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.

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“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