News News in brief
in six months, what message are
Leeds school wins design
Make IT happy: Pupils are
we giving to our four-year BEd being urged to use any type
students? We asked one. Joel
competition
of technology to put a smile
Burnet-Brown is in her first year on people’s faces. Judges are
of a BEd course at Plymouth Morley Newland Primary School in Leeds was announced as winner looking for a piece that dem-
University. ‘I believe that having of the ‘Design My Learning Space’ competition at the Building Schools onstrates how they can change
a teaching course that takes six Exhibition and Conference (BSEC) 2009 by its chairman, Professor an aspect of their community,
months to complete is insuffi- Stephen Heppell. The school will now benefit from having the design by making the most of technol-
cient time to become a competent implemented by Northgate Education, EC Harris and Wates Construc- ogy. The competition is open
teacher. I would not feel comfort- tion. to 9–11-year-olds and there are
able teaching a class with such a The competition attracted over 130 entries from Years 5 to 8 across nine regional prizes of £1,200
small amount of experience, and the north of England and gave the pupils an opportunity to play an active each for schools. Organised by
I feel that even a year is not quite role in designing their own learning space and explaining how this would the Institution of Engineering
enough.’ impact on achieving better learning outcomes. The competition provided and Technology and the Par-
Many people still believe that an opportunity for pupils to develop a concept for a learning space, with liamentary Information Tech-
teaching is a vocation and not the Morley Newland Primary School design team winning the chance to nology Committee, further
something that you do as an after- see its scheme implemented. details are available from http://
thought. ‘It certainly is not a profes- The school’s headteacher, Adrian Stygall, commented, ‘The children makeithappy.cc4g.net/.
sion to join as a second best career,’ were captivated by this competition, and very well led by a member of
Alison Peacock points out. Burnet- our superb support staff. The investment in the school will make a real Saving rural schools: The
Brown hopes that headteachers like difference to our mixture of a 1950s building and outside classrooms. We Scottish government has
Peacock will recognise her dedica- are really looking forward to working with the competition partners so announced plans to safeguard
tion to teaching and justify her four that the children can realise their dreams for a new classroom.’ rural schools. The proposed
years of study, ‘… students study- legislation will toughen con-
ing for a BEd have put years into sultation procedures councils
becoming teachers not just as a last- must follow when proposing
minute decision because we aren’t major education changes. Edu-
employable in any other work sec- cation inspectors would have to
tors’. give their views and pupils and
teachers would get more say.
B
y offering such a condensed
course, are we being fair to Primary places crisis: Res-
these fast-trackers? ‘I want earch from the London Coun-
to enter my first classroom feeling cils campaign group claims
confident that I can offer the chil- there could be up to 12,000
dren that I am teaching the best pupils struggling to find places
opportunity I can. I don’t think I in the next six years and a fur-
would be able to do that after six ther 15,000 may have to be edu-
months,’ Burnet-Brown admits. cated in temporary classrooms.
Not only might it not be fair to It is estimated that there is a
the prospective teacher, but also shortfall of £260 million in the
to the pupils that he/she is cutting Design gurus: now Morland Newland’s children will see their current spending review period
teeth on. ideas for their school put into practice to March 2011 and £480 mil-
However, the Training and lion after 2011.
Development Agency for Schools
(TDA) is comfortable with the six- Solar power: Solar-panelled
month alternative. Graham Hol-
SBMs – saving time and
greenhouses are on offer in an
ley, TDA chief executive, explains. effort to teach children about
‘We welcome this new route into money? renewable energy. The Little
teacher training. We will work Green Fingers campaign is being
with initial teacher-training pro- An interim report provides some evidence that school business manag- launched by energy company
viders to ensure that high-quality ers (SBMs) are having an impact on freeing up headteachers’ time and npower to help 4–7-year-olds
provision is available to those who saving money. Key findings of the report by the National College of learn about natural and renew-
want to achieve qualified teacher School Leadership (NCSL) and the University of Manchester focused on able energy. The programme
status (QTS) faster than on con- the first wave of demonstration projects, and included: will award 50 schools an eco-
ventional PGCE courses. This n Headteachers beginning to report reduced workload, with the high- friendly, solar-heated green-
route is quicker because it is more er level SBM role having a potential to free up to 30% of their time. house. Details at www.npower.
intensive – there is no diluting of n Evidence that the new roles are allowing schools to release funds by com/littlegreenfingers.
standards; the QTS professional maximising existing resources and engaging clusters of schools to
standards still have to be met.’ No work together strategically – savings of £30,000 have already been Wildlife photography priz-
doubt some PGCE students will be identified across five schools in Durham with reinvestment being es: Natural England is sponsor-
surprised to learn that their cours- made in learning. ing two photography competi-
es can be condensed even further. n SBMs are attracting new sources of funding – in West Grantham, tions: ‘Wildlife in my Local-
Will teachers trained in this way £20,000 has been sourced to support the introduction of Montessori ity’ and the special ‘Schools,
be able to deliver the new curricu- learning in its foundation stage. Youth and Community Group
lum being conceived through the n More effective liaison between schools including the provision of Award’. The Young Award is
current primary reviews? Robin additional support and professional development opportunities. £500 and any aspect of British
Alexander has already raised his n Links with external agencies to support the Every Child Matters wildlife will be considered. For
concerns about the ability of teach- agenda. the second award, £1,000 is on
ers to deliver a decentralised cur- n A broader remit for SBMs by bringing new skills to school leader- offer; the prize will be awarded
riculum. We can only speculate at ship teams and managing important whole school projects. for the most original and imagi-
this stage on the intensity and con- native portfolio of images. Visit
tent of a six-month course that will For a more in-depth review of the role of the SBM, see our feature article www.bwpawards.org/young-
deliver everything expected. on pages 15 and 16. awards.
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