www.sec-ed.com News
DCSF report reveals
In brief
Councillor apology
Edinburgh’s education leader
Marilyne MacLaren has given
a public apology after unfairly
removing a parent from a
Diploma confusion
forum looking into school
closures. Cllr MacLaren made
the apology in front of the City
Chambers after Scotland’s
public standards watchdog
criticised her behaviour. The
Standards Commission said
The report, which spoke to stu- and teachers involved in the first Chief executive Patrick Nash fessionals are given enough time, she had made “an error of
by Chris Parr
dents in years 9 and 11 at 179 year of Diplomas has shown that said: “The success of Diplomas will and the right training, to ensure this judgement” when she forced
schools delivering the new quali- teachers think they are fantastic, ultimately be determined by good new qualification becomes parent Linda Flex off the forum
Both teachers and students are con- fication, said: “The majority of that young people are enjoying the delivery on the ground. more popular.” last April, but she did not
fused by the Diploma qualifica- learners did not recall receiving Diplomas, and that they are opt- “We know that change in breach the code of conduct.
tions and need more information key information about Diplomas ing for Diplomas because they feel schools and further educa- In the know: Jim
about them, according to two recent and it was evident that some were confident that it will boost their tion can come at a bewil- Knight has said
reports. basing their decision on whether to prospects for getting into university dering pace. The steady that more needs
Bard news
A study commissioned by the take a Diploma or not on a limited or getting a good job. stream of new initiatives can to be done to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Department for Children, Schools and sometimes inaccurate under- “We are confident that as the cause tremendous stress and raise awareness has announced its next season
and Families revealed that many standing of the qualification.” Diploma programme rolls out over anxiety among those charged of the Diplomas of educational workshops
students had rejected the Diploma It also claimed that this lack of the next few years, backed up by a with delivering education, and for schools. Last year 17,000
because they considered it a new information could explain why stu- national marketing campaign, we sometimes can have a counter- students and school children
and untested qualification, while dent take-up of Diploma was lower will get more and more students in productive effect on stand- visited, and in 2009 productions
a “notable minority” had not even than had been expected, although it schools across the country opting ards.” will include The Tempest, Much
heard of them. was optimistic that improved infor- for the Diploma.” He continued: Ado About Nothing, and its
The study, carried out by the mation could boost numbers. Meanwhile, a survey of around “I hope that first non-Shakespeare play in
National Foundation for Educational Schools minister Jim Knight 100 secondary schools by the this feedback recent history, The Importance
Research, found that although the said he was pleased at the overall Teacher Support Network found from the sec- of Being Earnest. Visit: www.
qualification was welcomed over- findings of the report, but conceded that more than two-thirds of them tor is taken on openairtheatre.com
all, the information, advice and that more needed to be done to raise felt that delivery of Diplomas would board, so teach-
guidance for young people, parents awareness. be improved if staff had more time ers and other
and staff varied. He said: “Feedback from pupils to prepare for their introduction. educational pro-
Different Class
The Class provoked massive
Former SEN
debate upon its cinema release
in France, with teachers and
pupils in particular arguing
about the film’s portrayal of the
classroom and the educational
teacher awarded
system. Now the film, which
is set in a school in a tough
neighbourhood, is coming to
the UK with a series of Film
damages after
Education screenings for
teachers and students taking
place on February 23. Visit:
www.filmeducation.org/events
student attack
science advances
The London International
Youth Science Forum is
A former Nottingham SEN teacher Chris Keates, general secretary inviting young scientists to
has been awarded more than of the NASUWT union, which celebrate its 50th anniversary.
a quarter of a million pounds in supported Ms Lewis’s case, said: The Forum aims to present a
compensation after being seriously “Sharon’s life has been turned platform for the exchange of
assaulted by a pupil during the upside down. She can no longer ideas, and takes place from
course of her work. practise the career of her choice and July 29 to August 12. The
Sharon Lewis, who received the profession has lost a talented theme this year is Science
£280,000 from the Criminal Injuries teacher. Serving Mankind. Visit: www.
Compensation Authority, had been “I am pleased that we have liysf.org.uk
teaching for four and a half years been able to secure compensation
when a 13-year-old male pupil for Sharon, but this is cold comfort
grabbed her, placed her in a head- when you can no longer do the
One million hits
lock, and refused to let go. job that you love and every daily Scran, one of the largest
In the ensuing mêlée, Ms Lewis activity causes constant physical education online services in
was dragged to the floor, hitting a pain.” the UK, is celebrating after
wall and a window. Ms Keates claimed that teach- receiving one million web
The pupil was known to have ers are constantly at risk because hits a day for the first time.
violent tendencies, and had attacked pupils who have a history of It is used by over 4,000
other members of staff at the school, violence and aggression are “not schools, libraries, colleges and
which caters for pupils with severe properly risk assessed and pre- universities, and hosts 360,000
and complex behavioural and emo- ventative measures are not put in images, movies and sounds
tional needs. place”. from museums, galleries,
Ms Lewis, who had been She added: “I would like to archives and the media. Visit:
described as a “promising teacher”, think that lessons can be learned www.scran.ac.uk
suffered post-traumatic stress disor- from Sharon’s experience, but
der and could no longer carry out unfortunately our casework shows
day-to-day activities because of the they will not.
education awards
Take off: Di Carter, an engineer at an aerospace company, joined other successful physical injuries she sustained. “Regrettably, there is still a In the last year alone, more
female engineers from modern industry at a Challenging Stereotypes event held She suffered flashbacks and culture in some schools, particu- than £360 million of Lottery
at North Manchester High School for Girls. The day aimed to inspire and encourage the nightmares, and continues to suf- larly where pupils have serious funding has gone to education
students to pursue traditionally male-dominated careers in construction, engineering fer with concentration and memory behavioural problems, that being projects across the UK. Now
and science. Pictured are year 7 students Maria Selville (front) and Emma Heslop (back), problems. assaulted is all part of the job. the push is on to get all the
with Ms Carter (left) and Emma Holt of The Manufacturing Institute (right) holding a The award is believed to be “No-one should ever have to projects that have received
manifold for a next generation helicopter, a technology which Ms Carter designs. one of the highest ever made to a go to work with the expectation of funding over the past 14 years
teacher for injuries of this kind. being assaulted.” to enter the National Lottery
Awards and gain recognition
Locals urged to join battle of Britton
for their work. The finals will
appear on BBC1. Visit: www.
lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
A headteacher in Wales is pleading underperforming is based on old “Ministers took the decision to will be no faith-based option for Ms Britton continued: “There
Fat clinics
with ministers to reverse their information. close our 6th form because they post-16 learners in the area.” is such an opportunity to build on More than 2,300 children aged
decision to close her school’s 6th The school came out of special felt we were underperforming and The 6th form, which current- the success that we are already hav- five to 15 are to get special
form. measures last year, and has stead- undersubscribed, but this is simply ly has 60 students, has endured ing. As it stands, there will be no lessons from a team of “obesity
Catherine Britton, head at ily improved GCSE and A level no longer true. funding cuts of £37,000 for the new 6th-formers at our school in coaches”. The £400,000
Blessed Edward Jones Catholic results, while simultaneously grow- “Two years ago we had around current academic year, while the September, and all of our hard work programme in Glasgow will
High School in Rhyl, claims that ing its 6th form, and increasing 35 students applying to join us at local college – which is set to will be for nothing.” sign up overweight youngsters
the Welsh Assembly govern- student numbers. year 7, while this year we already become the only post-16 option Ms Britton is urging local resi- and give them and their parents
ment’s decision to send all 6th Ms Britton told SecEd: “I became have 120. for the school’s 16-year-olds – has dents to write to Welsh education weekly sessions to help change
formers in the area to the local head in 2007, and since then the “I also find it staggering that, if received £3.5 million in govern- minister Jane Hutt and ask her to their lifestyle.
college because the school was school has improved drastically. this decision is not reversed, there ment funding. reverse the decision.
SecEd • February 12 2009 
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20