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Editor-in-chief
Mark Allen
Editor
Pete Henshaw – 020 7501 6771
teens reading
pete.h@markallengroup.com
Deputy editor
David Taylor – 020 7501 6772
david@markallengroup.com
Reporter by focusing in one particular sec- writing tips to budding authors of
Chris Parr – 020 7501 6750
by Chris Parr
tion of a text, they do not have the all ages, along with advice on get-
Illustrator
opportunity to do this.” ting stories published.
Christos Mais
Studying extracts from novels and Dr Mary Bousted, general secre- The Booktrust website will
plays, rather than complete works, tary of the Association of Teachers feature a fortnightly blog by Mr
Editorial advisory panel
could be sucking the enjoyment and Lecturers, raised similar con- Ness, and footage of a grilling inter-
out of reading for thousands of cerns when addressing the union’s view session in which students at
Geoff Brookes, Deputy
teenagers across the UK, a top annual conference earlier this Graveney School in London will get
headteacher, Cefri Hengoed
children’s author has warned. month. to ask the author their questions.
Comprehensive School, Swansea.
Patrick Ness, who won the She said: “Extracts are mined The writer in residence pro-
Neill Morton, Headteacher,
Guardian Children’s Fiction Award for adjectives, and adverbs, and gramme will run for two years,
Portora Royal School, Enniskillen.
and the Booktrust Teenage Prize for active verbs, and nouns. The belief with a different author taking the
Alex Wood, Headteacher, Wester his young adult novel The Knife of is, once the parts have been named, post every six months. Inspiring words: Patrick Ness wants pupils to love reading
Hailes Education Centre, Edinburgh. Never Letting Go, says that children then they can be used, independ- Mr Ness added: “I get asked
Ray Tarleton, Headteacher, studying only excerpts may never ently in the children’s writing. questions by teenagers quite a lot, The author feels that encour- good books and hope that word gets
South Dartmoor Community come to view reading as a pleasur- “But they cannot choose what and sometimes it’s just a matter aging children to read for enjoy- around,” he said.
College, Ashburton, Devon. Hilary able activity. they will write; they cannot choose of giving them the confidence to ment can be a difficult thing to For more information on the
Moriarty, National director, He told SecEd: “Making books the form they want to write in – that write what they want to write. One initiate. writer in residence programme,
Boarding Schools’ Association.
and fiction purely functional is would be far too dangerous.” girl asked me ‘how long should a “Teenagers always listen to book recommendations for readers
Tina Stockman, Teacher of art and
really quite risky. Teenagers, I think Mr Ness has been unveiled as chapter be?’, because she didn’t other teenagers, and not always to of all ages, and a lesson plan incor-
media studies, Harlaw Academy,
more than anyone, really love to the Booktrust’s first online writer have the confidence to use her own authority figures, so the only way porating The Knife of Never Letting
Aberdeen. Dr Bernard Trafford,
lose themselves in an activity, and in residence, and he will be offering judgement.” to get them reading is to write Go, visit www.booktrust.org.uk
headteacher, The Royal Grammar
School, Newcastle upon Tyne. Chris
Fenton, Assistant headteacher,
Credit crunch
New figures back link between
William Harrison School,
Lincolnshire. Paul Ainsworth,
Deputy headteacher, Belvoir High
School, Leicestershire. Mark Blois,
boosts pupils’
poverty and underachievement
Browne Jacobson.
Children from deprived families ment,” said Philip Dixon, director this funding targeted directly at the
Sales director
in Wales have less than half the of education union, ATL Wales, poorest pupils,” she stated.
Matt Govett – 020 7501 6735
interest in
chance of obtaining top GCSE as who admitted the Welsh Assembly An Assembly government
Commercial director
others. government had taken positive spokesman said attainment levels
Jon Benson – 020 7501 6767
New figures reveal that only 28 steps to improving the situation are improving for all pupils in
Sales executive
per cent of children entitled to free through its Flying Start initiative Wales.
Calum Hogg – 020 7501 6706
economics
school meals gained five A* to C and the Foundation Phase. He pointed to its RAISE scheme,
Classified sales
GCSEs last year, compared to 62 “But we do need to have a which he said was already getting
Rachel McElhinney – 020 7501 6728 per cent of their classmates. review of the funding formula for extra funding to schools with high
Subscription manager Education experts say the gap schools and look at targeting schools number of pupils with free school
Chris Hoskins As the credit crunch continues to in performance shows a continuing in deprived areas,” he added. meals. He added: “Our RAISE
Circulation director bite, a growing number of 6th- link between poverty and undera- Welsh Lib Dem shadow minis- funding scheme has allowed
Sally Boettcher
formers want to study economics chievement. ter for education, Jenny Randerson, schools to support a wide range
at university. “Free school meals are a quick said the Labour-Plaid Cymru coali- of activities to promote learning
Figures released by UCAS, indicator of social deprivation and tion had to do more to break the and skill development for a broad
Circulation department:
the Universities and Colleges the fear is that children affected “cycle of underachievement for the range of disadvantaged pupils
Tel: 01722 716997
Admissions Service, show that by end up in a spiral of unbreakable poorest pupils”. and to ensure that these benefits
Fax: 01722 716926
January this year nearly 45,000 poverty as a result of underachieve- “I want to see higher levels of are sustainable.”
email: subscriptions@
applications to read economics
markallengroup.com
had been received – 15 per cent
UK annual rates:
up on last year.
At the same time, the total
The diary of a headteacher
Personal £45
number applying to do full-time
Institutional (libraries,
undergraduate courses at UK During his 16 years as the ing a diary, Dr Rae wrote: “I wanted governing body (his employers), in
companies etc) £100
universities and colleges rose by headmaster of one of Britain’s most to record what a headmaster’s life the staff common room, and among
Europe annual rates:
seven per cent. With the increased historic public schools, John Rae was really like and especially how the parents of his pupils.”
Personal £92
interest in careers in the public kept a journal of his experiences. he dealt with the problems that Dr Rae also detailed how he
Institutional £165
sector, nursing also saw a 15 per Now, nearly three years after his arose in trying to educate and be allowed the first ever TV documen-
Rest of world annual rates: cent rise in university applica- death, Dr Rae’s diaries about his responsible for 600 adolescents in tary about a public school to be shot
Personal £113 tions. time at Westminster School have the heart of a great city with all its at Westminster in 1979. The film
Institutional £209 Many schools are incorporat- been published. possibilities and temptations. ruffled feathers but he reckoned
ing sessions on the global down- His forthright book, The Old “I thought it was the most it captured “the lively, intelligent,
Printed by
turn into their GCSE and A level Boys’ Network, chronicles every- wonderful job in the world, but to articulate flavour of the place, as
Pensord Press, Wales
classes to help students under- thing from the decision to admit girls say that I enjoyed every minute of well as the tensions and anxieties
stand how the financial system into the 6th form to dealing with it would be dishonest. There is a that run beneath the surface.”
Published by
works. tainty,” said Zack Hocking, head tricky parents and the struggle “to political side to a headmaster’s life, The Old Boys’ Network: A
Youngsters are learning of Child Trust Funds at The Co- keep illegal drugs out of the school times when he is not dealing with Headmaster’s Diaries 1970-1986
about the recession at home too. operative. and out of the lives of my pupils”. adolescents but with awkward and is published by Short Books, priced
According to research carried out “If children are taught about Explaining his reasons for keep- even hostile adults on the school’s £17.99.
by The Co-operative Child Trust money from an early age, future
St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road
Funds, half of all parents said they financial decisions are likely to be
Herne Hill, London SE24 0PB
were teaching their children about better considered.”
Free GCSE and A level guides released
www.markallengroup.com
the economic situation. Nearly Meanwhile, the Royal
two-thirds thought schools should Economic Society, which pro- Two free publications to help from George Turnbull, Ofqual’s “They could prove invaluable
teach youngsters about savings motes the study of economic sci- parents and students understand the exams doctor, designed to help not only when talking with students
and investments, while almost ence, is calling on A level and principles and practices of A level engage reluctant students and make already entered for the exams, and
half said their children had asked International Baccalaureate stu- and GCSE exams have been released the most of the time available their parents, but also when young-
MA Education Ltd is an independent
them about the credit crunch. dents to enter its annual Young by exams watchdog Ofqual. between now and the exams period. sters are choosing what they want to
publishing company also responsible
“It’s possible that one good Economist of the Year essay com- They cover how exams are set, Mr Turnbull said: “The guides study at key stages 3 and 4.”
for education titles Early Years
thing to come from the current petition. marked and graded, along with contain everything you ever wanted You can order the guides by con-
Educator and 5to7 Educator.
downturn will be a generation It is challenging entrants to information on exam technicalities, to know about exams in a nut- tacting 0300 303 3346. You can also
© All rights reserved. No part of SecEd may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any
that’s financially wiser and better write an essay on the subject: including Uniform Mark Scales and shell, and are an important resource download the A level guide at www.
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without prior written permission of MA Education
equipped to manage their money “Are economic recessions inevita- the new A* grade, which will be for anyone involved in making ofqual.gov.uk/files/A-levelguide.pdf
The publisher accepts no responsibility for any views or opinions
expressed in SecEd.
through times of economic uncer- ble?” The closing date is May 18. awarded in A levels from 2012. decisions relating to GCSEs and and the GCSE guide at www.ofqual.
ISSN 1479-7704
The guides feature study tips A levels. gov.uk/files/GCSE_guide.pdf
 SecEd • April 23 2009
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