Monthly Archives: November 2017

Primary

To what extent can you rely upon your current anti-bullying strategy and safeguarding measures?

When we consider that 50% of children were bullied last year, it’s not surprising that some schools use CCTV as part of their anti-bullying strategy and as a ‘transparent’ safeguarding measure – not least because CCTV is a significant deterrent of misbehaviour.

Yet, despite 90% of schools having CCTV installed, it is not always something that can be relied upon for this use.

This is because older CCTV systems are only capable of catching a few frames per second, thus proving to be a somewhat unreliable source of evidence as it has been known for older CCTV systems to miss incidents between frames.

Clearly, the problem with upgrading your current CCTV system is that it costs money which your school may not have to spare. Yet a CCTV upgrade with Gaia may not cost as much as you think and has also proven to save money in the long-term.

Due to advancements in technology, the installation of a new CCTV system will undoubtedly cost less than your current CCTV system did to install. What’s more, you are likely to see a reduction in the system’s running costs, not least because some maintenance can be carried out remotely.

OR

To discuss with a member of our team how your school can use CCTV as part of its anti-bullying strategy and as a ‘transparent’ safeguarding measure, not only for your pupils but also for staff and school visitors, please do get in touch by:

Literacy

What is the easiest way to get quality picture books at the lowest price?

Learning Discovery specialises in variety packs of brand new picture books from publishers such as Little Tiger, Egmont, Simon & Schuster, Andersen Press, etc etc.

Indeed we send out about 10,000 packs a year to schools – and those schools tend to choose us not just because of the great teacher-approved selection but also because we offer a 50% discount on all titles, with no delivery charge. 

Now we are expanding and we’re able to offer our service to your school for the first time.

Each of our variety packs contains 30 of the latest softcover, quality picture books, and we send them direct to you completely risk free for a 21 day viewing period

There’s no minimum order, so regardless of what you decide we will cover delivery costs both ways.

At the end of your 21 day viewing period you can either keep all the books, keep some of the books, or return them all at no cost.

And that really is it.  A pack of books for you to consider, for you to keep what you want, and then send the rest back in a pre-paid box that we supply.

If you would like to receive one such pack just email sales@learningdiscovery.uk.com now using Variety Pack Offer in the subject line, and we’ll get your pack on the way.

Alternatively, if you would like to see our current selection online go to www.learningdiscovery.uk.com

You can also easily order anything you like from our website with no need for an official school order or a credit card.   Simply click ‘Invoice my School’ to bypass the payment gateway, and we’ll send an invoice with your order so you can pay later.

And remember, the more you buy, the lower the cost of each title gets. Prices range between £2.99 and £4.49.

If you have any questions we’re only a call or a few keystrokes away.  I do hope you’ll get in touch and give us a try.

James Layton
Learning Discovery UK Ltd

 

Maths

The simple and effective way to help  students succeed in their maths lessons and exams…….. 

 

Sometimes, however many times we  remind  students  to bring the right equipment to lessons and exams, there tends to be a few who have either forgotten they’ve got a maths lesson  or have remembered,  but  arrive without a pen, ruler, pencil, compass  etc.

It’s now possible to obtain a “ready made” solution to this problem … 

The  “Value Maths Set”  contains a metal compass and half pencil, two quality black ink ballpens,  HB pencil, 15 cm ruler,  180 degree protractor, eraser and metal sharpener.  All packed in a convenient “exam friendly,”   clear pvc zip up wallet. Reassuringly good value and an instant solution to the problem of students turning up for lessons and exams without the correct kit.

Only   £ 1.25  (160+)    £ 1.29  (80+)     £ 1.32  (1-79)      ex vat

The Value Maths set is ideal to give out just before  lessons or exams  to ensure that every student has got what they need “on the day.”  It’s  a simple and cost effective solution to the problems caused by students turning up without the right equipment.  The Value Maths set can be obtained from:

Signpost Educational Ltd.,  PO Box 999, London, E14 6SH

Tel: 020 7515 1797      email: info@signposteducational.co.uk

www.signposteducational.co.uk

 

Orders can be made by phone, email  or post and are usually delivered within 1-3 working days from receipt of your order.

Primary

An ideal gift for Christmas

Do you want to reward your children for all their hard work this terms as an end of term present?

Our Christmas themed Stationery set is the right answer.

The set contains ruler, rubber, pencil, pencil sharpener and notepad.

For a very limited time we can offer this set at a specially reduced price of just 60p per set.

For full details see our listing on our website

For more information or to place an order please use whichever medium is most convenient to you:

Telephone: (10am to 3pm) 01473 710080

Fax: 0845 463 4200

Email: sales@craftycrocodiles.co.uk

Postal: Crafty Crocodiles Ltd, Bermuda Road, RansomesEuropark, Ipswich, IP39RU

Primary

 “30 minutes extra activity a day” policy is now being introduced in schools…

The first survey of schools in England, following up on the government’s new “30 minutes of activity a day” directive* for all pupils, shows that the policy is starting to make an impact, although some teachers who reported back suggested that they were not yet implementing the policy within lessons. it is just compulsory in England, but “has attracted considerable interest from the rest of the UK”.

When asked about the key barriers to implementing the 30 minutes of structured activity, over half of the schools that replied stated that it was a lack of time within the school day that was holding them back.

A quarter stated that a lack of teacher confidence and knowledge of how to integrate more activity into lessons was the major stumbling block.

This is particularly interesting, because a series of lessons has now been published which allow the 30 minutes a day activity criteria to be built into existing lessons in all subject areas.

In short, these lessons show exactly how all teachers can implement the new policy, in the classroom, exactly as the new directive requires.

Given that most of the teachers who responded to the survey agreed that additional exercise will not only reduce obesity among children but will also reduce mental health problems and improve academic performance, this approach could be very helpful.

You can find details of how schools are already implementing the new requirement for an extra 30 minutes a day activity for all pupils, outside of PE lessons, by visiting https://imoves.com/ and then scrolling down to our “Example lessons” section.

Or, if you would like to see a copy of the research into the implementation of the new policy, or if you would like to talk through how our approach works and how it meets all the government’s new requirements, just call us on 0114 266 1061 or email active@schools.co.uk

Ian Pickles

*This new directive is compulsory in England, but has attracted considerable interest from the rest of the UK.

School News

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

Debate Chamber Summer Schools provide students aged 15-18 with the opportunity to explore some of the fascinating subjects on offer at university, while experiencing an exciting and engaging seminar-style approach to learning. Our courses focus on developing intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and the desire to explore academic material in a more sophisticated way than is often possible at school.

Highlights from our Summer Schools 2018 programme include:

Law Summer School

The Law Summer School offers an exciting and challenging introduction to the legal profession, and is aimed at students who wish to take their first steps towards a legal career or Law degree. This course includes lectures on key areas of the law, seminars on some tricky and controversial legal questions, lively debates and a full mock trial.

‘The Summer Law School was an exhilarating and unforgettable five days. It gave me great insight into the theories of Law and how they are implemented in real court cases; and also provided me with the opportunity to meet other young people with similar interests to me.’

History Summer School

The History Summer School encourages students to confront the unexamined assumptions underlying their interpretations of the past. A combination of engaging discussions, formal debates, lectures, group presentations and close individual reading of primary and secondary source material will help students to get a sense of what undergraduate study is really like.

 ‘I enjoyed every minute of this summer school and would recommend it to anyone who has a passion for history! I was able to learn about parts of history which I had never encountered before. The variety of topics and the fantastic tutors definitely made the course worthwhile.’

Mathematics Summer School

The Mathematics Summer School is an opportunity for bright students to indulge their passion for problem-solving whilst exploring a range of advanced topics in pure and applied mathematics. This Summer School is particularly appropriate for students who may be considering further study of mathematics at undergraduate level, or who are interested in related disciplines such as physics, computing or engineering.

‘The Maths Summer School is great fun! Everyone is so friendly and I learned so much. It is a great opportunity to expand your mathematical knowledge beyond the school syllabus. I would definitely recommend it!’

In addition to these highlighted courses, we are also offering courses in English Literature, Philosophy, Economics, International Relations, Politics, Physics, Dentistry and Medicine.

Bursaries

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students can apply for bursaries covering up to 100% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2018. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. 

 

School News

Making Wi-Fi Part of School

Merging the internet with the classroom has not been a smooth ride. While some teachers applaud it, others find it a distraction. However, the world is becoming more digitalised every day and now plays a key part in how we socialise, self-educate, apply for jobs, and — in most industries — actually do our jobs!

Within this article, we look at how effective the internet is for teaching pupils and what the future has in store for Wi-Fi in the classroom.

The impact of the internet in schools

Although not every educator might like it, the internet is a large part of how society works, lives and interacts — so why should this influence stop when you step into a school? According to the British Educational Suppliers Association, 70% of schools are not Wi-Fi ready. However, many feel that implementing the internet in schools is vital to education and can make learning easier and more fun — providing that it is monitored.

The internet is a portal to a limitless land of facts and figures, which means it can be an excellent source of self-education, if allowed in a school. In 2016, the BBC reported that over 300 libraries were closed down since 2010 — if local councils are shutting libraries, where are students supposed to gather the information they need for school? The internet is instant and vast, so using it for research and learning is a natural step.

Of course, it’s not all about the students — teachers can benefit from the internet, too. Planning lessons is a large part of teaching and a source of much effort and even stress for teachers. However, educators could simply use online resources to research topics for a class, if the internet was available during worktime. What’s more, students can also use the internet to conduct their own research once these lessons have been planned and carried out. Search engines now have the ability to prioritise reliable websites that they think will most help the user. For example, the BBC Bitesize site features themes that are popular in the UK school curriculum. This website then leads on to different levels of learning to ensure that it caters to students of all ages and abilities. It also provides interactive educational games for students which helps with engagement and information retention.

Implementing Wi-Fi in educational establishments

If your school Wi-Fi connection could be improved, this can affect how positively you feel about having internet in schools! A quick and reliable connection means an exciting source of learning for students of all abilities, while a poor one can waste essential time.

Rather than having an internet room, Wi-Fi will allow pupils and teachers to move around the building without fear of losing connection and losing work. Also, good Wi-Fi will enable kids to research key information that they may need quickly. Consequently, this will save taking trips between the library and the classroom, and so allow teachers to monitor their students more closely during their lessons and reduce disruptions.

But can Wi-Fi be misused in schools? Rather than being a distraction, it seems likely that implementing Wi-Fi could boost communication and interactions across the school — whether this includes pupils in the same school or different schools around the country or world! However, this can only work if a good connection is installed. According to technical director of KBR, Gareth Tomlin:

“Education is rapidly moving towards mobile learning using iPads, Android Tablets and Google Chromebooks. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that students are so comfortable using these types of devices in their homes. However, these gadgets can only communicate with the school’s network over Wi-Fi as they have no wired network port.”

Wi-Fi in schools could also promote the learning of disadvantaged students. For example, if there is a student that has an illness or a disability, using Wi-Fi will give them the opportunity to continue to take part in lessons via conference calls. It could also allow schools to schedule calls with educational specialists from around the world to assist with certain subjects or helping particular pupils, thus creating strong connections with global individuals and institutions.

The internet: how it could change the classroom in the future

It seems that technology, in all aspects of our lives, is unstoppable — so how will it transform our classrooms further down the line? With technology gadgets becoming more affordable, we will see more students with personal devices at school, as well as more hi-tech, school-property gadgets for pupils to use. It’s likely that we will also see a higher use of ‘the cloud’. This will not only enable teachers to store different types of materials for their lessons, but also create a collection of work from their pupils.

We’ve gone over the advantages of the internet in schools, but what about the potential drawbacks? Protecting students is essential when they go online, so educators must plan and execute strict policies to ensure all pupils are safe when browsing online. A part of this is to allow each student their own account on a built-in school system. This will allow teachers and students to set and complete homework tasks online, which will mean fewer paper-based homework assignments.

Clearly, many pupils will benefit from better access to the internet and faster Wi-Fi connections when they’re learning and developing their skills at school. Implement a good internet policy in your workplace and you could be allowing kids access to a wider pool of knowledge to get them ahead in the professional world!

Sources:

http://www.internetlivestats.com/total-number-of-websites/

http://www.kbr.co.uk/qa-with-our-directors-the-importance-of-wifi-in-schools/

 

English

New: A Graphic Revision Guide for GCSE English Literature

A study conducted by researchers at Sheffield University has revealed that students who are given information in comic-style format show significantly higher memory scores compared to students who receive the same information in text-only format.

The study consisted of 90 participants who were split into groups. Some participants were given test material in comic-style format while others were given test material in text-only format. The participants were then tested on their retention of the information using ten multiple-choice questions. Participants that were given the comic-style format material scored more correct answers.

Which is why we have recently produced:

Jane Eyre: A Graphic Revision Guide for GCSE English Literature 

This Graphic Revision Guide for Jane Eyre is an essential tool for anyone studying this book for GCSE English Literature. It contains comic-style sheets, especially tailored to strengthen your students’ understanding of plot, characters, quotes, … read more and see sample pages

>> Click here to order a single copy of this book on our website for just £15.99 <<

If you order 20 copies or more, a 20% Discount will be applied to your order at checkout – that’s just £12.80 per book!

Alternatively, you can place an order:

  • over the phone on 01449 766629
  • by email to orders@tradecounter.co.uk
  • by fax on 01449 767122
  • by post to Brilliant Publications, Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND.
Maths

Two of the best dual power scientific calculators for KS 3, 4 and  GCSE maths  plus scottish maths lessons and exams ……

The Casio FX 85GT+ and the Logik LK 83XP are excellent choices for your GCSE maths students.  They  benefit from battery power with solar power back-up  to provide extra reassurance for your students. Both calcs have a “natural display” function which enables students to enter expressions and data as shown in textbooks.  As you might expect the build quality of these calcs is excellent and both benefit from a THREE year warranty to provide peace of mind for teachers and students alike.   (excludes damage to the LCD).

The Logik  LK 83XP has similar features to the Casio FX 85GT+  but without the “verify” and “recurring decimal” functions. Both calcs  feature  prime factorisation, random numbers, algebraic logic, multi-line replay, standard deviation, log / anti-log, hyperbolics etc and have a three year warranty and are available at short notice from Signpost Educational Ltd., The  Logik LK 83XP  is available from £ 5.29 each  ex vat while the  Casio FX 85GT+  starts from £ 7.45 each ex vat. 

In addition,  with orders for 100 or more of the LK 83XP   you have the option of obtaining the popular  “Value Maths set”   for  just 95p  (ex vat)

Normal  price  £ 1.25 (ex vat)

For more information & prices plus other products please visit:

    www.signposteducational.co.uk    

 or email to: info@signposteducational.co.uk    or phone: 020 7515 1797

Signpost Educational Ltd  PO Box 999  London E14 6SH 

PS.  orders are usually delivered within 1-3 working days.

 

Science

How can we encourage the less adept biology students to think in the same way as their colleagues?

There is something about the way in which those who naturally take to biology think about the subject which marks them out from those who find biology at A and AS level that little bit more difficult.

And part of this comes from the way in which each student considers the subject overall.

It was with this thought in mind that we set about understanding exactly what was needed to help those who found biology that little bit harder than their colleagues.

Then, as a result of our studies we felt the best approach would be to provide a single unified resource which contained everything that was needed.  All the key information from the syllabus, plus a guide to how the different topics link together, plus immediate access to the activities which can help place the resultant learning in the long term memory.

Placing all this information in a single resource was an important part of our work, because our experience showed us that, for these particular students, moving from book to book was often part of the problem.

Thus we were looking for a resource that gave the students the key information they needed, a guide to how the different in-depth topics linked together, and a set of activities which helped ingrain the resultant learning in the long term memory.

Now we have put the details of our research on-line.  To see the results just choose the exam board you are using: AQA,  OCR,  Edexcel,  IB, or Cambridge and then click the “free preview button” for a sample download.

I really do think that once you have seen exactly what we have done you’ll agree that this is a new approach which can help your students maximise their understanding of biology and hence raise their grades.

Meanwhile if you have any questions please do call 01283 530366 or email sales@biozone.co.uk

School News

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT regarding POSTURA PLUS chairs ……..

 BEAT THE JANUARY 2018 PRICE RISES ON POSTURA PLUS CHAIRS  …..   

Postura Plus classroom chairs have a TWENTY year warranty and are available in 16 attractive colours and six sizes from nursery to secondary schools, colleges and universities. Since their introduction in 1996 they have revolutionised the design and durability of classroom chairs. Thousands of schools  throughout the UK are  using these chairs;  often starting with just one classroom and then “rolled them out”  across their school or college as funds allowed.

The twenty year warranty on Postura Plus chairs provides potential savings of hundreds, maybe even thousands of  £££s  in reduced  maintenance and  repair costs compared with traditional metal frame plastic classroom chairs.

Details and pricing of  Postura Plus chairs can be seen on the website:   www.centraleducational.co.uk

If you are considering ordering Postura Plus chairs during the next four months then here’s some very important news………    The manufacturers have announced price increases on all sizes from 1 January 2018, but it’s possible to take delivery in 2018 and still pay 2017 prices !

Now for the good news…..  

If you order before December 20  2017 then you can take delivery of your new Postura Plus chairs any time up till 30 March 2018  and still only pay 2017 prices.  (NB. This only applies to orders placed before 20 December).

For more information or to make an order  please contact Central Educational Supplies Ltd on 020 7515 1797   or email:    info@centraleducational.co.uk   Please ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist and answer any questions you may have.

PS.  Did you know that the  Postura Plus range also includes stools and  IT chairs as well as classroom chairs  ?  If  you are likely to need stools or IT chairs in the near future then the same opportunity exists for you to beat the price increases.  Details of the stools and IT chairs are on the website:  www.centraleducational.co.uk

Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,  PO Box 999  London  E14 6SH 

Science

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

Debate Chamber Science and Mathematics Summer Schools are for aspirational students who want to indulge their passion for problem-solving and push back the boundaries of their knowledge. Led by a team of expert tutors, our courses focus on developing intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and the desire to explore academic material independently.  Small classes allow for a discussion-based approach, creating a comfortable environment for students to share ideas amongst their peers and to progress from their existing knowledge towards more challenging material.

Physics Summer School 

The Physics Summer School explores some of the most exciting and revolutionary ideas in contemporary physics, from the smallest quantum particles to the largest spiral galaxies.  The Summer School is split into two parts, with each part comprising a structured five-day programme. Part 1 focuses on classical mechanics and astrophysics and is open to GCSE and A-Level students. Part 2 focuses on quantum mechanics and relativity and is open to students who have completed at least one year of A-Level Mathematics by the time the course begins.

‘The Debate Chamber Physics course was both challenging and stimulating and one which provided a firm grounding on some cutting edge, modern physics. We were taught about both the very large and very small, from special and general relativity to quantum mechanics and the philosophical interpretations of the measurement problem. I would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone contemplating studying the subject at university or to anyone who just wants to learn some physics!’ 

Mathematics Summer School 

The Mathematics Summer School is aimed at students aged 15-18 who want to explore more advanced topics in pure and applied mathematics. Part 1 focuses on number theory, geometry, abstract algebra, probability theory, code-breaking and computation. Part 2 offers a university-style approach to the topics of linear algebra, analysis, differential equations, proofs, infinities and cryptography. As with the Physics Summer School, Part 2 requires that students have completed one year of A-Level Mathematics by the time the course begins. 

‘If you are considering taking a maths related degree at university in the future, this week-long Summer School provides an excellent taster of what you can expect. I learnt about multivariable calculus, differential equations, predicate logic, Godel’s Incompleteness Theorem, and linear algebra. The course opens your eyes to intriguing fields of mathematics you may not ever encounter at school.’

Young Scientists Summer School – NEW FOR 2018

The Young Scientists Summer School offers students aged 11-14 the chance to explore some of the most interesting topics in science, from the foundations of quantum physics to the latest discoveries in genetic engineering. Taking in a wide range of skills from the fields of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, students will discover how to build bridges, design spaceships, search for life on distant planets, and trace the history of the universe all the way back to a trillionth of a second after the big bang. 

Bursaries 

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students can apply for bursaries covering up to 100% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2018. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.  

School News

Want to better support your boys? Have you considered accredited mentoring?

How to effectively engage young males with education and provide them with the support and encouragement they need to go on to bigger and better things is always a concern for staff.

Mentoring, as well as offering an evidence-based approach to work with young men, helps young men to achieve their academic and vocational potential, addresses concerns related to problematic behaviours – and provides go-to support and signposting to other services from someone they have built trust with.

The Unit Award in Mentoring Boys and Young Men is a Level 2 award providing your staff/students with an understanding of mentoring work. Whether it is for your staff to better engage with boys or for the boys themselves to support one another, mentoring is an approach that has been shown to work.

The workshop covering the award criteria is 4 hours long. Each staff/student undertaking the award will be provided with their own copy of the Mengage course book: Mentoring Male: A guide to mentoring work with boys and young men. A Level 2 certificate will be issued upon completion.

The workshop costs £1295 for up to 10 staff or up to 15 students. 

For more information or to discuss a booking, you can contact Liam by email at liam@mengage.co.uk or by phone on 07788725318.

Alternatively, you can visit our website at www.mengage.co.uk to see what else we offer with regards to mental health and raising boys’ achievement.

PSHE

“Relationships are one of the most important aspects of our lives, yet we can often forget just how crucial our connections with other people are for our physical and mental health and wellbeing”

Mental Health Foundation, ‘Relationships in the 21st century; the forgotten foundation of mental health and wellbeing.

Research has shown that there is no doubt in the importance of mental health and relationship education within society and in particular the affect that it is having on student performance, however with 1 in 4 young people suffering from anxiety and depression how is it possible to tackle such a vast problem on the limited resources within schools?

Having worked alongside schools and PSHE departments for over 20 years and delivered projects to nearly ½ million students across the UK Tip of the Iceberg Theatre company now have a fully comprehensive PSHE scheme of work that incorporates the PSHE association guidelines for years 7 to 12.

We offer: Full length productions, residency/drop-down/off-timetable/activity days, interactive workshops and assemblies. We can deliver to a class or to a whole year group. Alongside our shows and interactive sessions we also supply free teaching resources and classroom activities for school staff.

Throughout 2017-2018 various tours and workshops are available for dates visit our website:

http://www.tipoftheiceberg.biz/offers/offers.html

Projects include:

“The Sex Factor”
For years 9-11. Sex and relationship education (including drugs, peer pressure, pregnancy, self esteem, mental                                         health STI’s and contraception.  2 productions and workshops for audience size up to 240.

“Network”
For years 7-9. Themes include; Citizenship, bullying, divorce, bereavement, crime, internet safety, religion, and S.R.E. An hour long production for up to 240 pupils.

“Exposed”
For years 11-13. A hard hitting and mature project. Themes include: Consent, sexuality, abuse, sexual health, pornography, sexting, rape. An hour long production. Maximum audience size 180 pupils. More than one performance per day available.

“Beyond the Surface”
For years 7-10. The shows are around 30 minutes   and can be followed by a talk or a range of workshops. Episodes include:

“Addicted Britain” legal/illegal drugs and other addictions.

“Connected Britain” Internet/technology in our life.

“Changing Britain” Physical, mental and life changes.

“Bullied Britain” Banter or Bullying?

“Conflict Britain” Understanding status and power.

To download further information on the above projects visit:

http://www.tipoftheiceberg.biz/education/education.html

Timetables and delivery options are adapted to suit your school size, PSHE needs and available finances. We believe that in order to create a lasting effect for your pupils, and to not waste your time and budgets, the projects we deliver and their content must be relevant to your students and also work for you and your school.

“Our students saw ‘Exposed’ and it was incredible! It is an extremely hard-hitting show with very adult themes running throughout but our students appreciated the opportunity to explore the issues together.” Hannah McSherry, St Albans High School for Girls. 

“We are a school who have had nothing but praise and amazing feedback from the students and staff.” Helen Price, Ramsey Academy. (Sex Factor)

“Thank you so much for your energy and enthusiasm. The work you do clearly connects with, and makes a huge impact on, young people. I will certainly be recommending Network to the schools that I work with.” Sarah Gregory, Ralph Sadleir Middle School (Network)

Costs vary depending on projects and your exact requirements but as a guide:

Productions and workshops £750 + VAT for a half day and £995 + VAT for a full day.

There are lots of discounts and options available so please contact us for further information.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Lisa Schulberg
(Creative Director)

WWW.TIPOFTHEICEBERG.BIZ

Office: E. info@tipoftheiceberg.biz  T. 01707527140

Tour Booker: E. tourbooker@tipoftheiceberg.biz  T.07849743595

English

Booking now open for MACBETH and ROMEO AND JULIET

Give your students the advantage of live performance

Two vibrant productions guaranteed to encourage in-class discussion

Designed to engage and entertain

After the Christmas break, Fred Theatre is touring with two Shakespearean classics: MACBETH and ROMEO AND JULIET.

Our 90 minute adaptations are fresh and exciting re-tellings of familiar and much loved stories. Typically these feature a cast of six professional actors. We concentrate on the text and producing a faithful representation of the original—just a little shorter!

We can bring both productions to your school, and booking is now also open for our public performances.

LONDON, The Cockpit, Marylebone

Macbeth: Tuesday 20 February 2018 @ 2pm and 7.30pm
Romeo and Juliet: Wednesday 21 February 2018 @ 2pm and 7.30pm

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, The Bear Pit

Macbeth: Monday 05 February 2018 @ 2pm and 7.30pm
Romeo and Juliet: Tuesday 06 February 2018 @ 2pm and 7.30pm
Macbeth: Wednesday 07 February 2018 @ 2pm and 7.30pm
Romeo and Juliet: Thursday 08 February 2018 @ 2pm and 7.30pm
Romeo and Juliet: Friday 09 February 2018 @ 2pm and 7.30pm

To find out more, simply e-mail Helen in our office, helen@fred-theatre.co.uk, or call us on 01789 777612. We’ll collect a few details from you and respond with potential dates and a quote.

We look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime…

Fred Fact #1

Did you know that our artistic director, Robert Ball, has an MA in Shakespeare and Theatre from the Shakespeare Institute (University of Birmingham), Stratford-upon-Avon?

Robert studied at the Institute from 2009 and maintains close links with both staff and former students. He completed his degree by writing on small-scale touring theatre at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Fred Theatre Limited
classic drama, contemporary theatre

www.fred-theatre.co.uk

Primary

Why it is never, ever, a good idea to teach common sense in school

A quick look in the sky reveals that the sun, like the moon, goes around the Earth.  That’s common sense.  We can see it.  Every day.  It’s obvious.

It is also common sense that the world is flat.  If it were curved we’d see it and feel it, and all those people and kangaroos in Australia would fall off because they would be upside down.

Of course, at this point one might appeal to the notion of gravity.   But where’s the common sense in that?  I can’t see gravity, I can’t feel it, I can’t touch it.  So why should I ever believe in it, just so that I can believe that the world is round?  Which it clearly isn’t.

It’s all a bit like believing that putting a load of gas in a sealed container, opening a tiny gap at one end and setting fire to the gas, will then send the container in the opposite direction.  That’s hardly common sense.

In fact, that’s so simple one might say that’s “not rocket science”, but unfortunately it is.  Exactly that.  Rocket science.  It turns out to be just about the simplest form of science that there is, which is all rather confusing.

Perhaps therefore, the best thing to do at this point is abandon common sense totally and head full speed for some scientific investigations.  And thus, we have produced 100+ Fun Ideas for Science Investigations.

Common sense will tell you that when you are offered a book called “100+ Fun Ideas for Science Investigations” it will include over 100 ideas for some rather interesting and entertaining science investigations that children can undertake in the classroom.

And at this point, at last, common sense holds sway, because that is exactly what it does contain.  For more information or to order 100+ Fun Ideas for Science Investigations for £13.99 as a printed paperback book, £9.99 as an e-book, or both for £16.99 please visit:

https://www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/100-fun-ideas-for-science-investigations-14

Alternatively, you can place an order:

  • over the phone on 01449 766629
  • by email to orders@tradecounter.co.uk
  • by fax on 01449 767122
  • by post to Brilliant Publications, Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND.

We are the publishers so we supply it.  That’s not rocket science.

Science

Bridging the attainment gap in science at KS3

One of the most effective ways of helping your struggling pupils, be they dyslexic or slower processors, is to teach via topics and for them to develop an understanding of each topic using active learning techniques such as activities or games alongside the text that has to be read. This will also help your EAL pupils.

At the same time, there needs to be encouragement to write. This is not just writing for the sake of it but using notes to reinforce what is being learned.

In this way, the reading, activities and note taking combine to reinforce key words and concepts while making the learning relevant and accessible.

Oaka KS3 science topic packs contain full colour illustrations and use short words and simple sentence constructions that the students are likely to understand. Key points for each topic are covered in a clear, straightforward manner so any reading difficulty does not get in the way of understanding.

Last year, over 4,000 pupils accessed Oaka Digital, our online KS3 SEN resource library complete with 3D science images. Oaka Digital contains online science topic booklets for biology, chemistry and physics as well as revision quizzes (with recordable results), 3D images and activities to reinforce classroom learning.

To see more about how why Oaka’s multisensory approach works click here, and to review our KS3 science resources, please click here.

To view our brand new KS3 science revision games, click here.

After that, if you feel this could be right for your students, your school can trial Oaka Digital (KS3) without obligation and without any cost for 30 days – just click here. For all our products, we have a ‘no quibble’ 14 day returns guarantee so you can order with total confidence.

Best wishes

Bambi Gardiner
Founder, Oaka Books

 

Literacy

What do most parents expect their children to come home with at the end of this term? 

Certainly most parents do expect their children to bring home with something that can be put on display in the house in the Christmas / New Year holiday period.  And of course most children like to have something that they have created, on display at home.

The problem is however that many such items are very repetitive of the standard Christmas themes, and finding something a little different for the children to undertake in the last week or term, and then take home, can be a problem.

Which is why we came up with something just that little bit different.

It is a hot air balloon picture which the children can colour in.   But it is not just any hot air balloon, because this particular balloon has a basket filled with exotic animals and, to give the work a sense of longevity, it has a 2018 calendar attached.

The picture is suitable for colouring in with pencils or felt tip pens and the whole calendar is approx. 30cm tall making it ideal for putting on a mantlepiece or for hanging from a hook or pin.

We supply 10 calendars together with 10 2018 Calendar tabs for a special price of £2.95 for a pack of 10.  Individual calendars can be supplied at 45p each.

You can see a picture of the calendar on our web site

For more information or to place an order please use whichever medium is most convenient to you:

Product code: 9278 Pack of 10         £2.95 per pack

9277 Single calendar  45p each

Telephone: (10am to 3pm) 01473 710080

Fax: 0845 463 4200

Email: sales@craftycrocodiles.co.uk

Postal: Crafty Crocodiles Ltd, Bermuda Road, RansomesEuropark, Ipswich, IP39RU

Special Needs

How can you bridge the attainment gap at KS3?

KS3 is, as you well know, an essential building block in preparation for GCSEs. Missing key concepts at this stage will impact heavily on the end results.

One of the most effective ways of helping your struggling readers and dyslexic pupils learn is to teach via topics and for them to develop an understanding of each topic using active learning techniques such as activities or games alongside the text that has to be read.

At the same time, there needs to be encouragement to write; using notes to reinforce specifically what is being learned for each topic.

In this way, the reading, activities and note taking combine to reinforce key words and concepts while making the learning relevant and accessible.

Providing curriculum based revision resources that struggling readers can access and process independently is vital to keep pupils engaged. This can also reduce teacher time requirement for each SEN pupil.

Oaka KS3 topic packs contain full colour illustrations and use short words and simple sentence constructions that the pupils are likely to understand. Key points for each topic are covered in a clear, straightforward manner so any reading difficulty does not get in the way of understanding.

Many Oaka KS3 topic packs are endorsed by the ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board), widely recognized as a gold standard in assessment, and the packs are being used in over 370 UK schools.

To see more about how Oaka works, and to review our KS3 resources, please click here.

To view our brand new KS3 science revision games, click here.

After that, if you feel this could be right for your pupils, your school can trial Oaka Digital, our online KS3 resource library for SEN pupils, without obligation and without any cost for 30 days – just click here.

Or, to place an order straight away for other paper based resources, please visit www.oakabooks.co.uk. We have a ‘no quibble’ 14 day returns guarantee so you can order with total confidence.

Best wishes

Bambi Gardiner
Founder, Oaka Books

ICT

What is one of the most effective ways to create an engaging and differentiated computing lesson?

I’ve often heard colleagues in schools suggest how difficult it can be to teach computing and to keep their students engaged.

Often there is a large range of ability in the class – from the very bright students, who have made raspberry pi weather stations in their back yards, right through to those who struggle to grasp the basics.

I’ve worked with some teachers who get around this problem by working with students in a lunchtime or an after school club. But this requires more time, resources, and preparation.

Despite these challenges, both teachers and students love the idea of using robots in their lessons.  Anything that can move around, flash lights, and play sounds will help bring topics to life.

I think many colleagues agree that robots and physical computing helps to engage students. It also makes it easier to differentiate for different abilities because students can start with simple robots or projects and move on as and when they are ready.

To make it easier and more time efficient to introduce physical computing we have created an online learning space. This online space allows students to keep track of their progress and takes them from beginner level to building a real robot with sensors.

The first part is FREE. It introduces the popular arduino board and shows you how to light up an LED. You will then have some fun challenges to complete.

If you like the course and would like to upgrade to the full version, please use code: ZTeach1 for a 25% discount.

If this is of interest, further information is available here: http://zobotics.tech/make-for-schools

You can also contact me directly on 07703 294 942  or zan@zobotics.tech

School News

Debate Chamber Summer Schools 2018

The Debate Chamber Summer Schools offer students age 11-18 the opportunity to find out more about some fascinating subjects, prepare for university applications, meet like-minded peers and get to grips with some tough intellectual challenges.

The material will be challenging (for the older age-group, about the level of difficulty one might expect in the first year at university), but the atmosphere will be relaxed, with plenty of discussion, debate, and opportunities for students to shape the direction of classes. It is an environment conducive to getting to grips with new ideas.

Working in small groups (usually around 14 students per group) over several days offers participants a real chance to get to know tutors and fellow students and to explore the topics or questions that particularly interest them.

Highlights of Summer 2018:

The Medicine Summer School for students aged 15-18 offers a series of two-day events with specialist sessions on cardiology, paediatrics, oncology, emergency medicine and many other topics – enabling students to attend a wide-ranging introduction or select the sessions most relevant to their interests.

The Summer Law School for 15-18s, in three distinct five-day Parts to allow time for more cases, more analysis and more debate on some of the most intriguing legal questions. Students can choose to focus on Criminal Law, Civil Law or International Law, or to attend all three Parts for a comprehensive introduction to legal study.

The Philosophy and Critical & Cultural Theory Summer Schools for students aged 15-18 will look at some of the biggest questions in metaphysics, ethics and political theory, giving an opportunity to engage with the work of some fascinating thinkers, and also to develop students’ own skills of reasoning and argumentation.

Our Mathematics and Physics Summer Schools now offer options for students at GCSE, and also for those who have completed the first year of A Level study. These five-day events offer a challenging and rigorous exploration of theory and application, with a focus on developing practical problem-solving skills.

For those interested in the Arts & Humanities, we have Summer Schools in Economics, History, Classical Civilisations, International Relations and Politics (all for students aged 15-18).

Last but not least, we also have a smaller number of courses available for younger students (ages 11-14) in Law, Medicine, Creative Writing and Science subjects.

Practical Details:

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2018. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/.

There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit http://debatechamber.com/call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Nursery, Primary

What is the easiest way to get quality picture books at the lowest price, with the fastest delivery?

You may not have heard of Learning Discovery before, and there’s a reason for that…

We’ve been Down Under. Yes, that’s right, Australia! The convicts of yesteryear have spawned, and now one of them has become one of Australia’s largest picture book sellers. With our new locally based office in the UK, we’re ready for you to benefit from the awesome business model that’s been working so well for us down under.

Learning Discovery specialises in variety packs of brand new Picture Books, sending out close to 10,000 packs a year throughout Australia & new Zealand.

We cherry-pick from the best publishers, like Little Tiger Press, Egmont, Simon & Schuster & Andersen Press, just to name a few.

And our huge buying power enables us to offer you titles at 50% discount!

So here’s how it works…

Our variety packs contain 30 of the latest softcover, library quality picture books, and we send them direct to you completely risk free for a 21 day viewing period!

There’s no minimum order, so regardless of what you decide we will cover shipping costs both ways!

The process is super simple…

At the end of your 21 day viewing period you can either keep all the books, keep some of the books, or return them all at no cost.

Email sales@learningdiscovery.uk.com now using Variety Pack Offer in the subject line and we’ll get your pack on the way.

To see our current selection online go to www.learningdiscovery.uk.com

You can easily order anything you like from our website with no need for an official school order or a credit card.

Simply click ‘Invoice my School’ to bypass the payment gateway, and we’ll send an invoice with your order so you can pay later.

And remember, the more you buy the cheaper the titles get. Prices range between £2.99 & £4.49.

Lastly, Aussies love a gamble… So anyone who takes a variety pack in response to this email will receive a £10 coupon to spend on our website IF….

England win the Ashes this year.

Safe bet we think 😀

If you have any questions we’re only a call or a few keystrokes away.

We look forward to hearing from you.

James Layton
Learning Discovery UK Ltd

Learning Discovery UK Ltd
The Old Riding School
The Welbeck Estate
Worksop
Nottinghamshire
S80 3LR
Tel: +44 (0)1909 494 751

Learning Discovery UK Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with company no. 10748133

Nursery, Primary

What is the most effective way of promoting an interest in different cultures

An important aspect of learning is the ability to understand and appreciate other cultures.

Here are some reasons why children should be encouraged to learn about different cultures:

Firstly, other cultures are interesting. It is stimulating to learn about those who are different from you.

Knowledge of other cultures kindles the mind. Learning about other cultures is an interesting way to challenge your thought processes and expand the way you process information.

Learning about other cultures fosters understanding. Many of the problems we have in this world are due to misunderstandings. When you learn about another culture, and see why others do the things they do, it’s easier to understand them.

When you learn about other cultures, you learn that there is more than one approach to life. Perhaps the cultural heritage of someone else can add another dimension to your life.

Being able to tolerate others, and not berate them because of their differences is not only a big part of living in a global community, but it is also the mark of a well-rounded person. Travel enables the meeting and learning about other cultures and customs leading to a richer experience.

Unfortunately, it is not every child who will have the opportunity to travel at a very young age.

Thus, the question arises: how can we introduce pupils to a different culture?

Reading is an opportunity to learn about other cultures.

A fun way to be introduced to a different culture is through the Inca Book Series.

If you would like to learn more about the Inca Book Series there is an immediate opportunity on the website –

www.incabookserieis.com

For the next two weeks, those who subscribe will be eligible for a free book and an Amazon gift certificate.

CULTURE THROUGH BOOKS

R.F. Kristi

Music

Much sought after MA Professional Practice (Voice Pedagogy) is now available.

Course Description:

The MA Professional Practice (Voice Pedagogy) is a partnership between the Welsh Institute of Work Based Learning, University of Wales (Trinity St David) and Voice Workshop. This innovative postgraduate pathway enables the academic study of vocal pedagogy and facilitates the research of new areas of learning. The modules allow for the design and implementation of new initiatives which seeks to contribute to an individual’s practice, organisation and professional network.

This MA combines technical voice teaching with focussed essays and individual research projects. All voice stimulus days are taught by leading specialists and students combine theoretical research with practice based application.  The course will consist of a number of formative and summative assessments.  This postgraduate pathway will provide you with a number of opportunities to develop your research interests.   

Dates and Venue: 

The course is part-time and is carefully structured to fit into a teacher friendly timetable and runs from 20th August 2018 until 28th March 2021.

Held on behalf of Voice Workshop Limited at The Training Suite, North Colchester Business Centre, 340 The Crescent, Colchester, Essex CO4 9AD. 

Fees:

  • To reserve a place on the course, you will need to pay £1,000 (VAT inclusive) non-refundable deposit. This is only payable after your application has been accepted. Your place will not be reserved until this fee is paid.
  • A registration fee of £2460 is directly payable to University of Wales Trinity St David before the start of the course.
  • The remaining fee of £4490 (VAT inclusive) is directly payable to Voice Workshop Ltd by 30/6/18.
  • Please be aware that the postgraduate loan company releases finances in fixed instalments. These dates are fixed for all postgraduate loans and cannot be altered. As this is a collaborative arrangement between Voice Workshop Ltd and Trinity St David, Instalment payments are not an option for this type of course.
  • You may be eligible for a student loan. https://www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
  • All fees will need to be paid in advance even where instalments are paid by the student loan company.

Booking and Additional Information:

deestallan@voiceworkshop.co.uk and https://www.voiceworkshop.co.uk/ma-professional-practice-voice-pedagogy/

 

Careers

Making students more engaged

Research suggests that actively engaged students do best at school.  But how do we encourage students to become more engaged?

Engagement in terms of schooling is defined as the personal ingredient that actively helps individual students reach their full potential.  Put simply, without engagement it is harder for students to make the most of their talents and their opportunities.

In this regard the results of The Gallup® Student Poll make interesting reading.  For this survey has, for many years, been measuring the levels of student engagement, a measure which relates to involvement in and enthusiasm for school.

This survey includes amongst its findings the fact that engaged students are over four times as likely as their actively disengaged peers to be hopeful about the future.

Which raises an interesting point.  A realistically hopeful person is quite obviously more likely to succeed in any quest than a person who travels with no hope of success.

Thus, if engagement is a clear measure of hope for the future, how do we ensure that our students are “engaged” with school life rather than be found in Gallup’s alternative categories of “not engaged” and “actively disengaged.”

One possible solution is to take one’s students who appear from everyday observation to be “not engaged” or “actively disengaged” and help them to understand that, despite their current vision of school, they do have a number of positive attributes and opportunities.

This interesting journey towards a different view of life is made available by GetSet from Belbin; a questionnaire-based way of helping students find out about their own strengths and talents.  Something that can help them find a more positive expression of who and what they are – and indeed what they could become in the future.

To help you see the value that can be gained from this approach, we are very happy to offer you or one of your students the chance to take the GetSet questionnaire yourself at no cost or obligation.

To apply for a free questionnaire please click here – click “contact us” at the top of the page and write “a free one please” in the box.

To read more about GetSet please do look at our website: www.belbingetset.com .   Or if you have any questions please email getset@belbin.com or phone 01223 264975.

Lisa Ward

Information reproduced with kind permission of Gallup. More information on the 2016 Gallup student poll can be found at: http://news.gallup.com/reports/210995/6.aspx

School News

Why now is perhaps a better time than any to review your school’s spending on school-to-home transport

Since councils are required to make transport arrangements for children who live beyond three miles of their school (beyond two miles if below the age of eight) and for children who “cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school” because of mobility problems or health and safety issues related to SEN, it is not surprising that school-to-home transport costs £1 billion a year.

Yet the vice president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services is calling for cuts to be made to school-to-home transport, not least because it has been estimated that councils will face a £2 billion funding gap by 2020 to support vulnerable children.

This suggests that now is perhaps a better time than any to review your school’s spending on school-to-home transport and to look for alternative transport arrangements which might prove to be more cost effective.

An increasing number of schools have, for example, found that leasing a minibus, rather than owning a minibus outright, can sometimes work out to be cheaper in the long run due to the rate at which a vehicle devalues over time and with use – so it is well worth contacting a company like Benchmark Leasing to get a quote so that you can work out the figures for yourself.

Furthermore, by leasing a minibus with Benchmark Leasing, the vehicle’s MOTs, repairs* and services are included in the arrangement and the costs are conveniently built into the lease price. And as the minibuses that Benchmark lease to schools are always brand-new, the length of time that the minibus is out of action due to repairs is significantly reduced.

To enquire about leasing a brand-new minibus with Benchmark Leasing, please do call on 01753 859944 or email us at minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk. You might also like to have a look at our website to get a feel for the type of vehicles that we regularly lease to schools.

* T&Cs apply

Source: ADCS vice president: School transport costs ‘cannot be justified’

School News

Professionalism, de-professionalisation and austerity: Read free until 15th November! 

Public services in the UK are being undermined by austerity, marketisation and welfare reform. This special issue of Social Work & Social Sciences Review shows how successive neo-liberal governments have used de-professionalisation in social work and health as a weapon to advance free market ideologies at the expense of public services.

 We examine how different professions in health, social care and education have developed their identity, and then analyse the process of de-professionalisation within an employment culture  increasingly dominated by the values and assumptions of capitalism, globalisation and inequality.

In contrast a counter-narrative is offered for articulating an anti-austerity position, with the aim of contextualising discussions of the future development of professionalism.

Case studies look at:

  • the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and the successful Together for Children campaign against proposals to exempt local authorities from key existing statutory duties.
  • the strike by NHS junior doctors during 2016. Much media coverage of the strike was negative, portraying it not as ‘principled’ action, but as ‘politically motivated’, This tarnished the image of ‘doctors as professionals’, resulting in a potential loss of public trust.

Free access to the special issue is available until 15th November. Visit:

https://journals.whitingbirch.net/index.php/SWSSR/issue/view/134 

This is the first Special Issue of Social Work & Social Sciences Review produced in partnership with the Making Research Count (MRC) Network.  The network comprises the social work or care departments of 10 Universities working in partnership with some 60 local authority children’s and adults’ services, NHS bodies, and independent sector organisations.

 Whiting & Birch Ltd

www.whitingbirch.net

enquiries@whitingbirch.net

@whitingbirch

Primary

What is the most effective way of encouraging dyslexic pupils and struggling readers to write with enthusiasm?

One of the most effective ways of helping your struggling readers and dyslexic pupils learn  is to teach via topics and for them to develop an understanding of each topic using active learning techniques such as activities or games alongside the text that has to be read.

At the same time, there needs to be encouragement to write; using notes to reinforce specifically what is being learned for each topic.

In this way, the reading, activities and note taking combine to reinforce key words and concepts while making the learning relevant and accessible.

Oaka topic packs contain full colour illustrations and use short words and simple sentence constructions that the pupils are likely to understand. Key points for each topic are covered in a clear, straightforward manner so any reading difficulty does not get in the way of understanding.

Many Oaka topic packs are endorsed by the ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board) and the packs are being used in over 370 UK schools.

To see more about how Oaka works, and to review our KS1 and KS2 resources, please click here.

Best wishes

Bambi Gardiner

Founder, Oaka Books

School News

With exceptionally tight curriculum time and budget cuts is it still possible to support the mental health and wellbeing of post 16 pupils?

Research has shown that there is no doubt in the importance of mental health education within society and in particular the affect that it is having on student performance, however with 1 in 4 students suffering from anxiety and depression how is it possible to tackle such a vast problem on the limited resources within schools and colleges?

Part of the answer may be in understanding and addressing where the roots of many issues start, especially during the leap to responsible adulthood that takes place for many students post 16.

The mental health foundation carried out an extensive research study and report in 2016 and the title is a clear indicator for all educators:

Relationships in the 21st century: the forgotten foundation of mental health and wellbeing.

“Relationships are one of the most important aspects of our lives, yet we can often forget just how crucial our connections with other people are for our physical and mental health and wellbeing”

Unfortunately relationship education is extremely difficult to deliver, and as pupils get older and the topics get more sensitive and extreme, although possibly more important than ever, the resources and school commitment to this area decrease.

Having worked with nearly ½ million students across the UK on SRE and mental health topics Tip of the Iceberg Theatre Company have spent the last 3 years developing their most mature and extensive relationship project.  The project includes an hour’s live production that is followed by a range of talks or interactive workshops (bespoke delivery varies depending on budget, time and number of pupils).  “Exposed” is a 6th form PSHE experience that supports OFSTED findings on PSHE and has met with rave reviews from both pupils and teachers.

“Our students saw ‘Exposed’ and it was incredible! It is an extremely hard-hitting show with very adult themes running throughout but our students appreciated the opportunity to explore the issues together.” Hannah McSherry, St Albans High School for Girls. 

“We are a school who have had nothing but praise and amazing feedback from the students and staff.” Helen Price, Ramsey Academy.

The story unfolds as part of a police investigation and the play follows a year in the life of three 18 year olds to uncover the truth behind an incident that connects them all.  Everyone has a different perspective, they all have a motive, and none of them can be objective when it comes to their relationships. The storyline includes scenes around control, sexual pressure, consent, abuse, sexting, pornography, communicating feelings, rape, self-esteem, respect, and sexuality.

The prime aspect of “Exposed” as a package is that it carefully creates real life characters whose mental health, personalities, desires and influences can all be explored by students and therefore really assists in educating them on healthy relationships and supporting behaviour that encourages positive mental health.

“In raising awareness that healthy relationships help us thrive, we also give a warning of the impact that toxic relationships have on our health and wellbeing. Bullying and abuse are explosive in their destruction of mental health”
Jenny Edwards OBE, Chief Exec, Mental Health Foundation

Using our performance as a springboard our follow up discussions and workshops allow students to examine their own attitudes, ideas and behaviour in relation to difficult, contentious and sensitive topics. The knowledge the students gain helps them develop as students, people and members of society throughout their lives.

The project can be delivered for up to 250 pupils per day and there are a range of delivery options and packages.

Prices start at £575 + Travel + VAT

This academic year the tour runs from the 21st Feb 2018 to 23rd March 2018 and there are still some spaces available.

You can download a flyer here:

http://www.tipoftheiceberg.biz/education/Exposed%20flyer%202%20sided%202016.pdf

If you would like further information and an exact quote please contact me directly:

Tel: 07849743595

Email: tourbooker@tipoftheiceberg.biz