www.sec-ed.com News
After-school clubs linked
In brief
strike action
As SecEd went to press,
members of the NASUWT union
at four Tamworth high schools
to better exam results
were set to embark on a wave of
strike action, beginning yesterday
(Wednesday, June 10). The
strikes are in opposition to plans
to turn Woodhouse Business
and Enterprise College into an
academy, and centralise all 6th
by Dorothy Lepkowska
ble improved children’s self-confi- of which now organise an extensive and underlines the clear benefits pro- activities were commonly ranked form provision at the new school.
dence, boosted team-building skills, programme of clubs and events. vided by an all-round education.” towards the bottom, with less than The union claims the plans could
and widened their horizons and cir- The report comes at a time of Researchers surveyed 508 ISC half of exam entries gaining “good” result in job losses for more than
Pupils who take part in extra- cle of friends. growing concern about coaching members and compared the number grades. 70 teachers, threaten teachers’
curricular activities are more likely Many independent schools were or “hot-housing” students to pass of extra-curricular activities offered The differences were more pay and working conditions,
to succeed academically than those now offering activities as diverse tests. Both the Commons schools in each school to overall perform- marked between boys’ schools. and seriously weaken 6th form
who do not participate in any after- as curling, sailing, bell-ringing, kit select committee and Ofsted have ance in last summer’s GCSEs. Anne Longfield, of the chil- provision in the area. Teachers
school clubs, according to new car manufacturing, army cadets, cir- expressed concerns that too many Schools were ranked by the dren’s charity 4Children, said extra- at Woodhouse Business and
research. cus clubs, as well as the Duke of schools “teach to tests”, which nar- number of exam entries graded at curricular activities boosted more Enterprise College, Belgrave
The study, carried out by the Edinburgh awards scheme. These rows pupils’ learning experience least a B. than just examination results. High School, The Rawlett
Independent Schools Council (ISC), enabled pupils to feel positive about and causes stress and anxiety. Those offering pupils the chance “Pupils who participate regularly School, and Wilnecote High
has found a correlation between the their education and encouraged them David Lyscom, chief executive to join 30 or more clubs were “sig- in after-school clubs clearly demon- School were also set to take
number of after-school clubs offered to study harder for examinations. of the ISC, which represents almost nificantly” more likely to be rated strate better negotiating skills, team- strike action today (June 11) and
and the proportion of grade B and The findings about the impact 1,300 fee-paying schools, said: “This at the top the table, with around 95 work, as well as higher creativity. on June 17 and 18. Visit: www.
above GCSEs achieved by pupils. of extra-curricular activities apply new research shows how important per cent of entries scoring between They also have a far higher engage- nasuwt.org.uk
It found that activities offered equally as well to achievement extra-curricular activities can be in A* and B. ment with learning generally, and
beyond the normal school timeta- among pupils in state schools, most underpinning academic achievement, Senior schools with 20 or fewer the world around them,” she added.
Teaching challenge
The Training and Development
Survey reveals
Agency for Schools has launched
a drive to get the best teachers
into “challenging” schools. The
government is offering teachers
huge extent of
who join the scheme access to
a package that includes special
training, the opportunity to
complete the new Master’s
degree in teaching, and a
teacher stress
£10,000 allowance payable after
three years in the school.
Christine Blower, general
secretary of the NUT union, said:
“While we are keen to enhance
Two out of five teachers have and the worrying increase of stress salaries, teachers are more
suffered a stress-related illness and cited by teachers.” likely to be drawn to working
more than half have considered According to the survey’s find- in schools in challenging
leaving the profession because of ings, the number of teachers con- circumstances if class sizes
stress, a survey has found. sidering leaving their job because are small and workload is
In extreme cases, some teachers of stress has risen five per cent reasonable.” Visit: www.tda.gov.
have endured stress-related ME and since 2006, while the amount tak- uk/challenge
angina, while more than 25 per cent ing a day off because of stress has
say that they have taken a day off in doubled.
the last 12 months due to stress. Teacher Support Network chief
MOG clarification
However, the Teachers TV sur- executive, Julian Stanley, said SecEd’s special report last
vey, which canvassed around 800 the statistics were in line with the week on the “machinery of
teachers from the primary and charity’s own 2008 findings, which government” changes and
secondary sectors, also found that showed that 87 per cent of teachers their implications for 14 to 19
nearly two thirds of teachers felt that had experienced stress in the last provision in schools and colleges
job satisfaction was the reason they two years. carried analysis from Liz Horne.
stayed in the profession, while more He added: “We know that com- Due to an error, Ms Horne’s
than half said the long holidays com- mon mental health problems such “It is fundamentally important to Elsewhere, the survey revealed of the NASUWT union, told SecEd: organisation was not referenced
pensated for the stress levels they as stress, anxiety and depression both the wellbeing of teachers and that more than 90 per cent of “It’s about time that schools and with the piece. We are happy to
experienced. can have a very real impact on the education generally that headteach- respondents worked unpaid over- local authorities make a concerted clarify that Ms Horne is head
Andrew Bethell, chief execu- personal and professional lives of ers and school leaders create an time every week, with over half effort to stop burying teachers in of sector, schools and local
tive of Teachers TV, said: “It is teachers. Effects can range from a atmosphere where it’s okay to ask saying they did more than six hours’ paperwork which is designed to authorities with the Learning
encouraging to see that the large loss of concentration in the class- for help with stress and receive the overtime a week. More than a quar- provide a paper trail for inspection and Skills Network, which
majority of staff stay in the profes- room to damage to personal rela- support necessary to address their ter worked 16 or more hours, the rather than support teaching and provides a range of professional
sion because of the job satisfaction, tionships and even prolonged sick- issues, whether personal or profes- survey claimed. learning. This alone would radically services to support schools and
despite the challenges of the role ness absence. sional.” Chris Keates, general secretary reduce the stress on teachers.” local authorities in planning,
developing and delivering
Glow-ing praise notable
Schools mark Anne
education. To read the article,
visit www.sec-ed.co.uk and for
more, go to www.lsneducation.
org.uk
by absence from EIS
Frank anniversary
Assessment focus
“I want to go on living even after ing from the Nazis for over two A new publication focusing on
my death. And that’s why I am years, became one of the world’s the successes and failures of
It was hailed as a high-tech tool However, he said over-reliance has praised Glow as an innovation grateful to God for having given me most read books and a symbol of national curriculum assessment
that would transform education could mean teachers putting mate- with worldwide potential. this gift, which I can use to develop suffering under persecution. (NCA) over the last 15 years
in Scottish schools, but the £37.5 rials on the site “for the sake of it”, Ken Brown, East Dunbartonshire myself and to express all that’s Gillian Walnes, executive direc- has been released. National
million Glow project has yet to regardless of any clear educational council member, said: “We’ve inside me.” tor and co-founder of the Trust, told Curriculum Assessment in
win over teachers if the EIS annual purpose. Variations in technological undertaken an analysis and the Had Anne Frank, who wrote these SecEd that she wanted the anniver- England: How well has it
conference is anything to go by. ability among teachers were also existing equipment in schools isn’t words in April 1944, been allowed sary to start a “wave of resistance worked? includes a look at the
The country’s biggest teach- likely to result in a postcode lottery fit for purpose. The Glow system to live, she would have turned 80 against the politics of hate and fear”, history of NCA, a debate on the
ing union has demanded a of availability. doesn’t work – it’s far too slow so tomorrow (Friday, June 12). especially following last week’s reliability of test results, and a
report into Glow’s effectiveness, “What is Glow supposed to be?” none of us have the time to use it. To mark the day, schools across European election results, which look at possible alternatives to
with delegates citing the risk he asked delegates. “It doesn’t actu- It’s simply not user-friendly.” Britain will be reflecting on what saw the British National Party gain current assessment practice.
of over-reliance and disparities ally do anything but it’s supposed to Laurie O’Donnell, director her life could have been like had its first ever seats in the European Visit: www.informaworld.com/
in its application. The EIS rul- do everything. It appears Glow lets of learning and technology at she survived the Second World Parliament, including one for its smpp/title
ing council is now tasked with you do things you weren’t needing Learning and Teaching Scotland, War, and not been murdered by leader Nick Griffin, who won in the
investigating the teaching intran- to do, quicker. And you can connect told SecEd: “Glow is being rolled the Nazis. North West region.
et, a key plank of Curriculum for with people you’ve never had any out quite slowly and we’re still not Activities created by the Anne Ms Walnes said: “We’re calling
iTunes offer
Excellence. connection with before, but now at the point where every school Frank Trust, including a specially- on teachers to use the anniversary Teachers TV programmes are
At issue is how well teachers you have to because you can.” has brilliant broadband. It could be themed assembly for key stage 3, to teach the dangers of hate, par- now freely available on iTunes
are trained to use the technology Glow is aimed at linking pupils about three years before it’s being and a competition asking young- ticularly in the light of the European U, part of the iTunes store that
and whether councils have the and teachers across Scotland with used to full effect but we have a sters to write as if they were 80- Election results. offers free educational resources.
right resources to implement it. shared educational resources, whole range of training materials years-old, are available free to all “We want schools to run activi- The channel will make 400 of
John Black, from the union’s and improving communications on our website. schools. ties throughout the year using our its most popular programmes
Aberdeenshire association, said between schools and parents. “We welcome the views of Holocaust victim Anne Frank resources, which include classroom available to download on iTunes
his authority had been praised by Star Wars director George Lucas, teachers. After all, Glow is about died of hunger and typhus in activities and themed assemblies,” U, allowing teachers to access
Learning and Teaching Scotland who heads a computer education helping them be the best teachers Bergen-Belsen concentration camp she added. them free of charge. Visit: www.
as leading the way in using Glow. foundation in the United States, they can be in the 21st century. But in March 1945. To access the resources, visit teachers.tv
it’s not going to go away.” Her diary, written while in hid- www.annefrank.org.uk/80
SecEd • June 11 2009 
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