HOME PAGE Falkland Focus News from the Falkland Islands Government Number: 67 - June/July 1999	FREE INTERNET ACCESS AT SCHOOL
THIS PAGE - Focus on Education - TES Newspaper Day - GAP Students - GCSE Results Success - Falklands' Students in the UK Study to Return - Education Facts
PAGE 1 - Falkland Islands Councillors in talks with Argentina - Prince Charles Calls For a "Spirit of Mutual Understanding and Respect" - Falklands Fishery Protection Vessel Fires On Taiwanese Poachers - British MPs Visit the Falkland Islands
PAGE 2 - Falkland Islands Welcomes New Governor - South American Airlink Suspended - £5000 Gift to Hurricane Mitch Victims - Oil Update - Kosovo Appeal Raised £21,200 - Images of the Falkland Islands - Yee Ha! Cowboys Play in the Islands

Focus on Education

Director of Education, Dr David Langridge says "Working in education in the Falkland Islands is a breath of fresh air", says Dr David Langridge, who has been Director of Education for just over two years. "The pupils are a joy to work with and the educational facilities would be the envy of most schools in the UK." Dr Langridge is a former geography teacher, university lecturer and, prior to his arrival he was Headteacher of a Cambridgeshire comprehensive for nineteen years.

Community School

TES Newspaper Day

Congratulations to the Community School who, for the third year running, has won the International Section in the TES (Times Educational Supplement) Newspaper Day competition. Three members of the winning team, Cara Ford, 14, Roxanne Crowie, 15, and William Normand, 15, collected their prize at a special presentation ceremony in the House of Commons.

GAP Students

Eight students have returned to the UK after working in the Falkland Islands for six months. The students, all 18, were chosen to go to the Falkland Islands by GAP Activity Projects, an educational charity which places over 1500 volunteers in projects around the world.

The students stayed on settlements on the Islands getting involved with all aspects of farm life, from lambing to shearing. Oliver Hoare worked on a farm at Walker Creek with another GAP student, Piers Hillier. Oliver said, "The hours were long and the work was hard, but it was fantastic". A group of ten GAP students will travel to the Islands in October before starting University.

Press release

GCSE Results Success

GCSE results in the Islands were well above the British national average last year. The 33 pupils attempted a total of 263 GCSEs (an average of 8 per pupil) in November 1998. At least 17 students are expected to go the UK this autumn to further their education.

Falklands' Students in the UK Study to Return

There are 42 students in the UK, funded by the Falkland Islands Government, in Further and Higher Education. Almost without exception they plan to return and take their skills to the Islands. Two London-based students talk to Falklands Focus:

Rebecca Edwards is a third year medical student at University College London. She enjoys her life in London but misses the Islands and particularly the beautiful scenery in West Falkland, where her family live on a farm. She is planning to return there and practice as a GP, something she says that she "just wouldn't want to do in England."

Zoë Luxton, from Stanley, is studying to become a vet at the Royal Veterinary College in London. She has two years left to study after which she plans to work for the Department of Agriculture in the Falkland Islands. Her biggest reason for going home is that her, "social life in the Islands is more demanding than at college!"

Education Facts The Falkland Islands Government is committed to providing high quality education in the pursuit of excellence. Education in the Islands is free and compulsory for the 376 children aged 5 - 16 years and free for 24 pre-school pupils each year. There are two schools in Stanley: an Infant/ Junior School and an 11-16 Community School, as well as two small settlement schools in outlying areas (5 pupils in one and 3 in the other). Infant/Junior age pupils living outside Stanley are taught by a combination of distance learning and travelling teachers. The schools broadly follow the UK National Curriculum. The schools are well equipped with IT equipment and the students are highly computer literate. The Community School students enjoy free use of the internet during the school day and are accustomed to surfing the net and sending emails. The Community School was opened in October 1992 and has excellent facilities including a 25 metre swimming pool, a fully equipped sports hall and two squash courts. After GCSEs, students are encouraged to go to the UK to continue their education on either academic or vocational courses, fully funded by the Falkland Islands Government.

PAGE 1 Falkland Islands Councillors in talks with Argentina - Prince Charles Calls For a "Spirit of Mutual Understanding and Respect" - Falklands Fishery Protection Vessel Fires On Taiwanese Poachers - British MPs Visit the Falkland Islands

PAGE 2 Falkland Islands Welcomes New Governor - South American Airlink Suspended - £5000 Gift to Hurricane Mitch Victims - Oil Update - Kosovo Appeal Raised £21,200 - Images of the Falkland Islands - Yee Ha! Cowboys Play in the Islands




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