Town’s primary schools
are in the Top Twenty
by staff reporter
PRIMARY Achievement Tables, published by the government today show that Warrington is one of the top 20 local education authorities in the country for performance in English, maths and science.
All pupils in the top year in primary schools sat these tests last summer. A total of 83 per cent of pupils achieved Level 4 and above in the national tests in English, 80 per cent in maths and 89 per cent in science.
Warrington also topped the tables in the North West region in English and came second in the region in maths and science.
Coun Maureen Banner, executive member for education, said: “Warrington’s primary age pupils and schools have once again excelled in performance and we are all very proud of the hard work and effort that has produced these fantastic results.”
The achievement tables, published by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) show the results for each primary school in Warrington.
Strategic Director for Education Malcolm Roxburgh said: “We would urge parents to be cautious about the way they read these tables. The results vary for every school and reflect both the success of the school and the ability range of the pupils within the school. The tables include a ‘value-added measure’, which shows how much progress pupils have made since the tests they took in Year 2.”
Full details of the Primary Achievement Tables for Warrington can be obtained by clicking here
Housing group launches
equality strategy
by Lesley Wilkinson
A STRATEGY to make housing services in Warrington more accessible to everyone – including black people and the elderly – has been published.
Golden Gates Housing (GGH) – the borough council’s housing arm – has launched an Equality and Diversity Strategy to mark its commitment to addressing discrimination and promoting equal opportunities in service provision and employment.
GGH’s board member for equality and diversity, Bob Stewart, said: “This strategy is a step forward in ensuring that people can get the services they need regardless of their background or circumstances.”
Key areas covered include consultation and participation, delivering the housing service, harassment, procurement of services, recruitment of board members and staff and training and development.
The agency has already started to make improvements by measures such as linking with community groups and working with customers and staff to monitor progress and help to mainstream equality and diversity issues into the business.
Policies have been assessed to ensure they meet equal opportunities, staff have been trained in equal opportunities and measures taken to make information available in other languages.
Outside agencies such as Age Concern and Warrington Disability Partnership have also been involved, and groups such as Warrington Ethnic Communities Association, Trade Unions Consultative Committee and Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Race Equality Council have been consulted.
Children at Cobbs Infant School won GGH’s competition to design a poster reflecting the diversity of people in Warrington and it will take pride of place on the front cover of the strategy.
The board will monitor the success of the strategy by receiving regular updates on its implementation. Further details are available from Amy Walker, equality and diversity officer by email at [email protected] or telephone 0800 195 9195.
Police poised for
festive crackdown
by David Skentelbery
POLICE in Warrington are poised to launch a major crackdown on pickpockets and shoplifters in the run-up to Christmas.
From next Monday (December 6) officers from Warrington’s Community Action Team will be stepping up patrols at the shops to deter opportunist thieves and shoplifters and to provide a reassuring presence in the town centre.
CAT inspector Brian Heywood said: “We want local residents to shop for their Christmas presents in safety, reassured by the knowledge that officers will be on hand should they need our assistance.
“Pickpockets and shoplifters often hide amongst crowds of shoppers to avoid being seen, but our officers will be keeping an eye out and cracking down on this kind of festive crime.”
CAT Officers and Community Support Officers will conduct high visibility patrols in the town centre shopping areas during retail hours (including late night shopping on Thursdays) right up until the shops have closed on Christmas Eve.
Call centre staff will
trek across desert
by Lesley Wilkinson
A GROUP of 17 staff from a Warrington call centre are being put through their paces by a former Army officer to prepare for a trek next year across the African desert.
The workers, from Carphone Warehouse at Birchwood, will join more than 60 others from the firm’s branches throughout the country for the charity walk in the searing heat of the Namibia Desert in May next year.
After their eight-day trek, averaging 20 km a day, they will then help restore a kindergarten in a small village called Spitzkoppe.
One of those taking part Katie Dobbs, 19 who works in the retention department, said: “Most of us have never done anything like this before and we are really looking forward to it.
“One of my colleagues, Mike Day, used to be in the Army – and has agreed to put us all through our paces,” she added.
The team are planning a training trip, walking four miles and completing an assault course. Because of his connections Mike has been able to secure some equipment from the Territorial Army for the team.
Carphone Warehouse works regularly with Barnardos and advertised the trip -organised by the charity and Get Connected – to its staff.
During the trip staff will be walking each day and then sleeping in tents in the desert. Everyone taking part has to raise ?1,750 for their expenses and staff are organising a series of fundraising events and looking for sponsorship and donations.
“At the end of the trek we will be working on the kindergarten, helping with the painting and helping to finish the roofing work,” said Katie. “There are a lot of car wrecks in the area that children play on, so we will be restoring them also.”
The nursery caters for about 32 children aged between two and six. Staff are hoping to collect toys and gifts to take to Africa for the youngsters.
Katie said: “This is the trip of a lifetime for us and we are helping to build this kindergarten that will hopefully stand for years to come.”
Trees mark town’s
recycling efforts
by John Hendon
RECYCLERS in Warrington can see the fruits of their labour at Rixton Clay Pits Local Nature Reserve where 11 native tree saplings have been planted.
Each tree represents a tonne of aluminium cans (alucans) and foil collected for recycling in Warrington in the past year, as part of a national campaign to increase recycling organised by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (ALUPRO).
The campaign aims to encourage different types of recycling across the UK and has donated the trees in recognition of the growth and impact of successful recycling in Warrington.
Coun Terry O’Neill, the borough council’s executive member for Environment and Regeneration, said: “Recycling has really taken off in the town and growing and planting trees gives people an idea of how energy is saved through recycling.
“We want to say a big thank you to all our recyclers, particularly those who started in the past year. Everyone will be able to watch the two-year-old saplings grow to maturity.
“We will be signing up for more trees next year – so keep recycling!”
Up to 95 per cent less energy is used every time a used alucan or foil is recycled into new aluminium.
Warrington currently recycles 13 per cent of household waste and the council is committed to increasing this figure by introducing new
schemes and developing existing ones.
Website offers
training advice
by staff reporter
A NEW website has gone live providing training and solutions advice for Warrington businesses.
The website Warrington First is a partnership between Warrington Collegiate, Priestley College, University College Chester, Company Plus and Business Link.
Main aim of the project is to identify the training needs of local companies and skills gaps in the workforce and provide the means to address them.
Businesses can log onto Warrington First and search for locally delivered courses which best suit their needs.
Apart from links to courses, the site offers businesses advice and guidance on: leadership and management, professional development, health and safety marketing, customer care and Improving productivity.
The site can be found at www.warringtonfirst.com
[ 06.12.2004, 12:14: Message edited by: DS ]
