SCHOOLS are being offered the opportunity to offer new learning opportunities for support staff by utilising Essex County Council’s unspent apprenticeship levy. The apprenticeship levy is paid by employers with a payroll of over £3 million. It is stored in a fund to help cover…

THE leader of Essex County Council has said current home-to-school transport rules favour some people “who may not need it as much as some families who need it desperately”. Councillor Kevin Bentley’s comments were made as figures were revealed that Essex County Council has posted…

ACL Essex, part of Essex County Council, is giving people the chance to boost their English and Maths skills with fast-track GCSE courses. The adult education provider offers GCSEs in English, Maths and Science, which usually take a year to complete; now learners have the…

LABOUR today lambasted the “the Conservatives’ staggering mathematical incompetence” which will see schools in Essex lose £10.3m next year.   The Department for Education last month admitted to miscalculating the amounts of funding due to be granted to state schools in England next year, amounting to…

ACROSS the town and across the political divide, politicians are asking questions and politicians are being asked questions. On Friday afternoon, we asked Harlow MP Robert Halfon for a progress report on Sir Frederick Gibberd College (SFG) https://youtu.be/–Lct0wF_PM?si=DKpyK6Mpy4KuyXhR On Thursday night, the leader of Harlow…

THE Big Burnt Miller Reunion Saturday 25th November 10am – 12pm All former students welcome! One last chance to visit the old buildings ahead of the school rebuilding.  We’re looking forward to hearing your stories and memories, and providing a tour of the school.  Book Here [https://forms.office.com/e/5K3i9sshvX]…

FORTY St Mark’s pupils have returned from a five-day trip to Berlin. Arriving in the wet and windy German capital, the first stop was the iconic Olympic Stadium before getting stuck into the many other sights. The city is rich in history, and the trip…

PEOPLE of Harlow are being encouraged to sign up to ACL Essex’s festive courses and get crafting this Christmas, to create their own decorations and fun, homemade gifts for their loved ones. The adult education provider is offering a variety of fun activities to help…

ST MARK’S Year 12 pupils attended the Nuclear Wild Forest for a team building day towards the end of last half term. This was their final induction into the Sixth Form at St Mark’s, it was a great way to celebrate their great transition from…

THIS week, Stewards Academy’s Design and Technology Department was awarded the prestigious Princes Teaching Institute (PTI) Chartermark for Design & Technology; one of only a handful of DT Departments across the country to achieve it.  The PTI offers a range of professional development for school…

A WIDE range of workshops will be held at ACL Essex centres across the county to provide support for people over the festive period. The adult education provider will be offering budgeting and mental health and wellbeing advice, as well as fun, creative courses to…

A GROUP of over 200 parents from SFG College have written to the Department for Education demanding answers over the latest setbacks affecting the school. The parents have set up a Facebook page (#HelpSFG) as a support and pressure group. The letter is below.

JOB Adverts: Number of vacancies at St Mark’s West Essex Catholic School. Full details below.

BUSINESS students at St Mark’s Sixth Form have been to Colchester Zoo studying how one of the biggest tourist attractions in the county operates behind the scenes. On a miserable autumnal day, the students seemed to have a great day out learning about the Zoo…