Westminster Innovation to Teach the Nation

After the anti-bullying story, which emanated from the local Quintin Kynaston School a month or so ago (see "The Youth, and Nothing but the Youth") below, I went to interview Vitto Farci, for a slightly more in-depth look at his work.

As the UK's youngest ever educational consultant, involved with a great deal of innovative work with Westminster Council, I felt Mr Farci was worthy of a story all of his own. The story was submitted, as usual, to the Wood & Vale. I am waiting to see which page it appears on, since it is not a time sensitive piece. So I'll get back to you on that!

Westminster Innovation to Teach the Nation.

A ground breaking approach to tackling student issues in a St John’s Wood school has paid dividends after its first term.

The pioneering scheme is now set to be rolled out to schools nationwide, via a series of forthcoming conferences.

Eighteen year old Vitto Farci took up a new position as the UK’s youngest ever educational consultant at Westminster Council in September, helping to bridge the gap between students and school governors.

Mr Farci, a Learning Support Assistant at Quintin Kynaston (QK) School, and Educational Consultant at three other Westminster Schools, adopted his position after chairing the Student Voice Faculty at Quintin Kynaston while still a student.

The faculty is one of the largest and most active student voice organisations in the UK, providing a channel for students to voice their opinions concerning all aspects of their education.

Last year, QK Student Voice hosted the first Student Voice conference, involving schools from across London.

Next year, the faculty is set to host a second series of conferences, which for the first time will include representatives from schools across England, to communicate the QK Student Voice ethos loud and clear.

As Mr Farci says: “We’ve touched the surface at local authority level and, as Westminster is leading the way, I think we need to carry on spreading that nationally.

“QK has always done some very cutting edge work. It was as a result of our progress last year, that the Westminster Head of School Standards, Daria Wignall, suggested creating a consulting roll.”

After four months in the role, Mr Farci has worked closely with four Westminster schools including Hallfield School and QK, and is set to expand his role to include more schools in the Spring term.

“I am trying to take the message; that students should not just be seen as learners, but can actively contribute to the educational community; and implant it into other schools.

“As QK Student voice like to say: ‘It’s the voice of the majority that should be heard by the minority in power.’”

BLOG TWO!

Just a brief note to mention that there is a second blog in existence, posted as coursework for the MA Degree. It contains seven of the stories featured here, plus a couple of new pics, and can be viewed by clicking right here on these words!

This is an emergency services story, written for the local newspaper, the Wood & Vale. I stumbled across the story as it unfolded in central London, so out came the camera and pad, and, it's off to work we go...

Fire Brings Christmas Chaos to Central London

Fire swept through the basement of a flagship central London store at midday on Friday, bringing chaos to the capital.

Selfridge Food Hall and Selfridge Hotel, on Baker Street, were both evacuated as four fire crews fought the blaze for 30 minutes.

Police were dispatched to the scene, to assist with the crowds of Christmas shoppers on one of the capital's busiest shopping streets.

Staff were alerted to the blaze, which began in the basement of the Food Hall, by the building's smoke alarms.

The Hotel and the Food Hall were evacuated immediately.

Traffic on Baker Street was brought to a halt as fire crews arrived on the scene.

A Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "We received a call shortly after midday. Around 20 fire fighters from Shaftesbury Avenue and Paddington attended the incident. The fire was under control by 12:30 pm. Nobody was hurt."

Staff appeared unshaken. Hayden Stowe, 22, said: "It was around 12, and we just got told to leave. Everyone was pretty calm. It gives us something to talk about on our lunch break!"

Senior staff declined to comment on the incident, the cause of which is still under investigation.

The scene outside Selfridge shortly after fire fighters took control of the blaze.

Oasis Abbey Road

Another short for my favourite local newspaper, which appeared in briefer still form in the Wood & Spoon (the snappily titled gossip section). It concerns a report from the national press which I was able to pick up on, as it contains a strong local angle, what with Abbey Road studios being just around the corner.

The final version lacked the quote, obtained from a staff member at the studio who I happened to bump into socially. Clearly such "off the record" quotes are not quite official enough! The Wood & Vale subs also went for a classic Oasis headline, faithfully reproduced below.

Studio is Hardly an Oasis of Calm for Noel

Noel Gallagher was reportedly placed under police protection last week at Abbey Road studios, St John’s Wood, where British rock gods Oasis are currently recording their seventh album.

The band were forced to call police in after a “crazed Greek fan” turned up at the studios in a bid to force his way in and confront the Oasis guitarist.

A source at the studio told the Sun newspaper: “The guy showed up in a proper rage. He claimed he had recorded all this material that Noel had nicked for the new album.

“This fella was fuming and threatening to beat Noel up. He heard the police were coming, and turned on his heels.”

Staff at Abbey Road were remaining tight lipped concerning the latest reports. A studio source said: “It was just another Oasis nutter. We are getting about two or three of them every week at the moment.”

Oasis have suffered many well publicised rows during recording of past albums, including an incident at Rockfield Studios in Wales, when Noel Gallagher reportedly axed the band temporarily, during the recording of “What’s the Story, Morning Glory?”

It would appear, however, that all is going to plan for the bands latest offering, bare the odd “Oasis nutter”!

What do you get for the person who has everything?

This was a quickie for the Wood & Vale, running with the Christmas theme, concerning the annual zoo fund raising escapade that is "adopt an animal"! After the monkey tale, and the steady flow of press releases that originate from the zoo, it is turning out to be a good source of local news here in Westminster.

It's that familiar Christmas time conundrum. Just what do you get for the person who has everything?

Unless, the person who has everything already has a giraffe to call their own, staff at London Zoo just may have the perfect solution.

The zoo's long running animal adoption scheme provides the ideal gift for that special somebody in your life, be it a friend, partner, family member, or even yourself!

Under the scheme, members of the public may adopt an animal at the zoo for as little as £20.

Adopters receive a colour photograph of their adopted species, together with an adoption certificate, annual subscription to "Wild About" magazine, as well as an opportunity to visit the zoo.

As a festive incentive this year, anyone who spends over £30 on an animal adoption will also receive two tickets to visit their adopted animal, absolutely free.

The scheme allows adopters to support the zoo and its far reaching conservation work worldwide, on a level appropriate to themselves.

Supporters can adopt any animal at the zoo they wish, from Asian lions, to bird eating spiders!

Last orders for Christmas delivery must be made by the 17th December 2007. Arrangements can be made online at http://www.zsl.org/, or by contacting the zoo at 020 7722 3333.

Malnutrition in Westminster?!

Another day, another council press release. This led to an interesting story involving attempts to combat malnutrition in sheltered housing in Westminster. The press release concerned the council's plans to introduce screening, but I wrote the story, reangling it to focus on the results of the "shock" survey!

This appeared as the lead on page 15 of the Wood & Vale, Dec 7th 2007.

Eat Your Lisson Greens.

Hundreds of people living in sheltered housing across Westminster may be at risk of malnutrition, a shock survey has revealed.

The pioneering study found that a quarter of 61 people on Marylebone's Lisson Green Estate were at risk, with five requiring urgent referral to a medical professional.

When the findings are applied across Westminster, the total number at risk of malnutrition is 625.

The study has resulted in sheltered housing managers across the borough being trained to screen residents for malnutrition, the first time such a scheme has been rolled out in London.

Until now, neither councils nor Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have been required to screen among sheltered housing residents.

Health boss Cllr Ian Adams said: "Surprisingly, there has been very little work assessing and tackling the risk of malnutrition among this very vulnerable group. Westminster is now leading the way in this respect."

Westminster PCT Lynda Hamilton said: "Good nutrition is absolutely essential to good health and well being.

"By working in partnership with the council we can ensure residents are referred to the right services. We can also be proactive and tailor health promotion programmes to encourage healthy eating and living at home."

Housing managers will incorporate screening within coffee mornings and other social events, so that emerging problems can be identified before chronic risk manifests.

Following the new initiative, residents will be screened by trained sheltered housing managers on a six monthly voluntary basis.

The results of the Westminster study reflect the finding of the British Association for the Parental and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN), who last week announced similar rates among hospital and care home residents.

BAPEN spokesperson Rhonda Smith welcomed the results. "We congratulate Westminster for their pro-active work in this field, and look forward to refining this work with other boroughs across London, and nationwide."

Professor Marinos Elia, Chair of BAPEN, said: "These findings establish- if there was ever any doubt- that malnutrition is a major public health issue in the community, that must be addressed both at source, and when individuals are admitted into care."

A DVD showing how council and PCT teams should work together will also be made available to health and social care professionals in he New Year, courtesy of Westminster City Council.