Page 16 - link magazine

Education News

Author spreads the write message

Author Robin Price put children at
Tregoze Primary School through
their creative paces when he ran a
series of workshops for all children
in the school.
Robin, a former BBC Children’s
digital content editor, said: “It’s
really nice to be able to come into
schools and help inspire writers,
especially reluctant writers.”
He explained that his approach
involved providing a framework for
children to develop their story ideas. From left, Justin Tomlinson, Graham Taylor and Coun Mary Martin
“I ask children to start by thinking
of a setting and then populate it Builders make start on academy
with characters and then to think of
a problem that the characters might Construction work on a new are delighted with how things are
need to solve. From my experience, £21 million secondary school for going”
girls are better at planning their Author Robin Price at Tregoze School north Swindon has been officially Work on the three-storey building
writing than boys. So this approach and Beowuff – where cats and launched at a ground breaking at Tadpole Farm should be complete
supports boys who might find dogs rule the world. His graphic ceremony. by July 2018 ready for school
writing to be a struggle because novel London Deep was chosen as At the event were Principal of opening in September 2018 for year
the planning is supported by this a Recommend Read for World Book New College Graham Taylor and 7 and year 12 pupils. The Great
framework. It allows them to get Day in 2011. An Olivier nominated North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson Western Academy will have a major
straight into the action.” songwriter, Robin writes songs for along with representatives of BAM focus on computing, business,
Class teacher Peter Williams said: Tall Stories theatre company. His construction and Coun Mary Martin enterprise and technology.
“The children have been really writing credits include The Gruffalo (Con, Shaw) who will take on the The design includes modern,
engaged with this – it’s a great and Room on the Broom (by Julia post of Chair of Governors. facilities for IT, Science and Maths,
opportunity for them to hear from Donaldson) and a musical version Justin Tomlinson said: “I’m Design and Technology and the
an author and get inspired by some of Something Else by the Children’s very pleased to mark the start of creative arts.
of the ideas that he is sharing Laureate Chris Riddell. Robin’s visit this 78-week project. This is the Sports facilities include a four
today.” to Tregoze school was funded by the culmination of many years’ hard court sports hall, three outdoor
Robin Price is the author of three Erasmus+ fund, a EU funded project work to secure this £21m project football pitches, a multi-use games
historical series of children’s books aimed at supporting education and is a much needed facility to area and artificial cricket pitch.
Spartapuss, The Olympuss Games projects throughout Europe. boost the local community.” A full website for the School
Graham Taylor, principal of will launch in early March at
New College said: “We have www.gwacademy.co.uk and any
been working closely with BAM interested parents of Year 5 pupils
construction on the design and should follow the Facebook page at
planning of this facility and we www.facebook.com/GWASwindon.

Minister visits pioneering schools

Minister of State for Schools, Nick
Gibb MP, insisted that Ofsted were
‘doing a very good job’ in the wake
of blanket criticisms of primary
and secondary schools by Ofsted
Regional Director Bradley Simmons.
The Minister, who was in town to
learn about pioneering approaches
taken by Swindon Academy and
Nova Hreod, refused to criticise
Mr Simmon’s controversial stance,
adding that Ofsted have an
“important job to do.”
Mr Gibb began his tour at
Swindon Academy, where he was
introduced to the school’s new
Grammar Stream programme which Schools Minister Nick Gibb
has been established in partnership
with Marlborough College. Academy which has been able
A total of 30 places have been to raise the percentage of pupils
offered to the most academically achieving 5 GCSEs graded A* to
able students in year 7 who follow C from 21 per cent in 2014 to 63
a challenging curriculum which also per cent in 2016 and under the
sees them visit Marlborough College leadership of Principal Darren
one afternoon a week, study Latin Barton, has transformed the culture
and work an extended school day. of the school by introducing a strict
Mr Gibb also visited Nova Hreod discipline policy.
16 swindonlink.com n March 2017

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