A leading University of Wolverhampton academic took part in a national campaign to train children to perform Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Dr Petula Nurse, the University’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) ambassador and Principal Lecturer in Biomedical Science in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, took part in the recent National Restart a Heart campaign – training over 200 children at a local Wolverhampton school.

Restart a Heart Day is a Europe-wide initiative created by the European Resuscitation Council aimed at raising cardiac arrest awareness. The campaign was launched in 2013 to teach members of the public how to help restart the heart of someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest.

Petula said: "The Restart a Heart awareness day was a great opportunity to show how every child can be a life saver and create awareness of how CPR can save a person's life."

Petula teamed up with other volunteers - David Glover (St John Ambulance), Dr Theresa Thomas (University of Birmingham) and Barry Parkes (Alstom Transport) - and trained 209 children in CPR at St Andrews CE Primary School, Wolverhampton. Pupils were trained in groups and practised on mannequins.

Over 16,000 primary school children across Birmingham and the Black Country were trained on the day.

Chloe Armishaw, Teacher at St Andrews, said: “I am really grateful for all the effort you put into the day and I feel the children really learnt something from the day.”

All children participating received a Restart a Heart certificate of involvement from the British Heart Foundation.

Homework is an instrumental part of the national curriculum for both primary and secondary school children, but how do parents help their children when they come unstuck? And how do they ensure their child’s learning continues when they leave the classroom?

New research by home education provider Oxford Home Schooling reveals that 13% of primary school pupils spend five hours or more on homework a week, compared to 39% of those in secondary school and more than half (55%) of sixth form or college students.

With homework playing such a huge role in a child’s education, Dr Nick Smith, principal at Oxford Home Schooling, shares his top tips on how parents can help children with their homework.

Keep up to date with homework policies

Read the news and keep up to date with school policies and standards. It’s important to know what is expected of children when it comes to homework, so you’re able to help in a productive way. Swot up so you’re not left flustered if your child asks a tricky question.

Create a homework-friendly area

Create a calm and relaxing area that will stimulate a child and heighten their willingness to learn. This might be a private study room in the home, a corner of the bedroom or simply a seat at the kitchen table. Whatever the location, ensure your child feels comfortable working in this area.

Shower children with praise and support

It doesn’t matter whether your child is struggling with a certain subject or exceeding expectations, praising their efforts continuously is really important. These positive words will help to shape their learning and progress.

Set a good example

Read a book in front of your child, as well as carrying out general life admin tasks such as studying bills, and keeping things in order. Children are more likely to follow your lead and advice if they see you setting a good example.

The Half Moon in Kirdford has been brought back to life by its new custodian, Jodie Kidd. Having lived in the local area all her life, Jodie feels passionately about ensuring the pub remains at the heart of the village.

The quintessential Grade II listed building has been transformed into a charming country pub, restaurant and kitchen garden where the local guests are the heartbeat of the pub.

The garden is an important focus, with al fresco dining in the summer enabling guests to enjoy the peace and quiet of the village, and menus reflecting the changing seasons in the kitchen garden.

Jodie Kidd comments, “Honest, organic and home from home are just some of the values we hold close and wish to share with all our guests.”

Half Moon guests can expect flavour and quality to be at the centre of everything our Head Chef serves, with quality British produce enhanced by global flavours inspired by Jodie's travels.

The Half Moon's beverage list is equally important with a range of local real ales, craft lagers and fine Sussex wines for guests to enjoy and Jodie is planning an impressive line-up of events throughout the year from family fun days to glamorous dinner and dance evenings.

Jodie continues, “We are proud to be a pub first and foremost, aspiring to serve quality food and provide great service.”

Dallaglio RugbyWorks, the charity founded by former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio, celebrated its 8Rocks fundraising gala dinner on Friday 03^rd November. The annual event, now in its ninth year, saw the charity raise £606,000 towards its RugbyWorks initiative, which delivers a long-term intensive skills development programme, based on the values of rugby, to 14-17 year olds outside of mainstream education.

The charity was founded by Dallaglio in 2009. Through various annual events, including 8Rocks and the Dallaglio Cycling Slam, the charity has raised close to £10 million in the last nine years. Now working in Pupil Referral Units across the UK in London, Newcastle, the East Midlands, North West, Bristol and South Wales, RugbyWorks provides teenagers with the support, experience and opportunity to help them into sustained education, employment or training.

The dinner was held at Battersea Evolution and attended by celebrity guests including Dallaglio and his family, Andrew Ridgeley and the cast of Jersey Boys who performed for the guests on the night.

Rachel Roxburgh, CEO, said “We are truly delighted with the generosity shown by our supporters and it was encouraging to see the continued dedication after nine years. I would like to thank everybody who attended 8Rocks. We are proud to have raised such a significant amount towards the programme and we look forward to building on this success in the coming months.”

Lawrence Dallaglio said “Once again, I have been blown away by the fantastic support shown by so many. It’s an amazing achievement to raise such a significant amount of money towards our RugbyWorks programme. It just goes to show how many people are as passionate about what we do as I am.”

More than 700 pupils took to the stage to shine in front of over 2,000 family and friends at this year's spectacular schools' Diversity celebration, One World, One People, One Voice.

They wowed the capacity crowd at the Civic Hall on Thursday night (2 November, 2017), performing a wide range of song, dance and drama which showcased the cultures, languages, traditions and faiths found in Wolverhampton.

The annual event, now in its 30th year, involved 705 pupils from 22 schools and groups.

The performers included children from Penn Hall, Wodensfield Primary, Perry Hall Primary Multi Academy Trust, Merridale Primary, Amethyst Trust, Lanesfield Primary, St Michael's CE Primary, Christchurch CE Infants, Bantock Primary, Green Park, Goldthorn Primary, St Andrew's CE Primary, Northwood Park Primary and Villiers Primary, Bilston CE Primary, Stow Heath Primary, Springvale Primary, St Luke's CE Primary, Elston Hall Primary Multi Academy Trust, Loxdale Primary, Trinity CE Primary and The King's C of E schools.

There were also performances by the Wolverhampton Music School String Orchestra, the Diversity Community Choir and the City of Wolverhampton Council's Choir.

Councillor Val Gibson, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "I was delighted to be able to attend this wonderful annual event, which showcases what a diverse and multi-cultural City we live in – and just how talented our young people are.

"I would like to congratulate everyone who was involved for their hard work which resulted in a fabulous evening's entertainment which was enjoyed by all, including over 2,000 proud parents in the audience."

A shopping trip with a historic twist and a world premiere of a children's classic are among the compelling reasons to head to Chester and Cheshire at Christmas.

The city's medieval Rows – the world's first shopping arcade – will be the focus of The Rows Revealed, a fascinating 90-minute tour now available to the public. The Guild of Chester Tour Guides will unearth archaeological gems within the double-decker shopping galleries, some only accessible with their help, such as the remains of pillars that were once part of the Roman fortress Deva Victrix, now hidden beneath Pret a Manger. Other sites likely to be on the itinerary include the remains of a Roman hypocaust beneath Spudulike, medieval cellars in Corks Out, and Tudor plasterwork and a priest hole in Sofa Warehouse.

Enid Blyton's 'The Secret Seven' will be live on stage for the very first time this Christmas at Storyhouse, Chester's new integrated arts centre. In this new production of the classic children's tale, the intrepid gang are on the trail of strange clues that will lead them straight to the heart of a mystery they must solve by Christmas.