Monologues/Duologues at Key Stage Three

A book of short, self-contained and original monologues/duologues which will be an ideal introduction to drama within English or for use within a drama group. The monologues/duologues are designed to be learned, rehearsed and performed by pupils and will give them an understanding of pace, voice and body language. Students will develop drama techniques to explore in role a variety of situations.

Each monologue/duologue is accompanied by a number of activities (written and oral) which will encourage students to look critically at their own performance and constructively criticise that of others. They will also develop skills in reading and writing and will be encouraged to reflect on and discuss a variety of topical issues.

Cat No: 978 1 86083 762 3 Order code: T1727emn – please quote with order.

Sample pages can be viewed at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/english/T1727.pdf

  • Photocopiable book: £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the Book and the CD: £26.94 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report from the publisher:

The most cost-effective way of reviewing and helping young people who might have dyslexia

Traditionally tests for dyslexia have been conducted by educational psychologists at a one-to-one meeting, and there’s no doubt that such an approach can give a detailed and insightful view of a young person’s issues with the written language.

However the approach can be expensive and of itself doesn’t always provide an immediate indication of what one should do next to help the individual in question.

With this problem in mind, the Dyslexia Centre has produced an on-line test which can be taken by pupils and students from the age of 8 upwards and which gives a clear idea if the individual might be dyslexic, and if so, what specific help and support should be given to the individual.

If you enter a pupil or student for the test you will receive a detailed written report on the individual’s understanding of the written language and a set of resources that can be used immediately with the individual.

Full details of the on-line test are available on www.dyslexia.ac The cost of a test is £49.95, including the full report and the resources that are considered relevant for the person taking the test.

The reports are written by educationalists with many years of experience in dyslexia, and our reports are widely used by schools to help judge whether students and pupils should have extra time in examinations.

You can pay on-line with a credit card, or if you wish, you can use a school order number. Details of how to make a payment in this way are given on the site.

If you have any enquiries please call the Centre on 01536 399 011 or email me at info@dyslexia.ac

Samantha Bates

Senior Administrator, Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Centre

The Free Minibus Report: from licences to tachographs, from towing to safety inspections

Minibuses – like all vehicles on the road – are subject to licences, rules and regulations.

Some of these are fairly obvious – and you won’t be surprised to read that yes, you do need a licence before you can drive a minibus.

But there are often questions: such as “is a car licence ok?” And, of course, this being the world of regulation, the answer is, “that depends”. Not everyone with a car licence can drive a school minibus.

Then there is the “operating licence” which is different from the driving licence, and the question of the law on seatbelts. Plus all the extra issues that arise if you take the bus abroad.

And more, and more…

In a recent informal survey we discovered that a substantial number of people who were responsible for the running of a school minibus were not fully au fait with all the regulations and could potentially be committing an offence.

So we thought we would try and be of help by producing, “Operating a Minibus – your responsibilities” which is available free of charge.

Of course. some of the regulations cover situations which are fairly obscure – but then in the course of school life, the obscure can occasionally happen – and it is never a bad idea to be fully aware of what the regulations say.

So if you would like a free copy, all you have to do is send an email to laura@schools.co.uk and we will forward you the report. There is no charge and no obligation.

And there’s a further bonus. On reading the report, if you find that the key question you need answered is not there, you can write in and we’ll do all that we can to find the answer for you. We’ll also put that answer in the next copy of the report – so you will be helping many other colleagues in schools across the country by drawing attention to the issue.

If you have any enquiries please do call 01753 859 944.

If you are interested in leasing or buying a minibus we have further information on our website at www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php

What is the one thing that many schools find is missing on open day for new parents?

You’ve got everything ready. The school is looking bright and lively. The displays have been updated. The choir and orchestra will put on a show…

But you still have to get parents to attend.

Of course, many will turn up because they know about what you do and are half-way to making their choice already. But for many others there is a question: which open days shall we attend?

And, when faced with this question, what such parents generally do is phone up for a copy of the school’s prospectus.

This can be fine if your prospectus fully represents the excitement and warmth that your open day will generate. But if the prospectus is itself a few years old and does not reflect exactly what the school is like now, you might well feel that it is not an adequate representation of what the school has become.

Such a situation is more common than one might think, and in such circumstances many schools often call us in to work with schools that have a tight deadline to create a new prospectus for launch at one of their open evenings.

In such circumstances we can remedy the situation very quickly, supplying all professional photography, direction, design of the prospectus and print for a special delivery in time for the school’s open evening.

From there we can take the prospectus to the next level and create an online prospectus, and also launch a new website.

From design for print through to multimedia and the web – all project managed, created, designed and delivered in a very short space of time.

If you would like to hear more about a school that has used our service to achieve these ends and see the results we achieved with them please do call us on 01902 784 800.

Alternatively, there is more information on the services we provide at www.inco-education.co.uk/services.php

Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools

(Formerly named Dyscalculia in Schools)

An article in the Times on 27 May quoted the statistics that last year 43% of pupils failed to achieve grade A to C in maths GCSE and that adults with low numeracy are twice as likely to be unemployed and accounted for two thirds of the prison population.

And yet educational specialists believe that dyscalculia, struggling with numbers, is a specific learning difficulty – an unexpected inability to handle one or more aspects of maths. It has for many years been overshadowed by dyslexia, and yet the inability to handle basic mathematical issues can be just as big a problem for those who suffer from it, as is dyslexia.

Although some children with dyslexia also have great difficulties learning maths, this is not always the case. Research suggests that around 25% of dyslexic children are actually above average in their ability at maths. This suggests that there are different factors at work in dyscalculia from those causing or exacerbating cases of dyslexia.

Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools examines the five main causes of dyscalculia and sets out the methods of working available which can help pupils overcome their dyscalculic problems. The book contains short sections which can be photocopied to give out to other members of staff in school, to worried parents, and to governors, so that everyone can share in the awareness of what dyscalculia is, and how it can be tackled.

Above all the book shows that once we understand and accept the causes of dyscalculia we can adopt appropriate methods of teaching to overcome the problem. Research suggests that most children who gain appropriate help in school can overcome their dyscalculic difficulties and achieve an acceptable grade at GCSE, thus allowing entry into further and higher education.

There is a sample chapter available on-line at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/dyscalculia/T1628.pdf

Cat No: 978 1 86083 614 5; Publisher reference no: T1628emn

Prices

  • Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £24.95. plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the Ring Binder and the CD £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the book…

Information and Services for Heads of Sixth Form


Improve Motivation with Careers4u.tv

www.careers4u.tv
Orchard House Studios, Kilmington Common, Warminster, BA126QY

Email: trials@careers4u.tv
Phone
: 01985 844820

Careers4u.tv brings information and inspiration through hundreds of short interviews with young people who enjoy their work. Filmed in the workplace, the interviews give students an understanding of careers they may enjoy, and gives them the motivation to study well to reach those goals.

Features:

  • Role models for all skill levels and industries
  • Searchable by: qualifications, subject, industry, strengths, lifestyle
  • A wealth of supporting materials
  • Easy access on or off campus with automatic log in
  • Full integration with all VLEs

Contact us now for a free full access appraisal.

 


A Daily News Service that helps to raise standards in literacy across the curriculum

www.theday.co.uk
THE DAY

Phone: 0207 727 6959

The Day chooses three of the most interesting stories in the news each day and provides analysis, background, curriculum links, further research ideas, activities and debates – all on one sheet of A4 or online.

For a free trial click http://www.theday.co.uk/register/school?from=hh201205

Beware – social media can bite nursery schools

A total of 43 teachers were referred to the General Teaching Council for England in 2011 for unprofessional conduct related to the use of social media sites.

14 of these teachers were suspended and 18 were placed on probation.

As a result the NUT have recently advised all schools that they should have policies in place making it clear what teachers should and should not do in the virtual space.

Which is in fact a lot more difficult than it sounds, not least because of the fact that social media is changing day by day.

To help overcome this problem we have liaised with internet and teaching experts to create a trusted, cohesive, accessible and robust school-wide policy that provides clear distinctions between public and private use of the medium and which covers the safe and appropriate use of social media by members of staff in nursery schools and departments.

The policy document is available to download online and can be purchased as a stand-alone document and then distributed in electronic or hard copy format within a matter of minutes to all members of staff.

Detailed guidelines regarding social media communication cover sites like Facebook and Twitter.

The policy document for acceptable use of social media by staff in educational establishments is priced at £49.99, but you can save 5% by quoting HH12SMP when you order from http://www.iteachingresources.com/lessons/details/477/Social-Media-Policy-Nursery-Version

Phone: 0113 2660880
Fax: 0113 2697889
Email: orders@iteachingresources.com
Post to: iTeachingResources, Allerton House, 75 Allerton Hill, Leeds, LS7 3QB.

The most important starting point when it comes to revision

One of the most important things for students as they approach revision is for them to understand exactly what they know and where they have profound gaps in their knowledge.

For this reason, “Restless Earth – Revision through Questions” starts with a self-review form for students to assess their own knowledge and understanding directly related to the specification.

Specifically designed to meet the knowledge and understanding requirements for GCSE AQA “A” Geography, this resource combines the specific content of a good textbook and also the comprehensive exam-style question practice of exam papers.

The content of the specification is referred to throughout the guide.

In addition, the volume contains a self-supported study guide – a resource that can also be used to generate classroom-based activities and also as a homework workbook.

Links to the most popular texts are also included so that students can refer to them for additional ideas or support if necessary. These books include Heinemann, Ann Bowen and John Pallister New edition 2009, ‘Understanding GCSE Geography’ and the Nelson Thornes, Canavan et al 2009 book, ‘AQA Geography A’.

This resources contains 55 copiable masters which are available as PDF downloads or as a PDF or editable Word files on a CD. The price of £39.99 + VAT is the same for all formats.

Once purchased the CD can be freely copied and networked throughout the school.

To see sample pages please email sales@classroom-resources.co.uk quoting the order code 6026.

You can order GCSE AQA “A” Restless Earth– Revision through Questions in any of these ways:

  • On our website
  • By phone on 0117 940 6409
  • By fax on 0117 940 6408
  • By email (quoting a school order number) to sales@classroom-resources.co.uk
  • By post to: Classroom Resources, PO Box 1489, Bristol, BS99 3QJ

PSHE Information and Services


Helping students to get into employment

www.allresources.co.uk
All Resources, PO Box 4526, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 0TJ

Email: sales@allresources.co.uk
Fax: 0872 115 3933

The Effective Job Hunting pack provides young people with the tools to find their first job after leaving school. It is suitable both for those who have already gained some work experience or even those who have held a job for some time.

The whole job hunting process is covered, from speculative applications, employment agencies, job centres, newspaper job lists, etc, through to CV preparation, interview techniques, interview follow-ups, etc.

This resource is available as a hard copy or an ebook and free sample pages are available on our website.

 


Body Image and Self Esteem Workshop

http://www.mybodybeautiful.co.uk/
mybodybeautiful.co.uk, Box 15577, Redditch, Worcs, B97 6AA

Email: workshop@mybodybeautiful.co.uk
Phone: 07774 368561

The workshop’s objective is to equip, educate and empower teens on issues related to body image and self-esteem. Topics include body image, self-esteem, media and advertising, beauty and weight.


10 Top Reasons to Stay Smoke Free

www.viewtech.co.uk/sas.htm
Viewtech Educational Media, 7-8 Falcons Gate, Dean Road, Yate, Bristol, BS37 5NH

Email: mail@viewtech.co.uk
Tel: 01454 858055
Fax:
01454 858056

Great for showing to young people and any groups as a discussion starter this fast moving film version of the best selling leaflet briefly presents 10 reasons for not taking up smoking. Using a colourful mix of facts and figures, body painting, interviews and humour, the action includes tobacco’s impact on health, wealth, complexion, pollution, addiction, fitness and freedom. Preview video clip online and quote promotional discount code: HHM210 at the checkout for a 10% discount!


What is the most effective way of tackling Sexual Imagery on Social Media, Sexting and Sexual Identities?

www.iteachingresources.com
iTeachingResources

Email: info@iteachingresources.com
Phone:
0113 2660880

81% of secondary school pupils aged 14-18 claim that most of their understanding about sex comes from the internet, television and friends.

iTeachingResources have worked with Dawn Clark, a practicing trainee psychologist, psychotherapist and researcher with special interest in young people and sexually risky or harmful behaviours to produce materials that really address the problems faced in teaching in this area.

The new package of sex education lesson plans from iTeachingResources priced at £49.95 is split into a series of four sessions and full details of the lessons can be found at http://www.iteachingresources.com/lessons/secondary-school/pshe-resources/sre-resources where they can be purchases and downloaded straight away. If you quote reference HH12SRE when you buy you will gain a 5% discount on the order.


The Civil Rights Movement – Classroom Edition DVDs

www.viewtech.co.uk/ss.htm
Viewtech Educational Media, 7-8 Falcons Gate, Dean Road, Yate, Bristol, BS37 5NH

Email: mail@viewtech.co.uk
Tel: 01454 858055
Fax: 01454 858056

Trace the Civil Rights movement in the United States through the court cases, protests, and people that transformed American social and political history. Archival footage from ABC News brings you history as it really happened and provides revealing interviews, powerful documentary film clips, and lively commentary, all designed to forge connections to the people, places, and events that shaped our world. Preview video clip online and quote promotional discount code: HHM210 at the checkout for a 10% discount!

Information and Services for School Business Managers


Use your outdoor space, Don’t lose it!

www.sunshadeservices.co.uk
52 Oakhill Close, Upper Tean, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST10 4JP

Email: info@sunshadeservices.co.uk
Phone: 01538 724060
Mob: 07807 063734

Transform your existing outdoor space to allow for year round usage with our range of bespoke designed structures. Offering a stunning backdrop to any outdoor area where there is a requirement for shade, we can provide cover for recreational, educational or purely for decorative purposes.

  • Limitless Design & Colour Options
  • Up to 100% Shade Cover & 100% UV Resistance
  • Steel Powder Coated Structures for Increased Durability
  • Stainless Steel Fittings to Ensure Long Life
  • Designed, Manufactured & Fully Installed

Call now to arrange your Free, No Obligation Quotation

 


On-line course in Efficiency – The Certificate in School Efficiency

http://www.admin.org.uk/Eff2.html

The School of Educational Administration and Management, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Court, Earlstrees Road, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 4HH

Phone: 01536 399 007

Email: Sam@admin.org.uk

Throughout the UK numerous IT Technicians in schools have enhanced their professional standing and helped their school enormously, by introducing efficiencies into the way IT is used within the school.

For many the way into this approach is The Certificate in School Efficiency, a distance learning course that lasts two months; it is a course taken not only by IT staff but also by management and administrators within schools.

Students are given a course manual and are asked (approximately once a fortnight) to complete an activity.

A typical activity invites students on the course to comment on inefficiencies that they see both within the school and in the wider world, within the context of information provided within the course manual. After each activity students are sent a selection of comments made by those who have taken the course previously, and are supplied with further reading to supplement the course manual. This “further reading” material is updated regularly in response to the latest information and research on school efficiency issues.

At the end of the course you write up a project based around a school efficiency that they intend to introduce. The tutor’s commentary on the project aims to help the student implement the project.

After the project has been received and the tutor’s report delivered the student will also be sent five other projects written by students who have taken the course in previous intakes, so that different approaches can be seen in detail.

The next intake on to this course starts on 12 November and there will be a subsequent intake on 3 December 2012.

Application form http://www.admin.org.uk/SEAcertdiplomaForm.pdf

Plastics in our Environment

Plastics in our Environment is a guide to the science of plastics and the environmental issues concerned with their use for Key Stage 4.

The package provides background information for various levels of the Science Attainment targets 1 – 4 and Technology Attainment targets 3 and 4. It is abvailable as a photocopiable book – and thus just one copy is needed, and can be used repeatedly within the school.

The book is divided into five main sections:

  1. The life cycle of plastic – from manufacture and use to disposal and recycling.
  2. Why plastics are used – their properties, the materials, consumption and disposal.
  3. The disposal of plastics in more detail: plastic waste, recycling problems, incineration and landfill.
  4. The different types of degradable plastics: -photodegradable, biodegradable and chemical degradable plastics.
  5. PVC – its manufacture, uses, fire hazard, additives and chemistry.

The book also includes questions and discussion points and teachers notes and is widely illustrated throughout.

You can see a full list of the topics and some sample pages at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/dt/SampleT1667.pdf

Publisher’s reference: T1667EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 694 7

Prices

  • Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £15.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £15.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the Ring Binder and the CD £22.94 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1667EMN

 

Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it…

We have never lived through a time where young people are so disenfranchised.

Currently 1 in 4 young people cannot find work, and a greater number than ever report feeling powerless to influence change. We therefore have a responsibility to prepare children for life after school – to ensure that they are able to seize opportunities, and even create their own, rather than simply conform.

Our aim as educators should be to create a learning environment rich in context, value and purpose where children learn for the now, not just for future exams.

The world’s best education systems are competency, not content, driven. The competencies essential for young people to thrive in the modern world include: focus, preparedness, conviction, perseverance, creativity, curiosity, resilience, risk taking, independence and, most importantly, a sense of purpose.

A teaching resource has just been launched which helps young people develop each of these competencies whilst raising aspirations and personal value.

Career Detectives, a holistic resource centred around a board game, provides stimulating information about careers across all sectors within the context of a range of creative activities focused on these essential competencies.

One of the leading advocates of this pioneering education philosophy is Richard Gerver who received the “School Head Teacher of the Year Award” in 2005 for leading a school on the brink of closure to becoming one of the most innovative in the world. Richard is a passionate supporter of Career Detectives and offered this endorsement:

“It has never been more important that our children understand the relevance of education for the development and realisation of their aspirations and ultimately their futures. Too many young people struggle to understand what their interests and strengths can lead to in adult life. Career Detectives in an innovative, fun and powerful tool that connects life and learning brilliantly!”

Career Detectives is a resource for the innovative and forward thinking educator. Yes, the resource helps schools evidence a number of Ofsted outcomes. Yes, it enhances the core curriculum and therefore aids attainment.

But even more, the use of Career Detectives is a significant step in primary schools helping children understand who they are, their purpose at school, and the value they can offer their community and the wider world.

Career Detectives helps create a learning environment rich in context, value and purpose for all children, not just those who are academically gifted.

Please click here for more information about Career Detectives.

PS We’re so confident that you will find Career Detectives of dramatic benefit to your school that we offer a Money Back Guarantee if you are not completely satisfied with the resource.

What is the most effective way of giving children and young people with reading difficulties access to a wide range of literature?

Twenty years ago young people who struggled with the printed word – for example, those with dyslexia – would typically have found themselves with only a limited range of titles available as audio books.

Today it is quite different thanks to the development over several years of a massive range of audio books in a range of formats from MP3s and CDs to downloads and internet streaming.

These audio books are often read by top actors, and the topics cover much of the National Curriculum and far, far beyond.

Audio books can be used for and by students as an alternative means of accessing information and for their leisure value. In short,they provide an entry into the world of books that might otherwise appear to be impossible.

Audio books have in fact become central to the lives of huge numbers of people, and in the process they have become one of the most dynamic and exciting areas of the book world.

Even better, the purchasing process is straightforward and the cost of downloading and streaming audio books is incredibly low: for £50 per year you can have access to a choice of thousands of titles.

Our library ranges from best selling fiction to titles related to the National Curriculum – and of course they can be accessed at any time, day or night.

For more information…

Active learning is always the most effective form of learning. But what do you do with those who find concentration difficult?

There is an argument that says that the word “Active” in the phrase Active Learning is somewhat redundant since to be effective surely one also has to be active.

But such a recognition leaves us with a problem, for it is clear in every classroom that some students are more active in their learning than others. Which raises the question: what do we do with those students for whom focus and concentration on learning is just not part of their normal form of existence?

In short, is there a way of engaging all your students in active learning, even those who find concentration difficult?

The answer is yes, there is. “Manipulatives” (or card-sorting to give it its more common name) gets children immediately involved in making decisions about your given subject topic. There is no writing involved, just thinking by arranging and re-arranging the cards.

Of course, the level of difficulty of the cards can be varied according to the level of ability of the pupil or student – and in this way every pupil becomes involved in this activity.

In fact, although they are not widely used, manipulatives are proven by research to have an incredibly strong impact on student learning – which is why they might be called “the hidden learning technique”.

The visual nature of the activity is engaging as moving the cards into different arrangements feels to the pupils and students like a fun, games-like activity.

All students have more on-task and productive discussion when there is a shared visual focus. Manipulatives thus give students the arrangements of cards to focus on and sustain involvement

To see how this can work we have produced a free step-by-step visual instruction page on how to execute the Manipulatives technique on our website. It is completely free, and it will take you no more than five minutes to look through (it’s got lots of graphics to help explain the subject quickly, and then you’ve got a new technique up your sleeve).

There are full details on http://app.how2teach.co.uk/techniques/view/differentiating-manipulatives

There are also details of our whole project for raising the quality of teaching through 100+ techniques on http://how2teach.co.uk/

Fifty Health & Lifestyle-based Group Activities for PSHE Key Stages 3 & 4

Trying to convince teenagers of the need to engage in a healthy lifestyle can on occasion seem a difficult task.

Which is why one PSHE teacher thought about turning the issue into a series of “Life Games” – all based around the curriculum requirements for the health and lifestyle topics in PSHE Key Stages 3 and 4.

These games enable you to inform and engage your students on topics which are notoriously sensitive including relationships, reproduction, substance misuse, sunshine and travel, mental health and depression.

Each game is a stand-alone activity which can be delivered to a range of groups. Most of the games are accompanied by separate student notes. Clear learning objectives, based on the national curriculum, together with session plans, are provided.

The games can be used in any order and are suited to the classroom, although they could be used in other contexts. They are intended for groups of about eight to forty participants and are generally appropriate for teenagers and young adults. Each activity should last about thirty minutes, although they can be adapted for longer sessions. There are also suggestions for extending the activity and “talking points”, useful as fillers.

Life Games is available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom, and individual activities can thus be readily copied and distributed to students as required. The copies can also be shared with colleagues or given to supply teachers, without any fear of the original book being misplaced.

An extract from Life Games, ISBN 978 1 86083 718 0, order code T1730EMN
is available at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/pshe/T1730.pdf

Prices

  • Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the Ring Binder and the CD £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report…

  • By post from First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, NN17 4HH
  • By fax to 01536 399 012
  • On-line with a credit card at http://tinyurl.com/nvmxng
  • By phone with a school order number or a credit card to 01536 399 011

When ordering the book please quote the reference T1730EMN.

Primary Headteacher Information and Services


Incorporate Dance in your Topic work – and Enjoy it too!

www.dancenotes.co.uk
Madmusik, 62 Holcombe Vale, Bathampton, BA2 6UX

Email: info@madmusik.co.uk
Phone: 01225 313082
Fax number: 0871 528 3291

Is dance just a part of the curriculum that has to be suffered each year? Or an extremely effective way to engage students in wider learning? What if you were shown not only how to effectively and easily structure your classes but were also provided with lesson schemes that do all the planning and preparation for you – and are themed to tie-in with your topic work? Dance Notes provides all this plus relevant, creative music to inspire and motivate your classes. Visit our web site now and see how easy it can be!

 


Quickest way to boost your School funds…

www.intaglobeschoolwear.wix.com/schoolwear
Intaglobe Schoolwear Limited, 79 Darby Road, Liverpool, L19 9AN

Email: sales@intaglobeschool.demon.co.uk
Phone: 0151 427 1222
Fax: 0151 427 1222

Achieve FAST results with the right fundraising ideas…

We have supplied quality fundraising merchandise and printed or embroidered uniform to hundreds of schools for 28 years, so when our customers ask for advice about raising money – we know what works!

Visit our website for some of our best selling items. They’re a quick, easy way to generate revenue – just imagine them sporting your school logo! There’s also still time to create a fantastic customised product that the whole school will love, ready for the Festive season!

Call Naomi today, and find out what makes us the smarter schools’ choice…!


Treat your Foundation Stage to a Circus!

www.circuskevin.co.uk
Kevin’s Community Circus,52 Gleave Road,Selly Oak,Birmingham,B29 6JR

Email: circuskevin@blueyonder.co.uk
Phone:
0121-414-0094

This circus is aimed at the needs of your 3 & 4 year olds.

The little ones squeal with delight at all the clown’s misfortunes during the circus show.

Circus workshops can follow for each class.

Unusual items – ezyrollers, whirl-o-wheels, rebound rollers, tightrope (thick rope – low to ground) are all popular in the workshop.

Inviting foundation stage pupils to come dressed in circus costume adds a lovely flavour for the day.


Use your outdoor space, don’t lose it!

www.sunshadeservices.co.uk
52 Oakhill Close, Upper Tean, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST10 4JP

Email: info@sunshadeservices.co.uk
Phone:
01538 724060
Mob:
07807 063734

Transform your existing outdoor space to allow for year round usage with our range of bespoke designed structures. Offering a stunning backdrop to any outdoor area where there is a requirement for shade, we can provide cover for recreational, educational or purely for decorative purposes.

  • Limitless Design & Colour Options
  • Up to 100% Shade Cover & 100% UV Resistance
  • Steel Powder Coated Structures for Increased Durability
  • Stainless Steel Fittings to Ensure Long Life
  • Designed, Manufactured & Fully Installed
  • Call now to arrange your Free, No Obligation Quotation

What is the most effective way of tackling Sexual Imagery on Social Media, Sexting and Sexual Identities?

81% of secondary school pupils aged 14-18 claim that most of their understanding about sex comes from the internet, television and friends.

Worse, in studies by the young person’s sexual advice service, Brook, almost half of the country’s secondary pupils stated that they felt the sex education provided at school was poor with a lack of relevant information. Shockingly, 5% citied pornography as their main source of information.

The key point here of course is not whether the approach being used in the schools is “poor” or not – but rather that the youngsters perceive it as poor.

In such a situation it is often helpful to have a complete re-think as to how the subject can be taught, and this is what we have done with a series of four lessons that tackle questions related to young people, the media and sexual identities.

Of course all approaches must teach reproduction in the biological sense and provide sex education as part of sex and relationship education.

But as you will know, there is no set SRE policy and this can make things incredibly difficult in the classroom as you are placed in the invidious position of having to provide better sex education without the support to do so.

One way to face the findings of the Brook study is to place a greater emphasis placed on real life situations, emotions and the impact of media such as Facebook, Twitter and ‘sexting’.

iTeachingResources have worked with Dawn Clark, a practicing trainee psychologist, psychotherapist and researcher with special interest in young people and sexually risky or harmful behaviours to produce just such materials.

The new package of sex education lesson plans from iTeachingResources priced at £49.95 is split into a series of four sessions and full details of the lessons can be found at http://www.iteachingresources.com/lessons/secondary-school/pshe-resources/sre-resources where they can be purchases and downloaded straight away. If you quote reference HH12SRE when you buy you will gain a 5% discount on the order.

For further information, contact info@iteachingresources.com or telephone 0113 2660880

What’s the one thing that parents, students and employers all want?

There is in fact one thing that almost everyone wants – but it is not what you might imagine.

It is something that some students do get offered in schools but some don’t. It’s simple and straightforward to offer, and could be made available to everyone. But it isn’t.

This much wanted “something” is… touch typing.

Parents know from their day to day experience that in almost every workplace the ability to type fast and accurately is valued.

Students find that when writing essays, if they can touch type they can then focus on the construction and meaning of the sentences, not on the means of getting the text onto the page.

What’s more, many businesses check applicants’ typing speed and accuracy at a job interview, no matter what the job, since in offices and factories almost everyone uses computers all day long.

So, we might ask, why don’t more schools teach touch typing?

In fact a substantial number do, but those who don’t tend to give two answers when asked why they don’t.

The first is the lack of time. Given the enormous benefit that touch typing brings in speeding up the student’s note making and essay writing, as well as the subsequent benefits at university and/or at work, it is odd that the subject is not on the national curriculum – but it isn’t. And time is at a premium.

However, taking a student up to 70 words a minute or more makes such a huge difference to the student’s performance that they recoup the time taken very quickly. On a time basis, touch typing is a good investment.

And indeed, if there really isn’t any time within the school timetable for the subject to be taught, the students can do it during lunchtime or at home.

Which brings us on to the second point. If the school can’t afford to run touch typing courses, then most schools find that many parents are willing to pay – again because they know through their jobs just how valuable touch typing is as a skill. (Indeed those who can touch type will also know just how quickly the skill can be learned by students who really want to do it).

The touch typing programme that a number of schools now use is provided online – which makes it very simple for everyone to access either within the school or at home. It is provided through an online service called ‘Type-Net’ that provides keyboard skills training for pupils and staff along with other related benefits. What’s more, it is available at a price that makes it a no-brainer, and that’s certainly what we all want.

Click here to learn more and to submit an enquiry for more information.

Type&Test Ltd
BCS Partners on the ‘e-type’ programme
PO Box 479
Huntingdon
PE28 0YB

Direct Line – 01480 861867

Sex and Sensibility

Teaching teenagers about social relationships can be hard.

To make the teaching of social relationship issues throughout the school a simpler and more consistent process, we produced a course book which links sex, social relationships and wider social issues and which can be used throughout the school with the assurance of continuity of message at each stage. The course considers wider issues such as puberty, sex, self-esteem, self-efficacy, peer pressure, notions of attraction and beauty and socialisation.

The volume includes cross-curricular links with history, sociology, art, science, and literature. incorporating, for example, Shakespeare’s “True Face of Beauty” sonnet and a mystery love letter. Indeed whether one wishes to look at branding, personality, the law, health or any other matter in this field, it is covered here.

What’s more, the book, Sex and Sensibility: a Sex and Relationships Course for Secondary Schools, is available both in photocopiable form and as a volume that can be loaded onto the school network so that only one copy is needed.

Sex and Sensibility: a Sex and Relationships Course for Secondary Schools by Shona Kerr. Sample pages can be viewed at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/pshe/T1760.pdf

Publisher’s reference: T1760EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 754 8

Prices

  • Photocopiable report: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the Ring Binder and the CD £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1760emn

 

One simple way to ensure your school library plays a key role in promoting reading

 

Is your school library playing a key role in promoting reading? Is it well organised and welcoming, child and teacher friendly?

You don’t need expensive software or equipment to run a great school library – you just need tried and tested successful ideas.

Off the Shelf is the indispensable practical manual for running a successful primary school library and promoting reading. It’s a copiable book, with online resources, by Lucy Bakewell, the primary school librarian who won the School Library Association award as ‘School Librarian of the Year’.

Off the Shelf covers:

• Choosing books
• Organising the library
• Successful reading activities
• Boys into books
• Involving children in the library
• Working with reluctant readers
• Involving parents
• Creating great displays to attract pupils
• The annual calendar of events
• Author visits
• Supporting the curriculum
• Key websites

The cost of the book is £14.95 + £1.50 P & P (orders over £35 are post free)

Save 10% online by entering special code ots12 where it says Vouchers
http://www.carelpress.co.uk/otsinfo/

Alternatively you can place an order or contact us using the details below.

Ann Batey
Carel Press
4 Hewson Street
Carlisle
CA2 5AU
(01228 538928)
www.carelpress.co.uk

Sex and Sensibility

Teaching teenagers about social relationships can be hard.

To make the teaching of social relationship issues throughout the school a simpler and more consistent process, we produced a course book which links sex, social relationships and wider social issues and which can be used throughout the school with the assurance of continuity of message at each stage. The course considers wider issues such as puberty, sex, self-esteem, self-efficacy, peer pressure, notions of attraction and beauty and socialisation.

The volume includes cross-curricular links with history, sociology, art, science, and literature. incorporating, for example, Shakespeare’s “True Face of Beauty” sonnet and a mystery love letter. Indeed whether one wishes to look at branding, personality, the law, health or any other matter in this field, it is covered here.

What’s more, the book, Sex and Sensibility: a Sex and Relationships Course for Secondary Schools, is available both in photocopiable form and as a volume that can be loaded onto the school network so that only one copy is needed.

Sex and Sensibility: a Sex and Relationships Course for Secondary Schools by Shona Kerr. Sample pages can be viewed at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/pshe/T1760.pdf

Publisher’s reference: T1760EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 754 8

Prices

  • Photocopiable report: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the Ring Binder and the CD £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1760emn

What is the main factor that allows one young person to find a job while another remains unemployed?

Around 40% of unemployed people in the UK are aged 16-25. Which raises the simple question, how do the other 60%, who do find work, actually manage to do it?

Is it down to their skills, their personality, their location, or maybe just plain luck?

All these factors obviously have an effect on whether a person gets a job or not, but it appears that the main answer centres on the fact that those who get work tend to have the ability to identify their personal strengths as well as the key skills employers are looking for.

And they then use those two attributes in their job application and job interview.

Of course, to be able to do this young people need confidence and motivation – which incidentally are also qualities that employers today invariably look for.

So in effect young people who get jobs give employers what they want: an appearance of confidence and motivation. Not too much, of course (no one wants to employ an over-confident young person), but just the right amount for the employer to think – this young person could be ok in our business.

It is with this thinking in mind that we’ve produced a pack which provides young people with the tools to find their first job after leaving school. It is suitable both for those who have already gained some work experience or even those who have held a job for some time.

The pack also shows that if we can only identify the various options available to us we can make a decision based on our desires, strengths and talents.

The whole job hunting process is covered, from speculative applications, employment agencies, job centres, newspaper job lists, etc, through to CV preparation, interview techniques, interview follow-ups, etc.

This resource is available as a hard copy or an ebook and free sample pages are available on our website.

You can order Effective Job Hunting in any of these ways:

Information and Services for Headteachers


Looking for a better timetable?

www.timetabler.com/quality.html
October ReSolutions Ltd, 3 Crown Green, Lymm, WA13 9JG

Email : support@timetabler.com
Phone : 0161 776 4390
Fax : 0161 776 4391

A better quality timetable supports better teaching, for better results.

TimeTabler software for better solutions. Easier solutions. Free Tutorial version to download.
Options
software for more satisfied students.

Now including a method to collect students’ Choices on-line.
Free Tutorial version to download.
Timetabling INSET, training, CPD for more effective timetabling.
Find more efficient ways to improve your timetabling. Click for full details.

 


How to get a 1 for Teaching and Learning

www.smartees.me.uk
55, Montague Close, Wokingham, Berks RG40 5PH

Email: office@smartees.me.uk
Phone:
0118 9797551

The one day course designed for Headteachers, senior leaders, ASTs, and teachers responsible for teaching and learning.

This practical, inspiring day covers:

What ‘outstanding’ looks like, sounds like and feels like
Teacher knowledge and passion for their subject
Student motivation and engagement
Independent and collaborative learning
AfL and differentiation strategies
…and much more

Upbeat and optimistic, the day reinforces the reason we came into teaching: not to satisfy Ofsted, but our enduring commitment to improving the life chances of our students.


School Inspection + Improvement Magazine

www.siimaguk.co.uk
Forum Business Media Ltd, Unit F3, Kingsway Business Park, Oldfield Road, Hampton, TW12 2HD

Email: Melinda.butler@forumbusinessmedia.co.uk
Phone:
020 8941 8589
Fax:
020 8941 8389

School Inspection + Improvement Magazine covers the latest developments in policy and best practice, plus practical suggestions on getting ready for inspection, supported by a collection of ready-made forms and checklists for you to photocopy and use immediately in your school (also available in Word on a memory stick with the premium subscription).

Visit the School Inspection + Improvement Magazine website to browse through the latest articles on raising pupil achievement through parental engagement, preparing for short-notice inspections, analysing progress using RAISEonline, the experiences of schools that have been inspected under the new framework, SMSC, quality marks, and much more …,

Download sample pages and see for yourself how School Inspection and Improvement Magazine can help you: http://siimaguk.co.uk/samples/


Raising Grades through Study Skills

First and Best in Education
Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Road, Corby, NN17 4HH

Phone: 01536 399 011
Fax: 01536 399 012

How well a student does in an exam is generally down to two factors:

  1. how much the student knows
  2. how good the student is at reproducing that knowledge in an exam or via coursework

Raising Grades through Study Skills by Tony Attwood includes all the skills that pupils will need to improve their study skills and raise grades throughout secondary school.

It is available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom which can itself be copied or loaded onto the school’s learning platform or intranet.

Cat No: 978 1 86083 845 3; Order code: T1787SHR – please quote with order.

Sample pages: http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/education/T1787.pdf

Price for book or CD: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery ( incl VAT)
Price for book and CD: £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery ( incl VAT)

On line orders with a credit card: http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=54&products_id=267

Essential new online teaching resource for Business Studies

‘What is an advertising campaign?’ is an exciting new online resource from The History of Advertising Trust, designed to save you time and effort in developing lesson plans.

Clearly illustrating why companies run advertising campaigns, this resource:

  • provides an overview and analysis of the campaign development
  • explains the advertising and business strategies employed
  • demonstrates how all are inextricably entwined
  • includes a wide range of real examples and case studies, carefully selected to clearly demonstrate how meanings and responses are created
  • contains ideas to help you explore how you might teach the content.

Produced in consultation with experienced teachers, this online resource is packed full of materials to provide you with both variety and focus for deconstruction and analysis of marketing concepts and topics covered by AQA, OCR, WJEC and Edexcel exam board specifications, for all Key Stage 4 and 5 business related courses, including:

  • objectives
  • messages
  • audience
  • differentiation
  • creative strategy
  • communications techniques
  • the impact of budget on the choice of media channels
  • and more.

Intended for you to adapt easily for your own use in the classroom, it is licenced for 365 days to give you the flexibility to decide how and when you want to use the materials.

This is an essential resource for all Business Studies departments and is great value at £30.

Click here to find out more.

www.hatads.org.uk

Free Primary assembly resources

We understand that finding new and curriculum-led assemblies can sometimes be a little time consuming, and it is with this in mind that we have developed a number of resources to help you.

The first is our Brilliant Stories for Assemblies resource. This contains over 60 stories covering a range of subjects that will inspire pupils and capture their interest.

The subjects covered include cultural stories from around the world, religious stories from the 6 main religions, moral stories including bullying, birth of a sibling, racism and disability and historical stories, linked to the Key Stage 2 history curriculum.

https://www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/brilliant-stories-for-assemblies-49

The second is More Brilliant Stories for Assemblies. This contains over 50 stories and tackles issues such as bullying, racism and disability, as well as historical and religious stories. All the stories are linked to the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) themes.

A number of free assembly resources taken from this book are currently available on our website at:

https://www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/more-brilliant-stories-for-assemblies-248

And finally, the third is Brilliant Class-led Assemblies for Key Stage 2. This contains ten easy-to-use, stress-free assemblies linked to the National Curriculum for science, history and geography.

All these tried-and-tested assembly scripts can be easily modified to suit your class and can be as elaborate or as straightforward as you wish. Your pupils can participate as narrators, evacuees, water droplets or investigators, even the River Nile! The assemblies are constructed so that all the class can be involved in some way. All can be introduced and executed within one week – so as not to waste valuable classroom learning time.

https://www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/brilliant-class-led-assemblies-for-key-stage-2-48

Free sample pages and further information on all of these resources are available on our website using the web links above.

You can order these resources in any of these ways:

  • On our website at the above web links
  • By phone on 01449 766629
  • By fax on 01449 767122
  • By email to orders@tradecounter.co.uk
  • By post to Brilliant Publications, c/o Trade Counter Distribution
    Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND

Contract management made easy

 

Contract management made easy

TES Foundation offers school business managers a new, simple and cost effective way to manage contracts, locate suppliers and secure better deals for their school, through online software that supports the way you work.

We work with over 1,000 schools, providing them with the tools they need to get the job done, and our new contracts management module has been designed to put you in control, helping you achieve more with less effort, because our software automates some of the tedious, time-consuming elements of managing contracts.

  • No more nasty surprises, no automatic rollovers: receive reminders of contract renewal dates in advance, so you’ll have the time and the tools to negotiate the best deal in the current marketplace.
  • Save money: Search for new suppliers reviewed and recommended by schools local to you: your negotiation position is stronger if you know about the best deals out there.
  • Save time: View all your contracts in one place: have easy access to all the information you need for audits, and produce reports for governors in seconds.
  • Expert advice: There’s a handy checklist of contracts your school should have in place, from licenses to insurance to maintenance, plus tips on what to look out for (the good and the bad), all written just for schools. Our online, searchable guidance library gives benchmark prices, contract tips and up-to-date legislation.
  • So easy to use: Follow the simple steps on our online system and you’ll be up and running in no time: we’ve designed our software around the way schools work, and you can upload and download documents and reports into Word and Excel.

Plus, all included in the price:

  • Unlimited, secure off-site storage for contracts and other key documents
  • Live support from our team in Leeds, so any help you need on using the system is a click away
  • Full set of online tools to support your school management, including premises, suppliers, health and safety and compliance

If you’d like to find out more, you’re welcome to try the system for free. We’ll give you a personal demo of the system to help you get started, and a price plan to match your school size. Our live support team will be on hand for the duration of your trial and, of course, once you’re a customer, too!

English Literary Terms: free poster

If your students are struggling with the differences between assonance, hyperbole and alliteration, we have the perfect resource for you.

We’ve created a free English poster comprising a glossary of useful writing terminology, ready to be printed out and put up in classrooms.

Download the poster here: www.boardworks.co.uk/englishfreestuff

If you’re interested in buying Boardworks resources but want a bigger sample, you can fill in this form and we’ll send you a free presentation of your choice.

Regards,

The Boardworks English team

What is the most effective way of tackling Sexual Imagery on Social Media, Sexting and Sexual Identities?

81% of secondary school pupils aged 14-18 claim that most of their understanding about sex comes from the internet, television and friends.

Worse, in studies by the young person’s sexual advice service, Brook, almost half of the country’s secondary pupils stated that they felt the sex education provided at school was poor with a lack of relevant information. Shockingly, 5% citied pornography as their main source of information.

The key point here of course is not whether the approach being used in the schools is “poor” or not – but rather that the youngsters perceive it as poor.

In such a situation it is often helpful to have a complete re-think as to how the subject can be taught, and this is what we have done with a series of four lessons that tackle questions related to young people, the media and sexual identities.

Of course all approaches must teach reproduction in the biological sense and provide sex education as part of sex and relationship education.

But as you will know, there is no set SRE policy and this can make things incredibly difficult in the classroom as you are placed in the invidious position of having to provide better sex education without the support to do so.

One way to face the findings of the Brook study is to place a greater emphasis placed on real life situations, emotions and the impact of media such as Facebook, Twitter and ‘sexting’.

iTeachingResources have worked with Dawn Clark, a practicing trainee psychologist, psychotherapist and researcher with special interest in young people and sexually risky or harmful behaviours to produce just such materials.

The new package of sex education lesson plans from iTeachingResources priced at £49.95 is split into a series of four sessions and full details of the lessons can be found at http://www.iteachingresources.com/lessons/secondary-school/pshe-resources/sre-resources where they can be purchases and downloaded straight away. If you quote reference HH12SRE when you buy you will gain a 5% discount on the order.

For further information, contact info@iteachingresources.com or telephone 0113 2660880

Unlocking the potential in teenagers through drama

To say that the teenage years are a time of uncertainties, emotional turmoil, of feeling undervalued and misunderstood and of lacking in self-esteem, is really nothing new.

But to have an activity that can help teenagers work their way through these issues is something worth considering.

Through encouraging the exploration of character analyses and interpretations via drama, teenagers will not only exceed the expectations of themselves (and often everyone in the school), the will often reveal a talent and insight which neither they, nor those around them ever knew that they had.

Of course, many students are reluctant to get involved in theatre games and improvisations, but through gentle coaxing most can be involved, and thus find enormous benefits in their own lives.

It is with this thought in mind that The Tip of the Iceberg has been produced, a book which takes teenagers beneath the surface to unlock their true potential.

Each chapter of the book provides a one hour lesson (some accompanied by PowerPoint presentations) and each lesson is designed so that it can be used either as a lesson that supplements an existing syllabus or as a part of an entire syllabus that spans a year and ends in a performance.

The lessons can be used to complement any GCSE syllabus and as a foundation for A level Drama or Theatre Studies. It also fits with Text and Performance within the International Baccalaureate.

The book is supplied on CD with a printed version, so that copies of the text can be shared within the department, and relevant extracts made available to the students as they work on the projects.

The volume includes sections on characterisation, relationships, plot structure, remarkable moments, puppetry, symbols etc etc etc. An extract from the volume is available here.

The Tip of the Iceberg is available as a photocopiable book with a free CD containing the text of the book plus 4 PowerPoints. It can also be bought as a download at a reduced price.

You can see some sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/drama/T1791.pdf

Publisher’s reference: T1791EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 870 5

Prices

  • Photocopiable book plus CD £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Download £19.95

Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1791EMN

 

Drama INSET Days A Level and GCSE Drama & Theatre Studies

Led by inspiring professional theatre directors and a drama examiner, our INSET days will inspire you and give you a whole host of practical activities to support your A Level and GCSE teaching.

You will leave the day armed with a range of rehearsal techniques, devices and activities to enrich your students’ understanding and support raising attainment.

We’re offering five different one day courses:

  • Rehearsal Techniques to support Edexcel Unit 2 Section A and Unit 4
  • Lysistrata
  • Woyzeck
  • Dr Faustus
  • Devising Techniques to support GCSE Unit 2 and A’ level Unit 3.

Each course is delivered in a rehearsal room in the heart of London’s West End.

Because we know how important it is for you to get the most out of your day out of school we will provide you with an inspiring and revitalising day which will include:

  • Q&A opportunities
  • Resources to take away
  • A certificate of attendance for your CPD file
  • A delicious hot lunch in a local eatery
  • Tea and coffee during the day!

To register for a place or find out more, visit www.westendinschools.org.uk/inset

The Day: One of the best online teaching aids you will find

Brings the world inside the classroom

The Day: One of the best online teaching aids you will find!

Meets the demands of the new Australian Curriculum.

The Day chooses three of the most interesting stories in the news each day and provides analysis, curriculum links, activities and debates.

Case Studies

Teachers find The Day an ideal resource for form time but also a topical starter or stimulus for classwork in the full range of school subjects from Science to History and beyond.

Online Demonstration

Take a no-obligation three-week trial of the service.

For further information, please call our office on +44 207 727 6959 or email jack@theday.co.uk