As the football season is again underway we look at the Longlevens Football Club. This progressive club whose 1st Team are the current County league champions were promoted to the Helenic West League for this season and what a start the team has made!
Already, as we go to print they are unbeaten League leaders, scoring more goals that any other team by some margin. It is not surprising therefore that Longlevens have 4 Players in the Top goal scoring category. Craig Martin leads the way with 6 goals followed by Sean O’Connor and Ryan Hughes on 5, with Adie Hemming on 4 goals.
Ambitious Manager, James French has astutely improved his squad, by persuading several players from local clubs to join him. James is now happy with his current squad and with lots of competition for a team place; it provides the players with the incentive to maintain their form. Let’s hope that the team’s early form can be maintained throughout the season.
The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Adult teams will each be challenged this season, as they too are all playing in higher and stronger leagues. They prepared really well in pre–season training and have a significant number of additional young adult players joining the teams. This situation has generated a healthy optimism about this season and a high degree of expectation that each team will do well!
The Longlevens AFC Youth Section goes from strength to strength, with a further 3 teams joining, this season from the Longlevens Infants Academy. This now established link is allowing the Players to continue football during the transition from Infants to Youth football. In three years the number of teams has increased 2 to 7 and hopefully by 2017 there will be teams representing Longlevens Youth from U12’s to U18’s.
There are 4 teams at U12 competing in Mid Gloucester (Scorpions & Tigers) and the Cheltenham League (Lions & Leopards). The Lions have made a tremendous start and are currently top of the Cheltenham Division 1! New Managers Andy Griffiths and John Bricknell are delighted and are now looking to consolidate their team’s position.
The U12 teams have been training together at Longford lane with as many as 40 players attending the sessions. All the Coaches are involved in improving the players Skills and Stamina whilst Scorpions Coach Lee Martin provides specialist goalkeeping coaching. The photo shows Lee with the U12’s goalkeepers.
Luke Kavanagh and Ed Smylie are current 1st Team Players, who are now into their second season of coaching the U14’s in the Gloucester Youth League and enjoy combining their Plying / Coaching roles at Longlevens.
Finally, Daren Baldwin manages and coachers the U15 team and was the first coach to transfer from the Infants three seasons ago. Daren has established a strong team, who last season were runners up in both the League and Cup to a very successful Lydney team. The team will be tested again this season as they are in a combined U15/U16 division of the Gloucester league.
At U13, Jake Ellway and Jimmy Scurr are experiencing their first roles as Youth Manager / Coach. Jake and Jimmy play for the Longlevens Adult teams and have made an immediate impact with their squad. They think their team is very talented and the players are always prepared to listen and learn. This team could play really well this season.
Finally, to organise pitches for 7 Youth teams and 4 Adult teams over a week end, is an extremely difficult situation; however, this problem could be alleviated, if the sports field on Innesworth lane became available to the Youth teams? The Club has recently, submitted an application to the Gloucester City Council for use of the pitch and pavilion at this location, which has been redundant since the severe flooding of 2007. Although, there would be a huge amount of work required to get the ground fit for matches, the commitment of Committee, Coaches and Players at the club would ensure that the facility would become an asset for the Youth teams. With so much in progress and commitment in abundance, the future is certainly looking very bright for All the teams at LonglevensAFC.
Monday, 22 September 2014
Barnwood Primary School Update
As Barnwood Primary School embarks on another academic year , a strategy is in place to ensure that there is continuity for maintaining the future of the school, whilst maintaining the progressive and spiritual approach for which the school is recognised.
Mrs Anne Davies, the Head teacher has, with the blessing of the Governors decided to take a phased approach to retirement, which involves the measured transfer of her role and responsibilities to ,Mrs Julia Matson. Anne will continue as Headteacher for 3 days a week and Mrs Matson the school’s Deputy Head has taken up the position of Co-Headteacher for 2 days a week.
Julia has been at the school since 2004, initially as a Class teacher before becoming a member of the senior management team. The “partnership” has made a great start with both Anne and Julia very comfortable with this shared role. It is an excellent initiative, as it allows Julia the time to establish herself in the role, before accepting full responsibility and having Anne as a mentor is an added bonus!
The Teaching team also have additional staff members too, they are Mrs Overington who will look after Year 2 and Mrs Paisley , will look after Year 3, whilst becoming part of the Senior Leadership Team also. We wish them both well for the future at Barnwood.
In complying with the Governments directives, there have been two major school developments. One is implementing the the New School Curriculum. Staff worked very hard in preparation for the new curriculum and have created an exciting and engaging prospectus which provides the very best opportunities for all pupils at Barnwood.
The second development is providing Hot School Lunches for the whole Key Stage 1, who are pupils 4 -7 years old. In complying with the Governments mandate, Barnwood has in place a comprehensive range of Lunch menus which offer a range of Healthy and Nutritious meals, provided by ABM Catering.
Three choices are available daily, with a vegetarian option and a salad bar also. It is a credit to the school’s organisation and resources that this status has been achieved so quickly!
Similarly the school is benefitting from a PE & Sport Premium Grant provided to which is being given to all schools to enhance the quality of sport provided for pupils. At Barnwood, £5500 has been allocated for 2013/14 and will be supplemented further over the next two years. The schools objective is to ensure that all pupils have access to high quality PE lessons, alongside greater opportunities for sporting participation, in competitions and sports clubs. To use the grant effectively, the school has a 3 year plan which includes:
*Procuring Extra Sports Kit, Equipment and Resources for PE and Sporting activities& clubs, current and new.
*Subscribing to Local and National Sports Networks will give access to inter school competitions and Improved Staff training opportunities.
*The provision of free transport for “sports” outings and the increased resources for playground games & activities complete the plan. Certainly it will enrich the abilities and ambitions of the Pupils and Staff.
A new school web site is under construction with the objective of enhancing the site and giving quicker and easier access to the elements of the site you wish to review. The end of September was the target completion date.
During October and November, the Singing Development Leader, from Gloucester Cathedral will be training Junior School Pupils in readiness for a Concert at the Cathedral, taking place on the 26th November. An organist and several choristers will accompany the Cathedral’s Singing Leader in the training process. The school is both thrilled and honoured to be chosen to participate in this event, with pupils eagerly awaiting the start of their training for this prestigious event.
Since the start of the new term the School Governors have been particularly busy with fund raising efforts and already a Family Quiz Night and a Ladies Pamper Evening have been organised. In conjunction with the PTA they are also planning the Annual Christmas Fayre which I understand will take place on the 6th December.
Barnwood Church of England Primary School is a valued part of the Community. It has a reputation for creating an Educational, Spiritual and Caring Environment for both Children and Staff. I think that their initiatives and developments at the start of this school year go a long way to demonstrating this!
Finally, let’s wish Anne and Julia every success in their new roles and commend the school Governors for their vision and pro-active initiatives.
Mrs Anne Davies, the Head teacher has, with the blessing of the Governors decided to take a phased approach to retirement, which involves the measured transfer of her role and responsibilities to ,Mrs Julia Matson. Anne will continue as Headteacher for 3 days a week and Mrs Matson the school’s Deputy Head has taken up the position of Co-Headteacher for 2 days a week.
Julia has been at the school since 2004, initially as a Class teacher before becoming a member of the senior management team. The “partnership” has made a great start with both Anne and Julia very comfortable with this shared role. It is an excellent initiative, as it allows Julia the time to establish herself in the role, before accepting full responsibility and having Anne as a mentor is an added bonus!
The Teaching team also have additional staff members too, they are Mrs Overington who will look after Year 2 and Mrs Paisley , will look after Year 3, whilst becoming part of the Senior Leadership Team also. We wish them both well for the future at Barnwood.
In complying with the Governments directives, there have been two major school developments. One is implementing the the New School Curriculum. Staff worked very hard in preparation for the new curriculum and have created an exciting and engaging prospectus which provides the very best opportunities for all pupils at Barnwood.
The second development is providing Hot School Lunches for the whole Key Stage 1, who are pupils 4 -7 years old. In complying with the Governments mandate, Barnwood has in place a comprehensive range of Lunch menus which offer a range of Healthy and Nutritious meals, provided by ABM Catering.
Three choices are available daily, with a vegetarian option and a salad bar also. It is a credit to the school’s organisation and resources that this status has been achieved so quickly!
Similarly the school is benefitting from a PE & Sport Premium Grant provided to which is being given to all schools to enhance the quality of sport provided for pupils. At Barnwood, £5500 has been allocated for 2013/14 and will be supplemented further over the next two years. The schools objective is to ensure that all pupils have access to high quality PE lessons, alongside greater opportunities for sporting participation, in competitions and sports clubs. To use the grant effectively, the school has a 3 year plan which includes:
*Procuring Extra Sports Kit, Equipment and Resources for PE and Sporting activities& clubs, current and new.
*Subscribing to Local and National Sports Networks will give access to inter school competitions and Improved Staff training opportunities.
*The provision of free transport for “sports” outings and the increased resources for playground games & activities complete the plan. Certainly it will enrich the abilities and ambitions of the Pupils and Staff.
A new school web site is under construction with the objective of enhancing the site and giving quicker and easier access to the elements of the site you wish to review. The end of September was the target completion date.
During October and November, the Singing Development Leader, from Gloucester Cathedral will be training Junior School Pupils in readiness for a Concert at the Cathedral, taking place on the 26th November. An organist and several choristers will accompany the Cathedral’s Singing Leader in the training process. The school is both thrilled and honoured to be chosen to participate in this event, with pupils eagerly awaiting the start of their training for this prestigious event.
Since the start of the new term the School Governors have been particularly busy with fund raising efforts and already a Family Quiz Night and a Ladies Pamper Evening have been organised. In conjunction with the PTA they are also planning the Annual Christmas Fayre which I understand will take place on the 6th December.
Barnwood Church of England Primary School is a valued part of the Community. It has a reputation for creating an Educational, Spiritual and Caring Environment for both Children and Staff. I think that their initiatives and developments at the start of this school year go a long way to demonstrating this!
Finally, let’s wish Anne and Julia every success in their new roles and commend the school Governors for their vision and pro-active initiatives.
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