NEWS
Send your news in to: news@sec-ed.com or call 020 7501 6771
SecEd
Spanish bucks the trend
The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education
To subscribe, call 01722 716997
SecEd
Tel: 020 7738 5454
Fax: 020 7978 8319
www.sec-ed.com
info@sec-ed.com
as languages fall further
editorial@sec-ed.com
sales@sec-ed.com
Publisher
by James Everest
per cent last year, while Spanish is positive images of holidays and is being abandoned by schools as languages but the system can be an
Ben Allen
up from 60 to 62 per cent. music.” “unrealistic”. obstacle.”
Editor
The survey also suggests an In terms of the benefits of a The number of schools meeting Teachers also expressed concern
Pete Henshaw – 020 7501 6771
Schools are saying “auf increase in popularity of lesser- rise in lesser-taught languages, Ms the target has fallen to 40 per cent about the increased difficulty in
pete.henshaw@markallengroup.
Wiedersehen” to German and taught languages, with Italian, Parker continued: “We are part of this school year, down from 45 per organising exchange trips with part-
com
“hola” to Spanish, according to a Mandarin and Russian all demon- Europe and we still need German cent in 2008/09. ner schools abroad. Reasons given
Deputy editor survey of language trends. strating year-on-year growth. speakers, but we also need more The report’s authors suggest that for this include the economic cli-
David Taylor – 020 7501 6772 The Language Trends report, Linda Parker, director of the diversity. I would also like to see the causes for the decline include mate and parental and headteacher
david.taylor@markallengroup.com carried out by CILT, the National Association for Language Learning, us studying the languages of those the wide range of subjects available concerns about safety.
Chief reporter Centre for Languages, shows that suggested that Spanish may be who live in the UK but don’t speak and a lack of advice for students. The survey’s findings are based
Chris Parr – 020 7501 6750
while the number of students tak- benefiting from a cultural “cool” English as a first language. There is Kathryn Board, chief executive on responses from 668 schools in
Illustrator
ing a language post-14 is in decline factor. a huge richness there that we don’t of CILT, said: “We have to work the state and independent sectors.
Christos Mais
overall, Spanish has overtaken She told SecEd: “These trends currently exploit.” with the government, school lead- Further details are available at
German for the first time in state can be a combination of things. In general, the study said that ers and local authorities to tackle www.cilt.org.uk
Editorial advisory panel
schools. People associate Spain and all the government-set benchmark of at the challenges outlined in this
Paul Ainsworth, Deputy
German is now offered at 55 per things Hispanic with being fash- least 50 per cent of pupils continu- report. It shows that young peo- • See page 6 editorial: Should
headteacher, Belvoir High School,
cent of state schools, down from 61 ionable and cool. They have ing with a language at key stage 4 ple are enthusiastic about learning languages be compulsory?
Leicestershire. Mark Blois, Browne
Jacobson. Hilary Moriarty,
National director, Boarding
Schools’ Association. Neill Ofsted: Citizenship
Morton, Headteacher, Portora
Royal School, Enniskillen. Helen
Nurton, Assistant headteacher,
Guildford County School, Surrey. Jo
most effective as
Smith, Deputy headteacher, Long
Field School, Melton Mowbray.
Tina Stockman, Teacher, Harlaw
standalone subject
Academy, Aberdeen. Ray Tarleton,
Headteacher, South Dartmoor
Community College, Devon. Dr
Citizenship education is best taught She continued: “It is true that in
Bernard Trafford, Headteacher,
at schools which dedicate regular some schools citizenship education
The Royal Grammar School,
space on the timetable to the subject has been marginalised, and when
Newcastle upon Tyne. Simon
and do not mix it with PSHE. mixed with lessons like PSHE, suf-
Viccars, Headteacher, Leon School
This is according to an Ofsted ficient focus hasn’t always been
and Sports College, Milton Keynes.
report, Citizenship established?, placed on the citizenship aspect.”
Alex Wood, Headteacher, Wester
which was published this week The report also found that the
Hailes Education Centre, Edinburgh
based on visits to 91 secondary best schools teach citizenship both
schools over the last three years. in and out of the classroom, helping
The report criticised schools pupils to become active citizens with
Sales director
which force citizenship to share school councils and guided discus-
Matt Govett – 020 7501 6735
“inadequate curriculum slots” with sions “encouraging students to think
Business development
PSHE, to the detriment of both about government and politics”.
manager
subjects. Another core focus of the report
Northern Irish schools
Abdul Hayee – 020 7501 6767
It also claimed that schools that was on the importance of CPD.
Classified sales occasionally suspend the normal Among the report’s recommenda-
Rachel McElhinney – 020 7501 6728 timetable for designated citizenship tions, inspectors want to see the
days are actually those most com- Department for Children, Schools
Subscription manager monly underperforming.
and Families maintaining trainee
offering healthier food
Chris Hoskins
The report states: “Schools places and promoting courses for
Circulation director
relying heavily on such days were CPD in citizenship, in order to Northern Ireland’s secondary found to be offering a variety of said it is encouraging that a major-
Sally Boettcher
most unlikely to meet national cur- improve in-service training. schools are becoming healthier, a vegetables with main course dishes, ity of schools are making progress
riculum requirements. It was very Also, schools were advised to report into nutritional standards has and most colleges also met the in implementing food-based nutri-
rare to find effective assessment of develop the quality of citizenship found. red meat requirement, offering it a tional standards and promoting
Circulation department:
achievement and progress where teaching by “taking advantage of The Education and Training minimum of three times per week. healthy eating.
Tel: 01722 716997
suspended timetable days were in existing expertise in the school, Inspectorate (ETI) published its lat- In one large, urban secondary, He added: “There is strong evi-
Fax: 01722 716926
email: subscriptions@
operation.” capitalising on training opportuni- est report on the approaches schools dishes made in home economics dence that schools are actively plan-
markallengroup.com
On the PSHE issue, inspectors ties, and increasing recruitment of and employing authorities are tak- practical classes were found to ning menus and training of staff
added: “Those which had adopted specialist teachers”. ing to promote healthy eating. reflect the menu options available with the health of pupils in mind. In
UK annual rates:
a combined approach to citizenship Chris Waller, professional offic- The ETI has appointed two at lunchtime in the canteen. addition, lessons provide opportuni-
and PSHE education, emphasised er of the Association for Citizenship nutritional associates to monitor and This practice, the report found, ties for pupils to learn about nutri-
Personal £50
discussion in lessons with relative- Teaching, backed the report. promote a healthy food initiative. helped familiarise pupils with the tional concepts so they can make
Institutional (libraries,
ly little opportunity for sustained He said: “Some schools interpret Also, since 2007, snacks high in food choices available and provided healthy choices for themselves.
companies etc) £110
enquiry or substantial written out- citizenship with ambition while oth- fat, salt or sugar have been unavail- an opportunity for the sampling of “There are, however, areas iden-
Europe annual rates:
comes.” ers marginalise it, yet schools where able for sale in Northern Ireland new meals. tified where improvements need
Personal £92 Speaking to SecEd, executive it has been embraced have seen schools. The ban on snacks was Another school ran an annual to be made in the future. These
Institutional £165 director of Ofsted, Miriam Rosen, definite success. There are some aimed at tackling childhood obesity. healthy eating competition, the include the need for schools to
Rest of world annual rates: said: “Those schools that are under- who don’t understand its impact It now appears to have been report added. effectively monitor the healthy
Personal £113 performing should look at the curric-
and potential, but citizenship educa- a success, with the inspectorate’s Points were allocated to healthy eating programmes themselves
Institutional £209
ulum and think about where citizen- tion really appeals to young people report highlighting improvements options, which provided incen- and ensure that arrangements for
ship can fit regularly in the timetable, and enriches the way they come in the provision of healthy food in tive for the pupils to make healthy healthy eating are considered in the
Printed by
but it’s also important to consider into contact with issues in their the post-primary sector. choices at the point of sale. school development planning proc-
Pensord Press, Wales
how the time in lessons is spent.” society.” All secondary schools were Chief inspector, Stanley Goudie, ess,” he said.
Published by
Voice challenges ministers ahead of election
A teaching union is calling on The union also wants to see cians in the run-up to the election on of the General Teaching Council for
St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road
ministers to scrap the licence to improved pay and conditions for their responses to these points.” England.
Herne Hill, London SE24 0PB
teach and key stage 2 tests, as part the further education sector, more Mr Parkin added that the union “We have considerable reser-
www.markallengroup.com
of its own election manifesto. money to support learners for whom views the manifesto as a challenge vations about how any ‘licence’
Ahead of the general election English is not their first language, to politicians of all parties and said system would operate.”
this year, Voice has set out its chal- and guidance to raise awareness of that it would continue to raise the He also reiterated his union’s
lenge to political parties on the the dangers of asbestos in school points it contains with the next gov- commitment to CPD, for support
future of education and childcare. buildings. ernment until they are addressed. staff as well as teachers.
MA Education Ltd is an independent
Among the policies included Speaking to SecEd, Philip “These are our top priorities for He said: “The licence must be
publishing company also responsible
in its manifesto are the “right to Parkin, the general secretary of the future of education and child- a measure of quality, as part of the
for education titles Early Years
anonymity” for all staff subject- Voice, said: “We as an organisation care,” he added. promised entitlement, rather than a
Educator and 5to7 Educator.
ed to allegations of abuse, equal feel that now is an appropriate time Speaking specifically about bureaucratic burden undertaken to
© All rights reserved. No part of SecEd may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any
opportunities for supply teachers, to highlight our priorities for the the licence to teach, Mr Parkin tick the box marked CPD.”
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without prior written permission of MA Education
and the inclusion of academies in coming Parliament, whoever is in continued: “Introducing it will be The election manifesto can be
The publisher accepts no responsibility for any views or opinions
expressed in SecEd.
the national pay and conditions power. complex and problematic, not least found at www.voicetheunion.org.
ISSN 1479-7704
Election call: Philip Parkin system. “We will be questioning politi- because it raises issues over the role uk/electionmanifesto
 SecEd • January 28 2010
02-03 news.indd 2 25/1/10 15:47:37
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