NEWS
Autistic children
to get more help
by Dorothy Lepkowska
whose needs have been under-rep- Fewer than half of local authori- become involved in planning for
resented. ties (45 per cent) knew how many the future of young people with
A key element of the Act spells children with autism had a plan in autism at age 14, but many struggle
Children and young people with out the need for more guidance place, and only a quarter of autistic to deliver effectively on that com-
autism are to be better supported as about planning for people with autis- children and their parents felt that mitment.”
they leave school, with the passing tic spectrum disorders as they move their support had been co-ordinated. Mark Lever, chief executive of
of the Autism Act. from being children supported by The existing arrangements have the National Autistic Society, which
The strategy for the legisla- the education system to adults. been criticised by healthcare pro- has lobbied hard for the legislation,
tion, which passed its first stage in It is an area which has caused fessionals, who have been cam- said: “Many young people with
Parliament in November, will be particular concern, amid alarm- paigning for the legislation to be autism have a great deal to offer,
completed by April this year. ing stories of young people falling introduced. but just as they should be looking
School introduces
It is the first time that statutory through the cracks in the system. Dr Fred Furniss, head of clinical forward to a bright future, many
responsibility will be placed with Studies have shown that, until services at The Hesley Group, an find that transition planning simply
local authorities and the secretary now, transition planning from autism charity, said: “Local authori- does not happen. As a result, they
of state for health to develop a school has been poor for young ties have historically not been good can quickly become isolated and
mindfulness course
strategy to help young people’s people with autism, with fewer than at managing transition and the situ- entirely dependent on their families
transition from school into half attending a meeting to discuss ation has probably worsened now for support.
adulthood. their future, and just 53 per cent that children’s services have been “The construction of the strate-
to help pupils relax
Campaigners say it is “some- actually having some sort of plan separated from adult social care gy for the Autism Act is a great first
thing close to a revolution” for chil- in place. Only 16 per cent had their services. step in an area which desperately
dren, young people and their carers, identified needs met in full. “Adult services should begin to needs improvement.” A boys’ independent school is However, Tonbridge School is
running 40-minute classes in the first to put mindfulness on the
Ethnic minority students offered
meditation and stress relief for its curriculum.
year 10 pupils. Sessions aim to develop skills
Tonbridge School in Kent like focusing attention, establish-
is thought to be the first in the ing calm and concentration, slow-
chance to climb Ladder to Law
country to introduce a “mindful- ing and savouring activities, and
ness” course, which is designed to reflection.
help youngsters relax, appreciate Richard Burnett, a house-
silence, develop their concentra- master and divinity teacher at
tion, and combat anxiety. Tonbridge, is leading the course
A new scheme encouraging London “non-traditional backgrounds” Other benefits may include and says he is convinced that
students from ethnic minority was an issue that needed to be helping them to cope with exam mindfulness lessons will be intro-
backgrounds to consider a career in addressed. stress, deal with difficult relation- duced at many other schools,
law has been launched. “We have developed this pro- ships, improve their performance both state and independent, over
Ladder to Law, run by the inter- gramme in order to get students in sports, and manage anger. the next four or five years.
national law firm Lovells and The thinking about a career from year The eight-week course has been “The boys, their parents and
Brokerage Citylink, a not-for-profit 10. specifically designed for young staff are very positive about it,”
organisation that encourages busi- “We see this project as a long- people by psychologists from he told SecEd. “It is taught as part
nesses to work with young people, term investment and look forward Oxford and Cambridge universi- of the broader PSHE programme
gives year 10 to 12 pupils the oppor- to building a strong relationship ties, and follows a successful pilot and while some may find the
tunity to gain an insight into life as with the schools that want to work study carried out at the school last skills they learn useful now, oth-
a lawyer by giving them access to a with us,” she said. year. Around 100 boys out of the ers may come back to it later on
major international law firm. Frank Funnell, business current 160-strong year 10 cohort in life.”
It was launched in response to development manager at The are taking part in mindfulness les- The UK’s first national confer-
the 2009 report by the Panel on Fair Brokerage Citylink, added: “Ladder sons this term. ence on mindfulness in educa-
Access, chaired by Alan Milburn to Law is a straightforward and The project is a collaboration tion is being held at Tonbridge
MP, which called for huge improve- flexible programme that should with staff at two other independent School on March 11, with speak-
ments in social mobility in all walks make it easy for schools to take schools, Charterhouse in Surrey ers including Professor Mark
of life, including at schools and part, and we hope that it will and Hampton in Middlesex, as Williams, director of the Oxford
universities. inspire many young people from well as the Oxford Mindfulness Mindfulness Centre.
The scheme is currently work- Islington, and there is capacity for tor of legal resourcing at Lovells’ disadvantaged areas we work with Centre and the Well-being Institute To find out more, visit
ing with schools in Forest Hill, more schools to join. London office, said that access to to see law as a career they can at Cambridge. www.tonbridge-school.co.uk
Rotherhithe, Paddington and Claire Harris, associate direc- the legal profession for people from aspire to.”
SecEd competition: Win £5,500 worth of resources
Entries have already started arriving The TeamBoard RT 77”(4:3) is has teamed up with SecEd to offer
for SecEd’s latest ICT giveaway, a finger-touch controlled interactive two lucky teachers the chance to
launched last week. whiteboard with a guaranteed-to- each win a one-year licence of
We are offering all UK second- clean surface, protected under war- the brand new secondary school
ary schools the chance to win in two ranty for 10 years. online interactive reporting and
great competitions. Its low-glare Versa surface offers management tool, worth £1,000.
In the first, one lucky school a dry-erase writing and projection Prime Principle Ltd launched
will win £3,500 worth of inter- surface, suited for projection mean- its new online interactive mark-
active whiteboard and kit from ing the image can be viewed from book for secondary schools, called
TeamBoard; while the second is any angle and seat in the room. Classroom Monitor Secondary, at
offering two winning readers a TeamBoard Total Mobile is a BETT 2010. Already used by 1,200
free one-year licence each to the mobile, interactive whiteboard primary schools, the revised sec-
Classroom Monitor online interac- stand which enables users to inte- ondary school version of the tool
tive reporting and management tool grate the TeamBoard and projector has been tailored to meet the spe-
for their schools, worth £1,000. See into one slim, adjustable unit that is cific demands for key stage 3 and 4
below for full details of the prizes both mobile and finger-touch height assessment.
and for how to enter. Good luck! adjustable by the presenter with no Classroom Monitor Secondary
technician required. permits staff and pupils to periodi-
TeamBoard
It can be wheeled around and cally “consider” significant written
Interactive whiteboard fits through standard-sized doors and oral evidence of attainment,
manufacturer, TeamBoard is without the need to recalibrate, and “review” the evidence using the
offering SecEd readers the chance its height can be adjusted easily. assessment guidelines, and “judge”
to win a TeamBoard Total Mobile Visit www.teamboard.com and assess overall subject levels competition, just tell us how many You can also post entries on a send two separate emails or post-
stand, projector and TeamBoard to consider whether performance primary schools are already using postcard to SecEd Competitions, cards.
worth more than £3,500.
Classroom Monitor
is high, secure, or low within Classroom Monitor. St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road, Normal SecEd terms and condi-
Prime Principle Ltd, developers the level. Visit www.classroom Herne Hill, London, SE24 0PB. tions apply. For a copy of these or
of the award-winning interactive monitor.co.uk
How to enter
The deadline for entries is for further information, email pete.
markbook Classroom Monitor, To be in with a chance of winning Friday, February 26. henshaw@markallengroup.com
The questions
these prizes, email your answers to The two competitions are open The winning schools in each
To win in the TeamBoard the above questions, including your to all UK secondary schools, but competition will be drawn at ran-
competition, just tell us how name, school and contact details, to are restricted to one entry per school dom from the correct entries and
many years the TeamBoard RT Pete Henshaw, the editor of SecEd, per competition. announced in SecEd during March.
77”(4:3) surface is guaranteed for. on pete.henshaw@markallengroup. Please note: if you intend to All entries will be passed on to the
To win in the Classroom Monitor com enter both competitions, please respective companies.
4 SecEd • January 21 2010
04 news.indd 4 18/1/10 15:14:48
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