The Extended Services Hub at The John of Gaunt School
Due to a successful capital bid Trowbridge now houses a community Extended Services ‘Hub’, a new build situated at the front of The John of Gaunt School site. The building has been designed and positioned to ensure maximum access to all 23 cluster schools. The over riding factor when designing the space has been to create a welcoming and comfortable environment, offering swift and easy access to support and advice in a place that is safe and accessible.
A range of agencies and organisations will be operating out of the build on a weekly basis providing information on a variety of issues, not solely for The John of Gaunt School students , parents and families but also other cluster Schools.
The Hub will be the central point for much of TASC and Extended Services work housing information and advice workshops for families on a range of issues, both educational and social, whilst being the base for many cluster meetings. Already a rolling programme of supports is being delivered and accessed by schools and partner sgencies.
“ We have some really exciting plans for the building and are committed to ensuring that it is seen as a resource all schools, their students and families can utilise. Support and enthusiasm from schools and agencies has been fantastic and the space will further enhance the good practice that is already being shown.” Jayne Bullock, Trowbridge Extended Services Co-ordinator.
The Trowbridge Youth Parliament
The Trowbridge Youth Parliament consists of fifty representatives from all Trowbridge Schools, of which there are eighteen primary schools, three secondary schools and one special school.
Parliament members' elected via their own school processes, will prioritise local issues which matter to them and their peers. They will work together finding ways to promote positive change and so play a role in improving the local community, not just now but in the future. They are the student voice of Trowbridge!
The Parliament members have chosen Anti Social Behaviour as their priority focus, developing some mature and thoughtful routes to tackle the issue. The group are currently gathering data from schools in order to gain a wider perspective of the views of their peers. This data will be presented at the Trowbridge Area Board meeting in November.
They are also looking to develop a petition within the community and have made links with the local police and Wiltshire Anti Social Behaviour Officers.
"I was amazed when I found out the Parliament was not from one school. They have bonded so well." Member of staff - The Houses of Parliament, London.
"They want to change the world." Headteacher, Trowbridge Primary School.
Trowbridge Youth Choir
The choir provides students with an enjoyable opportunity to develop new skills, enhance natural talents, make new friendships and represent the Trowbridge school cluster at public events.
The choir is still in its early stages of development and there are lots of exciting plans for the future. They will be performing concerts at The Civic Hall in April and will be singing with The Welsh Youth Choir in the summer. They have recently been filmed by ITV and have performed at concerts in London.
On the back of a successful concert held by an amalgamation of local singers at The John of Gaunt School, the Youth Choir have recorded a CD which they hope to use to publicise their voices further.
The choir currently meet every Monday at 4pm at The Hub (The John of Gaunt School). They are led by Jane Lilley, who is experienced and highly regarded in her field.
If any one is interested in signing up for this exciting opportunity please contact their school for futher information.
Transition
"Developing effective transfer and transtion is key if the very best start into secondary education is to be achieved. We believe that every child really does indeed matter and that successful transition results in a happy and settled child." Headteacher, Trowbridge Secondary School.
Trowbridge are commited to ensuring a smooth move from Primary to Secondary School, bridging the gap from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3. We work to ensure that every student continues to be nurtured and encouraged, using academic and pastoral information from their primary school, allowing each child to reach their full potential.
Driven by a commited working group of headteachers and school leadership personnel, schools are actively developing stronger and more consistent cluster wide support for the whole family, not just during the summer term but through out the academic year.
Consistent formats for sharing transition information have been developed ensuring the most useful information to progress a childs learning gets shared.
Joint training opportunities promoting cross phased curriculums and secondary school staff becoming regular faces in primary schools are just some of the initiatives Trowbridge have put into practice.
Local Children Centres are also working closely with foundation stage teaching staff cluster wide ensuring a smooth transition to primary school.
Information sessions for parents and students are regularly hosted and any additional support for a family or child is provided through a strong network of Parent Support Advisers and Student Development Teams.
Trowbridge Area Heads Teaching and Learning Committee
The commitee has three main functions:
- To keep an overview of what is going on in terms of teaching and learning in Trowbridge
- To maintain the momentum of teaching and learning projects already started
- To guide the agenda for future cluster TD days
As a committee we are very aware that a lot of good work is taking place in schools and amongst networks of teachers. We are keen to ensure that this work is fully supported by local headteachers so that we are able to fully respond to the agreed needs of local children and in line with the vision of the' Trowbridge Area Schools' Collaborative', which is:
- Trowbridge schools working together to inspire, challenge and engage learners.
If anyone has any ideas or suggestions which may help us in our work, please forward them via e-mail to Jonathan Barber at the following address: head@westashton.wilts.sch.uk
6. Healthy Schools +
There are two primary clusters and a secondary cluster involved in a National Pilot for this new award. This builds on the already well established Healthy Schools status which has been so enthusiastically taken up in Wiltshire.
Schools are working together towards the local and national objectives of reducing childhood obesity and teenage pregnancy, through cluster and school based action plans.