plymouth schools

Plymouth schools celebrate World Book Day

Plymouth schools have been celebrating World Book Day this week (7th March.)

World Book Day was created by UNESCO in 1995 as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, it is marked in over 100 countries. The World Book Day charity’s Strategy 2023-27 sets out that its aim is “more children, from all backgrounds, developing a life-long habit of reading for pleasure, benefiting from...

Marine Academy makes online lessons available to all

Plymouth’s Marine Academy is leading the way with its trailblazing online learning provision – receiving plaudits in a newly-published book, and opening its sessions to all children across Plymouth.

The academy was the only school in the country to be featured in the book Teach Like a Champion Team – Teaching in the Online Classroom. Surviving and thriving in the new normal by...

School sites set for investment

Three Plymouth primary schools are set to benefit from a series of improvement works.

The biggest project will see a £2.8m expansion to Yealmpstone Farm Primary School.

When works are complete, the Plympton-based school will be able to offer 420 places for local children; exactly double the 210 it can provide today.

Meanwhile, Laira Green Primary School and Mary Dean’s...

Mental health support available in Plymouth schools

A new three year package of specialist mental health support for young people is now available in the majority of Plymouth secondary and special schools, after young people said it was needed.

The package which includes, counselling, learning and training opportunities, Theraplay and specialist mental health workers who will be based at schools, was introduced after teachers said they...

Primary school scarecrow designs win gardening goodies galore

Otter Nurseries and Radio Plymouth have announced the winners of this year’s scarecrow design competition.

This was the second year that the two organisations have teamed up to challenge children from local primary schools to design scarecrows for the chance to win gardening items for their school. The entries could either be drawn or made designs.

Trish Duff, Sales Director at...

Major investment approved for city schools

A huge programme of school improvement works at three city schools will get under way this year.

The building works totalling £1,184,500 have been approved by Council Leader Tudor Evans from the City Council’s Investment Board, to meet the cost of urgent building improvement works at Mount Tamar, Mount Wise Primary and Compton Primary Schools.

All three schools need urgent...

Clamp down on school absences

The number of unauthorised absences allowed in Plymouth schools before a penalty fine is issued will reduce from 15 September 2015.

The changes come in line after the government increased the persistently absent threshold from 85 per cent to 90.

To continue to drive down the numbers of persistent absenteeism in Plymouth the Council has now updated its Local Code of Conduct in...

Don't miss the biggest first aid lesson ever

Almost 100 schools in the South West – including 16 in Devon – have signed up to St John Ambulance's Big First Aid Lesson, with less than a month to go until it is broadcast.

The free, one-hour, online first aid session ( www.sja.org.uk/bigfirstaidlesson ) hosted by television presenter Claudia Winkleman will be streamed into classrooms on Friday 12 June.

And St John...

Millions invested in Plymouth’s schools for the future

Just under £53 million pounds has already been invested in improving the quality of Plymouth’s schools and over the next 2 years another £3.3 million is set to be spent.

As the Council continues to drive forward growth in the city it’s essential the standard of school facilities is improved to keep up with the growing population, the investment in schools has not only been able to...

Plymouth schools receive government recognition

Minister of State for Schools, David Laws MP, has written to eight Plymouth schools to congratulate them on the improvement in the key stage two results of their disadvantaged pupils.

The schools who have received letters are:

• Beechwood Primary School • College Road Primary School • Ernesettle Community School • Prince Rock Primary School • Pilgrim Primary School • Plympton...