Which is the easier to teach – the curious and inquisitive child or the indifferent child?

Clearly there is no need to answer the question posed in the headline above – but I still pose it because it sometimes seems to me that curiosity is one of those personality traits which we don’t do enough to promote.

Yet stimulating curiosity among those children who, for whatever reason, have lost their curiosity quotient (if I may invent such a measure) can prove a most invaluable exercise.

As a result, when I was designing the Literacy Box (a collection of over 200 homework ideas to support literacy outcomes at Key Stage 2) I insisted that the box should be designed in such a way as to be visible to everyone in the classroom and to parents who decide to choose alongside their child.

The box contains 232 A5 cards, is proven to be motivating for children and parents, and leads to successful literacy outcomes – as well as directing children’s natural curiosity towards meaningful activity and outcomes

All of these cards are divided into four sections – reading, writing, words and sentences, and spelling.

They have been written with year groups 2 – 4 in mind – depending on the developmental stage of individual children.

The point about the approach is that any card can be used from any section – for as long as the child wants to work with it at home. Over a period of time – using the cards little and often – children will build up skills, knowledge and abilities to think about language and literacy in different and more thoughtful ways.

You can download a free sample, supporting documents and our information leaflet from our website at www.thinkingchild.org.uk/literacy-box/.

What’s more, you can also view a video showing the product being used and comments from both parents and staff. You can also call us on 0844 332 0123 or email us at info@thinkingchild.org.uk for more information.

But that is not all. If you are looking for even more varied approaches to literacy work at KS2, you might like to take a peek at my blog (www.thinkingchild.org.uk/blog/) which contains an ever growing number of ideas and thoughts relating to using curiosity as a way of stimulating literacy.

Sue Dixon

How can assembly songs provide a positive and hugely creative experience for young children?

SEALSONGS is a collection of assembly songs which aims to get children engaged through the experience of making and creating music. The lyrics were written with considerable input from Year 4 and 5 pupils, so speak from children to children, and the musical backing tracks were professionally recorded.

But the resource goes further and offers teachers detailed advice on writing new lyrics, leading singing and other ways that SEALSONGS may be used in the classroom. Thus it enables teachers to give young children the positive experience of working with others in creating new songs within the SEAL framework. There is also guidance for non-specialists in how to teach songs.

The SEAL themes are:

Song 1: New beginnings
Song 2: Getting on and falling out
Song 3: Say no to bullying
Song 4: Going for goals!
Song 5: Good to be me
Song 6: Relationships
Song 7: Changes

Two further general songs – one about writing songs and one providing a Rhyme Game – are also included in the pack.

JENNY MOSLEY (Founder of Quality Circle Time) said “SEALSONGS is a wonderful gift to any adult who wants to truly help their class or school embed SEAL as a way of ‘being’ with ourselves and others. We all know that song can lift you to a different spiritual dimension – David Stoll has given us the perfect package to help even the most music-shy amongst us to engage young people in the process of creating heart-warming songs as part of a creative team….. This is an excellent resource.”

HOWARD GOODALL (National Ambassador for Singing) said “These SEALSONGS have the authentic ring of children’s ideas and feelings in every line. This, for me, makes it a valuable and empowering set of musical tools….. with excellent supporting materials and explanations.”

The SEALSONGS book and CD are now available as a download for £10 plus VAT. This price includes a licence for full use of all the material within the school, including recording new versions of the songs. The complete package is split into different files so that schools may choose which elements they wish to record or print.

Sample music can be downloaded from www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/music/SEALSONGSSamples.zip and you can purchase the book and CD on-line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=739

Holiday Discounts for MFL teachers

Oh to work in a profession where one can take one’s holiday at any time – and thus avoid paying top prices because you have to take your break during the school holidays.

Fortunately this problem can now be resolved. Not by taking your holidays any time you want, of course, but because there is a way of getting a discount during the school holidays.

We offer a range of tours and excursions during the school breaks which are specially designed for teachers.

And because of the success of our recent promotions we are now able to offer a further 10% discount for teachers on all our holidays.

You can see all the holidays that we offer on the link given below. Then, to claim a 10% saving, you will need to call us on 0844 324 8557, quoting the reference ‘TEACH’.

All you will need to do is provide us with the name and address of the school that you work for and your position within it.

So should you fancy Austria at Easter, Bruges during half-term, Rome in July or Christmas on Lake Como, these are all available, and all without any price hikes because you are going during the school holidays.

Our luxury coaches (with extra legroom and rear lounge) run from almost 500 regional pick up points and include all the extras that you could desire.

To see all the holiday options please visit our website – www.leger.co.uk/SchoolHolidays.aspx#holiday

How to help your school maximise its potential exam results

Practical tips on improving test preparation, causes of anxiety and guidelines on how to achieve calm in test-taking situations are just a few of the important facts covered in the Test-Taking Strategies for Students DVD series.

This series of 7 DVD resources for schools and colleges can be used for classroom presentation and library reference to show students how to navigate through both standardised and teacher-made tests by helping them recognise the variety of test questions they’ll encounter and then modelling different strategies that they can use to help them become confident, effective test-takers. Please click on the links below for more information:

Answering Test Questions

Test Anxiety

Taking Essay Tests

Taking Reading Comprehension Tests

Taking Maths Tests

Effective Note-Taking

Study Skills

Using humorous scenarios and a whole lot of fun, this series of DVDs engages students and provides them with a full complement of test-taking tools that can be used in any test-taking situation.

“…a savvy on-screen host and a trio of teens use tongue-in-cheek humour to present clear-cut strategies for taking both standardised and classroom tests…” Booklist

…will keep students engaged and positive. Suitable for study skills curriculum or general test preparation.– School Library Journal

Available on approval from Viewtech Educational Media. To order online click on the title links above and then add to order or click here to order the complete set of 7 Test-Taking Strategies for Students DVDs for less than £22 each (excl. p&p and VAT) – 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

Viewtech Educational Media is the trading name of Viewtech Audio Visual Media Limited, a company registered in England and Wales under number 4205240. A member of the British Educational Suppliers Association. E.&O.E.

In the Training Room there is a body lying in a pool of blood.

The students need to grab their evidence gathering tools, don protection suits and head for the training room..

Having seen the body, the students gather the evidence which is spread around them, but of course without in any way contaminating the crime scene.

Instructions and updates are given aurally as well as appearing on in-game plasma TVs. As the investigation progresses students are taken around the Store Room, the Locker Room, the Scene of the Crime, and the Crime Lab itself, finally ending up at the Crown Prosecution Service.

The students use the equipment in the Crime Lab to examine fingerprints, fibres and blood samples taken from the crime scene.

A computer with a scanner within the program can be used to identify the owners of fingerprints. A microscope allows the examination of fibres. The blood is processed using electrophoresis which is represented by a comprehensive animation of the process.

Once the evidence has been gathered and processed the student can forward the findings to the Crown Prosecution Service office where a further task involving the use of gas chromatography can be attempted by students who have the completed the initial processes successfully.

If you would like to see how it works we have a free trial CD available. Simply email sales@keylinkcomputers.co.uk and request a copy of the Crime Scene Investigation CD, and we’ll get it to you.

You can also see the resource in much more detail, which includes a video at www.keylinkcomputers.co.uk/csi/csi.htm

Alternately, for more information call us on 01926 850909 or email us at sales@keylinkcomputers.co.uk.

?this is’, not a question!

In order to help prepare children for the 2013 English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Test, we have devised a photocopiable revision book which contains a variety of different activities and approaches to help pupils gain a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the English language covered.

The photocopiable pages revisit everything from punctuation to grammar that the pupils have learned through their time at primary school and can be used with whole classes, small groups and individuals.

There are sections on personal and impersonal forms, definite and indefinite articles, verb forms, and apostrophes, to name a few.

What’s more, practice test papers will be available from February 2013 to compliment this book.

Free sample pages and a full list of the 50+ topics incorporated into the volume are available on our website at www.topical-resources.co.uk/literacy

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

You can order in any of these ways:

Knowing about every condition

Although memory often plays tricks it does seem that once upon a time it was the case that the number of special needs that we had to deal with was much smaller than is the case today.

Dyslexia and other reading difficulties, hearing impairment, visual impairment… we have all been familiar with these for a long time.

But then other conditions emerged and quite often there was some controversy attached to both the condition and its diagnosis. Indeed I well remember ADHD being greeted with disdain and disbelief in the early days with some colleagues outside the special needs department calling it an excuse for poor behaviour.

However, the fact is that these conditions are real, that they do affect some of the young people whom we teach, and it is vital that as SENCos we need to have a full working knowledge of each condition.

That doesn’t mean that when a parent comes in and claims that his/her child has attachment disorder we have to accept the parent’s word – but if it is the first case of attachment disorder that we have been faced with, we really do need to read up on it quickly before meeting with the parent and discussing the child’s condition with colleagues.

Likewise when we are having pupils and students referred to us by colleagues, there is a further need to be able to consider and come to terms with an issue that may be quite new to us.

It is for this reason that we have produced the two volumes of Behaviour Solutions: A guide to syndromes and conditions.

Each volume gives an introductory guide to a wide range of conditions. Volume 1 focuses on a range of conditions that relate to learning difficulties, interaction and communication problems, emotional and behavioural issues and sensory and physical difficulties.

Volume two moves on to 25 conditions and issues not covered in the first volume, from Angelman Syndrome to colour blindness, self-harm to spina bifida.

One particular benefit is that the books come in a photocopiable format so that if you wish to circulate details of a condition to several colleagues, or indeed to provide information to concerned parents, this is easily achieved.

Full details of the volumes and their contents are to be found on 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

Improving literacy by going outside

Learning outside the classroom is said to improve the speed of learning. But does that apply to literacy?

Recently the point was made that children learn twice as fast and cover four times as much ground when learning outside the classroom compared to what they achieve inside.

Clear evidence to support this claim is hard to come by, but there does seem to be a strong feeling that learning outside the classroom can result in longer retention of what is being taught.

The reason is probably that activities outside the classroom are by their very nature more varied and more unusual than lessons inside the classroom. Perhaps also, because beyond the classroom we deal with the real world rather than representations of the real world through books and film, children retain the information they gain and develop their enthusiasm for the work more rapidly.

All of these factors were taken into account when we put together our “Outdoor Learning Pack”.

The pack contains over 100 outdoor activities that each seek to motivate and engage children. These activities cover text, word and sentence level objectives, and are based on games which offer a playful attitude to learning.

The activities can be undertaken with small groups, pairs, whole class – and they most certainly encourage independent thinking.

Better still The Outdoor Learning Pack costs only £49.99+VAT and the materials can be used over and over again.

There is more information on www.thinkingchild.org.uk/outdoor-literacy-pack/ or you can call 0844 332 0123 for a chat.

 

Enterprise Soapbox – A versatile Cross-Curricular Resource

Innovative Enterprise has been delivering enrichment workshops and supplying enterprise resources to schools since 2006.

Enterprise Soapbox is our most popular resource to date having sold over 500 kits into more than 300 schools nationwide. We’ve even sent kits to Malawi!

Enterprise Soapbox is a self contained Business, Science & Enterprise kit which comes complete with a 70-page teacher pack full of ideas, curriculum links, G&T projects and more.

There’s enough material in the kit to make up to 700 novelty-sized soaps or approximately 140 bars of ‘regular’ sized soaps or. Pack two of the novelty ones together, sell for £1 and you’ve made more than enough money to buy a refill kit and do it all again!

Use it as a Social Enterprise or try it as a cross-curricular activity – it’s amazingly flexible!

Each kit contains:

  • 1 x 70-page teacher manual
  • 1 x Cold process demonstration kit
  • 1 x 11kg tub of soapbase
  • 2 x silicone novelty moulds (10-12 moulds per sheet)
  • 2 x large sheet moulds (4 moulds per sheet)
  • 3 x different colours
  • 3 x different perfumes with applicators
  • 1 x jug & spatula
  • 1 x CD-Rom instructional video and DVD.
 

E-mail: info@innovativeenterprise.co.uk
Website: www.innovativeenterprise.co.uk
Phone: 0845 326 4818

PSHE Information and Services


Think b4 u Post – Your Reputation and Privacy on Social Networking Sites

www.viewtech.co.uk
Viewtech Educational Media, 7-8 Falcons Gate, Dean Road, Yate, Bristol, BS37 5NH

Email: mail@viewtech.co.uk
Tel:
01454 858055
Fax:
01454 858056

Think b4 u Post is an educational DVD resource for class presentation and library reference that uses a light touch to deliver some very serious information on how users can protect their reputation and guard their privacy online while still having a good time using social networking sites. Appealing to teenagers, the message doesn’t try to limit the fun and practicality of online interaction and social networking sites; conversely, it provides insight to enhance online experiences and keep users texting, posting, and emailing safely for years to come. “…a valuable contribution to PSHE provision and it certainly conveys relevant and important information about keeping yourself, and your friends, safe on line.” – Reviewed at pshe-association.org.uk

 


Tackling bullying: where to start?

www.allresources.co.uk
All Resources, PO Box 4526, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 0TJ

Email: sales@allresources.co.uk
Fax:
0872 115 3933

Our Bullying – A Complete Approach resource has been produced to complement your school’s current resources.

The pack contains sections on verbal and physical bullying, peer pressure, cyberbullying, assertiveness and building self-esteem.

A short play is also included to help initiate class discussion as well as a section for teachers and parents with hints on how to identify bullying.

A workbook and photocopiable worksheets are also included which provide helpful tips on drawing up an anti-bullying policy for your school.

This resource is available as a hard copy or an ebook and free sample pages are available on our website.


Helping teenagers understand difficult topics?

www.egar.co.uk/choice-discussion-cards-HH1
Canonbury Business Centre, Unit 10B, Shepperton House, 89 Shepperton Road
Islington, London, N1 3DF

Email:egar@egar.co.uk
Tel: 0844 800 3056

There are all sorts of “difficult” topics that beset teenage lives: depression, alcohol abuse, personal hygiene, sex, bereavement, STDs, being overweight…

Talking to students about these issues can result in an increased awareness of the subject. But how do we motivate the silent student to speak and ensure the debate continues in a controlled way

The Egar Choice Discussion Cards cover a wide range of topics incorporating not just the topics above, but also such issues as gun culture, anger, crime, vandalism, love, bullying etc

If you wish to place an order please you can use the check out on the above link (schools can be invoiced on account) or by contacting us via the following methods. Please quote HH1 on all correspondence.


Helping your students manage anger?

Loggerhead Publishing, PO Box 928, Northampton, NN7 9AP

Phone: 0845 605 0230
Fax:
0844 3350776

E-mail Belinda@loggerheadfilms.co.uk

This step-by-step programme of ten lesson plans provides all the information you need to run a successful Anger Management programme with your students. It will enable them to gain the essential skills they need to develop their emotional literacy, using real-life examples with which they will identify.

The aim, required resources and methods are outlined at the beginning of each lesson and are all accompanied by user-friendly, reproducible student and teacher worksheets. The programme is available for either primary or secondary students and in each case is priced at £39.95 + VAT plus £3.50 Post and packing.

  • Anger Management – Secondary, Order code: 036HH
  • Anger Management – Primary, Order code: 043HH

Please quote the order code when ordering.

Raising Money for Secondary Schools

There are four ways in which secondary schools can increase the amount of money that they have to spend each year: by gaining additional support from parents, through donations from businesses, through income from sponsorship projects, and through efficiency savings.

Raising Money for Secondary Schools considers each of these approaches in turn and considers not only approaches that work, but also popular fund-raising methodologies that are often witnessed but are rarely successful.

Indeed, one of the big problems that schools can have with fund-raising is that many of the time-honoured methods of raising or saving money no longer work at all effectively.

When a school comes up against this issue and sees that the amount of money being raised or saved is in decline, there is sometimes a tendency simply to say, “fund-raising doesn’t work any more”. However, this explanation is generally not correct. Rather it is the case that the ways in which businesses and individuals respond to appeals for support have changed.

Further it is also true that what appears to be the common sense approach to gaining efficiency savings simply don’t work. Efficiency savings are possible, but for most schools this is only true when the school follows a particular approach.

This volume also asks the reader to focus on the position of the donor, and consider what sort of appeal will work. The reader is also encouraged to approach different types of organisations in different ways, rather than sending out identical emails and letters to all local companies, large and small.

There are also details of how the school should point out the benefits that will accrue to the donor, as well as to the school.

The volume concludes with a review of 22 separate sponsorship plans and a review of how efficiency savings can be made – often with savings that can be in excess of the amount of money that can be brought in through fund-raising.

Raising Money for Secondary School by Tony Attwoodis available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom which can itself be copied or loaded onto the school’s learning platform or intranet.

ISBN: 978 1 86083 801 9 Order code: T1801emn – please quote with order.

Sample pages can be viewed at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/education/T1801.pdf

  • 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 £26.94 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report…

 

AS Geography Student Workbook: Unit 1 World at Risk for just £10 plus VAT

This workbook aims to provide students with a revision aid for the ‘World at Risk’ element of Unit 1: Global Challenges paper for Edexcel A-level.

The first part of the workbook provides students with focused questions closely linked to the specification content to test their knowledge.

Section 2 allows students to practise the application of this knowledge against past exam questions.

The final section allows students to compare their answers against not only the mark scheme but an exam answer.

The volume is only available as a download – not as a printed book.

There are sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/authordownloadsamples/T1797samples.pdf

The workbookis published as a download so that you can receive immediately a copy onto your computer which you can print out for your students as often as you want. You can also put it on your school learning platform so all staff can access it.

You can obtainAS Geography Student Workbook: Unit 1 World at Risk by going to http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=76_112&products_id=768

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

AS Geography Student Workbook: Unit 1 World at Risk 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

To see other downloads by the same author please go to http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/index.php?cPath=76_112

First and Best in Education
Earlstrees Road
Corby
UK
NN17 4HH

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

What is the one thing on which every visitor to your school invariably comments?

This isn’t a question that most of us ever ask – and yet it’s something that perhaps ought to be considered, because it undoubtedly has a major impact on whether parents apply for their children to go to your school – or to another.

Of course if you are lucky enough to have a 50 metre swimming pool in the grounds, a set of five-a-side pitches, or a computer suite with recently purchased machines that stretches as far as the eye can see, and then you really don’t have to worry too much.

But if not, then it might be worth thinking: what is it that parents remember when they walk around the school for the first time?

Because if you can get a positive answer to that question, you will be influencing whether or not parents choose your school.

For this is a question that applies to schools no matter what their inspectors’ report or the exam grades that have been achieved. For important though the report and the grades are, they can’t actually be seen.

As a result of asking this question, one primary school in Bolton tried an experiment.

They wanted to have a focal point for all their pupils and visitors – something that all their pupils and students as well as visitors would be impressed by and would always recall.

It’s also something that would gain publicity in the local press.

Something that could be on the front of the prospectus and the home page of the school’s web site.

Something that would interest both parents and pupils.

And something that would have an impact on teaching and learning too.

To see what they came up with click here. We think you’ll be surprised.

HP 650 laptops at around half price, plus amazing offers on Toshiba and other HP machines and security products

We guarantee the lowest prices on: PCs, servers, laptops, netbooks, tablets, projectors, storage, workstations, consumables …

Let us know what you are looking to buy and we’ll come back to you with special prices to save you money.

Our latest special offers include:

HP 650 C5D05ES 4GB Ram 320GB HDD DVDRW 15.6TFT BT CAM Win 8 Laptop
Free Carry Case
£235 + VAT

http://www.technoworld.com/HP_650_C5D05ES/73757/product.aspx

Acer Aspire One D270 LU.SGA0D.019 Intel Atom N2600 1.6Ghz 1GB 320GB 10.1TFT CAM 6 Cell W7 S – Black
£165 + VAT

http://www.technoworld.com/Acer_Aspire_One_D270-LU-SGA0D-019/71701/product.aspx

HP P3400 MT LH121EA Core i3-2120 2.0Ghz 2GB 500GB DVDRW W7pro 64-bit
£300 + VAT

http://www.technoworld.com/HP_P3400_MT_LH121EA/64490/product.aspx

Toshiba Sat Pro C850-15V PSKC9E-01L00HEN Core i3-2370M 4GB 500GB DVDRW 15.6TFT BT CAM W7 Pro 64
£275 + VAT

http://www.technoworld.com/Toshiba_Sat_Pro_C850-15V_PSKC9E-01L00HEN/70847/product.aspx

Toshiba AT300-101 PDA08E-001005EN Tegra T30SL QC 1.3Ghz 1GB 16GB 10.1TFT BT CAM Android 4.0
£174 + VAT

http://www.technoworld.com/Toshiba_AT300-101-Silve_PDA08E-001005EN/69145/product.aspx

HP PC Tower P3405 QB242EA AMD A4-3420 2GB 500GB DVDRW W7Pro
£ 248 + VAT

http://www.technoworld.com/HP_P3405_QB242EA/67736/product.aspx

To receive the special discount for schools for any of the above products, all you need to do is
quote “eshot offer 47″.

For any quotes please contact us:

GCSE Puzzler: Biology

By and large GCSE students like puzzles, and as such offering puzzles which are related to the syllabus can stimulate and motivate students who might be less stimulated by traditional test formats.

Better still, if the puzzles cover much of the course, they can be used throughout the two years of GCSE study.

It is with these thoughts in mind that the GCSE Puzzler: Biology was produced. It contains some fifty puzzles divided into seven groups: cell biology, classification, human biology, human diseases, plant biology, variation, inheritance and evolution, and finally environment.

As the puzzles all come in copiable format (meaning they can be photocopied or put on the school learning platform) and can be used over and over again. A complete set of answers is provided separately.

As a result this book complements the more traditional tests, as well as providing a varied approach to in-course revision for GCSE students.

GCSE Puzzler: Biology covers all the main areas of GCSE biology up to the standard of A* grade level. There is also a medical emphasis within some of the tests, and it will thus be of particular benefit to those who wish to pursue a career in medicine or other health-related professions.

There are sample pages available at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/biology/T1749.pdf

Publisher’s reference: T1749EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 793 7

Prices

  • Photocopiable report in a book, £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the book and the CD £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery

Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1749EMN

What is the most powerful learning and developmental tool that everyone can use?

The answer to the question posed above is both simple and deceptive!

In fact the answer is “self-evaluation”. People who are able to evaluate their own work and their own performance can become more highly motivated and more highly engaged in their own learning than anyone else.

But self-evaluation is not common sense. It is possible to evaluate and mislead oneself at the same time. Instead of development and improvement being a result of the evaluation, self-deception leads to a lack of motivation and development.

This issue is of supreme importance as Ofsted now looks at how schools use self-evaluation to develop and improve.

The reason is that Ofsted recognises that the “quality of the self-evaluation is an indicator of calibre of the school’s leaders and managers and the school’s capacity to improve.”

In other words, Ofsted puts great store by the way the leadership of a school uses self-evaluation and review to improve teaching, because such self-evaluation, when used properly, really can work. In the simplest of terms it provides a benchmark as to how much schools are improving.

One way of developing self-evaluation in your school while showing Ofsted that you are on top of this issue is to use the specially prepared Classwatch video which has led some commentators to suggest that they have learned more in 30 minutes about their teaching than in the previous decade.

The Classwatch video reveals how and why teachers are using Classwatch in their schools for self-evaluation and the sharing of best practice.

With the Classwatch video system colleagues can observe a lesson remotely, and all teachers have an opportunity for self-evaluation. The lesson can then be reviewed and discussed with the teacher so that great lessons can be shared with other teachers in your school

You can watch a short video on our website to see testimonials from the teachers who are already using Classwatch – and hear what they say about their experiences.

Additionally you can click the link below to see why Classwatch is now in 330 classrooms (and rising) around the UK.

There is also an information sheet and a brochure with full details of how the Classwatch video system could work in your school. Please click here to arrange for a copy to be sent to you or to arrange a free demo at your school and at your convenience.

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Andrew Jenkins

The Bullying Intervention Toolkit

Provides a range of effective bullying intervention strategies.

No one intervention for bullying works best in all circumstances. Effective intervention occurs when facilitators have a range of strategies, with the accompanying knowledge and skills to know when – and when not – to use them. These include Brief Interventions, Peer mediation, Coaching students, Method of shared concern, Peer support Group Method, No Blame classroom conference method

With this book you learn:

How and why people Bully
Different solution focused strategies to deal with different situations and where each is most effective
How to encourage individuals to make pro-social choices
How to avoid labelling and aim to educate and heal, rather than punish.
How to create a healthy School culture

The resource includes:

■ 60 page book
■ 4 scripts-A4 size on CD

The Bullying Intervention Toolkit Ref: 305H £45.00

TO ORDER:
Post: Small World, 9 Burnham Place, Syresham, Northants, NN13 5HT
Tel: 01280 850 305
Fax: 01280 850 718

Email: orders@smlworld.co.uk
www.smlworld.co.uk

Oxbridge offers on the up at College

Girls from The Cheltenham Ladies’ College have received a wonderful set of Oxbridge offers for 2013.

A total of 29 Upper Sixth are holding offers of places at Oxford and Cambridge – an increase on last year’s impressive tally of 26 and the highest number in recent history.

Pupils wishing to study Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, History, Mathematics, Modern Languages and Law are among those whose applications were successful.

Further, two girls made it through the extremely competitive process to be offered places on the History of Art and Architecture courses at Cambridge, courses for which there are only 23 and 44 places per year respectively.

One student, who will read English, has also secured a Choral Award at Trinity College, Oxford.

College girls also gained a notable year-on-year increase in the number of successful applications to Medicine courses at Oxford and Cambridge; four girls have been offered places to study the subject next year.

College Head of Professional Guidance Jo Wintle said: “We are delighted by both the number of offers and the range of subjects represented, which reflect the intellectual diversity of our students as well as their hard work and dedication. While it is too early to report on the outcomes of all UK universities, this year’s applicants have already proved themselves to be highly successful; they are a credit to College and to their teachers.”

All indications point to a strong set of US offers this year too, with three students gaining places via early admissions programmes to Columbia, Boston University and NYU.

Introduction to Autistic Spectrum Condition (including Asperger’s Syndrome)

A One Day Course
Accredited at level 2 by the Open College Network

Are you complying with recent requirements? (Autism Act 2009)
Do you have evidence of training at a recognised level?

 This course is for anyone working with children and young people with Autism during the course of their work but has had no formal training. All those successfully completing the day will receive one credit at OpenCollege Network level 2

 2013 Dates and Venues Nationwide (Please click here for info)

Or let us come to you! Fantastic Savings for In House training for up to 20 people

Successful candidates will have proved that they:

• Recognise the main characteristics of behaviours of people with Autism

• Understand the Triad of Impairment

• Compare different individuals with Autistic Spectrum Condition in order to appreciate the range of the Spectrum

• Appreciate the particular differences of using and understanding language with people with Autistic Spectrum Condition

• Understand the need to back up spoken language visually, to help people understand

• Appreciate the importance of routine and predictability in the lives of people with Autistic Spectrum Condition

• Understand the complexity of social interaction

• Appreciate the sensory differences of people with Autistic Spectrum Condition

Course timings 9.30 – 3.30

PLACES LIMITED TO 20

Cost of one day course: London Venues £250 (ex vat) All other venues £225 (ex vat)

This cost is inclusive of Accreditation fee, certification, supporting notes, lunch and refreshments

All our courses can also be delivered ‘In House’ to a group of up to 20 staff. If you have a number of staff to train this can work out to be more effective. Please call or email for further details

Concept Training is one of the country’s leading providers of VALUE FOR MONEY training programmes for anyone living or working with people of all ages who have Special Needs.

We have dates and venues throughout the UK and Ireland or we can deliver any of our programmes “In House

Within our wide range of training courses we have a number of OCN Accredited courses and if the course you are interested in isn’t accredited we are more than happy to write bespoke programmes and put them through the accreditation process if appropriate.

Please click here to see a list of our full range of courses. These courses are available as In House programmes and can be tailored to suit specific needs/age groups.

For further information, or to book a place

Telephone 01524 832-828 or mailto:info@concept-training.co.uk

Concept Training Ltd, 15 Beach Street, Morecambe, LA4 6BT www.concept-training.co.uk

“I attended the training ‘An Introduction to Autistic Spectrum Condition including Asperger’s Syndrome’ on 23.03.11 and just wanted to leave some feedback.

I found the course really interesting, the content was very thought provoking and engaging. Sally Slater made the material discussed very accessible to all and made me look at ASD from another perspective. Sally is a great speaker and I feel is a credit to your team!”

Thank you

Kerry Hoye Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

I just wanted to express my great thanks to Sally Slater for the course she ran on Wed 23rd March, ‘An introduction to the autistic spectrum condition’, which I attended.

It was a breath of fresh air compared to many county led courses I have been on recently. Informative, humorous with first hand experiences and ideas which can be realistic in a class of Reception aged children.

Thank you for such a positive day – there were many ideas that are so relevant to good practise for any classroom that have slipped into the ether of my memory. Hopefully they will reappear in the near future to the benefit of staff and children alike in my setting

Again, many thanks

Jenny Loney, Cambridgeshire

 

 

 

How can assembly songs provide a positive and hugely creative experience for young children?

SEALSONGS is a collection of assembly songs which aims to get children engaged through the experience of making and creating music. The lyrics were written with considerable input from Year 4 and 5 pupils, so speak from children to children, and the musical backing tracks were professionally recorded.

But the resource goes further and offers teachers detailed advice on writing new lyrics, leading singing and other ways that SEALSONGS may be used in the classroom. Thus it enables teachers to give young children the positive experience of working with others in creating new songs within the SEAL framework. There is also guidance for non-specialists in how to teach songs.

The SEAL themes are:

Song 1: New beginnings
Song 2: Getting on and falling out
Song 3: Say no to bullying
Song 4: Going for goals!
Song 5: Good to be me
Song 6: Relationships
Song 7: Changes

Two further general songs – one about writing songs and one providing a Rhyme Game – are also included in the pack.

JENNY MOSLEY (Founder of Quality Circle Time) said “SEALSONGS is a wonderful gift to any adult who wants to truly help their class or school embed SEAL as a way of ‘being’ with ourselves and others. We all know that song can lift you to a different spiritual dimension – David Stoll has given us the perfect package to help even the most music-shy amongst us to engage young people in the process of creating heart-warming songs as part of a creative team….. This is an excellent resource.”

HOWARD GOODALL (National Ambassador for Singing) said “These SEALSONGS have the authentic ring of children’s ideas and feelings in every line. This, for me, makes it a valuable and empowering set of musical tools….. with excellent supporting materials and explanations.”

The SEALSONGS book and CD are now available as a download for £10 plus VAT. This price includes a licence for full use of all the material within the school, including recording new versions of the songs. The complete package is split into different files so that schools may choose which elements they wish to record or print.

Sample music can be downloaded from www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/music/SEALSONGSSamples.zip and you can purchase the book and CD on-line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=739

 

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

Free poster on Pythagoras’ Theorem

Welcome to 2013! We hope you enjoyed the break!

To kick off the new term, we’ve produced a free poster explaining Pythagoras’ Theorem.

Download the free poster from our Free Stuff page, where you’ll also find a lesson plan on upper and lower bounds, a presentation on data collection and an area formulae poster!

And if you’d like to see a bigger sample of what Boardworks Maths has to offer, you can also request a presentation of your choice!

Regards,

The Boardworks Maths team

Does this pupil have dyscalculia – and if so what should we do about it?

Assessing a student who appears to be poor at maths to see if the child is suffering from dyscalculia is useful as means of helping assign limited resources.

This assessment can be done through an educational psychologist, of course, although this can be rather expensive – and of itself it doesn’t actually provide any resources that can be used to help the student after the assessment.

The Dyscalculia Centre has been looking into this problem for some time, and we have now come up with an on-line test which is much lower cost than a visit to an educational psychologist.

What is more, having marked the test we then provide a comprehensive set of copiable materials relevant to that student. These resources can then be used in school by an assistant teacher or SENCO working with the student.

The on-line Dyscalculia Test covers the individual’s attitude towards mathematical concepts and issues, plus specific questions on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, shapes, percentages and time. It is intended for anyone aged over seven years, but obviously does imply that the individual would be expected to be able to answer some basic questions in each of these subject areas.

Testing costs £49.95 per pupil. This price includes taking the test, receiving a specific report in relation to the individual taking the test, and being provided with resources relevant to that individual which can be used to help them progress in maths.

To read more about the test please visit http://www.dyscalculia.me.uk/testing.html

The test itself is set up for payment by credit card on-line, but if you wish to use a school order number you can do this by phoning 01536 399 011, or by fax to 01536 399 012. In each case we will need your email address so that we can email you a link to the on-line test. There are more details about payment for schools on http://www.dyscalculia.me.uk/teacher.html

The two ways to get a university place

For as long as any of us can remember, universities have demanded certain A level grades as the entry ticket to a course.

But in recent years a second requirement has been added, a requirement that has had less attention but which can in many cases have as much impact on the success or failure of an application as the student’s grades.

In fact each year we are seeing an increasing number of highly able and talented students failing to get to the university of their choice because their application does not make the most of their potential, their personality, their drive, and their ability to give something back to the university as well as be a good student.

Students now need to be well informed and focused in order to make the right choices and to give themselves the best possible chance of getting a place on the course and at the university that best suits their future aspirations.

They also need to know why they want to go to this university, to study this course, and they need to be aware that being at university is a two way process. The university gives the student opportunities – the student needs to show that he/she will seize those opportunities and give something back in return.

”How to Successfully Apply to University” seeks to clarify the process of applying for university and contains information and insights that will be useful for all students as they face the university application process. It outlines each step from the first thought to the completion of the application, and looks at all aspects of the process of selecting and applying for a university place.

The approach within the book includes carrying out research to find the best suited course/university, understanding the UCAS system, delivering the best possible personal statement, the actual application and the post-application process, funding, and student accommodation, etc.

Sample pages can be viewed at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/careers/T1779.pdf

ISBN: 978 1 86083 810 1; Order code: T1779emn

The volume is available as…

  • 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 £26.94 plus £3.95 delivery

Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the book or CD…

 

Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty – an unexpected inability to handle one or more aspects of maths as a result of a genetic malfunction.

It is related to, but separate from, dyslexia. About half the people who suffer from dyslexia also suffer from dyscalculia, but it should be noted that around a quarter of the dyslexia sufferers have the average ability in maths that would be expected for their age, while a quarter perform at an above average level in maths.

Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools examines the five main causes of dyscalculia and sets out the methods of working available which can help pupils overcome their dyscalculic problems.

Most importantly, the volume explains why pupils and students with dyscalculia rarely make much progress in remedial classes in which maths is taught in the same way as in mainstream classes, but at a slower rate.

As the book shows, dyscalculic students need a totally different approach if they are to progress in maths – using mutli-sensory teaching and learning. It also includes a sample policy document on dyscalculia.

The book also contains short sections which can be copied to give out to other members of staff in school, to worried parents, and to governors, so that everyone can share in the awareness of what dyscalculia is, and how it can be tackled.

“Dyscalculia in Schools” can also be placed on the school’s learning platform for ease of access.

Above all the book shows that once we understand and accept the causes of dyscalculia we can adopt appropriate methods of teaching to overcome the problem. Research suggests that most children who gain appropriate help in school can overcome their dyscalculic difficulties and achieve an acceptable grade at GCSE, thus allowing entry into further and higher education.

There is a sample chapter available on-line at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/dyscalculia/T1628.pdf

Cat No: 978 1 86083 614 5; Publisher reference no: T1628emn

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 book…

 

Teaching Art to KS3 and KS4

Teaching Art to KS3 / KS4 is a highly illustrated book of lesson ideas.

The bulk of the book covers a series of 10 skill based lessons for KS3 & 4, a series of projects involving working with industry and reports on making links with art schools.

Each lesson, project and report is highly illustrated with examples of students’ work as they have progressed through the projects which include drawing faces in a crowd, “Reading a picture” which helps students work out what’s going on in a picture and then looking around the picture to understand the artist’s intention.

There is a project on drawing a picture square by square, one on comic strips, the “Ripped Paper Portrait” which helps the understanding of tone through colour, and a further project on newspaper portraits which helps pupils think about the way colour is used.

The composition exercises allow your pupils to create their own composition from pieces of art from well known artists, while the Observational pastel drawing project looks at observation and composition.

Throughout these and the other projects within the download the students can see the work of those who have gone before them, without in any way having their imaginations restricted.

Teaching Art to KS3 and KS4 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 members of your department can access the document. YOu can view sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/authordownloadsamples/T1800samples.pdf

You can obtain Teaching Art to KS3 and KS4 by going to http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=76_121&products_id=771

The price is £10 plus VAT (the VAT can be reclaimed in most cases by the school). For teachers who buy the download there is a PowerPoint version that is available free on request from the publisher.

Teaching Art to KS3 and KS4 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
UK
NN17 4HH

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

 

How can you improve on a free service?

Imagine a company that goes into schools and removes unwanted IT equipment free of charge.

Now imagine a company that does more, such as data wiping and making sure the disposal is environmentally friendly.

And finally imagine a company that will pick up virtually everything unwanted in IT, from computers to telecoms, from monitors to cables.

First, to make it clear, PRM really does offer a free service. There are no charges.

Second, we treat everything in the most environmentally friendly way possible in keeping with school sustainable education programmes.

Third, all the data on the drives is wiped to the highest standards possible. In fact, on this issue we go further, for we clean out all the data from the drives, and then all the equipment is then recycled within the UK – all without any charge.

The only requirement we have is that you have at least 30 items for collection and that they are all gathered together in one easily accessible place for our driver to pick up.

We can take PC base units, CRT monitors, TFT monitors, servers, laptops, server racks, switches, telecom switches and printers. Indeed as long as you have 30 of these items we will take away other IT equipment at the same time, such as keyboards, cabling and telecoms.

At the end of the process we issue you with free certification evidence so you can see that the correct procedures were complied with.

For more information please call our freephone number: 0800 840 9195 or fill in the form by clicking here www.prmgreentech.com/contact.htm

Free poster on hazard symbols

Welcome to 2013! We hope you enjoyed the break!

To kick off the new term, we’ve produced a free poster of hazard symbols.

Download the poster from our Free Stuff page, where you’ll also find A2 Biology resources and a lesson plan on succession, an activity on the Earth’s orbit and a poster on animal and plant cells!

And if you’d like to see a bigger sample of what Boardworks Science has to offer, you can also request a free presentation of your choice!

Regards,

The Boardworks Science team

Chronic Behaviour Problems DVD By Dave Stott

Reduce chronic behaviour problems before they develop further

Pupils with chronic behaviour problems view the classroom as their stage and each lesson as an opportunity to practise their disruptive skills. The ‘drip drip’ effect on both the pupil and the morale of the teacher can be immense. It interrupts the whole learning environment and, if not addressed, chronic behaviour problems can escalate into acute and severe problems.

With this DVD you learn powerful strategies to:

• Reduce incidents of chronic misbehaviour
• De-escalate, rather than escalate, the situation
• Encourage pupils to make good decisions about behaviour and return to ‘on-task’ behaviour

Section 1 outlines the difference between chronic and acute behaviour problems. You explore the effects of chronic issues, particularly on the teacher, in terms of self-esteem, professional competence, interruption to learning, anger and frustration.

Section 2 demonstrates practical examples of ‘off-task’ behaviour problems such as fidgeting and lack of attention (disruptive and non-disruptive), agitated
movement, bringing the wrong equipment, wearing the wrong uniform, calling
out, leaving the seat, interrupting the learning of others by chatting or
making physical contact, and refusal to comply with clear instructions.

You explore a hierarchy of responses involving:

• Physical proximity
• Proximity praise
• Secret signals
• Location change
• Work order change
• Rewards and consequences

Section 3 examines how to increase the level and effectiveness of your
responses if chronic behaviour still persists. You explore practical examples of one-to-one conferences, planning your approach, working in partnership with colleagues, parents and carers, benchmarking behaviour and monitoring progress.

Section 4 is a question and answer session with the studio audience, and
includes a final review of suggested strategies.

Total running time: 60 minutes.

Also included are handouts and useful discussion points as a pdf on the disc.

This DVD is also available as an intranet version which can be stored on your
server and allows easy access to everyone in the establishment.

Suitable for use in both primary and secondary schools and is priced at £50.00 + VAT.

  • Chronic Behaviour Problems DVD, Order code: 043HH

Please quote the order code when ordering:

Get 2013 off to a flying start

Happy New Year! What are your school’s New Year’s resolutions for 2013? Improve student engagement? Successfully integrate ICT into your curriculum? Ensure your students reach their full potential in numeracy and literacy or perhaps all of the above?

We’ve come up some tips to help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions.

Enjoyment

Enjoyment is the key to meeting your goals! Our resources offer exciting rewards, making learning fun and helping to build confidence.

Planning

Plan your path to success! With our adaptable courses you can differentiate between your pupils to meet individual needs.

Success

Celebrate achievement! Through automatic marking and instant awards you can track progress and intervene if pupils need more help, ensuring all your pupils experience success.

Why not start the New Year with a FREE trial and take advantage of our New Year’s resolution offer? Exclusive 7-month licences available for a limited time only.

To take up this offer:

Request a trial by emailing or clicking on the button below.

  1. Experience the benefits of our programs with your students.
  2. Click on the button below for a copy of our order form.
  3. Complete and return the order form by 31st January 2013 for your 7-month subscription.

If you need further information please contact us on +44 117 360 1057 or holly.nicholls@3plearning.com

REQUEST A TRIAL

ORDER NOW

Effective differentiation, marking and feedback for ‘outstanding’ lessons

This one day course is packed with essential, practical content. In 3 lively sessions we look in detail at effective differentiation, marking and feedback in practice and give numerous techniques and strategies that you can apply on your return to school. Discover how to engage students, enrich their learning and save teachers’ time.

This day is interactive and energising. Topics include:

  • How to use Assessment for Learning strategies to aid differentiation
  • Lesson planning to maximise learning for all pupils
  • What Ofsted inspectors are looking for and how to meet the highest requirements
  • Marking and feedback as key components of effective AfL
  • Self-assessment, self-evaluation and peer assessment
  • Top tips on how to use marking to motivate
  • Managing the assessment workload
  • How to use questioning techniques more effectively

Effective differentiation, marking and feedback for ‘outstanding’ lessons is delivered by Karl Turner. Karl has 28 years of experience as classroom teacher, Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher. He continues to teach as well as delivering high quality courses and school-based INSET helping colleagues to develop outstanding teaching strategies. Karl has a proven track record of providing effective developmental leadership in support of sustained pupil, subject and school improvement.

“Great speaker. Perfect pace. Excellent.”
Rhian Davies, Gartree High School

“Very helpful, great ideas, straightforward, no-nonsense, lots of practical tips.”
David Brown, Ralph Thoresby School

“Absolutely fantastic. Really easy to listen to.”
Katy Paternoster, Hamford Primary School

Venues and dates:

Manchester: 18th January 2013

Stratford-upon-Avon: 21st June 2013

Leeds: 1st July 2013

Quote ‘New Year offer’ and Save £50 when you book by 11th January 2013

To book please:

email bookings@smartees-learning.com
call 0118 9797 551 or
visit www.smartees-learning.com

Saint Paul’s Excursion to France

Pupils from Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe were able to immerse themselves in many aspects of French culture from visiting the bustling Christmas markets in Amiens and historic Boulogne, to staying in a chateau and visiting Nausicaá, France’s world-class sea-life and marine environment centre.

Amiens proved to be the perfect place for the French and Art students to experience the authentic and magical atmosphere of a traditional Christmas market and soak up the art, culture and history of the French city.

Staged in the heart of the city, the “Winter Scents, Amiens Christmas Market” (les parfums d’hiver, le marché de noël d’Amiens) is the largest Christmas market in the north of France. The whole of Amiens city centre was immersed in the imaginary world of Jules Verne for the occasion, and the pupils were able to explore this world of dreams and festivities. There was a variety of festive music, tasty treats and lights and an open air ice rink, merry-go-rounds, singers and shows.

The visit to Nausicaá allowed pupils to experience and record images on sea life which they may use in the future projects on Matisse or Munch’s “The Scream”. The school feels that it is important that pupils are able to gather independent research first hand, as work produced from experience is far more personal and better informed.

Pupils also had an excellent opportunity to view street artists in Boulogne, including an outstanding ice sculptor and creative and dramatic street performers. A particularly useful focus in Boulogne and Amiens was that they were able to see people making and selling crafts based around skills they might learn in school.

 “The visit provided an excellent opportunity for the pupils to practice their French in a “real life” situation which is so very different from classroom learning,” explained Mrs Helen Farrar, Head of Modern Language at Saint Paul’s.  “It was great to see how their confidence grew as they were able to experience communicating in a foreign language! The students enjoyed the trip which was great fun and very friendly.”

Mrs Farrar added: “The pupils quickly got into the festive spirit. The Christmas markets were enchanting and were ideal for our pupils to experience the richness of French culture. The pupils gained valuable skills which can be used in their studies, they also gained a great deal of confidence through the whole trip and it was great to see pupils from all year groups helping and supporting each other.”

Miss Rebecca Coyle, Second in the Performing and Expressive Arts faculty at Saint Paul’s, who also went on the trip, commented: “This was an excellent trip, which proved to be hugely enjoyably and a very valuable support for the students’ work. The visit brought them into contact with many areas of inspiration for their art projects.”

“The Amiens Christmas markets had a warm and festive feel with plenty of choice to suit all tastes. It was a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to explore the old city and savour the atmosphere,” continued Miss Coyle.

Miss Coyle added: “It was an excellent opportunity for the pupils to experience art in a different way…rather than the obvious. Plus, in the New Year, the Year 10 Art students will be doing a sea life project… so they will have primary research from both the Blue Planet Aquarium and Nausicaa.”

 “We see educational visits and trips as very important for our pupils, they can stimulate and inspire, aid personal and social development and motivate learners of all abilities,” commented Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s. “The trip to France will be one that they will remember for a very long time.”

New Year’s Resolutions for Saint Paul’s

It’s not only individuals who sign up for New Year resolutions, staff and pupils at Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe have also committed to the following:

 No “play” fighting as it can sometimes lead to the real thing

***

Keep bad language out of Saint Paul’s

  ***     

Saying sorry is the starting point to solving lots of problems

 “The New Year offers an excellent opportunity to commit to some positive actions and thoughts which are realistic, worthwhile and beneficial,” explained Mr Wiktor Daron, Head Teacher at Saint Paul’s. “As a school, we are always looking for ways which we can improve school life and the development of our pupils.”