February 2002 Issue 11 Literacy Report Launched T · PDF fileLiteracy Report February 2002...
4
Literacy Report February 2002 Issue 11 T he “Literacy in a Learning City” report was launched at the board’s headquarters on Monday 4 February before Education Minister, Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA, chairperson of the Assembly’s Education Committee Danny Kennedy, MLA, leading educationalists, representatives from trade unions, the community, business, industry and further and higher education. Speaking at the launch, the Education Minister said: “Literacy is at the heart of the Government’s drive to raise standards for all pupils, and the Department of Education is currently conducting a review of its literacy strategy within the context of school improvement. The launch of this comprehensive report is therefore particularly timely, and the Department will take account of the findings and recommendations of this review within its own wider review. I would like to commend the Belfast Education and Library Board for the thoroughness of this report.” ! Launched Balmoral High School Belfast Education and Library Board B elf ast E du ca tion an d Libra ry B oa rd T o wa rd sa L ea rn in g City Best Value Review of Literacy Provision within the Belfast Education and Library Board Literacy in a Learning City December 2001 Further information may be obtained by clicking HERE Summer 2002 Issue1 www.belb.org.uk David Cargo, chief executive of the board and chair of the literacy steering group said: “The board believes that this report provides the opportunity for an integrated, coherent and cohesive approach to literacy that will enable all our citizens to contribute to the development of a learning community which has the necessary skills to compete in the global economy.” Young people should elect own learning future ! ■ To bring to an end the practice of using academic criteria to transfer children from primary to post- primary provision at age 11 ■ To manage a gradual shift in the way post-primary provision is determined for each young person, to a system in which the learner takes responsibility for choosing educational pathways at age 14 ■ To develop the pupil profile as an important tool for educational planning; and ■ To manage the development of collaborative networks of post-primary schools. The board’ s response can be viewed in the publications section of our website: www.belb.org.uk The board’ s response follows consultation with principals across all sectors in both primary and post-primary schools in Belfast. Officers also consulted with a wide range of political and community interests. In its response to ‘Education in the 21st Century”, the board makes four key recommendations: Y oung people should be at the centre of educational provision in the 21st century and be equipped to elect their own learning future. This is the main recommendation of the Belfast Education and Library Board’ s response to the review of post primary education in Northern Ireland.
Transcript of February 2002 Issue 11 Literacy Report Launched T · PDF fileLiteracy Report February 2002...
Literacy ReportFebruary 2002 Issue 11
The “Literacy in a Learning City” report was launched atthe board’s headquarters on Monday 4 February beforeEducation Minister, Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA,
chairperson of the Assembly’s Education Committee DannyKennedy, MLA, leading educationalists, representatives fromtrade unions, the community, business, industry and furtherand higher education.
Speaking at the launch, the Education Minister said: “Literacy is at the heart of the Government’s drive to raisestandards for all pupils, and the Department of Education is currently conducting a review of its literacy strategywithin the context of school improvement. The launch of this comprehensive report is therefore particularly timely,and the Department will take account of the findings and recommendations of this review within its own widerreview. I would like to commend the Belfast Education and Library Board for the thoroughness of this report.”
!
Launched
Balmoral High School
B e l f a s t E d u c a t i o n a n d L i b r a r y B o a r dB
elfa
stEducation and Library
Boa
rd
Towa rd s a L ea rn ing
Ci ty
Best Value Review of Literacy Provision within
the Belfast Education and Library Board
Literacy in a Learning City
December 2001
Further informationmay be obtained by
clicking HERE
Summer 2002 Issue1 www.belb.org.uk
David Cargo, chief executive of the board and chair of the literacy steering group said:
“The board believes that this report provides the opportunity for an integrated,coherent and cohesive approach to literacy that will enable all our citizens tocontribute to the development of a learning community which has the necessaryskills to compete in the global economy.”
Young people should elect own learning future
!
■ To bring to an end the practice of using academic criteria to transfer children from primary to post-primary provision at age 11
■ To manage a gradual shift in the way post-primary provision is determined for each young person, to asystem in which the learner takes responsibility for choosing educational pathways at age 14
■ To develop the pupil profile as an important tool for educational planning; and■ To manage the development of collaborative networks of post-primary schools.
The board’s response can be viewed in the publications section of our website: www.belb.org.uk
The board’s response follows consultation with principals across all sectors in both primary and post-primaryschools in Belfast. Officers also consulted with a wide range of political and community interests. In its responseto ‘Education in the 21st Century”, the board makes four key recommendations:
Young people should be at the centre of educational provision in the 21st century and be equipped to electtheir own learning future. This is the main recommendation of the Belfast Education and Library Board’s
response to the review of post primary education in Northern Ireland.
BELB welcomesinvestment in schools
The Belfast Education and LibraryBoard has welcomed the
funding initiative recentlyannounced by the StormontExecutive which will see newbuildings for three schools in the city.
David Cargo, chief executive said:
“We are delighted with theannouncement of investment inschools across the province andespecially in Belfast, where the newbuild total is £12.7 million. This willbe great news for the staff, parentsand pupils of Harberton and CedarLodge. The board also welcomes thecompletion of the final phase of thenew build and refurbishment ofMeanscoil Feirste in West Belfast forthe growing number of youngpeople who wish to learn throughthe Irish language.
“Everyone involved in educationunderstands the importance of agood quality learning environment,however, in many cases, youngpeople are learning in buildingswhich are below standard.Therefore, the board welcomes the£15 million allocated to reduce thenumber temporary classroomsacross the province. While, theannouncement will very much helpimprove standards of schoolbuildings, the board will continueto press for continued investmentin schools across Belfast.”
New youth centre for Sandy Row
The Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure, Michael McGimpsey MLAopened of a brand new £640,000 building for Charter Youth centre in
south Belfast. The Minister joined Carmel McKinney, chairperson of the board,board officers and members of the local community in celebrating the officialopening of the centre.
Board WelcomesClassroom 2000
T he board has welcomedsigning of two contracts worth
£42.6 million to providecomputers and support services forevery local primary school. Thecontracts are part of the Classroom2000 initiative, which willeventually provide primary, postprimary and special schools with anInformation and CommunicationsTechnology (ICT) managed service,comprising hardware, local andwide area networks. The signing ofthe contracts was celebrated at anevent in Vere Foster Primary Schoolin West Belfast, when pupilsshowed Minister for Education,Martin McGuinness MP MLA, andthe Chairman of LearningTechnology plc, Sir Alan Sugar, theimpact that Classroom 2000 hashad on their school activities.
£8.7 million for PEand Sport in Belfast
T he board is receiving £8.7million from the New
Opportunities Fund [NOF] tomanage programmes that boostsport among young people and thewider community in Belfast. NewOpportunities for PE and Sport is thelargest-ever lottery-backed sportsfacilities programme in NorthernIreland and £33.75 millionis available to transform sportingfacilities in schools and the widercommunity across the province.
!
The facility will not only be serving the youth of Sandy Row, but the widercommunity and it is envisaged that this centre will be able to provide arange of other services needed in the area. The board worked with a numberof other organisations from the statutory and voluntary sectors, particularlythe Sandy Row Community Forum and Belfast Regeneration Office, todevelop the centre.
! !
!
Welcome Europe ProgrammeLaunched
A unique course developed by the board and Abbeytraining allowing pupils to achieve accreditation
in customer care training and a European Languagehas been formally recognised by the CCEA.
Nuala McKeever, joined representatives from the board,Abbey Training and CCEA at the launch of the WelcomeEurope programme at the Airport Hotel. Young people whosuccessfully complete the training programme receiveaccredited certificates and are equipped to work withconfidence in the visitor, leisure and hospitality sector.
First for Belfast Education andLibrary Board
The Belfast Education and Library Board has becomethe first employer in United Kingdom to undertake
a course that raises awareness and understanding ofthe communication needs of deaf and hard-of-hearingpeople.
Belfast and Dublin Libraries Link Up
Librarians from Belfast and Dublin have signed anhistoric agreement that will help develop the library
services of both cities.
The memorandum of understanding between theboard and Dublin City Public Libraries will enablethe exchange of information and good practice andthe potential for collaborative working on a range ofissues including life-long learning, exhibitionexchanges and improving access to Irish and localinformation.
Recteur Visits Board
The Recteur of the Acadèmie de Lille, Mr Jean-ClaudeFortier, visited the board in February to consolidate
an education agreement which had been signed by theboard and the Acadèmie in May 2001.
Since the agreement was signed 17 schools from Belfasthave been linked to schools in Lille. At the end ofFebruary the board led a delegation of Belfast teachersto the French city. The Acadèmie de Lille is the secondlargest education authority in France, with a budget of£2 billion and over 4,600 schools, 7 universities and17 technical colleges.
“I would very much like to congratulate the BelfastI would very much like to congratulate the BelfastI would very much like to congratulate the BelfastI would very much like to congratulate the BelfastI would very much like to congratulate the BelfastEducation and Library Board for enabling staff toEducation and Library Board for enabling staff toEducation and Library Board for enabling staff toEducation and Library Board for enabling staff toEducation and Library Board for enabling staff toparticipate in the communication tactics course to helpparticipate in the communication tactics course to helpparticipate in the communication tactics course to helpparticipate in the communication tactics course to helpparticipate in the communication tactics course to helpthem communicate more effectively with those who arethem communicate more effectively with those who arethem communicate more effectively with those who arethem communicate more effectively with those who arethem communicate more effectively with those who aredeaf and hard-of-hearing. It is very encouraging anddeaf and hard-of-hearing. It is very encouraging anddeaf and hard-of-hearing. It is very encouraging anddeaf and hard-of-hearing. It is very encouraging anddeaf and hard-of-hearing. It is very encouraging andI hope others will follow the board’s positive step.I hope others will follow the board’s positive step.I hope others will follow the board’s positive step.I hope others will follow the board’s positive step.I hope others will follow the board’s positive step.”
John Carberry, Training Officer for the Royal NationalInstitute for the Deaf, said:
Nine members of staff representing all boarddepartments were awarded a certificate inCommunication Tactics With Deaf People, organisedby the Council for the Advancement of Communicationwith Deaf People (CACDP).
The course consisted of a series of intensive workshopsdesigned to equip participants with an understandingand working knowledge of the different methods ofcommunication used by deaf and hard-of-hearingpeople, whether it is sign language, the written wordor lip reading.
!!
!
!
SWITCH OVER TO ECO ENERGY
The Lord Mayor of Belfast and vice chairperson of the board,Councillor Jim Rodgers, recently visited pupils at Fleming
Fulton School to celebrate all schools and other board buildingsswitching over to Eco Energy. With Eco-energy, renewable energycomes from natural processes and can be used without everexhausting the supply. Generating power from renewable sourcessuch as wind, water, sun or crops reduces air pollution and helpscombat climate change.
Agreement withHazelwood College
At headquarters in March the boardsigned a service level agreement
with Hazelwood Integrated College.This agreement is the first time aneducation and library board has providedservices to an integrated school, and willsee the board supply building andgrounds maintenance to the school.
PFI heralds new era for BELBschools and RTU
January saw the completion of the PFI projects atWellington College, Balmoral High School and new
Northern Ireland Training Unit under the PrivateFinance Initiative (PFI).
The project was one of the largest undertaken by theboard. Costing over £17 million, the board hasworked alongside Northwin contractors and theDepartment of Education to make sure it was a success.The opening of the schools and the training unitheralded a new phase of the project, namely the“Facilities Management” phase undertaken by GrahamFM on behalf of the Northwin organisation.
The range of facilities is truly excellent with a range of21st century facilities in all subjects, and alongside thespecialist classrooms, laboratories and workshops, thereare excellent ICT resources and high-tech libraries. Theschools also boast wonderful extra curricular provision,sports halls and fitness suites and Astroturf pitches.
People’s NetworkConference
A t the Waterfront Hall on Tuesday19 March over 1,000 library staff
were given an insight into the workingsof the People’s Network, the governmentinitiative to give every member of thepublic access to the internet.
The installation of the People’s Networkmeans that libraries will becometechnology centres providing access toequipment and online resourcesincluding the internet and email.Community information, governmentservices, learning materials and a rangeof office software applications will alsobe available.
Adult Learners’ Week
C ertificates were awarded to 46people in Central and Whiterock
Libraries during Adult Learners' Week.The recipients had completed IT coursesfunded by NOF and delivered inlibraries in partnership with the WEAas part of the Gateways Project.
Welcome to the firstedition of the Belfast
Education and LibraryBoard’s End of Term Report.This is a magazine aimed atinforming you about eventsand initiatives by the boardwhich have impacted oneducation in Belfast over thepast term. The magazine isdesigned for all those with aninterest promoting learning inthe city and is availableelectronically in PDF format,or for this first edition, as apaper copy. If you would liketo subscribe, please email usat: [email protected] hope you findEnd of Term Reportinformative.
!
!
! !
!
!
