English Literature Summer School 2018 Booking Now Open

A wonderful opportunity for students with a passion for literature to discover a range of new authors and texts, explore fresh approaches to familiar works and to prepare for undergraduate study of English Literature.

“Although I wasn’t initially sure what to expect about the summer course, I was massively surprised and impressed! – The sessions were in smallish groups of peers, and everyone was really nice and interested in the discussions – and the week was so engaging and eye opening, I felt really enriched and all of the tutors were so knowledgeable and insightful. Overall, I would absolutely recommend the course, it was one of the best parts of my summer!” 

“If you think this is just going to be a summer school on English Literature, you are wrong. It will also teach you about theories and ideas in Art, Theatre, and Philosophy. I came into the course disillusioned about English Literature academically but it inspired me to continue it further to A level.” 

“I would thoroughly recommend attending the English Literature Summer School. It has given me a wonderful insight into texts and literary movements which are not covered on the school syllabus and has been enormous fun.” 

Reviews from previous English Literature Summer School Students 

The English Literature Summer School – Part 1 will cover literature dating from 650AD to 1790AD, including Middle English, Medieval Literature, Chaucer, The Renaissance, Shakespeare, Restoration Literature and the Rise of the Novel. In addition we will also be covering Historicist and Feminist critical approaches as part of this Summer School.

The English Summer School – Part 1 will be held on 6th – 10th August 2018 – you can see a schedule for the course here.

The English Literature Summer School – Part 2 will cover literature dating from 1790AD to the late 20th Century, including Romanticism and the Gothic Movement, Victorian Sensation Novels, Literature and the British Empire, Modernism, Postmoderism and Contemporary Literature. We will be covering the ‘Death of the Author’ and Postcolonial criticism as part of this Summer School.

The English Summer School – Part 2 will be held on 20th – 24th August 2018 – you can see a schedule for the course here. 

The English Summer School – Part 3 will cover literature dating from the late 20th Century to the present day, including prose fiction, poetry and drama. We will be focusing on the the critical traditions of Psychoanalysis, Intertextuality, Queer Theory, and theories of the Canon.

The English Summer School – Part 3 will be held on 28th August – 1st September 2018 – you can see a schedule for the course here.

Please note that students can attend all Parts of the Summer School, or just one or two, depending on their literary interests. Although the courses complement one another, they can also be treated as stand alone events and there is no requirement to have attended Part 1 in order to register for other Parts.

Thematic coverage by period, combining close study of texts with lectures on historical and cultural context, and setting major authors side-by-side with less familiar works, will help students to appreciate the development of prose, verse and drama in English from the middle ages to the present day. We will not only engage in close textual analysis of Medieval, Renaissance, Romantic, Nineteenth Century, Modernist and Contemporary writers, but also evaluate these movements in light of the authors’ own critical writing.

As well as looking at the purely written word, we will also cover literature in performance, comparing playscripts to film adaptations and reading through sections of the works using different performance theories. As an integral part of Part 1 of the Summer School we will attend a performance at the Globe Theatre on the Southbank. Literary theory and criticism will play an important role in the Summer School and students will be invited to examine texts they have studied in the light of competing theories of the nature and value of literature and the role of the critic.

This Summer School is suitable for all students aged 15-18 with a passion for literature, and will be particularly useful for those looking for a taste of undergraduate level engagement with texts and theory.

Practical Details:

The cost of booking any single five-day Part of the English Literature Summer School £495, the cost of any two Parts is £895, and the cost for all three Parts of the Summer School is £1250. The Summer School will be held at the University of London Bloomsbury campus (please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required).

There will be a limited number of bursary spaces available for those who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit https://debatechamber.com/project/english-literature-summer-school/ call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Classroom chairs with a TWENTY  year warranty can save your school or college hundreds or possibly thousands of pounds..

 … AND eliminate time wasted in trying to repair damaged chairs.

 Improvements in  design and manufacture  have  meant that the quality and durability of student chairs have improved significantly during the past few years.  The result is that it’s now possible to obtain classroom  chairs with a TWENTY  year warranty.

That’s up to TWENTY years with NO replacement costs and NO repair bills…which,  in a large school or college can save  hundreds of pounds.

Designed not only to be comfortable, durable and virtually vandal proof but also to encourage good posture, the “Postura Plus” chair is available in sixteen attractive colours and six sizes,  making it ideal for use across different departments and in both primary and secondary sectors.

For a limited period, until March 20  2018 it’s possible to order Postura Plus chairs at 2017 prices ……. a saving of at least 50p per chair on what are already very competitive prices.  Please note that to take advantage of this  offer you must take delivery before 30 March 2018.  So, if you have been considering adding to your stock of Postura chairs or perhaps introducing them for the first time here is an opportunity to do so and save money at the same time.

For more information about these chairs please visit the website  

www.centraleducational.co.uk 

 If you’d like to discuss their suitability for your organisation or to chat about a possible order please call 020 7515 1797 and ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to help.

Central Educational Supplies Ltd can also be contacted by email on info@centraleducational.co.uk or fax: 020 7515 4420

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

Questions to ask and answer before investing in an IP CCTV system + a special offer from Gaia Security

Quite clearly, it might be that your school doesn’t require a new IP CCTV system, or a CCTV system, full stop. Which is why we’ve compiled a list of questions for you to ask and answer before your school invests.

1) Is your current CCTV system fit for purpose? (if applicable)
2) Does your local authority require you to follow a security protocol in your school?
3) Does your school’s area have higher than average crime and violence rates?
4) Are there loitering ‘hot spots’ in your school where incidents tend to happen more often?
5) What’s the biggest threat in your school? (e.g. violence, vandalism, trespassing, truancy etc)

If after answering these questions you believe your school would benefit from a new IP CCTV system and you would like to discuss this with a member of our team, please do get in touch either by: sending an email to cctv@gaia-tech.com, calling 01248 675 800, or filling in the contact form at this link. Alternatively, you can visit our website for more information.

Don’t forget to ask about our special offer when you get in touch:

Gaia offer

What is a managed service?

A managed service is an all-encompassing service by which we take on the responsibility of looking after the IP CCTV system so that you and your colleagues can focus on teaching. It includes, installation, support, maintenance, extended warranties, hot swap, an annual visit to clean the cameras, and so on and so forth. For more information, visit www.gaia-security.co.uk/solutions-as-a-managed-services/

Debate Chamber Summer Schools 2018  Booking Now Open

Debate Chamber Summer Schools offer students 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 our older age-group, about the level of difficulty one might expect in the first year at university), but a relaxed atmosphere, with plenty of discussion, debate, and opportunities for students to shape the direction of classes creates the perfect environment for getting to grips with new ideas. Working in small groups (usually around 14 students per group) over several days means a real chance to get to know tutors and fellow students and to explore the topics or questions that particularly interest each individual.

Highlights of Summer 2018 for students interested in current affairs:

The Economics Summer School for students aged 15-18. Focusing on political economy and macro-economics, the five-day Economics Summer School will include seminars on a diverse range of topics, from financial and currency markets to an analysis of economic inequality and its potential remedies. We will also be looking at development strategies in emerging economies, and the emerging impact of Brexit on the UK and other economies. The focus throughout will be on debate and discussion, and on encouraging and supporting students to engage critically and actively with the material.

See more details about the Economics Summer School here.

The Politics Summer School for students aged 15-18. This five-day course will include seminars on key questions within political theory and philosophy, workshops on important policy areas, and analysis of changing voter behavior in both the UK and US. The Summer School will conclude with a full day Mock Parliament, with participants taking the role of MPs, forming parties, making policy and debating legislation.

See more details about the Politics Summer School here.

The International Relations Summer School for students aged 15-18. This course will introduce the central theories involved in the academic study of IR – realism, liberalism, constructivism and Marxism – and will then look at a range of detailed case studies in order to apply, test and explore these theories. Topics covered will include military intervention, international law, development aid, feminism and IR, regional sessions looking at China and the Middle East, and the European response to the migration crisis.

See more details about the International Relations Summer School here.

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://www.debatechamber.com/, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

 

Do you have any reservations about extra funding for training?

The Government has just published a Green Paper “Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision”. It forms part of the Government’s work to transform mental health support, ending what the Prime Minister has referred to as the “burning injustice” of inequality which those with mental health problems experience. The Paper focuses on earlier intervention and prevention before issues escalate, particularly in and around schools and colleges.

The proposals include covering the costs of a significant training programme and will provide up to £15-20m each year, from 2019 to cover costs until all schools and colleges have had the chance to train a lead, this being the Head Teacher or SENCO.  However, the proposal is that any therapy required, which may attract additional funding, is carried out by an NHS service or CAHMS.  Play Therapy UK (PTUK) believes that for the majority of the cases (mild/moderate conditions) this would best be carried out by a trained member of school staff.

PTUK knows a great deal about working therapeutically with children in schools We have the largest evidence base (over 44,000 measures) showing how effective play and creative arts are when used therapeutically in primary schools – 78% to 84% children show a positive change.

We propose to respond accordingly to the consultation taking into account your views.

To help schools prepare for the changes implied in the Green Paper we are providing a free of charge advisory service. This will keep you in touch with progress of the legislation and give you practical advice on the steps to take.  Just email me if you are interested. jefferyht@majemail.com

Jeff Thomas
Registrar – Play Therapy UK

jefferyht@majemail.com

www.playtherapyregister.org.uk

www.playtherapy.org.uk

TOP FUNDRAISING TIPS FOR YOUR SCHOOL’S OUTDOOR LEARNING PROJECTS

It is now a pretty much well-documented fact that capital funding for schools is quite difficult to come by in this current austerity-driven financial climate and that a school can no longer rely on money from the central Government pot if they want to improve their playground or fund outdoor learning products such as outdoor classrooms and shelters.

So now more than ever before, a school has to look at alternative ways of funding these type of projects outside of their school budget and devolved capital funds. But this can all initially sound quite daunting for anyone within a school who has been charged with this task. The usual initial problems or obstacles are as follows:

  • Lack of time. There are simply not enough hours in the day as it is and fundraising is certainly something which is not simply done in one day. It undoubtedly takes plenty of dedication and effort over a period of time in order to be successful
  • Limited communication channels. The majority of schools do have their own website but sometimes a bigger reach is required outside of the local community
  • No overall strategy and plan. This is a must to have because without any “chart or map” as to where you want to go or want you want to achieve, a project can easily go off course quite quickly. And you also need some sort of plan to monitor performance against
  • Insufficient contacts within the community. Outside of their immediate network of parents, Governors and PTA etc, schools do need to have a wider base of contacts who they can call upon to help

But this does not need to be an intimidating task because at the Hideout House Company, we have built up, based on substantial experience, an effective model as to how a school can successfully fundraise for their chosen project.

This plan does not also just rely on one source, such as applying for grants, as we have found that it is always more beneficial (and less risky) to spread out the potential areas for finding these pots of money. Our plan involves donations from the local or wider community; the afore-mentioned grants; sponsorship; services; income generation from lettings; item sales; clubs and events; crowd funding.

A lot of schools are not aware that they are already sitting on a potential money supply and by this I mean income generation from letting out their existing facilities – halls, sports facilities, before and after school clubs, functions at the week-end and even weddings! The Hideout House outdoor classrooms have used in the past for outdoor civil ceremony weddings for example.

Working alongside our partners, we can offer a school help with income generation, marketing assistance (including generation of promotional materials), software tools, workshops and training (online and offline) and tapping into a network of donators. As well as offering general advice and guidance along the way. For example, maximising Gift Aid as voluntary donations to a school can be uplifted by 25% when you claim Gift Aid – we will teach you what contributions are eligible for Gift Aid and how you can administer those donations.

We can also put you in contact with other schools who we have successfully worked with in the past so that you can see how we work and how our methods are tried and tested.

If you would like to know how we can help your school raise money for any outdoor learning playground project you have in mind, then please contact the Hideout House Company on 01865 858982 or email: info@hideouthouse.com.

How to use humour to engage children learning French at Key Stage 2

While most children learn to read English using a story-based approach, it is uncommon for children learning French at Key Stage 2 to be given the opportunity to learn to read French in the same way. But if you make the stories humorous in either language then the vocabulary and grammar will be easier to remember, your pupils will be more engaged in the learning process, and their confidence will increase as they manage to read a complete story.

Which is why we have produced the Learn French with Luc et Sophie story-based scheme for Key Stage 2.

The storybooks included with the scheme are humorous and based on sibling rivalry with which many children will relate. The stories have also been carefully written to ensure progression of vocabulary and language structures.

Aimed at specialist and non-specialist teachers, the teacher books included with the scheme provide structured but flexible lesson plans based around each story. And that is not all …

… find out what else is included in the packs, as well as seeing sample pages and listening to sample audio files by clicking the links below:

Years 3–4

For more information and to see sample pages for Learn French with Luc et Sophie: Part One, click here.

Years 5–6

And for more information and to see sample pages for Learn French with Luc et Sophie: Part Two, click here.

You can place an order for Learn French with Luc et Sophie: Part One, Years 3–4 (£37.99) and/or Learn French with Luc et Sophie: Part Two, Years 5–6 (£37.99) in a variety of ways, including:

  • on our website by clicking on the above links
  • by 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.

There’s still time to book Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet for in-school or on stage performances

Fred Theatre is now touring with two Shakespearean classics: Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet.

Rehearsals have gone well and I’m confident these shows will get a great response from both pupils and teachers alike.

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

All productions can be performed in your school; all we need is a space approximately 5m x 5m with room (of course) for the audience. If you have room, and feel it would be a good idea, you can also invite some parents along too, so that they can see what their sons and daughters are studying.

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.

Both shows also have in-theatre public performances. We are at:

The Cockpit, Marylebone, LONDON 20-21 February

The Bear Pit, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, 5-9 February

Tickets for the public performances may be booked direct with the venues.

Finally, here’s the latest Fred Fact, #4…

Group leaders, teachers, etc go free at public performances. In addition to keeping student ticket prices as low as possible, we fee it’s only right to include free tickets for group leaders.

Robert Ball
Artistic Director
fred-theatre.co.uk

PS: We had wonderful feedback from students during our autumn tour of A Christmas Carol. Here are just two of our favourite comments:

Very funny but the best scene was when he changed from not caring to caring, it shows that anyone can change (Raymond, year 11)

The superb acting, everything was excellent, I enjoyed this performance (thumbs up, smiley face)(Baker, year 11)

The most unexpected approach to whole school improvement which has extraordinary effects?

The notion of school improvement has been with us for so long that it can seem unlikely that anyone would ever come up with a new approach that really works.

And yet this has happened, because of late there has been growing evidence to the effect that physical activity improves mental activity. Indeed a study from the University of British Columbia showed that very modest levels of exercise boost activity in the part of the brain involved in verbal memory and learning.

Meanwhile there has also been lots of evidence generated showing that increasing children’s activity throughout the day improves pupil focus, behaviour, wellness, and academic performance, as well as health and fitness.

Thus, when you give children short bursts of mild physical activity within a lesson they return to learning more focused. And indeed this is one of the reasons why the additional 30 minutes of structured activity has now been introduced as a compulsory measure in schools in England.

If that short period is spent on modest levels of physical activity the amount of learning that subsequently takes place increases considerably.

And that is before we even think in terms of encouraging regular activity in children in order to reduce the chances of obesity.

The new government directive requires all primary schools in England to provide 30 minutes of structured physical activity each day to all children in the school in addition to the weekly two hours of PE, and it is to support this practice that the PE and Sport Premium funding has been doubled this year.

To see how this approach can be implemented by making classrooms more active and the benefits it brings your pupils, we’ve now made available online a series of free trials of activity sessions. Each session can be implemented within classroom lessons.

These are available on the Free Trial Lesson page of our website. And if you have any questions please do phone 0114 2661061 or email enquiries@imoves.com.

Debate Chamber Mathematics

The Debate Chamber Maths courses offer bright students the opportunity to study a variety of advanced topics in pure and applied mathematics that are not typically covered by the school syllabus. Our courses are particularly appropriate for students who may be considering further study of mathematics, but are also suitable for those interested in related disciplines, such as physics, computing or engineering.

One-day Mathematics Masterclass in February 2018 

The Mathematics Masterclass provides an exciting one-day introduction to number theory and the mysterious properties of prime numbers. Under the expert guidance of our tutors, students will be taken on a fun and challenging mathematical journey involving some of the greatest mathematical problems of the past 500 years. The Mathematics Masterclass is open to students aged 15-18 and will take place Saturday 24th February 2018.

You can see further details for this course here. 

Mathematics Summer Schools

The Mathematics Summer School is an opportunity for students to spend five days exploring some of the most exciting ideas in contemporary mathematics. As a general structure, students will develop a theoretical understanding of a particular branch of mathematics in the morning session, before exploring the practical applications of these ideas in the afternoon. 

Mathematics – Part 1 focuses on Number Theory, Algebra and Geometry and is open to all students aged 15-18. Topics will include prime numbers, Riemann-zeta functions, polynomial equations, non-Euclidean geometry, group theory, statistical methods, probability theory, algorithms, Turing machines and code-breaking. As part of this programme, students will explore some of the most fascinating and famous unsolved problems in mathematics, including the Riemann Hypothesis, Goldbach Conjecture and Twin Prime Conjecture.

Mathematics – Part 2 focuses on Calculus, Proofs and Infinities and requires that students have completed a minimum of one year of A-level study in Mathematics (or equivalent) at the time of the course. This programme offers a university-style approach to the topics of linear algebra, modular arithmetic, limits, multi-variable calculus, mathematical induction, set theory and cryptography. During the course, students will explore some of the most exciting modern-day applications of these ideas, including quantum encryption, RSA algorithms, Google PageRank, the Black-Scholes equation and Gödel’s incompleteness theorem.

Classes are small, typically containing twelve to fifteen students, all of whom should have a passion for mathematics, a curiosity to build on their existing knowledge and be keen to embrace and exchange new ideas. An expert Tutor will lead each session in a seminar format, but learning will be largely student-led wherever practical. Classes will focus on discussion and on problem questions and exercises, creating a comfortable environment for students to share ideas amongst their peers and to progress from their existing knowledge toward more challenging material.

The Mathematics Summer School will be held in July and August 2018. You can find detailed schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors on the course webpage – here.

Feedback from previous students:

If you love Mathematics and are thinking of taking the subject at A-level and beyond then do not hesitate to attend this course. I came away from this week with crazy enthusiasm for maths as well helpful guidelines and knowledge to support my career in the subject. I made some great new friends and met inspirational maths-minded people who I will never forget!’ 

‘Even though we only spent one day on each topic, they were taught at a surprising level of depth. I felt that in in my time at Debate Chamber, the main focus of the tutors was for you to learn about new topics you wouldn’t usually study at school. In school, the main focus of the lesson is to learn a topic to a level that is sufficient for you to be able to solve problems in a test. Instead, in the summer school I felt encouraged to ask questions, to understand the logic behind the mathematics, why it works and the underlying importance of the concepts learned in the real world.’ 

‘You won’t regret it! If you love the subject, you’ll love the entire week. It gives an unparalleled taster into university mathematics and allows you to explore some absolutely fascinating concepts – some of which will be almost entirely alien to you! The teachers were excellent and the friendly atmosphere ensures that everyone has a great time. I wish I could go again’ 

‘The Mathematics Summer School is a great introduction to maths at university. During the five days, I was presented with a variety of new topics in mathematics which had not been covered in the A level course. I would highly recommend attending the Debate Chamber Summer School, as it gives you a great opportunity to look at other areas of maths.’ 

‘This is a great event as it gives you lots of exposure to university style teaching and ideas, really testing your knowledge and dedication to your subject. The tutors guide you through it, pushing you to your full potential but in a fun and engaging manner. This course is definitely worth taking part in.’

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 the bursary section on our website – here. 

Practical Details

All of our courses will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

The Mathematics Summer School will be held in July and August 2018. You can find detailed schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors on the course webpage – here.

To book a place students can complete the online booking form, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email us at info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. 

Questions to ask and answer before investing in an IP CCTV system + a special offer from Gaia Security

The presence of CCTV in schools shows parents, students, staff, and school visitors that their safety is of upmost importance. Yet the presence of CCTV is not always enough, for if the CCTV looks dated, it portrays that, although safety may have once been a priority, it is no longer so.

This is because, although an old analogue CCTV system is better than none, it can still miss incidents between frames, which needn’t be an issue or risk in this day and age due to advancements in technology.

Quite clearly, it might be that your school doesn’t require a new IP CCTV system, or a CCTV system, full stop. Which is why we’ve compiled a list of questions for you to ask and answer before your school invests.

1) Is your current CCTV system fit for purpose? (if applicable)
2) Does your local authority require you to follow a security protocol in your school?
3) Does your school’s area have higher than average crime and violence rates?
4) Are there loitering ‘hot spots’ in your school where incidents tend to happen more often?
5) What’s the biggest threat in your school? (e.g. violence, vandalism, trespassing, truancy etc)

If after answering these questions you believe your school would benefit from a new IP CCTV system and you would like to discuss this with a member of our team, please do get in touch either by: sending an email to cctv@gaia-tech.com, calling 01248 675 800, or filling in the contact form at this link. Alternatively, you can visit our website for more information.

One more thing, don’t forget to ask about our special offer

Camera offer

Free resources from The Mighty Multiples Times Table Challenge

Get free resources from The Mighty Multiples Times Table Challenge, including Long Jump Jim’s 10 times table songs, poems and activity worksheets:

The Mighty Multiples Times Table Challenge works best as a whole-school scheme.

Simply present the in-built motivational rewards at assemblies and watch pupils strive to achieve their Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Awards. The scheme starts with number stories, so even reception children can be involved.

For more information about how your school can get involved with The Mighty Multiples Times Table Challenge, simply visit: https://www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/the-mighty-multiples-times-table-challenge-381.

The Mighty Multiples Times Table Challenge resource contains everything you need to take your quest for greater motivation in maths across the whole school and costs just £37.99+vat. This resource can be ordered in a variety of ways, such as:

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

Helping to understand the impact of religion on conflicts

MIDDLE EAST EDUCATION
MEEDU
www.middleeastedu.co.uk

Talks Related to GCSE Religious Studies

To book or for more details: meedu@talktalk.net

Dear Head of Religious studies

We are now offering a range of talks which we hope will be of interest to teachers of RS. For example:

  1. Jerusalem. Its importance to Judaism, Islam, Christianity
  2. The three monotheistic religions. Do the dates of their establishment influence their attitudes towards each other?
  3. Islam, Christianity: similarities, differences, beliefs, cultures, history
  4. Judaism, Christianity: similarities, differences, beliefs, cultures, history
  5. Judaism, Islam: similarities, differences, beliefs, cultures, history
  6. Christians in the Middle East
  7. The impact of Islam and Judaism on the Arab-Israeli conflict
  8. Religious aspects of recent upheavals in the Middle East
  9. Sunni Islam, Shia Islam
  10. Hezbollah, Hamas, ISIS. The effect of their religious beliefs on their actions.
  11. Any topic you suggest

The talks are given by two speakers together, a Muslim and a Jew. Both are highly knowledgeable about their own religion and about Christianity, and their presentations are accompanied by lively, informative power points and films.

Inter action is built into every session, and involvement of the students is encouraged throughout. The speakers will adapt the length of session to your requirements.

To book or for further details: meedu@talktalk.net

Anne Smith
Secretary
MEEDU

 

Classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty

Classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty can save your school or college hundreds or possibly thousands of pounds  AND eliminate time wasted in trying to repair damaged chairs. 

Improvements in  design and manufacture  have  meant that the quality and durability of student chairs have improved significantly during the past few years.  The result is that it’s now possible to obtain classroom  chairs with a TWENTY  year warranty.

That’s up to TWENTY years with NO replacement costs and NO repair bills…which,  in a large school or college can save  hundreds of pounds.

Designed not only to be comfortable, durable and virtually vandal proof but also to encourage good posture, the “Postura Plus” chair is available in sixteen attractive colours and six sizes,  making it ideal for use across different departments and in both primary and secondary sectors.

For a limited period, until March 20  2018 it’s possible to order Postura Plus chairs at 2017 prices ……. a saving of at least 50p per chair on what are already very competitive prices.  Please note that to take advantage of this  offer you must take delivery before 30 March 2018.  So, if you have been considering adding to your stock of Postura chairs or perhaps introducing them for the first time here is an opportunity to do so and save money at the same time.

For more information about these chairs please visit the website  

www.centraleducational.co.uk 

 If you’d like to discuss their suitability for your organisation or to chat about a possible order please call 020 7515 1797 and ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to help.

Central Educational Supplies Ltd can also be contacted by email on info@centraleducational.co.uk or fax: 020 7515 4420

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

Extra funding for training

The Government has just published a Green Paper “Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision”. It forms part of the Government’s work to transform mental health support, ending what the Prime Minister has referred to as the “burning injustice” of inequality which those with mental health problems experience. The Paper focuses on earlier intervention and prevention before issues escalate, particularly in and around schools and colleges.

The proposals include covering the costs of a significant training programme and will provide up to £15-20m each year, from 2019 to cover costs until all schools and colleges have had the chance to train a lead.

To help you prepare for an application for this funding we are providing a free of charge advisory service. This will keep you in touch with progress of the Green Paper and give you practical advice on the steps to take.  Just email me if you are interested. jefferyht@majemail.com

PTUK knows a great deal about working therapeutically with children.  It has the largest evidence base (over 44,000 measures) showing how effective play and creative arts are when used therapeutically in primary schools – 78% to 84% children show a positive change.

Jeff Thomas

Registrar – Play Therapy UK

jefferyht@majemail.com

www.playtherapyregister.org.uk

www.playtherapy.org.uk

FREE CCTV SURVEY to see if your system is fit for purpose and whether your school is overpaying for its maintenance

90% of secondary schools have a CCTV system, yet a high proportion of schools are paying unnecessarily high annual fees to support and maintain an old analogue or early IP CCTV system.

Which is why, Gaia Security would love to undertake a FREE CCTV SURVEY to a) see if your CCTV system is fit for purpose, and b) to see if your school is overpaying for its current CCTV system’s support and maintenance.

“To date, we have saved schools an average of 25% on CCTV support and maintenance costs.” Martyn Wilks, Sales & Account Manager, Gaia Security

To discuss your current CCTV maintenance and support contract with a member of our team, and/or to book a FREE CCTV SURVEY and receive a report of our findings, please do get in touch either by:

Alternatively, you can visit our website for more information.

If you’re wondering how an upgraded CCTV system could potentially cost the same or less than your current system, the answer is: due to advancements in technology. Nowadays, some CCTV system maintenance can be carried out remotely and CCTV hardware costs less now than it once did.

History Summer Schools 2018 – Booking Now Open

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 (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 for students (aged 15-18) interested in History:

The History Summer School is an intensive five-day course which looks at historiographical questions and historical methods, using seminars, lectures, activities and informal discussions. Topics are selected to challenge and broaden the historical outlook of participants, and give a taste of what the subject is like at undergraduate level.

See more details of the History Summer School here.

The Classical Civilisations Summer School looks at the ancient worlds of Greek and Rome from a range of perspectives, including politics, international relations, literature and philosophy. On this course we try to convey both the radical strangeness of the classical world, and to look at the legacy in modern times of ancient thinkers, ideas and institutions.

See more information about the Classical Civilisations Summer School here.

In addition to the those highlighted above, we also have Summer Schools in International Relations, Politics, Economics, Philosophy, English Literature, Law, Medicine, Dentistry, Maths and Physics.

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 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 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.

 

Connevans – Making life at school just a little bit easier 

At Connevans we have been supplying schools since Connie and Meurig Evans started the company in 1961 and we now have a wider range than ever, the real A – Z of school supplies.

To make it as easy as we can for you, just send us a school Purchase Order and we will send you the goods with an Invoice to be paid within 30 days, what could be simpler?!

Everything we supply can be ordered and shipped at the same time from our Surrey warehouse, saving you time and money. Here is just a small selection of what we offer to help you get through the school day …

A – AFILS meters (to test an installed loop system)

B – Batteries (from hearing aids to rechargeable)

C – Counter Induction Loop systems (for a Reception area to comply with the Equality Act)

D – Dorgard (the simple fire door release door-stop)

E – Earplugs

F – Flight cases

G – Gloves (disposable, for those jobs which need gloves!)

H – Hall Sound systems (for everyone to be heard in an assembly)

I – Infra-red Classroom SoundField systems (for the teacher to be heard clearly)

J – Jumbo Playing Cards (laminated)

K – Keyring Battery Tester

L – Loudhailers (the widest selection of megaphones, every school should have one for emergencies)

M – Magnifying Glasses

N – Neck loops (for use with PC’s, laptops etc.)

O – Oto-Fresh (the complete range of hearing aid care products)

P – Puppets (including ‘figurative living puppets’ to help learn sign language)

Q – Quick release microphone stands

R – Radio Microphones (lapel, head-worn, hand-held and collar mics)

S – Sound level meters and indicators (including the Babbleguard for Classrooms)

T – Telephone amplifiers

U – UPS next day delivery service

V – Vibrating pagers

W – Wireless group listening systems

X – Phonak Roger X Radio Aid receivers

Y – Yellow Neon Gaffa Tape (when your tape needs to be seen)

Z – Zinc Air batteries

All of the above & much more can be found here on our secure web site … https://www.connevans.co.uk/

When you find what you need, just send a school Purchase Order to info@connevans.com and leave the rest to us!  (If you don’t find what you need, email us anyway and we will do our best to help!)

Connevans – Making life at school just a little bit easier.

A production of Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing or Romeo and Juliet in your school, prior to opening in a London theatre

Following our recent sell out tour of A Christmas Carol in schools across the UK, Fred Theatre is now touring with three Shakespearean classics: Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Much Ado About Nothing.

Having seen how the rehearsals are going I’m confident these shows will get an equally great response from both pupils and teachers alike.

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

All productions can be performed in your school; all we need is a space approximately 5m x 5m with room (of course) for the audience. If you have room, and feel it would be a good idea, you can also invite some parents along too, so that they can see what their sons and daughters are studying.

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.

Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet also have in-theatre public performances. We are at:

The Cockpit, Marylebone, LONDON 20-21 February

The Bear Pit, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, 5-9 February

Helen can provide more information on these performances, or you can book tickets with the venues. I look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, since Fred Fact numbers 1 and 2 went down so well here is Fred Fact #3…

Fred Theatre’s education officer, Abigail Walton, is always on hand to discuss with schools any particular needs they may have associated with an in-school performance. Whether this be a workshop with students, or a requirement for a more relaxed performance. Abi can be contacted via Helen (details above).

Robert Ball
Artistic Director
fred-theatre.co.uk

PS: It’s always good to get comments from teachers, and here’s one I received recently which I thought I’d share:

I just wanted to send a quick email to extend my thanks for last night.  The performance was phenomenal!  All of the pupils were extremely complimentary and positive about the performance.  The actors were truly brilliant.  The ‘faithfulness’ to the text has left the pupils engaged and ready for their English Literature studies. Please keep us updated with further performances as we would love to have the company in again! Thank you
Stephanie Robson, Dyke House Sports and Technology College, Hartlepool

 

Will your next Timetable be more difficult?

 

There are a number of things that are presenting schools and timetablers with challenges at present.
So what can be done in your school to mitigate their effect?
We have produced a free ‘White Paper’ which discusses 5 of the problems and suggests ways to begin tackling them.

The 5 areas that have consequences for your timetabling are:

  • the Budget; what is the impact on your timetable?
  • Part-time staff; are they affecting your timetable?
  • Options Choices; can they be improved for your school?
  • the timetable cycle; might you want to change it?
  • the Sixth Form, if you have one, or a joint S456 in Scotland.

This free White Paper discusses each one and suggests possible improvements.
To download the illustrated Paper as a PDF, click on this link.

 

October ReSolutions Ltd
UK
www.timetabler.com
Providing timetabling solutions for over 30 years

From the Secret Garden to the Jungle book: letting every student read a classic at a fraction of the normal price.

Quality copies of classic novels that appeal to teenagers at just £1.88 – with teenager friendly book covers to match! 

Now that might seem too good to be true, but I’d like to reassure you these are printed paperback editions of hundreds of classics with the complete, full text – not edited versions or ebook editions.  Better still there is free delivery and no minimum order.

And here’s a further point: it has been pointed out that some teenagers, if they see a book cover which they feel suggests something that is not modern enough or suitable for their age and status, they then refuse to read that book.

We’ve therefore consulted with schools and selected 12 very popular titles and produced new editions with new covers to make them teenager-friendly.  There is a list of these titles below.

Throughout, these books are of the highest quality in terms of production and printing.  And just to reassure you totally we now have an extra offer: to help you see what our publications look like, we’ll send you a free book without any obligation whatsoever.

In total we have over 400 titles in print, including over 230 works of classic literature.  Each volume contains the full text, with the classics also including a set of exclusive introductions and notes.

Additionally, not only do we have individual titles at £1.88 but we also have the World Literature and Poetry series at just £3.99 before discount, and our complete works series for just £7.99 each.

If you would like to see a list of around 50 of the most frequently used set texts which are available direct to schools at the special price of £1.88 that is available here.

To see the full list of our titles in print along with a ready-to-use order form, should you need it, we have a page with those details as well.  Plus there is currently a 25% discount on all the prices shown.

Meanwhile here is the list of new editions with new covers that appeal to older readers: Little Women & Good Wives, The Secret Garden, The Jungle Book & The Second Jungle Book, A Christmas Carol, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz & Glinda of Oz, Robin Hood, Anne of Green Gables & Anne of Avonlea, Little Prince, Black Beauty, Kidnapped & Catriona, Treasure Island, Swiss Family Robinson.

If you would like a free without obligation sample of one of our classics, just email education@wordsworth-editions.com with your name and the school address, and we’ll put it in the post to you, with our compliments

As a young teacher I really thought I knew it all. It was only when it went wrong that I realised…

Once upon a time, as a young inexperienced teacher, I felt I knew it all, and that all my elders and betters were getting staid and stuck in their ways.

So I decided to show them what real innovative, active, modern PE lessons were all about by taking my class outside and telling them to run across the playing field and back, as fast or as slow as they liked.

I had no idea why I said this but it felt modern, different, radical and very much me.

Being a lively and cheeky bunch the class then asked me if there were prizes for the winners and without giving it any thought I said there would be a prize for coming in last. I refrained from saying what the prize was, since I didn’t have any idea.

It didn’t take very long for everyone to realise that I had made a fundamental miscalculation, since the best way to stand a chance of winning was going to be to stand still. Or (when I changed the rules and said everyone had to keep moving forwards towards the winning post) to inch forward at such a slow pace that the race would have taken a week to complete.

Feeling something of a turnip I took the class back inside, noticing the look I was getting from the deputy head on the way back in.

Then suddenly the gods smiled on me. “I want you now to write a story called ‘The silliest race in the world’. It can be about anything except what we have just done.”

And the results were rather good, thus not only extending the children’s creative writing but giving me an explanation of sorts when asked to have a word with the deputy head – who to be fair was a very decent lady who said that she too had tried one or two whacky ideas in earlier days.

It’s not an approach I would recommend, but here’s one that can be quite a good idea. A team race to pick up a set of hoops on the ground with different coloured hoops counting as different values. Both teams go at once… not every child will realise at once the value of picking up the hoops with the biggest value first.

That was the sort of logic my original attempts were missing. I should have used the “50 Brilliant PE Challenges”.

There’s more information and ideas that actually do work at: https://www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/50-brilliant-pe-challenges-set-574

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.

What is the evidence behind the science of learning?

Neuroscience, psychology and teaching are closely interlinked. They help us understand how people learn.

In recent years neuroscience has been developing at ever-increasing speed. Commonly held beliefs about learning have now been shown to lack a grounding in evidence and science. New ideas about the way the brain works are emerging.

The Science of Learning Zone brings together researchers and teachers to provide answers to questions posed by teachers and the education profession:

According to research what is the ideal lesson length?

“What does research say about learning styles?”

What age is the optimum for learning a new language?

Starting this January with a focus on Learning and Remembering the Science of Learning Zone will feature a wide range of psychologists and neuroscientists working at the cutting edge of research. Teachers and educationalists can ask their own questions, join in with conversations or simply read what other teachers are asking about the evidence that underpins learning in the classroom.

Visit https://learning.imascientist.org.uk

The Science of Learning Zone is funded by the Wellcome Trust as part of their Education and Neuroscience Initiative and provided free to schools and researchers.

Please forward this to any staff members that might be curious about the Science of Learning. If you have any questions about the Zone, please call 01225 326892 or email katie@mangorol.la

Kind regards,

Katie Marshall
Project Manager
I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here
Mangorolla CIC

What is the simplest, lowest cost method of generating whole school improvement?

Recently there has been growing evidence that physical activity improves mental activity.  Indeed a study from the University of British Columbia showed that regular exercise boosts the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning.

Likewise a report from the Harvard Medical School revealed that, “regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory and thinking skills.”

There has also been lots of evidence generated showing that more activity throughout the day improves pupil focus, behaviour, wellness and academic performance, as well as health and fitness.

Indeed as the research shows, when you give children short bursts of mild physical activity within a lesson they return to learning more focused.  And indeed this is one of the reasons why the additional 30 minutes of structured activity has now been introduced.

For, although common sense suggests that by taking time out of the day’s teaching timetable means the children will learn less, if that short period is spent on modest levels of physical activity the amount of learning that subsequently takes place increases considerably.

And that is before we even think of the benefits in terms of encouraging regular activity in children in order to reduce the chances of obesity.

The new government directive requires all primary schools in England to provide 30 minutes of structured physical activity each day to all children in the school, in addition to the weekly two hours of PE, and it is to support this practice that the PE and Sport Premium funding has been doubled this year.

To see how this approach can be implemented by making classrooms more active and the benefits it brings your pupils, we’ve now made available online a series of free trials of activity sessions.  Each session can be implemented within classroom lessons.

These are available on the Free Trial Lesson page of our website. And if you have any questions please do phone 0114 2661061 or email enquiries@imoves.com.

Ian Pickles

There is one approach to working with male students which offers much faster progress.

The question of how effectively to engage young males with the process of education and provide them with the support and encouragement they need, is one that has been the focus of much debate for one very specific reason.

For with boys growing into young men one, of the biggest problems (and seemingly most intractable problems) to overcome is peer pressure and the huge range of distractions that surround them.

The solution that many schools have now found to offer more success than most other approaches is mentoring.  For as well as offering an evidence-based approach to work with young men, mentoring helps young men to achieve their academic and vocational potential.

It 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 which provides your staff/students with an understanding of mentoring work.

Whether your requirement is for your colleagues better to 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 also be issued upon completion.

There is more information about the course on our website

For more information or to discuss a booking, please do get in touch by email at liam@mengage.co.uk or by phone on 07788725318.

Liam Kernan BEd (hons)

What is the evidence behind the science of learning?

Neuroscience, psychology and teaching are closely interlinked. They help us understand how people learn.

In recent years neuroscience has been developing at ever-increasing speed. Commonly held beliefs about learning have now been shown to lack a grounding in evidence and science. New ideas about the way the brain works are emerging.

The Science of Learning Zone brings together researchers and teachers to provide answers to questions posed by teachers and the education profession:

When children have hand writing problems is that a sign of other problems? ”

Why does autism mean that some children cannot speak?

I work with children who have specific learning difficulties, dyslexia, dyscalculia etc those with most difficulties have poor working memories. I am interested what neuroscience can tell us to provide robust and reliable teaching strategies that can be used one to one and within the classroom whilst teaching a very fast paced curriculum.

Starting this January with a focus on Learning and Remembering the Science of Learning Zone will feature a wide range of psychologists and neuroscientists working at the cutting edge of research. Teachers and educationalists can ask their own questions, join in with conversations or simply read what other teachers are asking about the evidence that underpins learning in the classroom.

Visit https://learning.imascientist.org.uk

The Science of Learning Zone is funded by the Wellcome Trust as part of their Education and Neuroscience Initiative and provided free to schools and researchers.

Please forward this to any colleagues that might be curious about the Science of Learning. If you have any questions about the Zone, please call 01225 326892 or email katie@mangorol.la

Kind regards,

Katie Marshall
Project Manager

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here

Mangorolla CIC