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News
Teachers scared to leave
the classroom, says
Tackling Violent
Countryside Alliance
S
ecurity has never been more considering the use of scanning
relevant in the UK than it is machines and equipment to detect
C
hildren are being denied school The Countryside Alliance
today, from security at home and at pupils carrying potentially dangerous
trips for fear teachers will be sued Foundation and Young Poll also
work, to border control and items. The Metropolitan Police
if something goes wrong, new questioned 2127 children aged
surveillance. Commission has already provided
research by The Countryside Alliance 6-15 as part of their research. The
Sadly, in the Education sector, security devices in schools in the
Foundation (TCAF) has revealed. survey found
there is a growing concern that London area where there have been
The Countryside Alliance • Whilst 85% of young people
schools and colleges are now also particular concerns about use of
Foundation commissioned the would like the chance to be able to
becoming subject to violent crime weapons.
National Foundation for Educational enjoy activities like fishing, falconry
from some students who are On a more positive note, the use
Research (NFER) to include questions and farm visits through school, only
smuggling knives and other of scanners significantly increases the
in its Teacher Voice survey. It found 46% of children actually had been
weapons onto the premises, often throughput of subjects and allows
• Of the 1400 teachers surveyed, on a trip to the countryside with
concealed in their clothing or bags. operations (in any safe environment)
97% of teachers thought it their school in the past year
With violent crimes on the to be conducted in a more efficient
important that pupils learn about • A substantial 64% said they did
increase, the question now being manner. The Home Office has
the countryside within the not feel they learnt enough about
asked is, “Can students and pupils confirmed some success of the use
National Curriculum. the countryside at school.
(across all age groups) be adequately of deploying X-ray scanning devices
• 76% felt the main barrier in
protected from these disturbing to help secure schools.
taking pupils to the countryside to The research backs up the
activities?” Some Parent-Teacher associations
facilitate learning was 'concerns Countryside Alliance’s Rural
Statistics from the UK's National have also suggested that schools will
about health and safety'. Manifesto, which calls for outdoor
Association of Schoolmasters Union have to follow the American
• 49% of teachers felt that a main learning to feature on the school
of Women Teachers (NASUWT) on example and install metal detectors
barrier was ‘fear of litigation in the curriculum. Simon Hart, chief
serious physical assaults show a to check for pupils attempting to
unlikely event of an accident’. executive of the Countryside Alliance,
significant rise in incidents in 2008, smuggle in knives or guns.
said: “Statistically, the chances of
and warned that crime involving Schools were given the legal right
In response requests made by TCAF accidents happening are low and we
weapons was spilling over from our to search pupils suspected of
under the Freedom of Information are working to explode the myths
streets into our schools. carrying knives in 2006, although
Act, TCAF found; that the countryside is any more
Understandably, schools will relatively few have brought in
• Of the millions of individual school dangerous than anywhere else. The
struggle to find the balance needed detectors as yet.
trips taken over the past 10 years, benefits of practical countryside
between security and openness. In For further details please visit
only 364 ended in legal action education far outweigh the concerns.
consequence, many schools are now
www.education-today.co.uk.
• In fewer than half of cases, 156, The Countryside Alliance wants to
were schools found to be culpable facilitate outdoor learning for the
and ordered to pay compensation. next generation without teachers
• Over a ten year period the total feeling threatened by 'compensation
National Enterprise Academy
amount of compensation paid out culture'. It believes by making the
was £404,952.14, meaning on countryside more accessible for opens for business
average local authorities paid out teachers and pupils, learning will be
just £293.44 per year in enhanced and pupils will be tolerant
The National Enterprise Academy
compensation between 1998 and understanding of the
(NEA) celebrated a landmark
and 2008. countryside”
achievement yesterday as it launched
the first ever educational institution
solely dedicated to teaching
enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Peter Jones led the celebrations
during a special ceremony attended
by the Rt. Hon. Lord Mandelson, Entrepreneurship, gives students the
Secretary of State for Business, opportunity to develop a fully
Innovation & Skills and Tom formed business plan whilst the
Alexander, CEO, Orange, the Level 3 qualification, a BTEC
exclusive communications and key Diploma in Enterprise and
corporate partner of the NEA. Entrepreneurship, lets students
The brainchild of Peter Jones, the develop their learning through
NEA will provide 16-19 year olds setting up and running their own
with the opportunity to develop the microbusiness. They will learn how to
skills and mindset to succeed in the monitor company performance, in
modern business world. From this particular newly started companies,
September, the NEA will offer two and how to respond to unforeseen
completely unique qualifications in changes; how to assess the potential
enterprise and entrepreneurship growth of their business and the
from its two leading-edge enterprise skills required to expand it as well as
centres in Buckinghamshire and gaining experience of a
Manchester. management role. By the end of
Developed in partnership with their time with the NEA, students
Edexcel, the brand new qualifications should have a fully formed business
in enterprise and entrepreneurship plan that has, or is ready for, realistic
are available at Levels 2 and 3. The financial investment.
Level 2 qualification, a BTEC Diploma For further information please visit
in Understanding Enterprise and
www.thenea.org.uk.
6
www.education-today.co.uk October 2009
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