St. Wilfrid's day in Parliament

Seven o’clock, Monday the 8^th of March on a cold frosty morning, a party of 19 student councillors, all wide awake, accompanied by 4 dutiful members of staff, set off on the journey to Westminster to meet local Labour MP John Trickett.

Two political researchers waited there to practise their skills as tour guides and our grand tour of the Houses of Parliament began. On the itinerary: Westminster Palace with angels supporting the roof beams; the broom cupboard where Emily Davison hid from cleaning duties; various statues and portraits of Prime Ministers, including Winston Churchill’s well rubbed toe; the House of Lords with the Queen’s throne, Woolsack and red benches; the door battered by Black Rod on the state opening of Parliament. Then into the Chamber of Commons, (no sitting on the green benches!), the Speaker’s Chair, (and footstool), Dispatch Box, TV cameras and microphones.

So it is a real place after all – not just a film set for the News!

The Question and Answer session in the Committee room showed everyone had been very attentive and meant everyone received a badge and pencil as prizes including Mr Maltman. Some very interesting questions were put to John Trickett about an MP’s lifestyle and salary, not to mention life inside 10 Downing Street with PM Gordon. No time for shopping but everyone posed for the group photo taken in the 800 year old Palace of Westminster (where Henry VIII played tennis and Charles I faced trial). Back on the tube to King’s Cross, up and down escalators, quick bite to eat on the station platform and return to Wakefield.

I wonder what John Trickett thought about it all?

“Jon Trickett met a group of very intelligent young students from St Wilfrid’s in Featherstone when they came to the House of Commons yesterday. They had a tour of Parliament and then received a briefing from staff in my office and the office of Yvette Cooper about how Parliament works. I joined them in what was a busy day for a question and answer session. I have to say that they were very tough in their questioning but also fair!"

(entry on John Trickett’s Facebook page)

Mr N Turner (NELC Coordinator)

6th Form Swim for Haiti

St. Wilfrid’s Catholic Sixth form College last week contributed to an extraordinary whole school effort in aid of the Haiti Disaster Relief Fund. Around 80 swimmers signed up to swim 44 miles collectively, which is the distance to France and Back from Dover. The Sixth Form’s own Student Voice panel originally thought of the idea. The students and staff at the college all clubbed together in a huge community effort filled with enthusiasm and spirit. The students aimed to swim to France and Back or 44 miles, but with the extra effort of the students they managed to swim a huge 68 miles with only another 20 miles to go before they could swim back again from France after completing their initial target. Staff at the college have stepped up to the challenge to swim the extra 20 miles required. The school as a whole has been raising money for the Haiti Relief Fund with a range of activities including a wrong trousers day last week. Josh Angell, Student at the college said “It’s been a challenge to complete the swim, but the community spirit in and around the pool and college has been fantastic, it’s not only helped raise money for a very worthy cause but it has also formed new stronger relationships between peers at college!” Andrew Daly, Director of Post Sixteen at the School said “…the sixth form students had planned to complete a charity sponsored swim event but when the disaster in Haiti occurred the students were really keen to do as much as they could to help the disaster fund. The community spirit and encouraging environment was superb highlighting what the Sixth Form at St Wilfrid’s is all about. I was very proud of all the swimmers and all the other students who have contributed to the fundraising effort”
Sixth form student Marc Ridley has also organised a week long festival of music titled “Help for Haiti” the Live Aid style festival is to feature some of the schools best musical talent and the school is now well on track to raising it’s £2000 target, which will of course significantly help the relief work in Haiti. Thank you to everyone who has supported the fund raising efforts!

Mr S Hall

Silverware for St Wilfrid's food.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall presented the prestigious Food for Life Partnership Silver Award to St Wilfrid’s, as we have excelled in transforming our food culture. The award ceremony took place at the organic farm and eco conference centre; Sheepdrove, on the 2 December 2009.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said: "What makes this project so inspiring is the way that young people in more than a thousand schools are now learning about real food in a hands-on way, growing and cooking it themselves and even rearing their own chickens! I would urge the Government to do more to encourage all schools to follow their lead."

St Wilfrid’s now serves school meals on plates, not flight trays, and has a range of locally sourced and organic items on the menu. All chicken, bacon and sausages served are Freedom Food certified or free range and no fish from unsustainable sources is served. St Wilfrid’s also has a cooking club, and pupils get to cook with and eat the produce grown in the school growing area. Parents and the wider community get involved in food education via food-themed events.

Emma Noble, Director of the Food for Life Partnership said: "This school shows what real 21^st century education is all about. By empowering young people to make informed food choices and giving them the skills to grow and cook food for themselves and their families, Food for Life Partnership schools lead the way for a more sustainable future."

Rikke Bruntse-Dahl

Investors in Pupils

We are working towards achieving Investors in Pupils status this academic year. The student voice representatives from each form who meet on a weekly basis are developing the principles of Investors in Pupils which are:

• An Investor in Pupils tutor group is committed to the development of all its members
• An Investors in Pupils tutor group regularly reviews the needs of all its members
• An Investors in Pupils tutor group takes action to develop members in line with the class plan.
• An Investors in Pupils tutor group understand the difference the development of its members makes to class performance.

The Investors in Pupils award is based on four principles:

• Commitment.
• Review.
• Action.
• Improvement.

These are evidenced through five key areas:

• Learning.
• Behaviour.
• Attendance.
• Classroom Management.
• Induction.

The student voice representatives when they meet formulate agendas from their year group peers based on:

• Teaching and learning.
• Governance/leadership.
• The environment/facilities and
• The community.

Please contact Mr A Maltman if you have any questions about Investors in Pupils.

Mr A Maltman
Vocational Studies

TES Conference: Food For Life

In May 2008, St Wilfrid’s was chosen by Food for Life Partnership to become a Flagship school. A School Nutrition Action Group was soon set up, made up of pupils, teachers and governors to discuss ways of improving the way we see food within school and the local community. Ideas ranged from changing suppliers - increasing the proportion of locally sourced and organic food in school meals - to creating a school garden and allotment plots. The greatest visible outcome of SNAG’s work however has been the brand new canteen area, created during summer this year. Our success with the FFLP was furthered in November last year, when Lee Dawson, Josh Angell, Ben Oldroyd and Miss Egan made a great impression at the YouFood Youth Conference in Bristol. Lee, Josh and Ben helped to create a student manifesto that was presented at the National Soil Association Conference alongside Monty Don. Due to this influence from Food for Life, St Wilfrid’s is only a short step away from becoming the first Secondary school in England to receive the Silver award.

The National Hall, Olympia, was where the presentation at the conference took place. Fiona White, the FFLP London Manager introduced the presentation “The Future of Our Food”, before Lee and Josh began to present, outlining St Wilfrid’s position on food culture before FFLP involvement. Mrs Wright then gave an overview of the SNAG group, its achievements and role within school before leading on to “Wow! That’s a mouthful!” a film about our schools success created by sixth form Media students last year. Josh and Lee returned to the stage to explain the extent of the improvements in food culture at the school, with photographs of the new canteen, community involvement events and farm visits. This led on to a summary of St Wilfrid’s plans for the future regarding food by Mr Walsh, before Fiona concluded the presentation.

Guest Duncan Goodhew was complimentary about the presentation and Fiona White later said, “Lee and Josh really were terrific yesterday and I think our programme is very lucky to have two such enthusiastic and committed, and confident, students involved. I know that Emma Noble (Director of the Food For Life Partnership) feels the same.”

Lee Dawson

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was launched in school last week giving pupils in Y10 and Y12 the opportunity to take part. Students achieve an Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections which will involve them helping people or the community, getting fitter, developing skills and going on an expedition. Three of the four sections (volunteering, physical and skills) will need to be completed in students own time therefore, participants need to be enthusiastic, motivated and committed. Disability does not preclude anyone from participating.

Each programme is individual and can be full of activities and projects that personally interest each student. Along the way they’ll pick up experiences, friends and talents that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. The expedition and training will take place in the spring/summer term.

Year 10 students are being given the opportunity to complete the Bronze Award whilst Year 12 are being can complete the direct entry Silver Award which is a great opportunity, especially for those looking to build up their CV before university/job applications.

For Y10 students and parents to find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award at St Wilfrid’s, an open evening will be held in the school theatre on Monday 5^th October, 2009 at 6pm.

More information on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award can be found at http://www.dofe.org/ or please contact Miss Egan at school.

Brand New Chapel

The Chapel in school has recently undergone a makeover. Although the basic structure is the same as before, the improvements are amazing. Two interior walls have been removed to maximise the available space and the folding doors, that used to separate the Chapel from Bruynseels Hall have been replaced with a solid wall, which allows the Chapel to now be a completely contained area. With all the work completed and the workmen gone, the Chapel is a now a calm, peaceful oasis in the middle of a busy, thriving school. Morning Prayer takes place every morning at 8.20 and a Form Mass takes place at lunchtime on Friday. Although each particular form is involved in the weekly Mass, everyone is welcome to attend. As the image shows, the Chapel offers a bright and welcoming space that is conducive to a prayerful experience.

Kathleen McKnight

Lay Chaplain