The Schools' News Service

Very low cost Microsoft Office for students, plus a bonus for the school I guess everyone would agree that students who have access to Microsoft Office at home tend to have something of an advantage. Through such access they are able to become familiar with the dominant brand software for word processing, spread sheets, presentation [...]

What does a Maths lesson look like? This must look like one of the silliest questions ever – as Head of Maths you know perfectly well what a Maths lesson looks like, not least given the fact that you have taught a fair number. But there are a couple of really good reasons for contemplating [...]

The best way to motivate Key Stage 3 & 4 Modern Language students There’s no doubt that students who are given a wide range of activities to work on at their own pace, many of which include audio extracts as well as exercises and games, are more likely to make progress and consolidate their learning. [...]

Is it really possible that a poster can persuade a pupil to enjoy writing? Recent research has shown that repeated exposure to a message on a poster can change the way we think about a topic. Where the poster backs up a message that is being heard elsewhere, then the poster can have quite a [...]

How to educate for sustainability Here’s an interesting question for the start of a new school year: How do we educate for sustainability, beyond the personal responsibility context? Put another way, which frameworks for thinking will most assist schools, colleges and young people to find their place in an era of transition, as climate change, [...]

Outstanding schools don’t have better strategies When the school improvement movement began in the 1990s it was hoped that over time most schools would end up focussing on the same approach to improvement – an approach that would be universally validated and accepted. But it did not happen. However we have had a lack of [...]

What is the simplest way of choosing the best edition of play texts? With so many different editions of the most popular plays available, there are a variety of approaches to choosing which will be best for you. In our work with teachers, we have found that the choice can often come down to: Does [...]

As schools are required to focus on efficiency, the first changes to the classroom are starting to be seen Just before the end of the schools’ summer term the Audit Commission dropped a bombshell. It issued a report (Valuable Lessons) which said that schools ought to be able to save £400 million a year by [...]

A source of lesson plans for Form Time One of the problems which can occur with Form Time is the issue of finding a variety of engaging subjects and topics that will interest the students, and have a meaningful educational impact. One can do it for one’s own specialist subject, but in other areas it [...]

Effective Leadership, Raising Morale The Effective Leadership and Pupil Outcomes Project from the DSCF reported that managers in improving schools are particularly good at motivating colleagues and maintaining their enthusiasm over a long period of time. However many managers have had little training in motivational techniques. This report fits in with a report that came [...]

Musical Instrument Rental One of the key issues I have always struggled with is the question of ownership of musical instruments by families where the pupil or student is just “trying it out” to see how it goes. The answer for a long time has been instrument rental – but I have noticed of late [...]

How to develop positive behaviour and erase bullying at playtimes and lunchtimes Left to their own devices during playtimes and lunchtimes, some children will play in a very positive way. They will work together, mutually acknowledging the rules of their own games, helping and supporting each other and gaining much from the experience. Unfortunately not [...]

STOMP Six years ago I took one of my daughters to see STOMP. I must admit I was slightly unsure about what I was going to – she just told me that “everyone at school had been” (in that way that teenagers have of suggesting that they are utterly deprived while everyone else has much [...]

What was it like in the trenches? There are many parts of the history syllabus that involve situations that are so alien to our experiences and our lives today that they are almost impossible for us to imagine. One need think no further than the issue of the experiences of soldiers in the First World [...]

There are at least 100 ways to teach every lesson. I doubt that anyone has ever listed every single different method of teaching a lesson, but I suspect if we ever did that, we’d find 100 different ways. Most of them will work quite well, but among all the possibilities there will always be one [...]

A powerful learning environment I’ve known The Outward Bound Trust for many years (they have been around for 65 years, I am told – it’s nice to come across an organisation older than me) and it is always a pleasure to look at their residential outdoor learning courses – not least because they operate in [...]

Just before the end of the schools’ summer term the Audit Commission dropped a bombshell. It issued a report (Valuable Lessons) which said that schools ought to be able to save £400 million a year by being more efficient. Unfortunately, although the Commission was clear in its demand and in its insistence that inspectors should [...]

There is nothing more frustrating than observing a bright young student singularly failing to live up to his/her potential when exams come around. Except perhaps the student who, through a lack of exam awareness or ability, slips into a grade D at GCSE or just fails to get the required grade at A level for [...]

What is the point of this map? Of course, once you know what maps are for and how they work it’s simple. But maps are not intuitive – which is why a book such as “Finding Your Way Around Maps” is so helpful. This photocopiable resource contains a huge range of challenging activities that will [...]

What is the simplest way of tackling underachievement and increasing student confidence? Both the issues of increasing confidence and tackling underachievement are linked not only to each other but also to the development of independent learning skills. The secret, if one can call it that, is to develop these skills in such a way that [...]

MA in Science Education at the Institute of Education, University of London If you are thinking of: Deepening your understanding of science education across all phases, sectors and national contexts Extending your career opportunities Preparing for a PhD or EdD Underpinning your teaching with a sound theoretical base Having a stimulating and lively learning experience [...]

The most effective way of conducting school advertising John Wanamaker was a man who ran a department store in America in the early part of the 20th century. He’s not remembered for anything much, except one phrase: “I know that half the money I spend on marketing works – the problem is, I don’t know [...]

I’ve known The Outward Bound Trust for many years (they have been around for 65 years, I am told – it’s nice to come across an organisation older than me) and it is always a pleasure to look at their residential outdoor learning courses – not least because they operate in some of the UK’s [...]

New healthy standards introduced in secondary schools – and extra support for primary children All primary school children in two areas will from today get a free, healthy lunch every day throughout the school year as part of the Government’s action to reduce childhood obesity and improve the health of all children. All secondary school [...]

If you had 5 minutes to talk with the Attorney General on what should be different in the UK today, what would you say? That is the question being posed on www.youtube.com/agyouthnet – for a competition being run by the Attorney General’s Youth Advisory Council. Although no formal guidance is being given, I suspect that [...]