newsletter inside - 3€¦ · the newest recruit to progress schools is flying the flag for...
TRANSCRIPT
ISSUE 3 MAY 2017
29th May - 2nd June - Half Term
30th June - Year 11s Finish School
20th July - Last Day of term Carlisle, Liverpool Toxteth
21st July - Last Day of term Chesham, High
Wycombe, Liverpool Marine, Northampton,
Thrapston.
EXAM PREPARATION
KEY DATES
TREVOR’S SPORTING PASSION ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO AIM HIGH
TUTOR Trevor John's passion for the art of kickboxing is
helping to inspire Chesham students to aim high in their lives.
British, European and world champion Trevor sees his sport as a
way of channelling energies to convert into a healthier and more
meaningful lifestyle.
“Many lessons can be learned from the art of kickboxing. A lot of our
students can't see any future for themselves by sitting in a classroom
but getting them interested in something like martial arts can really
bring rewards. Kick boxing really is an art and calls for discipline too.
Once students get interested, it acts like a hook to encourage them to
aim higher and achieve.
It’s that time of year for our dedicated year 11 students. They will soon
be sitting their formal exams in Maths, English and ICT as well as
finalising their portfolios for all other subjects.
Our schools have put in a variety of resources to help them achieve.
From study clubs to library sessions, our students are finding
innovative ways to build their confidence going in to this exam
period.
Alongside this we are providing extensive support in finding
their progression routes. Most students have already applied
for their next steps!
We wish them all every success for the rest of this year and
beyond.
Trevor's aim for Progress Schools students is for them to see sport and
exercise as a route to a healthier lifestyle – by opting for a better diet and
looking after their physical and mental wellbeing – as well as raising their
own personal awareness.
Progress Schools were pleased to be able to open their Thrapston site
on 20th February 2017. Thrapston is a market tow
n which w
as granted it’s m
arket charter in 1205. Students are adjusting to a more village like
environment w
here they can get out and about and be part of a com
munity.
We have beautiful new
premises on the grounds of the East
Northam
ptonshire Council site and we are even m
ore excited to be able to utilise The N
ene Centre which is the local leisure centre directly
cross the car park from us.
Students have already made som
e great local links and have started to access the local library and beautiful surroundings for w
alks and sport. W
e look forward to continuing to integrate into the com
munity and
explore more of the tow
n.
Progress Schools are now on the hom
e stretch of their fundraising efforts for The Children’s Society. Last term
, students in N
orthamptonshire com
pleted their enterprise project w
hich saw them
plan, make and sell a product of
their choice. Students made beautiful Easter baskets and
the doors were flung open to the public for them
to show
off their designs.
Over £200 w
as raised across the schools and students show
ed great confidence selling to the public. This term,
we are looking to support local sm
all businesses with
marketing in return for donations to our charity.
If anyone would like to donate to The Children’s Society,
please go to https://ww
w.justgiving.com/fundraising/
Progress-Schools Final figure of online and cash raised to be announced at the end of the school year!
BUSINESS D
EVELOPM
ENT
NEG
OTATIN
G LUN
CH
IN N
ORTH
AMPTO
NO
ne of the main w
ays we look at w
ays of improving our school
is through talking to people, and often, our best critics can be very close to hom
e. Each month w
e run a student forum w
hich essentially, is an opportunity for the young people w
ho attend each day to voice their opinion.
After a conversation in a recent forum, students decided they
wanted to change the provided lunch and look for som
ewhere
new, so one student, Lewis, decided to take on the challenge.
The menu changes w
eekly with salad provided, alongside a
drink and snack to accompany the sub. Since the deal w
as arranged w
ith Subway students have been thoroughly
enjoying the new taste and are now
much happier w
ith the lunch they receive.
By To
m W
hitlock, B
usiness Develo
pm
ent Manag
er
As a result we w
ill be introducing activities outside of school premises, not only via group w
ork but on an individual basis. W
e will shortly com
mence tailored 1-1 support sessions for learners that have had long term
attendance issues which
will be delivered via FaceTim
e and Skype on a specific daily timeslot to ensure they are not disadvantaged due to their
current personal circumstances, such as not being able to physically attend school.
This short term m
easure will ensure they are kept in touch w
ith school to minim
ise any isolation they might have
suffered from due to absenteeism
and at the same tim
e the learners will still be able to continue their studies by
this offer of personal support provided by their tutor.
As an alternative provision provider we are alw
ays looking at new and innovative w
ays to capitalise on engagem
ent activities with our harder to reach learners w
hich will m
aximise and enhance participation on our
programm
es.
STUDEN
TS MO
VE 4
KID
NE
YS
!
In the recent months, w
e have been looking at ways to increase the sporting activities available to our
students, with the aim
of encouraging a healthier and more active lifestyle in school.
Tutors have been focusing on the theme of aw
areness days, such as World Kidney D
ay, which looks at
the positive effects exercise can have on our body.
In Liverpool, students took part in a badminton com
petition at the Fire Fit Hub, as w
ell as a great gam
e of football on the astro-turf in the nice spring sunshine.
Northam
pton regularly visits Trilogy Leisure for Boxercise, Indoor Cycling and Circuit Training, alongside Thrapston w
ho had their end of term
trip at the indoor trampoline park – Boost.
Physical Education is a vital part of our curriculum, w
ith benefits including reducing the risk of obesity and decreasing feelings of anxiety am
ongst young people.
Not only this, but sport prom
otes team w
ork and helps to build positive relationships betw
een staff, students and their peers.
Thrapston Opening
Pro
gress Scho
ols
has given m
e a seco
nd chance,
will b
e forever
gratefull!
“
“
Progrees Schools
has given m
e more
confidence, and a chance w
hen no one else w
ould.
“
“
Get Involved
- Ru
n fo
r Fu
n!
The M
arin
e a
nd
To
xte
th le
arn
ers
and
sta
ff will b
e p
artic
ipatin
g in
a 5
K ru
n a
t
Sta
nle
y P
ark
on S
und
ay 1
4th
May a
nd
will b
e ra
isin
g m
oney fo
r the C
hild
ren’s
So
cie
ty. T
his
event is
a jo
int E
verto
n &
Liv
erp
oo
l Run fo
r the 9
6.
The link for this event is: http
://ww
w.b
trliverp
oo
l.co
m/ru
n-fo
r-the-9
6-e
nte
r
NEW
HO
ME TUTO
RING
MO
DEL
By Sio
n Hug
hes, Op
erations M
anager
By C
harlotte B
arton, Q
uality Assurance M
anager
SO
CIA
L RESPO
NSIBILITY
THE newest recruit to Progress Schools is flying the flag for apprenticeships as a vital route to a successful career.
Eighteen-year-old Sophie Jolley has just begun work at Progress Schools in Northampton as a social media and digital marketing apprentice, joining the growing number of young people choosingan apprenticeship rather than going to university.
Sophie did, in fact, take up her place at university but decided it wasn't for her. She explained: “I'd begun studying for a degree in animation at the University of Lincoln and hadn't been there long before I realised I'd made the wrong choice. I didn't want to loadmyself with a lot of debt and, at the end of my course, still not have a job to go to. So when this apprenticeship at Progress Schools came up, I jumped at the chance and made the switch. I've no regrets as it's a fantastic opportunity to learn all about social media and digital marketing by actually doing the work – and getting paid for it.”
While at school, she said, going to university was usual route for Sixth Formers. However, she said: “Most of my friends have gone on to university and when I told them I'd begun an apprenticeship instead, they were really happy for me, saying it was the right choice for me.”
James Madine, chief executive at Progress Schools, added: “Sophie is one of a rising number of young people seeing the apprenticeship route as a viable option to going to university. Here at Progress Schools she will be nurtured and developed on the road to a successful career.”
NEW RECRUIT SOPHIE CHOOSES APPRENTICESHIP OVER UNIVERSITY
YOUNG people from the North West are being given a chance to reach new goals at one of Progress Schools' newest initiatives.
Marine AFC, a fan-owned community football club in Crosby on the outskirts of Liverpool, has become home to a school offering an extensive array of BTEC sports qualifications for learners who are passionate about sport.
In class, students are taking a range of modules which cover both practical and theoretical elements of the qualifications as well as English, maths and vocational subjects. However, going to school also means having a learning base at a top Merseyside football club with access to its facilities – a full-size pitch which meets FA regulations, a recreational park with basketball and tennis courts, concrete football pitch and grass pitch. There's also the added bonus of being able to attend live games and discuss tactics and formations with tutors.
On top of this are weekly excursions to the Fire Fit Hub Super Youth Zone in Toxteth, Liverpool – another base for Progress Schools learners – where students can use its world-class sport, music and cultural facilities which include five-a-side and seven-a-side football pitches, dance and martial arts studio, fitness suite and gym with its weights and boxing ring.
Progress Schools chief executive James Madine said: “Our school at Marine AFC is based within a solid community setting where young learners want to be – so for many of them the first hurdle of actually turning up for lessons is being conquered.
For students themselves, going to school at Marine is an exciting alternative to previous experiences of education.One 14-year-old learner said: “Having classes at a football club makes me want to turn up for school, something I never wanted to do before.”
ACHIEVE NEW GOALS AT THE SCHOOL THAT’S PASSIONATE ABOUT SPORT