www.sec-ed.com News
In brief
PsA impact
Truancy in secondary schools
that have Parent Support
Advisors (PSAs) has dropped by
almost a quarter. PSAs provide
parents with one-to-one support,
and according to research by
the University of Warwick,
they have been instrumental
in improving parent-school
relationships and in curbing
pupil absenteeism. Figures from
the Training and Development
Agency for Schools show that
Shaping futures: Sir Alex Ferguson (second right) and (from left) 14 to 19 minister Iain Wright and schools secretary Ed Balls launch the IAG strategy 60 per cent of England’s schools
have PSAs. Visit: www.tda.gov.
uk/psa
Shake-up brings careers
NsPCC resource
A new digital resource
encouraging children to talk
about the problems affecting
them in school has been
launched. The NSPCC’s How U
advice into 21st century
Feeling? toolkit on its ChildLine
website hopes to help children
to express their feelings and talk
about their problems online.
Children can create pictures
of themselves and pick videos
that best indicate their mood. It
by Charles Gubert
es for schools to help young people work alongside local authorities to online mentoring scheme for 2010, these might be overcome. We want comes as an NSPCC poll found
identify their potential career paths, provide work experience for young an Apprenticeships website, and the to be able to give young people an that over a third of 11 to 16-
including a pilot careers advice pro- people in care. use of websites like Facebook to help insight into the full range of career year-olds felt depressed, lonely,
Wide-ranging changes to careers gramme in primary schools and Meanwhile, the online improve- inform students of their options. choices open to them and to chal- worried and angry most of the
advice will see more resources for support from industry to help deliv- ments will see a revamping of Elsewhere, the recently estab- lenge the stereotypes.” time. Visit: www.childline.org
schools, improved online support er good careers advice. Connexions Direct, an interactive lished Education and Employers Mr Balls launched the IAG
for students, and a focus on Helping disabled children and advice forum for young people, Taskforce is focusing on improving strategy last week at Old Trafford,
helping disabled and disadvantaged those from disadvantaged back- with moderated chatrooms, new business-school links. Chairman the home of Manchester United
sTeM boost
children access work experience, grounds to access work experi- parent information pages, and a of Deloitte, and trustee of the Football Club, whose manager, Scholarships designed to boost
the government has said. ence is another key focus, which webcam facility to allow students Taskforce, David Cruickshank, has Sir Alex Ferguson, is supporting popularity in STEM (science,
The new information, advice and includes the government-sponsored to have face-to-face conversations also been asked to lead a review the strategy. technology, engineering and
guidance (IAG) strategy, unveiled Care2Work programme. with advisors. Connexions will also into the role employers play in the Mr Balls said: “Parents tell us maths) subjects were awarded
by schools secretary, Ed Balls, also Launched in July, Care2Work is provide SEN students with a learn- delivery of IAG. they want to see an end to the old to 249 students in a ceremony at
aims to forge closer links between run by the National Care Advisory ing assessment to help them with He said: “The review will exam- boys’ network that means only chil- the Institute of Engineering and
schools and businesses. Service and is signing up busi- the post-16 transition. ine what is working well, gaps in dren from privileged backgrounds Technology on Friday (October
The plans will see more resourc- nesses such as Tesco and O2 to The strategy also details a new provision, and the barriers and how get their foot in the door.” 30). The Arkwright Scholarships
Trust offers year 11 students
New start for St
Science CPD crucial to UK’s
scholarships for study during
post-16 education. Applicants
must successfully sit an aptitude
test and interview. Visit: www.
economic success, report says
arkwright.org.uk
Killian’s College
Greater numbers of science teach-
wings of Hope
ers need to pursue regular CPD if Teachers and students are urged
the UK is to remain a competitive to “get their wings on” to help
The principal of Northern stream will continue at the new economic power in the world. raise £100,000 for a charity
Ireland’s newest secondary school St Killian’s and all pupils will be The claim comes from a report dedicated to providing free
says he is confident he will offer pushed to succeed. by Professor John Holman, director education in India and Malawi.
strong academic education in a “The primary principals in the of the National Science Learning The Wings of Hope fundraising
non-grammar setting. area, their main concern is the Centre (NSLC) in York, who said day takes place next Thursday
St Macnissi’s College, Garron whole issue of transfer. It will be a that he wants to see every science (November 12), when supporters
Tower, was redesignated “bilat- seamless transfer,” he said. secondary teacher experience high will be donning exclusive
eral” following a merger with two Pupils will move with their quality professional development in “angel-wing” t-shirts, which cost
secondary schools and will oper- InCAS and key stage 2 results, contemporary science within five £10 each in aid of the charity’s
ate as St Killian’s College from plus teacher reports. Those will be years. overseas projects. The day will
September 2010. used in conjunction with Midyis Speaking at the launch of the include wing-themed activities,
The grammar school’s amalga- tests to inform the school as to report, Professional Development such as paper aeroplane races.
mation with St Comgall’s in Larne which areas children are best in Science Education – Making a Visit: www.thewingsofhope.org/
and St Aloysuis’ in Cushendall suited to. Difference, Prof Holman claimed WOHAADayTeesPage.asp
follows the example of similar Midyis and InCAS are used that some schools are often unwill-
local solutions agreed elsewhere for predictive purposes. If taken ing to let staff go on CPD courses
in the Catholic sector. at the start of year 8, the scores as finding and funding cover for Science call: Professor John Holman in a science class at St
Boys on board
Its first principal is Jonny will predict the sort of results teachers can be difficult. Marylebone CE School in London. He unveiled the report Former SAS hero and bestselling
Brady, who is presently head of children are likely to achieve However, he argues that young into science CPD during a visit to the school author, Chris Ryan, is preparing
St Paul’s College in Kilrea, Co at GCSE. Pupils can then be people’s interest in STEM (science, for his latest mission – to boost
Derry. streamed accordingly. technology, engineering and maths) ity of science education is dependent Enthuse is part of a £30 million literacy among boys. A new
Mr Brady has worked in both As a parent of two young chil- subjects could be boosted if more on the quality of the science teachers. partnership between the govern- competition will challenge
grammar and secondary schools dren, Mr Brady says he is aware science teachers took CPD. Science changes all the time and ment, industry and the Wellcome children to take action in
and says his experience in dif- of the anxiety that parents may Prof Holman told SecEd: “If the teachers need to keep up with the Trust, a biomedical research charity. promoting reading in school.
ferent sectors allows him to see have with regard to transfer. UK is going to be a pre-eminent subject and the way that it is taught.” Since 2008, the scheme has pro- Tasks include creating a reading
what is required for all children to “There won’t be the anxiety, science country, we need to invest Prof Holman pointed out that vided 1,396 science teachers with wall and finding out about the
achieve academically. the late nights, the extra tuition in the scientists of the future and bursaries are now available through bursaries to attend residential CPD literacy tastes of fellow pupils.
Even without entrance tests, and the questions of what a pri- they are in our schools. We need to Project Enthuse, a scheme that courses at the centre. The two winning teams will
Mr Brady says a strong academic mary school has to do,” he added. invest in high quality teaching. pays for state school teachers to For further information, visit get the opportunity to have
“This links with CPD. The qual- attend courses at the NSLC. Project www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk an adventure day out with the
Gulf war veteran. Visit: www.
New online Scottish history resource available to all
chrisryanadventures.co.uk
New commissioner
Lessons in Scottish history can draw such as the Scottish Enlightenment, resource last week. She continued: helps ensure schools can deliver resources will encourage colleagues Dr Maggie Atkinson has been
on a vast new online resource that is Caledonians and Picts, the his- “From innovations in the fields informed, exciting and varied to start local but think global when unveiled as the new children’s
also accessible to the wider public. tory of Gaeldom, and Scots and of medicine, science and indus- Scottish history teaching.” teaching young Scots about their commissioner for England. The
Scottish History Online, devel- Australia, are included with a wide try through to Scotland’s place in The new resource, with links past, present and future.” director of children’s services
oped by Learning and Teaching range of downloads, video clips and an evolving European Union, it’s to more than 1,000 other online Earlier this year the Scottish in Gateshead was appointed
Scotland, covers more than 200 top- interactive games. essential that our young people sources, will tie in with Curriculum Qualifications Authority announced by Ed Balls, schools secretary,
ics from prehistoric right up to the “Scotland has a fantastic story develop a strong understanding of for Excellence, which is due to be the new Higher History would last month. The children’s
21st century, and education secre- to tell from the early people, Wars Scottish history. rolled out across Scotland by the contain a compulsory Scottish ele- commissioner is independent of
tary Fiona Hyslop hopes the move of Independence, Renaissance, “For the first time, learning start of the next academic year. ment. the government and works on
will help reverse decades of neglect Reformation and Enlightenment, about Scotland’s history, heritage Tom Monaghan, president of The resource is available at behalf of young people to raise
in the classroom. through to the modern day,” Ms and culture is embedded within the the Scottish Association of History www.ltscotland.org.uk/scotlands issues affecting them.
Previously unsupported topics, Hyslop said at the launch of the curriculum and this new resource Teachers, said: “We hope that these history
SecEd • November 5 2009 
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16