Here is another collection of interesting education-related news, links and resources that I’ve discovered during my summer break.

Ideas to Inspire

I’ve added 5 new collaborative presentations to Ideas to Inspire over the past week or two. These have included ‘Ways to get to know your new class‘, ‘Ways to use Google Search in the classroom‘ and ‘Best Non-Tech Strategies and Techniques‘. The total number of ideas on ‘Ideas to Inspire‘ now exceeds 1200 – all of them contributed by teachers and educators from around the world. Thanks to Tom Barrett and David Mitchell for starting the new presentations.

#twittereducator

Peter Richardson has set up a simple way for teachers to find other educators on Twitter. Simply visit Blastfollow and enter the hashtag #twittereducator. You will then be able to follow a number of other teachers who have been recommended on Twitter. If you’re already on Twitter, why not send a tweet recommending other educators and add the hashtag #twittereducator to add them to the list? Find out more on Peter’s blog.

BrainPOP’s Space resources

Our new Space Teaching Theme was launched this week and it has attracted lots of positive feedback. By coincidence, BrainPOP have just revealed a new Space themed page too – Starship Brainpop. Their site has links to all of their space themed movies (some are free and some require a subscription) and their blog has lots of space themed resources too including activity sheets and an Astronaut Moby!

Other links:

• Wacky Races Papercraft – Instructions and printables showing you how to create the Wacky Races vehicles. Shared by @xannov.
• Communication and Collaboration Tools –  A useful list of online tools and resources. Shared by @mbarrow.
• Book Trailers – A selection of short movies which are designed to encourage student motivation to read. Shared by @profteresa.

Have you discovered anything interesting or exciting during your break?

Image – Welcome to my kingdom

This post contains links to this week’s education related news stories:

• More academy news… Schools will not be required to consult with parents or staff before converting to academies, according to this report… A list of schools who have expressed an interest in becoming an academy was published… New data has also questioned the success of England’s academies, who might be relying more heavily on GCSE equivalents… and this report questions if parents will actually have the time to run free schools.
• The major three classroom unions have warned that the proposed pay freeze for public sector workers could lead to mass industrial action by teachers.
• An article in the Guardian suggests that abolishing the General Teaching Council could put children at risk.

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• The schools minister, Nick Gibb, says that children are leaving school without a sufficient knowledge of facts. You can also read his ‘vision for schools’ which was published this week.
• It has been claimed that some Muslim parents are withdrawing children from music lessons for religious reasons.
• The BBC have collected some wonderful photographs of schools who have been supporting the World Cup through their lessons.
• In this Guardian report, a teacher describes how pupils appear to enjoy provoking teachers on a regular basis.
• Ed Balls, the shadow education secretary, has launched a ‘save free school meals campaign‘ to reverse the cancellation of plans to extend free meals to a further 500,000 pupils.
• The health secretary has told the BMA conference that ‘the Jamie Oliver approach will not work in tackling public health problems like obesity and smoking’.

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• A national competition based around the Olympics is to be launched with the aim of ‘reviving’ competitive sport in England’s schools.
• The school starting age in Northern Ireland could raise to six years old, in line with most of Europe.
• The Education Minister in Northern Ireland has stated that the future for new school buildings is bleak, unless she gets extra money.
• The BBC’s School Report Sports Day event took place, allowing pupils to make up their own reports. Was your school involved?
• The Open University has reached 20 million downloads of educational material via iTunes – a new world record.
• A Google Teacher Academy will be taking place at the end of this month, offering 50 teachers and other educators the opportunity to share their ideas and discuss the use of Google technology in the classroom. Follow some of the teachers who will be attending by following this Twitter list.

Here’s a round-up of this week’s education-related news stories:

• Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, prepared a written ministerial statement on education spending. In his budget statement, George Osbourne, warned that education spending in England could be cut by as much as 25% over the next four years.
• The chair of Ofsted has resigned, fuelling speculation that ministers plan significant changes at the organisation.
• An announcement is expected next week about the future of the Building Schools for the Future scheme.
• The number of primary aged children is expected to rise by 13.5% by 2018, putting pressure on schools and education budgets. The proportion of 16 to 18 year olds at school, college or in training reached its highest ever level last year.

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• Parents want more advice about how to prepare healthier lunch boxes, rather than having schools tell them what they can and cannot put in them.
• A coalition of senior doctors and nurses have written to Michael Gove, expressing ‘deep concern’ at his decision to axe plans for free school meals for half a million primary school children from low income families.
• A leading headteacher says that more effort should be boosting results among the most able pupils, rather than concentrating on the drive to raise standards to a minimum threshold.
• The National Governors Association is telling its members to be cautious about becoming an academy. The government has also released a list of schools that have asked about becoming an academy.
• A study has shown that the free schools model in Sweden has not significantly improved pupils’ academic achievement.
• Students and staff at 100 UK colleges and universities are protesting against funding cuts in further, higher and adult education.
• An experienced headteacher has been suspended after allegedly making comments about a pupil.
• A report from the Telegraph finds out about schools who are taking part in a range of ‘eco’ activities, including recycling, reducing waste and growing vegetables.

Image – Stack of Books

• Sir Tom Stoppard believes that books are being left behind as an increasing amount of young people’s time is spent focusing on ‘the moving image’.
• It was also claimed that access to PCs and high-speed broadband can lead to a decline in test scores among young people.
• Atmosphir has left their ‘beta’ stage and offers free games based learning opportunities for schools. Thanks to Kevin McLaughlin for spotting this and sharing it on Twitter. Find out more about Atmosphir in the video below:

Here is a summary of this week’s education news:

• The government in England is setting out how parents, teachers, charities and other groups can apply to set up their own “free school”. Read an outline of the process on the Department for Education’s site. However, a Guardian article suggests that academies are bad news for teachers.
• TeachersTV have produced a video report which explains the new developments in education since the formation of the coalition government.

• The Department for Education confirmed changes to qualifications and the curriculum (including the introduction of iGCSEs and the dropping of the proposed new primary curriculum). The Guardian reports on schools who allow the children to choose their own topics.
• You can also watch a TeachersTV report about the decision to abadon the primary curriculum reforms.
• The second annual TES Schools Award took place on 17th June.
• Inspectors say that almost half of schools they visited are not providing their pupils with a good education. Ofsted has also recommended that parents of home schooled children should be legally obliged to register with their local authority and undergo annual ‘inspections’.
• A psychologist and author has called for computers and technology to be banned from schools until children reach nine years old.

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• A study has shown that pupils who are taught in smaller class sizes achieve higher marks in exams.
• Gender-specific qualifications are being planned by the UK’s biggest exam board.
• The exams watchdog has ordered examination boards to redraft new science GCSE papers because they are not rigorous enough.
• Health advisors stated that primary school children should be taught about sex, relationships and alcohol.
• Nearly half of teachers completing a survey believe that the health and safety culture in schools is damaging children’s learning and development.
• Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is setting up a school as part of a reality TV show.
• The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project has upgraded their machines so they can be used by secondary school children.
• Teachmeet Blackpool took place this week. You can read more about the event on Zoe Ross’ blog, on Jan Webb’s blog, on Bev Evans’ blog and with this PrimaryPad document. Follow the tweets using the #tmbpool hashtag.

Here is this week’s collection of education news stories:

• I seem to have mentioned lots of stories about academies in recent weeks. However, the TES is now reporting that ‘the government will be forced to slash the number of academies it had hoped to create by September due to a lack of time and resources’. This BBC report also reports on the possible loss of services for children with special educational needs because of the academy scheme.
• The 2010 Teaching Awards in Northern Ireland took place this week, rewarding a number of teachers and headteachers for their work.
• Ofsted’s latest survey on religious education found that in many of the schools visited RE was no better than satisfactory. They believe that this is because ‘teachers are unsure about what they are trying to achieve in the subject.’
• Ministers are still refusing to confirm their spending plans, which could threaten a programme to build new schools in England.

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• Research shows that children to learn to read from a very young age perform no better by the age of 5 than those who learn later. A report from the National Literacy Trust also has some interesting findings, including this statement that ‘a significant number of parents are either unconvinced of the benefits of supporting their child’s literacy, don’t prioritise it or don’t have the skills to do so.’
• The government has ordered an independent review of child protection and social work in England, prompted by a number of high-profile abuse cases.
• Ministers are shelving a scheme to widen entitlement to free meals to more low income families, prompting complaints from campaigners against child poverty.
• State school pupils will be able to take a tougher International GCSE (IGCSE) after the Government has announced that it was introducing the qualification.
• New technology could allow students to complete exams from the comfort of their own rooms, according to this BBC article.
• The universities minister, David Willetts, has said that ‘England’s university system needs a radical overhaul to give more value to students and taxpayers’. He said that universities need to find cheaper and more flexible ways to teach.
• Despite Ofsted’s crackdown on pupil safety, it appears that some inspectors are not always following their own rules.
• Headteachers at boarding schools are demanding the right to give cake to their pupils as ‘children should be allowed access to “homely food” after school.’

• The popular PurpleMash site has received a makeover this week, with some handy new tabs which make it easier for teachers and children to find ‘app-tivities’ to use.
• The World Cup 2010 has begun and lots of schools are using the event as part of their lessons. This BBC video shows a school involved in a soccer-themed project. Don’t forget the World Cup resources on Teaching Ideas if you would like to try something similar!

If you’ve missed any of this week’s education news, here is a summary of the main events:

• The General Teaching Council for England is to be axed. Education Secretary Michael Gove told MPs that he believed that the organisation ‘does little to raise teaching standards or professionalism’. This follows the the scrapping of the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency and BECTA, and will allow the money to spent ‘on the front line’ instead. The TES spoke to Michael Gove about his plans in this report.
• Michael Gove has also stated that more than 1,000 schools have shown an interest in becoming an academy, stating that the level of interest is ‘overwhelming’.
• Failing schools will be ‘given a year to improve’. After that time, ‘organisations with an excellent track record of educational excellence’ will take them over.
• Concern has been expressed over the increasing use of modern technology in nurseries, rather than traditional play-based activities.
• A reading test for 6 year olds will be introduced ‘to make sure that young children are learning and to identify problems early’.
• The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said that there is not enough money to finish Labour’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ scheme and to fund free schools. Therefore, building work on hundreds of schools may have to be abandoned.
• Despite cuts to spending on adult education, the new business secretary has described how ‘his mother’s mind was saved by adult education’. The BBC have also spoken to a number of adults who have returned to education and have started learning new literacy and maths skills.
• A report from the Guardian states that children need ‘a sense of the broad sweep of history’, rather than teaching of selected events.
• A group of young carers have joined forces to create a campaign to raise awareness and help find young people who may be hidden young carers so they can get the support they need. Watch their video below:

• A report from the CfBT Education Trust explains that schools policies are more influenced by the media and by pressure for quick fixes, than by research evidence. It also calls for the setting up of an independent chief education officer to give objective advice.
• A union leader has stated that university lecturers could opt for a national strike unless agreement is reached over redundancies.
• Plans to create a ‘ super college’ in Glasgow have been questioned by the Educational Institute of Scotland, who have said that few student places would be provided there than are already currently available.
• An A-level student has asked for an exam to be rescheduled because it clashes with one of England’s World Cup matches.
• A new survey had reported that parents spend an average of 49 minutes a day together with their children.
• Parents in Wales have been warned that under-15s should not drink alcohol, even under parental supervision.

Here are a selection of links to some education news stories which have appeared this week:

• Michael Gove, the new education secretary, has said that outstanding schools will no longer face routine inspections. This will allow Ofsted to ‘focus their efforts on failing schools instead’.
• Despite the planned £6.2bn of savings in 2010-11, the government has promised to protect schools, Sure Start and spending on education for 16-19 year olds.
• The education secretary has also promised that all schools will be able to break away from authority control and become academies. A BBC report outlines how these changes might affect schools. However, the Times Online reports that headteachers are ‘lukewarm’ about this invitation. The video below shares Michael Gove’s plans:

• The Department for Education site has a new section giving information about academies and how to register your school.
• An academy that was previously classed as ‘outstanding’ has now been given an ‘inadequate’ rating by Ofsted, casting doubt on the government’s plans.
• Becta, which ‘leads the national drive to inspire and lead the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning’ will be closed as part of the government’s public sector savings. There are lots of useful resources on the Becta site which schools and teachers may wish to download before they disappear!
• Groups of parents are to be allowed to set up their own schools under new plans. Some parents are putting the finishing touches to their plans already.
• Up to a third of England’s colleges may have to merge or work closely together in order to survive. These warnings have been given because of changes to the way that colleges are funded.
• The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency has been scrapped. It was created by the previous government to develop the curriculum and administer tests. The agency’s work on tests and exam adminstration will continue until it can be transferred.
• The chairman and chief executive of the Student Loans Company have resigned after the publication of the report which criticised them.
• Estimates suggest that a new A* grade being awarded in A-levels this year could go to 7% of the entries.

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• New research has shown that children who stand up to bullies are more likely to develop social and emotional skills.
• The Science Museum has opened a new gallery which aims to ‘deepen [visitors'] understanding of climate science in an enjoyable, engaging and memorable way’.
• All parents of children beginning secondary school in Scotland are to receive a letter from the Education Secretary in a bid to allay fears over the controversial new Curriculum for Excellence, which has come under fire from teachers.
• A children’s sports competition that was cancelled to protect young players from becoming upset if they lost has been reinstated after parents campaigned against the decision.
• Finally, a decision is due to be made about the closure of a school which will have no pupils at the end of this academic year.

This week’s education news is once again dominated by political issues, including the publication of the coalition government’s plans for the next five years.

The information quoted below comes from the section about Schools:

In other news:

• Nick Clegg, has announced that they are scrapping the ContactPoint database, which would have held information on every child in the UK. He also added that schools will not take children’s fingerprints without parental consent.

This week’s news has been dominated by stories about the election and new government, which has impacted upon education system in many ways:

• The new Education Secretary is Michael Gove. This week, he set out his priorities for education, saying that they will mark a new era. The BBC has also created a profile for those who would like to find out more about him. You can also read an interesting interview with him from March 2010. Nick Gibb has been appointed the schools minister. The TES has reported that a new Education Bill will be revealed within weeks.
• The Guardian has produced an article which outlines the new coalition goverment’s plans for the public sector, which includes public sector pay restraints and funding for “a significant premium for disadvantaged pupils”.
• The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has been renamed the Department for Education and it has a new website and Twitter account. The website highlights Michael Gove as part of the ministerial team for education, but doesn’t currently show any others in the team!
• A group of school children shared their suggestions for the next prime minister, which included bottles of water to stop dehydration and a web page where children can have their say about the country.

Other Education News includes:

• Tens of thousands of pupils were affected by the SATs boycott (out of approx 600,000 pupils who were due to take the tests). The BBC produced an estimated snapshot of the areas who were most affected. But, hundreds of headteachers face the threat of docked pay if they refused to administer the tests.
• There has been a slight rise in the number of adults in the UK taking part in learning.
• A Guardian report claims that there has been a 65% increase in spending on drugs to treat ADHD over the past four years.
• Family time is being affected by extra-curricular activities, a leading head teacher has claimed. The chairman of the Independent Schools Association has also criticised the ‘must-have’ culture which pressurises parents into buying the latest gadgets for their children.
• Secondary schools can learn lessons from primary schools about how to stop pupils from falling behind in Numeracy lessons, according to a report from the inspection body Estyn.
• Channel 4 has outlines its plans for education, which include graphic novels and interactive games to engage pupils in a range of topics.
• The Guardian has listed the ‘best children’s books’ for a range of ages:
  • 0-2 year olds,
  • 2-4 year olds,
  • 5-7 year olds,
  • 8-12 year olds,
  • 12 years and over.
• Finally, 3D glasses are becoming a playground fashion trend in some schools!

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In a week dominated by election news, here are links to some education-related news articles:

• Ed Balls urged headteachers not to boycott SATs – At last Sunday’s National Association of Head Teachers conference, Ed Balls asked head teachers not to go ahead with their plans to boycott this year’s SATs. Despite this, children in more than 900 schools will not be taking next week’s tests.
• SATs pressure turns children off reading – Almost 100 children’s authors and illustrators sign a letter supporting heads and teachers in their campaign to get rid of national curriculum tests for 11-year-olds.
• ‘Fix or Ditch’ new school curriculum – The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association claims that the new Curriculum for Excellence is ‘a deeply-flawed programme which is not yet fit to be rolled out fully in secondary schools.’
• Too much TV can be harmful for toddlers – The more TV a toddler watches, the higher the likelihood they will do badly at school and have poor health at the age of 10, researchers warn.
• Education Issues for New Ministers – Whoever forms a government, the Guardian has highlighted ten issues that it thinks education ministers should address. Do you agree with them?
• Poor Literacy and Maths skills for some teenagers – One fifth of school-leavers so illiterate and innumerate they struggle to cope with challenges of everyday life.
• Children will eat more fruit if it looks good – Making fruit look good holds the key to getting children to eat more of it, a study suggests.
• Best children’s books revealed – Publisher Puffin has produced a list of 70 of the best children’s books.

Image – Newspaper