Altus CEO Update - July 2024 v17
Dear Altus student/parent/carer/staff member,
I hope you are well and enjoying (or get to enjoy) some early and lazy days of summer.
This update contains information on: things to do this summer, the Rochdale Children’s University graduation, Our new Chair of Trustees, and our usual quizzes from BBC and Guardian.
Big and little somethings to do in Rochdale this summer
Rochdale Classic Car Show
Sunday 21 July at Falinge Park. £5 entry, but free to under 15s! More information here.
Family Picnics
Bring a picnic and enjoy the fun activities, performances, music, sport and shows for children of all ages.
Tuesday 30 July : 12pm – 4pm : Broadfield Park, Rochdale
Wednesday 31 July : 12pm – 4pm : Limefield Playing Fields, Middleton
Thursday 1 August : 12pm – 4pm : Hare Hill Park, Littleborough
Friday 2 August : 12pm – 4pm : Queens Park, Heywood
Summer Reading Challenge 2024
You’ll need to be a member of the library to take part. Joining is easy just pop into your local library to find out how. Children’s University participants can earn a bumper activity stamp worth 10 hours when you complete this challenge!
6 July - 14 September, www.rochdale.gov.uk/libraries/reading-challenge
Junior parkruns
Meet for a free, fun and weekly 2k run for juniors (aged 4 to 14 years) at Queens Park, Falinge Park or Milnrow Memorial Park.
Every Sunday, 9am, www.parkrun.org.uk
FestiDale, The Den 2024
The Royal Exchange Theatre is coming to Kingsway Park High School this summer with a programme of exhibitions, films, drop-in craft and writing activities, table-top activities – there’s something for all the family to enjoy.
Based at Kingsway Park High School, Turf Hill Road, OL16 4XA from Thursday 8 August to Sunday 18 August 2024. All tickets are pay what you can and more details can be found at www.royalexchange.co.uk/season/the-festidale/ and in the leaflet.
REACH (Rochdale Enrichment Activity Hub) – July 2024
Recently, Altus Education Partnership secured funding in late 2023 to deliver the Enrichment Partnerships Pilot (EPP) providing and co-ordinating enrichment opportunities for mainstream secondary schools in Priority Education Investment Areas (PEIAs). REACH was the result, and we currently have 89 different activities being offered by 32 Activity Providers across the borough. While the primary aim is to support secondary school pupils, these opportunities are available for everyone – so check them out here: www.rochdalereach.co.uk
If you want to know any more, or if you know of any activity providers (or are one) who would like to showcase their activities, please Jo Haworth-King know J.Haworth-King@altusep.com
Rochdale Children’s University Graduation
On Thursday 4 July, 250 children graduated from the Rochdale Children’s University.
Children who had completed 30 or more hours of activity were invited to attend a celebratory event at Rochdale Town Hall. Children and guests heard from and Sonjia Peers, CEO of Children’s University Trust and (me) Richard Ronksley, CEO of Altus Education Partnership before receiving their graduation certificates from their Headteacher. The event was hosted by Gill Barratt, our Head of Primary Education (HOPE; apt). We all had lots of fun cheering and throwing caps!
Children from Bamford Academy, Broadfield Community Primary, Caldershaw Primary, Hamer Community Primary, Holy Family RCPrimary, Marland Hill Community Primary and Redwood Secondary School attended with teachers and school staff. It was also lovely to see so many parents, family members and guests supporting the event.
We’d like to thank all of the amazing local activity providers and partners who have supported Children’s University this year. Thanks to the generosity of providers children received a goody bag to take home along with their certificates.
If you are interested in the Children’s University, either as a repository of local things to do in the area, or for your school and child, you can find more information here. Jane Livesey, j.livesey@altusep.com is the best contact – she’s a font of knowledge and enthusiasm about the project and was the guiding brain behind the graduation ceremony.
New Chair of Altus Education Partnership
I’m pleased to announce that we have recently appointed a new Chair for the Trust, Jock Roger.
A little about Jock, who has been with the Trust ever since Rochdale Sixth Form College opened in 2010: he retired from Manchester City Council where he was the Strategic Lead Commissioner for Children and for Adult Mental Health Services. He subsequently worked as a consultant supporting local authorities in looking at innovative ways of funding preventative approaches to achieving a social impact for vulnerable citizens. Jock has a background in post-16 funding which has proved very useful in his role on the Trust Board where Jock is Chair of the Audit Committee. Jock has lived in Rochdale for over 40 years and has a deep commitment to ensuring that young people in the borough have the best possible options to support their progress towards higher education and employment.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Jo Wiggans who has been our interim Chair for the last six months – thank you Jo for all your support to the Trust (and to me personally too!).
Well, that’s another academic year in the bag - I reckon my 32nd or so on this side of education, and 20 or so as a student. However long or short you’ve been in education, and which ever ‘side’ you’re on (student, parent/carer, teacher/support staff); we’ve all the same aim in the end – supporting one another to ensure that each young person in this borough grows up in a safe and kind environment and lives a happy and fulfilling life. Not a bad task to set ourselves, eh?
Take care, and enjoy as many lazy days (or minutes) of summer as you can.
With best wishes and great pride,
Richard
Richard Ronksley
Chief Executive Officer
Altus Education Partnership | Suite F4 | Number 2, The Esplanade | Rochdale | OL16 1AE
Tel: 01706 769800
Email: R.Ronksley@altusep.com
Website: altusep.com
Twitter: @AltusEducation
