News
Pupils nationwide
celebrate VQ Day
Special report
which runs VQ Day, representing Andy Powell, chief executive ICT and business studies at the
an increase of 350,000 on the year of Edge, told us: “Millions have school, explained: “Each balloon
by Chris Parr
before. gained a vocational qualification had a unique number on it that was
Among those getting involved this year that will be the stepping allocated to one of our vocational
was Hackney Community College stone to a brighter future, be that students in year 10 or 11, along with
Schools and 6th forms across the in London, which hosted the nation- further vocational study or univer- the school’s phone number. The
country were celebrating the role al VQ Day event for England, and sity, a better job or enhanced skills. student whose balloons travel the
of vocational qualifications on the welcomed celebrity chef James VQ Day celebrates this achieve- furthest will win an MP4 payer.”
second annual VQ Day, which took Martin – himself a former voca- ment and the many paths to success Meanwhile, in Scotland, The
place on Wednesday, June 24. tional student. Mr Martin helped taken by learners of all ages.” VQ Hero Awards – which demon-
More than 3.6 million voca- students to prepare food for other At Maelor School in Wrexham, strate the talent, commitment and
tional qualifications were awarded visitors to the college, including students celebrated by launching rigorous standards involved in gain-
last year according to Edge, the Conservative shadow minister for around 2,000 balloons. ing a vocational qualification – rec-
independent education foundation skills, David Willetts. Tim Smith, head of faculty for ognised Craig Forrest, a student
from Clydebank College.
Craig was selected by the judg-
es for the high level of creativity
shown while completing his HND
in make-up artistry.
He said: “I am totally honoured
to receive this award. It is great
receiving recognition for my efforts
and I am excited about my future Day to remember: Celebrity chef James Martin got
career. I’d like to thank all those involved in VQ Day at Hackney Community College,
at Clydebank College that helped where he tried out a racing car that was on show from
me throughout my studies – it will the Wiltshire College of Motor Sport (left). Meanwhile,
never be forgotten.” students in Belfast spell out the VQ Day message (above)
In Northern Ireland, stu-
dents from schools and colleges lator Ofqual, passed on her congrat- increased over the last five years.
across Belfast – including Belfast ulations to all those students gain- These qualifications open doors for
Metropolitan College – joined ing their vocational qualifications learners and can lead the way to
together to spell out the VQ Day this year. She added: “We reported better opportunities for individual
message in a human chain. earlier in the year that the number students and for the nation as a
Back in England, Kathleen of students achieving vocational whole.”
Tattersall, chief of the exams regu- qualifications had substantially For more, see www.vqday.org.uk
Paraplegic?
Students get chance to grill
Ichthyology?
government front bencher
Interviewing a government front
Analgesic?
bench minister can be a daunting
task for even the most seasoned of
media hacks.
But 18 youngsters, aged 10 to
14, from primary and secondary
These are just three of the words Finishing in second place was school across England have been
that a team of 12-year-olds from Bishop Wordsworth’s School pitting their wits against Lord Paul
St Martin’s School in west London in Salisbury, and in third was Drayson, minister for science and
faced on their way to being crowned Welling Park Community College, innovation in the Department for
winners of the first ever Times Leicester. Business, Innovation and Skills.
Spelling Bee. The other teams competing It was part of the Primary,
Hundreds of schools UK-wide in the final came from Bishop Secondary and Advanced Leaders
have been battling it out since Rawstorne Church of England Awards for STEM, which chal-
March, culminating in the 10 Language College in Lancashire; lenges pupils to interview lead-
strongest teams competing at the Brighton College Prep School in ing figures from the world of
grand final in London’s Leicester East Sussex; Fairwater High School science, technology, engineering
Square Odeon Cinema last week. in Gwent; Hainault Forest High and maths.
Jonah Aurkes, Dylan Amin, School in Essex; Oundle School in Lord Drayson told us: “The Scoop: The young journalists with minister for science and innovation, Lord Paul Drayson
Prahalad Prasad, and reserve team Cambridgeshire; St Louis Grammar pupils who interviewed me were
member Gordon Hao racked up a School in County Antrim; and really clued up about science and Among the other names lined particularly impressed with the are to be published online later
record-breaking points tally, spell- Valley Gardens Middle School in engineering and had a natural pas- up to be interviewed by the bud- wide range of questions they asked, this month.
ing words such as inconsequential, Tyne and Wear. sion and talent for it. ding journalists were Sir Anthony as well as their overall engage- The students involved come
fluorescent and synonymous. Visit www.timesspellingbee.co.uk “I look forward to working Cleaver, chairman of the ETB, and ment and enthusiasm for science from Darwen Valley High
Speaking just after their victory, more closely with organisations Daniel Jubb of Falcon Rockets, and engineering. School and Engineering College,
the team said: “We are absolutely like Primary Engineer, the the team behind Bloodhound SSC “I cannot wait to read their arti- Witton Park High School
ecstatic. It’s incredible to even be
Test your colleagues!
Engineering and Technology – Britain’s 1,000mph world land- cles. If these are the scientists and Business, Enterprise and Science
here, and to win is a bonus. We
This year’s Spelling Bee was won
Board (ETB), and all those that speed record car. engineers of tomorrow, then the College, both in Blackburn, and
have had so much fun learning new
by a team of 12-year-olds. Here
offer children and young adults Sir Anthony said: “The young future is in safe hands.” Wilmington Grammar School for
words, and we are over the moon.” the chance to see how exciting people involved in this project are After completing their inter- Boys in Kent. The interviews are
This year’s Spelling Bee was the
are some of the words they had
science and engineering is in not only excellent engineers, but views, the pupils had to write them due to be published at www.leaders
first national spelling championship
to spell on their way to glory.
practice.” fantastic journalists as well. I was up in a journalistic style, and they award.com later this month.
aimed at schools, and more than Can your colleagues get them
750 institutions from across the UK
right?
entered teams.
The young winners were pre-
sented with their trophy by James
1. Paraplegic
TDA aims to recruit 100,000 by 2010
Harding, editor of The Times. They
2. Cyanide
also received Collins dictionar- 3. Kleptomaniac Current, former and retired teachers to help nine to 14-year-olds who are port for pupils, regardless of their Schools will work with their
ies for themselves, and for their
4. Phaeton
are being urged to sign up to a new finding the subjects difficult. social background. local authorities to identify eligible
school.
5. Vestigial
initiative that is aiming to provide TDA research suggests that He added: “I would encourage pupils, and tutoring is scheduled to
English teacher Linda Cook said extra one-to-one support for nearly two thirds of pupils believe teachers to sign up for the pro- begin this September.
the whole school was “tremendous-
6. Analgesic
600,000 students struggling with extra private tuition will help them gramme, which can only improve Sessions will take place in
ly proud” of the boys.
7. Camphor
maths and English. improve in the subjects they strug- their teaching skills and understand- school, at home, or at a convenient
She added: “The team have 8. Ichthyology The Training and Development gle with. ing of how children learn. They will location, and those who sign up to
been very self-motivated, asking
9. Chagrin
Agency for Schools (TDA) wants Graham Holley, chief executive be rewarded financially and profes- tutor will be paid £25 per hour.
for extra practice times and finding
10. Scalene
to recruit 100,000 qualified teachers of the TDA, said that the new tutors sionally, plus there is flexibility to To get involved, visit www.tda.
fun ways to remember words.” by October 2010, and will pay them would help provide the right sup- work when it suits them.” gov.uk/teachers/onetoonetuition
 SecEd • July 2 2009
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