News


A Hull National Teaching School leads the way to embed food and farming into the curriculum


A leading Hull Primary School visited a North Yorkshire Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station for the launch of a pioneering project that will inform teachers to educate and enthuse pupils about the food on their plates. Staff at Gillshill Primary School, Cavendish Road, Hull have partnered with Stockbridge Technology Centre in Selby and farm education business, Discovering our Countryside to deliver a series of food and farming related visits for teachers and catering staff.


The project is being coordinated by farm based Stockbridge Technology Centre. Its Chief Executive, Graham Ward OBE, is excited about the project: "Agriculture is a fantastic vehicle to bring all areas of the curriculum alive, not just food production. We can use our workplace activity to teach numeracy, history, science as well as cookery and healthy eating.


Mr Ward added: "The farming, food and drink sector is responsible for 3.5 million jobs and 13% of the UK's overall economy. This project will also


illustrate to children and teachers the wide career opportunities in food and agriculture sectors."


Gillshill Head Teacher, Susan Brummitt is delighted to be part of such a ground breaking project: "Pupils have been visiting farms to learn about food for many years, but this is the first time that a project has been developed to train teachers about all elements of the food chain from farm to fork."


It is a Nineveh Trust and an EU funded Erasmus project that is being coordinated by Stockbridge Technology Centre. As part of the project, teachers from Gillshill Primary School and other members of the Tidal Teaching School Alliance will be invited to visit different types of farms, food manufacturers, artisan food producers and catering establishments in order to train class teachers and subject leaders to enable them to embed food and farming within the New Curriculum.


Meritocracy – not just an arts issue


As well as being a fine example of British acting talent, Eddie Redmayne's Oscar- tipped prowess is another inspiring success story (and potential Hollywood networking opportunity) for Eton College's Old Boys Club. The connection between private school alumni and future career success has long been established. Now, the ‘Inspiring City Role Models" programme run by the national education charity Future First and funded by the City of London Corporation aims to provide the same outcomes for state school students.


Under the initiative, City workers from less privileged backgrounds are being urged to inspire young people with similar upbringings. It aims to sign up 1,500 volunteers who can provide a gateway into the City for those from City-fringe schools.


Already nearly 100 workers from the Square Mile, all past students in City fringe schools, have signed up to motivate current students to career confidence and academic success by acting as work experience providers, career and education role models, mentors , governors, donors and fundraisers. Workers - from bankers and lawyers to HR and marketing staff - have gone back to school to talk to young people about the scope of jobs available and take part in assemblies and workshops to drive more ambitious thinking about future careers.


Since the City of London Corporation funded programme began in 2012, 22 schools surrounding the financial Square Mile have taken part in the scheme, benefitting almost 3,500 pupils between 11 and 18.


The seven boroughs neighbouring the City often perform below the London average in terms of deprivation, employment and qualification related statistics, so despite being geographically closest to the City, these young people are often the furthest from a career within the Square Mile.


Mark Boleat, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, said; “Creating an active alumni network in local state schools offers more young people role models they can identify with. The City provides so many opportunities for high- skilled and rewarding careers. We want pupils from boroughs such as Southwark and Lambeth, who can see the City’s impressive skyline, to realise that they can aspire to work within the Square Mile. The work of Future First is important in levelling the playing field between state school and private school-educated pupils and ensuring all bright young people have access to inspirational mentors, and ultimately, the best jobs.”


Alex Shapland-Howes, Managing Director of Future First said, “More than 39 per cent of state school students don’t know anyone in a job they’d like to do. If they see that someone who went to the same school, grew up in the same community, has achieved a fulfilling and satisfying job, it helps them see it’s possible for them too. It’s really important for all students to be motivated to succeed in the working world and hearing first hand from relatable people in interesting jobs can make all the difference.”


uwww.futurefirst.org.uk/register/cityworkers 4 www.education-today.co.uk March 2015


Mark Thompson from Discovering Our Countryside said: "The aim of the project is to make teachers, catering staff, young people and their parents and carers aware of the food chain, give them an understanding of the benefits of locally produced food and to understand the career opportunities that exist within the local food and farming industry."


The project will also engage the services of the East Yorkshire Local Food Network and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.


Want £15,000 to develop a great teaching idea?


Teachers across England have great ideas every day to excite and engage their pupils. The Let Teachers SHINE competition, run by


education charity SHINE (Support and Help in Education), gives ten teachers a chance to develop these ideas, offering grants of up to £15,000 for any successful submission aimed at raising the achievement of disadvantaged children.


Supported by Capita SIMS, the competition, now in its fourth year, is now open to teachers in England and runs until Monday 27 April 2015. Teachers can win one of ten individual grants to develop their


teaching idea and those deemed to have the most impact on pupils may receive further funds to have their scheme rolled out to other schools. Phil Neal, managing director of Capita SIMS, says: “We are very pleased to be supporting the scheme again this year to ensure another group of teachers can develop their own ingenious solutions to closing the attainment gap. I urge all teachers who have a good teaching idea – however small – to enter.”


Deri O’Regan, assistant principal of Hatcham College, is just one of many teachers that successfully entered the Let Teachers SHINE competition in 2014. Deri has used the funds he received to establish a tutoring service where 80 sixth form students have been paid to deliver weekly one-to-one tutorials in English and maths to more than 130 younger students. Deri has since been awarded an additional grant of £20,000 to further develop his idea and roll it out at three other schools as a result of its success.


Paul Carbury, CEO of SHINE, says: “We are committed to raising the achievement of all children irrespective of their background or family income. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Capita SIMS on Let Teachers SHINE, as together we can help more students succeed.”


Those wishing to enter the Let Teachers SHINE competition must show that they have an idea or initiative that will help disadvantaged students raise their achievement levels in English, maths or science. The competition is free to enter and runs until Monday 27 April 2015. The participants will be shortlisted before undertaking a series of interviews. The ten grants of up to £15,000 will be awarded in June 2015.


uwww.capita-sims.co.uk/shine


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