CONTENTS Dear Reader,


Welcome to the latest issue of Education Today. At the time of writing, the government’s plans to see the majority of schoolchildren back in schools lie in tatters, victim of the sheer impracticality of trying to maintain social distancing in class while protecting staff and making sure effective learning can continue. Guidance from the top on quite how schools were to achieve this was sketchy and uninspiring, with many decisions left to practitioners on the ground, who are incidentally deserving of a great deal of praise for achieving even the modest returns we have seen. So with another term effectively written off for the majority of the nation’s children, can we now hope for a joined up, practical vision from Number 10 to help schools return to a full timetable in September – or would that be too much to ask? Moving on to the magazine this month,


the features are still, as you would expect, dominated by coronavirus. Our main focus this issue is on outdoor learning – given class size restrictions and the fact that the weather has been generally benign, many schools are taking advantage by getting their children out of the classroom. In our first feature on the subject, Sam Jackson, founder of Sc.out.ed (Science & Outdoor Education Specialists), and education author Adam Bushnell offer some great tips on using the outdoors effectively; while in our second, Mark Castle, the Chief Executive of the Field Studies Council (FSC), explains the importance of giving children the opportunity to engage with the environment. Our final feature this month is from Bob Mortimer, UK & Ireland Sales Manager at Heckmondwike FB, who explores some of the ways in which school interiors are predicted to change as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Elsewhere, we have all the usual news


and views, and another “View from the virtual classroom” in which we learn about virtual art lessons at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls in Elstree. Remember, we love to hear from you,


you can get in touch with us via Twitter @EdTodayMag, Facebook and our homepage, as well as by phone or email.


Enjoy the issue and stay safe! Jonathan Swift - Managing Editor In this issue...


4-10 NEWS Highlights from the UK education sector 12 VIEWS


With author Dr Catherine Lee; and BESA Operations Director Julia Garvey 13 BESA CORNER With Discovery Education and DB Primary 14-15 CONTRIBUTORS With Sue Martin and Kirsty Bertenshaw


16-17 VIEW FROM THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM


Virtual art lessons at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls in Elstree


19 SPOTLIGHT ON SEND With Joanne Gladders and Kate Sarginson


20-25 VIEWS & OPINION


Featuring comment and opinion from the UK education sector


26-27 FEATURE FOCUS: OUTDOOR LEARNING


With Sam Jackson, founder of Sc.out.ed (Science & Outdoor Education Specialists), and education author Adam Bushnell


28-29 FEATURE FOCUS: OUTDOOR LEARNING


We hear from Mark Castle, Chief Executive of the Field Studies Council


30 FEATURE: CLASSROOM DESIGN


With Bob Mortimer, UK & Ireland Sales Manager at Heckmondwike FB 32-33 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES


34-IBC RECRUITMENT


Selected job opportunities from talentedteacherjobs.co.uk


Publication Manager: Carl Hearnden Publishing Director: Paul Ryder Managing Editor: Jonathan Swift Artwork Editor: Nic Mandeville Secretary: Tracey Ballard Published by: Datateam Business Media Limited, London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY Tel: 01622 699128 (Advertising) Tel: 07969 141997 (Editorial) Fax: 01622 757646 Email: education@datateam.co.uk Circulation: Curwood CMS Ltd datateam@c-cms.com Tel: 01580 883844 Fax: 01580 883849 Subscription Prices 2020 Number of editions per year: 11 UK: £52 Overseas: £132


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


TG Escapes design, manufacture and build bespoke eco buildings for schools using offsite modular construction. They have over 200 buildings in education throughout the UK featuring classrooms, staff rooms, training centres, studios, chapels, sports pavilions, canteens, nurseries SEND spaces and outdoor classrooms. Customers rate them 4.9 out of 5 based on 142 reviews.


utgescapes.co.uke


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