Manasota SCORE mentor Nick Choat will offer a guide to digital marketing for small businesses during a presentation 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, at Manatee Technical College, 6305 State Road 70 E., Bradenton. Workshop participants will learn how to make smart decisions in using online marketing to help their own businesses grow. Choat, a digital marketing consultant and coach, will share local market examples, as well as insights from large corporations such as Disney, Boeing and more. Pre-registration is $20.
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One in four parents with school-age children have either bought or rented a new property to secure an address in the catchment area of the best schools, according to a report.
The study by financial services provider Santander reveals the extraordinary lengths to which middle-class parents will go in order to get their child into their preferred school, with London parents among those most likely to make the move.
According to the survey, London has the highest proportion of parents (46%) moving to secure an address within a school catchment area, and they are willing pay a premium of over £70,000 to buy a house close to a good school.
Yet more than a quarter of all families (27%) who move to be within a catchment area will leave as soon as a school place is secured for their child.
The survey of more than 4,000 adults found that almost one in five (17%) have to change jobs to facilitate a move into a good school catchment area. A fifth (20%) are forced to downsize; 15% admit they have to move to an area they don’t like, while 21% leave family and friends, and 22% pay more than they can afford – just to get their child into the right school.
Of those families who move to be within their desired catchment area, almost half (49%) sold their previous property and bought a new one close to their preferred school. A quarter said they purchased a second home in the catchment area, while 26% admitted to renting a property to secure a school place.
Miguel Sard, managing director of mortgages for Santander UK, said: “School catchment areas remain a key discussion point for many parents.
“Our research shows that with competition for school places remaining high, parents are making significant financial and lifestyle sacrifices to be within the catchment area of desirable schools. Living within a certain school catchment area is a priority for many families but these premium addresses can come with a hefty price tag.”
Parents in the East Midlands are the least likely to move to try to secure a place for their child in a good school: at 11%, the East Midlands has the lowest proportion of parents moving in order to get an address in the right catchment area.
But, on average, families are prepared to spend an 11% premium, which according to Santander, equates to an average of almost £24,000 in the current property market, to move to their desired catchment area.
[Source:- theguardian]
The number of Welsh students securing a university place has risen by 9% in the past four years, figures have shown.
University and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) statistics revealed 19,320 Welsh students have had their applications accepted as of 1 September – 14 days after A-level results.
Of those, 10,920 are due to study in Wales and 8,260 in England.
This is up from 17,790 who entered higher education at the same point in 2012.
According to Ucas, 140 Welsh students are set to attend university in Scotland while just 10 will study in Northern Ireland.
Figures also showed 1,310 Welsh students had won a place through clearing.
A breakdown across the UK shows a 15% rise in English students being accepted into higher education in the past four years along with a 19% increase in Scottish students and a 14% rise in Northern Irish students.
In total, 498,270 students across the UK have been accepted into universities so far.
There are still places available at universities across Wales via clearing – although Cardiff University said on its website that vacancies for 2016 have been filled.
Olivia Jones, of Universities Wales, said it was encouraging that the majority of Welsh students have chosen to study in Wales.
“With 92% of graduates from full time first degree courses in Wales employed or in further study six months after leaving – a higher percentage than the UK average – this is an attractive offer for prospective students,” she said.
“Universities across Wales are committed to increasing opportunities for people from a diverse range of backgrounds to higher education and firmly believe that every person, regardless of circumstance, should have the opportunity to access a higher level learning experience that is appropriate, relevant and valuable.”
[Source:- BBC]
National offer day: What to do if you fail to secure a place at secondary school
As national secondary school offer day arrives, what can you possibly do if your application for school admission has not been successful?
Sadly, for both you and your child, the period of uncertainty and anxiety will continue for some time as you embark on the somewhat difficult journey of having to negotiate the school admission appeals process, with often varying degrees of success.
However, there is a lot that you can do that will significantly improve your chances of reversing the decision through the statutory appeal process.
The admission authority, which may be the school governors or the local authority depending on the type of school, will make arrangements for appeals to be heard as soon as possible, but in some cases, appeals may not take place until the latter part of June or even July 2016.
Statistics show that only one in three appeals will be successful; this success rate will vary depending on the local authority where you live and also the school in question. So what can you do to improve your chances of a successful appeal?
1. Be prepared
It is important that you carry out research about your preferred school so that you can question the case at the appeal. You will need to ask a series of questions in advance to try and establish if the school has admitted pupils above their published admission number in the past and, if so, what have been the implications.
These questions will help to provide valuable information about the school to establish whether an additional pupil can be admitted without causing problems for the school
2. Make a strong written personal case
Make sure that you submit a well written and well researched case. Establish the reasons why you want your child to attend a particular school and back this up with written evidence.
For example, if there are strong medical or social reasons to attend a particular school, make sure that you obtain written support from a doctor, consultant or similar professional.
Such supporting letters will need to explain why your child needs to attend this particular school and the letter will need to say why the professional supports the appeal and the implications if your child attends a different school.
3. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse
Knowledge breeds confidence and so do not be afraid to carry out thorough research about the school to prepare for the appeal.
Before the hearing, go through what you want to say and make notes so that you can refer to these to ensure you do not overlook something. If you think of something after the appeal it will be too late. Rehearse what you want to say and stay focused. Do not repeat the same point over and over again; the panel will get the point the first time.
4. Be polite
It might seem like an obvious point to make, but always treat the clerk, the panel members and the presenting officer with respect.
Treat them the way that you would expect to be treated. You do not want to lose the appeal before you have even started.
5. Stick to the facts
The appeal panel will reach a decision based on the facts of the case, so stick to them. It is understandable that you will become emotional but the outcome of the appeal will be based on the facts of each and every case.
In most situations, the appeal panel is unable to make comparisons between competing appeals because each appeal is determined on its own merits.
For you, the appeal will represent the last opportunity to secure a place at the school of your choice. Why risk the consequences of an unsuccessful appeal by not preparing thoroughly?
Attending appeals has been described as similar to taking a driving test or a public examination. It can be a very nervous experience. Your children deserve the best and so ensure that you give them every chance of success.
Things to remember:
- If you accept an offer at one school you will still be able to appeal at another, so make sure you immediately get your name on the waiting list of your desired school.
- The ‘Notice of Appeal’ form you need to use to appeal a decision should be included with your letter from the local authority – make sure you read the instructions thoroughly
- There’s normally a deadline, so make sure you familiarise yourself with it, and then start proceedings as soon as possible. [Source:- Telegraph]