Shorefields School is up for the Challenge

SHOREFIELDS Technology College has been given the green light to become a National Challenge Trust School, in a move set to dramatically improve attainment and exam results.

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls yesterday approved the National Challenge School Improvement Plan for the Liverpool secondary school, on Dingle Lane, L8.

Mr Balls, who made the announcement at a National Challenge Regional Forum, said that funding for the project - set to be up to three quarters of a million pounds - will be released immediately from the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Standards Fund.

National Challenge Trust status sees schools teaming up with businesses, education specialists and other schools to drive up attainment above the government’s National Challenge target of at least 30 per cent of pupils gaining A* to C, including English and Maths, at GCSE level.

Consulting and business services group Mouchel has been working with school staff and Liverpool City Council to develop an improvement plan to raise educational standards at the school. Mouchel is the lead education partner in the South Liverpool Education Trust, which is responsible for supporting the school under the National Challenge scheme.

The Trust also aims to raise aspirations within the local community and make sure extra support is available to give children and young people the best possible start to their lives.

Dr Kate Reynolds, Director of Education and Children’s Services at Mouchel, said:- “Mouchel is delighted that the DSCF has approved this funding. It’s a testament to the hard work put in by everyone at Shorefields School. The National Challenge Funding will be used to continue to raise standards at the school, help students realise their full potential and will give an extra boost to the staff.”

John Charnock, Headteacher at Shorefields Technology College, added:- "We are absolutely delighted with this news. It’s a fantastic opportunity for everyone at Shorefields and Mathew Arnold Schools. This is the result of two years work to get to Trust status and attract this additional support. We are now looking forward to a very bright future for our students, and for the area as a whole."

Other partners in the South Liverpool Education Trust are Matthew Arnold Primary School, Liverpool University, Plus Dane and Open the Door Theatre in Education Group.

Councillor Keith Turner, the city council’s executive member for education, said:- “This is great news for Shorefields Technology College and will help further improve educational attainment for young people in the area.

Staff and pupils at the school have been working really hard to improve standards and achieving National Trust status will give them the extra support they need.

I’m very pleased that Mouchel, Liverpool University and other partners will be sharing their expertise and working closely with us to make Shorefields a successful school. It reaffirms the council’s commitment to drive up attainment at our secondary schools and ensure all our young people benefit from a first class education.”

Shorefields will officially become a National Challenge Trust school in January 2010.

Merseyside Fire Crews Start Ballot for Industrial Action Over Plans to Cut Frontline Services

THIS week Merseyside fire crews have started balloting for industrial action short of a strike over plans to cut frontline services. The cuts involve the loss of up to 104 frontline firefighter posts including 36 frontline posts being moved to non-operational work.

The fire authority has also extended the use of the controversial staffing system to Eccleston fire station which means longer response times, extended working hours and the loss of firefighter posts. The Fire Brigades Union says this breaks an agreement to seek the involvement of ACAS.

Les Skarratts, Merseyside FBU brigade secretary said:- "There have been relentless cuts to frontline fire services in Merseyside. These cuts have already had a real impact on the number of frontline firefighters to crew fire engines and attend 999 emergencies. The Government demanded that Pounds Sterling 105 million of savings be made in fire services across England. The savings in this fire authority alone amount to nearly a quarter of that national total, far in excess of the savings demanded of individual fire services. This new set of planned cuts will mean even fewer firefighters spread more thinly taking longer to get to incidents. These are real cuts to the number of frontline firefighters in Merseyside which will impact on how we respond to 999 emergencies. Our ballot is aimed at taking the action needed to protect members delivering frontline fire services from yet another round of cuts in Merseyside. At this stage the fire authority remains committed to these cuts, but we hope they will re-think before any action is taken."

 Business Minister test drives Vauxhall’s new electric car

THE Business Minister Ian Lucas had a taste of the future of motoring in the UK when he was one of the first people to get the chance to drive GM’s new electric car on 1 December 2009.

Driving the Ampera around GM’s testing facilities at Millbrook, Ian Lucas got a chance to experience the motoring power that the next generation of electric vehicles is delivering.

The Ampera’s electric battery can keep going for 300 miles with the aid of a small petrol engine after the first 40 miles of pure electrical range. The car is expected to be available in the UK in 2012 and the Government remains keen to secure its production at the Ellesmere Port plant in Merseyside.

The Minister was given a tour of the extensive facilities offered by Millbrook and used by companies all over the world. These range from testing vehicles on different types of handling circuits, carrying out crash tests and rating vehicle CO2 emissions to simulating the road conditions to test military vehicles.

Business Minister Ian Lucas said:- “Driving the new electric Ampera was a great experience, and one I hope will soon become a part of every day life for consumers in the UK not just a test track moment. Despite the challenges the auto sector in currently experiencing, investment in new low carbon products like the Ampera is vital to compete for future consumer demands. I was very impressed by the range of highly skilled work carried out at Millbrook. Today’s event at Millbrook, with its great facilities and the new electric Ampera demonstrates what we want to see more of in the UK auto sector - low carbon manufacturing and highly skilled jobs.”