Parmiter's Crack Open Our Vault!
We were very pleased to be able to fund a new gymnastics vaulting box for Parmiter's PE department. As Brad Hughes, Director of Sport, explained in his bid, the box is essential for their GCSE students who have opted for gymnastics but it will also be used heavily in KS3 lessons. Extra-curricular clubs and targeted opportunities to bring reluctant students into sport are also earmarked for the equipment but the benefits don't stop there - The Three Rivers School Sports Partnership members (including primary schools) and the Y6 summer school will also be flying high in the gym hall this season.
Presdales Complete the Set
Presdales put in strong Minor Award applications for PE and Effective Learning and we were delighted to award them both. Together with their earlier STEM award, this brings their minor tally to the maximum of 3* - well done to their applications teams headed by Nikki Albone, Presdales' Revenue Generation Coordinator!
The Effective Learning bid was for a wide variety of learning support resources such as, sand timers, counters, clipboards, die and buzzers and other motivational and memory skill enhancement tools.** As well as benefitting all levels of learners across all key stages, Presdales' bid had another great selling point. They take in 11/12 PGCE students each year and these tools can be used in their research-based teaching assignments which will help share best practise not only across the school but also in all the students' future teaching positions. (HINT: We're suckers for longevity and breadth of benefit!)
In PE, we were happy to award funds to purchase a trampette and a powerful Bluetooth speaker with headset system. The equipment will not only benefit gymnastics and dance lessons throughout the school but also be used in clubs, G+T and sports leader programmes, dance shows and primary school festivals. The application was further strengthened by explaining the increased pupil motivation and stamina when the music is playing.
* (In each academic year, schools are allowed to apply for 1 minor award in each of the three focus areas of PE, STEM and Effective Learning. They are also allowed to apply for 1 major award in each area as well. Gaining a minor award does not affect a school's chances of winning the year's major award - the two judgement processes are entirely separate.)
** We are currently researching a "shopping list" of Effective Learning resources, courses, speakers etc. to give schools ideas of what might be useful to them in this wide focus area - keep an eye on the website.
The Bushey Academy raise the bar!
EdufundUK are very happy to award the Bushey Academy funding for their first set of pole vaulting equipment. They are currently obliged to borrow poles when they compete at county level athletics but now they will be able to practice with, and use, their own pole. This should hopefully encourage more pupils into the sport.
By coincidence, we handed over the cheque on the first day of their OFSTED inspection – we hope it all went really well!
In November 2019, as part of our follow up procedure, Natalie told us.....
We annual enter the Watford District athletics league and every year previously have not been able to enter any athletes in the pole vault events - but this year we could. The money enabled us to purchase a new pole vault so we could take it to each event and 4 students each time were able to experience and take part in pole vault competitions for the first time.
Roundwood Park athletes are off to Majorca
We are thrilled to have been able to help up to six pupil premium and vulnerable pupils attend a specialist athletics training camp in Majorca. The pupils will benefit from superb facilities and coaching and enable them to experience a new country and make new friends in the process.
Making the trip more accessible to all will boost numbers at GCSE and A-Level PE. Athletics is one sport in the school that is a major focus at the moment and having such intensive training by outside experts should help boost scores even further for the practical elements of both courses.
Presdales order a 3D printer for STEM
We are delighted to have funded a 3D printer for Presdales School. At the moment, 3D Design is currently only an on-screen exercise using SketchUp. The printer will provide their computing students with the ability to actually create an increased range of digital artefacts. The school plans to progress to students designing and printing objects which can then be controlled by their own programs e.g. buggies, robotic arms and models.
As well as encouraging and enabling girls to excel at I.T. and engineering within the curriculum, Presdales' bid was further strengthened by the additional benefit of the award to their 40-strong STEM club.