Shamed as we lose ground
ONCE more Sheffield is shamed by the poor performance of our schools as we slip even further down the national league tables.
It is true that the city has actually improved standards of pupil attainment over the past 12 months.
But that is little comfort when you realise that this represents an improvement of just 0.2 per cent while the rest of the country managed to boost its performance by a creditable 3 per cent.
Sheffield’s record is simply not good enough.
We hear education chiefs at the town hall admit that they need a ‘systematic, intensive and detailed’ approach to help pupils to reach their full potential. And we know that it is the case, as officials stress, that a small number of low-achieving pupils can bring down a whole school’s progress.
But this all sounds like an excuse rather than an explanation.
What parents want to hear is how teachers are to stop this slide and get pupils working harder and more productively. That is how to get them to realise their full potential.
Important to rise to run challenge
GET your running shoes on and help a great cause. For athletics star Jessica Ennis is appealing to readers to take part in a sponsored run to raise money for the Children’s Hospital Charity.
This is a great fund which supports the world-famous hospital to continue its ground-breaking work.
And we are sure that readers will be eager to show that they have taken Jessica’s challenge to heart and are keen to both keep fit and raise money for a worthy purpose.
The great thing about this appeal is that it can be taken up by people of any athletic ability.
You don’t have to be a world-beater like Jessica to show that you care. Complete novices can seek out a sponsored event and raise money for the charity. The important thing is that you rise to the challenge.
Warming hearts
OUR readers are real heart-warmers. For they have chipped in a creditable £11,000 towards The Star’s Surviving Winter Appeal by giving up their winter fuel allowance. And we are delighted today to bring you news of the first South Yorkshire couple to receive an allowance to help them beat off the seasonal chills. This shows that your generosity really is making a difference and we look forward to hearing of more people whose lives are made more comfortable thanks to our readers.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Sir Taxedalot
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 12:49 PMThe next best seller in Sheffield will be the Sonia Sharp Book of Excuses. That hideous woman is totally incompetent and should be sacked without compensation immediately. How much tax payers hard earned cash has been spent on rebuilding schools in the city on the promise of better performance? Now the results have fallen it's all everyone else's fault but hers. Time to get rid of these unaccountable buffoons at the education department.
pleasant
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 11:25 AMSchools and the council ! The same pathetic story every year. Can I join this secret club? I'm no good at what I do but my club mates will make sure that my money keeps rolling in, as long as I serve the club. I'll shut your local school and make the city a national joke but my club mates will make sure I'm never held to account. It doesn't matter which party gets the most votes because my club is really in control. The future of our children does not matter because our club makes us comfortable and we don't have to care. Can I join this secret club?
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