If you’re anything like the teachers I know then I can almost guarantee you are constantly hit with the feeling that there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

I want to be respectful of your time so I’ll keep this short. I am in the process of creating some study hack posters which will look great on classroom walls and will be of great value to students. If you would be interested in receiving free pdf copies to print out then please do email me.

I’ve included 3 of the hacks below:

1. Go Cold Turkey – The website ‘getcoldturkey.com’ is essential for those who are easily distracted by surfing the web.  People use Cold Turkey because once you start a block, there’s no turning back. By default, timers are locked until your timer is up and the weekly schedule can be locked until a certain time.
2. Pomodoro Technique – Set a timer, get serious about studying for 25 minutes and off you go. Reward yourself with a five-minute break afterwards. Repeat 3 times and give yourself an hour off. It’s easy and very effective.
3. Maths Genius –  khanacademy.org is a fantastic website that allows students to repeat a particular topic multiple times and become really confident with the subject matter.

The videos incorporate all learning styles, and many people have used them to study up to degree level mathematics in their own time.

If you are still reading this then I hope you’ve found this helpful so far. We share many different and effective study techniques in our motivational seminars delivered by our team of military veterans. They relate their personal stories too which students find incredibly inspiring and helps motivate them to try harder. We deliver one hour seminars for up to 100 students for £399.

If you would be interested to find out more then feel free to contact me.

Nasir Unia
07830 208725

info@armykeynotespeakers.com
www.armykeynotespeakers.com

Ed had been a teacher for more than thirty years,  working in several London boroughs. He started out as a supply teacher, then moved on to be a subject teacher,  head of year and head of department.

Now and again he would recount some of the more “grisly” goings on in whichever school he was working  at the time…..and it wasn’t only the students he got “naffed off” with…… (but that’s another story, as they say).

If there was one thing he felt strongly and got so angry about it was when students came to his lessons without the basics, i.e. they turned up without a pen, pencil, ruler, etc.

He was well read,  an experienced teacher and planned his lessons carefully, so he regarded any delay in starting a lesson as a personal insult.  His view was “If I take the trouble to plan my lessons and make them  relevant and interesting, then why the heck can’t my students bring a pen and pencil with them?”

Thankfully, a couple of years before he retired, he found out about the “Student Essentials” set.

“If I’d known about this product thirty years ago then my life as a teacher would have been much easier and my students would almost certainly have got a lot more benefit from my lessons.”

The “Student Essentials” set is all about providing students with the basics they need and cutting out wasted time at the beginning of lessons….result:  Improved productivity in both teaching and learning.

The “Student Essentials” set consists of three quality black ink ballpens, two full length HB pencils, an eraser, pencil sharpener and a 15 cm ruler, all packed in a clear “exam friendly” PVC wallet with a zip slider (size: 230 x 155 mm). It’s ideal to sell to your students (or maybe even give them away !) or use as prizes or incentives.  From only 85p each, ex vat  it’s a simple, yet cost effective way of helping both teachers and students be more productive.

The “Student Essentials” set can be obtained from  Signpost Educational Ltd.  who can be contacted on: email:  signpost@talk21.com  or tel  020 7515 1797  or you can visit their website:

www.signposteducational.co.uk

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

P.S. Your order will usually be delivered within 1-3 working days.

The Debate Chamber Summer Schools offer students age 15-18 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.

Working in groups of 12 – 14 students 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 from our Summer Schools 2019 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. With options top specialise in particular areas of interest, this course includes mini-lectures on key areas of the law, seminar discussions on tricky and controversial legal questions, lively group negotiations and activities, and concludes with a full mock trial in which students take the role of barristers for the prosecution or defence.

‘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 gives students the opportunity to ask some of the deeper and more philosophical questions about how we relate to and interpret 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 realistic sense of what undergraduate study is really like. This is also a really social course, and students often make friendships which continue on into university.

‘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 Maths Summer School is an opportunity for very mathematically able students to indulge their passion for problem-solving and stretch their understanding of a range of topics in pure and applied maths. 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 also offer 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 95% 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 2019. 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.

A recent study by the Youth Mental Health First Aid in Schools programme has confirmed what many of us have seen day by day: the taboo surrounding mental health issues remains a fundamental barrier which stops pupils and students speaking openly about any problems they perceive.

Indeed research by the NASUWT union last year revealed that, although 98 per cent of teachers have contact with pupils who they believe are experiencing mental health issues, 46 per cent report never having received any training on youth mental health.

However the report has shown that a small number of schools are making progress in facing the issue of helping pupils and students to deal with the problems they are facing.

And thus the question is asked, how can we help improve the mental well-being of pupils and students?  It is a most important question, not least because pupils and students who have the ability to prevent mild conditions from becoming major problems cope better than those who don’t have this skill.

And this is what NLP4Kids offers.  Helping pupils and students communicate their thoughts and feelings with others, helping them make meaningful relationships, and ultimately helping them improve their employment opportunities.

If you feel that you have some pupils and students in your school who are not reaching their full potential because of mental health issues, and you would like to make use of external funding to help these children, I would ask you to get in touch.

We have already worked with numerous schools across the country and now have additional time and funding available to come to your school and work with the children you nominate. There are more details of our work at http://nlp4kids.org.uk/positive

If you would like to discuss the options without any obligation please do call 0345 3192 666 or 0203 6677 294 or email gemma@NLP4Kids.org

Students are always interested in people who come from significantly different backgrounds from themselves – sports stars, celebrities, entrepreneurs…people whose lives are totally different from their own.

We currently have a team of military veteran speakers touring the country and are on a mission to inspire students to increase their aspirations and motivate them to be the best they can possibly be.

Our speakers draw upon their unique experiences of success and failure to convey the value of hardwork and commitment to get the best in life.

Schools and academies regularly invite us to work with their Year 11 students prior to the new year, so our study techniques can be incorporated early in preparation for the exams ahead.

The good news is that we are making our sessions even more affordable by offering a one hour seminar to 100 of your students for £399.

During the session we cover:

– How to be self motivated

– Inspirational stories of success

– Strategies to plan your work

– Study skills to ‘get the edge’

– Revision techniques.

If you are interested and would like to know more, then please feel free to contact me for a no obligation chat.

In addition, if you know of any other schools or academies which would benefit from one of our military speakers working with their students, I would be very grateful if you were to forward my details across to them.

Many thanks

Nasir Unia

07830 208725

info@armykeynotespeakers.com

www.armykeynotespeakers.com

Of course we all get frustrated with pupils and students who are not using their natural talent or native ability and who could do so much better at school, but simply won’t settle down to work.

However, such a lack of application is not just something that is observed in the classroom or with homework.  It gets reported in all walks of life.

Employers constantly see young staff who could really get on in the business but who have a certain resistance to being told what to do. The same is found in sport – athletes, footballers, swimmers, etc – all with a natural ability that could give them a career in the sport, who simply will not train properly or refuse to look after their bodies.

And then again it is there in the arts – the talented actor who won’t focus in rehearsals, the musician who won’t practise…

So it is probably not surprising when we find it in school, when attitude gets in the way of what could be achieved.

The problem is, with all these cases, that once the poor attitude sets in it is quite hard to shift, not least because attitude is a habit, and habits are incredibly easy to pick up and very difficult to remove.

Difficult – but not impossible.  For with a clarity of purpose it is possible to make a change in attitude and behaviour happen in virtually every individual – as long as we can encourage parents to play a central role in the issue of the changing attitudes and behaviour of pupils and students.

Our argument is that if ways can be found to bring parents who might not normally associate strongly with the school, into the school’s approach, then change can happen more quickly and become more solidly embedded within the school and within the pupil or student.

From these concepts emerged a series of formal school policies and everyday approaches which are set out in detail in our report “Improving attitudes, managing behaviour and reducing exclusions.”

The volume is available as a download only for £14.95, inclusive of VAT, with the right to reproduce the volume in full or in parts to colleagues in the school.

Sample pages can be viewed at http://www.schools.co.uk/samples/T1813.pdf

ISBN: 978 1 86083 845 3 Order code: T1813

You can obtain the download by:

• buying on-line from our shop at https://www.schools.uk/index.php/on-line-shop/item/1-improving-attitudes-managing-behaviour-and-reducing-exclusions
• with a school order number by email to sales@schools.co.uk
• by phone to 01604 880 927 again with a school order number
• with a cheque by post to Schools.co.uk, 1 Oathill Close, Brixworth, Northampton, NN6 9BE.  Please make cheques payable to Websites and Blogs Ltd.

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 for students aged 15-18:

The Summer Law School 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 International Relations Summer School 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 foreign policy, regional sessions looking at China and the Middle East, and the European response to the migration crisis.

The Medicine Summer School 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.

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.

We also have courses in Economics, History, Classical Civilisations, Philosophy 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 2019. 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.

For around 1000 years Roman numerals was the counting system of western civilisation. Which is odd considering it is so clunky and difficult to use.

It’s biggest problem, of course, is that it has no zero – one moves from IX (9) to X (10).  And without zero maths gets at best frustrating, at worst fiendish.

But when we ask “what is zero?” and answer “nothing” we are merely using one word to explain another – we are not saying what zero is, as happens when we ask “what is a chair?”

To make sense of zero, and thus our whole numbering system, we each need a particular part of the brain to be able to decode the concept of number in general.

And where that brain function isn’t working properly, no matter how much teaching in the standard way continues, the individual will struggle to learn.

But just as with dyslexics and the spelling of words, teaching in the conventional way does not work – the pupils and students need a different approach, which deals with the concept of maths in a totally new way.

This is why the Dyscalculia Centre not only offers a diagnostic test for dyscalculia, but also provides an analysis of that person’s areas of difficulty and a range of teaching materials suitable to that individual.

The Dyscalculia Diagnostic Test is taken on-line, and generally lasts about 15 or 20 minutes.  When it has been completed you will receive a detailed report identifying the problem areas and the actions that can be taken to help the individual overcome these issues and the relevant teaching materials.

The materials can also be copied so that, where appropriate, the parents can also work with the pupil at home.  You’ll find more information about the Dyscalculia Centre’s on-line test for dyscalculia on our website.

Testing costs £59.95 per individual.  Where three tests are booked together the price is £49.95 each.  When 10 tests are booked together the price is £45.95 each.

However if you are working in a school which rejects the notion of dyscalculia or which for other reasons will not fund the use of our test, please get in touch with details as we may be able to help you through our Bursary scheme.

Once you have purchased the test/s each one can then be used at any time.  The cost includes taking the test, a specific report in relation to the individual taking the test, and resources relevant to that individual which can be used to aid progress in maths.

You can order the test:

• On our web site
• With a school order number by email to Diagnostic@schools.co.uk
• By phone to 01604 880 927, again with a school order number

Tony Attwood C.Ed., B.A., M.Phil (Lond), F.Inst.A.M.

It’s not a trick question, but it might be one you’ve never thought about.  Why did counting with Roman numerals come to an end after almost 1000 years of use.

The answer is nothing to do with all that XL and VIII business – it is something quite different from that.  In fact it wasn’t something in Roman counting that caused the problem, it was the lack of something.

And that something was zero.

The Romans didn’t think of nothing, because for them there was always something.  If there was nothing, there was nothing to count, nothing to discuss.  If Lucius owed Marcus five apples and had the five to give his pal, that was the end of counting.  It wasn’t that Lucius now had zero apples.  There was no number 0 so there was no issue.  Apples were gone from the agenda.

Now of course we have zeros and everything is fine – except for around four children in every 100 who find the whole issue of zero very odd, and rather disturbing.  Indeed some of these youngsters find the whole concept of number rather bizarre.

Fortunately, there are ways of teaching the meaning of number and time to young people who suffer from this type of problem; young people who are often called dyscalculic. But these ways are somewhat different from the conventional approaches to maths.

Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools examines the origins of dyscalculia and sets out the methods of working available which can help those with dyscalculia overcome their problems with maths.

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

Research suggests that most children who gain appropriate help in school can overcome their dyscalculic difficulties and achieve an acceptable grade in secondary school examinations, thus allowing entry into further and higher education.

Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools is available as a download which can be printed out, copied and given to colleagues within the school for £14.95, including VAT.

ISBN: 978 1 86083 614 5   Order code: T1628 – please quote with order.

You can purchase the download copy of the volume

• On the phone with a school order number or credit card at 01604 880 927
• By email to sales@schools.co.uk with a school order number
• On line with a credit card via PayPal at https://www.dyscalculia.me.uk/online-shop/item/1-understanding-dyscalculia-an-introduction-for-schools.html

UK ISA specialist, True Potential Investor, investigates the effects of the growing population. Click here to see the infographic.

The UK population is growing, reaching an estimated 65.1 million people in 2015 and projected to pass 70 million people by 2026. What effect will a growing population have on the amount that will need to be invested by the government into the UK’s economy, though? Here, we take a look at key stats of previous generations to try and forecast the same parameters but for generations to come…

Understanding Gross Domestic Product

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is used throughout this infographic. It represents the monetary value of all the finished goods and services that is produced within a country’s borders within a specific time period.

All private and public consumption is included within GDP, as does investments, government outlays, private inventories, paid-in construction costs and foreign balance of trade — whereby exports are added and imports are subtracted. In essence, GDP broadly measures the overall economic activity of a nation and indicates its economic health and gains an idea of its standard of living.

Silent Generation

Also known as Traditionalists, the Silent Generation were named as such as they were expected to be seen and not heard. Due to growing up through the Great Depression and the Second World War, this is a generation who considered work a privilege and held the belief that you earn your own way through hard work.

Date period: Born during 1945 or prior

All of this generation were 16 by: 1961

UK population (estimated) in 1961: 52,807,400

UK’s GDP (chained volume measure and seasonally adjusted) in 1961: £529,152m

Great Britain’s Historic CPI inflation rate in 1961: 4.37%

UK real households’ disposable income per head in 1961: £5,979

*Employment and unemployment rates unavailable for 1961

Baby Boomers

Baby boomers were named as such as there was a ‘baby boom’ in the years that followed the end of the Second World War. Due to witnessing both the Women’s Liberation movement and the Civil Rights movement, this generation is known to challenge the status quo. They also like to seek immediate gratification and attempt to fulfil personal goals.

Date period: Born between 1946 and 1964

All of this generation were 16 by: 1980

UK population (estimated) in 1980: 56,329,700

UK’s GDP (chained volume measure and seasonally adjusted) in 1980: £859,674m

Great Britain’s historic CPI inflation rate in 1980: 15.12%

UK real households’ disposable income per head in 1980: £9,188

UK’s employment rate (aged 16 to 64 and seasonally adjusted) in 1980: 70.8%

UK’s unemployment rate (aged 16 to 64 and seasonally adjusted) in 1980: 6.8%

Generation X

Sometimes referred to as the MTV Generation as they witnessed the growing popularity of music videos and, more specifically, the emergence of the MTV channel, Generation X also lived through the fall of the Berlin Wall. As a result, this generation is independent, skeptical and self-sufficient, not to mention valuing a work/life balance.

Date period: Born between 1965 and 1976

All of this generation were 16 by: 1992

UK population (estimated) in 1992: 57,584,500

UK’s GDP (chained volume measure and seasonally adjusted) in 1992: £1,138,538m

Great Britain’s Historic CPI inflation rate in 1992: 2.54%

UK real households’ disposable income per head in 1992: £12,905

UK’s employment rate (aged 16 to 64 and seasonally adjusted) in 1992: 69%

UK’s unemployment rate (aged 16 to 64 and seasonally adjusted) in 1992: 9.9%

Millennials

Also known as Generation Y, Millennials experienced an upbringing where they were increasingly surrounded by computers and technology. TV shows became popular during their childhood too, while they also witnessed the girl’s movement. As a result, this generation is confident, sociable and optimistic. They also don’t always understand their limitations and value a sense of achievement and multi-tasking.

Date period: Born between 1977 and 1995

All of this generation were 16 by: 2011

UK population (estimated) in 2011: 63,285,100

UK’s GDP (chained volume measure and seasonally adjusted) in 2011: £1,729,121m

Great Britain’s Historic CPI inflation rate in 2011: 4.20%

UK real households’ disposable income per head in 2011: £17,991

UK’s employment rate (aged 16 to 64 and seasonally adjusted) in 2011: 70.3%

UK’s unemployment rate (aged 16 to 64 and seasonally adjusted) in 2011: 8.1%

Centennials

Often also referred to as Generation Z, iGen and Post-Millennials, this group lived through 9/11 and its aftermath, witnessed a worldwide economic recession and read countless news reports about war. As such, Centennials are known to be more self-aware, self-reliant and driven, as well as socially minded but cautious.

Date period: Born from 1996 to the current day

This generation began turning 16 during: 2012

UK population (estimated) in 2015: 65,110,000

UK’s GDP (chained volume measure and seasonally adjusted) in 2015: £1,888,737m

Great Britain’s Historic CPI inflation rate in 2015: -0.44%

UK real households’ disposable income per head in 2015: £18,770

UK’s employment rate (aged 16 to 64 and seasonally adjusted) in 2015: 73.7%

UK’s unemployment rate (aged 16 to 64 and seasonally adjusted) in 2015: 5.4%

Thoughts for generations to come

From analysing the trends of previous generations, here’s a few points to consider for what might be to come for the generations to come…

• As well as the UK’s population continuing to grow, so too has the nation’s GDP and real households’ disposable income per head.
• Following a dip as the Baby Boomer generation was reaching adulthood, the UK’s employment rate has continued to increase.
• The UK’s unemployment rate did increase as the Baby Boomer generation reached adulthood too. However, in the generations that followed, the unemployment rate has continued to drop.
• It would be very difficult to forecast the nation’s rate of inflation in the years to come. As showcased when analysing the previous generations, Great Britain’s Historic CPI inflation rate has altered in a manner that doesn’t appear to follow a trend and certainly cannot be compared with the trends of any other parameter covered.

Sources:

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gdp.asp

https://genhq.com/faq-info-about-generations/

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/workplace-characteristics-silent-generation-2164692

https://managementisajourney.com/understanding-and-managing-the-4-generations-in-the-workplace/

https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/tapping-generation-z

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/5505402/millennials-baby-boomers-generation-groups-z-y-x-explained/

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/articles/overviewoftheukpopulation/mar2017

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/timeseries/abmi/pgdp

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/timeseries/lf24

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/timeseries/mgsx/lms

https://www.inflation.eu/inflation-rates/great-britain/historic-inflation/cpi-inflation-great-britain.aspx

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/timeseries/ihxy/ukea

Every child with poor communication skills has, quite obviously, difficulty in listening, understanding, and self-expression.  Which is to say, that child has difficulties with every aspect of learning.

As research has shown, this problem affects a huge number of children.  Ican, for example, has suggested that at least 10% of young people across the UK have communication difficulties severe enough to be hindering their learning.

These children invariably also have difficulties in areas such as problem-solving and maintaining relationships.

Many agree that what is needed in order to overcome such problems is a way to learn effective two-way interactive communication so that they can participate both in the formal side of their education and the social side of being at school.

But the problem is, how can this be arranged within the current financial situation?

We know that it is vital for children to be able to express themselves openly and articulate their thoughts and feelings.  We know that language is an integral part of our processing of daily events through our thoughts.

And beyond this we know that if we do not have the skills to process daily events internally then our mental health and well-being suffer.

But that still leaves the question, how can change be effected?

NLP4kids works in this area with many schools around the UK, and our work includes helping schools access government funding specifically set aside for this sort of project – thus effectively making our services available free of charge to the school.

If you would like to know more about our work in improving students’ communication skills and about the funding, please do have a look at our communication skills webpage.

To discuss the options without any obligation please do call 0345 3192 666 or 0203 6677 294 or email me at gemma@NLP4Kids.org

If you your school is not already employing a registered Play Therapist, you could use the Play Therapy UK placement scheme provided by our accredited training providers APAC in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University.

This year there will be about 300 trainees from all over the UK looking for placements to work therapeutically with primary school pupils who have emotional, behaviour and mental health issues.

They will be clinically supervised in providing 100 hours of sessions (typically seeing 8 pupils throughout the year).

All you have to provide is a safe, confidential play room and a budget of about £300 for equipment and materials. ie a cost to the school of roughly £3 per session.

In addition, the placements will conduct parent interviews, assessments, measure outcomes for the children and also for your objectives – how you want therapy to benefit your school and provide regular progress reports.

See: http://www.playtherapy.org.uk/CareersInPlayTherapy/TrainingPlacements/Placements

First come, first served.  Last year our Autumn cohorts were fully placed by the end of October.

More information:  mokijep@majemail.com to fix a time for a chat.

www.playtherapyregister.org.uk

www.playtherapy.org.uk

Introduced  in 1996  the “one piece” Postura chair was the first classroom chair to be manufactured from a single mould of polypropylene.  Today hundreds of thousands of these chairs are in use throughout the UK in schools, colleges and nurseries.

What’s so special about the “one piece” Postura chair…..?

Before the introduction of the Postura chair, most classroom chairs were  made either of wood or  a metal frame  which was fixed to a polypropylene “shell” (the seat)  by screws or rivets.  If you have ever worked in a school then you will almost certainly  have come across broken or vandalised chairs ………How do they get broken?

The weak link is the fixings which join the shell to the frame. They can usually be unscrewed or damaged, either deliberately or by the constant stresses and strains of wear by students for several hours everyday, week after week, month after month and year after year.  Sometimes they can be repaired using a replacement shell or frame but more often than not such repairs tend to be of a temporary nature.

The Postura chair has done away with all this.   Its one piece design means there are no screws or rivets to be broken or damaged.  When you take delivery of Postura chairs you get a TWENTY year warranty with each one. That’s how confident are the manufacturers that you’ll get at least twenty years of trouble free use from each chair.

How can the Postura chair save us  hundreds  of pounds?

Simple. The warranty covers any possible manufacturing defects for 20 years.

This means that you’ll get 20 years of trouble free classroom seating from as little as 35p per term per chair…and this cost is based on the largest size, being used by ages 11 upwards…for primary and nursery schools the cost is even less !  So you can wave goodbye to broken and vandalised chairs…..no more time wasted in repairs, no more “wonky” chairs, no more expenditure for replacements when they have become unrepairable. It all adds up to big savings when you switch to Postura classroom chairs from the traditional classroom chair.

What about improving students’ concentration….?

If you’ve ever sat on an uncomfortable chair you’ll know….well, how uncomfortable it is. You  change your position, you fidget, you can’t sit comfortably and if you’re in a meeting the chances are you’re just as concerned with your sitting position than concentrating on what is being said.  It’s no different with your students, which is why the Postura chair was designed to be ergonomically beneficial …… to be comfortable and encourage good posture, so students can concentrate on lessons rather than continually trying to make themselves comfortable.

………..and here’s an additional reason to order Postura chairs now.

Central Educational Supplies Ltd., one of the leading distributors of Postura chairs in the UK, have held their 2017 prices throughout 2018….so your organisation can make even greater savings when ordering from this company.

If you’d like to know more about these excellent chairs or make an order, please visit the website of: Central Educational Supplies Ltd,  www.centraleducational.co.uk

or phone 020 7515 1797 and ask to speak to Martin Evans.  If you prefer to email then it’s info@centraleducational.co.uk or fax  020 7515 4420

P.S. orders are usually delivered within 7-10 working days.

There are several ways of classifying emotions, and one that is often found helpful contains four emotional pairs: joy-sadness, anger-fear, trust-distrust, surprise-anticipation.

Psychologists have long argued about the best way to list all emotions, but whatever approach is used anger most certainly is one of the fundamental human impulses.

And because anger is so basic to the human psyche it is hard to control simply by saying “don’t get so angry.”

The tendency to get angry is innate, automatic, and, when triggered, very fast and we have it, because in earlier times getting angry automatically could enhance one’s chances of survival.

But, obviously, the classroom is not a life or death struggle, and thus anger in the classroom  is not helpful.  However helping students control angry reactions not just to everyday experiences but to accumulated problems across time can be difficult.

For anger expressed in the classroom can leave the teacher in an invidious position, wanting to offer emotional support to a student in difficulty, while at the same time having a duty towards everyone in the class.

And yet it is possible for students with anger issues to be fully integrated back into mainstream schooling.

This approach involves not just managing a student’s behaviour but also seeking out and dealing with the issues that are causing this behaviour as well as helping the student find the best emotional coping strategies to resolve the problem.

And this is what NLP4Kids offers: helping students communicate their thoughts and feelings with others, helping them make meaningful relationships, and ultimately helping them improve their employment opportunities all through bringing their anger under control.

If you feel that you have some students in your school who are not reaching their full potential because of anger and related issues, you may find our website helpful.

We have already worked with numerous schools across the country and now have additional time and funding available to come to your school and work with the students you nominate. There are more details of our work at http://nlp4kids.org.uk/schools-co-uk/

If you would like to discuss the options without any obligation please do call 0345 3192 666 or 0203 6677 294 or email gemma@NLP4Kids.org

Gemma Bailey 

Director of NLP4Kids

It’s not easy  to ensure that every student comes to school or college properly equipped for  lessons or exams.

But  NOW  there’s a  simple,  effective and low cost way of solving the problem       The “STUDENT ESSENTIALS” set 

Consisting of, three quality black ink pens, two  full length HB pencils,  a      15 cm ruler,  pencil sharpener, eraser, all contained in  a clear   “exam friendly” PVC wallet with a zip slider….

From just 85p each, ex vat  it’s a simple and effective way of  improving productivity and helping students succeed in their  lessons and exams.

More details at:    www.signposteducational.co.uk/student-packs/

or you can contact them on: Tel:  020 7515 1797    Fax:  020 7515 4420   email:  info@signposteducational.co.uk

Orders are usually delivered within 1-3 working days.

Signpost Educational Ltd   PO Box 999   London  E14 6SH

The problem with the Middle East is that it is not so much a question of what is happening – but rather why it is happening.  And, of course, the “why?” questions are always the hardest ones to face.

Indeed a quick glance at virtually all of today’s news media will show that much of the time the media does not cover the issue “why?” at all, in relation to most stories.

This makes gaining an understanding of what is happening in the Middle East hard enough for adults.  But for teenagers it becomes nigh on impossible, since they have followed this timeline of events for a much shorter period of time.

As a result confusion and a lack of understanding about what is going on in the Middle East is likely to be much greater.

So what can be done?

Our response was to form a charity, Middle East Education, which offers a FREE talk in your school that gives a balanced and factual look at the issues involved in the Middle East today.

We take in the differing interpretations of historical and present-day events in the region and work with the students to unravel its obvious complexity.

And what makes this approach particularly interesting for students is that it is given by two knowledgeable, articulate and lively speakers, one Muslim the other Christian or Jewish, with the talks accompanied by PowerPoint presentations containing many maps and photos, films, and animations.

Naturally questions and discussion by your students are encouraged, because our aim is not to push a particular point of view but to generate informed debate.

If you would like to find out more before registering your interest, simply visit our website where you will also find a number of free resources, including PowerPoints, activities and teachers’ notes, arranged by subject area and/or education level.

Then if you are interested in booking one of our FREE talks, simply email office@middleeastedu.co.uk with your preferred dates (ideally please do give us at least two different dates) and we’ll do our best to organise a mutually convenient time for us to visit your school.

Likewise if you have any questions about our work please do email office@middleeastedu.co.uk.

Between Thursday 15 November and Saturday 17 November, Study Options will be holding Australian and New Zealand University Open Days. These are free information events aimed at students (and schools) who would like to find out more about university options in Australia and New Zealand.

Fifteen representatives from Australian and New Zealand universities will be present at the events to speak with prospective students in person. Study Options’ Open Days are held twice a year, in March and November, and are a great opportunity for students to get more information and talk to representatives from the universities face-to-face. For the majority of the universities, these are the only in-person events they undertake in the UK.

Which universities will be there?

New South Wales, Australia

• The University of Sydney
• UNSW Sydney 

Queensland, Australia

• Bond University
• Griffith University
• James Cook University
• University of Queensland

Victoria, Australia

• Deakin University
• The University of Melbourne
• Monash University
• RMIT University

Western Australia, Australia

• The University of Western Australia 

North Island, New Zealand

• The University of Auckland
• The University of Waikato

South Island, New Zealand

• University of Canterbury
• University of Otago 

About the events

The Open Days are open to students, parents and schools. Please register for a place at www.studyoptionsopendays.com 

Thursday 15 November, 3.00pm-5.30pm
The Scotsman Hotel, 20 North Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1TR 

Friday 16 November, 1.00pm-4.30pm
Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3WS

Saturday 17 November, 1.30pm-6.00pm
Australia House, Strand, London, WC2B 4LA

There is a lot more information available at www.studyoptionsopendays.com regarding venues, opening times and how to register. Please do let us know if you have any questions or if there is any further information we can provide.

Please note, these events are not suitable for students who have Australian or New Zealand citizenship (passports), as these students must apply through a separate process. You can find out more about the domestic application process on our website.

Contact Study Options with any questions about the events or for free information and advice about studying in Australia and New Zealand.

Download an A4 PDF poster about the events here

Contact Study Options

Website: www.studyoptions.com
Telephone: 0207 353 7200
Email: mail@studyoptions.com

Improvements in  design and manufacture  have  meant that the quality and durability of student chairs have improved significantly. 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  it’s possible to order Postura Plus chairs at 2017 prices ……. a saving of at least 45p per chair on what are already very competitive prices.  So, if you have been considering adding to your stock of Postura Plus 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/index.php/product/postura-plus/ 

 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

The Casio FX 85GT+ and the Logik LK 83XP are excellent choices for your GCSE maths students.  They both 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 would expect,  the build quality of both calcs is excellent and both calcs benefit from a THREE year warranty. (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 £ 7.75 each ex vat. 

For more details & prices please  visit:

    www.signposteducational.co.uk    

 or email to: info@signposteducational.co.uk    or phone: 020 7515 1797 and ask for Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist with queries or orders.

Signpost Educational Ltd  PO Box 999  London E14 6SH 

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

It’s not easy  to ensure that every student comes to school or college properly equipped for  lessons or exams.

But  NOW  there’s a  simple,  effective and low cost way of solving the problem       The “STUDENT ESSENTIALS” set 

Consisting of, three quality black ink pens, two  full length HB pencils,  a      15 cm ruler,  pencil sharpener, eraser, all contained in  a clear   “exam friendly” PVC wallet with a zip slider….

From just 85p each, ex vat  it’s a simple and effective way of  improving productivity and helping students succeed in their  lessons and exams.

More details at:    www.signposteducational.co.uk/student-packs/

or you can contact them on: Tel:  020 7515 1797    Fax:  020 7515 4420   email:  info@signposteducational.co.uk

Orders are usually delivered within 1-3 working days.

Signpost Educational Ltd   PO Box 999   London  E14 6SH

Every student with poor communication skills has, quite obviously, difficulty in listening, understanding, and self-expression.  Such students will then also have difficulties in areas as diverse as problem-solving and maintaining relationships.

To overcome such problems these students need to learn effective two-way interactive communication so that they can participate both in the formal side of their education and the social side of being at school.

However research from Ican has suggested that at least 10% of young people across the UK have communication difficulties that are often not fully being picked up and addressed because of the individual and small group approaches that are needed to help such students.

Yet where these students can be helped to engage in rich, active, confident communication they can gain the skills that will allow them to benefit from the education that they receive.  They will, in short, be able to express themselves openly and articulate their thoughts and feelings.

Further, as many psychological studies have shown, language is an integral part of our processing of daily events through our thoughts.  If we do not have the skills to process daily events internally then our mental health and well being suffer.

And on top of all that, the importance of this issue can be further recognised by the fact that only 15% of children with communication difficulties go on to achieve 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (compared with 57% of all other young people.)

NLP4kids works in this area with many schools around the UK, and our work includes helping schools access government funding specifically set aside for this sort of project – thus effectively making our services available free of charge to the school.

If you would like to discuss the options without any obligation please do call 0345 3192 666 or 0203 6677 294 or email me at gemma@NLP4Kids.org

Gemma Bailey
Director of NLP4Kids

Do you ever wish you could have a greater range of chair colours?

How would you feel about getting 2018 Postura Plus classroom chairs  at 2017 prices….. and to cap it all how about a 20 year warranty on every chair you order?

Postura Plus chairs are manufactured from a single mould of polypropylene with no  screws, bolts or other fixings to become loose or be vandalised.  Their ergonomic design promotes enhanced user comfort which should at the same time improve your students  concentration in lessons….. plus the 20 year warranty will make a dramatic dent in your organisations maintenance costs. Site managers like Postura Plus chairs as they have seen significant reductions in damage and vandalism.

What’s more, the Postura Plus range of one piece chairs is available in 16 colours and six sizes, right from nursery through schools to colleges and universities. Postura Plus chairs are already installed in thousands of UK schools and colleges, and not without good reason.

You can have all of these benefits at the same time when you order from Central Educational Supplies Ltd  who have been supplying Potura Plus chairs for well over ten years.

Why not visit their website (www.centraleducational.co.uk)  to find out more about Postura Plus chairs…and consider their 20 year warranty.  How much could Postura Plus chairs save your organisation compared with traditional classroom chairs, not to mention the advantages of purchasing this years’ chairs at 2017 prices.

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

  info@centraleducational.co.uk   Tel:  020 7515 1797

When this happens it’s frustrating, often disruptive, and always time-wasting……

But is there a solution?

Well, we believe there is. It’s called the “Student Essentials set,” a low cost but effective solution to the problems caused by students who turn up for lessons or exams without the basic kit.

The “Student Essentials set” consists of three quality black ink pens, two full length HB pencils, a 15 cm ruler, pencil sharpener and eraser, all packed in an “exam friendly” clear PVC wallet with a zip slider.  From just 85p each (ex vat) the “Student Essentials set” is ideal to give (or perhaps sell) to your students so they’ll have what they need for almost all their lessons.

Find out more from Signpost Educational Ltd on 020 7515 1797 or visit their website:

www.signposteducational.co.uk or contact them on: info@signposteducational.co.uk

Signpost Educational Ltd, PO Box 999  London  E14 6SH

Do you ever wish you could have a greater range of chair colours?

How would you feel about getting 2018  Postura Plus classroom chairs  at 2017 prices….. and to cap it all how about a 20 year warranty on every chair you order?

Postura Plus chairs are manufactured from a single mould of polypropylene with no  screws, bolts or other fixings to become loose or be vandalised.  Their ergonomic design promotes enhanced user comfort which should at the same time improve your students  concentration in lessons.

What’s more, the Postura Plus range of one piece chairs is available in 16 colours and six sizes, right from nursery through schools  to colleges and universities.

You can have all of these benefits at the same time when you order from Central Educational Supplies Ltd  who have been supplying Potura Plus chairs for well over ten years.

Why not visit their website (www.centraleducational.co.uk) to find out more about Postura Plus chairs…and consider their 20 year warranty.  How much could this save your organisation compared with traditional classroom chairs, not to mention the advantages of purchasing this years’ chairs at 2017 prices.

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

  info@centraleducational.co.uk   Tel:  020 7515 1797

PS Please ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to provide more information about Postura Plus chairs or assist with purchasing.

A conflation of our two most popular workshops into an all-day experience. ‘Ensuring Boys Matter’. Mengage takes elements of ‘raising boy’s achievement’ and ‘boys don’t cry’ to create a workshop focusing on supporting the achievement, emotional & mental health needs of boys and young men.

Encompassing a school day, delegates will experience –

• Exploring – Experience of working with boys and what the current data is informing us
• Act like a boy – Being boy positive and creating boy friendly facilities
• What stops him – Barriers to learning and what we can do as a school
• Enabling -Experiences from elsewhere and what works?

This is feedback for this course –

‘Mengage were so accommodating when I approached them about potential CPD training in school. I asked for a blend of their different training programmes and they came up with a perfect bespoke day to be delivered in school. We had 4 workshops which incorporated facts, theories, pedagogy, practical suggestions, and stimulated excellent professional debate.

Liam was a great trainer. He is warm, friendly and funny, which put all the delegates at ease quickly. This was so important, as people did not feel inhibited to ask questions or share their thoughts and experiences. His past life as a teacher meant that he pitched the workshops perfectly, and everyone found them valuable.

We learned so much in one day, in the comfort of our own school, which was a real bonus – Liam travelled a considerable distance to be with us. The cost of the day was incredibly good value, considering the number of staff who accessed the workshops throughout the day.

I would not hesitate in recommending Mengage to other schools and organisations’.

Helen Mackay, Assistant Head, St Mary’s Catholic High School, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

These workshops, if bought separately, would cost £1945. Mengage are happy to offer this merging of the two at £1495. Ideally it will be for up to 25 staff – but negotiations can be had around involving more. You can see more about the workshop by clicking here

For more details please contact Liam Kernan on 01905 570180/07788 725318, liam@mengage.co.uk or go to the website for more information www.mengage.co.uk

The Casio FX 83GT+ is the UK’s best selling scientific calc… and deservedly so.  It’s been setting the pace in many UK schools & colleges and is  the first choice for GCSE exams for many students.    From only £ 6.49 each, ex vat (200+), it’s an excellent buy.

But now there is a credible alternative…… It’s the Logik LK 83XP which has almost all the features of the FX 83GT Plus  but with one big advantage…… it’s dual power.  This combination of battery and solar power  prolongs battery life and gives students  extra reassurance, especially when used in exams.

The LK 83XP has a THREE year guarantee, excellent build quality and reliability and is suitable for all UK exams where a calculator is allowed.  Features include: 252 functions, “natural (textbook) display,” check, correct and replay, stats calculations, prime factorisation, hard plastic keys, slide on case, etc.

It’s a calc which can see your students all the way from year 7 to GCSE and at a surprisingly modest price, from only £ 5.22 ex vat.

Further details on:  www.signposteducational.co.uk 

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

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

Many children do suffer from anxiety in tests and exams, and generally there’s nothing wrong with that – a modest level of anxiety is a common human characteristic.

But when that anxiety is there consistently, it can mean that the child is going to suffer poor results at school which no amount of focus and hard work can put right.  And it is a problem that can remain with them throughout their lives.

However, one short-term intervention programme during the primary school years with children who suffer in this way can result in a wholly different outcome.  One in which anxiety is reduced to more normal levels.

Such a change can be achieved through a short period of intervention with a small group of children – and the bonus is that there is external funding available for this type of intervention so that there is no cost at all to the school.

Working with a small number of children in different ways through a short series of sessions, we are able to help such children overcome confidence issues, worries about their family or home life, and similar matters so that these children reach their potential.

If you feel that you have some children in your school who are not reaching their full potential because of anxiety and related issues, and you would like to make use of external funding to help these children, I would ask you to get in touch.

We have already worked with numerous schools across the country and now have additional time and funding available to come to your school and work with the children you nominate. There are more details of our work at http://nlp4kids.org.uk/schools-co-uk/

If you would like to discuss the options without any obligation please do call 0345 3192 666 or 0203 6677 294 or email gemma@NLP4Kids.org

The LOGIK brand of calculators has been used  successfully in  secondary schools and colleges during the past fifteen years.  If you’re considering  scientific calculators for the new school year then their two “flagship” models, the LK 183 and the LK 83XP are well worth considering.

Both calculators have a THREE year warranty (excludes damage to LCD) and are suitable for

KS 3, 4 and GCSE as well as scottish exams.  Both calcs come with  hard plastic keys, a slide-on case and all the features and functions your students will need for  GCSE maths.

From only £ 3.69  each (ex vat) both calcs are also available in class sets of 30 in a Gratnells storage box with a foam insert and handy clip on lid.

More details can be found on the website of Signpost Educational Ltd www.signposteducational.co.uk

or contact them by phone on 020 7515 1797   or email at:    info@signposteducational.co.uk

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

  info@centraleducational.co.uk   Tel:  020 7515 1797

PS   Please ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to provide more information.

Fitting a whole year’s worth of revision and lessons into just a couple of hours can be tough going for students. Exams are difficult enough as they are, but during the summer months, things can really heat up. According to the independent, students in buildings without air-conditioning attain worse grades during tests in the middle of a heatwave – by around 13%. So, just how widespread is this issue, and what can be done to help future students?

Feeling the heat

According to a study by the US National Bureau of Economic Research, heat has a significant impact on exam results. This study, which was picked up by numerous news outlets as the first major analysis of the correlation between higher temperatures and lower exam scores, took place over a 13-year time period and included 10 million US secondary school pupils. The study found that learning achievement fell by 1% for every 0.55°C increase to the average temperature. Any temperature exceeding 21°C was found to have a significant impact on learning, with anything above 32°C having even more of an effect. The effect of heat on learning was found to be particularly high at temperatures over 38°C.

The study also outlined that high temperatures only impacted exam scored on hot school days – hot weekends didn’t have an impact on achievement levels. Heat did affect educational time however, both at school and at home during homework time.

University challenges

Building on this, another study by Harvard University examined the effects of heat on students living in university accommodation. The study looked at university students during a heatwave – some stayed in rooms with air-conditioning and others stayed in rooms without. Ultimately, the students who stayed in the non-air-conditioned rooms were found to have scored much lower in both problem solving and memory tests.

The effects of heat aren’t limited to daylight hours, however – too much heat at night can also cause problems.

Trouble sleeping

During the UK summer heatwave of 2018, the Guardian reported an increase in sleep problems across the country. The sudden rise in temperature for a country so used to milder climates caused many people to feel irritable, tired, and less productive as a result.

Sleep medicine consultant Dr Michal Farquhar spoke to the Guardian spoke to the Guardian about the problem, stating that: “Britain isn’t really designed to deal with higher than average temperatures. Unlike warmer climates, our homes are designed to keep us warm in the winter more than to keep us cool in the summer, and air conditioning is relatively rare in private homes.”

He went on to explain how the ideal temperature for sleeping is rather restrictive at just 16-18°C, so a sudden temperature rise can cause a number of issues for many people – both at work and at school.

Cooling down

With the effects of climate change becoming more and more apparent, many of us are asking what we can do to help students overcome the heat.

Both Harvard University and the US National Bureau of Economic Research recommend using a good air conditioning unit in educational facilities, such as exam halls and classrooms. The institutions both noted that air-conditioning had a positive effect on reversing the damage to student exam scores caused by too much heat.

As outlined by the Guardian, however, air-conditioning is rarely found in the UK, especially in universities and schools. Historically, this makes a lot of sense, as the UK has never had a history of extended periods of high temperatures, so in the past, air conditioning wasn’t a wise decision financially. With summers getting hotter each year however, and heatwaves during summer becoming a regular occurrence, some have asked if it’s time for the British attitude towards the value of air-conditioning to change.

The National Education Union recommend that UK schools should have an action plan in place should temperatures exceed 26°C. They recommend measures such as encouraging drinking water in the classroom, moving pupils away from windows, limiting the use of computers and installing a good air conditioning system. Companies like Daikin, for example, can offer their expertise in fitting the right air-conditioning system for educational environments. If warmer summers are really here for the foreseeable future, the UK needs to adapt its buildings in order to keep people safe, comfortable and cool.

Sources:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44288982

https://www.teachers.org.uk/files/high-classroom-temperatures_0.doc

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/07/17/heat-makes-you-dumb-four-charts/?utm_term=.836e0353d41a

https://www.theguardian.com/education/shortcuts/2018/may/30/students-dont-do-so-well-in-exams-when-its-hot-so-is-it-time-to-overhaul-the-academic-year

https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/joshuagoodman/files/w24639.pdf

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/weather-heatwave-air-conditioning-hot-stop-brain-working-harvard-university-a8440986.html

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.

Feedback received – 23 staff in a Liverpool School said –

Rating delivery and knowledge of the trainer as a one (brilliant), collectively the group said, “The facilitator was engaging and informative. The case studies were informative and beneficial to our CPD. We would recommend the course to others as it was one of the best training courses that has been delivered to us.” Lord Derby Academy, Huyton 

The workshop costs £1295 for up to 10 staff or up to 15 students or a mixture of both – works surprisingly well! Bigger groups are negotiable. You can see more about the workshop by clicking here.

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.

Of course there is one thing that all school suppliers seem to have in common. They like to tell you they are the best.

But really, how do you know for sure?

One way to find out is to ask a prospective supplier for some free samples of each product you are interested in, not least because if you find the supplier doesn’t want to give you a free sample, you might start to be a little suspicious about the product and its long term viability.

Which is why we offer free samples of all the products in our range. Items such as ID badges, accident books, absence pass books, hi viz vests, school water bottles, visitor books, printing on sports kit, lanyards, wristbands, school bags, etc, etc.

And there’s a bonus: if you send a copy of your school logo or badge, we’ll incorporate that into the free sample: and the free sample still remains absolutely free.

We know that what we offer is high quality and that the moment our customers in schools across Scotland see what we have, they are interested in making a purchase. So, free samples it is. And yes, in the unlikely event that you don’t want to place an order, the samples are yours to keep. We don’t ask for them back.

If you would like to see free samples from any of our ranges all you have to do is go to our web site, tick the box/es of the items you’d like to see, and we’ll send them to you.

Alternatively if you would like to see some pictures just go to our products page, scroll down a little and you’ll see a lot of pictures of what we have to offer.

Or, of course if you have a question, or want to talk about any particular part of our range, please do call us on on our freephone number of 0800 999 2776 or email us with any questions on office@ultimateeducation.co.uk

At a time when there have been increases in the price of classroom chairs it’s nice to be able to report that it’s still possible to purchase classroom chairs from an established UK manufacturer at very competitive prices.

It’s true that there is a limited colour range and in just one seat height (430 mm) but at these prices, AND with a FIVE year warranty, it’s hard to ignore the benefits of having extra seating eg. for exams, for fitting out temporary classrooms, or just for use in emergencies.

The “Poplar” classroom chair is available in black or blue from just £8.98 ex vat (200+) (slightly more for smaller quantities). Quick delivery can usually be arranged, subject to stock.

Further information can be found on the website of Central Educational Supplies Ltd www.centraleducational.co.uk or give Martin Evans a call on 020 7515 1797 or by email info@centraleducational.co.uk

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

One of the nice things about UK Education News is that there is no tracking going on – those of us running the service don’t know who you are, where you are, what you are reading etc.

What’s more, as you will have seen, the site is also totally and utterly free, and we intend to keep it that way.

But the fact you are reading this means that you are on UK Education News, and hopefully enjoying the service that we offer.  And so we’d like ask you a favour.

Could you send an email to one or two of your colleagues that says something like the example below.   (You might find it a bit cheesy so please do write something of your own; I’m sure you’ll do an infinitely better job that I can).

———————-

To colleagues in the school:

I’m not sure if you read the free rolling news service UK Education News.  But I do, and find it quite interesting.   And the people who run the service have suggested that those of us who use the free service might pass a note on to one or two colleagues and friends to tell them about it.

It’s a site that carries education news headlines from the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph etc.  You can simply click on a headline and then read the full story.

The service is at www.ukeducationnews.co.uk

I think it is quite good, and it really is free, so I’ve agreed, just this once, to pass this message on.

———————-

Now that may be far too horribly cheesy for you to pass on, but if you could rephrase it in any way you want, and pass it on that would be good.

And please do remember, there is no tracking going on.  We don’t know who goes on the site and we’re not asking for your email address nor that of your colleagues.

If you don’t want to pass this on, that’s OK too.  Although it is nice if you can.

Tony Attwood
Editor, UK Education News.

Postura Plus classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty can save schools and colleges hundreds or even thousands of pounds  and eliminate time wasted trying to repair damaged or vandalised chairs….…

Improvements in design and manufacture mean that the quality and durability of classroom chairs have improved significantly  since 1996. The result is that it’s now possible to obtain classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty.

That’s twenty years with NO replacement costs and NO repair costs …. a considerable saving of time and money compared with many chairs still in use in UK schools.

….and the chair in question  ?  It’s the POSTURA  PLUS, now in its  twenty first year.

Designed not only to be durable and virtually vandal proof it also encourages good posture and is available in 16 colours and six sizes from nursery right through to college and university.

If you’re looking for an attractive,  practical and durable chair  with an ergonomic design which  encourages good posture  and which can be used throughout your organisation then the Postura Plus chair is worth serious consideration.

For further information on Postura Plus chairs (which by the way, are manufactured here in the UK) please visit the website:  www.centraleducational.co.uk  

or contact them by email:  info@centraleducational.co.uk or phone:  020 7515 1797  and ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to help with any questions you may have.

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

One of the nice things about UK Education News is that there is no tracking going on – those of us running the service don’t know who you are, where you are, what you are reading etc.

What’s more, as you will have seen, the site is also totally and utterly free, and we intend to keep it that way.

But the fact you are reading this means that you are on UK Education News, and hopefully enjoying the service that we offer.  And so we’d like ask you a favour.

Could you send an email to one or two of your colleagues that says something like the example below.   (You might find it a bit cheesy so please do write something of your own; I’m sure you’ll do an infinitely better job that I can).

———————-

To colleagues in the school:

I’m not sure if you read the free rolling news service UK Education News.  But I do, and find it quite interesting.   And the people who run the service have suggested that those of us who use the free service might pass a note on to one or two colleagues and friends to tell them about it.

It’s a site that carries education news headlines from the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph etc.  You can simply click on a headline and then read the full story.

The service is at www.ukeducationnews.co.uk

I think it is quite good, and it really is free, so I’ve agreed, just this once, to pass this message on.

———————-

Now that may be far too horribly cheesy for you to pass on, but if you could rephrase it in any way you want, and pass it on that would be good.

And please do remember, there is no tracking going on.  We don’t know who goes on the site and we’re not asking for your email address nor that of your colleagues.

If you don’t want to pass this on, that’s OK too.  Although it is nice if you can.

Tony Attwood
Editor, UK Education News.

Technology has been changing the way that lessons are taught for a number of years now. The introduction of new digital teaching resources has opened up a world of possibilities for teachers and students alike.

We currently live in a time of constant technological advancements and have seen rapid progression over the last few decades, but how has education been impacted by these changes and what can we expect to see in the future? Together with print management software providers United Carlton, we take a look at how technology is changing education now and how these advancements will impact teaching in the future.

How is technology changing education now?

The old blackboard and chalk has been abandoned in favour of digital solutions. A variety of learning establishments have adopted technology, including universities, high schools, colleges and nurseries. As technology advances further, it is proving more useful in providing pupils with a well-rounded learning experience. Pupils are now exposed to technology from a young age, which allows them to learn essential skills for the working world.

Research by Barbie Clarke of the Family, Kids and Youth research group showed that 68% of primary schools and 68% of secondary schools had adopted electronic tablets in the classroom. 9% of these participants reported that there was a device available for each student in attendance. Of the remaining schools, 45% reported that they would consider introducing such devices in the future. A study conducted in 2014 found that there were 430,000 tablets being used in educational establishments, with this figure expected to grow to more than 900,000 by 2016. The results of this study were never released however, and it was not updated for 2018.

But what impact is this technology having on lessons exactly? Regardless of the subject, lessons are now a lot more interactive and as a result, pupil participation in lessons has increased. Electronic devices have been shown to allow pupils to retain more information when compared to textbooks. These devices are also highly adaptable, so they can be used to cater to a number of different learning styles. Teachers also benefit from this, as they can search for the materials that they need using the internet, which helps them to plan lessons.

Webinars or online lessons are also becoming more common. Teachers can now connect with their students remotely. This method is mainly used by colleges and universities, however it can be used with younger children to help them with a specific subject. Online exams are also becoming more prevalent, which demonstrates the shift that we have seen over the last few years towards digital methods of teaching.

How will technology change education in the future?

It has been suggested that in the future, artificial intelligence (AI) devices could play a big role in education. Sir Anthonly Seldon from the University of Buckingham said that the introduction of AI over the next ten years will have a huge impact on teaching methods. He predicts that although teachers will still be present in classrooms, they will take on the role of assistant while the lessons are taught by AI devices. This would shift the focus away from teaching and mean that teachers would only be present to monitor classroom behaviour and help out if needed.

Seldon said “It will open up the possibility of an Eton or Wellington education for all”.

It is predicted that AI technology will allow students to learn based on their individual needs, as these devices are able to learn how quickly a student can learn so that they get the most out of their lessons.

As technology continues to advance and spread, it is clear that it will have significant effects on the way that the education system works and on its future development!

It is an interesting question, and one that is perhaps not asked very often.  Although discussions about school improvement and school efficiency have been going on for a long time very few educators raise such questions as:

How can we tell if we have reached the school’s potential?  If we haven’t how can we reach that potential more rapidly?

In short, asking the question: could the school, given the local conditions, financial restrictions and the like, be doing better, and if so, what steps can we practically take to get there?

One way to answer this is to consider what it is that schools which are functioning to their fullest potential have, which other schools don’t?

And one answer to that, which many would give, is that a fully functioning school working at the highest level has a very highly empowered staff.

Which of course is helpful, but much as it leads to an answer to the question, it also raises another question: how do you know that your staff are fully empowered?

My view, and that of my colleagues, is that this is a very difficult question to answer, not least because we are all used to dealing with our colleagues in our school, and it is often tempting to assume that colleagues are as empowered as they can be.

You encourage them to come forward with new ideas and thoughts, there is open discussion in staff and management meetings… is there really any more that could be done?

My colleagues and I have been working on this issue for some time, and I’m happy to share our findings and conclusions with you. You can see what we have discovered on our presentation.

A new survey by the Institute of Hole Technology considers the universality of the hole and what we can do with them.

There is a gigantic hole in the universe. Not a black hole, but a gigantic region without galaxies or stars or anything else.  Which is considered by those who know of such things to be a bit odd.

There are also holes in my favourite pair of tennis shoes making them unbearable in wet weather.  That’s not odd but it is annoying.

And every single road I drive along on my way to school each day is covered in holes.

Indeed so bad is it where I live that I wrote to the local council and suggested that if they lowered the level of all the roads in the area by four inches they would get rid of all the holes without having to do any road repairs at all.

Sadly they chose not to reply to my email.

But what, I hear you cry, does this have to do with your school?

The answer is the arrival of Tarmax, an instant and permanent repair product for all types of damaged and eroded pathways and roads, to any depth and for any size of hole.

Now this is important, because technically anyone who damages a car or bike or person while driving or walking over any road owned by the school could make a bit of a fuss.  So could the parent of a child who slips in a hole and suffers as a result.

Especially since Tarmax is such a simple product to use, so it can be used almost anywhere and instantly: driveways, footpaths, car parks, ramps, floors…

What’s more, not only does Tarmax reduce accidents, but it reduces congestion while you wait to get the hole repaired, for once applied the path or roadway can be used at once.

There is no mixing, primer, heat or any of 101 other things that you might expect, and you don’t have to wait for certain weather to apply it. There are more details, including a new special offer for you at https://www.maxam.co.uk/the-schools-tarmax/

Or to simply ask specific questions relating to your own premises please call 0800 0922 923,  or email: john.edwards@maxam.co.uk

Looking forward to doing my very best for you.

One of the nice things about UK Education News is that there is no tracking going on – those of us running the service don’t know who you are, where you are, what you are reading etc.

What’s more, as you will have seen, the site is also totally and utterly free, and we intend to keep it that way.

But the fact you are reading this means that you are on UK Education News, and hopefully enjoying the service that we offer.  And so we’d like ask you a favour.

Could you send an email to one or two of your colleagues that says something like the example below.   (You might find it a bit cheesy so please do write something of your own; I’m sure you’ll do an infinitely better job that I can).

———————-

To colleagues in the school:

I’m not sure if you read the free rolling news service UK Education News.  But I do, and find it quite interesting.   And the people who run the service have suggested that those of us who use the free service might pass a note on to one or two colleagues and friends to tell them about it.

It’s a site that carries education news headlines from the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph etc.  You can simply click on a headline and then read the full story.

The service is at www.ukeducationnews.co.uk

I think it is quite good, and it really is free, so I’ve agreed, just this once, to pass this message on.

———————-

Now that may be far too horribly cheesy for you to pass on, but if you could rephrase it in any way you want, and pass it on that would be good.

And please do remember, there is no tracking going on.  We don’t know who goes on the site and we’re not asking for your email address nor that of your colleagues.

If you don’t want to pass this on, that’s OK too.  Although it is nice if you can.

Tony Attwood
Editor, UK Education News.

What would you say if you were offered something worth 1,000s of pounds for less than £100? You’d think there was a catch, right? But that’s exactly what Education Quizzes is offering to schools and there’s no catch at all.

For a yearly cost of just £95 plus VAT, every student and teacher in your school can use the Education Quizzes resource as often as they like. We have 3,264 quizzes, each one written by teachers. They follow the National Curriculum and cover 18 subjects from KS1 all the way up to GCSE.

The quizzes can be used to test students, as homework assignments or as a valuable revision tool when exams are coming up. The usual price is £35 per year for each user but, no matter how many students are in your school, all of them can use Education Quizzes without having to pay a penny themselves.

Still not sure? Then sign up for a free one-month trial. We’ll send your school an invoice but, if you don’t find Education Quizzes useful, simply ignore it. We’ll cancel the account after 30 days and you’ll never hear from us again.

To find out more, visit the Schools page at Education Quizzes, email admin@educationquizzes.com or call us on 01406 371799.

One of the nice things about UK Education News is that there is no tracking going on – those of us running the service don’t know who you are, where you are, what you are reading etc.

What’s more, as you will have seen, the site is also totally and utterly free, and we intend to keep it that way.

But the fact you are reading this means that you are on UK Education News, and hopefully enjoying the service that we offer.  And so we’d like ask you a favour.

Could you send an email to one or two of your colleagues that says something like the example below.   (You might find it a bit cheesy so please do write something of your own; I’m sure you’ll do an infinitely better job that I can).

———————-

To colleagues in the school:

I’m not sure if you read the free rolling news service UK Education News.  But I do, and find it quite interesting.   And the people who run the service have suggested that those of us who use the free service might pass a note on to one or two colleagues and friends to tell them about it.

It’s a site that carries education news headlines from the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph etc.  You can simply click on a headline and then read the full story.

The service is at www.ukeducationnews.co.uk

I think it is quite good, and it really is free, so I’ve agreed, just this once, to pass this message on.

———————-

Now that may be far too horribly cheesy for you to pass on, but if you could rephrase it in any way you want, and pass it on that would be good.

And please do remember, there is no tracking going on.  We don’t know who goes on the site and we’re not asking for your email address nor that of your colleagues.

If you don’t want to pass this on, that’s OK too.  Although it is nice if you can.

Tony Attwood
Editor, UK Education News.

The prime answer to that question is simple: it is a rise in temperature.

Of course, some classrooms have a problem with being too cold, but normally that can be adjusted.  However when we have the issue of rooms getting too hot, there can be a greater problem – especially if the windows won’t open, or when the outside is just as hot as the room.

Worse, in such situations, you will probably have 30 or so bodies producing heat in the room, and indeed by the time everyone’s sweltering, it is increasingly difficult to deal with it.

But there is a quick, easy and inexpensive answer – and it is not just a solution to rising heat during the summer, it is also one that effectively deals with blinding sunlight. Plus also it even acts as insulation, keeping rooms warm in winter months.

This answer involves using Maxam High Reflective Solar Film.

This film, which is very simply applied over the glass, allows a degree of natural sunlight into the room whilst greatly reducing the heat and glare.  It also protects against interior furnishings fading from UV rays.

And there is one further advantage; it makes it much, much harder for anyone to look in from the outside, giving privacy and deterring theft.

Since 1990 Maxam High Reflective Solar Film has been successfully fitted by Site Managers in thousands on schools across the UK. If you too would like to find out more how your premises could also benefit, please click here.

Alternatively if you’d just like to ask a question, receive a sample and information in the post or get a quote, please email me: john.edwards@maxam.co.uk or call 0800 0922 923

One of the nice things about UK Education News is that there is no tracking going on – those of us running the service don’t know who you are, where you are, what you are reading etc.

What’s more, as you will have seen, the site is also totally and utterly free, and we intend to keep it that way.

But the fact you are reading this means that you are on UK Education News, and hopefully enjoying the service that we offer.  And so we’d like ask you a favour.

Could you send an email to one or two of your colleagues that says something like the example below.   (You might find it a bit cheesy so please do write something of your own; I’m sure you’ll do an infinitely better job that I can).

———————-

To colleagues in the school:

I’m not sure if you read the free rolling news service UK Education News.  But I do, and find it quite interesting.   And the people who run the service have suggested that those of us who use the free service might pass a note on to one or two colleagues and friends to tell them about it.

It’s a site that carries education news headlines from the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph etc.  You can simply click on a headline and then read the full story.

The service is at www.ukeducationnews.co.uk

I think it is quite good, and it really is free, so I’ve agreed, just this once, to pass this message on.

———————-

Now that may be far too horribly cheesy for you to pass on, but if you could rephrase it in any way you want, and pass it on that would be good.

And please do remember, there is no tracking going on.  We don’t know who goes on the site and we’re not asking for your email address nor that of your colleagues.

If you don’t want to pass this on, that’s OK too.  Although it is nice if you can.

Tony Attwood
Editor, UK Education News.

There are several things you probably want to do when a school window is broken, of which probably the most important is to quickly and safely fill the space where the glass used to be.

But there can be problems.  A question of finding the time and tools and having a temporary covering that doesn’t damage window frames. Something that doesn’t involve drilling, sawing or hammering, but which is fixed silently thus avoiding disruption to classes.

A replacement that doesn’t advertise the fact that a window has been broken.

If this solution also works brilliantly in PVC frames, keeps out the wind and rain, lets natural daylight in and can be put in place within a couple of minutes with no specialist skills, then better again.  In fact ideal.

However you might still have a question, such as “is it strong enough to protect the room until such time as the replacement glass can be installed?”  And here again the answer is a resounding yes.

For this material has 1/3 the tensile strength of steel with the highest BS security rating.

In fact it is so good and so quick to install, that many schools now use it to protect windows that are suffering from cracks and minor holes but really don’t need the expense of a completely new pane of glass, thereby preserving valuable resources.

It may sound to you as if some of these claims are almost too good to be true, but the fact is that Maxam175 Glass Repair Film is used to repair around half a million broken windows every year in towns and cities all across the UK, in buildings just like yours!

We invite you to see what it looks like in action, find out how others like you rate it, and read more about how quick it is to install without any tools or technical knowledge by clicking here.

And if you’d like a sample and brochure in the post or you have a specific question please email me on john.edwards@maxam.co.uk or call 0800 0922 923. I’d be delighted to help you further.