www.sec-ed.com NewS
In brief
Languages on film
Young people are being offered
the chance to make a short film
about the importance of modern
languages. The Languages and
Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs)
will invite the best entrants to an
award ceremony in the summer
as part of the European Day
of Languages celebrations on
September 26. The competition
is open for young people aged
between 13 and 21. Visit: www.
languageswork.org.uk/laftas
Linguists wanted
Linguists are being urged to
come forward and help inspire
the next generation to learn
Bullying policies must
a language. The Try Life in
Another Language campaign
is launching a competition for
linguists aged between 18 and 25
to participate in an advertising
campaign designed to encourage
young people to pursue
languages at GCSE. The winning
focus on homophobia
candidate will star in a radio
advertisement calling on young
people to take up a language.
Visit: www.languageworks.org
Teachers in need
by Chris Parr
perhaps offering advice on formu- homophobia, but at the moment said its research suggested the prob- power to permanently exclude The Teacher Support Network
lating an effective policy, and mak- we’re some way short of that. lem was more widespread. pupils, including those who bully, has reported an “unprecedented”
ing sure that the quality of support “As for cyber-bullying, the He said: “We have found that and we have tightened the rules number of interactions with
Cyber-bullying and homophobic at local level is consistent.” problem here is that schools do not only a quarter of schools’ anti-bul- to stop them being re-admitted on teachers during the summer
bullying are not being properly Prof Smith, who was speaking always update their policies often lying policies say homophobic bul- technicalities. holidays. In August this year there
tackled in schools due to a lack of at the Psychology and Anti-social enough, so more modern forms lying is wrong. However, in schools “The guidance Safe to Learn: were 15,526 such interactions,
clear government guidance, a lead- Behaviour in Schools conference of bullying are not addressed,” he that have said it’s wrong, gay young Embedding Anti-Bullying Work compared with 6,442 last year.
ing academic has claimed. at the University of Greenwich last added. people are 60 per cent more likely in Schools reinforces the duty on Enquiries included advice on
Professor Peter Smith, head of week, said that many school anti- According to Prof Smith’s to not get bullied. all schools to prevent bullying managing relationships with
the Unit for School and Family bullying policies did not mention research, homophobic bullying was “We work with schools, local and provides advice on all forms adults at work, cyber-bullying,
Studies at Goldsmiths College homophobic bullying or cyber-bul- mentioned in 33 per cent of sec- authorities and young volunteers of bullying, as well as advice on careers, and time management.
in London, claims that the qual- lying at all. ondary schools’ policies in 2002, to ensure that more schools have a training staff.” The charity has launched a new
ity of anti-bullying policies “var- He told the conference: “As rising to 46 per cent last year. written policy on homophobic bul- Guidance on homophobic bully- online resource, the “Wheel of
ies wildly” from school to school, regards school policies specifical- Those mentioning cyber-bullying lying – because we know this helps ing can be downloaded from www. Wellbeing”, which helps teachers
and wants ministers to offer more ly tackling homophobic bullying, rose from 11 to 52 per cent in the to tackle this widespread problem.” stonewall.org.uk/guidance and the to analyse their work/life balance.
support. the situation is getting better, but same period. A Department for Children, Safe to Learn guidance can be For more on this, see page 8:
He said: “I think there is a role not quickly enough. At secondary A spokesman for Stonewall, the Schools and Families spokesman found at www.teachernet.gov.uk Moral Support.
for national government to play, level, 100 per cent should deal with lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, said: “Headteachers have the
Food fortnight
Curriculum consistency
The BBC’s Hairy Bikers are to
TDA hits back
lead a contingent of 9,000 chefs
in a drive to teach children how
to cook. The campaign is all
over teaching
key to language learning
part of British Food Fortnight,
which runs from September
19 until October 4, and will
see catering organisations, chef
assistant report
A leading academic has warned that more closely together, students will and secondary collaboration, Ms associations and pub groups
a lack of consistency in primary continue to be disillusioned by lan- McLachlan wants all teachers – sending people into schools to
teaching methods is putting guages, and will choose not to study primary and secondary – to hold get children acquainted with
thousands of secondary students off them beyond key stage 3. at least one GCSE in a foreign what goes on in the kitchen.
A report claiming that teachers modern foreign language GCSEs. She told SecEd: “All of the pri- language, saying this should be a The annual event, now in its
are inadequately trained to make Angela McLachlan, education mary schools I have visited teach requirement for entering a teacher eighth year, is a celebration of
correct use of teaching assistants teaching fellow at the University language in a different way, mean- training programme. British cooking and aims to get
(TAs) has been challenged by of Manchester, claims that because ing that secondary teachers face an She continued: “If we perceive every school holding some kind
the body responsible for teacher of the flexible nature of the pri- impossible task when the students languages as so unimportant that of food activity. Visit: www.
training. mary curriculum, and the fact that arrive in year 7. Many secondaries we don’t expect our teachers to lovebritishfood.co.uk
A government-funded report, primary language teaching is not simply start the process of language have a basic grasp of them, then
carried out by the Institute of inspected by Ofsted, secondary teaching again, from the start. how can we progress?”
Education, has claimed that less teachers face an “impossible task” “If these children are repeating The report, Modern Languages
Jeans for Genes
than a quarter of teachers are when working with newly arrived three years of what they’ve already in the Primary Curriculum: Are We Teachers and students will be
trained to manage TAs, despite year 7s. done, then it is no wonder they are Creating Conditions For Success?, encouraged to make a donation to
the fact that more than half do. In a report published last week, champing at the bit to drop the sub- is published in the Language wear their jeans to school as part
The Deployment and Impact of Ms McLachlan says that unless pri- ject as soon as they can.” Learning Journal. Visit www. of a campaign to help children
Support Staff report also said that mary and secondary schools work In addition to closer primary informaworld.com with genetic disorders. Jeans for
pupils receiving increased levels Hit back: Graham Holley Genes Day 2009 hopes to raise
of support from TAs make slower
progress than their peers. ceded that TAs had made teach- New code of conduct ‘open to abuse’
money to help fund the care of
children and families affected
However, Graham Holley, ers’ jobs more productive and by genetic disorders, as well as
chief executive of the Training provided “invaluable personal Teachers have described the new were concerned about not being able Melvyn Roffe, principal at research into the causes and cures
and Development Agency for contact for struggling pupils”. General Teaching Council for to get drunk at the weekend. Wymondham College in Norfolk, of these conditions. The day
Schools, told SecEd that provid- However, he added that he had England (GTCE) code of conduct She said: “It is disappointing said the code has “all the signs takes place on Friday, October 2.
ing teachers with high quality found no evidence that TA sup- as a “nice idea in theory, but a night- that a large section of the press of having been written by a com- Visit: www.jeansforgenes.com/
support in the classroom has been port helped pupils to make better mare in practice”. chose to trivialise the seriousness mittee”. He added: “It would be getinvolved/secondary
an “important part of the work- progress in English, maths and The comments come as the of our cause. However, although it unthinkable for any profession to
force reforms aimed at freeing science, adding that this left SEN NASUWT launched a campaign may have distracted from our main have a ‘professional’ code that did
teachers to teach”. students – who he claims spend to have the new code withdrawn, arguments, I think we are getting not make it clear that maintaining
Geography online
He said: “It’s important that more time under the supervision with union chief, Chris Keates, dis- our point across that it restricts public confidence in the profession Geography teachers can now
all NQTs are trained in work- of TAs – at particular risk. missing it as “riddled with vague teachers in too many ways.” is an important responsibility for all access the new-look Geography
ing effectively with support staff Mr Holley responded: “We statements which are open to wide Teachers also acknowledged its members. The issue is how the Association website. Changes
– and this requirement has been have been developing further pro- interpretation and abuse”. problems with the code this week. code will be used.” have been made to the site in a
integrated into teachers’ profes- vision to help teachers and sup- She said it was “common sense” Dr Bernard Trafford, headteach- GTCE chief, Keith Bartley, said: bid to make it more navigable,
sional standards. You cannot now port staff support children with for teachers and heads to behave in er at Royal Grammar School in “All professions have codes of con- and to include a “resource
become a qualified teacher with- SEN, and it is critical not only that a professional manner, but added Newcastle, said it was a response to duct. Our code is based on what finder” tool allowing users to
out demonstrating that you can teachers and support staff have the that the code had unreasonable a national “climate of over-regula- teachers have told us they expect of search the collection of online
work effectively with others to necessary skills and knowledge in expectations of conduct. tion”. He added: “I don’t blame themselves and we do not believe support materials. The homepage
support teaching and learning.” this area, but that each member of Ms Keates also hit out at some GTCE entirely for this – it’s the any teacher who reads the text need has also been redesigned to
Professor Peter Blatchford, the workforce is deployed to best national press reports this week, climate of the times. The code is a have any worries.” Read the code highlight popular content. Visit:
who led the research team, con- effect in the classroom.” which implied that teachers wanted good idea in theory, but a nightmare at www.gtce.org.uk/publications/ www.geography.org.uk
the code withdrawn because they in practice.” code_of_conduct_2009/
SecEd • September 10 2009 
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