Resources/products


Amnesty Awards Journalists are often the unsung heroes in championing human rights. Time and time again it is their unstinting resolve that uncovers atrocities. How much would we know about the


situations in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Sri Lanka, for example, without their work? Their exposés really can make a difference. However, the path to human rights


journalism begins long before an individual becomes a professional reporter. And the Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year competition is keen to help teachers put interested pupils on that path. The competition is designed to fi t neatly into the various curricula


of the four UK nations and various subject links are available from Amnesty. In addition, Amnesty has also produced a lesson plan to accompany


the competition, which can be downloaded for free online. There are four age categories ranging from years 3 to 13 and among


the judges will be journalists from education newspaper SecEd and the Guardian Teacher Network, which both support the competition, as well as teachers, children’s authors and Amnesty experts. Far too often, the views and opinions of young people are not


celebrated – and yet they can be among the most thought-provoking and creative.


• All entries must be submitted before January 31, 2012, and must be submitted online via the Amnesty competition website, which can be found at www.amnesty.org.uk/youngreporter


BESA launches website


The British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) has launched its new website offering information to schools. Within the education


sector, BESA is the conduit between schools, suppliers and the government. To mirror this tripartite supporting role the new website offers information, guidance and advice to companies, educators and parents, ranging from information on suppliers and resources to analysis of the implication of government policy announcements for both schools and suppliers. The BESA member area of the site provides information on new business opportunities, tenders, research fi ndings, sector awards, daily sector news feeds and a broad range of other services. For schools and parents, the site offers information on BESA member


suppliers who adhere to the code of good business practice which ensures that resources are fi t-for-purpose, along with advice on getting the most from investment in educational products and services through case studies. The site also offers access to the work of BESA’s Special Interest Groups, sector news and a link to the new BESA Facebook page where school leaders can communicate with other schools to share best practice ideas or potentially form purchasing consortia to make the most of school budgets. Ray Barker, director of BESA, said: “As the sector’s trade association


our role is to support both the suppliers and schools. It is therefore vital that our website refl ects this all encompassing service. The more we can help suppliers provide high quality products and services that refl ect the needs of schools the better we support the optimisation of school’s budgets and the improvement of standards within the sector.”


• Visit www.besa.org.uk 8 Recognising good school toilets


Schools that provide good standard toilets that meet the needs of their pupils can gain an award to recognise and celebrate their achievement. The School Toilet Award


is open to every primary school, including special schools, maintained and non- maintained, in the UK as well as to British schools overseas. Schools can apply for the award online or by post. There is no cost to schools – entry and support materials are free. The School Toilet Award is run by the Bog Standard campaign for


better toilets for pupils – the campaigning arm of the national charity ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence).


• Visit www.bog-standard.org Science resources online


The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has revamped its “Resources for Schools” website, which provides educational science material to students from the age of fi ve to 19. The website helps teachers and


students learn about a wide range of scientifi c subjects in a fun and interactive way and it links topics studied in school to their application in industry and in research. All resources on the website are provided free of charge with the aim


of encouraging more young people to pursue a career in science. Features of the website include a resource library where science


teachers can download animations and diagrams to use in their lessons, fi ve separate sections for different age groups (ranging from fi ve to seven-year-olds), to 16 to 19-year-olds; and quizzes designed to test the knowledge of students. Sarah Jones, education and skills manager at the ABPI, said: “ The


topic based materials we provide are a useful aid to the teaching of the school curriculum and our aim is to foster a long lasting interest in the sciences in children of all ages.”


• Visit www.abpischools.org.uk Helping children catch up in phonics


Publishers Pearson is offering three free books from its Rapid Phonics series. Phonics catch-up is designed to


be fast, memorable and fun with Rapid Phonics’ lessons, readers and interactive eBooks. The Rapid Phonics books aim


to reinforce the basics of phonics in a way that children love. Each book is levelled, decodable and contains age-appropriate designs and characters for year 1 and up. The short sessions and wide selection of fi ction and non-fi ction


titles are designed to build confi dence in struggling readers, and they can reinforce their progress at home with the audio-enhanced online eBooks. Created by renowned educational psychologist Dr Marlynne


Grant, Rapid Phonics is based on the Sound Discovery programme, a pedagogy that has been tried and tested for over eight years.


• To get your three free Rapid Phonics books and more, go to www.pearsonphonics.co.uk


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