Here is our latest update, covering: Council joins Age Friendly Employer scheme; Eastern High School praised by Estyn inspectors; and School cook retires after serving up nearly 1 million meals!

Council joins Age Friendly Employer scheme

Cardiff Council has been recognised as an Age Friendly Employer as part of the authority's work to make Cardiff an Age Friendly City.

The Council has been accepted on the Centre for Ageing Better's Employer Pledge scheme, a nationwide programme for employers who are committed to improving work for people in their 50s and 60s.

The Centre for Ageing Better is a UK-wide organisation at the forefront of the ambition to make ageing well a reality for everyone. This includes ensuring that the value of older people in the workplace is recognised by employers and that organisations build multi-generational teams.

By signing the pledge, the Council is demonstrating its commitment to older workers and making our workplaces as age-friendly as possible. 

Cabinet Member for Social Services (Adult Services) and the Council's Older Person's Champion, Cllr Norma Mackie, welcomed the recognition, saying: "Cardiff is on a journey to becoming more age-friendly and joining this scheme is another significant achievement along the way.

"Becoming an Age Friendly Employer sends a strong message to our own workforce and prospective employees that we value the contribution of our older staff and the experience and knowledge they bring to their roles.

"Our commitment to improving career opportunities for older people in Cardiff in underlined in the new Corporate Plan 2023-26. We want to set the standard for other employers in the city to follow and be able to provide information and advice on ways they can make their own business or organisation more age-friendly with a view to joining the pledge scheme too."

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Eastern High School praised by Estyn inspectors

One of Cardiff's largest secondary schools has received a positive report from Estyn inspectors who praised the high priority it places on pupils' well-being.

Eastern High, which moved to an innovative new £26m site in Rumney in January 2018, had been rated ‘unsatisfactory' in its last Estyn report in 2014 and placed in special measures for two years in 2015.

But the latest report emphasises the good work of the school in providing pupils with "high levels of care, support and guidance".

It added: "Teachers know their pupils well, and many plan their lessons carefully to capture pupils' imaginations and ensure they make good progress in their subject knowledge and understanding.

"Staff are calm and foster positive working relationships with pupils. As a result, many respond positively to the opportunities offered to them and behave well in lessons and around the school."

Eastern High, which has 1,162 pupils, with almost a fifth (19.4%) identified as having additional learning needs (ALN) - against a national average of 17.8% - was particularly praised for its work in this area. "ALN provision is particularly well co-ordinated and effective," said inspectors, and pupils, and their parents or carers, have high-quality support.

"Pupils with ALN respond well to the carefully tailored provision offered to them and many make strong progress against their targets," it added.

There was praise, too, for pupils' creative work, performing and physical skills and, overall, they are making suitable progress in their ability to communicate in Welsh.

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School cook retires after serving up nearly 1 million meals!

School cook Pat Morgan has retired after more than three decades working for Bryn Celyn in Pentwyn and more recently for Ysgol Pen Y Groes.

During hercareer Pat has served nearly 1 million lunches and has seen generations of families pass through the school.

Pat has been a huge part of the local community and her smile and sense of fun as she fed hundreds of hungry children every day, has been infectious.

Pat is looking forward to her retirement and her husband is hoping to persuade her to join him on his allotment!

A huge thank you from all the staff in both schools and Cardiff Council for her service. We all wish her a long and happy retirement.  Keep in touch, Mrs Morgan!