PUPILS at a London school have again this term been working on maths and English projects that highlight the need to retain an all-weather lifeboat in New Quay and, having impressed a leading educational guru, the project continues to grow.

Since the RNLI’s announcement in June 2017 that it plans to strip Ceredigion of its only all-weather lifeboat, public opposition has been growing. To date, over 31,000 people have signed a petition opposing the RNLI’s downgrade plan, and the Ceredigion Lifeboat Campaign has gained the support of a number of prominent politicians and public figures, as well as pupils from an inner-city London school.

Pupils at Harris Academy St John’s Wood have again spent the summer term studying the facts and figures of future lifeboat coverage in Cardigan Bay. The project was initiated last year by maths teacher Alexandra Lay, who was looking for meaningful and engaging ways into the curriculum, and the lifeboat theme has now become a fixture on the school’s curriculum.

Alexandra, who studied at Aberystwyth University, and is a keen kayaker, explained: “When I first saw a map of the huge gap that the RNLI’s decision will leave in Cardigan Bay, I saw an opportunity to teach loci to my year 8s with a real purpose and real-life application.

“As the project developed, my young mathematicians were able to apply their understanding of bearings, loci and speed, as well as distance and time. Through studying all the facts and figures, my pupils began to feel a real sense of empathy for the New Quay community and wanted to do what they could to help save the all-weather lifeboat.”

The project was then taken up by the English department who planned a series of lessons around the history of the RNLI and the role of the all-weather lifeboat at New Quay. Pupils debated the subject in their lessons and wrote persuasive letters to the RNLI Chief Executive.

The project has now caught the attention of Alistair Smith, a prominent presenter, trainer and developer in learning, education and professional football, who works with schools and colleges across the UK and abroad.

Alexandra continued: “Alistair Smith visited the school and observed one of my lifeboat lessons. He was very impressed with what we’d achieved and offered his full support and guidance.

“Alistair’s feedback led to the Head of Teaching and Learning championing the lifeboat campaign as a cross-curricular project across the academy. Next year, the whole year 7 curriculum for the summer term will be based around the theme of saving New Quay’s lifeboat.”

The Harris Federation is a not-for-profit charity that includes 47 primary and secondary academies across London, with 32,000 pupils and 3,700 staff. The school now plans to bring a group of students New Quay for a boat trip as a prize for the best work.

Alexandra continued: “I have thoroughly enjoyed working on the project this year. The pupils are more committed than ever and this is reflected in the quality of their work. The letters and reports that they have produced show that downgrading New Quay lifeboat will unquestionably be detrimental to seafarers and members of New Quay’s local community. It is undeniable that downgrading the all-weather lifeboat at New Quay will put lives at risk.”

In response to the letters written by the students to the RNLI Chief Executive last year, an RNLI representative gave an assurance that: “The Chief Executive and Operations Director have seen the work your students produced, and have asked our Education team to respond in full.” Almost 12 months later, the students are still waiting for a response.

Alexandra concluded: “The lack of response is very disappointing given the seriousness of the issue about which my students, colleagues and I feel so concerned. It makes us wonder whether the RNLI have any evidence at all to back the decision they made.”

To find out more about the campaign to save Ceredigion’s only all-weather lifeboat, visit www.ceredigionlifeboatcampaign.org.uk or search for Ceredigion Lifeboat Campaign on Facebook.

CERED’S 2019 Hwyl yr Haf programme was launched on July 5 at Gŵyl Aber. It is the essential guide for parents looking for Welsh and bilingual activities for their children in Ceredigion over the school summer holidays.

Cered has been creating Hwyl yr Haf programmes since 2017 to coordinate Welsh language activities during the school summer holidays in the Aberystwyth area, and to raise awareness of the wealth of Welsh language activities that are on the doorstep. This year’s programme will see Hwyl yr Haf include partners in south Ceredigion for the first time to ensure that Hwyl yr Haf actvities are accessible to children, young people and families across the county.

There are a number of new and exciting activities in Hwyl yr Haf 2019 including Ceredigion Museum’s planetarium and Gwersyll yr Urdd Llangrannog’s Activity Days. There are also art, music, drama and dance workshops; Gigs Cantre’r Gwaelod’s Sunday Afternoon Series; mountain biking sessions and much more.

Non Davies is Cered’s Manager. She said: “Over ten thousand people saw our Hwyl yr Haf programme in 2018 and many of the activities sold out. With new partners such as Cardigan Castle, Gwersyll yr Urdd Llangrannog and Llandysul Library on board for the first time, this year we hope that even more Ceredigion families can enjoy a wealth of Welsh language activities over the summer holidays.”

To find Hwyl yr Haf activities search for Cered on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or go to www.cered.cymru/hwyl-yr-haf-19.

ON THURSDAY , July 11, Ysgol Henry Richard in Tregaron was officially opened by Mark Drakeford AM, First Minister of Wales.

During the opening, Dorian Pugh, Headmaster of Ysgol Henry Richard said: “We have been on an exciting journey in recent years and today we are celebrating solidarity. Today is a milestone for this school. With the new facilities, I am confident that our pupils receive valuable, up-to-date experiences and opportunities. On the teaching route from the smallest, at age three, to the oldest at age sixteen, they are co-working, co-travelling and co-succeeding, now at one campus, in one family. Today our motto was realised, ‘Mewn Llafur mae Elw’ (In labour there is profit) and we stick to the words here now going forward.

“I would like to thank the Welsh government and Ceredigion County Council for the investment in securing a bright future for education in this community. I am today a very proud head of the unique, special school here, Ysgol Henry Richard. One school, one site and one vision.”

Following the completion of a new building to accommodate 120 pupils of primary school age and 30 nursery places on the existing secondary school site, Ysgol Henry Richard now provides education for pupils from 3 to 16 years old on one location.

The 3-16 school first opened its doors to pupils on 1 October 2018 having previously occupied multiple sites including the former Tregaron and Llanddewi Brefi Primary Schools.

Councillor Catrin Miles, Cabinet member for Learning Services and Lifelong Learning said: “Ysgol Henry Richard is Ceredigion’s third ‘through-age school’ following Ysgol Bro Pedr and Ysgol Bro Teifi and we have increasing evidence of the benefits of co-location of primary and secondary provision. Locating the new primary school facility on the secondary school site has resulted in Ysgol Henry Richard having the ability to share facilities such as the dining hall, gymnasium, technology suite, main hall and science classrooms. Teaching resources can also be deployed across phases allowing subject specialisms and teaching pedagogy to be used flexibly to for pupils of all ages.”

Ysgol Henry Richard officially opened on July 11.

Councillor Miles continued: “The Ysgol Henry Richard project was funded equally by Ceredigion County Council and Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Fund. We are grateful to the contractors, local authority officers and the school for their work in enabling this complex project whilst maintaining secondary provision on the site throughout. The school is now well placed to provide excellent educational provision and opportunities in Tregaron and the surrounding area for many years to come.”

Mark Drakeford AM, First Minister said: “The remodelling of Ysgol Henry Richard is the final project in Ceredigion’s school programme, receiving £2.5 million from the first wave of funding of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme. The most important thing about our Programme is that it has been co-designed, co-governed and co-delivered with local authorities and colleges throughout Wales. This means that these projects have been delivered strategically to meet local demand.

“Here in Ceredigion that has certainly been achieved by adopting school settings for nursery through to secondary age children, of which Ysgol Henry Richard is one. What an innovative way to provide continuity and familiarity for pupils, while delivering education in a sustainable way in a rural county.”