on show for the U9 Football was PASSION.
All the teams were a credit to their school and should be extremely proud of their efforts.
After two tightly contested leagues five teams qualified for the overall finals.
The finals were closer than could have been anticipated with three teams finishing in joint third place.
The overall standings were: (1) Thackley Primary School (2) Low Ash Primary School (3) Cavendish Primary School (3) Rainbow Primary School (3) Wellington Primary School.
Congratulations and Well Done to Thackley and Low Ash who, as a result of finishing 1st and 2nd respectively, have qualified for the Bradford Summer Games in 2017.
To round off what was a fantastic event, the final teams and the Young Ambassadors from Hanson Academy came together for a group photo and even embraced the Dab!
You can find more of the action, see future events and check out the fantastic work going on in the other School Games Partnerships across Bradford by checking out the following twitter feeds:
Children across the Bradford district are being encouraged to take part in the summer Change4Life 10 Minute Shake-up to make sure they get more active.
Last year almost 4,500 families across the Bradford district signed up to take part in the campaign – the second highest figure in Yorkshire. Sign-ups were highest in Eccleshill, Bradford Moor, Tong and Bowling and Barkerend.
Just 21% of boys and 16% of girls currently meet the national recommended level of activity of 60 minutes each day and three quarters of children aged five to 11 (75%) want to do more physical activity.
The joint Disney, Change4Life and the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) campaign aims to get more children achieving the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity children need in 10 minute bursts.
A recent survey, commissioned by Disney, Change4Life and the ASA revealed 71% of parents say their children would likely be more physically active if they were more active themselves.
Swimming was found to be one of children’s favourite activities during the summer, according to 32% of five to 11-year-olds surveyed yet 30% of mums feel too self conscious to go on families swims.
The survey also said 61% of parents struggle for ideas on how to keep their children active during the school holidays. Parents looking for ideas can search for change4life on line or visit www.Bradford.gov.uk/summer.
Cllr Val Slater, Deputy Leader of Bradford Council and portfolio holder for Health and Wellbeing, said:
“Every 10 minute burst of exercise can make a real difference and helps children get the 60 minutes they need each day.
“Increased activity is good for a child’s physical, social and mental wellbeing as well as helping your child build social skills and boost their self-confidence.”
“Parents and grandparents getting involved and playing with their children not only sets a good example when it comes to exercise but also helps them learn in a fun way for everyone.”
2016 marks the third year that Change4Life and Disney have come together to inspire children to move more, with fun 10 minute bursts of activity – Shake Ups – inspired by some of Disney’s most recognisable and popular characters.
Bradford City FC Community Foundation are pleased to be hosting their ever-popular football camps this Spring Bank Holiday.
Children will need a packed lunch, drinks and to be dressed ready for football and appropriate to whatever the weather is like on the day!
All our camps are for girls and goys aged 5-13 years of all abilities, and run from 10am-3pm daily, and are being held at the following venues and can be found on the below:
Children will need a packed lunch, drinks and be dressed ready for football and appropriate to whatever weather we are having on the day!
All our staff are minimum FA Level 2 qualified, trained in emergency aid and hold an enhanced DBS check.
The 3-day courses are £36 and the 2 day courses are £24 and can be prebooked. Turn up and pay on the day for £13 per day.
Places are available for the latest children’s healthy lifestyle programme due to start in Bradford on 1st October.
The free course, run by Bradford Council, will help children and parents find out how they can eat more healthily and become more physically active by supporting them to make small but effective lifestyle changes.
The children will also participate in fun physical activity sessions each week.
Participants need to be aged between 5 and 11 and will need to be accompanied by a parent or carer.
The 9 week programme runs from the Karmand Community Centre on Barkerend Road, BD3, between 5-7pm on Thursdays.
Anyone wanting more information or wanting to take part can call 01274 435387.
Lydia Worton from Bradford Council’s Health Improvement Team said: “This is a great chance for parents or carers who are concerned about their child’s weight, or simply wish to learn how to become healthier, to take some positive action.
“The programme is about empowering children and their parents by giving them the knowledge to make the right lifestyle choices by making small changes in your lifestyle.”
“Making lots of small changes can make a different to their health and wellbeing.”
Swimming was found to be one of children’s favourite activities during the summer, according to 32% of five to 11-year-olds surveyed yet 30% of mums feel too self conscious to go on families swims.
Bradford Parents On The Go 