Thomas Knyvett College Hosts East To West Award Ceremony!

 

Renowned Headteacher, Janise Marillat (left), kindly hosted the presentation of the High Sheriff Youth Awards certificate to East To West CEO, Ant Horton (right), who insisted that the recipient should be their on site Relational Support Worker, Caz McGrath, as ‘she does all of the great work’! Janise and Caz explained the powerful impact that the partnership between school and charity can have in supporting young people and ensuring that everything possible is done to avoid permanent exclusions. With around 40 years of experience at TKC, Janise was able to identify many possible initiatives to assist her efforts on behalf of the Ashford community, and I will certainly be sharing her ideas with Jean Pinkerton, Mayor of Spelthorne and experienced ex-Headteacher herself!

Guildford Recognises Eagle Radio's Peter Gordon

Peter now enters the prestigious Guildford Roll Of Honour as an exceptional individual who has made a significant impact for good in his home town. Famous for his ever popular Breakfast Show on Eagle Radio, Peter is also very active in local charities, promotes local business, arts and cultural events and is, of course, a firm favourite at the Yvonne Arnaud (Oh yes he is!)

Joint hosts Mayor Mike Parsons (right) and Vice-Chancellor Professor Max Lu (second left) presented Peter with his Award on behalf of Guildford Borough Council and the University of Surrey. The event was flawlessly overseen by Greg Melly, Snr V-P Advancement & Community, University of Surrey, and included some brilliant entertainment from the GSA Singers.

Another great example of the ‘town/gown’ partnership bolstering the local community!

 

National Crimebeat Awards – Advice from Tamara Cooper at Surrey Police

Tamara is Public Protection Strategic Manager, and received a Chief Constable’s Commendation earlier in the year for her impactful work in adapting the ‘Total Respect’ course (run by the Children’s Rights Service) for use within Surrey Police. This powerful initiative called upon young people who have experience of living in care to deliver the content and to raise the issues affecting ‘looked after’ children. Over 450 police officers and staff attended the training towards the end of 2017, including Deputy Chief Constable, Gavin Stephens, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. There is no doubt that such excellent work is the stuff of further Awards nominations – National Crimebeat watch this space!

 We are pictured (courtesy of great photographic skills from Jude, Tamara’s PA!) in the Surrey Police Memorial Garden, another of Tamara’s projects, which she completed with her ‘Saturday Gardening Club’ of students from Merrist Wood College. Great volunteering effort! 

 

Mayor of Surrey Heath Supports Focus On Permanent Exclusions from School

Mayor Dan Adams provided powerful support, guidance and advice this morning as we discussed my theme for the year – the issue of permanent exclusions of pupils from schools. I will be joining with Dan to learn from schools, colleges, businesses and third sector organisations across Surrey Heath exactly what is required to help break the insidious links between exclusions and later negative involvement with the police, judicial, probation and prison systems. 

 The image is the Surrey Heath Mosaic, created with the help of Cordwalles Junior School; Crawley Ridge Junior School; Frimley CoE School and Mytchett Primary School. What further motivation could we require!

 

Guildford Remembers – Dedication of New War Memorial

All credit to Mayor, Cllr Mike Parsons, Guildford Borough Council and their military and charity partners for their collective decision to dedicate a new War Memorial to all those from the community who have given their lives in service since 1945. The moving Eucharist of Sacrifice and Commitment was led by Canon Robert Cotton in Holy Trinity Church, followed by the Dedication of Guildford’s new memorial in the Castle grounds. It was a great privilege to be in attendance with the Lord Lieutenant, Michael More- Molyneux, and the sculptor of the memorial, David Annand;

 

The presence of many members of the families who had lost loved ones provided special memories on a very special day.

 

 

 

Egham Museum's 50th Celebrations!

 

Many congratulation to Sarah, staff, trustees, supporters and particularly to the superb volunteers at the Museum on reaching their 50th year in such fine style! I was delighted to support the Mayor of Runnymede, Dolsie Clarke, in toasting this fine achievement and joining the packed hall in watching an excellent film about the first 50 – and in hearing from Sarah just how exciting the next 50 will be! A great example of the extraordinary exhibitions Egham Museum undertakes in its own flexible and creative style is ‘Suffrage in Egham’, and the teaser map below gives a flavour for the innovative approach

 

 

 

 

 

The Priory School, Dorking – As Featured In The Parliamentary Review of Secondary Education

To meet Head Teacher Rachel Gibb and hear her views about the complex issue of permanent exclusions of pupils, is an education in itself! Rachel joined Priory in September 2016 and quickly recognised that outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds were not good enough. The resulting excellent hard work by the entire school team resulted in recognition in the recent Parliamentary Review of Secondary Education. As a great example of the breadth of inspiring activities available to students is the Greenpower kit car, which is raced at Goodwood, Dunsfold and Rockingham. Teacher, Giles, hopped aboard so that we could get a souvenir picture with the proud Head!

 

 

SATRO Awards Celebrate STEM Skills!

The WWF Living Planet Centre was the venue once again for the renowned annual SATRO Awards celebrating the huge wealth of STEM skills amongst our inspiring young people, and the substantial support received from employers, volunteers, University, Colleges and Schools across the county. I will have many pictures of the worthy winners over the coming days, and as a fine start I met Freya (below) whose project was with our friends at Headway Surrey, the charity supporting people with brain injuries. CEO, Sonja Freebody, explained that Freya had identified several practical opportunities to provide even more everyday support to Headway’s clients, and had been a truly inspirational presence around the organisation during her project (as you can see, Sonja is also an excellent photographer!)

 

 

Royal Holloway Festival of Volunteering

 

As winners of the Queen’s Award For Volunteering, we have come to expect something special at this leading University, and Phil Simcock, Volunteering Manager, and his team certainly did not disappoint, as some 50 charities gathered around the circus tent on campus to meet students old and new, who are all keen to volunteer. I also met the Surrey Police unit who were explaining the many opportunities to volunteer within the Force, not least by supporting the Volunteer Police Cadets. Vice-Principal Bob O’Keefe (centre) joined Farhan Hay, Positive Action Manager for Surrey Police (left), and Helen Hartley (Surrey Police) to share the details.

 

Visit to Meet 'East to West' at Bishop Wand School, Sunbury, Reveals NO PEXs!

For over eight years, ‘East To West’ have been an integral part of the Bishop Wand approach based around pastoral care and support. This impressive system enables a highly dedicated team to work closely together to support pupils who are facing a wide variety of possible problems and difficulties. Team members include Dawn Keough, East to West Relational Support Manager (below), Val O’Keeffe, Inclusion Manager, Chaplain, Mrs M Ratnayake and all members of the renowned Learning Support unit at the school. This approach has consistently led to drastically reduced exclusions; virtually no permanent exclusions (PEXs) and only one pupil recently placed at a Pupil Referral Unit. Of course, such an approach requires a lot of admirable commitment from the school and the Governing Body, but what an encouraging outcome for the young people facing such personal challenges. ‘Centre of Excellence’ springs to mind!