VQ Day 2009

The Maelor School celebrated VQ Day 2009 in style on 24 th June by launching approximately two hundred balloons to highlight the success of its high flying learners following vocational courses.

VQ Day 2009 is the second annual national celebration of vocational achievement and recognises the many paths to success taken by learners of all ages. Millions of people gain a vocational qualification every year and the balloon race at The Maelor School is one way of marking that achievement.

Each of the balloons released on VQ Day is numbered, with one vocational learner allocated to each balloon. The balloons verified as having travelled the furthest distance from the school by the end of the summer term (Friday 17 th July) will win their vocational learners prizes kindly donated by some of our suppliers. There will also be a prize for the person who reports the winning balloon.

The event at The Maelor School was attended by The Worshipful the Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Arwel Gwynn Jones, as well as Robin Hughes, National Manager for OCR in Wales, Ms Sam Gaitch, Chair of the School Governing Body, and Mr Jon Hobley, representing Careers Wales.

The celebrations mark the end of yet another successful year at the school, with learners following the OCR Nationals ICT course achieving outstanding results. Every learner who followed the vocational ICT course achieved the equivalent of at least one higher-grade GCSE, with an amazing 93% achieving the equivalent of four higher-grade GCSEs. Two-thirds of learners on the ICT course achieved Merit or Distinction grades - an increase of over 20% on the previous year.

As part of the celebrations His Worship, the Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Arwel Gwynn Jones, and the headteacher, Mr Eiddwyn Hall, also presented certificates for the most improved ICT student in year ten, and merit award for ICT student in year ten.

Headteacher, Mr Eiddwyn Hall said "We are proud of the achievement of our year eleven pupils in the vocational ICT course. They have built upon the success of previous year groups and attained outstanding results. Learners at the Maelor School have access to a number of vocational courses at Key Stage 4, and 75% of them elect to study at least one of these courses alongside traditional GCSEs. This combination enables them to develop transferable skills which they will require in the world of work."

The event was supported by the OCR examinations board, as well as Careers Wales. Joyce M'Caw, Chief Executive of Careers Wales North East said, "Careers Wales ensures young people understand all the options available to them as they plan their future. The vocational qualifications offered at Maelor School in Penley, ensures that learners are given wider choice and flexibility both at year 10 and Post 16."