School leaders are first class
ASSOCIATE Business Managers at Whitworth Community High School are among the first in the county to achieve a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA).
Daniel Crook started at Whitworth in 2008 as an IT technician and worked up to become Data and IT Manager while Yvette Ellis joined the school four years ago in October as the Headteacher’s Personal Assistant.
They both completed a foundation degree and then their Chartered Manager Degree while working full time, with young families and attending lectures one day a month at County Hall and then, from March last year, lectures online. Both achieved First Class degrees.
Mrs Ellis said: “It has really helped embed our knowledge and explained more about leadership. It has taught us everything we need to know to help run a successful school.”
Mr Crook said: “It was really intense and hard work, but fun at the same time. When the course went virtual it made it a bit trickier and we could have sympathy with the students who had online lessons, however it meant the tutor could not see so easily if someone was unsure about some aspect of the learning.”
As their graduation ceremony for their foundation degree had to be postponed because of the pandemic, both ceremonies are now booked on consecutive days in May 2022.
Headteacher, Gill Middlemas said: ‘’We are so proud of Yvette and Dan. Anyone who has studied for a university degree whilst working full time will confirm how challenging it can be to juggle the requirements of academic study alongside the demands of your career and family life. I am really pleased that the apprenticeship levy has enabled our school to support two such talented and valued colleagues, whose commitment to ongoing academic learning is a powerful example for our students.’
Mr Crook and Mrs Ellis are among the first cohort of 21 Lancashire County Council apprentices to complete the CMDA having enrolled in September 2018The Skills, Learning and Development Team at Lancashire County Council are delighted with the success of the 21 apprentices.
Fourteen are from Lancashire Schools and there are 15 who gained First Class Degrees.
While completing the degree element of the apprenticeship, the apprentices still have an external endpoint assessment to finalise their studies and gain Chartered Manager status with the Chartered Management Institute.
Lancashire County Council currently has 107 employees, across seven cohorts currently undertaking the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship.
ANEW life-saving defibrillator has been installed at the Crown Oil Arena in Rochdale.
It has been donated by Spotland and Falinge’s councillors - Iram Faisal, Rachel Massey and Faisal Rana - who this week unveiled the life-saving device along with Ryan Bradley, Director of the Rochdale AFC Community Trust.
The stadium is home to professional football club Rochdale AFC and rugby league’s Rochdale Hornets, as well as hosting lots of community and sporting activities.
There is already a defibrillator inside the stadium, but the new one has been erected outside and will be available 24/7 to the wider community.
It is located outside the Rochdale AFC Community Trust office and near the Kick Pitch.
A defibrillator is a device that gives a high-energy electric shock to someone having a heart attack and can help save their life.
Coun Iram Faisal said she hopes it will be of massive benefit to the football and rugby clubs and supporters, as well as the local community and nearby residents. It can be used by anyone who needs it.
Coun Faisal added: “This is a great piece of kit for the stadium and this area of town. After the heart-breaking footage of Danish footballer Christian Eriksen during the Euro 2020 competition, it really highlights the importance of this life saving equipment.
“There are thousands of people who use Spotland Stadium or live nearby, and this can be a life saver. It is an essential piece of kit.”
Ryan Bradley said: “The Crown Oil arena is not just home to professional football and rugby - we support and host many grassroots community sports sessions.
“We are very much a community club and facility providers and the health and wellbeing of players, coaches, parents, grandparents, and other members of the wider community who attend these facilities on a weekly basis is very important to us.
“We are delighted with the donation of a new defibrillator and cabinet by our local councillors for everyone who uses the Crown Oil arena or lives nearby.”
Coun Rachel Massey said: “With the increasing amount of community participation at the Crown Oil Arena, Spotland and Falinge’s councillors are delighted to have provided this defibrillator in such an important location.
“No age is exempt from heart challenges and following the events during Euro 2020, we felt a defibrillator placed outside the stadium and near the wellused kick-pitch would be ideal”.
Coun Rana continued: “There is a need for more defibrillators at all sporting stadia and public buildings and I’m pleased as local councillors we have done our bit. If this equipment saves just one life, then it has been worth it.”
Do you know how to use a defibrillator? There is a handy guide from St John Ambulance at https://www. sja.org.uk/get-advice/firstaid-advice/how-to/how-touse-a-defibrillator/
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