Can learning about finance really be entertaining for pupils?

Penny Wise is ten. She wants to know what ‘money’ is all about and why grown-ups make such a fuss about it. So she decides to keep a journal of her discoveries about bills, taxes, borrowing and saving.

The ‘Penny Wise’ books (for KS2 pupils) are informative, visual, amusing and entertaining. They are supported by teacher’s books containing photocopiable activity sheets. You can see sample pages on our website.

www.southgatepublishers.co.uk

Southgate Publishers, The Square, Sandford, Crediton, Devon EX17 4LW

Email: info@southgatepublishers.co.uk
Phone: 01363 776888
Fax: 01363 776889

ICT Information and Services


Is there a way of improving students’ workrate and concentration in lessons?

www.centraleducational.co.uk
Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,
PO Box 999, London E14 6SH

Tel: 020 7515 1797
Fax: 020 7515 4420
Email: signpost@talk21.com

Is it possible to improve your students’ performance in lessons?

We all want to be sitting comfortably at a lecture or meeting when we have to concentrate on what the speaker’s saying. In fact if we don’t feel comfortable then it’s usually more difficult to keep track of what’s going on.

It’s no different for our students!

The solution could simply be to replace any chairs which are past their “sell by” date. It’s also possible to obtain “tamperproof” IT chairs which, as the name suggests, make it hard for students to unscrew components and walk off with them!

For a selection of chairs why not view the Central Educational Supplies website (www.centraleducational.co.uk) or call 020 7515 1797 to discuss your requirements.

PS. If you need new storage units, cupboards, tables or benches they can help with these as well.


Here’s the answer Mr Gove

www.keylinkcomputers.co.uk
Keylink Computers Ltd, 2 Woodway House, Common Lane, Kenilworth, CV8 2ES

Phone: 01926 850909
Email: sales@keylinkcomputers.co.uk

Get your entire class writing programs that achieve outcomes that the students find interesting and meaningful – all within the first session.

The TOM simulator enables students to gain a firm understanding of how computers work in a deep way, interrupts, memory mapping, logic gates – all via a safe and easy to use WYSIWYG system.

There is more information on this on our website – www.keylinkcomputers.co.uk. You then need to click on ICT resources in the left hand panel.

Also, there is more information on our blog (which can be found on our website then click on “blog” on the left hand side).


Boardworks – free resources, lesson plans & teaching tips

http://www.boardworks.co.uk/ict_637
Boardworks, Units 5–7 The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1LF

Email: enquiries@boardworks.co.uk
Phone: 0845 0 300 400
Fax: 0845 0 300 200

Boardworks ICT blog contains free resources, lesson plans and teaching tips for KS3, KS4 and vocational ICT teachers. Follow the weblink to download the resources free of charge or follow us on Twitter @BoardworksLtd.

 


Microsoft – and just one of those FREE Software Assurance Benefits

http://www.computerbox.net/?p=913
Computer Box Ltd, Eaton Place, 114 Washway Road, Sale, Cheshire M33 7RF

Phone: 0845 658 2552
Email: peter@computerbox.net

Data Encryption – on Drives & USB sticks with Windows 7 Enterprise BitLocker secure encryption.

It seems that everyone is looking for a data encryption solution.

But did you know that potentially there is one already built in to your operating system! Check this out here …..

For more information on data encryption that can be used in your school please contact Peter on 0845 658 2552 or email him at peter@computerbox.net.


Free IT equipment recycle service

www.prmgreentech.com
PRM Green Technologies Ltd, 19 Kimberley Business Park, Kimberley Way, Brereton, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 1RE

Email via form at http://www.prmgreentech.com/contact.htm
Phone:
0800 840 9195

We collect redundant IT equipment (PC base units, CRT monitors, TFT monitors, servers, laptops, server racks, switches, telecom switches and printers) for recycling, ensuring all data is removed and adherence to the WEEE directive by offering industry leading environmental practices.

What is the most effective way of motivating your pupils to participate in and enjoy creative writing?

Of course many children will be interested in reading and writing. But the question is always, how do we motivate everyone to become excited about literacy?

We set up our Little Books programme five years ago in which schools submit their pupils’ creative writing to us which we then publish in a quality paperback book. Teachers at the hundreds of schools that have participated have been amazed at the enthusiasm the children have demonstrated in creative writing when they are told that their work will be published in a ‘real book’. You can see some of the many testimonials we have received from these teachers on our website www.thelittlebooks.co.uk.

In short, the project involves collating and submitting your pupils’ writing (which can be on any subject) either in typed or handwritten format. This is then sent to our professional typesetters who provide first a proof of the interior followed by a full colour cover. Once both have been approved your Little Book is sent to our digital printers for printing perfect bound on quality 85 gsm crème paper and 240 gsm glossy cover card.

Publishing children’s creative writing in a ‘real paperback book’ has been proven to inspire more children to read and write, and the published books can be sold to proud family members to help raise funds for the school.

If you’re worried about time or commitment – don’t. We’ve made the whole publishing process easy so that your school can participate. Our experience in publishing Little Books has enabled us to streamline and simplify the whole publishing process from start to finish. Also, teachers, members of the PTA or Classroom Representatives have reported that they have enjoyed helping to co-ordinate the project.

We also understand that budgets are under pressure so we’ve made it cost effective and easy for your school to participate. In fact, your first copy is completely free. That’s right, we’re offering to professionally typeset your book and print one copy for free, with no obligation to purchase further copies. If you do decide to, these will cost £5 per copy + P&P with no minimum order.

We are able to make this amazing offer because we are so confident that your children, their family members and your school will love their own Little Book. Hundreds of schools have seen their pupils’ attitudes and writing skills transformed after publishing their Little Books and have set up annual writing projects. All of a sudden, reading and writing is ‘fun’.

Please contact me if you have any queries or require further information.

Tamsin Rush
Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd
t: 01483 243450
e: tamsin@grosvenorhousepublishing.co.uk
w: www.thelittlebooks.co.uk
P.S. Every child who participates in your school’s writing project receives a free ‘I am a published author’ sticker to show off.

Little Books – written by little people

Social Media Policy Document For Schools To Promote Safe Use of Social Media by Staff

A total of 43 teachers were referred to the General Teaching Council for England in 2011 for unprofessional conduct related to the use of social media sites, with 14 teachers suspended and 18 placed on probation. In addition, the NUT have recently advised all schools that they should have policies in place making it clear what teachers should and should not do in the virtual space.

Schools are becoming increasingly aware of the need to regulate social media use by teaching staff but often struggle to create a single, detailed policy document which is updated and organic, capable of responding to new trends and sites as they happen. In response to this need, we have liaised with internet and teaching experts to create a trusted, cohesive, accessible and robust school-wide policy that can be practically applied and will, provide clear distinctions between public and private use and most importantly, cover the safe and appropriate use of social media by members of staff.”

The policy document is available to download online from iTeachingResources.com. It can be purchased as a stand alone document and then distributed in electronic or hard copy format within a matter of minutes to all members of staff. It promises to help educational establishments to ensure that the use of social media by staff;

  • Does not bring the school into disrepute
  • Does not bring the teacher into disrepute
  • Does not expose the school to legal liability
  • Reflects ‘safer internet’ practices
  • Minimises risks associated with the personal use of social media by professionals and
  • Reflects the school’s standard of behaviour and staff code of conduct

The safe use code has been developed in line with good teaching in PSCHE, ICT and other subjects with regard to “safer use of the internet”. It was written by teacher Tom Tolkien, a Senior Manager with extensive experience of whole school assessment, internet and e-safety as well as initiative and policy development.

The document provides practical step-by-step guides to applying recommended privacy settings on popular social networking sites, with explanations on how to determine if posts, comments, images, links and videos shared on a profile by a teacher are appropriate and transparent.

The policy includes information for teaching staff about maintaining privacy and keeping personal information such as phone numbers and addresses private while using their own or school equipment. Detailed guidelines regarding communication with parents and pupils cover sites like Facebook and Twitter, acceptable content for social network profiles and how to respond to initiated contact from pupils. The policy concludes with guidance on recognising exceptions and reporting abuse or cyber bullying.

The policy document for acceptable use of social media by staff in educational establishments is priced at £49.99, but you can save 5% by quoting HH12SMP when you order from iTeachingResources.com

or

Phone: 0113 2660880,

Fax: 0113 2697889

Email: orders@iteachingresources.com

Post to: iTeachingResources, Allerton House, 75 Allerton Hill, Leeds, LS7 3QB.

Having a loan service of netbooks for students is highly desirable. But how can the logistical problems be overcome?

This is the story of Swansea University’s desire to implement a self-service netbook loan solution via their main library building and in a newly developed study area.

Self-service library books have been in place for a number of years, but the self-service of netbooks introduced a new set of challenges – especially as the university desired it to be a low maintenance and secure service that could be operated 24 hours a day.

A key element of the service was to allow a student to self-issue a netbook in the quickest possible time and to then proceed to use the netbook just as quickly.

Swansea University also envisaged the use of the self-service lockers as a supplementary service to their fixed, open access PCs – the netbooks could cater for students who didn’t need the “full fat” service as supplied on PCs, whilst also allowing them to bring the device to where they are studying.

Obviously, the university was also keen to ensure that they only loaned netbooks to known, valid students and that the students return them in a secure manner.

It was a fair collection of requirements: students to have a 24 hour access to netbooks, getting to use the equipment quickly, low maintenance, available to valid students only, keeping track of returned netbooks and having a solution that fitted in with university’s existing systems.

The university found one solution that met all these requirements, and that was the Bretford Myritrac – but they then came up with one more challenge. The university wanted to launch the service with little or no publicity or instructions. And, in fact, students started using the system and found it quite intuitive; there was no need to introduce extra directions or instructions or carry out training. Staff support training requirements were minimal too.

The Bretford Myritrac system allows you to take control of all aspects of managing electrical equipment including laptops, tablets and even mobile phones. Securely storing it; charging it; running software updates; assigning user access rights and even feeding back information about when, at what time and by whom the allocated item was removed or replaced.

Additionally, they reduce the requirement for mains supply outlets within library/study areas as each cabinet is connected to a single mains supply.

There is still more that the Bretford Myritrac system can do; more detailed information can be found on our website. Alternatively call us on 01753 53 99 55.

Ensuring your school website is compliant with the new Privacy Directive

The Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive from the EU is not necessarily something you might consider as bedtime reading, but it does have an impact on your school.

For that is the formal name of what is becoming known as the Cookie Law – a regulation which came into effect on 26th May this year.

Cookies are typically used to enable users to log in to a website, to display content relevant to the user, to remember a user’s preferences, for Google Analytics, etc. If you have a video of your school on your website and it is hosted by someone such as YouTube, then that will probably have cookies within it.

The Information Commissioners Office has powers to fine website owners up to £500,000 for serious breaches in the law – but fortunately the chance of a school being fined anything in the first couple of years of the implementation of the regulation are slight.

However… (and this is the point that some schools have found when they have been wrapped over the knuckles in relation to issues such as having pupil data on memory sticks or laptops) the embarrassment factor that can arise from being caught out publicly is rather large. Indeed the resultant publicity can, at a stroke, counter all the good that a well-designed website does the school.

To help you ensure that everything is in order on your website we can undertake a “Cookie Audit” review for you for £75.00. We’ll undertake a review of your site and let you know if you are compliant with the Directive.

What’s more, if you are not compliant we will advise you on the necessary steps to take to correct this.

You can find out more about the cookie law and also our Cookie Audit Review on our website at www.inco-education.co.uk/cookie_audits.php

Or contact us by email at info@inco-education.co.uk or by calling 01902 784 800.

Alphabet of a Teenager – The entire PSHE curriculum in one sitting

Michael nervously opens his GCSE results. He remembers everything that’s happened up until this very moment. What did he feel like on the day that he first arrived at School? What went through his head when he was offered a cigarette by one of his peers? What did his Mum and Dad think when he did no revision for his exams? Why now, because of what he’s experienced, does racism make his blood boil furiously?

Has he done enough to claw his way back up and achieve exam results that he can be proud of? In this 50 minute play, packed full of stories and teenage angst and adventure, find out how it is possible to cover the entire PSHE curriculum in less than an hour.

The curriculum that we adhere to is the non statutory programme, as set out by the Department of Education. This includes coverage in the production of the following topics:

  • Drugs and Alcohol Education
  • Emotional Health and well-being
  • Sex and relationship education
  • Nutrition and physical activity
  • Personal finance
  • Safety
  • Careers education
  • Work-related learning

The production gives a broad overview of the curriculum and our post show workshop programme allows each of these elements to be explored in far greater depth and instigates debate of sensitive subject matter amongst the students.

How does it do this?

The story is told by one single actor and follows his journey through Secondary education right the way through from his first day in Year 7, to receiving his GCSE results in Year 11. Told through his eyes, this piece is not only interactive but will also appeal to students because the story is told to them at their level, making the content easy to relate to.

The notion that students will be able to say ‘I know how that feels’ or ‘Yes, something similar happened to me’ helps build the ethos of the entire production. We want students to relate to the material and feel like they are not alone in the trials and tribulations that they are facing.

Something like choosing the subjects that are right for you at GCSE and using your personal identity blue print to make these subject and career choices is incredibly important but not necessarily easy for students to access. The play light heartedly shows them the journey across the misty fields towards their goals and ambitions and if they’ll let it, may even help to shape their destiny.

Teachers’ resources:

As with all of our productions, full post show support is offered with our Teachers’ resource pack. This is full of information about the production itself, including a full copy of the script. It also contains several lesson plans including worksheets to develop the themes within the play further.

From September there will be an audio version available to download online. This will be made available to staff in the school and parents at home too, should they wish to listen to an audio version of the play. Part of our pre-performance check contains a letter that you can distribute to parents, informing them of this resource. There will be a small charge to download this.

For more details please see http://keystagetheatre.co.uk/alphabet-of-a-teenager/
Key Stage Theatre
01483 306899
07730878190

The fascination of watching your colleagues at work

Perhaps one of the most interesting experiences that a primary teacher can have is that of witnessing the day to day activity of a colleague in the classroom.

Quite often it is not the overall structure and approach to a lesson which grabs the attention, but the way in which the smaller moments and events are handled.

One obvious example is the way in which teachers organise times of transition. What do you do with children who finish tasks before the others are ready to move on? Everyone has a few favoured activities for such moments – but it is often the case that alternatives are welcome. And this is what can be observed when visiting a colleague’s classroom.

These are the types of activities that we have now gathered together: the activities that teachers across the country use to cover short periods of time within the school day.

They cover a wide range of different subject areas including English, maths, thinking skills, science and PSHE skills. Each activity has an estimated time for completion, anywhere between 3 and 10 minutes and answers are also included.

These resources can be used as class activities, as homework or for those gifted and talented children who finish the other set work first.

There is more information and free sample pages available on our website by clicking the links below:

Timely Tasks for Fast Finishers aged 5-7 years

Timely Task for Fast Finishers aged 7-9 years

Timely Tasks for Fast Finishers aged 9-11 years

You can order these resources in any of these ways:

  • On our website at the above web links
  • By phone on 01449 766629
  • By fax on 01449 767122
  • By email to orders@tradecounter.co.uk
  • By post to Brilliant Publications, c/o Trade Counter Distribution, Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND.

Social Media Policy Document For Schools To Promote Safe Use of Social Media by Staff

A total of 43 teachers were referred to the General Teaching Council for England in 2011 for unprofessional conduct related to the use of social media sites, with 14 teachers suspended and 18 placed on probation. In addition, the NUT have recently advised all schools that they should have policies in place making it clear what teachers should and should not do in the virtual space.

Schools are becoming increasingly aware of the need to regulate social media use by teaching staff but often struggle to create a single, detailed policy document which is updated and organic, capable of responding to new trends and sites as they happen. In response to this need, we have liaised with internet and teaching experts to create a trusted, cohesive, accessible and robust school-wide policy that can be practically applied and will, provide clear distinctions between public and private use and most importantly, cover the safe and appropriate use of social media by members of staff.”

The policy document is available to download online from iTeachingResources.com. It can be purchased as a stand alone document and then distributed in electronic or hard copy format within a matter of minutes to all members of staff. It promises to help educational establishments to ensure that the use of social media by staff;

  • Does not bring the school into disrepute
  • Does not bring the teacher into disrepute
  • Does not expose the school to legal liability
  • Reflects ‘safer internet’ practices
  • Minimises risks associated with the personal use of social media by professionals and
  • Reflects the school’s standard of behaviour and staff code of conduct

The safe use code has been developed in line with good teaching in PSCHE, ICT and other subjects with regard to “safer use of the internet”. It was written by teacher Tom Tolkien, a Senior Manager with extensive experience of whole school assessment, internet and e-safety as well as initiative and policy development.

The document provides practical step-by-step guides to applying recommended privacy settings on popular social networking sites, with explanations on how to determine if posts, comments, images, links and videos shared on a profile by a teacher are appropriate and transparent.

The policy includes information for teaching staff about maintaining privacy and keeping personal information such as phone numbers and addresses private while using their own or school equipment. Detailed guidelines regarding communication with parents and pupils cover sites like Facebook and Twitter, acceptable content for social network profiles and how to respond to initiated contact from pupils. The policy concludes with guidance on recognising exceptions and reporting abuse or cyber bullying.

The policy document for acceptable use of social media by staff in educational establishments is priced at £49.99, but you can save 5% by quoting HH12SMP when you order from iTeachingResources.com

or

Phone: 0113 2660880,

Fax: 0113 2697889

Email: orders@iteachingresources.com

Post to: iTeachingResources, Allerton House, 75 Allerton Hill, Leeds, LS7 3QB.

What is the visitor’s first thought?

Creating the right impression for visitors to your school is always going to be of the utmost importance. But what is it that creates the right impression?

One could put comfortable furniture in the reception area, with awards and school photos on display. But what else?

It is interesting that in some locations (and schools are by no means alone in this regard) it is assumed that the visitor’s experience starts at the reception area – when in fact it actually starts as the visitor looks for signs pointing the way to that reception area.

But the impact of signs doesn’t stop there. Visitors will see signs on the doors of offices and classrooms, signs about safety, and so forth. Where these signs are printed on paper and stuck on with blue tack, all the hard work of making the reception area look smart is wasted.

The reason that some schools have been restrained in their use of quality signage has generally been because signs have been expensive to buy and install. You had to get quotes and then place the order (which may take a while to arrive); you may even have the pleasure of paying a delivery charge on top of everything else.

Thankfully, this is no longer the case. Delivery time has come down to zero, and the cost has dropped beyond belief (and all while the quality has not been affected).

This is all achieved because it is now possible to print signs on your laser printer within school. The Quick-Mark Digital is a unique product that allows you to produce self-adhesive signs, front panels and labels up to A3 size, on a standard office laser printer at an extremely low cost and with the highest quality.

All you need is some Quick-Mark Laser Film and Base Sheets and you can then print self-laminating, high quality self adhesive labels, panels or signs. The signs are highly durable, the laser toner is always sub-surface, and you can work on metal or plastic Base Sheets producing a polycarbonate finish if needed.

There is more information on this unique printing system on our website – http://www.megauk.com/qmd_signs/

Alternatively, call us on 01223 893900 or email us at sales@megauk.com.

English Information and Services

Free dictionaries for your students ….. is it really true?

www.signposteducational.co.uk
Signpost Educational Ltd

Email: signpost@talk21.com
Phone: 020 7515 1797
Fax: 020 7515 4420

Well yes, it really is true!

With 384 pages and a clear, easy to read typeface, the “New Choice” dictionary is an excellent choice for your KS 3,4 and GCSE students. It’s the normal paperback size (196 x 128 mm) and costs only £1.99.

So where do the free copies come in?

Simple. Just order 100 or more copies and you’ll get 50% extra free of charge.

Order 200 and you’ll get another 100 copies free. There’s no limit to the quantity you can order and you’ll always get an extra 50% free with orders over 100 copies.

What’s more you can get the same deal with the “New Choice” Thesaurus which is also £1.99. In fact you can combine your free copies to include both dictionary

AND thesaurus eg.Order 100 dictionaries and 100 thesauri and you could get 100 Dictionaries or 100 thesauri free…or 80 dictionaries and 20 thesauri free. It’s your choice!


Boardworks – free resources, lesson plans and teaching tips

http://www.boardworks.co.uk/english_626
Boardworks, Units 5–7 The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1LF

Email: enquiries@boardworks.co.uk
Phone: 0845 0 300 400
Fax: 0845 0 300 200

Boardworks English blog contains free resources, lesson plans and teaching tips for KS3, KS4 and KS5 English teachers. Follow the weblink to download the resources free of charge or follow us on Twitter @BoardworksLtd.


Pupil reports made easy

www.reportcommentbank.co.uk/?r=hamilton
Teach ICT Ltd, 1 Ffordd y Felin, Trefin, Haverfordwest, SA62 5AX

Email: info@reportcommentbank.co.uk
Phone: 0845 094 6427

Fax: 0700 349 7137

Our point and click report writer is FREE to join and will save you hours when it comes to writing pupil reports. You can use our comments, comments from other teachers or write your own.

50% ROYALTIES FOR YOUR OWN RESOURCES ARE NOW BEING PAID PLUS THE CHANCE TO WORK PART TIME AS AN EDUCATION CONSULTANT!!

Our Summer Term drive to publish new resources and recruit new education consultants is now in full swing and we have already been contacted by many teachers who are looking for specific material for the new school year to fit new curriculum specifications in September.

Many have asked if we are taking on resources to cover the new syllabi they have to teach or whether they have a whole Summer’s lesson preparation work to look forward to!

Others have contacted to discuss the fact that they would probably have to write something for themselves anyhow and what exactly was the publishing deal Classroom Resources could offer.

Others still, who write for alternative publishers and are only being paid 15% to 20% royalties for their resources have asked us to put the offer in writing so they can sign up!

SO HERE IT IS AGAIN

  • 50% royalties, that is half of the sale price, excluding VAT, of all new resources taken on to be paid back to the teacher authors in royalties.
  • Copyright to remain with the teacher authors at all times.
  • Guaranteed individual email promoting only your new resource to all HOD and interested teachers on a worldwide basis by the acknowledged independent market leaders in the field (Hamilton House). Thereafter continued promotion through various media outlets.
  • Professional proofreading, editing and publishing, all pre and post production, ISBN registration, VAT, postage and packing, handling and despatch undertaken on your behalf.
  • Printed statement sent to you of all schools, colleges and individuals who have bought your resource every 6 months together with your 50% royalty payments.

Some teachers who have contacted us have even already accrued some pre-production sales interest and potential earnings. That is before they have even written the resource!

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITIES WITH CLASSROOM RESOURCES.

As a Classroom Resources author we also offer you the chance to greatly enhance your experience and expertise, and of course your CV by writing sponsored material for FTSE companies, local authorities, government institutions and many other commercial organisations.

Have you thought why other “educational publishers” cannot offer their authors, the perk of fixed fee commissioned work for FTSE companies?!? Is it because they perhaps do not have the professionalism, expertise and simple educational credibility which hard nose, money making corporate institutions demand of partner businesses? Or is it because they are offering you their authors much lower royalty rates and making all their money from your resources? Or is it perhaps both of these reasons? (Answers please on a post card by this weekend!)

Innovators in publishing practising teacher’s own work we have the educational pedigree other publishers lack. Many Classroom Resources teacher authors have taken advantage of consultancy work and have recently significantly changed their “underpaid” status!

With much more consultancy work in the pipeline we would now like to take on more teacher authors with writing experience to meet our clients needs.

Take a look at the impressive Consultancy Client list on our website to see the kind of work our teacher authors produce and the subjects that we cover.

It looks great on your CV to say you have written and researched educational resources for a corporate institution and you will then receive not only royalties for your sales but fixed fee payments for all commissions.

Give us call if you would like to discuss any projects that you might be interested in or just to join our list of authors ready to accept a commission!

To see a full list of our Corporate Clients as well as samples of materials our teacher authors have produced for them go to: www.classroom-resources.co.uk

 

Classroom Resources
PO Box 1489
Bristol
BS99 3QJ

www.classroom-resources.co.uk
sales@classroom-resources.co.uk

Tel: 0117 940 6409

What price PC and Apple security?

Having computers and Apple devices stolen from the school is no-one’s favourite scenario. It is disruptive (both in terms of getting in the replacement machines and trying to recover lost data) and therefore incredibly time-consuming.

And, if a server is stolen as well, the matter can be a lot worse – not least because the Data Protection Office is increasingly showing an interest in such matters and will want assurance that the data on the machine was encrypted.

Because the number of computer and Apple thefts from schools are rising, both insurance companies and the police are endorsing the use of security cages to help reduce the loss.

These not only reduce thefts but also reduce malicious damage.

Better still, the security devices are themselves reusable. For when a computer and/or Apple device is retired from active life in the school, one can move the security device and put it on another machine.

In other words, security, once bought, provides protection for your computers and Apple devices and may well result in a discount on your insurance policy.

At PC Safe we offer a range of tower PC/server security cages and desktop PC/Server security cages that are both totally enclosed and also partially accessible, in standard and bespoke sizes.

These cages can be supplied in a colour of your choice and at a price to meet your budget.

Furthermore, these cages are insurance compatible and police recommended.

PC Safe also offer security products for all your Apple devices at very reasonable prices. You can find the full range of Apple Security Devices on our website.

For more information please visit our website www.pc-safe.co.uk, call us on 01902 784800 or email us at info@pc-safe.co.uk.

Improving literacy through the Olympics

This is going to be an extraordinarily busy summer, and to help pupils focus on the Olympics GrowStoryGrow are offering free stories each month for schools to use.

The current story covered is The Olympics and is available in English (for English as an Additional Language) and in French, Spanish and German.

The reason this story is special is because of the way that it ‘grows’: slowly becoming harder with the addition of high frequency words.

What’s more, the story includes interactive games and resources.

To access the free story, simply go to www.growstorygrow.com/story-of-the-month and enter your details and use the password: 123456

We are also are running a story competition entitled ‘A day in the life of an Olympic athlete.’

The winner will have their story translated into several languages, animated, and produced using sound effects.

If you would like to find out more, please go to http://www.growstorygrow.com/teachers/competition/competition-details.

The deadline is June 29th and certificates will be given to runners up.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me: val@growstorygrow.com

Kind Regards

Val Thornber
GrowStoryGrow, online stories and games for learning languages
www.growstorygrow.com
val@growstorygrow.com

“To say they enjoyed the stories is an understatement!” Christine Brown, Hillary Primary School

GrowStoryGrow is winner of the Commitment to Excellence Award by Best Practice
GrowStoryGrow has been shortlisted for:
the BETT awards 2011
the Nielsen Innovation of the Year Award 2011
the Frankfurt Book Fair Digital Award 2011

the Linguascope Product of the Year Award 2011

What is the most effective way of helping boys understand the importance of school and in particular raising their interest in maths?

Interestingly the answer to both these questions, and indeed the answer to a large number of other interesting challenges schools face, can be found in the same teaching resource.

This finding became apparent when we worked with children using “Career Detectives” (a resource centred around a board game) who reported that understanding more about the world of work made them want to try harder in school. In fact, we found that children are gaining benefits far in excess of anything we first imagined.

Career Detectives provides a range of stimulating information about careers across all sectors within the context of a set of activities that can be completed either in small groups or with the whole class.

Career Detectives has within it enough material for an entire term’s work across every subject of the curriculum. Using the resource enhances and raises awareness of key skills including teamwork, communication, leadership, creativity and confidence and embeds other key learning outcomes including healthy eating and citizenship.

At the same time the resource helps pupils to discover all about the world of work and which career sectors may interest them. Research led by Simon Hughes MP, who has endorsed Career Detectives, has shown that greater understanding of the world of work not only raises aspirations but also improves attainment.

What’s more, using Career Detectives can also enhance your outcomes when Ofsted inspect as it enables you to demonstrate spiritual, moral, social and cultural development in your school. It also helps in a number of other areas, such as achievement or quality of teaching, details of which can be found on our website.

So if you’re looking to re-engage boys with education, or broaden girls horizons regarding non-stereotypical career options, then we’re confident Career Detectives will be of immense value to your school.

You can read more of the comments that pupils have made after a Career Detectives session here.

And there is more information available on Career Detectives itself here.

********************

“I am happy to recommend Career Detectives, which was demonstrated to me in a year 6 class at a school where I am a chair of governors. The game met with enthusiasm from the children, who responded well to the tasks set and enjoyed the vocal and timed aspects of the game. Very importantly, the children were genuinely interested in discussing potential careers after using the game – which is a great way of opening up elements of careers advice as advocated in my Access to Education Report.”

Simon Hughes MP, Minister for Access to Education

Free Geography KS3/4 resources

This free BMRA pack offers a range of learning opportunities that enable students to explore key aspects of geography through the study of real-world examples.

Students learn about place, from the location of recycling centres in their town to the location of metal ores throughout the world.

They learn about space and investigate the interactions between places and the networks created by the flow of goods. They are encouraged to consider what they can do to aid recycling on different scales, from personal, local, national, international and global perspectives.

By investigating how human actions can reduce impacts on the environment they consider the interdependent nature of physical and human processes and, importantly, how sequences of events lead to changes in places and societies.

Students consider how recycling metals is a sustainable use of resources with significant positive impacts on the environment and climate change.

Through a series of enquiry-based activities students ask geographical questions, thinking critically, constructively and creatively. They analyse and evaluate evidence, presenting findings to each other, and draw and justify conclusions. Through decision-making exercises students solve problems, develop analytical skills and are encouraged to think creatively about topical issues.

In presentations and group work activities students develop skills of graphicacy and visual literacy, using geographical information system (GIS) techniques to communicate their knowledge and understanding in both speech and writing.

For information on how this resource relates to the KS3 and KS4 national curriculum and full teacher’s notes please click here.

You can download the resource from the BMRA website at www.recyclemetals.org/metals_and_me

This resource is produced by British Metal Recycling Association. If you have any enquiries please contact us by email at admin@recyclemetals.org.

Advertising Layout

Creating a successful print ad involves a dynamic mix of visual theory, consumer psychology, and nuts-and-bolts tinkering.

“Advertising Layout” is a new two-part DVD resource which provides a thorough grounding in all of the above, familiarising students with the terminology and working concepts that successful graphic designers and advertising creatives make use of on a daily basis.

Advertising Layout Part I: Space Allocations

This programme helps students understand the proper space allocation for the main elements of a two-dimensional advertisement, including the illustration, headline, copy, and logo. [more…]

Advertising Layout Part II: Visual Direction

This programme shows how to attract a reader’s attention with the layout concepts commonly known as picture window, silhouette, square zero, Mondrian, closure, over-sizing, juxtaposition, surrealism, and shock. [more…]

Although both episodes are rich in detailed guidance, their class-friendly run times make them ideal for coursework in marketing, advertising, design, and commercial art.

Available on approval from Viewtech Educational Media. To order online click on the title links above and then add to order – quote promotional discount code: HHM110 at the checkout for a 10% discount!

If you’d like any further information or assistance please contact:

Viewtech Educational Media
7-8 Falcons Gate
Dean Road
Yate
Bristol
BS37 5NH
————————————–

tel: 01454 858055
fax: 01454 858056
email: info@viewtech.co.uk
http://www.viewtech.co.uk

FREE resources that equip young people with the skills and confidence they need to travel safely and responsibly on public transport.

UK train and bus operator Go-Ahead’s new education programme ‘Go-Learn’ is an ideal way of introducing public transport to pupils. It aims to help children and young people improve their knowledge of public transport and develop skills for independent travel. It also raises their awareness of the social, economic and environmental benefits of using buses and trains rather than cars.

David Brown, Group Chief Executive of Go-Ahead, said: “Our rail and bus services have a key role to play in the communities they serve and will become an increasingly important mode of travel for the next generation. We are committed to providing a safe, efficient and sustainable transport service and to equipping young people with the skills and knowledge they need to travel independently and with confidence on buses and trains.”

Go-Learn is free to download and uses the theme of public transport to deliver a range of informative and engaging resources which are mapped against the National Curriculum for literacy and numeracy (ages 4-7 and 7-11) and PSHE and citizenship (for ages 12-14).

Downloadable fact and worksheet topics include:

  • Different forms of public transport and their relevance in urban and rural settings
  • Bus tickets (coins, change and working out fares)
  • Environmental benefits of public transport
  • Timekeeping and understanding timetables
  • Safety when using public transport
  • The causes, consequences and impacts of anti-social behaviour on public transport
  • The importance of team work and communications in the workplace

Activities for pupils include whole-class and group discussions, individual written tasks and opportunities to carry out research. Word glossaries, extension tasks and suggestions for further study are also provided.

Go-Learn is free to download from www.go-ahead.com/go-learn

Playground Sunshades and Rain Shelters

Do you wish you had extra covered space?

We are all too aware of the increasing need to provide shelter for pupils from harmful UV rays and the worst of British winters. Our large range of canopies and playground shelters are all designed to protect your Students from the sun and keep them dry on those less pleasant days.

Many secondary schools now require extra covered areas for outdoor eating and drinking. If like them your cafeteria or dining room is too small to cater for an increase in the number of your students then a canopy structure could be the answer. Typically a fraction of the cost of a new building or extension our canopy structures are the cost effective solution to creating that additional covered space.

Zenith provide experienced advice and quality canopies to provide you, the customer, with the perfect outdoor covered environment. Give us a call for a FREE site survey and quotation on 01189789072.

   

Colours and designs to suit your school

    With a large range of canopy stylesand many colour options we will work with you to create the covered area that best suits your application.

 Our structures are all manufactured to sizes to suit your site enabling us to cover almost any space.

 

Free no obligation site survey….

Why not give us a call today on 0118 978 9072 or email us and find out how your school will benefit from installing one of our playground shelters?


 

We provide a full range of walling options including PVC walling, PVCu double glazing and roller shutters.

Let us take care of everything…
From the initial measure up, to organising groundworkers and installing the shelter, we do it all.

 

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We are accredited to several health and safety schemes including; CHAS, Constructionline and Exor. Also all of our staff are CRB checked.

Is leasing an option?

We have seen a recent increase in the number of schools leasing canopy structures. Call us today and we can discuss the range of plans available for schools.

It only takes 2 minutes

In the last couple of years I have been very interested in the different ways in which schools are approaching the issue of sublimation printers.

While the D&T departments in some schools see the sublimation printer as a key element in the development of the department, other schools have chosen to go down other routes.

I would really like to understand more about the thinking behind this, and as a first step I’ve constructed a simple questionnaire which I’d like to invite to complete.

It will only take about two minutes to complete, and your answers will not, of course, be revealed to anyone else.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sublimation

Many thanks

Tony Hawkins
Mega Electronics

SAINSBURYS CHIEF RE-VISITS COLLEGE FOR AWARDS EVENING

The Sixth Form College, Solihull will host its annual Awards Evening at the Renewal Conference Centre next week, celebrating student success during the 2011/2012 academic year.

Staff and students will be joined at the Lode Lane centre by parents and other notable guests to hand out prizes and enjoy student performances in Music, Dance and Drama. Prizes are being given out for every subject, as well as extra curricular activities, including sport and exceptional progress. A large number of students are also receiving College Colours, which is a special award that any student can apply for by demonstrating leadership, team-work and completing a challenging activity.

Special guest for the event will be Justin King CBE. He was a student at the College from 1977 – 1979 and has gone on to achieve great success since. He has recently been awarded an AoC Gold award for his achievements since leaving College. He is currently the Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s, having also worked for a number of other prominent food manufacturers such as Mars Confectionery, Pepsi International and Haägen Dazs before becoming Director of ASDA in 1994. In 2001, King moved to Marks & Spencer where he managed the food division.

Justin joined Sainsbury’s in 2004, charged with improving sales and halting its declining market share. Within six months, King had launched his recovery programme under the banner, “Making Sainsbury’s Great Again” and has recently been able to announce that the company has achieved 30 consecutive quarters of sales growth.

In January 2009 Justin was appointed to the Board of the London Organising Committee for the Olympics by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. He was then made a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group and awarded a CBE in the Birthday Honours in 2011.

College Principal Paul Ashdown, commented: “It is fantastic to have such a high profile individual as Justin King as one of our alumni. It just goes to show what you can achieve with a good education behind you and a drive and determination to succeed. We are delighted that Justin is able to join us at our Awards Evening this year and feel sure that his presence will act as a motivation for all our students.”

The general defences of insanity and automatism

G154 Special Study: Guides for the 2013 exams
At the end of June, OCR will release the sources for next year’s G154 Special Study exams. The focus for the 2013 exams will be the general defences of insanity and automatism.

Two special guides to the pre-released material are available to order now.

1. Revision Guide and Exam Practice

Notes on each aspect of insanity and automatism
Exercises to reinforce understanding (with answers and relevant cases)
Practice exam paper using the pre-released sources (with mark scheme and model answers)
This guide will help your students to get to know the sources and prepare for the exam.

2. Extension Guide

Stretch and challenge the most able students to enable them to reach the highest grades. This guide supports writing complex, analytical answers, through synopticism, depth of analysis, research, etc. It includes two full practice exam papers with mark schemes, model answers and examiner’s commentary, plus extra detail on answering Question 1 and achieving A and A* grades.

As soon as the sources are available in June, the author will start work on these resources. By September, we’ll have the Revision Guide & Exam Practice ready to send to you, with the Extension Guide following at October half term.

So, don’t spend all summer analysing the sources and preparing resources for your students. Enjoy your time off safe in the knowledge that we’re doing the hard work for you!

For more information and to order, see http://zigzag.at/G154-2013

ZigZag resources are available as ‘copy masters’ or in editable format and come with a site licence, allowing you to pay once and copy as often as you need, or put on your server for multiple use. All resources come with a quality-guarantee, 10-day sale or return period.

The Revision Guide & Exam Practice (£59) and Extension Guide (£29) are available as photocopy masters with site licence. Also available in:

Easy-printing PDF files (add 30%+VAT) or
PDF with editable Word files (add 50%+VAT)

——————————————————————————–

See the full list of resources at http://zigzag.at/UM50

ZigZag Education, Unit 3, Greenway Business Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol BS10 5PY

t: 0117 950 3199 | f: 0117 959 1695 | LawUM50@zigzageducation.co.uk

Give your promotional code UM50 to get free postage!

Student’s England Rugby success

St John’s student Elliott Herrod-Taylor has presented the Rugby shirt he wore while playing in the England Under-17 squad to St John’s. The shirt will be displayed in the school and sixteen-year-old Elliott hopes it will inspire students at the school to work hard to achieve their own personal goals.

Elliott has been playing Rugby since the age of six, and had already played at County level for Berkshire and for Dorset and Wilts, and trains every Monday with Bath Rugby. Earlier this year Elliott’s dream of being selected for the England squad came true, and he has since played against Scotland, Canada and Wales. He has recently been focusing on his GCSE examinations at St John’s, and is hoping that his results will enable him to take up the offer of a sports scholarship at Marlborough College where he will study for his A-levels.

Elliott thoroughly enjoyed the experience of training with other top Rugby players during a week’s training camp at Wellington College earlier this year. “The atmosphere was fantastic” explained Elliott. “We were living, training and eating together, and we were treated like professional players. We had presentations for our shirts before each match, where we wore our England ties and dress shirts, and had sports massages and ice baths pre and post the matches.
I was really nervous before each match, but as you come through the tunnel, you forget about your nerves and start to focus on the match. We won against Scotland and Canada, and we were winning against Wales, before I was taken off through injury. Wales went on to win.
It felt really special and great to represent my country and I want to try hard to be there again at U18 level. It was very inspirational, and I made some good friends from all over the country”.

The shirt, now beautifully framed, was presented by Elliott, his parents and his younger brother to St John’s Headteacher Dr Patrick Hazlewood, who congratulated Elliott on his achievement and wished him every success. “This is a wonderful achievement” said Dr Hazlewood. “I feel sure that Elliott has the determination that is needed to succeed in this highly-competitive area, and I am proud that we at St John’s have been able to help him towards achieving his goals”.

Longer term, Elliott plans to go to University after completing his A-Levels. He hopes to continue to play with Bath Rugby, and is aiming for an Academy Contract, which will pay his university costs, while allowing him to compete at Under-18 and Under-20 level and then to play for Bath’s premiership team.

How to develop positive behaviour and erase bullying at playtimes and lunchtimes

Left to their own devices during playtimes and lunchtimes, some children will play in a very positive way. They will work together, mutually acknowledging the rules of their own games, helping and supporting each other and gaining much from the experience.

Unfortunately not all children do this. Some become isolated, some race around letting off steam and occasionally colliding with innocent by-standers, some become the victims of bullies, others become bullies.

A straightforward way to enhance positive play in the school grounds is to teach the children one game a week which they can then work on together. Some games will catch on and become continuing favourites. Others by the nature of things will fade after a few days.

But two great benefits will emerge from teaching children one game a week. Firstly the initial playing of the playground game by a group of children is always a highly rewarding experience. The sorting out of the rules, agreeing the fundamentals and, above all, working together are all fundamental to the development of the social aspect of each child’s life.

Secondly, although the suggested games will not motivate and engage all children, they will enthuse many, leaving teachers on duty a much smaller number of potentially problematic situations to deal with.

As a further benefit, extracts from the book can be given to parents so that they can encourage their children to play these games when friends come around at weekends or after school, or to give a greater structure to birthday parties.

PSHE in the Playground is a photocopiable book (also available on CD so that it can be loaded onto the school’s network) which incorporates enough games to last a full school year and includes games that are suitable for both key stage 1 and key stage 2 children. Most games can be taught to children in a matter of minutes.

Because the book is copiable only one copy needs to be purchased for the book to be used by all teachers in the school throughout the year.

An extract from PSHE in the Playground, ISBN 978 1 86083 726 5, order code T1691EMN is available at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/primary/T1691.pdf

Prices

Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
Both the Ring Binder and the CD £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery
Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report…

By post from First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, NN17 4HH
By fax to 01536 399 012
On-line with a credit card at http://tinyurl.com/npqers
By phone with a school order number or a credit card to 01536 399 011

When ordering the book please quote the reference T1791EMN.

Justin King strikes Gold thanks to the Sixth Form College, Solihull Former college student awarded an Association of Colleges Gold Award

The Sixth Form College, Solihull was celebrating today as Justin King, Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s and one of its former students, was awarded a prestigious Association of Colleges (AoC) Gold Award by Lord Willis of Knaresborough at the House of Commons.

Staff and students from the Sixth Form College, Solihull were present at the awards ceremony which is held each year to recognise further education alumni as well as acknowledge the vital role that colleges play in the careers of the winners and of their continuing achievements.

Justin King was nominated by the College where he studied his A Levels in 1979. Armed with his grades from the College, Justin undertook a degree in Business Administration at the University of Bath. After graduating in 1983, he worked for a number of prominent food manufacturers such as Mars Confectionery, Pepsi International and Haägen Dazs before becoming Director of ASDA in 1994. In 2001, King moved to Marks & Spencer where he managed the food division.

Justin joined Sainsbury’s in 2004, charged with improving sales and halting its declining market share . Within six months, King had launched his recovery programme under the banner, “Making Sainsbury’s Great Again” and has recently been able to announce that the company has achieved 30 consecutive quarters of sales growth.

In January 2009 Justin was appointed to the Board of the London Organising Committee for the Olympics by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. He was then made a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group and awarded a CBE in the Birthday Honours in 2011.

On receiving his award, Justin said, “I am very honoured to be presented with this award. My time at Solihull Sixth Form College was key to my decision to go to University and study business, and as such, pivotal in my career. I am delighted to say that more recently my daughter has successfully attended the college too.”

Justin King was among eight former students whose careers have been positively influenced by their former Colleges. The other winners are Trevor Baylis – Inventor and Entrepreneur, Idris Elba – Actor, Katy Etherington – Graphic Designer and Founder of PA Pool, Peter France – Chief Executive of Rotork plc, Justine Greening MP – Secretary of State for Transport, Amir Khan – Professional Boxer, and Sir Kevin Smith – Chief Executive of GKN plc.

To highlight the important role further education continues to play for today’s students the AoC Charitable Trust runs a ‘mini me’ campaign alongside the Gold Awards. The nominating colleges each select a current student who shows promise in a similar field to their Gold Award winner.

Toby Railton, from Solihull, is currently studying A Levels in Economics, Politics, Mathematics and Further Maths. He has secured a prestigious 6-year apprenticeship with accountancy firm KPMG, which will see him complete a 4-year Accountancy degree at the University of Birmingham and start work at the firm.

Toby, 18, had the opportunity to meet his muse at the award ceremony at the House of Commons on 13 June and find out what it takes to carve out a successful career and about the role that their college played in their success.

Toby commented, “It’s great to hear about Justin King’s success and good to know that he started where I am now. It shows what you can achieve if you are willing to work hard. I hope my apprenticeship at KPMG is the start of a successful career for me in business.”

Paul Ashdown, Principal of The Sixth Form College Solihull, added, “We are delighted to see Justin King being recognised for his achievements by the AoC. We believe that Justin is an outstanding role model for our current and future students, because he demonstrates what can be achieved with hard work and dedication. We hope that many more of our students go on to achieve similar success in their chosen fields.”

What is the point of literacy?

It is often the case that literacy games (as in “change one letter at a time to make ‘hat’ into ‘cap’ in two moves”) enhances an interest in and an understanding of the language.

When we go further and link such games to the world of work, we broaden the horizons of the children not only in terms of literacy, but also in terms of the wider world.

Most children find questions such as “change ‘this is the way to the park’ into a question” interesting in themselves. But when correct answers take the children forward in a board game based on careers, the enthusiasm, and the level of learning, is enhanced.

Career Detectives – a teaching resource centred around a board game – does just this by providing a range of stimulating information about careers across all sectors within the context of a set of literacy and other activities that can be completed in the classroom.

When we ask, “What is a migration?” and suggest the answer might be “a bad headache” (as well of course as the correct answer,) we are taking the children into the very essence of the language with all its curiosities and oddities of connection.

But while we are also working within the format of the game we enhance and raise awareness of key skills including team work, communication, leadership, creativity and confidence.

Career Detectives has within it enough material for an entire term’s work. It also works on a diverse range of issues from key skills to healthy eating, from personal attitudes to citizenship.

At the same time it helps pupils to discover all about the world of work and which careers may interest them.

What’s more, using Career Detectives can also enhance your outcomes when Ofsted inspect as it enables you to demonstrate spiritual, moral, social and cultural development in your school. It also helps in a number of other areas, details of which can be found on our website.

In a world in which many people are perceived to be successful irrespective of their education, Career Detectives offers a stimulating alternative vision.

There is more information available on Career Detectives here.

Sibelius 7 discount offer from SOFTPLANET Only available until Sept 2012!!

**Upgrade to Sibelius 7 with all the new features £30.00 per upgrade
(you must upgrade all your seats)

**Add new seats to your license £60.00 each
(ignore web prices)

www.softplanetgroup.com/computer-music/notation-academic-software/sibelius-7-multi-user-licence-upgrade

One Sibelius Media Pack @ £24.00 must be purchased with all Sibelius 7 orders.

Single copies for teachers and student £150.00

Check our site for great prices on Pro Tools 10-Auralia-Musition-Photoscore-Audioscore-Sibelius First etc

Please contact us now for an amazing quote – but hurry, offer must end Sept 2012.

hq@softplanetgroup.com

Please supply all Sibelius serial no/s with your order if upgrading, and state whether you want Network or Standalone seats.

All prices subject to VAT

The most cost-effective way of reviewing and helping young people who might have dyslexia

Traditionally tests for dyslexia have been conducted by educational psychologists at a one-to-one meeting, and there’s no doubt that such an approach can give a detailed and insightful view of a young person’s issues with the written language.

However the approach can be expensive and of itself doesn’t always provide an immediate indication of what one should do next to help the individual in question.

With this problem in mind, the Dyslexia Centre has produced an on-line test which can be taken by pupils and students from the age of 8 upwards and which gives a clear idea if the individual might be dyslexic, and if so, what specific help and support should be given to the individual.

If you enter a pupil or student for the test you will receive a detailed written report on the individual’s understanding of the written language and a set of resources that can be used immediately with the individual.

Full details of the on-line test are available on www.dyslexia.ac The cost of a test is £49.95, including the full report and the resources that are considered relevant for the person taking the test.

The reports are written by educationalists with many years of experience in dyslexia, and our reports are widely used by schools to help judge whether students and pupils should have extra time in examinations.

You can pay on-line with a credit card, or if you wish, you can use a school order number. Details of how to make a payment in this way are given on the site.

If you have any enquiries please call the Centre on 01536 399 011 or email me at info@dyslexia.ac

Samantha Bates

Senior Administrator, Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Centre

SIXTH FORMER LANDS DREAM OLYMPIC JOB

For one keen student at The Sixth Form College, Solihull, his drive and initiative have paid off, as he has just landed a job at this summer’s London 2012 Olympic Games.

Mohammed Ali (aged 18, from Sparkhill) will be a Last Mile Team Member at the Olympics, which will involve paid work for the entire duration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As the title ‘Last Mile’ implies, Mohammed will be one of many Olympic employees to be stationed within a mile of Olympic venues to help the many thousands of spectators find their way to the events they have tickets for.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” enthused Mohammed. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I wanted to be there and when I looked on the Olympics website I saw their ‘Get involved’ section and decided to go for it.”

Mohammed applied online and was quickly contacted for a telephone interview. After suitably impressing organisers over the phone, he was invited down to Canary Wharf in London for a face-to-face interview. He was grouped with 5 other people and asked to discuss issues and situations that might arise at the Olympics, so organisers could see how he would handle any problems we might be faced with. He obviously did well, because a week later he was offered the job!

Training has been provided; Mohammed spent three days at Wembley Stadium recently, completing a variety of classroom activities and practical role-playing scenarios.

“It was great,” added Mohammed. “It was brilliant to just be in Wembley Stadium and now that I’ve done the training I’m really looking forward for the event to start. I will be based around the North Greenwich Arena, which is what most people know as the O2 Arena – it has been re-named for the Olympics.”

Mohammed is currently studying the BTEC Extended Diploma in Business Course, which is entirely assessed by coursework; thus his involvement in the Olympic Games does not interfere with examinations.

Does good handwriting matter in a digital age?

Some people who write columns in newspapers appear, on occasion, to take the point of view that beautiful handwriting is less important than mastery of the keyboard.

Education officials in some states in the USA have announced that skills crucial to 21st century success include keyboard skills but not handwriting. In Indiana for example, pupils from the age of eight sit standardised tests online. Proficient typing will help them to pass exams; handwriting has nothing to do with the matter.

Meanwhile one of the English exam boards has just conducted a test in which the students read the exam questions on tablets such as the iPad, but then have to answer the questions using pen and paper.

So where does the balance lie?

Interestingly, research undertaken by Dr Karen James from Indiana University has shown that ‘children who had been taught to write developed brain patterns similar to those found in reading adults. That doesn’t happen with keyboarding…’.

Indeed, many teachers observe that there is a link between cursive script and effective spelling. To generate cursive handwriting, the pen arm and torso work together, creating a sense of space and direction connected with a particular word. By contrast, tapping on a keyboard often involves only a gentle up-and-down movement of the fingers.

Handwriting is also an expression of personality. It is idiosyncratic, it is human, it is the hallmark of an individual. However, if you don’t put your name on a piece of typed work, the chances of identifying who it belongs to are reduced. Only if the writer’s style of writing is highly individual will the source of the writing be recognised.

To help develop a good clear style, ‘Handwriting Made Simple’ is a fully cursive handwriting programme in which all letters join. It contains twenty-nine sessions for Upper Key Stage 1 and the same for Lower Key Stage 2.

Detailed notes for teachers are also included.

This resource is available as a paper book, an e-book or a download.

Free sample pages are available on our website.

If you would like to know more please call 01772 863158 or email us at enquiries@topical-resources.co.uk

You can order in any of these ways:

On our website
By phone on: 01772 863158
By fax: 01772 866153
By email: Sales@topical-resources.co.uk
By post: Topical Resources, P.O. Box329, Broughton, Preston, Lancashire PR3 5LT

Topical Resources
P.O. Box329
Broughton
Preston
Lancashire
PR3 5LT

www.topical-resources.co.uk
sales@topical-resources.co.uk

Tel: 01772 863158

Prepare your students for interviews

The Interview

How To Make The Most Out Of It
A DVD resource for years 10, 11 and 12
Prepare your students for…
Work Experience placement
Part-time job
Full-time job
University application

Sharpen up your students’ presentation skills using these seven short films. Designed to encourage critical self-assessment to build students confidence for the full range of interviews they are likely to face.

Issues Covered
* Self-presentation
* Being prepared
* Questions to ask
* Rights at work
* Avoiding pitfalls
* Dealing with the unethical interviewer

All seven films come with linked briefings and background information for students and co-ordinators, printable off the DVD and provide a wealth of advice and suggestions for preparing students for interviews.

The students presented are drawn from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.

“If in your job you have anything to do with preparing students for interviews, then buy this DVD.”

Teaching Citizenship

The DVD includes
7 Separate Films indexed for immediate access
20 Linked Briefing sheets with clear advice and tips

Use These Links to Preview
Preview student briefing sheets
View Clip
More Information

To order or request a review copy
On line: www.team-video.co.uk
Email : admin@team-video.co.uk
FAX : 020 8960 9784
Price £34.99 (exc. VAT) + £2.50 P&P postage is free if ordered online.

New Ofsted inspections and classroom behaviour

New Ofsted criteria come into force next term requiring inspectors to make greater scrutiny of low level misbehaviour in the classroom. The presence of mobile phones, of back-chat, of calling out in lessons will all meet with Ofsted’s disapproval. Ofsted will expect school leaders to take action on these matters and to be energetically managing teachers who struggle to cope. How will your school stand up to this sort of examination?

Low level persistent misbehaviour in lessons has been the curse of many teachers for generations. We all know its effects on student attainment and on teacher morale. But because low level hassles don’t demand instant action by senior leaders, minor misbehaviour has all too often been tolerated as the teacher’s lot in many schools. Not any longer if Sir Michael has his way!

The good news is that you can satisfy these Ofsted requirements without turning your school upside down and adding to everyone’s stress. Indeed you can decrease teacher stress and increase pupil attainment by introducing a tried and tested approach – the Assertive Discipline® programme, a zero tolerance approach to classroom time-wasting.

The latest professional development programme in Assertive Discipline® shows teachers –

how to create a logical, fair and simple behaviour system for the classroom
how to establish their ‘presence’ and project their authority in the classroom
how to apply practical strategies for teaching better behaviour which are embedded within the delivery of the curriculum.
Assertive Discipline® is the longest established programme in the UK, recommended by government when it was introduced to schools, and developed and refined to meet the ever-changing needs of our schools. It trains teachers to deal quickly with low level disruption by winning over the floating voters in the classroom. It provides teachers with skills to become empowered to confront more challenging and disruptive behaviour.

We are the only educational organisation licensed to provide the Assertive Discipline® Master Class for teachers to be able to lead the programme in their own schools. This provides you with accreditation as an Assertive Discipline® programme trainer, able to lead the programme back in your own school.

Hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers have been trained in this simple yet practical method. The programme now includes “The Three Teaching Steps” – the basis of all good teaching, not only to manage better behaviour but also to manage curriculum more effectively.

Four ways to develop the programme in your school

Conscious as we are of limited budgets and limited time for training, we propose four optional routes you can take to introduce your staff to the Assertive Discipline® teaching methods:

Send a member of staff to our next three day Assertive Discipline® Master Class and Leaders programme on 19th, 20th & 21st June. This training takes place at our office in Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, and will be tutored by Dr Geoff Moss. We limit the number of participants on this course to ensure that everyone’s needs are properly met. Costs for all three days will be £530 plus VAT. If you wish accreditation as a registered Assertive Discipline® trainer you need to attend all three days. Alternatively teachers may attend the Master Class two days only (19th & 20th June) – cost £395 plus VAT. We allow 20% reduction on the cost of any further training for your school. Please phone 0870 241 8262 or email info@behaviour-learning.com to register.
Make use of our train the trainers Assertive Discipline® Leaders programme undertaken within school. Identify a group of prospective programme leaders from among your own staff (ideally a ratio of one teacher leader for every ten staff), and arrange with us to come into school to train them in our Master Class and Leader programme. This school-focused course requires 2 or 3 days to complete, depending on the systems and the behaviour management skills already in place. Please phone us on 0870 241 8262 or email info@behaviour-learning.com to discuss how this could be tailored to your needs.
DIY. We have produced a digital version of the Assertive Discipline® Master Class as a 5 CD pack. It contains a complete PowerPoint presentation with voice over by Geoff Moss, the full secondary or primary teacher video training programme presented by John Bayley, all with a site licence for you to edit and present to your own staff to suit your school needs. Click here for more information.
We also provide full In-School training for teaching and non-teaching staff with the programme. We have a proven track record of providing stimulating, entertaining and informative training in Assertive Discipline® for all types of schools. See the testimonials page on our website.

“Thank you for the outstanding quality of the training day which you led”

“Has dramatically improved behaviour”

“Inspiring”

“Made an enormous difference to how our staff and pupils relate to each other and has developed a highly positive ethos. These training opportunities really work!”

“One of the most successful INSET days in a decade and the staff response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic and positive. I personally found it inspirational.”

“The Assertive Discipline Master Class that I attended has proven to be invaluable. … I just wanted to say ‘Thank you’ for your passion and commitment to an excellent training programme.”

Behaviour & Learning Management, Eagle Tower, Montpellier Drive,
Cheltenham GL50 1TA Telephone 0870 241 8262

email info@behaviour-learning.com www.behaviour-learning.com

Structured Handwriting and Literacy Resources for secondary and above …

Make re-visiting the skills of cursive handwriting and literacy motivating, clear and constructive by using the latest resources from MSL (Multi-Sensory Learning).

1. Handwriting Rescue Scheme:

The complete programme for fully cursive handwriting includes over 300 structured exercises designed to establish a fluid, cursive letter formation and encourage an automatic response to frequently used spelling choices. Fully copiable ring bound format at £34.99 and CD-ROM format at £29.99 +VAT.

2. Handwriting Rescue Kit:

The kit contains a wallet with handwriting file paper pad, handwriting pen and activity workbook for individual use and great for personal motivation. Non copiable £18.00.

3. Handwriting Follow-on Activity Workbooks:

Two new copy master workbooks provide ‘follow-on-exercises’ for consistent, cursive handwriting, and the handwriting exercises are based on literacy skill activities using key words, punctuation and familiar sequences. Book 1 includes exercises on days of the week, months of the year, number words, question words, seasons and food vocabulary, as well as work on suffix ‘s’, contractions and proof reading. Book 2 includes exercises on soft ‘c’ and ‘g’ words, homophones, ordinal numbers, speech marks, plurals for words ending in ‘f’, the regular final syllable ‘-le’ and frequently misspelt words. £29.99 each.

4. MSL Structured Literacy Programme:

Teach, assess and monitor literacy skills using our clear, structured and motivating literacy programme. See below to visit our website for further information and free sample pages. The Programme is fully copiable in ring bound and CD-ROM formats, with prices starting at £29.99 for one Module and going up to £450.00 for the complete set.

*Sample pages and detailed information at the Multi-Sensory Learning website

Multi-Sensory Learning, Highgate House, Creaton, Northampton NN6 8NN

Tel: 01604 505000 Fax: 01604 505001 Email: info@msl-online.net Web: www.msl-online.net

PHP on a Stick: Portable PHP and SQL

PHP is one of the most popular server side scripting languages running today. It is fast, stable, secure, easy to use and free. These features have contributed to making PHP and SQL the language of choice for web applications, and therefore the perfect combination for ICT/Computing projects.

PHP on a Stick – The ultimate solution for learning PHP and SQL

This unique all-in-one tool allows students to learn about, develop and run their own PHP and SQLite projects straight from a USB memory stick! This allows students to do project work on their own computers, without requiring the school network or any additional software!

What’s included?

32 interactive tutorials on all aspects of programming and databases
8 working demonstrations with detailed code explanations (including address book, booking system and quiz generator!)
Unique Sandbox tool to build, run and save projects

FAQ

‘We’re halfway through the school year and students are using Access databases for their projects. Will they all have to change to SQL to use PHPonaStick?’ No – PHPonaStick can also be used with Access (.mdb) databases too!

‘Can the software be installed on our school network so that the students did not have to rely on memory sticks to run the excellent sandbox software.’ Yes – you can also install the software on a computer desktop or shared network area for use on-site!
Demonstration

View full details and demonstration videos at zigzag.at/UM33

PHP on a Stick is provided as a CD-ROM containing the master files at a fixed price of £169+vat for a site/copy licence. (Students then copy the files across to their own USB memory stick).

You can order (please reference UM33 when placing your order for FREE POSTAGE)

By phone: 0117 950 3199
By post: ZigZag Education, Unit 3, Greenway Business Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol BS10 5PY
By fax: 0117 959 1695
By email: ict-UM33@zigzageducation.co.uk
Via the website: zigzag.at/UM33
View details and inspection copies of all ICT resources at: http://zigzageducation.co.uk/order.asp?userid=ICT&link=um33

Relax, we’ve done your homework for you!

The great thing about being a grown-up is that you don’t have to do homework. The even greater thing about ZigZag Education’s Differentiated Homeworks for GCSE AQA French, German and Spanish is that you don’t have to prepare homework either!

Each pack gives you 45+ ready-made homeworks. All you have to do is photocopy them and hand them out.

ZigZag have thought of everything:

Differentiation – separate homeworks for Foundation and Higher
Marking – all answers included
Matching the specification – all AQA topics covered, plus controlled assessment and exam-style exercises
Activities appropriate for homework – self-contained, structured, no extra support or resources needed
To preview and order your copy, see: zigzag.at/MFL-UM49

Differentiated Homeworks are available as photocopy masters,� PDF files and editable Word files.

You can order (please reference UM49 when placing your order for FREE POSTAGE)

By phone: 0117 950 3199
By post: ZigZag Education, Unit 3, Greenway Business Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol, BS10 5PY
By fax: 0117 959 1695
By email: MFL-UM49@zigzageducation.co.uk
Via the website: zigzag.at/MFL-UM49
Details of all MFL resources are given at
http://zigzageducation.co.uk/teaching-resources-for-mfl.asp?userid=Languages&link=UM49

How can you possibly know about every special need?

In PSHE it is often a challenge to get up to date information on key issues to use in the classroom. Issues relating to Substance Abuse, Mental Health Issues, Depression, Eating Disorders, Self Harm. Loss, Separation and Bereavement are often discussed.

To help overcome this challenge the details of 43 of the most common and equally most often misunderstood special needs are given in 2 books:

A Guide to Syndromes and Conditions
A Guide to More Syndromes and Conditions.
In each case the condition is defined in terms of the characteristics and symptoms. Guidance is given on strategies and treatments followed by details of other useful resources.

These books are available from www.behaviourmatters.com/syndromesoffer

Cost of these resources:

£25 plus £2 postage and packaging (if one book purchased)
£40 plus £4 postage and packaging (if two books purchased)
To order please contact us at:

Behaviour Solutions Limited
15 St. Mary’s Close
Abbotskerswell
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 5QF

Phone / Fax: 01626 366161
Email: dave@behaviourmatters.com

What’s the most effective way to help an NQT, support teacher and other colleagues with behaviour management?

Some behaviour management books run to hundreds of pages, and if you are writing a thesis on the subject or running courses for other teachers they might be exactly what you need.

But sometimes there is a need to go back to the beginning – especially if you are looking to help NQTs, support staff or other colleagues who are having some difficulties in the classroom.

It’s for this reason we have produced Behaviour Management: or what do I do now?

The aim of the booklet is simple – to set out the basics in behaviour management in a short simple format, so that anyone interested can take the information and transform their work in the classroom immediately.

The focus is the simple question: “What do I do with young people who have anger and behaviour issues?” It is in fact a straightforward first information pack for staff who are looking to make progress in this own classroom environment.

The booklet covers such topics as “The Conflict Cycle”, aggressive signs and signals, ways of managing anger, the “solid relationship”, the “CALM” technique, body language etc etc.

Behaviour Management: What do I do now? is published as a download so that you can receive immediately a copy onto your computer which you can print out for colleagues as often as you want. You can also put it on your school learning platform so all staff can access the document – and indeed you can make it part of the induction documentation for new members of staff.

You can obtain Behaviour Management: What do I do Now? by going to http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=744

The price is £10 plus VAT (the VAT can be reclaimed in most cases by the school).

Behaviour Management is published by First and Best in Education, part of the Hamilton House group. If you have any enquiries you can call 01536 399 011, or email sales@firstandbest.co.uk or write to us at First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH.

The full range of First and Best books can be seen at www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk

First and Best in Education
Earlstrees Road
Corby
NN17 4HH

Website: www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk

Dealing with Autism Spectrum Condition

Young people with Autism Spectrum Condition face difficulties with social skills, communication and behaviour – all things that if left can make it very difficult for children to maximise their potential in terms of their education.

However, with the right sort of teaching and understanding, children with Autism Spectrum Condition can be polite, well mannered and sociable, while becoming calm, and happy.

As a result of such changes they begin to feel secure and learn how to be kind and charitable, while putting their own leisure time to good use, while developing their skills and knowledge.

Perhaps most excitingly they can become creative in a unique way.

Understanding the learning style of children with ASC is necessary if such progress is to be made – which is where “Single Focused Attention: Teaching children with an Autism Spectrum Condition” comes in. This volume, which is available as a copiable book and on CD (which allows it to be placed on the school’s learning platform) takes the interested teacher from a discussion of the condition through to ways in which the pupil or student can be helped at school.

The book includes issues relating to individual work, social skills, life in the school playground, timetabling, anxiety, homework, the physical and sensory environment, curriculum issues, and much much more.

The volume concludes with a test to establish whether the children do have “Theory of Mind” plus a large series of worksheets that can be used with ASC children.

You can see a full list of the topics and sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/spneeds/T1766.pdf

Publisher’s reference: T1766EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 782 1

Prices

Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
CD with school-wide rights: £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
Both the Ring Binder and the CD £27.94 plus £3.95 delivery
Prices include VAT.
You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1766EMN

By post to First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Way, Corby, NN17 4HH
By fax to 01536 399 012
On line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=743&osCsid=c1f61818b682e4a3155aec3e01e0baea

Beyond the Oxford English Dictionary

My aunt was a teacher in the middle of the last century. A lovely, kind and giving lady she was very much of the old school, and she would on occasion rail against the way spellings were modified in advertisements and popular culture.

Cereals such as Weetabix came in for comment, as did the re-writing of magic as “magick”.

But it was popular music that really heated up the discussion. Why were the Beatles not the Beetles? What was the “Led” in Led Zepplin supposed to mean? And as for “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” – well it was just beyond the pale.

Today, if she were still with us, I fear she would have serious words to say about Creme Eggs, Blu-ray and Froot Loops.

Indeed so strong were her opinions that I rather imagine that the Kumfi range of industrial matting, should she ever have come across it, would have caused her to sit down and take a few deep breaths.

But then she was a teacher, not a person with a legal responsibility to ensure that workers and visitors to factories and warehouses who stand in one area of the floor a lot do not wear the flooring out.

But when you do have such a responsibility, it is of course important to get the right matting in the right place. The Light Duty Kumfi Rib and the Light Duty Kumfi Pebble, for example, are for use in dry areas. The Medium Duty Kumfi Diamond is for the same areas but comes with extra thick closed cell matting and bevelled edges.

The Heavy Duty Kumfi Tough is a premium vinyl sponge matting and the Ulta Heavy Duty Tuffzone is the heaviest grade of PVC matting built to individual requirements, as well as taking us into dimensions of the language that the Oxford Dictionary has not yet contemplated.

They are all in our catalogue on pages 116/7 and on our website at http://www.workplaceessentialsuk.com/matting.html

Alvin Clarke
01604 792255
info@workplaceessentialsuk.com

Oakway Group
Concept House
40 Lower Farm Road
Moulton Park
Northampton
NN3 6XF
www.workplaceessentialsuk.com

What’s the most effective way to help students revise for the AS Politics Edexcel exam

Preparing for exams is never easy. However, if students know what the examiners are looking for there’s a good chance they’ll feel more confident and thus better placed to achieve a higher grade.

It is with this in mind that we have developed our AS Politics Revision Pack.

Split into three sections, the first includes over 110 exemplars which cover all subject areas of the course ranging from ‘democracy and political participation’ to ‘judges and civil liberties’.

Then there is the revision pack which contains a guide to assist students with the Edexcel examination. The importance of discriminators, how to gain AO1/AO2/AO3 marks and the top ten mistakes are all included in this revision guide.

And finally the resource contains a comprehensive revision checklist. This should prove invaluable to students sitting the examination. The aim of the checklist is to cover the entire Edexcel syllabus from the relatively straight-forward to the more complex tasks.

The resource has been tested out on existing students and has been amended in response to feedback from them.

This is a unique resource that should prove crucial to your students as they approach the AS Politics examination.

It could be used throughout the course, or as a stand-alone revision package at the very end of the syllabus.

This resource contains 133 copiable masters on a CD for £49.99 + VAT. Once purchased the CD can be freely copied and networked throughout the school.

To see sample pages please email sales@classroom-resources.co.uk quoting the order code 2051.

You can order the AS Politics Revision Pack CD in any of these ways:

On our website
By phone on 0117 940 6409
By fax on 0117 940 6408
By email (quoting a school order number) to sales@classroom-resources.co.uk
By post to Classroom Resources, PO Box 1489, Bristol, BS99 3QJ