Page 21 - link magazine

:entre of Learning HREOD*w

PARK WAY SCHOOL

The importance of study support for all abilities

`There is no higher or lower knowl- Maths Clinic has become a popular after-school ses- Pupils may stay as long as they need, whether it's two
edge, but one only, flowing out of sion with pupils. Every Wednesday. pupils come along minutes to answer a quick question or an hour to go
-xperimentation." to the Mathematics Faculty for a `drop in' session to get over a complete topic; the choice is theirs.
This is reflected in the "hands on" help with any classwork and homework that they have The Faculty aims to provide opportunities for pupils
approach to learning adopted by the problems with during the week, or just to get some extra to manage their own learning so that they achieve their
Faculty. As well as learning scien- practice with a topic that they have enjoyed. mathematical targets, with one to one tuition, in a re-
tific principles, the everyday appli- The clinic is run by mathematics teachers on both sites laxed and friendly atmosphere.
-ations are taught to all pupils. who are on hand to sort out pupils' individual problems.
Karleigh Williams, a year 7 pu-
pil, describes one of the activities set Spelling and reading boosters remain on top!!
for her class by their teacher, Miss
Nicola Banks: In the technology rich society of These are schemes that use a
"You can solve crimes using today it is easy to think that spell- multi-sensory approach to the teach-
Chromatography. This is a tech- ing and reading do not matter as ing of good literacy skills. The
nique that takes dye out of pens, and much as they used to! But, in eve- Learning Support team at Hreod
if a suspect is linked to a ransom ryday life most people don't have Parkway strongly believe that to
note, you can test some pens and the constant access to computers. So it's emphasise the true value of these
dyes will separate into different col- fair to say that good literacy skills skills remains a top priority.
ours. You can match the ransom note are as important as ever: perhaps
ink, with ink taken from the suspect, even more so in a century where
and hopefully catch the culprit. To people are still trying to make strides Twin links
get a chromatogram you draw a dot in effective communications. Twinning links have developed
with a pen on a piece of filter paper, Literacy skills are still the key to
between Hreod Parkway and the
put some drops of water on and wait effective learning. At Hreod
Salzgitter-Bad Gymnasium in Swin-
for the ink to spread. The dyes will Parkway we use several reading and
don's twin town. Hreod pupils have
separate and the way the colour spelling schemes that seek to im-
exchanged messages with pen-pals
shows up will reveal the pen the per- prove and accelerate such skills.
in Germany using e-mail and are
son had used." Even the names of these schemes producing a video introducing the
Karleigh and her class success- try to make learning sound more fun Toe by Toe volunteer helper Kathy
English school and its routines.
fully identified the suspect in ques- - Toe by Toe, Arrow, Spell Well, West working with year 7 student
tion ! DISTAR. and Reading Recovery. Danny Law
On the run
The school held its annual cross- Industry support for year 11
country championshjps in the Au-
tumn with 900 pupils participating work experience preparation
for their
House. Work experience is invaluable. Activities varied from students
Pupils but can be a daunting prospect for pouring over design blue-prints, dis-
first pre- many young people. cussing responsibilities in employ-
pared by When Hugo Pike, from Under- ment law and developing presenta-
running the standing Industry, offered to put to- tion skills.
course four gether a Conference, to help our And then there was the conclud-
times in Year 11 pupils prepare for 2 weeks ing poster competition. "Deadline
their les- in local work last October, we grate- too tight. They'll never finish."
sons and fully accepted. Oh yes they did!
gold, silver Leaders from firms like Motorola.
and bronze medals together with cer- British Aerospace,
tificates for the first 15 athletes for WH Smith, BT, Communicating with Germany,
each race were awarded. Raychem and Currys Jenna Lee, Kara Sydney Smith
One hundred and twenty five run- ran workshops. and Charlie Elliott
ners went on to compete in the Swin- The first pupil exchange will be
don Cross Country Championships Students with later this year. Pupils from Salzgitter
held at the school in November and representatives of arrive here in May and a return visit
twenty athletes gained selection for local industry, rear for Hreod Parkway pupils is in June.
the Wiltshire Championships in from left Dennis This year Salzgitter-Bad Gymnasi-
Salisbury. King, Kelly Roebuck. um's Jubilee Celebrations take place
Ten Swindon s chools competed Front, Hardip and our pupils will be able to par-
in the championships at Hreod and Sandhu, Clair ticipate in the sporting events and
Ross Townsend won the Junior Boys Pearce, Caydie the Rocky Horror Show and Disco
race in both Swindon and Salisbury, Taylor Gayle which feature in their festive pro-
so becoming Wiltshire champion. Doll imore gramme.