Derbyshire decision-makers were grilled on the future of the Peak District by high school students at this year's Peak 11 Conference.
Pupils from 11 Peak District secondary schools met representatives from the National Park Authority, youth services, borough and county councils and the police to discuss plans and policies for the future.
The aim of the event is to help young people influence the decision-makers who shape their communities.
The panel of officials faced a room packed with 14 to 18 year-old students armed with questions on public services, local industry, Information Technology and crime.
Kate Lamb, headteacher of St Thomas More's School, Buxton, said: "I'm hoping the young people will feel empowered to do something enterprising for themselves in the area where they live.
"Most of our students live in rural areas or small towns, and this is an opportunity for them to become involved in issues that affect their own lives."
Hot topics were access to training and transport, job opportunities, affordable housing, leisure facilities and recreation in the Peak Park.
At the end of the session most students decided that Spain was a better option.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-30 13:51:33
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Derbyshire Schools Funding Increase
Spending on Derbyshire's schools is to rise by almost £18 million over the next year.
Derbyshire County Council currently spends £3,429 per pupil and has an overall schools budget of around £376 million.
Funding for 2007/08 will rise to £3,649 per pupil – an increase of 6.4 per cent.
Total funding is estimated to increase to £394 million, subject to confirmation of pupil numbers.
The Government cash includes funding for a number of specific issues in schools. Derbyshire County Council will get £5.2 million in grants in 2007/08. Theses will be spent on:
* Personalised learning – schools will receive a share of £4.161 million to continue the development of personalised learning plans for pupils. This will allow each student to have the curriculum tailored to help them at their own pace.
* Practical learning options for 14 to 16-year-olds – schools will receive a share of £1.041 million to develop vocational courses for pupils.
Now the financial arguments for closing Stoney Middleton School become that bit weaker.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-20 01:51:47
Derbyshire County Council currently spends £3,429 per pupil and has an overall schools budget of around £376 million.
Funding for 2007/08 will rise to £3,649 per pupil – an increase of 6.4 per cent.
Total funding is estimated to increase to £394 million, subject to confirmation of pupil numbers.
The Government cash includes funding for a number of specific issues in schools. Derbyshire County Council will get £5.2 million in grants in 2007/08. Theses will be spent on:
* Personalised learning – schools will receive a share of £4.161 million to continue the development of personalised learning plans for pupils. This will allow each student to have the curriculum tailored to help them at their own pace.
* Practical learning options for 14 to 16-year-olds – schools will receive a share of £1.041 million to develop vocational courses for pupils.
Now the financial arguments for closing Stoney Middleton School become that bit weaker.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-20 01:51:47
Monday, March 19, 2007
Derby University wins award
The University of Derby has won a national award which recognises the importance of professionals working together to safeguard children.
The city's educational establishment beat off the challenge from other universities and NHS trusts to take the John Horder Award for innovation.
Derby's winning team featured law, social work and radiography academics.
Derby's entry centred on radiography students gaining first-hand experience of providing expert witness testimony in a mock court case.
The university collects the award at the Festival of Learning on Tuesday, March 27, at London's Royal College of Physicians.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-19 03:03:15
The city's educational establishment beat off the challenge from other universities and NHS trusts to take the John Horder Award for innovation.
Derby's winning team featured law, social work and radiography academics.
Derby's entry centred on radiography students gaining first-hand experience of providing expert witness testimony in a mock court case.
The university collects the award at the Festival of Learning on Tuesday, March 27, at London's Royal College of Physicians.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-19 03:03:15
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Stoney Middleton School fights on
As an ardent advocate of the protest movement to save Stoney Middleton School I am more than happy to announce that the school has won its first battle.
Fears over road safety and a potentially "devastating" effect on village life were enough for two parties on the school organisation committee to vote against the proposed closure of the primary school.
The final decision will now be made by the Government-appointed schools adjudicator.
Speaking after the meeting, Richard Jones, who had presented the case for retention of the school, said: "This was as near as we could get to victory tonight.
"Two out of the three independent bodies voted with us.
"It's been a stressful time but we're glad to have come this far."
Peter Hobson, chair of governors, added: "It's a brilliant result.
"We were hoping we could win over one of the parties but to get two is a welcome surprise."
Derbyshire County Council officials had earlier presented evidence showing a ten-year decline in pupil numbers, with little scope forecast for improvement.
Officer for the authority, David Humphrey, told the meeting that the council would not be saving money by closing the school as all funds would be distributed among other schools. Believe that and you will believe anything.
But he added that, in the authority's opinion, Stoney Middleton pupils could receive an equally good education at Curbar School for half the cost. A strange conclusion since class sizes will increase and so the pupils will not be getting the same one to one attention.
Jim Hickman, assistant director for educational improvement, added that he felt the mixed age groups among the school's pupils were likely to hinder their development. In which case Mr Hickman you need to look at the whole of Derbyshire since this principle exists everywhere.
But Stoney's action group spokesperson Richard Jones argued the cases of schools in Peak Forest and Litton, where the county council's projected pupil numbers proved to be out by 17 and 26 per cent respectively.
He also challenged the council's judgement that the children's prospective walk to Curbar School was safe, when Derbyshire's figures for improving road safety lagged behind the majority of authorities in England.
It was also argued that alternatives to closure, such as federation with neighbouring schools, had not been adequately pursued by the LEA.
Individual groups on the committee, made up of representatives from the Church of England, Roman Catholic Church, Derbyshire County Council and governors of other schools, took just half an hour to come to their verdicts.
The school governors and Church of England delegates said they could not support closure of the school due to concerns over road safety and negative impact on the community of Stoney Middleton.
The schools adjudicator is likely to visit the school and organise a public meeting before coming to a decision.
Councillor for the area, Nigel Allwood, said: "I want to congratulate Stoney Middleton on their wonderful presentation - no village could have done better."
But don't get complacent.There is still the big cheese from the government to convince and I can just picture what an asshole he/she will be.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-12 13:51:28
Fears over road safety and a potentially "devastating" effect on village life were enough for two parties on the school organisation committee to vote against the proposed closure of the primary school.
The final decision will now be made by the Government-appointed schools adjudicator.
Speaking after the meeting, Richard Jones, who had presented the case for retention of the school, said: "This was as near as we could get to victory tonight.
"Two out of the three independent bodies voted with us.
"It's been a stressful time but we're glad to have come this far."
Peter Hobson, chair of governors, added: "It's a brilliant result.
"We were hoping we could win over one of the parties but to get two is a welcome surprise."
Derbyshire County Council officials had earlier presented evidence showing a ten-year decline in pupil numbers, with little scope forecast for improvement.
Officer for the authority, David Humphrey, told the meeting that the council would not be saving money by closing the school as all funds would be distributed among other schools. Believe that and you will believe anything.
But he added that, in the authority's opinion, Stoney Middleton pupils could receive an equally good education at Curbar School for half the cost. A strange conclusion since class sizes will increase and so the pupils will not be getting the same one to one attention.
Jim Hickman, assistant director for educational improvement, added that he felt the mixed age groups among the school's pupils were likely to hinder their development. In which case Mr Hickman you need to look at the whole of Derbyshire since this principle exists everywhere.
But Stoney's action group spokesperson Richard Jones argued the cases of schools in Peak Forest and Litton, where the county council's projected pupil numbers proved to be out by 17 and 26 per cent respectively.
He also challenged the council's judgement that the children's prospective walk to Curbar School was safe, when Derbyshire's figures for improving road safety lagged behind the majority of authorities in England.
It was also argued that alternatives to closure, such as federation with neighbouring schools, had not been adequately pursued by the LEA.
Individual groups on the committee, made up of representatives from the Church of England, Roman Catholic Church, Derbyshire County Council and governors of other schools, took just half an hour to come to their verdicts.
The school governors and Church of England delegates said they could not support closure of the school due to concerns over road safety and negative impact on the community of Stoney Middleton.
The schools adjudicator is likely to visit the school and organise a public meeting before coming to a decision.
Councillor for the area, Nigel Allwood, said: "I want to congratulate Stoney Middleton on their wonderful presentation - no village could have done better."
But don't get complacent.There is still the big cheese from the government to convince and I can just picture what an asshole he/she will be.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-12 13:51:28
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)