CONTENTS Dear Reader,


Welcome to the latest issue of Education Today, our final issue before the inaugural Education Today Awards at the beginning of December. We’ve had a


phenomenal response from the sector, both suppliers and schools, and we can’t wait to see all the nominees at the event on 1st December – it’s going to be a great night!


Moving on, in the issue this month, we focus on the thorny issue of school finances. In our first feature we hear from Sam Tse, Assistant Category Manager at Crown Commercial Service, who explains how a new solution from the organisation can help the education sector save money on their tail spend, and make ethical and sustainable procurement choices, while in our second, Jane Gibson, from school business software specialist Access Education, looks at how schools can achieve a balanced budget, despite the soaring costs they are facing. Also this month, we take a look at music and the performing arts in the company of Rachel Nicholson, Head of Institution at Backstage Academy, who highlights the benefits of pursuing practical and immersive higher education; and speak to harpist Emily Hopper, who explains how her love of music and stories inspired her to bring a combination of the two to a new generation of children. Elsewhere, as always, we have news, views and our line-up of regular contributors, and of course our View from the classroom piece this month from Park Lane Primary School and Nursery in Nuneaton. Remember, we love to hear from you, you can get in touch with us via Twitter @EdTodayMag, as well as by phone or email.


Enjoy the issue!


Jonathan Swift Managing Editor


In this issue... 04-10 NEWS


Selected stories from the UK education scene this month


06 FOCUS ON: DATA SCIENCE 12 WELLBEING


With Mark Solomons, Founder of Welbee 13 VIEWS


With author Andrew Morrish; and Charlotte Rowley on leadership


14 BESA CORNER


With BESA members Schools Broadband and SchoolOnline


16-17 VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM


We hear from Alexandra Ladbury, Head Teacher of Park Lane Primary School and Nursery 18 CONTRIBUTORS


With Felicia Jackson and Kirsty Bertenshaw 19 SPOTLIGHT ON SEND


With Joanne Gladders and Hannah Rix 20-25 VIEWS & OPINION


Featuring comment and insight from the UK education sector


26-27 FEATURE FOCUS: FINANCE


We speak to Sam Tse, Assistant Category Manager at Crown Commercial Service


30-31 FEATURE FOCUS: FINANCE Featuring Jane Gibson from school business software specialist Access Education


32-33 FEATURE: MUSIC & THE PERFORMING ARTS


With Rachel Nicholson, Head of Institution at Backstage Academy


34-35 FEATURE: MUSIC & THE PERFORMING ARTS


Featuring harpist Emily Hopper


36-39 BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT


Including comment from Richard Aylen, Technical Manager at flooring specialists Junckers Ltd


40-41 COMPUTING & IT RESOURCES 42-45 IN OTHER NEWS 46-IBC RECRUITMENT


Selected job opportunities from talentedteacherjobs.co.uk


Publication Manager: Carl Hearnden Publishing Director: Paul Ryder Managing Editor: Jonathan Swift Artwork Editor: Kirsty Hood 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


ON THE COVER....


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