Darlington 11-19 Practitioner Newsletter
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Darlington 11-19 Practitioner Newsletter Issue 31, November 2019 © Darlington 11-19 Partnership Welcome In This Issue… ❖ Darlington College signs up to mental health charter As the first edition of a new academic year, this newsletter highlights some of the successes from the summer exams, ❖ 2019 FutureMe Awards—Hurworth School and it is lovely to read about all the fantastic achievements of the young people of Darlington – some of the stories ❖ Success Adds Up—Haughton Academy included in this edition are truly inspirational! Of course these successes would not be possible without the ❖ Big Project at Carmel College partnership between the young people, their parents /carers and the staff in all the schools and colleges across our ❖ Carmel Exam Success borough who have provided such amazing support; I am sure I speak on behalf of all of the young people in the town ❖ Student business advances to regional finals— QE by saying a huge thank you to everyone for their hard work in the run up to the summer exams. ❖ Plumbing student celebrates success—Darlington College At the time of writing we are still in a period of change and ❖ QE students enjoy stunning A level success uncertainty around the future of education. With a new Ofsted framework being used for the first time this year, the ❖ QE students experience high fashion in London and Paris potential implications of Brexit, a national pattern of financial concerns and the various promises about education being ❖ Darlington College Awards made by different parties as part of their general election campaigning are just some of the wider issues schools and ❖ Designers on Track—Haughton Academy colleges are facing, it is even more heartening to read about the range of opportunities and experiences all the institutions ❖ Haughton Academy pupils celebrate within the 11-19 Partnership are providing. ❖ Making the Grade—Haughton Academy Schools and colleges are continuing to be the ‘safe port’ in the storm for so many of our young people who are ❖ Wyvern Academy News exceptionally lucky to have so many staff who are willing to go above and beyond to ensure that this remains the case in ❖ Hummersknott Academy’s Karate Kid the coming academic year. I wish you every success for the year ahead and look forward to continuing to read about all ❖ Jeans for genes day—St Aidan’s CE Academy the activities and events which are taking place in Darlington in future editions of this newsletter. ❖ Carmel College News ❖ St Aidan’s CE Academy news ❖ Alex flies high - Hummersknott Academy ❖ Olivia Bowes—Learning & Skills apprenticeship ❖ Teesside University News Nichola Peaker Headteacher Hurworth School 1 Darlington 11 - 19 Partnership ;Q; DARUNGTON !BOROUGH COUNCIL Darlington College signs up to Mental Health Charter I Senior managers at Darlington College have signed a brand new national mental health and wellbeing charter, created by the Association of Colleges in conjunction with mental health experts. Chairman of Darlington College’s Board, Pat Howarth said: “This is more than just the signing of a document, it reflects a commitment by the college to create a caring culture recognising the importance of mental health and wellbeing”. “This means colleges such as ours are in a position to play a vital role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of --=-~=~-=-~=-""::::- •·· .. ..1a:a...104:::, Suia students and staff,” said Principal and Puo ne Chief Executive Kate Roe. Pat Howarth, Chairman of Darlington College’s Board and Kate Roe, Principal The 11-point document aims to promote equality of opportunity and challenge mental health stigma. It also seeks to provide appropriate mental health training for staff and provide individual mental health support where needed. The mental health charter encourages colleges to commit to: • wellbeing and mental health work being led by a senior manager • having a wellbeing and mental health policy with a clear implementation action plan • creating an open and inclusive college ethos which includes respect for those with mental ill health • promoting equality of opportunity and challenging mental health stigma through teaching and tutorials • encouraging and collecting student views by working with the Students Union and other student representative bodies • providing appropriate mental health training for staff • providing relevant information to parents and carers • establishing effective links with local health systems and voluntary sector mental health providers • promoting the benefits of physical activity and sport Darlington 11 - 19 Partnership 101DARLINGTON 2 !BOROUGH COUNCIL FutureMe Awards I This year’s FutureMe awards were held at The Quayside Exchange in Sunderland. Hurworth School pupil Connor Scott won the "Most Inspirational Student Award" for his outstanding dedication and enthusiasm. Connor received fantastic feedback from staff both within and outside of school, regarding his excellent attitude, focus and progression towards his career goal. Hurworth School HE Champion, Darren Thompson was there to support Connor on his fabulous achievement. Penny Hudson (Careers Leader) at Hurworth School, also received the award for Connor Scott receiving his award "Outstanding Individual Contribution to Higher Education”. I Success Adds Up I Pupils at Haughton Academy were presented with a host of certificates following their success in the annual Intermediate Mathematics Challenge, run by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT). More than 200,000 pupils from 3,000 schools took part in the competition, aimed at students in Year 11 and below, which challenges students in creative mathematical reasoning and problem solving skills. Certificates are awarded to the top 40% of students nationally. Bronze certificates were awarded to Year 9 Aiden Foster and Adam Biernat with their Gold awards pupils Jake Mason, 13, and Jorja Stewart, 14, Gold awards, which were given to just seven per who both received best in year accolades cent of students nationally, went to Aiden Foster, and Year 10 pupil Ewan Page, 14, and 16, and Adam Biernat, 16 who also collected best Charlotte Gibbs, 14, who was also awarded in school and best in year award. Both were best in year, and Year 11 pupil Adam invited to participate in the next round of Wilkinson. competition which attracts entrants from over 50 countries globally. ~-~.a. lilWi DARLINGTON Darlington 11 - 19 Partnership 3 !BOROUGH COUNCIL Big project at Carmel College I Carmel students wowed again with exceptional enterprise and innovation in this year’s Big Project. As part of the careers programme at Carmel, students are invited to take part in a year-long project working with Jacobs to create ambitious and big projects that address real needs. This year the focus was how artificial intelligence and the 4th industrial revolution could improve the way we live or work. Teams worked with Jacobs mentors and had support on the legal aspects of their projects from the Endeavour Partnership. Harvey & Hugo provided teams with advice about PR, marketing and social media. The Big Project Final took place at Carmel in June. Judges from Tees Valley Combined Authority, Jacobs, Harvey & Hugo and The Endeavour Partnership had the very difficult decision to crown this year’s winning team. Sara Crawshaw, Assistant Vice Principal said, “The quality of ideas and how teams have worked together and used advice from various sectors has been exceptional. Everyone who has been involved this year should be really proud of their achievements”. I Carmel College exam success I Congratulations to Carmel students who in the summer received excellent exam results, enabling them to continue with education or Jrtes in fide I' to secure employment. At GCSE 87% of students achieved at least a standard pass (grade 9- 4) in both Maths and English, and 64% achieved a strong pass or higher (grade 9-5) in both subjects. 272 of the College’s GCSE entries were graded 9 or 8, the highest levels of attainment in GCSE. The College’s A Level achievement, like GCSE outcomes, were higher than national performance, and figures were also well above north east averages, with 31% of A level entries graded A*-A, and 58% graded A*-B. The College’s pass rate was 99.4%. Carmel students celebrate Students have gone on to accept university offers, apprenticeships and embraced the opportunity to further their ambitions to secure their ideal careers. Darlington 11 - 19 Partnership 101DARLINGTON 4 !BOROUGH COUNCIL Student business advances to regional finals I QE first year students have launched their own fashion brand, ‘c_ncept.’ First year students from QE have launched their own business and product as part of the Young Enterprise Company Programme and have advanced to the North East Regional Finals. The fashion brand, entitled ‘c_ncept.’, is aimed at younger audiences. A Level Business and Economics student, Glenn Premarion, who is also the company’s creative director, describes the logo as ‘simple and contextual, representing a minimal aesthetic. The missing ‘o’ suggests the idea is incomplete, that there is space for it to grow into something bigger and better.’ The group began by selling reusable, canvas tote bags and are now looking to expand their range of products to include t-shirts. With support from Young Enterprise and their business adviser, Andrew Wattsford, from local business, Wattsford Commercial Finance, the students were tasked with preparing a business plan and presentation which they delivered to judges at the Tees Valley Area Showcase, hosted by Teesside University. Despite facing tough competition, ‘c_ncept.’ finished in second place and the group will now compete in the North East Regional Finals. Delighted at the result, Andrew comments: ‘It is fantastic to hear that the team from QESFC have been rewarded for their hard work. These young people have shown true entrepreneurial spirit and the skills they have developed will undoubtedly allow them to succeed in the future.’ Alfie Burns, who studies Biology, English Literature and Maths at QE adds: ‘We are really excited to be taking part in the regional finals.