Bradford launches campaign to find teachers who can make a difference

The Bradford for Teaching campaign is the latest step being taken in Bradford to boost teacher recruitment and retention.

A new website has been created, www.bradfordteaching.org  which allows people to find out more about the opportunities to train and work in Bradford’s schools.

There will also be a major social media campaign through Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.

Ten inspirational teachers and school leaders from the district have been chosen to be Bradford for Teaching Ambassadors. They will share their stories on social media about the impact their work is having  in order to help promote Bradford to teachers outside the district.

The new campaign follows on from the success of the Bradford bus tours which the council has organised to bring teacher training students into the district’ schools to see their work for themselves.

The Bradford for Teaching ambassadors have been chosen from schools across the district to champion Bradford and the rewards of teaching here.

One of those ambassadors is Luke Sparkes, the executive principal of Dixons Trinity Academy.

He said: “Bradford is an exceptional community: diverse, ambitious and culturally rich; it is a city which deserves teachers who are truly values driven and want to make a difference.  There is a strong current of educational innovation in Bradford with two secondary schools placing in the top 30 nationally for progress in summer 2017.

Ambassador Aamir Hassan, an assistant faculty leader and English teacher at Beckfoot School in Bingley said: “Teaching in Bradford is rewarding, extraordinary and what I live to do. I am inspired everyday by the students and we all learn from one another. Working with young people is an enriching experience and I wouldn’t want that experience anywhere else- Bradford is truly the place to be for teaching.”

Coun Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Education, Employment and Skills said: “Bradford for Teaching is a vitally important campaign for the district.

“We are determined to provide the best possible education for all our young people. We know that the quality of our teachers is vital in turning this ambition into a reality. Bradford is a vibrant and diverse district.

“Our schools offer a variety of different opportunities and challenges, with the chance to work in different settings from urban and inner city schools to those serving rural communities. But we are all united by a shared commitment to ensure our young people achieve their potential. I hope the Bradford for Teaching campaign will inspire more teachers to join us on this journey.”

The campaign will involve a partnership of schools across the Bradford district. It is being funded by Bradford Council and co-ordinated by the Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance.

Bradford already leads the way in innovative work to recruit and retain the best teachers.

Bradford Council committed to investing £660,000 on teacher recruitment over a three year period. Since then the authority has run the highly successful bus tours taking teacher training students into Bradford schools to see the work they do for themselves.

It has also set up a Talent Bank which is used by school leaders to fill their vacancies with the best suited candidates. This has helped to recruit around 200 new teachers to Bradford schools over the past two years.

Now partners in Bradford are keen to build on this success with a campaign which celebrates and promotes the district more widely as a place where teachers at any stage of their career can make a difference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hzbby2JMqM&feature=youtu.be

Education Covenant to be topic of next public forum

Bradford’s Education Covenant will be the topic at the district’s next Public Forum for Education. The Education Covenant is a district wide initiative focused on engaging the whole community to play a part in helping young people to succeed in life.  The Covenant is about keeping education a top priority to: •           Help schools and teachers raise standards. •           Support parents to get children ready for school, work and life. •           Work with businesses and colleges to boost career options. •           Champion the district’s unique art and culture. The forum will take place on Wednesday, 29 November 2017 from 4.30pm to 6.30pm in the Hockney Room, Margaret McMillan Tower, Princes Way, Bradford BD1 1NN. Speakers will include Leigh Taylor, Regional Director North East & Yorkshire Commercial Banking – Lloyds Bank. Leigh will explore how businesses can better support children and young people to help improve their educational outcomes and make successful transitions into work, and the business rationale for doing this work. Staff and children from a local primary school will talk about their involvement in the launch of the Inspiring Bradford event. Local magistrate, Gill Arnold, will talk about the work of the Bradford Community Champions. There will also be an update on how the Education Covenant is being put into practice and how businesses and parents can make a difference. The presentations will be followed by round table discussions and an opportunity to share your ideas with the panel and ask questions. The Public Forum for Education (PFE) is an open and free forum where everyone with an interest in education is welcome to come along and contribute. Coun Imran Khan, portfolio holder for education, employment and skills, said: “The idea behind the Education Covenant is to focus the efforts of everyone on how we can raise education standards. We want to bring together the whole community to support Bradford’s children: businesses, public services, parents, and communities, all have a role to play. Michael Jameson, strategic director of children’s service, said:  “We know just how hard schools work to improve the outcomes for our children and education attainment is improving in our district. But we have more to do and we believe the whole community needs to be involved in young people’s education. That is why the Education Covenant is so important, so I’d urge parents, young people, teachers and businesses to come along and find out how they can be involved.” To book your place, please email Public.Forum.for.Education@bradford.gov.uk or contact Heidi Hardy on 01274 434335.

Bradford City Runs invite children to join in!

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.”

For more information and to sign up to take part visit: www.bradfordcityruns.co.uk and follow @RunBradford on Twitter or Bradford City Runs on Facebook.

Pupils learn safety message

Children at Dixon’s Marchbank Academy learned about the dangers of going onto building sites and into buildings to play.

Reshape Construction, a company involved in building social housing for Bradford Council recently visited the school to pass on information to the children about the dangers which construction sites pose, especially as the school holidays are now beginning and children have much more free time.

#educationcov

Peace Walk will celebrate diverse community around Miriam Lord Primary

Parents, local mosques and churches have been invited to join hundreds of pupils and staff on a Peace Walk to celebrate diversity in Bradford and around Miriam Lord Primary School.

The walk has been planned for Friday 21 July, 2017 and is being held following recent terrorist events in Manchester and London.

The Peace Walk was suggested by Year 6 teacher Stefanie Deciacco as an additional way of commemorating sad and tragic events. The school already discusses events, such as the Manchester terrorist attack, in class and has held Silences to honour the dead, bereaved and injured.

All 440 pupils and 45 staff will be involved in the walk which will end with the walkers singing Bob Marley favourite “One Love” in the school playground. A recording will be made and the song and played again on Miriam Lord Radio.

Leading up to the event, pupils will be involved in discussion about why the Peace Walk is taking place. They will also be making placards with peace slogans and a wide banner saying “Miriam Lord Primary Peace March” which will be at the front of the walk, so people passing by know what’s happening.

Bryan Harrison, Executive Headteacher at Miriam Lord, said: “With social media, children very quickly know what happens around the world. They are curious about events like the terrorist attack in Manchester and want to know more, but unfortunately, the messages they hear are not always unbiased.

“In school, we are always open to children’s questions and ready to talk about their worries. The purpose of the walk is to show that we are proud to be part of our community and to celebrate the diversity of the people who live in Bradford.”

Rhyme Challenge award winners

 

Those who made exceptional contributions to Bradford Council Libraries’ annual Rhyme Challenge received awards at a special event this week. Over 3,500 families successfully completed this year’s challenge, ran by Bradford Libraries and Early Childhood Services at the council. It was put out to 300 childcare and library settings across the district. This year saw a 75 per cent increase in uptake. The Rhyme Challenge, which ran between September 2016 and March 2017, sets children under five and their families the task of learning five rhymes. They then receive a certificate for their hard work. Of those who took part in the challenge, 92 per cent of parents felt that it had increased their child’s speech and language development. Of the staff and volunteers who oversee the challenge in childcare, toddler groups and library settings, 100 per cent felt the challenge was beneficial to the families they work with. The awards ceremony recognised the collective efforts of individuals and groups in organising the challenge and those who have gone the extra mile. The Lord Mayor of Bradford Coun Abid Hussain presented the awards and guest speaker was Christina Gabbitas, poet/author and winner of the Yorkshire Women of Achievement Award 2016.  Children from Netherleigh & Rossefield School Nursery School sang and there was a rhyme time session with Dave Morrison from BHT Education & Training The award winners were: Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge Best Practice Individual Award Winner – Bridget Izod – Development Officer Support, Bradford Libraries Runner up – Lois Partington –Foundation Stage Manager, Netherleigh & Rossefield School Other nominations included: Jessika Osborne – Volunteer, Airedale & Wharfedale Children’s Centre Cluster Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge Best Practice Libraries Award Winner – Idle Library Runner up – Keighley Library Other nominations included: Bingley Library, City Library, Clayton Library, Eccleshill Library, Ilkley Library Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge Best Practice Toddler Group Award Winner – St Theresa’s Playgroup, Queensbury Runner up – Buttershaw Christian Family Centre Other nominations included: St Andrews See & Know Group and Wibsey Methodist Toddler Group Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge Best Practice Setting Award Winner – Fagley Primary School Runner up – Sandy Lane Pre-School Other nominations included: Al Hikmah School; BHT Early Education & Training; Copthorne Primary School; Greengates Primary School; Grove House Primary School Nursery; Highfield Pre-School; Lidget Green Primary School; Netherleigh & Rossefield Nursery School; Nightingales Day Nursery; Our Lady of Victories Primary School; St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School; Strong Close Nursery School; Wibsey Methodist Pre-School Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge Best Practice Children’s Centre Award Winner – South Bradford Children’s Centre Cluster Runner up – Airedale & Wharfedale Children’s Centre Cluster Other nominations included: Bradford West Children’s Centre Cluster and Lister Park Children’s Centre Cluster Contact Bradford Libraries on 01274 433684 for more information on the Rhyme Challenge or check out www.bradford.gov.uk/libraries

Phoebe’s hitting the right notes

A Bradford pupil is celebrating her success in gaining a place at the largest specialist music school in the UK and the only one in the North of England.

Phoebe Mallinson, 11, a pupil at Cullingworth and a member of Bradford Council’s Delius School, will be joining the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester in September.  Phoebe follows her sister, Freya, who has been a pupil at the school in Manchester since 2014.

Phoebe has been playing the cornet for two years and recently moved onto flugel horn in the last year. She is part of the Bradford Music Education Hub’s Bradford Youth Brass Band, BD1 Brass Band, Yorkshire Youth Band and the National Children’s brass band of Great Britain. She also plays trumpet in the Bradford Youth Orchestra who toured in Italy last year.

Her favourite performance was coming second at the national brass band championships in Cheltenham in 2016.

Phoebe’s mum, Colette, said:  “We will really miss Phoebe when she starts at Chetham’s in September but this is a chance of a lifetime, and we are delighted that she will have the same opportunity as Freya, her older sister.

“Bradford Council’s Music & Arts Service has made a huge difference in Phoebe’s playing especially Delius school which is a monthly school where Phoebe gained the skills for composition and other performance skills.”

Felicity French, Assistant Head of Bradford Council’s Music & Arts Service, said:  “We are delighted that Phoebe, another pupil of the Delius School and one of the district’s schools, has gained a place at this prestigious establishment.

“The Delius School was set up by the Music & Arts Service.  It meets once a month on a Sunday morning and offers the most talented young musicians in primary schools, across the district, the chance to develop their skills in all areas of music, while discovering exciting new activities.  At the monthly classes, students take part in workshops which enrich their musical experience.”

Coun Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Education, Employment and Skills, said:  “This is yet another example of the talented pupils we have in our district.  It is a real achievement for Phoebe and I would like to congratulate her on her success and wish her the very best on her learning journey.”

 

Cliffe Castle park parade

Around 250 children will take part in a costume parade to celebrate the completion of the refurbishment of Cliffe Castle Park, which has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players. The children from six Keighley schools will march alongside Romans, Victorians and the ‘Spirit of the Future’ around the newly restored pond, marble fountains and new planting towards the glass show house on Thursday (29 June). After learning about the contents of a recently recovered Victorian time capsule, the children took part in a workshop inside Cliffe Castle Museum to gain ideas from the exhibits of what to include in a new time capsule. This will be presented to Bradford Lord Mayor Coun Abid Hussain before being buried for 50 years in the domed palm house. The £4.5 million restoration of Cliffe Castle park is due to be completed by the end of next month with further celebrations planned. Bradford Council successfully bid for £3.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s “Parks for People” programme to carry out the work which started a year ago. The project has been designed with support from volunteers in the Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group. Coun Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council Executive Member for Environment, Sport and Culture, said: “This promises to be a great day for our young people to enjoy the culmination of this amazing project and for the rest of us to appreciate the value of both the museum and park at Cliffe Castle. “They are tremendous assets for Keighley and the wider district. They can both be used by local schools to support a whole range of ways that help classroom teaching. “It’s marvellous to see everything coming together and the whole area starting to take shape in its full summer splendour.” Schools taking part in the parade are: Eastwood Community School, Haworth Primary Academy, Merlin Top Primary Academy, Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary, Riddlesden St Mary’s CE Primary, The Holy Family Catholic School.

Pupils from 12 Bradford schools to take part in Schools’ Yorkshire Tour cycle relay

Around 72 children from 12 schools across the Bradford district are taking part in a cycling relay as part of national Bike Week. The Schools’ Yorkshire Tour relay sees pupils from primary schools in the district pass a baton over 35 miles of the 395km (245 miles) route. The event has been organised by the ten Yorkshire local authorities in partnership with Sustrans and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and supported by YPO. A baton is being passed by school children and young people from school to school and local authority to local authority along the route across Yorkshire. The event started in Sheffield on 12 June and has already passed through Barnsley, Wakefield, Doncaster, East Riding and York. It will pass through North Yorkshire, Leeds, Bradford and Calderdale before ultimately finishing in Leeds on Tuesday 27 June with a celebration event. The route will use cycle lanes and numerous off-road cycleways as much as possible. A number of famous landmarks will form the backdrop to the baton handovers, including in the Bradford district the original Woolpack Inn at Esholt made famous by the long running television programme Emmerdale, Salts Mill, Bingley’s Five Rise Locks and the iconic Haworth Main Street. Pupils from Bradford will take part in Stage 11 – Leeds to Bradford and Stage 12 – Bradford to Calderdale. Children from Baildon C of E Primary School will welcome the baton to the Bradford district at the famous Woolpack Inn in Esholt where they will receive it from pupils from Yeadon Primary School on Thursday 22 June at 2pm. The baton will be taken to Byron Primary School, Barkerend for pupils from the school to start Stage 12 on Friday 23. Stage 12 will start at 8.30am where pupils from Byron Primary School, will cycle down the Leeds Bradford Cycle Superhighway passing the baton to pupils from Rainbow Primary School, Bradford in City Park. The next stop will be the Canal Road Greenway where pupils from Sandal Primary School, Baildon will take the baton along the Greenway to Salts Mill before handing it to children from Wycliffe C of E Primary School, Shipley. The baton will then be taken along the Leeds Liverpool Canal and be passed to children from Riddlesden St Mary’s Primary School at Bingley’s Five Rise Locks. The pupils will then cycle along the canal to their school where they will be met by pupils from Eastwood Community School, Keighley, to hand the baton on. The baton will then go to Parkwood Primary School, Keighley, Worth Valley Primary School, Keighley and Oakworth Primary School before being taken to Haworth. In Haworth pupils from Haworth Primary School and Lees Primary School will take a tour of Haworth, including the children tackling the famous setts of Haworth Main Street. Coun Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Sport and Culture, said: “There is a real passion for cycling in Bradford district at the moment and I’m sure the children taking part in this event will have a great time, cycling with their friends and also meeting children from other schools.” Pupils from the schools taking part in the cycle relay have also been given the opportunity to take part in a Twitter slogan competition – the winners of which will be invited to attend a celebration event at Leeds Civic Hall on 27 June 2017. Thursday 22 at 2pm at The Woolpack Inn, Esholt, BD17 7QZ Pupils from Baildon C of E Primary School will receive the baton from pupils from Yeadon Primary School at the end of Stage 11. Friday 23 8.30am to 2pm 8.30am – Byron Primary School, Barkerend, Bradford, BD3 0AB Pupils from the school will start Stage 12 of the Schools’ Yorkshire Tour 9am – City Park, Bradford, BD1 1HY Pupils from Byron Primary School will hand the baton to pupils from Rainbow Primary School at the fountains in City Park. 9.30am – Gaisby Lane junction with Canal Road Greenway Pupils from Rainbow Primary School will hand the baton to pupils from Sandal Primary School 10am – Salts Mill on Leeds Liverpool Canal by Victoria Road bridge BD18 1AE Pupils from Sandal Primary School will hand the baton to pupils from Wycliffe C of E Primary School 10.30am Five Rise Locks in Bingley, Beck Lane Bingley BD16 4DS Pupils from Wycliffe C of E Primary School will hand the baton to pupils from Riddlesden St Mary’s School at the top of Five Rise Locks 11am Riddlesden St Mary’s Primary School, Riddlesden, BD20 5AB Pupils from Riddlesden St Mary’s Primary School will hand the baton to pupils from Eastwood Primary School. 12.15pm Parkwood Primary School, Keighley, BD21 4QH Pupils from Eastwood Primary school will hand the baton over to pupils at Parkwood Primary School 12.45pm Worth Valley Primary School, Keighley, BD22 7AX Pupils from Parkwood Primary School will hand over the baton to pupils at Worth Valley Primary School 1.30pm Oakworth Primary School, Oakworth, BD22 7HX Pupils from Worth Valley Primary School will hand over the baton to pupils at Oakworth Primary School 2pm Haworth Primary School, Haworth, BD22 8DW Pupils from Oakworth Primary School will hand over the baton at Haworth Primary School. Pupils from Lees Primary School, Cross Roads and Haworth Primary School will cycle round Haworth including tackling Haworth Main Street.

World Boxing Council Boxer, Fes Batista visits Russell Hall Primary School to promote his fight against bullying

Fes Batista visited the school during the weekly celebration assembly to talk to the children about anti-bullying. Batista is an anti-bullying activist who trains and lives in the United States of America.

The young boxer who was born in Huddersfield moved his career to the states and begun making a splash in the world of boxing. Batista, when not training, spends the rest of his time working and promoting the World Boxing Council’s Anti-Bullying programme.

Batista is no stranger to Russell Hall Primary as he has visited the school before to speak on the issue of bullying. He told the children boxing turned his life around after he had experienced being bullied when he was young.

The assembly included an anti-bullying song that was sung by three of Russell Hall’s students. Fes Batista then ended the assembly by donating his famous shades.

Deputy Headteacher, Heidi Higgs said:

“It was great to have Fes Batista come and talk to the children about bullying.

“Fes has worked with the school for several years and has helped to ensure that the anti-bullying culture remains high profile at Russell Hall.” 

Follow Russell Hall Primary on Twitter: @russellhallps