Daily Archives: 17/03/2016

Building, furniture, maintenance, energy etc

What is the simplest way to ensure that every locker has a key. No matter what

It is a sad, but inescapable fact of school life, that students occasionally lose the key to their locker.  Or “forget” to hand their key back at the end of term.

It’s annoying, but it happens.

Which means you will almost certainly need replacement keys for some of the lockers in the school, and you may even quite possibly need them on a fairly regular basis.

The solution to this problem is simple.  You simply call or email Keysplease, and tell us the code number for the lock in question, (normally stamped on the face of the lock) and we will supply you with keys for that locker.

We can even, if you wish, supply a new lock as well.

And the great benefit is that the locker keys can be supplied for as little as £1 each in some cases, which means that if you charge a deposit of £5.00 per locker, your costs of replacements and administration are covered.  Locks are available from just £5*.

Ordering is simple, by phone, email or direct online.  And there is a full list of the range of makes that we stock, on the web site.  But don’t worry – 99% of the locks in use in UK schools are covered by the manufacturers whose keys we stock.

*Please quote promotional code HH2 to gain these special rates.

Terms and conditions apply. Please call 0208 343 2943 for details, email us at sales@keysplease.co.uk or visit our website www.keysplease.co.uk

Learning Outside the Classroom, Lunch times, playtimes and school clubs

A problem with LOtC is that…

…some subjects are easier to teach outside the typical classroom environment than others

Science, history, art and geography are all subjects which can be taught outside the typical classroom environment with relative ease – and it could also be argued that learning in such subjects is actually more effective when lessons take place outside the classroom.

Yet planning lessons outside the classroom can be a little bit more challenging in other subjects, such as literacy and numeracy.

Which is why Edventure has produced the Outdoor Cross Curricular Pack – to provide you with an array of resources that will support you in teaching your pupils about the many and various concepts of literacy and numeracy – outside the typical classroom environment.

The Outdoor Cross Curricular Pack comes in an extra strong storage box and consists of  Alphabet Bean Bags, a Fitness Dice, Foam Can Alley, Giant Wooden Dominoes, Number Bean Bags, Number Cones, Number Markers, a Resistance Parachute, a Starball, and a Target Mat (Including 8 Bean Bags).

Furthermore, we have also produced a number of free downloadable Game Guides, including a Guide to Starball and a Guide to Target Mat, to ensure that your pupils’ outdoor numeracy and literacy lessons are as enjoyable and engaging as possible.

More free downloadable Game Guides can be found accompanying our games, activities, and equipment at www.edventure.co.uk.

As always, you can place an order with Edventure in a variety of ways, including:

  • on the website www.edventure.co.uk
  • by faxing us to 01323 50 10 41
  • by calling us on 01323 50 10 40
  • by emailing us at sales@edventure.co.uk
  • by post to Edventure Ltd, Hargreaves Business Park, Hargreaves Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 6QW.

If you quote HH0515 on your order delivery will be free. Without quoting the code the charge is £3.95.

English

How to help KS3 students grasp the three fundamentals of written English

Ask most people today what the three fundamentals of written English are and they will probably struggle to define them.

And yet if students can grasp that there are just three fundamentals then they can start to see that the written language has a unified logical base, rather than being an endless stream of rules and regulations.

The three fundamentals are defined in the volume “Grammar and Punctuation for Key Stage 3” as Word Classes (adverbs, prepositions, etc), Phrases, Clauses and Sentences, and finally Punctuation.

This 300 page copiable book works through these three fundamentals, in each case breaking them down into their constituent parts.

Thus there are ten sections relating to word classes, five relating to phrases, clauses, and sentences, and eight relating to punctuation.  Each section is itself subdivided into between five and ten sub-sections, making it easy to find rules and examples on any specific topic that is required.

As such the volume is designed as a comprehensive reference source to be used throughout Key Stage 3 but it may also be used with students at key stage 4 who need remedial work.

Throughout, the book includes authentic examples collected from a variety of written sources. Through this mechanism the volume pays particular attention to those areas with which authors of all ages tend to have difficulties and offers an abundance of examples of current usage highlighting these areas.

Such examples are then followed by suggested improvements and by explanations justifying those improvements. Finally the relevant principles are practised through activities designed for pupils.

Anna Nolan, the author of Grammar and Punctuation for Key Stage 3, has worked as a freelance consultant to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and as a teacher trainer with the Edexcel National Curriculum Services.

There is a sample chapter available on-line at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/english/T1661.pdf

Cat No: 978 1 86083 594 0;  Publisher reference no: T1661emn

Prices

  • Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £34.95. plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £34.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the Ring Binder and the CD £41.94 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the book…

Careers

How can we strengthen a CV to help students with university placements and employment opportunities?

It is becoming more and more competitive in the real world and after years of study how can we give students an advantage to help with the next chapter of their lives?

Flooglebinder offer structured placements that give students the opportunity to build a range of wider key skills which employers look for, such as: planning, preparation, communication skills, critical thinking, leaderships, adaptability and cultural awareness.

These programmes are also integrated into the curriculum and can incorporate a range of subjects including Science, Maths, Geography, History and Art, as well as higher more specialist subjects such as, Marine Biology, Anthropology, Zoology, Animal Behaviour, Animal Management and Ecology.

Whether students know what they would like to study or would like experience in these subject areas we can customise these trips to meet their objectives from basic field experience to data collection and research. Our study tour programmes are written to cater for the needs of the student outcomes and learning module objectives. We also offer x1 free teachers place for every 10 participating students.

We offer programmes in Borneo, Greece, India, Nepal, Thailand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, all of which have been tried and tested by us to offer students a secure and safe way to travel, develop and explore, whilst promoting the importance of sustainable travel.

The Flooglebinder team is made up of travel specialists, Marine Biologists, Animal Behaviour and Conservation Lecturers, Field Guides and Dive Masters. We would like to meet with you, and your students, to present Flooglebinder and discuss our amazing projects.

We looking forward to hearing from you.

Brad and Ian

Ian Taylor
Founder and Lecturer
Flooglebinder
2
Telephone: 0203 633 0163
Email info@flooglebinder.co.uk 

 

 
School News

Help your leadership team to continually improve

As a proactive primary school leader, you’ll know that one of the cornerstones of effective leadership is having the support of a strong, motivated and passionate team.

But even with a close-knit team, it’s possible to miss areas where you can build on existing skills or spot opportunities to develop new skills that will help you fill gaps in your team’s practice.

Two former primary heads – Ann O’Hara and Heather Clements – have created a system that helps your team find and fix these gaps.

Their answer – called What is Good Leadership (WIGL for short) – has been developed over five years, working with primary leadership teams in a wide range of contexts and drawing on national and international research.

Written to meet the specific needs of primary schools, the WIGL tool kit is already helping leadership teams like yours to:

  • Clarify expectations of leadership
  • Systemise judgements on effectiveness
  • Pinpoint areas for development
  • Promote strategic leadership
  • Support appraisal, development and effectiveness of middle leaders
  • Help with job descriptions and appraisal targets
  • Promote self-evaluation and 360 degree review of an individual or whole school team

So, What is Good Leadership?

What is Good Leadership is an in-depth, self review toolkit that provides clear descriptions of the expectations of middle leaders, specific to the roles found in most primary schools.

It is progressive – enabling future leaders to develop and improve their skills at each level and translate those skills into a more senior role over time. In fact, it helps teachers progress from early subject leadership through to senior leadership and headship.

Fully matched to Ofsted

It is also fully matched to Ofsted expectations, so schools using it can be confident that their judgements are soundly based.

Each tool kit comes fully loaded with a USB stick with guidance on using WIGL in a number of different contexts – from peer review to supporting mentoring, developing CPD and performance management.

The pack is priced at £175 + VAT and contains everything you need to start understanding and improving your team’s practice.

You can purchase What is Good Leadership directly from our bookshop.

Or if you would like to see some sample pages from the kit, or order directly from me, my email address is james@imaginativeminds.co.uk. My direct line is 0121 224 7584.

I look forward to hearing from you.

James Mason
Marketing
Teaching Times

Tel: 0121 224 7584 | Fax: 0121 224 7598

PS Paying by invoice? You can order from the bookshop and select the ‘Pay by invoice’ option at the checkout.