From Apple Regional Training Centres, high flying A* grades and learning to Stomp!, there is lots going on in Essex education this month
Royal Hospital School is new Apple Regional Training Centre
The Royal Hospital School has been announced as an Apple-approved Regional Training Centre (RTC), providing teachers and technical staff from schools and colleges all over the region with an opportunity to come together to access expertise, training and best practice to support their use of Apple technology in the classroom. ‘At RHS, mobile technology has become a key tool in personalising learning and igniting enthusiasm among our pupils,’ said headmaster Simon Lockyer. ‘We believe that introducing mobile technology to our classrooms has a number of distinct practical benefits for pupils, but the principal focus is on how they can be used as part of the teachers’ repertoire to enhance teaching and learning.’
Felsted’s young GCSE mathematicians achieve A*s
Elite learners in Year 11 at Felsted School took Mathematics GCSE in January – five months before the usual summer exam – and were rewarded for their efforts with A* grades. All marks were at least 13% above the grade boundary. The group will now take an Additional Maths qualification in the summer. ‘This is a fantastic achievement and I’m very proud of them,’ said maths teacher, Mr Christopher Megahey.
Rickstones students learn to Stomp!
Former stars of the West End show Stomp! took their famous dustbins along to New Rickstones Academy in Witham, to inspire Year 8, 9 and 10 music and drama students. Manasseh Jackson and David Gallagher encouraged students to first use their bodies and then the props to make rhythmic beats. ‘It’s all about rhythmic beats, movement, comedy and theatre,’ said David. ‘We build in numeracy – it’s all about counting beats – and literacy and can even touch on the recycling aspect with our props, so there are lots of cross-curricular applications.’
Southend Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs join Japanese singers
A choir from Japan was recently hosted for two days by members of the Southend Boys’ and Girls’ choirs while on a seven-day concert tour to the UK. The visit by the 50-strong Kurume Shin’ai Girls School Choir included performing at an international concert in Southend, for which they united with the Southend choir in a programme of music ranging from British compositions to Japanese folk songs, part songs, spirituals and some joint numbers. The concert featured more than 140 singers, aged nine to 21, and took place at Crowstone Church, Westcliff on Sea.
