NEWS
NEW S Urgent action needed to close UK language gap
The UK Government needs to urgently adopt a new, comprehensive language strategy if it is to keep pace with its international competitors and reduce a skills deficit that has wide-reaching economic, political, and military effects.
The findings are included in a report, The Value of Languages, published by the University of Cambridge inMay, after wide-ranging consultation with government bodies and agencies including theMoD, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, GCHQ, and the Department for Education.
The report argues for the full contribution of languages to the UK economy and society to be realised across gov ernment, rather than falling solely under the re mit of the Department for
Education, thereby allowing a centralised approach in how language impacts the UK in almost every sphere of 21st-century life.
The Value of Languages draws on discussions at a workshop held in Cambridge, co-chaired by ProfessorWendy Ayres-Bennett of the Department of Theoretical and Applied
Linguistics, and Baroness Coussins, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Languages. The workshop was attended by representatives from across government and is likely to inform future policy decisions in this area.
Professor Ayres-Bennett said: “It is vital that we communicate clearly and simply the va l anguages for the health of the natio n
. English is lue of
n ecessary, but not sufficient.We cann ot leave Urgent action needed to close UK language gap
language policy to the Department for Education alone.
“We need a mor e coordinated cross -
government approach which recognises the value of languages to key issues of our time including security and defence, diplomacy and international relations, and social cohesion and peace-building. Our report aims to raise awareness of the current deficiencies in UK language policy, put forward proposals to address them, and illustrate the strategic value of languages to the UK.”
www.publicpolicy.cam.ac.uk/research- impact/
cy t/value-of-languages
New appointment to bring forwar engineering education
Newappointment to bring forw engineering education
Bridge Clerk Sue Threader explained: "One of the Trust's obj the next generation of bridge builders. For some time
The Rochester Bridge Trust has appointed its first Education Officer to bring forward its engineering education initiatives.
Former science and physics teacher SharronMackenzie's role includes organising and hosting bridge building activities to promote the potential of civil engineering as a career.
we have been developing a bjectives is to inspire
range of education materials for children of primary school age and running events to encourage enthusiasm and knowledge about civil engineering. The appointment of an education officer is the natural way to progress these projects."
Sharron joins the Trust on a part-time basis, also working as a Teaching and Learning Coach at the Institute of Physics.
She said: "I am pleased to join the Trust and already enjoying the challenge of promoting the p ossibilities of bridge building to new groups, as well as starting t o bring forward a new Family Engineering projoject." Members of the public will be able to meet Sharron at a free event at the GuildhallMuseum, Rochester, on Saturday, 18th June. Taking place from 11am until 2pm, families will be able to try their hand at a range of bridge building activities as part of the nationwide Civic Day celebrations. Another Education Officer, AileenWhite, will be joining Sharron in a few weeks' time .
www.rochesterbridgetrust.org.uk rward
Appointment of Executive Principal at White Rose Academies Trust
Appointment of Executive Principal atWhite Rose Academies Tr
Trust
AndrewWhitaker has been appointed as the new
Executive Principal ofWhite Rose Academies Trust.
Following a period as Vice Principal at Greenacre Academy, Andrew was appointed as Headteacher of Todmorden High School and steered the school from an Ofsted rating of ‘requires improvement’ (2013) to ‘good with outstanding features’ (2015). Over the last three years he has led the school from the bottom 5%of schools nationally to the top 18%of schools.
On accepting the position as the Trust’s new Executive Principal, Andrew said "I am both delighted and humbled to be appointed as the new Executive Principal at theWhite Rose Academies Trust. Following the inspirational leadership of Annette Hall, I believe that the Trust will continue its transformation into a truly outstanding provider of education. Having spent an increasing amount of time with colleagues within the Trust, I have been impressed at their dedication, professionalism, pupil centred ambition and the warm welcome afforded to me. Going forward, my key focus will be to firstly ensure that all pupils attending our academies feel safe and happy and secondly that all pupils achieve outstanding rates of progress in their education. In addition, I will also ensure that all colleagues have the resources and support to take forward the inspirational vision of the Trust.”
Andrew will take up the position on 1 September 2016 .
www.whiteroseacademies.org
ww Tr
Trust Me: New resource frorom Childnet helps young people become critical thinkers onlinel
rustMe: Newresource fromChildnet helps young peop e become critical thinkers online
re
E-safety charity, Childnet, has launched TrustMe, a new resource designed to support primary and secondary school teachers in exploring critical thinking online, at a workshop in Islington Town Hall in London. The event was an opportunity for educators to explor e the teaching packs and resources. This included being guided through the mocked-up examples of websites and socialmedia posts for young people, along with the practical activities and discussion guides.
An expert panel held a discussion about the importance of critical thinking around online content and the need for schools to actively
www
engage with their pupils on this topic. The panel also included young people who spoke about their own experiences around content they see online and how they and their peersmade judgements a bout what they see on websites and socialmedia. Developed in partnership with the L ondon Grid for Learning (LGfL) Safeguarding Board to address the emerging area of online extremismand
propaganda, the practical resource aims to provoke discussion among students so as to challenge young people to think critically about what they see online.
Will Gardner, CEO of Childnet, said: “TrustMe 1 0 www
.education-today.co.uk.co.uk
is designed to give teachers the tools they need to educate young people to be critical thinkers online, vital in building up their resilience online. By working with the London Grid for Learning and piloting in schools across the country we have developed a free, practical resource that can be used by any primary and secondary school teacher across the UK. We want to encourage young people to ask questions about what they see and experience online and TrustMe gives young people the language that wi
www
ww.childnet.com/trustme
2016 ll help themto do this.”
Jun e 2016
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