NEWS


Plans for resuming overnight school trips by Easter welcomed by UK charity


A leading UK outdoor education charity has welcomed plans which could allow overnight school trips to resume by Easter next year. Mark Castle, the Chief Executive of the Field Studies


Council (FSC), which welcomes in the region of 150,000 learners a year to its network of field study centres, said it was positive news that the Government would review its guidance on residential school trips in February and hopes of being able to resume overnight stays from April was extremely encouraging. “We’re very pleased the Government has now set out a


clear path for reviewing when the outdoor education sector might be able to start operating overnight school residentials again. “For so long, we have had no clear indication of the way forward for


the sector and this has been particularly challenging from an operational perspective and very concerning from an education standpoint and the


missed opportunities for schoolchildren. “We very much welcome plans for a further review in


February with the possibility of being able to reopen our centres for overnight school trips from Easter should the scientific evidence on Covid-19 support this. “There is no substitute for hands-on practical experience


in the natural world and overnight school trips provide so many opportunities for young people including learning new skills, building confidence and establishing long- lasting friendships. “In the meantime, we continue to support schools,


teachers and students with many aspects of their outdoor learning by operating educational day visits to our centres and digital outreach programmes."


uhttps://www.field-studies-council.org/


Impington Village College named top non-selective secondary school in East Anglia


Impington Village College has been announced as the top non-selective secondary school in East Anglia by the Sunday Times Parent Power 2021. In addition to this outstanding accolade, the College, located on the outskirts of Cambridge, is the highest ranked state school outside of Essex in the region. The national ranking also shows that


Impington Village College is the third highest non-selective school in the UK. This string of successes follows the College being named East Anglian Secondary School of the Year in last year’s list due to it championing an inclusive, international and inspirational education for all. The Parent Power list is a survey of the country’s best schools and is widely


acknowledged as the most authoritative, ranking 2,000 high-achieving UK schools by their published examination results; due to COVID-19 disruptions,


this year’s list is based on 2019 results. Victoria Hearn, Principal, Impington Village College, said: “It has been a


particularly extraordinary year for those in education and we have seen both students and teachers alike adapt to a ‘new normal’. In the midst of such a turbulent year, I’m thrilled that Impington Village College continues to be recognised by the Sunday Times Parent Power as a completely comprehensive and inclusive college. Alongside our academic curriculum, our unique enrichment programme supports students’ personal development and wellbeing and offers them the chance to engage in a range of extra-curricular experiences, all of which are important factors when it comes to a young person’s educational experience. As an entirely inclusive school, I remain extremely proud of the exceptional outcomes of our students and, in particular, this year, their resilience and determination to continue to do their best regardless of what has been thrown at them; it is extremely inspiring.”


uhttps://www.impington.cambs.sch.uk/ Exam uncertainty causes more stress for students


With so much upheaval and constant change in education this year, it is no surprise that new research among 1,000 GCSE and A Level pupils across the board has shown that 69% of them feel negatively about next year’s exams and nearly two in five (37%) think their 2021 exam results will not be a fair reflection of their ability. This comes despite news from the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, who today vowed that next year’s A-levels and GCSEs in England will not be cancelled. The research, commissioned by Enjoy Education, a private tuition and


home schooling company, went on to show that 68% of pupils said they work better when there is a teacher in the room, while over a third (34%) said that having had more one-on-one time with a teacher would have made them feel more positive about next year’s exams. According to the Department for Education, in just one week in November,


900,000 children were off school due to Covid-related illnesses, while a quarter of schools had 30 or more pupils self-isolating in the same period, worsening the disruption. For parents and children alike, this presents a constant stress of never knowing when they may have to self-isolate and how that impacts their mental health and academic success. Enjoy Education Founder and CEO Kate Shand says: 'It is particularly tough


for parents and pupils, as they have less control over their education and how to navigate the coming months. Our message to them is to pause and take stock of each academic subject. It is important for them to have a proactive


10 www.education-today.co.uk


approach over the coming months which puts them in the driving seat. We all work better when we feel in control so it’s important for pupils to build their education support team this year in addition to what their school is providing. This can include tutors, mentors and relatives to support their journey into next June.’ However, the research also goes on to show that nearly two thirds of


pupils in the UK preferred studying from home during lockdown, with one third believing they got their best work done when they were not under pressure from being in front of their peers. ‘While it is critical to keep children in school, this is a clear indication that they have been able to take some positives from home schooling, and some interesting lessons have come out of enforced school closures. Whilst we all want to move on from 2020, the data shows that one size doesn’t fit all and it’s useful to look closely at how different children thrive in different learning environments,’ says Kate. Prioritising mental well-being and having regular breaks are two of the best ways pupils can help their grades this summer, according to Kate.


uwww.enjoyeducation.co.uk December 2020


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