Month: February 2019

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Join choir Impromptu at open audition in March

Want to renew your enthusiasm and joy for singing? We are holding an Open Rehearsal where you can come along and see if Impromptu is for you

Why not come along to their open rehearsal on Thursday Mar 7th Sutton Baptist Church 21 Cheam Rd Sutton SM1 1SN at 7 30pm.

Impromptu, a female voice choir has been together for 27 years ….. Some of us are sight-readers, some learn by ear, but we’re all united by our love of singing. There is a great sense of camaraderie within the choir, and our continued success is due to the friendships and strong teamwork that have evolved over the years…….. and the leadership of our fantastic MD Nat Vesty who definitely challenges us but also brings out the joy of singing in everyone.

“We’d love for you to come along and we’d be delighted to meet you. Visit our website http://www.impromptu.org.uk to find out more details, or ring our Membership secretary, Maxine on 07713648702.”

No need for tickets – you can also contact us through our FB page
https://www.facebook.com/ImpromptuLadiesChoir/
or Twitter
https://twitter.com/ImpromptuSutton
…..or just turn up on the evening.

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Hackbridge Primary pupils treated to afternoon of professional storytelling

PUPILS from Hackbridge Primary School were treated to professional storytelling by Barratt London ahead of National Storytelling Week recently.  Thanks to the school’s proximity to the housebuilder’s New Mill Quarter development on Hackbridge Road, the pupils enjoyed an afternoon of stories by professional storyteller Andy Copps.

Set up in 2000 by The Society for Storytelling, National Storytelling Week has been used to increase public awareness of the art, practice and value of storytelling.  The Society sees a story as the traditional medium of communication from generation to generation, a tool for education and therapy. As a Group, Barratt Developments has supported the initiative at its developments for more than five years.

Pam Reardon, Sales Director at Barratt East London, commented: “We were happy to support National Storytelling Week this year. As part of our ongoing Education Programme with schools near our developments, we actively promote learning experiences such as these and were delighted to arrange Andy’s visit to the school. Family is at the heart of our new development at New Mill Quarter, so we hope the campaign will help pupils to foster a love for storytelling, reading and creative thinking.”

Professional storyteller, Andy Copps added: “There is nothing better than falling into a great story and allowing a person’s imagination to go on a journey with the Storyteller.  Storytelling not only results in the enjoyment of reading, but it strengthens the skills of listening, speaking, writing, observing and visually creating. Storytelling, story-making and reading starts at home and needs to be encouraged in schools and throughout life. It is fantastic to see companies like Barratt London getting involved in the promotion of storytelling while encouraging more children to benefit from such valuable experiences.”

Barratt London is currently transforming the former Felnex trading estate off Hackbridge Road in Wallington into a development of over 725 new homes with David Wilson Homes, as well as a selection of shops, a GP surgery, supermarket and assisted living homes.

Barratt London is currently offering a range of one and two- bedroom apartments at New Mill Quarter, with prices starting from £299,995. To find out more please visit www.barrattlondon.com or call 03300578961.

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Healthwatch Sutton published analysis of survey into mental health needs

Healthwatch Sutton recently published analysis of a survey completed by over 5000 young people aged 11-18, which looks at their mental health needs.

It found that LGBT young people are four times more likely to have suicidal thoughts compared to those who identified as heterosexual.

To access the full report go to Mental Health needs

On average 26% of students stated that they had experienced issues relating to body image or their appearance. ‘I don’t speak out about my problems. I try to starve myself because I hate the way my body looks’ stated one respondent.

In 2018 Healthwatch Sutton surveyed over 5000 young people aged 11-18, looking at their mental health needs. One of the key findings found that LGBT young people are four times more likely to have suicidal thoughts compared to those who identified as heterosexual. 

The report also shows that 6% of young people had experienced self-harm and a further 25% had felt lonely in the last month. A decline in wellbeing was also shown the more hours that they spent looking at a screen. 

The study is a compilation of surveys completed by secondary school students in the borough. It also found that young people’s wellbeing steadily declined between 12 and 18 years of age. 

Two fiths of students said that they had sleep problems, and analysis showed that there was a direct correlation between improved wellbeing and the more sleep young people were able to get.

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Conservatives select parliamentary candidate for Wallington and Carshalton

Conservative Party members in Carshalton and Wallington have selected Elliot Colburn as their Parliamentary candidate for the next General Election.

Elliot was born in St Helier Hospital and went to school at Carshalton Boys in the area. He has been a local councillor in the Borough since May 2018 and works for the NHS across South West London.

Commenting on his selection, Elliot said:

“I am delighted to have been selected as the Conservative candidate for Carshalton and Wallington.

“This is my home, where I was born, went to school and worked my whole life. I care passionately about our area and improving things for all of our residents.

“As an NHS worker, delivering the planned improvements at St Helier Hospital and providing a new facility is my top priority. I know from speaking to residents that they are also concerned about protecting our parks and the local environment, improving public transport in the area, delivering enough good school places for our children and holding the Lib Dem-run Council to account over issues like bins, parking and the incinerator. I hope to be a strong, local voice for residents on these issues.

“It is an honour to have the opportunity to represent my hometown in this way, and I look forward to getting out there and listening to peoples’ views and concerns.”

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Music for Christian Aid at Trinity Church

Date            18 May 2019

Event title  MusicAid for Christian Aid

Description  Join us for a Spring concert with entertainment from around the world in support of Christian Aid, a charity which works internationally with people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds.
Cream teas will be available before the concert from 4pm for £5.
Time           Concert 6.00pm

Prices        Concert tickets £5 available online

Address    Trinity Church, Cheam Road, Sutton (opposite Sutton Library)
Website     https://www.trinitychurchsutton.org.uk/musicaid

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Tweeddale “delight” at latest Ofsted inspection

Staff, students and governors at Tweeddale Primary School were delighted with the outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection in January 2019.

The inspection team found that leaders, governors and trustees had worked effectively to establish a strong curriculum and effective teaching since the academy opened. Consequently, pupils make good progress. They said that teachers have good subject knowledge which enables them to plan strong links across subjects.

The report reflects the hard work invested by the senior team, teachers and support staff at the school. 

Terrie Jerrom, Headteacher, said: “I would like to say how very proud of the whole School community I am, it is a significant achievement and I would like to take this opportunity to praise the children for their hard work and positive attitude that makes our school as good as it can be.”

Will Smith, CEO of the Greenshaw Learning Trust, said: “We are thrilled for the whole Tweeddale Primary School community. The report is further evidence of the impact of the hard work of all staff, pupils, governors and the support from the Greenshaw Learning Trust.”

Some highlights from the report:
“Leaders at all levels have thought carefully about the right approaches to enable them to provide a broad and balanced curriculum which meets their pupils’ needs. Leaders have focused on building pupils’ attitudes to learning and their confidence in themselves as learners. Consequently, these are well developed, particularly in the older learners.”

“Relationships across the school, between adults and pupils and among pupils, are very positive. Staff model how to treat each other with respect.”

“Children get off to a good start in the early years. They settle very quickly because routines are clear and expectations are easy to follow. Good-quality teaching ensures that children make strong progress from their starting points.”

“Both the board of trustees and the local governing body are effective because they have a strong understanding of the school’s context, its strengths and the priorities for improvement and are committed to improving outcomes for the pupils the school serves.”

Inspection findings:

  • Leaders, governors and trustees have worked effectively to establish a strong curriculum and effective teaching since the academy opened. Consequently, pupils make good progress.
  • Leaders at all levels contribute to improving provision and outcomes in their area of responsibility. The trust provides effective support and training to help them develop the necessary skills.
  • The curriculum meets the needs of disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well.
  • Teachers have good subject knowledge which enables them to plan strong links across subjects.
  • Pupils are very positive about their school. They conduct themselves well in lessons, around the building and in the playground.
  • Pupils feel safe at school and have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe, especially online.
  • Leaders foster pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development well. Pupils appreciate diversity and understand that tolerance helps people get along together.

To view the full report, please click here.

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MP backs recruitment campaign to address vacancies in social care

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake has joined MPs across the UK in supporting a national recruitment campaign, launched earlier this week, from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to address the 110,000 vacancies in adult social care across England. Running through February and March, the campaign called Every Day is Different When You Care aims to fill the sector’s recruitment gap and support local recruitment activity by increasing interest in adult social care as a career and driving awareness of the variety of roles available. The national campaign runs across England using paid-for advertising, social media, digital and local radio advertising, events and media relations. 

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake said: “I fully support this campaign and believe it will impact positively the number of vacancies in Carshalton and Wallington. I am proud of the support services already running in my constituency, and I hope this campaign can motivate more residents to take part in some of the incredible local opportunities to help others. “By helping local employers recruit people with the right personal values for care work, our community will be better supported by highly motivated and skilled workers.” Every Day is Different When You Care assists people in both exploring local job roles in the field and sharpening their social care skills. “This campaign is a great way for residents with an interest in working in adult social care to get a feel for different opportunities available locally. I am looking forward to seeing the fall in vacancies in our community as more residents take on responsibilities providing assistance for those in need.”

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Plans moving on for new Sutton schools to be operated by Greenshaw Learning Trust

Plans are moving ahead to secure the opening of two new schools needed in Sutton in the next couple of years to ensure students are not left without a local school place.

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the appointment of Wates as contractor to design and build the new schools, that will be operated by the Greenshaw Learning Trust. 

Mike Cooper, Chair of Greenshaw Learning Trust, said: “We are delighted that a contractor has been appointed for our new Sutton schools. This is a significant step towards realising our ambition to provide an outstanding education and meet the needs for school places within the borough.” 

The mainstream secondary school and small specialist school for secondary age students on the autistic spectrum will be co-located on the disused all weather pitch and part of the southern end of the Sports Village at Rosehill Recreation Ground (subject to planning permission). 

In February 2018 the site was allocated for a school in the Sutton Local Plan, and following detailed negotiations between the DfE, Sutton Council and GLL, operators of the Sports Village, Sutton Council agreed to the site being transferred to the DfE for the new schools in December. 

Wates will now be drawing up proposals for the school building and, working with the DfE and Greenshaw Learning Trust, will be engaging with the local community and stakeholders ahead of submitting a planning application. If planning permission is granted, the schools should be completed by September 2021.

The latest data shows that additional secondary school places are required in September 2020, so the Greenshaw Learning Trust, DfE and Sutton Council are looking at ways that the new secondary school could open on a temporary site from September 2020 before moving to the new building at Rosehill Rec. planned for September 2021.

For further information and to receive updates, please visit the Greenshaw Learning Trust website.

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“Unprecedented” numbers of residents attend Sutton Council meeting to contest parking plans – listen to full debate here

Mayor of Sutton Councillor Steve Cook in launching the latest Sutton Council meeting in Carshalton on Monday declared that the number of residents attending the meeting was “unprecedented”.

To listen to the full debate go to COUNCIL DEBATE 

A large number of concerned residents, from in and around St Helier, impacted by the first phase of the proposed borough wide parking strategy attended the meeting where councillors met to discuss the Council’s Parking Strategy.

To listen to the full debate go to COUNCIL DEBATE

Residents and councillors asked questions relating to the parking strategy covering such issues as, use by the residents of the scheme and the impact on them.