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School Standards Minister Praises ATLP

SCHOOL STANDARDS MINISTER PRAISES ATLP’S NORTH BIRMINGHAM TEACHING SCHOOL HUB AFTER VISIT

The UK’s new Schools Standards Minister went back to school, when he saw where North Birmingham’s teachers are trained in a whistle-stop visit to Sutton Coldfield. Jonathan Gullis, who became the minister for School Standards in September, visited the highly respected Arthur Terry Learning Partnership’s North Birmingham Teaching School Hub, which is currently training hundreds of new and existing teachers in the North Birmingham area through their ITT, ECF and NPQ programmes. The partnership, which is made up of 19 schools in Birmingham, North Warwickshire and Staffordshire, runs one of 87 Teaching School Hubs (TSHs) across the country. The North Birmingham Hub sits at the centre of a network of schools across the north of the city, working with teachers to help them develop their skills, build up experience, share knowledge and earn their professional qualifications.

During the visit Mr Gullis, who spent eight years working as a teacher – most recently at Fairfax Academy – was able to chat to teachers taking part in school leadership training and find out about the work of the hub, including Arthur Terry’s School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT), which has recently been designated as an OFSTED outstanding provider. He also watched youngsters being taught Spanish and talked to school leaders about future plans including funding and recruitment.

Mr Gullis said: “It was such a pleasure to be back in Sutton Coldfield, where I ended my teaching career before I became a member of Parliament. “Here at the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership I saw brilliant work on display with over 400 of teachers going through their National Professional Qualifications. “Hundreds of teachers who have been through the initial teacher training programme provided here are now working in classroom across the city. “It’s one of the great success stories of our education revolution since 2010 and I’m just very, very grateful to have had the opportunity to come and see it at first hand.”

Cathryn Mortimer, Director of the Teaching School Hub, said: “It was great to able to show the Minister around the Hub, and I think it was especially useful for him to be able to talk to the NPQ delegates who were undergoing training, to get their views. “Teacher training is perhaps the key mechanism for school improvement. If you get good teachers into the classroom everything else falls into place.“ATLP’s North Birmingham Teaching School Hub is playing an important role in not only launching the careers of local teachers, but also collaborating with a network of schools to support them as they teach in local classrooms.”

Richard Gill CBE, CEO of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership and chair of the Teaching Schools Council, said: “We were delighted to welcome School Standards Minister Jonathan Gullis to see the work being done here at our Teaching School Hub. “As a former teacher, he was very interested in talking to the teachers being trained, to understand their experiences. “I hope his visit showed that we continue to provide high quality school-to-school support, teacher training and the professional development of staff.”

Pictures

JG ATLP 1 Cathryn Mortimer, Director of the Teaching School Hub and Arthur Terry headteacher Samantha Kibble, Schools Standards Minister Jonathan Gullis and Richard Gill CBE, CEO of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership.

JG ATLP 2 & 3 School standards minister Jonathan Gullis, who until recently was a teacher at Fairfax Academy in Sutton Coldfield, talks to teachers taking part in training at the North Birmingham Teaching School Hub at Arthur Terry.

JG ATLP 4 Jonathan Gullis talks to Cathryn Mortimer, Director of the Teaching School Hub and Arthur Terry headteacher Samantha Kibble.

Arthur Terry student Sarah tells council chiefs to support families hit by sepsis

An inspirational Arthur Terry student who had to look after her mum when she caught a life-threatening condition took her campaign for improved support to the corridors of power, when she appeared before the biggest local authority in Europe to demand urgent action.

Year 9 student Sarah Gibson took the floor at a full meeting of Birmingham City Council on Tuesday, July 12 to ask a question about support for families who are affected by Sepsis, which struck down her mum Ali in 2019.

Sarah, who was just 11 years old at the time, cared for her mum as they were not aware of the support that was available to families in their situation.

Sepsis is the body’s over-reaction to an infection or injury, which causes the immune system to attack its own organs and tissues. It affects 245,000 people every year in the UK and is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide (11 million people).

Sarah asked a question of the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for Health and Social Care, Cllr Mariam Khan.

She told the council:

“I first came into contact with the serious effects of sepsis through my mum in 2019. This experience was very difficult and frightening for me as I did not know what Sepsis was. Even now, three years on, my mum is still struggling with the long-lasting effects that this condition has caused. Sepsis has led to anxiety for my mum’s wellbeing. This is all because she got no support.
“Nationally, 245,000 are directly affected yearly, not to mention the family of each person like me. My mum was offered no support. I had to care for her and myself when I was only 11. This is something no child should have to suddenly and irreversibly carry the responsibility for, but thousands have no choice but to. It is vital that patients are signposted towards UK Sepsis Trust services at the hospital. Awareness for sepsis is essential to save lives and lower the death rate of some 48,000 people every year.
“Will you commit to embedding signposting towards sepsis support systems like the Sepsis Trust at hospitals across Birmingham for patients and families?”

National charity the UK Sepsis Trust, which was founded in Birmingham by a doctor working at Good Hope Hospital, exists to support this hit by the condition and backed Sarah in her big moment at the council.

The Trust’s Fundraising Manager Brian Davies, who accompanied Sarah to the council meeting, said he had been ‘hugely impressed’ by the maturity and determination she had shown in demanding action.

He said: “Sarah showed great courage and determination to speak at the council and got across her point with real conviction.

“She and her family have experience of how Sepsis can impact on lives and have long-lasting effects. The UK Sepsis Trust is is proud to provide a free, confidential and compassionate helpline service, facilitated by our dedicated team of specialist sepsis nurses.

“However, effected families often don’t know about us, or aren’t pointed towards us when they need support the most.

“Sarah’s idea to embed signposting to help families affected by sepsis find us, and access our services and support, is a simple move that could improve the lives of so many people impacted by this terrible condition.”

Sarah found out about the trust during an ‘experience of the workplace’ careers event at the Arthur Terry School, which is part of the respected Arthur terry Learning Partnership (ATLP), where Brian was acting as a mentor.

Another mentor at the event, ATLP Trust member Councillor Alex Yip, arranged for Sarah to ask her question at Birmingham City Council’s full meeting, bringing the issue of sepsis to the attention of more than 100 elected councillors in the Second City.

Lauren Murphy, Sarah’s form tutor, said: “We are so proud of Sarah and the stand she has made about this issue, which has had such an impact on not only her own family but thousands of others.

“It was a privilege to see her speak to the council and we all hope the councillors will act on the suggestion she made.”

Entire Tram Fleet Suspended

From November 13, all West Midlands Tram services between Wolverhampton and Birmingham will be suspended until further notice. This news has sparked outrage among Birmingham residents. The news has come straight out of nowhere with the managers blaming the discovery of a number of cracks on the trams similar to an issue earlier in the year

The shutdown starts today (Saturday 13th November) with no published date for the service to restart, but no trams will run for at least four weeks taking users to the middle of December

Cllr Phil Bateman, (Lab, Wednesfield North) said: “We deserve to have a full statement including verification of the makers of the steel that the cracks have been found on.

“The cost will be eye watering and the questions must be asked of the Mayor, as to who will be carrying the cost of this failure? Besides the tram customers.”

Image from railinsider.co.uk

The 112 year-old cinema has been saved

One of England’s oldest cinemas, shut since the start of the pandemic, has a new owner who aims to reopen the venue by Christmas.

At 112 years old, Birmingham’s art deco Electric Cinema is believed to be the oldest working cinema in the UK.

New owner Kevin Markwick, who runs an independent cinema in East Sussex, said he was excited about its future.

Mr Markwick said he took possession of the keys on Monday and was now in Birmingham getting to know the city, he said.

“I’m now just looking at the infrastructure – getting the heating going and the projectors,” he said.

“I want to make it cosy and warm again then will think about a programme, but my aim is to be open in three to four weeks’ time for Christmas.

“It’s about winning people’s trust and showing the new things we can do.”

The cinema, built in a converted taxi rank in Station Street, showed its first film on 27 December 1909.

Council Plan City Centre Transport Shake-up

A massive overhaul of transport in Birmingham city centre is planned to meet the challenges of the next decade.

The Birmingham Transport Plan 2031, based on a 2020 consultation, is scheduled to be discussed at Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet meeting next Tuesday. It includes limited access for private cars with no through trips allowed.

And Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) urged the Council to “constructively engage” with businesses that have been “rocked to the core” by the pandemic and are only just embarking on the long

Click the link for full details

https://www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/latest-news/news/2021/10/6/council-plan-city-centre-transport-shake-up/

Article shared from “Greater Birmingham Chambers”

St Giles Hospice – Our Abseil Is Back

Our abseil is BACK! 🤩
If you like a challenge that gets the adrenaline pumping, then look no further!
We’re calling on daredevils to descend down The Green Man Wall at The Custard Factory on Saturday 9th October 2021. Entry is £25, with a minimum sponsorship target of £75.
Sign up now and brave new heights for St Giles Hospice 👉 https://buff.ly/31Vrr2f

Tom Cruise In Birmingham

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise was a surprise diner at a Birmingham restaurant. The Mission Impossible star is currently filming the latest instalment in the Midlands and popped into Asha’s for chicken tikka masala before posing for a photograph with staff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58271871

Picture Courtesy of BBC News Site

Sutton Coldfield’s Alice Kinsella overcome with emotion after achieving Olympics ambition

Alice Kinsella admitted she fought back the tears as she finally achieved her lifetime ambition.

The 20-year old gymnast helped Great Britain book their place in Tuesday’s women’s final after making her Olympic debut in Tokyo.

However, she confessed there was work to do with her all-around score of 51.665, following the vault, uneven bars, beam and floor, leaving room for improvement.

“It feels absolutely amazing,” said the Walsall star.

“Obviously, it’s been a dream of mine since I was little and now, I can finally say that I’m officially an Olympian and it feels very special.

“There was plenty of emotion out there, though it felt very different without a crowd. I can say I’m an Olympian for the rest of my life and that’s all that matters.”

British Gymnastics made the decision to prioritise the women’s team event in Tokyo, selecting a youthful squad they really think will be primed when the Games arrive in Paris in three years.

Kinsella won balance beam gold at Commonwealth Games in 2018 and then landed the European title 12 months later.

Sutton Coldfield’s Laura Unsworth becomes most-decorated GB hockey star

Unsworth helped Britain beat India in a 4-3 thriller to claim bronze and keep their proud place on the women’s hockey podium.

Unsworth, 33, became the first British male or female hockey player to capture three Olympic medals – bronze in London and Tokyo, and gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“To be honest, it probably is up there with the Rio gold medal,” she said. “The things we have had to overcome as a team, people don’t know about. As a squad, we stuck together. We have been resilient – we fight.

“If someone told me when I first started playing hockey when I was 11 that I would win three Olympic medals, I would have just looked at them and said: ‘you what’?”

Cannock’s McArthurGlen designer outlet ready to open on 12th April

The final preparations are underway for the opening of the £160 million designer outlet at Mill Green, which will be welcoming customers from 10am on the first day that non-essential shops are allowed to reopen.

There will be no grand opening or ribbon cutting due to the pandemic, which has already delayed the centre opening by a year, but a raft of heavyweight brands will be ready to welcome shoppers from across the West Midlands.

Visitor numbers are being limited to encourage social distancing, meaning a maximum of 2,100 customers will be allowed in the centre at one time.

Centre manager Mike Thomas said: “Our new centre brings together some of the world’s most sought-after brands across the fashion, lifestyle and food and beverage sectors.

“When we officially open the doors to customers next week, they can enjoy a host of premium designer labels, including Ted Baker, Lacoste and Tommy Hilfiger. “They can also expect a fantastic mix of much-loved brands, such as Beauty Outlet, Superdry and Yankee Candle.

“We have an exceptional line-up of sportswear and athleisure brands that features Adidas, Under Armour and Skechers, while rounding off our first collection of F&B operators is Starbucks and Five Guys.

“Customers can look forward to more exciting arrivals in the coming weeks, including the highly-anticipated openings of Nike, Asics, Wagamama and The Cosmetics Company.”

But due to the coronavirus pandemic no opening day special discounts will be offered, and all events planned for open spaces have been cancelled this year.

Mr Thomas added: “While we will be unable to host any events this year due to our health and safety measures, in the future we will certainly use our piazza and other public spaces to host many memorable guest events as we do at our centres throughout the UK and Europe.

“To make sure we protect the health and wellbeing of all our customers we won’t be offering any special opening day discounts but as with all McArthurGlen designer outlets, there will be year-round savings of up to 60 per cent and we will regularly host additional promotions and events when the time is right. Customers should also often check our Facebook and Instagram pages for any special giveaways we are running.”