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Publisher
Ben Allen
Editor
Pete Henshaw – 020 7501 6771
pete.h@markallengroup.com
Deputy editor
David Taylor – 020 7501 6772
david@markallengroup.com
Chief Reporter Schoolgirls encouraged
Chris Parr – 020 7501 6750
Illustrator
Christos Mais
Editorial advisory panel
Paul Ainsworth, Deputy
headteacher, Belvoir High School,
to get on their bikes
Leicestershire. Mark Blois,
Browne Jacobson. Leo Gilbert,
Vice principal, Harris Academy,
hopes to increase this percentage activity as they move into their “They will also benefit from ity and benefit the environment
south London. Hilary Moriarty,
by Chris Parr
to 15. teenage years is well known. It is the various bike loan schemes by taking vehicles off the road
National director, Boarding The charity, using funds from a time in their lives when many and cycle storage and lockers that during the school run, could make
Schools’ Association. Neill Schoolgirls in Scotland are the cycling industry initiative Bike Hub, have inhibitions about how they this funding will bring about,” Ms a real difference and act as a real
Morton, Headteacher, Portora target of a new cycling campaign will organise cycle to school events, look so we want to show that they Marshall said. catalyst for change across our
Royal School, Enniskillen. Helen designed to tackle their decreasing cycle training and bike maintenance can feel good and look great when The charity will work with four country.”
Nurton, Assistant headteacher, levels of exercise. classes specifically aimed at girls. getting about on their bikes. secondary schools and their feeder The schools involved are
Guildford County School, Surrey.
A two-year pilot, run by sustain- It will also encourage them to “If we can get them to be more schools in Perth and Edinburgh, Firrhill High and Portobello High
Tina Stockman, Teacher, Harlaw
able transport charity Sustrans, will banish their concerns over “helmet active as part of their everyday starting next month (September). in Edinburgh, and Perth Academy
Academy, Aberdeen. Ray Tarleton,
aim to get Scottish girls aged nine hair” and perspiration with cycling journeys then it will have a huge Stewart Stevenson, minister for and Perth Grammar School.
Headteacher, South Dartmoor
to 16 cycling to school at least once fashion tips, and by promoting the impact on their health as they enter transport, said the scheme formed For more information on the
Community College, Ashburton,
a week. wider health and fitness benefits. adulthood.” part of a concerted effort to get scheme, visit www.sustrans.org.
Devon. Dr Bernard Trafford,
Currently, just two per cent of Lynn Marshall, of Sustrans Although the project is focused people to cycle more often. uk. Cycling advice for girls is
Headteacher, The Royal Grammar
this demographic use bikes to get to Scotland, said: “Girls’ increasing on girls, it is hoped that boys will He told us: “This initiative, available from www.bikebelles.
School, Newcastle upon Tyne.
school each week, and the scheme reluctance to take part in physical also be encouraged. which will also help tackle obes- org.uk.
Simon Viccars, Headteacher, Leon
School and Sports College, Milton
Keynes. Alex Wood, Headteacher,
Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh.
Scottish students
Lunchtime scheme to
Sales director
Matt Govett – 020 7501 6735
Business development
among the first
tempt young tastebuds
manager
Abdul Hayee – 020 7501 6776
Scotland’s largest council has Glasgow Council insisted the The scheme is due to run for two
Classified sales
to benefit from
stepped up efforts to encourage aim was to “start a debate” with years, and could then be rolled out
Rachel McElhinney – 020 7501 6728 healthy eating by keeping hundreds pupils rather than dictate to them on across Glasgow and among older
of pupils in at lunchtime. their dietary habits. pupils.
Subscription manager Eight secondaries in Glasgow “The big thing is to engage with Glasgow Council will make an
Chris Hoskins
book giveaway
have embarked on a pilot scheme children so that they make their initial evaluation of how the sys-
Circulation director
under which nearly 1,000 first year own decisions in an informed way,” tem is faring in the middle of next
Sally Boettcher
pupils will buy meals from the can- a spokeswoman said. “We want month.
teen or bring packed lunch rather than them to have their own input into Almost half its Scottish second-
Students from secondary schools ily squeezed into a picnic basket resort to fast food outlets and vans. the pilot. ary pupils leave school premises at
Circulation department:
across Glasgow and Dundee have or beach bag, and children have They are also allowed to go “For each school it will be dif- lunchtime, with fast food outlets
Tel: 01722 716997
been receiving free books as part hours on end to dream and share home for lunch if their parents write ferent story. There’s obviously a and vans among the most popular
Fax: 01722 716926
email: subscriptions@
of a mass giveaway. stories.” to the school. However, if they are danger that if you go about this the choices. The council has already
markallengroup.com
More than 6,000 books were Jonathan Douglas, director granted this permission but are then wrong way it ends up being coun- banned the latter from school areas.
given to students aged five to 14 of the National Literacy Trust, seen frequenting food outlets, the terproductive.” All eight schools volunteered for
UK annual rates:
in disadvantaged areas across the added: “Summer Read is particu- school will contact their parents. However, Judith Gillespie, the scheme, with parents encour-
UK as part of the Summer Read larly important for children who Castlemilk High, Whitehill, St of the Scottish Parent Teacher aged to try out menus in the can-
Personal £45
programme. Around 400 students may have little access to books Paul’s High, All Saints, Lochend Council, said the whole strategy teens last term.
Institutional (libraries,
in Glasgow, and a further 140 outside school, and may not be Community High, Govan High, St was flawed because it interfered Scotland has the second highest
companies etc) £100
from Dundee, were among the confident in choosing something Mungo’s Academy, and St Thomas too strongly with personal obesity levels in the world after
Europe annual rates:
first to receive their books over to read that they will enjoy on Aquinas are all taking part. behaviour. the US.
Personal £92 the summer break. their own.
Institutional £165 The scheme, which is run by “Crucially, the events took
Rest of world annual rates: bookseller WHSmith and the place over the summer break from
Personal £113
Parents struggle with uniform costs
National Literacy Trust charity, school – a time when children’s
Institutional £209
has been running for five years, reading habits can drop off.”
and the 2009 campaign reached For more information, and to The cost of getting children “back Helen Dent, chief executive of child poverty in Scotland. It is not fair
Printed by
more than 3,000 young readers. request information about next to school” is proving too much for Save the Children, said: “The start of that children miss out on basics such
Pensord Press, Wales
The UK children’s laureate, year’s giveaway, visit www.lit- more than half of Scotland’s par- term should be an exciting time when as school uniform and that parents
Anthony Browne, said it was cru- eracytrust.org.uk. ents, a study has shown. parents and children look forward to face such levels of financial stress.”
Published by
cial to encourage young people Some 56 per cent of families the future — not one they dread for There is information for con-
to read for pleasure, and urged with incomes totaling less than fear of getting into deeper debt.” cerned parents available from
teachers to help youngsters to get £15,000 say they will be unable to Douglas Hamilton, head of Save Citizen’s advice Scotland (CAS).
into books. provide their children with every- the Children in Scotland, said it A CAS spokesman said: “Most
He said: “If children are thing they need to start back after was “unfair” that many children local education authorities provide
St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road
not encouraged to read for the school holidays, the study by were missing out on basics such as help with the cost of school clothing
Herne Hill, London SE24 0PB
pure pleasure, we are in dan- charities Family Action and Save school uniform. to families on low incomes. Policies
www.markallengroup.com
ger of creating a generation of the Children found. Speaking on the BBC website, vary between authorities, so you
non-readers. Allowing children Almost a quarter of those on he said: “Every parent wants to should contact the local education
to choose their own books is lower incomes thought they would make sure they are able to give authority to find out how the local
not only a great way to ensure go into debt in order to pay for their child everything they need for scheme operates.”
they are not dragged away items such as school clothing, with going to school. If the education authority does
MA Education Ltd is an independent
from reading books they enjoy 43 per cent of parents across the “We’ve all seen photos of chil- provide help with clothing, it will
publishing company also responsible
– including picture books. UK saying school uniform was the dren on their first day back at usually give parents either a cash
for education titles Early Years
It’s also an important part biggest problem. school wearing their brand new grant, or vouchers that can be spent
Educator and 5to7 Educator.
of the fun. Around a quarter said PE kit uniforms and shiny shoes, but for at local shops. The amount given
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“Summer is a perfect time would be too expensive, while 19 too many families bits of this pic- varies according to the age of the
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without prior written permission of MA Education
for children to enjoy reading per cent said that books and other ture are missing.” child.
The publisher accepts no responsibility for any views or opinions
expressed in SecEd.
for pleasure – books are eas- equipment would stretch their purse He added: “Today’s figures high- For more information, visit
ISSN 1479-7704
strings. light just one aspect of the impact of www.cas.org.uk
 SecEd • August 27 2009
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