Tag: Erdington

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BACK TO SCHOOL: Shaping the future of Maths at Queensbury School

Words & pics by supplied by Queensbury School

Queensbury School’s Maths department has been selected as the only West Midlands based special school to be part of an exciting research project on misconceptions in Maths – helping shape future development and understanding of the subject.

Recognised learning resource Eedi has received a prestigious research grant to help them dive deep into the interconnected nature of children’s misconceptions in mathematics and determine the best way to help support students in resolving them. Specifically, the grant is to help support Key Stage 3 students from low-income families who often underperform in mathematics relative to their more affluent peers.

In return, Queensbury has been given free access to the premium version of Eedi for 25 of our students (worth around £2000) – including free access to online, on-demand, personalised support from UK maths teachers every day from 9am to 8pm to help their learning.

Queensbury teachers set diagnostic questions on a weekly basis and students are then asked for the reasons for their answers, which is further collated and analysed.

Students receive immediate feedback on their correct or incorrect answers.

Mr Mustamer Shah, Head of Maths Department, told: ““We are proud to be part of this research. A lot of hard work has been put in to getting Queensbury onto this research project. It has been encouraging to see parents/carers take a leading role too.”

The feedback from students and parents has also been positive, with many happy their young person will help deepen the understanding of misconceptions in Maths for other students across the UK.

Queensbury Student Jaidan explained: “It was good because it was like a digital teacher and it helps you with getting things right.

“If you make a mistake it helps you correct it straight away so you can answer it in the future.”

Celebrating the ambition and achievements of both the school and the student, Queensbury Executive Head Teacher, Mr Chris Wilson, added: “I am so proud of our students and Maths Department setting new boundaries in special educational needs challenge.

“It demonstrates the high aspirations we have for our families and students at Queensbury School.”

For more on Queensbury School visit www.queensburysch.com

To learn more about Eedi visit www.eedi.com

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OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives – June ‘23

Pic supplied by Cllr Robert Alden (Erdington Ward, Conservative)

(Ed’s Note: This column was written to be published in the Erdington Local newspaper – out from 5 June)

Recently Birmingham City Council tried to convert Erdington Library into a Youth Centre. Cllr Gareth Moore and I jumped into action to fight to save Erdington Library – a campaign that was thankfully successful. This is how the campaign unfolded.

Cabinet Member Jayne Francis (at the time of writing, Head of Service for Libraries) and Cllr Robert Alden at Erdington Library

On 28 April, a Friday, Birmingham City Council announced they had submitted two planning applications to turn Erdington Library into a Youth Centre and extend the building.

Understandably residents contacted us, furious with the Council for attempting to close down our much loved and well used Library. On Saturday 29 April the library had over 250 visitors by lunchtime, proving how popular the service is.

By 1 May we had launched a petition demanding the Labour Administration at the Council scrap their plans to close Erdington Library.

On 2 May I met with the Chief Executive of the City Council to raise residents’ concerns and demand Erdington Library is saved.

On 4 May I met with the Cabinet Member and Head of Service for Libraries to discuss the situation.  This was a constructive discussion and that afternoon I emailed the Youth Services department and Library Services demanding the planning applications were withdrawn and a meeting set up to discuss how to protect Erdington Library and the service going forward.

Following our interventions, the Council withdrew the planning applications and have placed any changes on hold. In the coming weeks we will be meeting the services and pushing to protect and improve Erdington Library for years to come.

For more from Cllr Robert Alden and Cllr Gareth Moore visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington – June ‘23

Pic supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

(Ed’s Note: This column was written to be published in the Erdington Local newspaper – out from 5 June)

Recently, Birmingham City Council submitted a planning application that would have reduced the size of Erdington Library to make space for a youth centre.

Although we can all agree that we desperately need a local youth centre, it shouldn’t come at the cost of our library.

Thankfully, following a community campaign led by Friends of Erdington Library, Erdington Lunar Society, and concerns that I had raised, the council swiftly withdrew the application.

The sad truth is that we need things for young people to do in our area but since 2010, the Tories have decimated our youth services. As a result, there are only a handful of services left for young people.

The YMCA youth charity found that nationally, council spending on youth services has fallen from £1.4bn in 2010 to £379m in 2021. During that time, 750 youth centres and a staggering 4,500 youth workers have been lost.

The youth services budget is down by 74% in real terms compared to what it was at the end of the last Labour government.

Government cuts have led to half of Birmingham’s youth centres closing their doors, including Erdington’s Malcolm Locker Youth Centre. It now sits empty, rundown and a shell of its former self.

More than decade of Tory cuts has failed a generation of local young people. The service is in serious need of investment and a government that is prepared to put young people at the heart of what they do.

For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

(Ed’s Note: All monthly columns were written to be first published in the Erdington Local newspaper on 1 May)

April marked a special time for many people in our community as families celebrated Easter, Passover, and Eid. I hope everyone celebrating enjoyed the break and you were able to spend some valuable time with your family.

Whilst our community came together in celebration, the Government had other plans for our area. In early April, I learned that the Ministers decided to overturn the appeal for another betting shop on Erdington High Street – after Labour run Birmingham City Council rejected the original application. Words cannot describe my disappointment when I discovered that the Tory Government allowed the appeal, despite huge opposition from local people and businesses.

Ministers have chosen to back gambling bosses and ignore the wishes of local people. The decision will come as a blow for people in Erdington who have joined me in relentlessly campaigning to secure improvements for our local High Street. Sadly, this is yet another example of the Tories turning their back on our community after they rejected our £11million Levelling-Up bid earlier this year that would have transformed the area.

Our High Street has so much potential and needs investment, but we are constantly being let down by the Tories. The last thing we need is another betting shop, but it’s clear, the Government have shown that yet again they’re not on the side of local people.

Erdington High Street is the heart and soul of our community and despite this setback, I will continue to work alongside local people and traders to find solutions that help secure the investment we desperately need.

In brighter news, over the first weekend in May our country will come together to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen Consort. I’m looking forward to attending community events across Erdington, Kingstanding and Castle Vale, and joining local people in celebration of this historic occasion. Please let me know if you have an event organised!

Finally, it’s fantastic that the Erdington Local newspaper is back on the shelves in print. The team at Erdington Local do an amazing job keeping our community informed on local issues that matter to you, and they deserve all the support they can get.

For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org

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OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

(Ed’s Note: All monthly columns were written to be first published in the Erdington Local newspaper on 1 May)

It was great to see so many people using Rookery Park for the recent National Trust/Erdington Arts Forum Cherry Blossom Picnic, by the blossom trees we planted at the start of the year.

We previously secured funding as part of the redevelopment of Rookery House for the children’s play area in Rookery Park, and the Friends of the Park secured further money from our Celebrating Community fund in Erdington to provide outdoor gym equipment.

Since work has been happening to draft up proposals for what improvements this will deliver, before Christmas we held a consultation for local residents to have their say. We shared this feedback and the views of the Friends Group to the Council, who’ve been drawing up finalised plans for the work. Once timescales are known we will update residents.

As part of the work on Rookery House we secured the creation of a café/community space. Sadly, this has yet to open, despite being fitted out. It’s been held up by a disagreement regarding the proposed community space above the café. We’ve been working to try and resolve the issues.

This has included speaking to Planning Enforcement regularly to demand the Council intervenes and enforce the planning conditions that includes useable community space AND café. These proposals must be delivered for local residents.

Residents can rest assured that we will not stop in our work to both deliver the improvements to Rookery Park and delivering the community space/café in the House.

For more from Erdington Ward Councillors Cllr Robert Alden and Cllr Gareth Moore visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

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BACK TO SCHOOL: ‘Ambitious’ Stockland Green School impresses Ofsted inspectors with ‘tenacious’ approach to safeguarding

Words & pics supplied by Stockland Green School

Staff and students at Stockland Green are celebrating after inspectors praised the school as a place where “leaders care deeply about pupils’ well-being”.

Ofsted inspectors, who visited the site in Slade Road, Erdington, on 14-15 February, confirmed that Stockland Green School remains a ‘good’ school, and praised it for its “family approach”.

They also praised safeguarding and wellbeing measures at the school, which is part of the respected Arthur Terry Learning Partnership.

Head of School Rebecca Goode said: “We were delighted with this Ofsted report, as we really saw the inspection as an opportunity to showcase our school, to show the inspectors the very best of our team and our students, and help them understand the journey we are on as a school.

“The report talks about us as a ‘family’, and how we really care for our children and about our safeguarding work being ‘tenacious’ – because we are very driven as a team to ensure that our children get the very best in all aspects of education.

“However, it’s not just about grades and results – it’s about ensuring that we give the very best to our young people.

“We always want to ensure that the children have the belief to be whatever they want to be, and that ultimately they become fully rounded citizens who are going to contribute positively to the community.”

According to the Ofsted report, pupils at Stockland Green are happy, and say that they feel safe.

It said: “This is because leaders care deeply about pupils’ well-being and they make sure that staff know pupils well.

“When bullying occurs, pupils say that teachers help resolve the issue quickly and make sure that it does not happen again. Leaders have ensured that the school’s values of ‘aspire, believe and achieve’ are shared by all staff. This has created an environment where there are high expectations about how and what pupils will learn.”

Inspectors said the school’s leaders actively promote pupils’ wider personal development.

It said: “Well-being weeks linked to lessons provide a range of valuable experiences that help make learning real. Most pupils take part in extra-curricular clubs or activities.”

The school was also praised for creating an ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including those with Special Educational Needs.

It said: “Teachers have secure subject knowledge, and they know their pupils well. They create purposeful learning environments for all pupils, including those with SEND. Teachers also use a range of routines to help pupils learn.”

On safeguarding, the report said staff were motivated to prioritise wellbeing.

It said: “Staff morale is high, and they are proud of the role they play in pupils’ education. Leaders make sure that safeguarding is of the highest priority for staff.

“They provide regular training and updates. Staff are vigilant, and quick to report any concerns they have. Leaders are tenacious, and they follow up all concerns raised.”

Headteacher Marie George said: “I’m delighted for Mrs Goode, her team, the students and the community that Stockland Green has been recognised in this way.

“It’s a great achievement, especially when you consider the impacts of the pandemic, which were compounded in our own community, around Stockland Green.

“The school’s response has been to make sure that our children have a safe place to come to, that they are loved and cared for, and get an ambitious curriculum, which was also recognised by the inspectors.

“By taking that caring, ambitious approach, we give our children real life chances, to ensure that they are equipped to go on and meet the demands of the world around them.”

For more on Stockland Green School visit www.stockgrn.bham.sch.uk

**If your school would like to be part of Erdington Local’s BACK TO SCHOOL pages then please email edking@erdingtonlocal.com – with the name of your school in the subject box.**

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NEWS: Bagot Arms Golf Society hope to raise over £5000 for men’s mental health charity

Words & pics by Liam Smith

Preparations are being made by the Bagot Arms Golf Society ahead of their charity golf day on 21 July 2023, where organisers hope to raise over £5000 for a men’s mental health charity.

The event, which is taking place at Bromsgrove Golf Centre in Worcestershire, is in support of ‘It Takes Balls to Talk’ – a nationwide campaign ‘which uses sporting themes to encourage people, particularly men, to talk about how they feel.’

According to the charity’s website, 5% of men in the UK are suffering from one of the common mental health disorders, for example anxiety or depression. The website further states suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst males aged 15 to 29, and that three out of four of all suicides are men.

The Bagot Arms Golf Society, now operating out of Hollyfields Conference & Sports Centre in Pype Hayes, formed in 2009 out of the old Bagot Arms pub less than a mile away from Pype Hayes Golf Club.

The society have a history of organising and being a part of fundraising events and charity days, including a ’72 holes in one day’ challenge in aid of MacMillan which saw four members raise over £5,000 for the cancer charity.

They have also raised money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

Tony Roche, founding member of the Bagot Arms Golf Society told Erdington Local: “Mental health issues can affect anyone and can be caused by several factors. Suicide continues to be three times more common in men than in women.”

Steven Smith, also a founding member and Pype Hayes resident, told: “Since our inception in 2009, we have always felt it important that we try to raise money for charities. It is an important part of our society.

“We have a day upcoming in July, which is fully booked, with 60 golfers in attendance and all 18 holes of the course generously sponsored by local businesses.”

The society are still actively raising as much as they can as the event nears.

Steven added: “We have recently set up a JustGiving page. We set an initial target of £1,000 and we have already hit £735 and it would be great if any of your readers could help.”

The Pype Hayes golf group hope to raise over £5,000 with all the money raised from the event along with online donations. A JustGiving page can be found here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bagotarms-golfsociety

For more on the Bagot Arms Golf Society visit: www.bagotarmsgs.com

For more on the ‘It Takes Balls to Talk’ campaign visit: www.ittakesballstotalk.com

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NEWS: Pype Hayes parks to get £100k through Future Parks Accelerator Programme

Words by Liam Smith / Pics supplied by Erdington Local and Cllr Mahmood

Pype Hayes residents met with Councillor Basharat Mahmood (Pype Hayes, Lab) on Tuesday 2 May to discuss funding secured for three parks in the area: Pype Hayes Park, Paget Green, and Sorrel Park.

A handful of local residents were present at Pype Hayes Park to hear the Councillor, who was joined by members of Birmingham City Council’s parks team, speak on the potential plans for the parks as part of the Future Parks Accelerator Programme.

Cllr Mahmood told Erdington Local: “I am delighted to have secured £100,000 of funding from Birmingham City Council as part of the programme to be spent on improved our much loved parks and open spaces in Pype Hayes.”

Councillor Mahmood was elected to the Pype Hayes Ward in Birmingham’s local election on 5 May 2022, beating the Conservative candidate, Clifton Welch, by 92 votes.

Mr Mahmood campaigned for Labour with objectives to tackle “crime, and antisocial behaviour. Improve youth provision” and to ensure “our parks and green spaces are maintained and well resourced.”

At the meeting this week, one of the main talking points among the residents in attendance was on Pype Hayes Hall.

Pype Hayes Hall was built in 1630 by Henry Bagot, whose family lived there for over 250 years, and eventually sold to Birmingham City Council in 1920 for use as a convalescence and children’s home.

In 2014 the Council then sold the Grade II listed building to Bromford Mill Properties for only £25,000, after the private developers outlined £11,000,000 plans for a 60 bed luxury hotel, spa, and swimming pool.

Although since being sold, the hall and its multiple buildings have remained off limits within the park – slowly decaying, whilst development on the site still yet to commence.

One resident described the hall as “an absolute blight on the park.”

Other residents suggested how it could be repurposed into facilities such as a café with toilet access as well as a community centre.

The gardens next to Pype Hayes Hall, which park visitors can still use, were also mentioned, with Danny Squire of the Sutton Coldfield & Erdington Park Rangers saying: “we would like to get the community take a more active role in the management of the gardens, and to encourage people to grow and maintain these spaces.”

Other suggestions included involving the schools in the local area to get more involved with the park, with gardening projects and groups seen as a potential solution.

Councillor Mahmood added: “All points raised at the meeting will be forwarded to the relevant departments, including the concerns raised about Pype Hayes Hall.

“These meetings give residents the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns with me.

“They help bring about change and I would encourage everyone to get involved to make Pype Hayes cleaner, greener and safer.”

Residents are to be encouraged to attend further meetings about the parks and their funding.

For more from Cllr Basharat Mahmood visit www.facebook.com/PoliticianLabourParty

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NEWS: Erdington United still “odds on to win the league” despite losing 5-1 to Trooper FC in County Cup final

Words & pics by Liam Smith

Heartbreak for Erdington United after suffering defeat in the County Cup final on Sunday 23 April, in a match which saw them lose 5-1 to Chelmsley Wood side Trooper FC.

The tournament finale took place at the Birmingham Country Football Association Headquarters in Great Barr, with a sizeable crowd present to watch the two clubs battle it out for the County Cup prize.

The game started evenly, with both teams sizing each other up in the early stages. The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute with Erdington being unable to clear their lines.

Another goal seven minutes later, and a few chances from Erdington Utd late in the first half, saw the half time whistle blow with Erdington 2-0 down but far from out of it.

Sadly for the local team from there it went downhill, as a third from the Trooper left winger, who had been a persistent threat all game, meant heads began to drop.

A 90th minute penalty smartly tucked away served very little in terms of consolation for Erdington, with Trooper FC finishing 5-1 up.

Erdington Local spoke with Tyler Ward, Erdington United’s manager after the match.

He told: “I’m obviously disappointed with the result, but the better team did win on the day. We didn’t really start to play until the match became an uphill battle, which is always difficult.

“It was a competition we had earmarked from the start of the season that we wanted to get far in. There were far more nerves heading into this one, as we knew how good a side Trooper are.”

Tyler added: “Once we started to play and create chances, we caused problems. It’s always a tough ask to claw back a 2-0 deficit in a final.”

Erdington United are still happy with their season, having earned silverware in the George Cup, and are eager to not let Sunday’s defeat deflate them.

The manager added: “we’re still odds on to win the league, and it was a good test for us to play against decent opposition.

“Full credit to Trooper FC who managed their game well and took their chances when they got them.”

For more on Erdington United visit www.erdingtonunited.org

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Pics supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Last week, a local resident told me that their 70 year old father “carries a personal attack alarm when he goes on his morning walk” and despite installing home security, does not sleep well at night. There are many people across our community who share the same concerns – that they feel unsafe and want more to be done.

Since 2010, the Tories have cut £175million from the West Midlands Police Budget that has led to over 2,200 fewer police officers, hundreds of police staff jobs slashed, and the closure of many police stations – most recently for our community in Kingstanding, where the station is currently being sold off.

The reality of more than a decade of cuts to policing has been devastating for Erdington, Kingstanding and Castle Vale.

Our community ranks as the second highest in the West Midlands for reported crime, and as crime hits a 20 year high, the number of people being charged is falling to a record low in England and Wales. Criminals are being let off and victims are feeling let down.

Recently, at a meeting I arranged in Stockland Green with residents’ groups and businesses on Slade Road, Birmingham City Council confirmed that they would be installing new CCTV cameras in the area. The announcement came as a huge relief to local people and traders as the CCTV cameras will help monitor and deter criminal behaviour, as well as assist the police when it comes to catching offenders.

In other parts of our community, despite their limited resources, I have been working with local police teams and held similar meetings to address crime and antisocial behaviour in Erdington and Castle Vale.

In Kingstanding, people have told me that following the closure of many youth clubs, young people have been left with nowhere to go. Our communities were once home to locally run youth centres that provided activities and a safe space for young people.

Sadly, 13 years of devastating Tory government cuts have decimated our youth services with £1billion cut from youth funding, over 4,500 youth work jobs lost, and 760 youth centres closed nationally.

The first duty of the government is to keep people safe and our country secure – this is the foundation and the test for any government – but the Tories have failed.

13 years of Tory failure have left many communities, like ours, worse off and it will be left to a Labour government to pick up the pieces. For me and many others, that can’t come soon enough.

For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org