Proud parents and music lovers at Whyteleafe School can relive the highlight of the school’s musical year in the comfort of their own home after a DVD of the choir’s Christmas appearance at the Royal Albert Hall was made available to buy.

Last December Whyteleafe’s pupils were part of a 1,400-strong choir taking part in the annual Christmas Celebration concert, organised by the CLIC Sargent children’s cancer charity.

Appearing alongside the children were performers including former X Factor star Stacey Solomon, dance acts Urban Strides and West End Kids, and folk hip-hop duo Nizlopi. The concert raised £158,000 for young people affected by cancer and their families, and organisers are hopeful that sales of the DVD, through the Pembrokeshire Videos website, will further boost that figure.

“Whyteleafe really prides itself on how active its music department is, and this annual concert is the most high-profile and prestigious example,” said head teacher Mr Marsh. “There’s a waiting list to join the choir, who have regular performances outside school, there are recorder groups for every age group and in Year 4 all pupils get the chance to learn the clarinet – music is a really important part of what we offer at the school, and the success we’ve had shows how much the children appreciate that and embrace. The
chance to perform at such a world-class venue as the Royal Albert Hall is almost like an end of year treat for the choir, but it’s one they thoroughly deserve.

"They put on a wonderful performance on a great night, so I hope plenty of people buy the DVD to support a great cause and also to see something of which the whole school can be very proud.”

DVDs can be ordered from www.pembrokeshirevideos.co.uk and following the
link by clicking on the CLIC Sargent logo.

On Thursday 5 and Saturday 7 February, GLF Schools will be hosting a two-day recruitment fair at Glyn School in Ewell, which is being sponsored by Eteach.

Whether you are an experienced school professional in a teaching or non-teaching role or someone with no school experience but have an interest in working in a school environment, GLF Schools is hosting an event that will allow the opportunity for schools showcase what is on offer in Surrey, Croydon and Wokingham.

GLF Schools is a multi-academy trust that was set up in 2012 with just two schools and is now made up of 12 schools located across south east England. The schools range from newly-opened one form entry primaries to a large long-established secondary.

Each school exists in its own right maintaining its own unique characteristics and individual identity, with its own budget and Headteacher, working in collaboration with communities and coming together to share ideas and experiences for the benefit of all.

Executive Headteacher Jon Chaloner has over 20 years of experience in teaching and education leadership, and says GLF Schools’ motto – ‘where children grow, learn and flourish’ – is central to the success of the group.

“With 4500 children in our schools, we wish to recruit new teachers alongside the highest quality support staff. We invite highly motivated and inspirational future colleagues to the fair,” he explained.

GLF Schools is pleased to be working in cooperation with non-GLF schools, including Rosebery, Riverview, Weald, Epsom Primary school, and Salfords.

Recruitment of good teachers and other school professionals can be challenging for schools and it is hoped that this initiative can support schools with their recruitment needs both for current and future vacancies. 

Across all the schools at the fair, we wish to appoint colleagues who, like our existing teams, enjoy a challenge and are willing and able to work to help fulfil ambitious aims. Our posts offer a blend of challenges and rewards in order to ensure the very highest standards for all.

Members of the choir at Cuddington Croft School in Cheam are counting off the days until the biggest performance of their lives as they get ready to take part in the Voice in a Million concert at Wembley Arena in March.

The concert is part of a British-based international campaign to raise awareness of the adoption system, using the idea of children’s voices to give a voice to those in the system who are looking for a new family and fresh start in life. Cuddington will be taking a 46-strong party to the Wembley event, which is part of a series of concerts taking place across the country, and choir leader Caroline Davis says the children are thrilled at the prospect. “Once I heard about the scheme from a friend, I had to get the school involved, and it’s proved a hugely popular idea,” she said.

“As you can imagine, the children are getting massively excited by the prospect of such a big show. They’ll be singing a variety of music, from ‘Let it Go’ to ‘Respect’ and ‘All of Me’. They’re going to be rehearsing for it for three months, and recently we had a visit from a band called Ynfiniti, who are girls who have grown up performing in the Voice In A Million concerts over the years, and have now formed their own band. That really inspired them.

“Performing at Wembley will be an amazing experience for the children. It’ll also be pretty special for the parents, as many of them have already bought tickets, but I hope everyone associated with the school, whether they’re got a connection to the choir or not, will take pride in what the children are doing. They’re certainly making us proud.”

Pupils at Marden Lodge Primary School can feel rightly proud of themselves
following the publication of the latest Department for Education primary
school performance tables.

The figures for Year 6 pupils in 2014 show that 83 per cent of Marden pupils
reached level four in reading, writing and maths – nationally, that figure
is 79 per cent.

Based on that progress from the previous results, Marden has now risen into
the top 15 per cent in Surrey. As well as that, Marden is rated in the top
20 per cent of Surrey schools for the number of children achieving level
four B+ in all three categories.

“To know that we’re ahead of the field nationwide and doing so well on a
local level is wonderful news,” said head teacher Kate Denby. “The children
have responded superbly to all the hard work the staff have put in, and it
shows. Everyone associated with these results – pupils, parents and staff –
should be really proud of what we’ve achieved.

"We’re not going to let it rest there, though. We’ve got some new curriculum
initiatives for English, which we have just introduced, and parents will be
able to find out more at one of our regular parent information evenings this
half term. We’ve set the bar high, but I’m confident our pupils are up to
that challenge.”

Move over Ray Mears and watch out Bear Grylls - the reception class of Whyteleafe School are after your jobs, because they are are moving out of the classroom and into the forest.

Whyteleafe’s Forest School project sees pupils leave the classroom on a regular basis and go into the school grounds for lessons in such long overlooked skills as tree climbing and fire making, in a carefully regulated supervised environment, as part of a wider self-esteem and confidence building exercise.

After-school clubs manager Lorna Smith, who initiated the project last summer, said it was proving hugely popular. “It’s a great leveller as so few of the children have experienced anything like this before,” she explained.

“That means some of the children who may struggle in other areas are starting from the same position as their more confident and successful classmates, so they learn at the same pace, and it’s a new opportunity to shine.

"Once a week, for six weeks, teams of 15 children to into the woods for lessons, taking all the equipment with them. Even that’s a lesson in itself, teaching them about teamwork and responsibility. They’re so busy having fun that they don’t realise they’re learning, but it’s carefully structured so that they are.”

Assistant head teacher Chris Jowett tried out the experience for himself, and was hugely impressed. “I can’t wait to be involved again,” he said afterwards. “It was huge fun, and it was wonderful to see the children so absorbed in an activity which adds so much to our Early Years curriculum. I really hope we can find a way to expand it for other years in the school to enjoy it too.”

Hillcroft Primary School welcomed a highly successful former pupil
recently when author Debi Evans returned to her old school to talk to Key
Stage 2 children about her life and work as a children’s writer.

After studying at the University of Leicester, Debi lived in Dubai for 20
years, during which time she travelled the world, visiting primary schools
to conduct workshops and give talks about writing. She has now returned to
England and is based in Wiltshire.

Having previously written the series of books the Secret Society of Dragon
Protectors, Debi’s latest project is The Secret Adventures of Rolo, about
the adventures of a time-travelling Jack Russell terrier.

“Being able to welcome a visitor like Debi to the school is absolutely
wonderful for the children,” said executive head teacher Stephanie Scutter.
“She’s so experienced at doing this, she knows exactly how to communicate
with them and to unlock their minds, to capture them in her own stories and
to inspire them to come up with their own. The fact that she’s a former
pupil is just the icing on the cake – it shows the children the sort of
thing that they can go on to achieve in life, and it also makes them feel
like their school visit is extra special. Not every school can boast someone
like Debi as a former pupil – everyone here at Hillcroft is very proud of
what she’s achieved, so it’s lovely that she had the chance to come back
here and experience that for herself.”

Pupils at Hillcroft Primary School were given a glimpse of their
educational future earlier this month when they joined millions of other
school children across the world in taking part in an international computer
event called the Hour of Code.

Every child at the school, from Nursery through to Year Six, was given the
chance to explore the world of writing computer coding by spending an hour
working on an iPad or a Chromebook.

The worldwide event, supported in Britain by organisations such as Google,
Microsoft and the Department of Education, is to introduce children to the
basics of a skill which is likely to play a significant role in their
education in the years to come. To make it fun, however, they were given the
opportunity to discover how to animate popular characters such as Angry
Birds or Frozen.

“This is something that the children really respond to, which is also of
huge educational impact,” said executive head teacher Stephanie Scutter. “As
they grow older, coding is going to become an ever-more vital tool in their
future education and employment, so this is a great way to introduce it in
an enjoyable way, whilst also teaching them an essential lesson. It’s also
something that parents can get involved with at home, on home PCs and
tablets, as there are so many coding apps available, so what starts out as a
lesson in the classroom could end up having a far more wide-reaching result
for the whole family.”

Loved-up couples are being given the chance to have a free photo shoot by a professional photographer in the Vancouver Quarter ahead of Valentine’s Day.

The pop up studio will be situated next to Costa Coffee and opposite Wilkinson on New Conduit Street and will run from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, February 7. 

People are being encouraged to book a slot on the Vancouver Quarter’s website to avoid disappointment. Participants will be able to download their pictures from the shopping centre’s website and have photos printed in time for Valentine’s Day.

“We are really looking forward to hosting this free photo shoot,” Abbie Panks, centre manager, said. 

“It’s a great opportunity for couples to have their photo taken for free and have their love digitally captured ahead of Valentine’s Day but we all know love can come in many different forms so even if you are not in a relationship right now, why not reserve a space and have a photograph taken with your best friend or family member?

She added: “Snappy Snaps is also offering a special discount on all prints if you show your Vancouver Quarter Discount Card.”

To discover more visit www.vancouverquarter.com

Thousands of shoppers will be able to save money on their bus travel into King’s Lynn and Hunstanton after Norfolk Green confirmed it had extended its offering to the Vancouver Quarter discount card scheme.

The West Norfolk bus operator joined the project in October and offered cardholders a 10 per cent discount on its 10, 11 and Coasthopper 1 buses when heading into King’s Lynn to enjoy one of the Vancouver Quarter’s late night shopping events, held every Thursday from November 27 to December 18.

But now Norfolk Green has announced a Top Ten loyalty scheme which will offer the 10 per cent discount every day of the week for a full year on the 10, 11 and Coasthopper 1. The Top Ten will have a £10 annual membership fee but until February 9 membership is free of charge. In addition to the 10 per cent discount, members will be able to purchase a one-off weekly ticket on the 10 and 11 services for £10 saving up to £19.50 on the services, which also cover Dersingham and Heacham.

Abbie Panks, Vancouver Quarter centre manager, said: “We’re thrilled with Norfolk Green’s latest discount to our cardholders because it will help make their money go that little bit further when travelling into King’s Lynn to shop or socialise. The potential savings over the course of 2015 with this offer are significant to our current and future cardholders.”

Representatives from Norfolk Green will be on the Bandstand in the Vancouver Quarter on Saturday, January 10 between 10am – 3pm to provide further information on the Top Ten discount.

Will Smith, Norfolk Green commercial manager, added: “Following the success of our late night shopping promotion we were keen to extend our Vancouver Quarter discount card offering. The Top Ten offers an excellent discount year round with a fantastic one off joining offer of up to 66 per cent off a weekly ticket. Whether you’re coming shopping in the Vancouver Quarter or going swimming in Hunstanton there’s never been a better time to do so by bus with the Vancouver Discount Card and the Top Ten.”

The Alive Leisure Trust, which runs the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Lynnsport, St James Pool, Downham Leisure Centre, and the Oasis at Hunstanton, is also part of the scheme. Burger King, Ikon, Wimpy and the Majestic Cinema also offer discounts, as do Johnsons, Blue Inc, Claire’s, Trespass, Supercuts and Moccachinos.

To discover the current discounts being offered, visit http://vancouverquarter.com/discount-card/current-offers