Something to celebrate

It comes as no surprise that Worcestershire has an abundance of projects to celebrate.

Whether they are individual awards or for the whole school, they are all something to be proud of.

It's pleasing to see that, although Worcestershire is poorly funded compared to other shire counties, its schools can still achieve great accolades.

Nineteen schools from across the county received Artsmark awards on Monday.

The different levels, up to Artsmark Gold, are in recognition of a school's commitment to the arts. Music, two-dimensional work, drama, dance and much more are all included in the awards.

Gone are the days when art was restricted to painting and pastels in one lesson a week. Instead, children are actively encouraged to enjoy the arts in other subjects across the curriculum.

Pupils at Rose Hill School in Worcester use the arts in history lessons as well as environmental education. The arts are said to build their self-esteem and confidence within a group.

They won an Artsmark Gold award to show their commitment.

At other schools there are other opportunities to become involved in the arts.

St Peter's CE First School in Droitwich was preparing for its summer production when it heard it had won Artsmark Gold.

Congratulations go to the other 17 Worcestershire schools. Let's hope it encourages those who have not yet achieved this status to raise the curtain on arts in education.

Celebrations are also being held at Prince Henry's High School in Evesham.

It heard last week that it would become a language college.

As well as the prestige of being associated with excellence in language teaching it also receives added Government funding.

The school hosted the county's Festival of Languages showcase two days before the announcement.

Dozens of schoolchildren from across the county sang and acted in foreign languages to show they had an understanding of a different tongue.

Prince Henry's will now be able to expand their language curriculum to introduce Spanish earlier on in the school.

They will also draw on the popularity of the Japanese club and introduce that as an examinable subject.

Parents shouldn't fear that it will mean their children will concentrate on languages and nothing else. In fact, it is more likely to develop the rest of the curriculum.

Elgar Technology College is a prime example of how it can work - with extra funding, new classrooms are being built. This in turn will help all departments as they will have more space.

I was at the school last week to see what progress has been made since it was made a technology college. I also chatted to two winners of the Good Citizens Awards.

Forty-four youngsters from across the county were given awards by West Mercia Police in recognition of their citizenship.

Elgar Technology College scooped half of them for its school council and a group of youngsters who help Age Concern weekly.

Among the other prizewinners were pupils from one first school who support their classmate who is partially sighted and has recently had a heart operation.

There were also two teenage boys who cared for their mothers and two teenage sisters who saved the life of a man who had fallen onto the railway line.

These awards were nominated by teachers and reflect upon the schools. It is a positive to all the negatives that are heard about the youth of today.

Teachers have also received awards this term. Pamela Tildesley, headteacher at Westlands First School in Droitwich, was commended for her leadership at the Regional BT Teaching Awards.

She and Anna Streather, from St Gabriel's with St Mary's Primary School in Hanley Swan, were the only two teachers to make the shortlist for the regional awards.

They were both nominated by staff, pupils, parents and governors for their all-round personalities and effort.

You always remember a good teacher, but how often do we publicly recognise them? Although these two teachers were not successful in reaching the national finals, they have won respect.

Awards have also been dished out to schools for being environmentally and animal friendly. There have also been in-school competitions focusing on science and business.

All in all, it has been a great term for schools across the county.

Congratulations to all of those with something to celebrate this term and throughout the school year.