Castle Bromwich Community Website

If you're involved in a community group in North Solihull the launch of the Confident Communities  programme could help you. Learn the skills, find the resources and build the network you need to be really effective.

Confident Communities will be led by a team from Fircroft College of Adult Education. Introductory sessions will be held at a North Solihull venue in No0vember covering:

Community leadershipEffective meetingsFundraising EssentialsAttracting & keeping new membersTo find out more or to book phone Sustain on: 0121 711 3148

Today (Sunday November 14th) is World Diabetes Day, a worldwide initiative designed to bring together millions of people in over 160 countries to raise awareness of diabetes, including children and adults affected by diabetes, healthcare professionals, healthcare decision-makers and the media.

World Diabetes Day takes place on November 14th every year, a date chosen because it marks the birthday of Frederick Banting, the man, who along with Charles Best, is credited with discovering insulin in 1921.

2010 marks the second year of the five-year focus on 'Diabetes education and prevention", the theme selected by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization for World Diabetes Day 2009-2013.

One of the key objectives of the campaign is to raise awareness of the warning signs of Diabetes and to disseminate information to those at high risk.

Are you at risk? Take the Blue Circle Test.

Click HERE to find out more about World Diabetes Day.

Castle Bromwich Diabetes Support Group meets on the last Thursday of the month from 7.30  - 9.30 pm at the Castle Bromwich Health Centre, Hurst Lane North.

October is Black History Month and Solihull Libraries are inviting local residents to read two books which explore the immigrant experience. The two classic contemporary novels they are suggesting are "Small Island" by Andrea Levy and "Brick Lane" by Monica Ali.

Solihull Community Read would like your feedback on how the books make you feel and are inviting readers to submit a short and snappy review viaone off the following methods:

• Post a review at: http://solihullreads.wordpress.com/
• Follow @SolihullCouncil on Twitter for updates and tell them what you think of the two books by using the hashtag #solbhm
• Join Solihull Libraries on Facebook and post your thoughts on the SCR discussion section
• Share you passion for either title on sites such as YouTube or Audioboo. Once you've uploaded your review don't forget to email us the link to Solihull Community Read (247library@solihull.gov.uk)

Reviews should be between 250 and 500 words or a maximum of 1-2 minutes of video or audio.

The person submitting the best review will win a special Black History Month prize.

The catering team at Park Hall Academy, Castle Bromwich, received the West Midlands Catering Award for ‘Best Secondary School Catering Team’ for their hard work promoting the importance of eating well and having a healthy lifestyle.

The team, headed by Kim Elliot, has seen their hard work pay off with more pupils opting for healthier meals, as well as getting involved in more physical activities at the Academy.Food is an important subject at the Academy, who have set up a group called CHEF – Council for Healthy Eating and Food in school.  CHEF is made up of pupils, school staff and caterers and regularly works together to promote health, nutrition and well-being.

Over the last year there has also been a 10% increase in the Academy’s free meal provision, which has been helped by promoting awareness to those pupils entitled to them.

Castle Bromwich Junior School has won the Solihull Indoor Athletics Championship. Congratulations to all involved. Read more about their victory HERE

Pupils of Alderlea Boys' School Circa 1960/61

Do you recognise anyone in these photos? If so, could you share the information here and with M Dickers who posted the photos here with a request for further information. Email md18446@telus.net The photographs were provided by Mr Hedges - back row second from right in photo below.

Teachers of Alderlea Boys' School Circa 1960/61

Pupils at Castle Bromwich Junior School donned hats on Friday to raise money to for Haiti's Earth Quake Appeal Fund. The children were invited to wear a hat of their choice for the day in exchange for a small donation. Details can be seen on the CBJS website.

IPSEA an independent charity which provides free legally based advice to parents who have children with special educational need is anxious to hear from any Solihull parent who would like help arguing for quantification of provision in part 3 of their child's statement of educational need at Annual Reviews or who has experienced difficulty or resistance from Solihull LEA when they have requested an amendment to their child's statement aimed at achieving greater quantification.

In January 2009, IPSEA lodged a formal complaint with the Secretary of State against Solihull under section 497 of the Education Act 1996. IPSEA alleged that the Authority was pursuing a policy of never quantifying special educational provision in the Statements it produced. In order to investigate IPSEA’s complaint the DCSF examined a sample of Solihull Statements and the Authority agreed to review 50 Statements issued over the period covered by the complaint. Although the DCSF found no evidence of a policy, as such, Solihull has accepted that someof its Statements were

'not sufficiently quantified and specified [and] … has said it willuse the annual review process to further scrutinise the content ofcurrent statements, clarify any perceived shortfall in terms ofspecificity and quantification and make appropriate amendments wherenecessary.’

The DCSF has informed IPSEA that they have

‘… brought this matter to the attention of the Department’s NationalStrategies SEN Adviser for the region and asked that the work theAuthority has committed to is carried through.’

IPSEA welcomes Solihull’s assurance that vaguely written Statementswill be screened out and made more specific at annual review.

Letter of Complaint from Ipsea to SoS

IPSEA's free phone advice line is 0800 018 4016

Park Hall Academy has announced that two of its 6th form pupils have been selected for the National Selection process of the Prime Minister's Global Fellowship.

Gordon Brown's Global Fellowship awards were launced in 2008 giving school and college leavers in England an opportunity  to compete for one of a hundred six week educational trips abroad to explore cultures and societies which Ministers think will be key to Briatin's future such as China, India and Brazil.

During a six week visit, participating students will learn about the culture and language of the country they are in, spend time in a localschool or college, help as a language assistant and pursue an individual research project. They will also spend time with a global company, learning about their business operations and how projects impact on the local community.

Students will be asked to share their experiences with their school,college and local community upon their return. They will also be invited to Downing Street to share what they have learnt with the Prime Minister.