School of the future is here!

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), June 24, 2009

Byline: HAZEL ETTIENNE

Schools in the Spotlight has a new format this week.

Education reporter HAZEL ETTIENNE has been working with students from the Netherhall Learning Campus in Rawthorpe to produce and develop their own newspaper page.

Hazel has visited students on the Creative and Media Diploma course and spoken about her work as a journalist and her role covering education stories across Kirklees.

Students have then written their own articles and taken photographs as part of their studies on the course, working with teacher Sarah Anderson.

So this week Netherhall - it's over to you!

Working hard to make new diploma a success

SEVENTEEN students from Netherhall Learning Campus, formerly known as Rawthorpe High School, have been chosen to be the first group of students to participate in the new Creative and Media Diploma.

Diplomas are a new type of course and qualification introduced by the Government this year for 14 to 19 years olds in a variety of subjects.

These students were chosen because of their ability, commitment and their creative skills in Music, Art and Drama.

The students have been working hard to make this new qualification a success.

To give them more to time to work on their diploma, they were fast tracked for GCSE in English language.

They completed their exam in 12 weeks.

Key Stage 4 student Raabia Ahmed, who is one of the students that have been chosen to do this new qualification said: "The Creative and Media Diploma is a demanding experience at times as we have to work extremely hard but I think that it is worthwhile".

Fatima Jamal also agreed with Raabia's statement. She said: "All the hard work pays off and we achieve good results and we also get rewarded for it." Not many schools in Kirklees have chosen to do this but Netherhall Learning Campus has.

The students were introduced to the course in September and since then have been working extremely hard.

They have completed two assignments and are now working on their third one which is a project on 'Artefacts'.

They have also been working with business man Bill Macbeth on a pounds 10,000 budget.

What some of the other students said: . Being part of a new qualification is a very scary thing! That is how we felt when we got the offer to be part of the new Creative and Media Diploma.

. Being in the Diploma group has its advantages and its disadvantages. One of the advantages is that the 17 students that make up the Diploma get to work with real business people and get real life projects that mean something and get us prepared for real life.

. We are doing a project with business man Bill Macbeth on re-branding apprenticeships and other exciting things.

. There are also some disadvantages in studying the diploma. Such as students being encouraged to do their English Language GCSE in 12 weeks, which was pretty hectic! . Completing your exam in 12 weeks instead of two years was a very stressful job. But, most of the Diploma completed and passed their exam with a grade C. Some of the students are even going to go for the higher paper this summer and get those A* grades.

. Overall, we think that after the research and planning bits are done, then the Diploma is really interesting and fun, even though it is VERY hard work..

At touch of a button....

NETHERHALL Learning Campus has introduced new dinner money machines for students.

Other improvements include the introduction of new modern bistro style chairs and tables to the dining hall.

The machine has become really useful.

Pupils pay into the machine and so don't lose their money.

Otherwise, pupils would be tempted to go outside for lunch which raises all sorts of safety issues.

It is one of the school rules that children should not be allowed off school premises! This machine is expected to help ease the long dinner queues and it will even give feedback on whether the pupils like the meal or not, and what they order..

The new design, easier payment and higher quality fresh food means this should be a success!

MEALTIME: Diners using the new thumbprint machine at Netherhall Learning Campus ( s)

Students celebrate at prom

LEAVERS from Netherhall Learning Campus, Rawthorpe, celebrated their time at the school at a proms night.

Some 35 Year11 pupils, were chauffeured in a limousine to Casa, Brighouse, for a barbecue, buffet and disco.

The event was the seventh prom night at the school formerly known as Rawthorpe High School.

Andrew Cane and Lauren Sykes were prom king and queen respectively.

Some of the students are pictured arriving in style at the ball. (PW190609Dprom-02)

CAPTION(S):

GOING FOR A SONG: Time for some creative skills in music, art and drama! FIRST GROUP: These students are studying for the new Creative and Media Diploma at Netherhall Learning Campus (s)