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Spring 2007 News Updates from Study@BWFC

 

Text Box: Celebrating Success!

 

 

 CROWN GREEN ZONE

New Bowling Zone Adds up to Pupils’ Success

 Youngsters in Bolton are becoming experts on “firing”, “whitewashes” and “bobbies” – as well as brushing up on their literacy, numeracy and ICT skills.

For the uninitiated among us, the terms used are well-known phrases in the world of Crown Green Bowling!
Primary school pupils are learning how to play the professional sport at a new facility, the Crown Green Zone, at Leverhulme Park Community Club.

 The Zone is part of the national Playing For Success scheme, which was established by the DfES in 1997, and joins Bolton’s other initiative Study@bwfc which is based at the Reebok Stadium.
The aim of both centres, which are supported by Bolton Council, Bolton Wanderers Football Club and Lancashire County Crown Green Bowling Association, is to support Bolton schools with their drive to raise attainment and achievement levels at Key Stage 2 and

The centres concentrate on developing young people’s levels of motivation and self-esteem by helping them to have fun in a safe but challenging learning environment.

Focusing on literacy, numeracy and ICT skills, youngsters at the Crown Green Zone get the chance to learn a professional sport followed by two hours of study in a state-of-the-art computer suite.

Veteran coaches from local bowling clubs give up their time voluntarily to work with the youngsters, teaching them “bowling etiquette” and how to apply the rules of the game.

The youngsters also develop their mathematical, strategical and team building skills as they learn how to score a game and plan for success.

The Zone was opened following the success of Study@bwfc, which focuses on football skills, and is fully booked until September.

 However, bookings are being taken for 2007/8 and more volunteers are needed to help teach the bowling skills.

Full training will be given to volunteers but an interest in Crown Green Bowling would be an advantage.

For more information, contact Janet Rhodes, centre manager, on 01204 669911.

 Executive member for Children’s Services, Councillor Linda Thomas, said: “The Crown Green Zone is an excellent learning facility for the young people of Bolton and is proving to be just as popular as Study@bwfc. Pupils receive dedicated training in the three vital areas of literacy, numeracy and ICT but in a fun environment. They also build up invaluable relationships with some of the older members of society who are more than willing to give up their time to help. Maybe we will see some of the youngsters develop into the sportsmen and women of tomorrow.”

 

 

Advanced Quality In Study Support For
STUDY@BWFC

On 4th December, Study@BWFC was judged to be a QISS (Quality in Study Support) ADVANCED centre, becoming one of only six PFS centres nationally to do so.  A team of scrutineers spent the day at the centre examining a range of evidence about our work and interviewing staff, partners and students.   This effectively means that Study@BWFC operates as an Extended Service and indicates a commitment to leading innovative practice.   

 Janet Rhodes, Centre Manager, said, " We are really pleased with this recognition of our work and we as a team would like to thank all our partners and colleagues from schools, Bolton Council, BWFC and local businesses for their contributions and support throughout the process.  Our biggest thanks go to our Peer Mentoring team who did a superb job on the day answering questions and showing the Scrutiny team around the centre and stadium."

 The centre was judged to be working at Advanced level on criteria such as:

bullet Whole service responsiveness, flexibility and openness to new ideas
bullet A culture of lifelong learning through young people’s ownership
bullet Evolving new approaches to learning, tutoring and mentoring
bullet Becoming a collaborative learning organisation
bullet Extending learning networks
bullet Using data for more effective learning
bullet Broadening the options for the recognition of achievement
bullet A capacity for managing innovation and change through self-evaluation

Study@BWFC’s particular strengths were seen by the scrutineers were;

·        Its strategic links within the Local Authority.

·        Peer Mentoring scheme and ethos of learning together and involving young people

·        The Centres contribution to leading edge thinking which is impacting on study support at a national level

Our areas for development include;

bullet To use student data to show the contribution PFS makes to achievement within the LA e.g. for schools to consider the impact of PFS when analysing student performance.
bullet To develop the use of PASS or other attitudinal measure.

The QiSS Recognition Scheme is an integral part of the drive to promote quality in study support.  It provides public recognition that the standards embodied in the Codes of Practice are being met. 

QISS can be offered as a flexible package of training and support for schools, LEAs, EAZs and other centres to achieve the three categories of good practice,  (Emerged, Established and Advanced) as set out in the Codes of Practice, which aim to systematically to assist planning, review and development of study support provision.