From igloo to cough, we’ve covered every spelling choice and every phonic in the English language

It sometimes comes as a bit of a shock to realise that there are some 90 different spelling and phonic rules in the English language.

They range from troublesome similarities (such as words like “coin” and “toy” with the same sound but different spelling choices), to the six different ways of pronouncing “ough”, not to mention the bizarre collection of words which utilise silent letters.

There is only one way in which dyslexic students can learn the spelling choices for the many different phonics and homophones, and that is through a structured reading and spelling programme.

Which is exactly what MSL has devised: the complete reading and spelling rescue programme.

This programme covers all the 90 different spelling and sound rules and adds in ten sections on issues such as word patterns, suffixes, prefixes, homophones and irregular final syllables, making 100 topics in all.

The 90 rules and associated topics can be seen on our website where you can see the structured order of teaching that we have introduced.

What we have then done is broken these 100 topics down into 20 modules, presented in an order which allows students to use the spelling rules as soon as they have learned them.

As a result of this structured approach, which includes placement & progress tests, you can introduce a dyslexic pupil or student to the sequence from the very start. You can also begin work at a point where the individual will be revising key points, before moving on to areas of weakness, where his/her knowledge becomes erratic.

A copiable version of each module costs £29.99, or you can order five modules together on a CD for £80 plus VAT. All 20 modules are available for £450.

You can order the Reading and Spelling Rescue Programme in any of these ways:

  • On our website (where you can also see full details of the programme)
  • By phone on 01604 505000
  • By fax to 01604 505001
  • By email to info@msl-online.net
  • By post to Multi-Sensory Learning, Highgate House, Creaton, Northants, NN6 8NN

 

The perfect parents’ evening – and how to achieve it

In the perfect parents’ evening everything runs without any hitches.

In the perfect parents’ evening every parent gets allocated a time slot which is just right for him/her.  And nearly everyone allocated a time turns up in the right place at the right time.

In the perfect parents’ evening no one over runs, and everything moves smoothly from the opening appointment to the final discussion.

And that leaves but one question: how do we create the perfect parents evening?

Here’s the answer:

A parent logs into Parent Teacher Online and then

  1. Enters the time he/she wishes to arrive at the school,
  2. Indicates the teachers he/she wants to see (our software will automatically create the shortest possible schedule),
  3. Receives the interview schedule either digitally or as a printed file.

Which leaves the parent with just one remaining problem: to arrive at the school.  (Sadly, we don’t yet operate a nationwide transport system to help with this point, but we’re working on it.)

Our system takes an average parent 3 minutes to use, at the end of which each parent will have scheduled all of their appointments.

And here’s the bonus:

We are now offering a discount of 20% off the usage fee for the next 2 years if you sign up before the end of July 2013.

If you would like to know more just click here

If you would like us to contact you click here.

Business Studies Curriculum Update

ALL 10 STUNNING CURRICULUM
TITLES FOR BUSINESS STUDIES FOR JUST £100!“An incredible Business Studies curriculum software range. The fantastic curriculum animation and interactivity within each title will increase pupil engagement and learning and save you so much lesson preparation time. Superb high quality curriculum resources, at a staggering price that no school should miss out on.” – Jonathan Boyle, Deputy Head, Madeley Academy
To order your FREE 14-DAY TRIAL please click here
Each title is packed with hundreds of stunning curriculum 3D animations, text, voice-overs, quiz zones, drag and drops, multiple choice quizzes and more, covering 10 Business Studies topic areas. It’s brilliant! All this from the UK’s leading curriculum software provider. These titles are usually £100 each!

All these titles are included: Business and the Economy; Business and the Government; Business Basics; Finance; International Trade and the EU; Marketing and Production; Marketing Communication and Finance; People and Communication; People in Organisations; The Impact of ICT.

Includes a full school site PC and network licence, nothing more to pay, EVER! Free 14-day trial, so if you don’t like it you can just send it back.

How newspapers encourage schools to ignore leasing options

It is a sad fact that some methods of purchasing are deemed more newsworthy than others.

For example, if you type “school minibus” into Google and then click on the News option at the foot of the page, you will be taken to a range of stories about schools that are raising money to buy a school minibus.

There are tales of teachers doing a sponsored run to raise money for the bus, PTAs working for years raising money and so forth.

And although the stories are all about great deeds and hard work, what lies behind these headlines are years and years of students not having a resource that could really improve the quality of education (especially learning outside the classroom) that they receive.

What you will struggle to find, should you ever be inclined to do this sort of search, is any story that talks of a school that discusses the idea of having a school minibus, sets up the details, and then a couple of weeks later, takes delivery.

Of course you could argue that this is because no schools achieve this. No school can decide to have a minibus and then go and get it.

And yet this does happen, and its occurrence is increasingly common. For a growing percentage of schools choose to lease their minibus rather than buy it.

The prime benefit of course is that you get your new minibus now, rather than after years of fundraising.

What’s more, if you are doing fundraising in order to pay for part or all of the leasing cost, parents become much more willing to give for the simple reason that they know the money they give will be for a minibus that their children will be using – rather than one that will only be purchased in years to come.

Of course the newspapers won’t like it. “Ely school has just £1000 to go” as the Cambridge News put it or “Braithwaite minibus appeal gets yet another big boost from fundraise” as the Keighley Times wrote, are the sort of headlines papers insist on running.

“School signs form to lease minibus; delivery next week” is not going to make it past any editor.

However the truth of the matter is that leasing is by far the best option for most schools. If you would like to see the details, and talk about how you can arrange to have a minibus up and running within weeks, please do call us on 01753 859944, visit our website or email us at minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Benchmark Leasing Ltd
11 High Street
Eton
Berkshire
SL4 6AS

www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php

minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Tel: 01753 859944

Advertising

Hamilton House runs four websites for teachers and parents:

The School Procurement Site [link to www.top5.org.uk  ] which contains details thousands of products and services for schools

UK Education News [link to www.ukeducationnews.co.uk] is a rolling news service which carries advertisements as well as stories. 

Teacher  News [link to www.teachernews.org.uk] a topic based service to teachers in schools

Parent News [link to www.parentnews.org.uk]  a topic based service for parents.

Advertising can be accepted on each site individually at the following prices:

  • A standard advertisement in one site: £45 per year

Additional entries (School Procurement Site only)

  • Each additional section: £10 per year
  • Additional description (per section): £30 per year up to 100 words
  • Logo per section per year: £20

Advertising on all four sites

  • Advertising on all four sites: £120 per year

Changes to the text following confirmation: £10 per section/site/advertisement.

To book into this service please call 01536 399 000 or email sales@hamilton-house.com

What exactly is the educational benefit of homework? (And could it be something else?)

A recent article in the TES (Is it time to scrap homework?) revealed that many people continue to hold strong views about whether homework is an imposition on home life or if it really does add value to a child’s education.

There’s no question that any politician in the UK will follow François Hollande’s initiative in banning homework as part of a reform of the education system.

But the action in France does raise the question: why is homework there?

Is it about reading a book, learning spellings and working through maths tables? Or should it go further? After all, what are its main characteristics and what effect is it having on children and families?

Are there indeed some alternatives that we could think of, which could be introduced and which could have even more benefit than homework, as we know it today?

We can contemplate this further by asking, “what does homework have to do with our efforts to create Thinking Children?”

These children have an ability to go beyond the learning of facts, and to be proficient in exam techniques – although such skills will still be required for the foreseeable future.

In short, the Thinking Child has the ability to be creative, generate ideas, problem solve, interrogate and not be afraid to ask questions.

Which is why we have produced, “Let’s Think Homework”. It is a volume that has been written to provide ideas that are engaging and meaningful, offering regular opportunities for children to practise a range of thinking and learning skills.

The ability to question, problem solve, be curious, be observant, predict, make connections, prioritise and think logically are just some of the many skills that can be enhanced through the activities in this book.

There are over 100 different possibilities for ‘Thinking Homework’. It is suitable for use throughout key stage 2.

It’s £29.99 with free delivery.

You can order …

How a radical change to the school’s website can make a radical change to the school

Every school is different, of course. But when a school finds that a change made to its procedure has a significant effect on its work, then it is worth taking note.

A testimonial from a school that has made a significant change in the way that it works, falls into this category for it does give a real insight into how a product or service can actually affect a school in real life.

In the example below we look at a school’s desire to re-build a website in order to meet the needs of everyone in the school – and to attract those contemplating choosing that school for their child.

The website in question is that of Hornsey School for Girls, London www.hsg.haringey.sch.uk here is what they said:

‘INCO have been able to provide us with a website that is both dynamic and unique to our school. When we approached them with our long list of requirements along with our design brief we were pleased with how quickly they were able to produce our new site.

As well as this, INCO have been exemplary at making lots of changes to our late requests, as well as developing the site to meet our needs further.

We have been extremely happy with our new site and have received lots of compliments from parents and outside agencies who have been able to easily navigate and find the information that they need.

I would happily recommend INCO to any other school or business that is looking for a new website and I look forward to working with them and building a long term partnership with them.’

All of which is good news – but there is more, because we also worked on the school’s prospectus. Here’s what they said in relation to this:

‘INCO designed our new school prospectus based on our ideas and in line with our school ethos and new logo. From the design stage to the photography and then onto to publication. INCO helped us step by step and kept us up to date with progress, delivering our fantastic new prospectus in time for our Open Events for prospective parents.’

You can find out more about INCO on our website: www.inco-education.co.uk

Alternatively email us at info@inco-education.co.uk or call us on 01902 784 800.

How schools become efficient and how they maintain efficiency

According to the government document “Improving Efficiency in Schools,” the average secondary school ought to be able to save around £100,000 a year in efficiency savings, while the average primary school should be able to save around £25,000 a year.

And to be clear, those are not one-off savings. The report stressed that these savings ought to be achievable this year, next year and every year.

To achieve these terrific savings, the report said, all the schools have to do is take a look at how other, more efficient, schools are handling matters, and copy their practices.

Yet if it were as easy as that, surely by now, most schools should be feeling extremely well off, as inefficiencies are removed and the savings mount up in school bank accounts, simply waiting to be used on other educational ventures.

Sadly, as we know, this is not true. And it is not true for one very simple reason: efficiencies arise not just by copying other schools (although this can help somewhat) but mostly through the introduction and maintenance of what might be a called “an efficiency mindset” throughout the school.

The process of achieving an “efficiency mindset” has been explored and examined in detail by school managers and administrators over the past five years in a number of schools – schools which as part of this exploration really have made incredible efficiency savings.

Now for the first time the way in which schools are making savings is described in one volume: “The Efficient School.”

This volume reveals not only many of the projects that schools have introduced in recent years in order to achieve efficiencies, but also the vital processes which these schools introduce to ensure that objections to change are overcome and that changes, once implemented, are maintained and developed.

As such report explores not only areas in which savings can be made, but also the way in which the whole issue of changing well-established processes and habits can be handled in a school.

The Efficient School is available in copiable form (as a printed volume or on CD) so that it can be distributed to all interested members of staff.

ISBN: 978 1 86083 811 8 Order code: T1803emn – please quote with order.

Sample pages can be viewed at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/education/T1803.pdf

  • 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…

 

What is the most effective way of getting young people to understand the facts surrounding alcohol, tobacco and various illegal substances?

Here’s a fairly straightforward and uncontentious point. The most effective way of getting young people to understand the facts relating to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs is to get them to talk openly about these substances.

Unfortunately that is not always as easy as it might seem at first sight, which is why we have developed the resource, Alcohol, Drugs & Tobacco — The Decision Is Yours.

This resource presents the facts about drugs, alcohol and tobacco and raises a wide range of issues which are presented through a set of worksheets. After this the students consider a short entry in each of the diaries of Johnny and Carla.

This in turn leads to further discussion topics, and more facts – including the comparative calorie levels of various alcoholic drinks when compared with pizza, cake and a burger.

In short everything in the pack leads to further discussion as we present the facts on the effects that alcohol, smoking and drugs can have on individuals, families, communities and your health.

All of the materials within the pack are photocopiable and thus further aid class discussion.

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

You can order Alcohol, Drugs & Tobacco — The Decision Is Yours in any of these ways:

Self-evaluation is probably the most powerful evaluation tool that teachers can use.

It never received huge levels of publicity, and in fact the event seems to have been removed from Ofsted’s own website, but back in July 2004 Ofsted actually did inspect Ofsted.

Undoubtedly this was a rigorous and demanding inspection. And in the end Ofsted concluded that Ofsted had improved schools, reinforced the national curriculum and provided effective advice to government.

In short, top marks all round.

Of course it all sounds a bit silly when put like that. But there is an important lesson to be learned here. For the fact is that people who are able to evaluate their own work and their own performance invariably become more highly motivated and more engaged in their own development.

The only problem is: how does one learn self-evaluation?

Indeed it is widely recognised that it is possible to evaluate and mislead oneself at the same time! Instead of development and improvement being a result of self-evaluation, self-deception creeps in and leads to a lack of motivation and development.

But, despite these difficulties, self-evaluation remains an incredibly powerful tool and 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 a school is 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 video from Classwatch.

Such is the power of this video that is has led some commentators to suggest that they have learned more about their teaching in 30 minutes than in the previous decade.

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

In order to show just how effective this process can be we are currently offering the recording of a free lesson to the first 50 schools that contact us.

There is more information on our website at http://helloclasswatch.co.uk/FreeLesson

Alternatively you can call us on 0800 043 9510 or email us at info@classwatch.co.uk

I look forward to hearing from you.

Andrew Jenkins

Would you like to use the tools that thousands of other school business managers are using? For free?

TES Foundation now offer free tools, available to all schools, as well as our subscription-based online school management modules.

Want to get quotes quickly, anonymously and without the hassle?

Our Request for Quote Tool lets you compare prices from our thousands of registered suppliers, fast. There’s no commission to pay. Save money on the deal you would have done, or don’t buy. You can’t lose.

Want to see the suppliers other schools recommend?

As well as giving you a handy place to log your own suppliers, our supplier management module lets you connect to other schools and read reviews and recommendations from our thousands of school users. Beware of imitations…we’ve more suppliers and more schools than any other site, and it’s completely free to access, use and contact suppliers.

Want to ask questions in confidence?

Our forums are free and only for schools: no suppliers, no LAs, just school leaders exchanging ideas, tips and opinions. You can even set up your own forum for your cluster group or as a place to explore a topic in depth.

You can also choose to access our subscription-based tools for free, for a two-week period. Of course we hope you’ll go on to join the thousands of schools using our technology to save time and effort on the jobs you do everyday, but whatever you decide:

Our Request For Quote tool, our Supplier Management module and our Forums are free.

Register for our free tools now.

 

Save 10% on holidays during school breaks

 

Save 10% on holidays during school breaks

We know the problems that come with trying to book a holiday during your time off and also the high costs involved in travelling during these times.

To help with this we offer a range of tours to locations including Austria, Prague, Paris and Bruges.

What’s more, we offer teachers a 10% discount on the prices shown on the website.

To see the tours available for breaks in 2013 and 2014, take a look at our website.

Our coaches run from almost 500 regional pick up points, and you can select from a vast number of tours which are available during school holidays.

To claim a 10% saving, you will need to call us on 0844 324 8557, quote the reference ‘TEACH’, and provide us with the name and address of the school that you work for and your position within it.

Of course, because we are offering discounts where normally there are surcharges some of the holidays do get booked fairly quickly. But if you find the one you want is already full, do look search on other dates or other destinations – we’re adding new teacher discount holidays all the time.

A world news newspaper for KS3 and KS4. And it is free for two months.

The chances are that for many young people today newspapers are either something that exist in other households but not their own or they are gossip columns with very little international news.

Which is why Newsademic exists – for it is an international newspaper written and edited for KS 3 and KS 4 students.

To date we have over 30,000 readers – which is why we know there is a demand for such a publication.

It is also why we are happy to offer a free two month subscription to the paper. We know that schools that see it, like it.

The publication supports the PSHE, History, Geography, Science, English and RE curricula though its focus is on international news events that shape and affect the world that we all live in today.

Newsademic carries no advertising. Neither does it feature articles about television, sport, computer games, pop music or celebrity culture.

The newspaper is distributed fortnightly as a PDF file by email or as a download. Although it can be read on screen it is designed to be printed out and read as a paper copy. An intranet licence allows all students to access an HTML searchable version of Newsademic via their school network. Two levels of activities, based on some of the featured articles, accompany each issue.

Annual subscription rates start at £24.00 and schools can photocopy any part of the newspaper as many times as they wish for use within their school.

To subscribe free of charge for two months please go to: www.newsademic.com/promo/h0112 

For more information visit www.newsademic.com

Cover Teacher who thinks spot-fixing is something a vet does?

Make your substitute more effective as a PE Teacher with ‘PE’ from our Absent Teacher Worksheet Series.
 
10% Discount if you order quoting this code: ARKHAM1982
 
The Absent Teacher Worksheet Series (ATWS)
Deliverable by non specialists
All lessons prepared by experienced subject specialists
All texts and instructions written in simple, jargon-free English
Photocopiable lessons on one side of A4
Stand-alone, self-contained lessons
The work takes students a whole class period to complete
A range of differentiated tasks, with extension work and homework, in each lesson
40 original worksheets
 
ATWS PE contains worksheets on: Jesse Owens; Pelé; Sebastian Coe; Babe Ruth; Joe Louis; Mark Spitz; Decathlon; Muhammad Ali; Carl Lewis; Bobby Charlton; Origins of Soccer; Rugby; The Marathon; Olympic Games; Tennis; Basketball; Ancient Olympics; Boxing; Fencing; Fishing; Olympic Games Revival; Motor Racing; Mountaineering; Golf; Formula One. Each PE worksheet is accompanied by a separate wordsearch.
 
Please see our website www.absent-teacher.com for more details and samples. Or order by email: Mike@absent-teacher.com or Sales@absent-teacher.com
Order by fax on: +353 9064 79555
Order by mail using the order form below

Order Form
 
Ark Educational Publications
European Mailing Centre, Mount Temple, Moate, Co Westmeath, ROI
Fax: 00 353 9064 79 555
email: mike@absent-teacher.com OR sales@absent-teacher.com
 
 
Absent Teacher Worksheet Series

Description Unit Cost Quantity Totals
       
Absent Teacher English £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher Food Technology £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher French £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher Geography £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher History £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher ICT £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher Maths £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher PE (40 worksheets) £ 40.00    
Absent Teacher PSE £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher Religious Education £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher Religious Education £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher Science £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher Spanish £ 30.00    
Absent Teacher Technology W, M & P £ 30.00    
 
Detention and Exclusion Management System
Description Unit Cost Quantity Totals
Exclusion Worksheets for Less Able Students (Standard Edition) Book 1 £ 50.00    
Exclusion Worksheets for More Able Students (Higher Edition) £ 50.00    
Detention Worksheets Book 3 (Book 3 FREE if you order both Book 1 and Book 2) £ 30.00    
 
Literacy Through… Series
Description Unit Cost
Quantity Totals
Literacy Through… (Book 1) £ 60.00    
 
Free Post and Packaging
 
Total due
 
Name: _______________________________________________________

School:_______________________________________________________
 
Address:______________________________________________________

 

ARKHAM1982

What is the most effective way of helping teenagers understand difficult topics?

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 experience suggests that for many students the progress made after such encounters can be modest at best.

Where the greatest breakthroughs occur is in situations in which the students themselves will open up and engage in serious conversations themselves.

But the issue is, how does one motivate the silent student to speak? How does one ensure that the mocking or joking student who covers his/her inability to talk seriously about the subject will join in the discussion. How can we help these students put these vital topics into the context of their lives, and the world around them?

In short: how do we control the discussions?

The answer comes with setting the terms of the discussion in advance – and this is exactly what the Egar Choice Discussion Cards achieve.

The students are given the topic to discuss such as “What does smoking do to you and your health?” They then can choose an answer card which they then have to use as the basis for their answer.

There are both positive and negative cards in the pack – in the case of smoking ranging from, “De-stresses you” to “Makes you want more all the time”, and the students then have to put forward arguments to support the card they have selected.

As a result the debate continues in a controlled way, with all possible answers being aired, as they students come to see the logic, or otherwise, of the answers that can be given.

The 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 etc.

There are details of all the topics available on the following link http://www.egar.co.uk/choice-discussion-cards-HH1

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.

Contact: Sue Scott-Horne
Email: egar@egar.co.uk
Tel: 0844 800 3056
Canonbury Business Centre, Unit 10B, Shepperton House, 89 Shepperton Road
Islington, London, N1 3DF

Claim free visualisers for your school

What’s the next big technology in education?

Visualisers – and you can get them free for your school this spring! It’s the perfect opportunity to equip all of your classrooms, or upgrade your outdated visualiser technology.

How? With our multi-buy offers on VidiFox visualisers. Or, you can try before you buy: simply call 0844 357 5197 to book your free demo slot now. We’ll come to your school and show you how invaluable visualisers can be in your classrooms.

In numerous ways. At the simplest level you can share information with the whole class without the need for expensive and time-consuming photocopying – and without crowding round a desk or laptop. But a visualiser will do so much more.

  • Show intricate or fragile items such as flowers, fossils, artifacts
  • Display pupils’ work and encourage peer assessment
  • Demonstrate procedures or experiments
  • Share books and other information with the whole class
  • Improve handwriting

Whilst a stand alone visualiser brings huge benefits, integrate it with other technology you have invested in such as interactive white boards and projectors to get even greater rewards.Once you start using a visualiser to enhance your teaching you’ll see higher levels of participation, as well as greater and faster understanding.

To give your school the best possible start with visualisers, use these multi-buy offers:

  • Buy 4 visualisers, get 1 half price *
  • Buy 6 visualiers, get 1 free *
  • Buy 10 visualisers, get 2 free *

* Please note: these offers are available only until 30th April 2013.

It’s simple: the more Visualisers you buy, the more you save. Also, the more classrooms you have equipped with these invaluable, multi-use devices.

Visualisers are a proven teaching tool that are fast-gaining praise from schools across the country. We’ll come out and give you a free of charge, no obligation demonstration in your school, at a time to suit you. There’s no hassle, no pressure, just objective advice on the best solution for you.

Click here to book your demo today.

To maximise on our multi-buy offers, make your enquiry by 30th April 2013. We also stock all major brands of visualisers including Avermedia, Elmo, Genee, SMART, Promethean, Lumens and Samsung.

Visit www.thevisualisershop.com, email us at enquiries@thevisualisershop.com or give us a call on 0844 357 5197 today (quote ref ‘TVSVFHH’ in your call).
…if you are already a customer of ours, why not recommend us to a colleague? We offer great rewards for customer referrals. Contact us on 0844 357 5197 for details (quote ref “TVSMBHH” in your call).
Copyright © 2012 Thevisualisershop.com, All rights reserved.
Address: 15 Bridge Road, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 1EB
Telephone: 0844 357 5197
For terms of service, please click here
For delivery information, please click here

Join us at How to get a 1 for Teaching and Learning with Lindy Barclay and be inspired!

How to get a 1 for Teaching and Learning is a one day course for Headteachers, senior leaders, ASTs, and teachers responsible for teaching and learning.

This practical, inspiring day covers:

  • What Ofsted is looking for
  • The leadership role
  • What ‘outstanding’ looks like, sounds like and feels like
  • Teacher knowledge and passion for their subject
  • Teacher ambition for their students
  • Progress – and how to assess it in a lesson
  • Student motivation and engagement
  • Teaching students to talk about their learning
  • ‘Narrowing the gaps’
  • The crucial role of literacy
  • Planning for ‘typicality’
  • Independent and collaborative learning
  • Assessment for Learning and differentiation strategies

The day allows plenty of time for reflection, discussion and challenge. It is upbeat and optimistic, reinforcing the reason we came into teaching in the first place: not to satisfy Ofsted, but our enduring commitment to improving the life chances of our students.

Spaces are available on the following courses:

Oxford………………………… 26th April 2013

Stratford-upon-Avon…….. 21st June 2013

Leeds………………………….. 1st July 2013

Find out more here
To make a booking please follow this link
or email bookings@smartees-learning.com

Kind regards

The Conference Team
Smartees Ltd

0118 9797551

Manage your network – without the baggage

Is your network management software restrictive and expensive?
CSE Network Toolkit is different, because its uniquely modular structure gives you the flexibility to manage your network the way you want.

Benefits of CSE Network Toolkit include:

  • Flexibility, as you choose only the parts of the modular toolkit that you need.
  • Cost-effectiveness, as you only pay for the modules that you decide to use, and your maintenance agreement includes free version upgrades and support.
  • Sustainability, as Network Toolkit supports Microsoft Server 2003, 2008, 2012, and Windows XP/7/8.
  • It’s designed specifically for education, bringing you the tools you really want without the excess baggage.

If your current network management software is holding you back, Network Toolkit is the answer!

Corpus Christi High School and CSE Network Toolkit
‘There’s much less manual work involved in running the network since we went over to the CSE software, which frees up my time to work more productively. I’m very pleased with the results.’ Mark Letman, Network Manager

Corpus Christi High School moved to CSE Network Toolkit from another supplier’s software in summer 2011. You can read about the school’s experiences in our case study.

Visit www.cse-net.co.uk/software for further information. To discuss a specific project, email sales@cse-net.co.uk or call us on (01993) 886688.
We look forward to hearing from you,

Kindest regards,

The Network Toolkit team

 

PS: for all the latest on education ICT, follow our blog at blog.cse-net.co.uk

Mural Workshops for Primary Schools – Book yours this Summer

We collaborate with schools to create their perfect murals for all occasions.
Some of the benefits of having a mural workshop at your school are:• Boosting self-esteem, confidence and
• promoting teamwork.
• Celebrating events that are personal
• to your school with stunning murals.
• Giving your pupils the opportunity to
• work alongside professional artists.
• Brightening up large areas of wall
• creating vibrant environments for
• pupils to enjoy.

For more details please visit our web site at www.magicmurals.co.uk or to make an appointment for a consultation, call 0845 519 5275. We look forward to hearing from you.

Call 0845 519 5275 or email
sales@magicmurals.co.uk

Please quote HH1 when making any enquiry

A free review of the leases that your school holds could bring you a significant refund

Following a recent review of school leases, the current estimate is that well over 50% of leases signed by schools contain errors that result in the school paying more than it should.

Where this is as a result of mis-selling then the school may well be entitled to a refund.

So big is the problem that we are now able to offer a free investigation into any leases that your school holds. If any error is found in any lease, we will negotiate a suitable refund for the school. Our fee is paid out of that refund – there is never anything to pay up front – and of course if we find no errors there is nothing to pay at all.

The sort of leases that may well have overcharging within their contracts are those for photocopiers, printers, laptops, franking machines etc.

Typical problems that arise in leases include the over-charging for equipment, hidden commissions, incorrect calculations, unwanted insurance policies and incorrect documentation. Of course this list is far from all-inclusive – there are many other examples.

To stress the key point, it costs you nothing to submit a lease for checking and we only take a commission from what you claim.

To request an audit simply email me at Stephen@schools.co.uk and attach to the email a copy of your scanned-in leasing agreement/s and we will let you know if you may be entitled to a refund.

You will have no obligation to proceed – and if you do you will not be required to pay anything. Instead you will be told what percentage reimbursement the company will require in the event of their making a successful claim on your behalf.

Stephen Mister

Would you teach a child to play a piano using only their index fingers?

I expect the answer is no! So why are so many children expected to use another type of keyboard – the computer keyboard – without any proper typing training?

Recent research by the BCS – the Chartered Institute for IT – suggests that, on an average day, a secondary school pupil spends around 3 hours on a computer. Many schools now expect their pupils to conduct research on a computer, to type assignments and to even to complete some assessments. According to some commentators, it will not be long before many exams take place on a computer.

Whatever may or may not happen to exams, it is clear that computers are already – excuse the pun – a ‘key’ tool in today’s classrooms. Yet the fact remains that whilst around 80% of schools think that teaching typing would be a good idea, only around 15% do so.

So why is that? When schools are asked why they don’t teach typing, most will say one or more of the following points:-

  • They don’t have the space to fit it into the timetable.
  • They don’t have the expertise to teach it.
  • They don’t have the budget for it.
  • It’s not on the Curriculum.

Type-Net for Schools is a recent scheme, taken up so far by 130 schools across the country, that solves at least three of the four objections made above.

Firstly, by using online courseware that students can use at home as well as in school, on a ‘little and often’ basis, the need to squeeze it into the timetable is not necessary.

Secondly, no supervision is needed as the Type-Net courseware is self-paced, interactive and intuitive, allowing pupils from the age of 10 upwards to use it unaided. Progress tracking exists so that the teacher can get involved if they want to.

Thirdly, at cost of as little as around 50p per pupil, it shouldn’t break the bank. Parental charging could be an option if a budget is simply non-existent.

We can’t do much about including typing on the Curriculum (although we have tried!) but if exams do become computer-based then the ability to touch-type quickly and with accuracy will become essential!

For more information about Type-Net for Schools, all you need to do is send an email to enquiries@type-net.org putting ‘HH/0413’ in the subject line. We will email you an Information Pack within seven days.

Type & Test
PO Box 479
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE28 0YB