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SecEd
Making his point: Stratton Upper School student
Oscar Jeakins speaks during discussions with fellow
students and Mike Foster, international development
The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education minister (centre). The group also met former child
solider Ben Okafor, pictured below with singer Lisbee
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Stainton who provided the video’s soundtrack
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Editorial advisory panel Plight of child soldiers
Geoff Brookes, Deputy
headteacher, Cefri Hengoed
Comprehensive School, Swansea.
Neill Morton, Headteacher,
Portora Royal School, Enniskillen.
Alex Wood, Headteacher, Wester
inspires campaign video
Hailes Education Centre, Edinburgh.
Ray Tarleton, Headteacher,
South Dartmoor Community David Glenwright, one of the – a song he describes as a “real national development, met the Okafor, who at the age of 13 served
College, Ashburton, Devon. Hilary
by Chris Parr
students, has been particularly tear-jerker”. students at Westminster to present in the Biafra Army during the
Moriarty, National director, involved in the campaign. He He added: “The lyrics tie in per- them with a Media Partnership Nigerian Civil War.
Boarding Schools’ Association.
After hearing how some child used photos and film provided by fectly with the issue, and the song Challenge Award, which recognises Julia Conner, head of religious
Tina Stockman, Teacher of art and
soldiers are forced to shoot, maim, the GSF to create a video called is accompanied by footage of child their efforts in promoting the mes- education at the school, has been
media studies, Harlaw Academy,
and even kill their own families, Everybody Wants a Peace. soldiers across the world, which I sage of the GSF. working with the students since
Aberdeen. Dr Bernard Trafford,
a group of 6th formers from David told SecEd: “After attend- cut together. I feel that it success- After adding his hand outline they attended the Forum.
headteacher, The Royal Grammar
Bedfordshire have launched a ing the conference, each and every fully achieves its intended purpose to the students’ petition. He said: She told SecEd she was
School, Newcastle upon Tyne. Chris
campaign to raise awareness of, and one of us was determined to get out time after time – so much so that “The Media Partnership Challenge “immensely proud” of what the
Fenton, Assistant headteacher,
hopefully prevent, the recruitment there and spread the message that we’ve taken to bringing a box of Award provides a way for students youngsters had achieved, adding:
William Harrison School,
of children into war. child soldiery exists, and that it has tissues with us.” to learn about international devel- “The film in particular has had a
Lincolnshire. Paul Ainsworth,
The students, from Stratton to be stopped. The video has already clocked opment issues at the same time as massive impact. It is very moving,
Deputy headteacher, Belvoir High
Upper School in Biggleswade, “I realised that one of the most up more than 500 views on online developing media skills. and really shows the realities of
School, Leicestershire. Mark Blois,
attended last year’s Global Student effective ways to do this was to cre- video-hosting site YouTube. “I am particularly impressed that child soldiers, but it also carries a
Browne Jacobson.
Forum (GSF), where they heard ate something so moving and inspi- In addition, the students the competition winners used what message of hope.
harrowing stories concerning child rational that it would not only bring held assemblies in the run-up to they had learnt to inform others “It has had a number of staff
soldiers from around the world. a tear to the audience’s eye, but Remembrance Sunday and Holocaust about the lives of child soldiers in members in tears, and we have all
Sales director
So deep was the emotional put the motivation to do something Memorial Day, wrote articles for the poor countries around the world.” learned such a lot from it. It has
Matt Govett – 020 7501 6735
impact, the youngsters felt com- about it in their hearts too.” school paper, and devised a petition After receiving their award, motivated us to do what we can.”
Commercial director
pelled to do what they could to David chose to set his film to featuring their handprints, which is the youngsters met with Channel To watch the video, visit
Jon Benson – 020 7501 6767
spread the message that the recruit- the song Wish Upon A Star by now more than 50 metres long. 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru- www.globalstudentforum.org/
Sales executive
ment of child soldiers has to stop. unsigned singer Lisbee Stainton Mike Foster, minister for inter- Murthy, and reggae musician Ben mediapartnership
Calum Hogg – 020 7501 6706
Classified sales
Rachel McElhinney – 020 7501 6728
Subscription manager
Bold campus plan for Govan
Chris Hoskins
Traditional
Circulation director A radical plan to merge secondary which would be realised by August the way we deliver secondary edu-
Sally Boettcher
education with skills and training 2010 if successful. cation, but Glasgow City Council is
in one of Scotland’s most deprived Bailie Gordon Matheson, execu- not afraid to make tough decisions.
areas has been unveiled by Glasgow tive member for education and social “It’s also a Scottish first, and
Circulation department:
puddings top
City Council. renewal, said: “We want every child could become a template for other
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Govan High, whose roll of growing up in Govan to go on to campuses across Glasgow.”
Fax: 01722 716926
390 has taken it below the feasi- higher or further education or have The campus would offer core
email: subscriptions@
ble minimum despite capacity of the skills necessary to get a job. numeracy, literacy and commu-
markallengroup.com
800, would become a community “This campus will give people nication skills, as well as studies
national poll
UK annual rates:
campus offering sport, leisure and in the area the opportunities and in science and technology, health,
healthy living initiatives as well as aspiration needed to transform their hairdressing, beauty therapies, hos- School dinners do not always go Tom-Brown.com, said: “In a time
Personal £45
a vocational college/skills academy lives. It will both improve exam pitality, and business and creative down well with pupils – but most when the focus lies so heavily on
Institutional (libraries,
for the wider community, alongside results and offer genuine alternative industries. It would also be a centre youngsters have strong opinions diet and nutrition, we were sur-
companies etc) £100
traditional secondary schooling. pathways, such as vocational train- for community sports and healthy about them. prised to see that some nostalgic
Europe annual rates:
Glasgow City Council said it ing, which will give young people a living schemes, building on existing Now it turns out that tradi- old favourites still have a place in
Personal £92
had agreed to begin an extend- real headstart in life. facilities and proposed new hospital tional crumble and custard is the our hearts – and our tummies.
Institutional £165
ed consultation on the proposals, “It’s a radical and bold change to and health services. nation’s favourite school canteen “We are always talking to par-
Rest of world annual rates: pudding, followed by chocolate ents and teachers about how chil-
Personal £113
Institutional £209
GTCE registration fee
sponge, jam roly-poly, treacle dren can get the greatest benefit
tart, and spotted dick. from their time at school and we
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the think that health and happiness
Printed by
least favourite is tapioca, with play an important part in this.
Pensord Press, Wales
Published by
increase put on hold
semolina a close second. “Despite the ongoing food
The survey, carried out by debate, it’s clear parents feel that
online independent education there is still a place for the likes
guide Tom-Brown.com, also of jam roly-poly on school menus
The proposed increase to the increase has been post- pleased that he had committed to found that more than a quarter of and want to see more children
General Teaching Council poned after Ed Balls, responding to the GTCE’s request those questioned reckon today’s enjoying this element of school life
for England’s (GTCE) minister for children, as soon as possible after the remit youngsters are under too much without worrying too much about
St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road
registration fee has schools and families, review is completed. pressure to count calories and putting on weight.”
Herne Hill, London SE24 0PB
been put on hold. said that he will not A number of teachers wrote watch their fat intake.
www.markallengroup.com
The organisa- consider the proposal to SecEd when the new fee was Two-thirds believe schools
tion announced until the govern- announced, expressing their con- should serve puddings
in January that it ment has carried cern about the proposed increase. as part of a balanced
planned to increase out a remit review This came after Chris Keates, diet, while a simi-
the fee from £33 to £37 of organisations sup- general secretary of the NASUWT lar proportion
MA Education Ltd is an independent
from April – a deci- porting the children’s union, said: “Most teachers already would be dis-
publishing company also responsible
sion that angered many workforce. This review feel the GTCE serves no useful pur- appointed to
for education titles Early Years
teachers. Registration is due to conclude in pose. If it disappeared tomorrow, see traditional
Educator and 5to7 Educator.
is compulsory for all April. few would notice or care. puddings disap-
© All rights reserved. No part of SecEd may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any
teachers that wish to A spokesman for the “Unnecessary amounts of pear from school
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without prior written permission of MA Education
work in English state GTCE said that they money are already spent on things menus.
The publisher accepts no responsibility for any views or opinions
expressed in SecEd.
schools. understood Mr Balls’ other agencies are doing, should be Gail Dixon, editor of
ISSN 1479-7704
However, the reasoning, and were doing, or are doing better.”
2 SecEd • March 12 2009
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