www.sec-ed.com News
Minister’s petition reply
In brief
Centenary challenge
Year 9 and 10 students are
being challenged to explore the
role of the state in supporting
unemployed young people, and
labelled ‘unsatisfactory’
create a digital presentation of
their findings. The competition,
run by the Association for
Citizenship Teaching, marks
the 100th anniversary of the
Labour Exchange. Pupils
have two months to enter,
by Chris Parr
Mr Balls has since written to with other “high level professions” test of t
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the union explaining why he feels including doctors and solicitors, demoralise and anger the teaching available online. Visit: www.
it is “right to introduce a licensing and claims that it will not create profession.” teachingcitizenship.org.uk
The government has hit back at system”. “a costly bureaucracy” or add to The Licence to Practise is con-
teachers opposed to its plans to The letter, seen by SecEd, said: teachers’ wo
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Last month, the National Union
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to create a new learning culture in general secret
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of the NUT, stages to pass through before it gets In last week’s edition of SecEd
of Teachers (NUT) collected more every school’s teaching staff which said that Mr Be
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than 17,000 postcards signed by puts professional development at “unsatisfactory”. T
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teachers who want ministers to the forefront.” She told Sec
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every five years to prove they employer reluctant to give teachers a wide range of monitoring and schoolsa
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tick to facing page
Support
and mail back to us free of charge.
headline of the piece incorrectly
are up to the job. The postcards the ongoing support they need to evaluation procedures, includ-
teacher
referred to Ofsted, the English
were sent to Ed Balls, secretary keep building their schools.” ing performance management Just say no: Ed Balls inspectorate. We would like to
of state for children, schools and In the letter, Mr Balls says the and regular school inspections. received 17,000 of the professionalism apologise for this oversight. The
families. NUT’s pr
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licence will bring teaching in line Introducing a further needless corrected report can still be read
DesignedandpublishedbyTheStrategyandCommunicationsDepartmentofTheNationalUnionofTeachers–www.teachers.org.uk
OriginationbyParagraphics–www.paragraphics.co.uk PrintedbyRuskinPress–www.ruskinpress.co.uk–????/09/09
online at www.sec-ed.co.uk and
to read Estyn’s annual report
Schools given
Teachers left in the dark
in full, visit www.estyn.gov.uk/
annual_report.asp
showcase subsidy
£165 million for
over asbestos in schools
Schools heading to the
Education Show this March
are being offered up to £150
extended services
to help them get there. The
subsidy, provided by the
British Educational Suppliers
Association, is based on how far
More than £165 million is to The money will be distributed and how many are travelling.
be given to schools across the to schools by local authorities, with The show runs in Birmingham
country to help disadvantaged the amount received dependent on from March 4 to 6.Visit: www.
children get involved in after- location and the number of stu- education-show.com
school activities. dents receiving free school meals.
The money, provided through Ms Emery said that the use
the Training and Development of the funds should be driven by
Money help
Agency for Schools (TDA), a joint counsel between schools An online resource designed to
forms part of a wider government and local communities. tackle young people’s money
programme that aims to ensure “The funding will be useful issues has been launched. The
all secondary schools provide an in pinpointing and tackling areas interactive program, designed
extended learning service. of crime by providing leisure by teachers, is based around a
It is hoped that the subsidy will activities for school children out group of animated characters,
allow young people from poorer of school hours, as well as raising and provides advice and
backgrounds to take advantage levels of behaviour, attendance and Training call: Voice’s asbestos survey has revealed a lack of asbestos training in schools activities on financial decisions
of these services, including class attainment in school,” she said. at different stages in their
holidays and after-school clubs. The subsidy has already been Half of teachers say that no-one in which advises schools to leave it in Mr Lees told SecEd that bet- lives. Featuring more than 25
Research carried out by the piloted in a number of areas, and their school has received training place and manage it effectively – is ter training for school staff was hours of learning activities,
TDA found that almost half of has seen positive results. on asbestos management, a survey being adhered to. essential, but said that he also wants the free software is suitable
all headteachers feel that disad- Joanne Mudd, extended services has revealed. Michael Lees, whose wife – a all children to receive information for whole-class teaching, with
vantaged pupils are less likely to project co-ordinator at Withernsea The research, carried out by the former teacher – died from the about asbestos, and its potential a supporting handbook for
make use of their school’s extend- High School in Yorkshire, one of teaching union Voice, also found that asbestos-related cancer mesothe- hazards. teachers provided. Visit: www.
ed services. the pilot schools, said the money three-quarters of teachers had not lioma after being exposed to the “I think that all students should autal.org.uk
Hilary Emery, executive direc- had provided the school with a been told where asbestos was located substance at school, said he was not be told about the dangers of asbes-
tor at the TDA, said that many “level playing field” for all students in their building or were “unaware if surprised by the survey. tos. They should be informed. I
opportunities for out-of-hours to enjoy out-of-hours activities. they had been told or not”. “It is shocking that the people in believe they would be sensible
Maths magic
learning do exist, but that the “There have also been sig- Philip Parkin, general secretary schools expected to manage asbes- about the issue, and far safer as a A free manual explaining
new investment would help to nificant tangible benefits to this of Voice, said that there needed to tos are not aware of where it is, and result. However, that is not the law the secrets behind a range of
ensure that they are accessed by increase in participation. We’ve be an immediate programme of in some cases are not aware that at the moment. magic tricks has been released
all children. seen improvements in children’s awareness-raising among teachers. there is asbestos present at all. “At the moment, a number of to help get students interested
“There are a number of out-of- behaviour, communication and “The survey shows the high lev- “If this is the case, how on earth schools are not following guid- in maths. The Manual of
school activities that run, but fail confidence, all of which benefits els of ignorance. Everyone working can you monitor the activity of ance from the Health and Safety Mathematical Magic reveals
to reach all students, sometimes learning in the classroom.” in a school needs to know where children, and whether or not they Executive, which states that asbes- the mathematical thinking
due to their cost, sometimes due asbestos is located, and how to are likely to damage or disturb the tos locations should be labelled. behind street magic, stage
to lack of interest,” she said. • A toolkit is available with manage it. We don’t want people asbestos?” he said. They are not doing so because of magic, and even some close-
“Schools need to ensure finan- information about the funding at endangering themselves by putting a The survey suggests that only the fear that a few troublemakers up tricks. It is hoped the packs
cially disadvantaged children are www.tda.gov.uk/subsidy. Also see drawing pin or a staple in the wall.” one in three teachers are satisfied could try to disturb it. However, will demonstrate the exciting
aware of the extended services on pages 8 and 9 for a more in-depth The findings have angered anti- about the amount of information better information for students everyday uses of maths. The
offer in their school, the benefits look at the subsidy and the work asbestos campaigners, who want they have received about asbestos would tackle this.” manuals are available free to all
of involvement, and that they can of some of the schools involved in the substance completely removed management, while less than one in It is thought that asbestos is schools in England. Visit: www.
take part too.” the two-year pilot. from school buildings, and are not five have been told what condition present in around 75 per cent of mathematicalmagic.com
satisfied that current guidance – their school’s asbestos is in. schools in Britain.
Happy anniversary
Sixth forms face axe in ‘learning revolution’
Two schools have been
celebrating after reaching key
historical milestones. Govan
High School in Glasgow
School 6th forms in two local author- education on their doorstep and get communities, with schools affected Mr Pritchard added: “We find it people. The Heads of the Valleys celebrated its centenary
ities in the South Wales valleys are the right skills to meet the needs of voicing their objections. difficult to understand how stand- education vision is all about year recently by welcoming
facing the axe under plans for a £110 local businesses. The money would Alan Pritchard, headteacher at ards can be improved; I think peo- working in partnership to create back former pupil Sir Alex
million “learning revolution”. pay for a new University Heads of Cyfarthfa High School in Merthyr, ple will be disadvantaged.” a better future for our younger Ferguson. Sir Alex addressed
The Welsh Assembly govern- the Valleys Institute (UHOVI), a has said the council will face wide- However, the local councils sup- generation.” students as part of a special
ment (WAG) has unveiled plans to partnership between the University spread opposition if it goes ahead port the project and believe that it Julie Lydon, UHOVI project 100th anniversary assembly.
create a new “virtual university” and of Glamorgan and the University of with the plan. will improve the area. leader, said the scheme was about Meanwhile, St Edward’s School
expand further education colleges in Wales, Newport. He and his colleagues across In a joint statement, councillor “connecting and organising learn- in Havering, Essex, home of
Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent. As well as setting up a new cam- the county argue that “outstand- Jeff Edwards, leader of Merthyr ing in a whole new way”. SecEd columnist David Torn
The proposal would sound the pus in Merthyr, UHOVI would offer ing standards” are already being Tydfil County Borough Council, She added: “We intend to show (see page 8) reached its 300th
death knell for 6th form education courses in the proposed post-16 achieved in 6th forms in the area, and councillor Des Hillman, the difference that universities and birthday, and held a special
in what is called the Heads of the Learning Zone in Blaenau Gwent. and state that there is no need for leader of Blaenau Gwent County colleges can make to services, service at Westminster Abbey,
Valleys area. The plans, which are currently change to provide a wider cur- Borough Council, said: “We have investment and the economy when which was attended by students
The WAG says it wants to ensure out for public consultation, have riculum as those partnerships are a great chance to invest now in they work together with others in and teachers past and present.
that residents can access further received a mixed reaction within the already in place. new opportunities for our young the region.”
SecEd • February 11 2010 
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