Contents Dear Reader,


It’s been an interesting month for the Education sector. The news from Parliament that the current GCSE curriculum is to be gradually phased out in favour of the English Baccalaureate has caused much debate and the furore over the regrading of GCSE English exam papers has left many in the education profession divided. Here at Education Today, we’ve been watching the developments with intrigue, whilst busily preparing a great October issue for you. This month we have a great cover feature from 400m track and field athlete Lesley Owusu who discusses a free sporting initiative for


schools, designed to motivate students and help then reach their full potential, both inside and outside of the school gym (p10). We also spoke to Michael Alger of Espresso, the online learning provider, and found out his views on how ICT is being both taught and learnt in primary schools (p8).


We’ve also got some great features in our product sections, including views from the Children’s Food Trust regarding school meal provision (p16) and some helpful cost- cutting tips from The Green Electrician Group who discuss energy management within schools (p13).


And finally this month, we’re really excited to have partnered with Berol to offer 100 Education Today readers the chance to win a bumper lot of Handhugger colouring pencils for their school. We were inundated with responses and the lucky winners will be contacted by Berol to arrange receipt of their prizes.


Don’t forget, you can keep in touch with us on Twitter via @EdTodayMag or visit our Facebook page.


Until next month, enjoy the issue! Catherine Dowling - Editor


In this issue...


4-7 NEWS


Education Today brings you all the latest news and views from the Education sector


8 FOCUS ON PRIMARY


A look at how ICT is being used at a primary level during a Q and A with Michael Alger of online learning provider, Espresso


10 COVER STORY


Lesley Owusu from educational sports charity Sky Sports Living for Sport talks games, success and overcoming obstacles in her role as a secondary school athlete mentor


11-12 ICT


All the latest ICT product information including a product review of the portable ELMO visualiser. Read how this innovative piece of equipment could transform lessons for teachers who use displays and demonstrations to enhance learning


October 2012


Lesley Owusu is a track and field athlete who works as an athlete mentor for educational charity Sky Sports Living for Sport.


13-15 BUILDING MAINTENANCE, REFURBISHMENT & DESIGN


A take on energy management in schools from the Green Electrician Group as well as all the key product information for the education building sector


16 CATERING & NUTRITION


Jeremy Boardman from the Children’s Food Trust shares his views on the state of school food and we present some of the latest catering and nutrition products for the education sector


17 HEALTH & HYGIENE


Advice on washroom solutions from Rentolkil and Precor talk keeping fit


18-19 SAFETY & SECURITY


Identibadge’s thoughts on how to make school visits safe for everyone and other information for the education security market


20-24 RESOURCES


All the brightest products and services to make your school day easier


25-26 EDUCATION ROUND-UP


Providing all the remaining product and promotional news from the UK education sector


Publishing Director: Paul Ryder Editor: Catherine Dowling Journal Manager: Jonathan Swift Production Controller: Gemma Dunmill Art Editor: Paul Forster • Secretary: Jen York Published by: Datateam Business Media Limited, London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY Tel: 01622 687031 • Fax: 01622 757646 Email: education@datateam.co.uk Circulation: datateam@capsule-group.com


The Publishers cannot accept responsibility for any discrepancies either in copy or between products and/or services listed. Nor can they be responsible for illustrations and/or copy for products which lead to infringement of copyright


www.education-today.co.uk 3 uwww.education-today.co.uk


As part of the role, Lesley visits secondary schools to motivate and inspire young people, encouraging them to work hard and achieve their goals through the medium of sport.


In our cover feature on page 11, Lesley shares some of her experiences with us, discussing her most memorable school visits, what sport has done for her acadmically and professionally and how schools might utilise the legacy of this summer’s Olympics.


If you would like your school to become involved in the free educational sporting initiative, then please visit


www.skysports.com/livingforsport to sign up for the next academic year.


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