How can we encourage our GCSE maths students
to carry on studying at A-level?

Although a change in syllabus is rarely popular, it cannot be ignored that this new Higher Tier GCSE maths syllabus is potentially more motivating than before.

With increased motivation comes greater learning efficiency, improved grades and, more than likely, an inspiration to study the subject at A-level.

In response to the change in syllabus, Educationalist/Teacher Barbara Young at The ‘Maths is…’ Jugglers has worked hard to develop two new GCSE maths texts that respond to the demands of the new syllabus, in order to support fellow maths teachers with the transition.

These texts have a different approach to most maths texts. They are full of mathematics problems that students love to work with. Motivation results in higher grades. Y10 and Y11 Sureshot are based on earlier texts developed with Barbara’s students in the classroom, which have produced outstanding grades in many schools, including her own.

Activities within these texts range from those that offer a structured approach to strengthening the fundamental concepts of maths, to extension problems that are interesting, and often unusual, to develop students’ skills to a much higher level.

The Y10 Sureshot Guide, contains the following topics:

Below (S) indicates that the whole of this topic is available as a sample on the website.

Topic 1: Number Techniques (S)
Topic 2: Functions, Sequences and Proof (S)
Topic 3: Transformations, Shapes, Areas and Volumes
Topic 4: Pythagoras and Trigonometry (S)
Topic 5: Expressions and Equations
Topic 6: Measuring Likelihood (S)
Topic 7: Fractions, Decimals, Percentages and Ratios (S)
Topic 8: Graphs
Topic 9: Arcs, Areas, Volumes and Formulae (S)
Topic 10: Analysing Statistics (S)

To see the full list of Y10 & Y11 topics, please click here.
To see all seven sample topics, visit www.mathsisjugglers.com/gcse-text-samples

The Y11 Sureshot Guide will be available in early 2016.
It contains topics 9-16.

To order the Y10 Sureshot Guide at £16 each, you can do it via the website or by post.

If you have any questions, please email Barbara at barbara.young@mathsisjugglers.com or call her on 01428 717113.

If you wish to order ONE SAMPLE COPY of Y10 Sureshot, please send a cheque for £5, made out to The ‘Maths is…’ Jugglers, (The Stables, Verner Close, Headley, BORDON, GU35 8LW). The sample copy cannot be ordered through the website.
Please state the name of your school. Only one copy can be ordered per school.

What’s more, if you decide to order 30 or more copies, you will receive a free copy of the Teachers’ Resource and Assessment CD.

What is the most effective way to increase literacy skills, visual and auditory recall, sequencing,
and organisational ability for dyslexic students?

Part of the task of helping dyslexic students to overcome their difficulties involves stimulating recall ability while at the same time developing organisational and sequencing skills.

And fortunately, both for those of us who teach dyslexic students and for the students themselves, this stimulation and development can be enhanced enormously through the playing of a range of games specifically selected for this purpose.

The games that particularly help in this regard are ones that consist of memory activities involving both visual and auditory recall and those that involve organising items into groups.

What’s more, if the games can relate to the background reasons behind the dyslexic student’s problems then the games become more personal and more productive for those taking part.

This is the object of the games in the Dyslexia Games Manual: to encourage activity in that part of the brain that is developed by using and stretching the different memory functions of the brain.

Not every game in this resource will be relevant to every student. If the individual can do a game straight off then one can give praise and indeed return to it when the individual is struggling with a different aspect of dyslexia.

Indeed, given that each dyslexic student is different, their successes and failures will point to their different strengths and weaknesses.

The games are divided into six groups – memory games (visual and auditory – recall and discrimination), organisational skills (sequencing, orientation and categorisation), key words practice, word building, story building, and literacy skills revision.

To see a sample of this resource please email us at msl@schools.co.uk

You can also find more information on our website.

The resource is available as a download for £24.99 (NZD 58.23).

Payment is required in Pounds Sterling and can be made through the website by clicking here.

If you then click on the International option you can pay by credit card, debit card or Paypal.

Trees play an important part in our everyday lives, providing us with the air we breathe, the furniture we sit on and the pencils we write with. Trees also feature in the stories we read, see and enjoy, from the Enchanted Forest to Wind in the Willows and in folk lore we have Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest, the list goes on…..

Trees now form an element of the primary national curriculum and Upson Downs have developed a range of signs which really help children learn and identify the trees and plants around us.

To see the full range of signs in the tree and plants range https://www.upsondowns.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=classroom

What’s more some schools are using these signs to completely change the identity of their schools by giving classrooms their own tree names, which enables the children to visually understand the differences from one tree to another.If you would like to place an order for these signs before the end of August we will give a 10% discount if you quote code MCHH1.

To order call 01423 521654 or fax us 0844 443 2455
Email info@upsondowns.co.ukUpson Downs Ltd
13 Claro Court Business Centre
Claro Road, Harrogate
North Yorkshire, HG1 4BA

How being a published author can have a significant impact on your career development

Being a published author of a book that is used in schools has always been a matter of pride for those who have achieved the status. But there is more to it than that.

For one of the problems with job applications in recent years is that quite a few applicants for a post might well have CVs that look similar to each other. The suitable qualifications, experience appropriate to the post, some interesting background on out of school activities… such applications do tend to look a little similar at times.

But the applicant who has written materials that are now in use in a number of schools around the country immediately stands out. It is not just that the individual has written the book or teaching materials, but rather that other teachers are using it. That really does make the CV look different.

First and Best in Education has been publishing school texts for over 20 years, and has been involved in producing some highly innovative works in a variety of areas throughout secondary education.

From the start we have focussed on producing books that can be copied by teachers, either being put on the school’s learning platform or printed out and copied for individual classes or specific students.

Our range covers a multiplicity of topics from volumes that deal with troublesome topics in an A level syllabus through to volumes on specific special needs, from manuals on school improvement which can be copied and shared with colleagues throughout the school to starter texts for year seven pupils.

If you have an idea for a book that will appeal to teachers in secondary school we’d love to hear from you. Please email your details to: anne@firstandbest.co.uk and attach:

1. A brief outline of the book
2. Who the book is intended for
3. A short extract – preferably not the opening chapter
4. A table of contents.

We’ll take a look and let you know what we think.

I do hope you’ll get in touch.

Anne Cockburn
Senior Editor

AN EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR DRAMA TEACHERS
FROM HAMILTON HOUSE

From September Stage on Screen are joining the Drama Online Consortium run by the Bloomsbury Group.

Other members include Arden publishing, Methuen publishing, Faber & Faber, Nick Hern Books and The Globe.

Stage on Screen and The Globe will now be offering schools and Universities around the world the chance to stream their recordings into the classroom and around the campus. Visit www.dramaonlinelibrary.com to find out more.

If your school or University would like to purchase the full box set of Stage on Screen recordings (RRP £120 plus VAT plus P&P), e-mail Hamilton House claiming the special offer price of £100 plus VAT (if applicable) with FREE postage anywhere in the world…

This offer runs for a limited time only, must end Sept 30th.

To order email stephen@hamilton-house.com giving your name, school postal address, and if possible a purchase order number. A box set, together with an invoice from Stage on Screen ltd will be despatched to your school within 5 working days, or sooner if requested.

Thinking about the forces in every day (and Circus) life, plus a few extra
strange science facts! Suitable for KS1 and KS2.

Feats of juggling, spinning and balancing to astound and amuse, a demonstration followed by workshops with lots of participation.

Why do objects fall, slow down, speed up, change direction or remain balanced?
Within the sessions the Fantastiko Circus scientist explores all of the concepts required for KS1 & KS2 ‘Physical Processes’ and a little more besides. Using practical examples, observation and experiment, he helps the pupils gain a better understanding of ‘Forces & Motion’. They are actively encouraged to participate and give their own observations and conclusions.

The circus science sessions are designed to introduce students to the idea of forces. The sessions are full of fun whilst giving pupils the opportunity to put technical names to what they are experiencing and is brilliant for getting them to start thinking about the activities from a scientific angle.

Areas covered include:
Simple forces: pushing, pulling, action and reaction, gravity, friction, speeding up, slowing down and changing direction.

Centre of Gravity (balance point), air resistance, springs, gyroscopic motion and even the speed of sound are also brought into the mix to explain why some things behave the way they do. Whilst these are outside the curriculum objectives, they are still experienced everyday and can be explained at a simple level.

Depending on the length of workshop or show the pupils can have the opportunity to learn skills and use our equipment whilst being encouraged to explain what is happening and also guessing what might happen next.

Sessions can be from 45 minutes to an hour as well as an assembly show with lots of audience participation.

Pupils that complete one of our workshops can receive a Fantastiko Circus Certificate to recognise and remember their achievements.

We also offer other circus workshops, experiences and entertainment.

Prices start at £275 + VAT for a full day £225 + VAT for a half day.

Find out more about us on our website.

http://www.circusworkshops.biz/perform/perform.html

www.circusworkshops.biz

How to give your students a wider experience of Physics experiments

Give your students a broader experience of experimental Physics and improve their grades without the need to allocate any more laboratory time or buy and maintain expensive equipment. These 3d immersive experiments use games technology to give realistic laboratory experiences with flexible interaction that not only allow the student to do the experiments well, but also badly depending on their expertise and the care that they take. The virtual experiments are based on years of research into teaching science on-screen. There’s nothing to break, wear out, set up or steal.

The Virtual Physics Laboratory can be used in a variety of ways:

• By the students directly to prepare for a laboratory experiment by familiarising them with the equipment to be used and the methodology of the experiment. ·
• To give experience of an additional experiment for which there would not normally be available laboratory time. ·
• To give experience of getting a particular result in a different way to what they have used in a practical laboratory lesson which allows the students to compare methods and better understand the essentials of an experiment. ·
• As a substitute for an experiment that might be too dangerous or impossible for a student to undertake.·
• As revision for an experiment that has previously been performed in the laboratory. ·
• As a personal experience of an experiment normally only performed by the teacher in front of the class.

Experiments include: Velocity, Acceleration and Newton’s 3nd Law using an Airtrack, Conservation of Momentum using a ballistic balance, Moments, Rutherford’s Gold Foil experiment, I/V Characteristics, Magnetic Field of a Coil, Specific Heat, Mechanical Equivalent of Heat, Diffraction, Hooke’s Law and Young’s Modulus, Capacitor Charge and Discharge, Planck’s Constant, Millikan’s Oil Drop. See www.keylinkcomputers.co.uk for latest list and more details including videos.

Email me at rob@keylinkcomputers.co.uk quoting code HH15 to receive our information pack which includes one of the experiments.

A perpetual site licence costs £399 plus £2.50 pp + VAT at 20% (£481.80)Email to: orders@keylinkcomputers.co.uk or send to Keylink Computers Ltd, 2 Woodway House, Common Lane, Kenilworth CV8 2ES quoting order code HH15.

Thinking about the forces in every day (and Circus) life, plus a few extra
strange science facts! Suitable for KS1 and KS2.

Feats of juggling, spinning and balancing to astound and amuse, a demonstration followed by workshops with lots of participation.

Why do objects fall, slow down, speed up, change direction or remain balanced?
Within the sessions the Fantastiko Circus scientist explores all of the concepts required for KS1 & KS2 ‘Physical Processes’ and a little more besides. Using practical examples, observation and experiment, he helps the pupils gain a better understanding of ‘Forces & Motion’. They are actively encouraged to participate and give their own observations and conclusions.

The circus science sessions are designed to introduce students to the idea of forces. The sessions are full of fun whilst giving pupils the opportunity to put technical names to what they are experiencing and is brilliant for getting them to start thinking about the activities from a scientific angle.

Areas covered include:
Simple forces: pushing, pulling, action and reaction, gravity, friction, speeding up, slowing down and changing direction.

Centre of Gravity (balance point), air resistance, springs, gyroscopic motion and even the speed of sound are also brought into the mix to explain why some things behave the way they do. Whilst these are outside the curriculum objectives, they are still experienced everyday and can be explained at a simple level.

Depending on the length of workshop or show the pupils can have the opportunity to learn skills and use our equipment whilst being encouraged to explain what is happening and also guessing what might happen next.

Sessions can be from 45 minutes to an hour as well as an assembly show with lots of audience participation.

Pupils that complete one of our workshops can receive a Fantastiko Circus Certificate to recognise and remember their achievements.

We also offer other circus workshops, experiences and entertainment.

Prices start at £275 + VAT for a full day £225 + VAT for a half day.

Find out more about us on our website.

http://www.circusworkshops.biz/perform/perform.html

www.circusworkshops.biz

According to figures from the Dept for Education, the average secondary school teacher has about four working days off a year due to illness. Of course this incorporates teachers who have a long time out with a serious illness as well as the 44% of teachers who are fortunate enough to go a whole year not getting ill at all.

These numbers show why the need for ready-made materials for supply teachers who cover Maths classes is as vital as ever. For even when something has been left from the previous lesson, there are always going to be those who finish the work rapidly, and need something else to do.

Which is why the Absent Maths Teacher volume of worksheets was developed.

The worksheets within the volume cover a wide range of topics and range of ability – and are all designed so that they can be used as a one-off in an emergency, or as a series of highly varied tasks over a number of days, should the absence be unexpectedly protracted.

Activities range from drawing Venn diagrams showing the intersection of two sets, to working out profit and loss percentages.

Each topic area is followed by a wide range of questions, an extension task through which (for example) the students are required to balance equations, and a homework task in which the students have to copy a series of diagrams and find the value of angle x.

The volume covers such topics as the rules for algebra, decimals, equations, geometry, powers, statistics, etc. etc.

Each lesson in the volume is printed on a single page and is simple to photocopy instantly for any class that suddenly requires the lesson.

The Absent Maths Teacher Worksheets collection is available from Hamilton House priced at £30 plus £2.95 delivery.

You can order the Absent Maths Teacher worksheets collection by filling in the order form and sending it by fax, email, or post (see contact details below). Alternatively, if you have a school order number, you can order by phone.

First and Best in Education, Earlstrees Court, Earlstrees Road, Corby, Northants, NN17 4HH
Telephone: 01536 399 011 Fax: 01536 399 01 Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk

                     Cutting, drawing, sticking, singing, matching, planning, plotting, grouping, researching, investigating, and experimenting their way through the science curriculum.

The numerous and varied topics that feature in the Science Programmes of Study offer pupils the opportunity to develop a whole range of transferable skills.

Such skills will make them increasingly aware of the different and most effective learning strategies and techniques that work for them when completing tasks in science or, indeed, any other subject area.

It is for this reason that we have produced Practical Science photocopiable activity books for Years 1 to 6 – to fulfil the opportunities that arise in science to support the development of these skills.

The resources contain lesson ideas, plans, templates and worksheets which relate to the science topics and methods that feature in the Science Programmes of Study.

The KS1 activity books include both independent and adult-supported practical activities as well as simple pupil planning sheets.

Activities in the KS2 books include information sheets with questions that explore the main concept to be studied during the lesson and a classroom-based experiment that, on the whole, can be carried out by small groups working independently.

Following this is a simple homework sheet which reinforces the concept discussed and the knowledge gained from the experiment carried out.

Alongside all three parts are detailed teacher notes that list the learning objectives, the main points to be talked about, the equipment needed for the investigation, how the investigation should be carried out, and the conclusion that can be made from it.

The lessons included in the book are very varied and draw on all elements in the curriculum including the grouping of living things, the heart and pulse, and their relation to exercise and healthy living, what fossils are and what they tell us about the past, how we see things, and what conductors and insulators are.

Free sample pages are available by clicking on each resource on our website.

If you would like to know more please call 01772 863158 or email sales@topical-resources.co.uk

As always, you can order Practical Science for Years 1- 6 in any of these ways:

• On our website
• By phone on 01772 863158
• By fax at 01772 866153
• By email to sales@topical-resources.co.uk
• By post to Topical Resources, P.O. Box329, Broughton, Preston, Lancashire PR3 5LT

Topical Resources
P.O. Box329
Broughton
Preston
Lancashire
PR3 5LTwww.topical-resources.co.uk
sales@topical-resources.co.uk

Tel: 01772 863158

How can you make the most of the time you have
with your pupils in the mornings?

School assemblies not only create a sense of togetherness, but they also provide a highly efficient method of communication – allowing you to communicate a message to everyone, all at the same time.

It is for this reason that we have produced a number of books containing a wealth of assembly stories, so that with each assembly, there is a particular message to communicate. A message that will inspire, engage and encourage pupils to think critically.

Fifty Fantastic Assembly Stories is packed full of morality tales designed to teach children a range of life lessons, from the importance of mutual respect to the act of learning from our mistakes.

Pupils will learn from the characters in the stories how to react to, and deal with, different situations that at some point, they will experience themselves.

Brilliant Stories for Assemblies contains a wealth of cultural stories from around the world, religious stories from the 6 main religions (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism), moral stories and historical stories linked to the Key Stage 2 history curriculum.

More Brilliant Stories for Assemblies contains over 50 stories ranging from those dealing with specific issues, such as bullying, racism and disability, to historical and religious stories. All the stories are linked to Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) themes.

Brilliant Class-led Assemblies for Key Stage 2 comprises of ten assemblies linked to the National Curriculum for science, history and geography. The assembly scripts can be easily modified to suit your class, and each is designed so that all the class can be involved in some way.

To order the books separately for £17.99 each, click on the links above. Or you can order the books together in a bundle for £59.96 here (a saving of £12.00).

You can also order the Assembly resources in any of these ways:

• By phone on 01449 766629
• By fax on 01449 767122
• By email to orders@tradecounter.co.uk
• Or By post to Brilliant Publications, Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND.

Brilliant Publications,
Mendlesham Industrial Estate,
Norwich Road,
Mendlesham,
Suffolk,
IP14 5ND.website: www.brilliantpublications.co.uk
email: orders@tradecounter.co.uk

phone: 01449 766629
fax: 01449 767122

Supporting your students on the journey to achieving their dream career. No matter what the odds may be.

A series of surveys in recent years has revealed that around one in five primary school children simply want to be famous when they are older. By the time they are in their teens the percentage rises towards a worrying 50%.

Of course, fame is not going to come the way of most of these young people – but there is an argument to say they should have the chance to experience what they aspire to, which is being on the stage in a big venue.

Normally, of course, this can’t be offered to them, but for students whose schools take part in Voice in a Million it is something that they will experience.

For with Voice in a Million students join a choir of thousands, supporting some of the UK’s most talented young singers in a show at Wembley and getting a taste of what being in the limelight is like.

Not only will this experience increase the confidence of those students who enjoy music, drama and performing on a stage, but it will also give them a taste of what the reality of a big performance is like.

Furthermore, it is an activity which will gain a significant amount of positive local publicity for the school and enthral the parents at the same time, which in itself is never a bad thing.

Better still, entry to the event is free – the only cost is for the rehearsal materials and the t-shirts that all participants in the event wear.

There are no auditions and no requirement of particular singing talent or level of ability; Voice in a Million provides everything needed for the rehearsal, including backing tracks, lyrics, etc.

What’s more, if you and your colleagues wish, talented children from your school can attend auditions for the opportunity to perform as a soloist.

Additionally a workshop can be held in your school during which the repertoire is run through with your choir and potential soloists can be auditioned.

Also I must add that Voice in a Million is dedicated to raising awareness for adoption and fostering throughout the world. So in taking part everyone will be involved in supporting a stupendously important cause.

There is more on Voice in a Million (including clips from previous shows and events) on http://www.voiceinamillion.com/schools-area/. You can also register on the site by clicking on “Taking Part”, and read comments from those who took part this year.

For the first time, Voice in a Million will be taking place on two dates, 2nd and 3rd March 2016. If you would like to discuss your school’s possible involvement in the next Voice in a Million on either date please do call us on 07872 591409, or 01932 859667, or email me on jo.garofalo@voiceinamillion.com.

I’ll be very pleased to hear from you.

Jo Garofalo

Learn to touch type this summer and gain yourself
an hour every day when you return to school.

How much time do you spend at your computer keyboard on an average school day? How fast and accurate is your typing?

If you usually spend two or more hours at your keyboard dealing with emails, typing out reports, marking student’s typed assignments, and so on, then by learning to touch type, you will probably save yourself at least one hour a day.

Just think what you could do with all that extra time! Why put up with typing slowly when you could type so much faster? You owe it to yourself to learn to type as quickly, accurately and effortlessly as you are able. And everyone can learn to touch type. They just need a little help to do so.

Our ‘Type Faster, Work Smarter’ course is designed for teachers. It starts with an assessment of your typing which we will set up for you remotely. It will take you just 5 minutes to complete on your home or work computer.

Your personal tutor will then contact you via email to set out your course instructions, training plan and objectives and your course will begin. Your tutor will then monitor your progress and contact you via email on a weekly basis to give you feedback and guidance.

You can practise when you want and as often as you want, at your own pace and on your own computer. You should aim to do at least 30 minutes per day most days per week. The course usually lasts 6 – 8 weeks but it could take even less if you are able to spend more time practising.

By the end of the course, your speed will have increased significantly, allowing you to save around one hour per day or more. That’s five hours a week and…. I’ll leave you to do the maths to work out your annual saving!

Your course will end with a final assessment to verify how much you have improved. You will receive a completion certificate.

You can start the course when you like. Why not aim to complete it over the summer break so that you can go back to school in September ready to use your new skill?

The price is just £99 plus VAT. That’s such a small price to pay for a skill that will save you hours of precious time and last you a lifetime.

To place your order online click here.

To make an enquiry, email enquiries@typeandtest.com

What is the best way to ensure that your AS English pupils know enough basic grammar to be exam ready?

This handbook covers every aspect of grammar and its application to the analysis of text that is necessary for success in AS and also much of A2 Language and combined Language and Literature courses, regardless of exam board.

The book assists grammatical acquisition from word class, to phrase then clause level, finally showing students how to analyse sentences in text. Sentence analysis will be a stand alone requirement for students of the new linear OCR A Level Language course from 2015. Each section of this book is accompanied by clear and useful tasks which are designed to allow students to demonstrate their understanding and apply and consolidate their knowledge.

The final section of the book is devoted to punctuation and terminology used to describe patterning in text, such as syntactical parallelism, tricolon use and antithesis, all of which are High Grade rhetorical features necessary for success at AS and A level. Direct speech punctuation and apostrophe use are also covered in detail with useful examples of how to apply both.

This grammar handbook has often been cited by students as invaluable in assisting their learning, application and revision of grammar for AS language and Language and Literature and is a resource created, developed and modified through many years of successful teaching.

“An AS Language and Language and Literature Grammar Booklet” is published as a photocopiable volume or on CD Rom, and individual sections 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.

You can see a full list of the topics and some sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/english/T1831.pdf

Publisher’s reference: T1831EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 896 5

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… please quote the order ref: T1831EMN

• By post to First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Way, Corby, NN17 4HH
• By fax to 01536 399 012
• By phone with a credit card or school order number to 01536 399011
• By email to sales@firstandbest.co.uk
• On line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=806

What is the most effective and time efficient way of meeting Ofsted’s requirements regarding the Common Inspection Framework?

Self-evaluation has always been a problematic affair, ensuring that one’s own valuations can be fully justified as and when Ofsted requires. But with the new Ofsted CIF it doesn’t need to be time-consuming. Even Ofsted has asked heads to provide only “routine” information.

Now there is a simple and sophisticated solution – you can use iAbacus to update or indeed re-create your school self-evaluation and development plan in line with these latest Ofsted requirements.

For we have built a self-evaluation system which is quick, which makes collaboration easy, without leading to long discussions, and which results in statements that can be presented to inspectors with a certainty that they are completely accurate.

And the system is built so that you can start using iAbacus within five minutes of turning it on – which means no manual, no complex logging-in procedure, etc. Just instant access and instant use.

This means you can immediately start to provide your self-evaluation for such topics as the overall effectiveness of the school, the effectiveness of leadership and management, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare, the outcomes and the effectiveness of the school.

Then you can consider your initial judgements and see them in terms of Ofsted’s very latest criteria. You can check that you could defend your judgements to Ofsted in their own terms, and you can ensure that you haven’t overplayed or underplayed your hand.

In no time you have a school improvement plan which takes account of where you are now and how you are going to move forward.

This type of self-evaluation can have a huge impact on your school – especially if several people get involved in the process. For it forces everyone to analyse what is going on and to justify their statements – and that is the most valuable step of all.

It is a process that incorporates evidence from various sources, including other systems and procedures, and allows the compilation of reports for governors/stakeholders and briefings for internal monitoring or evaluation.

iAbacus also includes FREE templates for performance management, school governance, literacy, numeracy, and SMSC.

iAbacus costs just £100 for a one year, one-person licence. Our suggestion is that you try it out yourself and then show it to a couple of colleagues. If they like it too, just call us back for another licence.

You can find out more at https://www.iabacus.co.uk/leadership/

• For a free trial please visit www.iabacus.co.uk/trial
• Or if you want to know more call us on 0115 929 3419 or email us at info@iabacus.co.uk

Daniel O’Brien

Does the following sound familiar?

You want to bring in an excellent entertainer for your school, but due to budget constraints, you had to settle for a low- priced performer and crossed your fingers that the programme wasn’t…

Boring, unprofessional and a total embarrassment for your school.

Plus, in the back of your mind you worry that the entertainer won’t show up, be late, or even worse – not very good, which would make your school assembly a disaster.

Usually booking a cheap entertainer is like throwing darts at a bulls-eye blindfolded. You just don’t know what is going to happen!

I really don’t think this is what you had in mind for an ‘Enrichment Programme’.

Wouldn’t you agree?

This is Franc Karpo of Amazing Kids Magic and I have very exciting news for you.

No more worries, no more stressing out about the quality of an entertainer because…

Your Search for an Outstanding Assembly
Programme at a Price You Can Afford is Over

If Roman numerals were that wonderful, how come we stopped using them?

Roman numerals were something of a failure. To a fair degree they worked, but they were extremely cumbersome for one very particular reason.

They didn’t quite grasp the importance of nothing and thus there was no zero.

Nevertheless Roman numerals still continue to intrigue. For years they would be used on the credits to show the date that a TV programme was made – indeed some production companies still do this.

Books with prefaces still use them sometimes, as do analogue clocks where the maker wishes to give an impression of history and hence, perhaps, value.

However, they are curious, and for most children it does take the establishment of the difference between Roman and Arabic numerals and the totally odd concept of “nothing” to show pupils exactly why “nothing” is so important.

Indeed it is the conundrum of nothing that has led us to develop a KS2 Roman Numerals resource which contains a range of engaging activities to help pupils to easily identify their meaning.

The activity book covers the following for each year group:

• Year 3 – learning Roman numerals from 1 to 12 (I to XII)
• Year 4 – learning Roman numerals from 1 to 100 (I to C)
• Year 5 – learning Roman numerals from 1 to 1000 (I to M)

What’s more, notes for teachers, discussion pages, information sheets and photocopiable activities are also included.

This resource is available as a book, a download, or on CD, and you can view free sample pages on our website.

If you would like to know more please call us on 01772 863158 or email us at sales@topical-resources.co.uk

You can order the Roman Numerals Activity Book in any of these ways:

• On our website
• By phone on 01772 863158
• By fax to 01772 866153
• By email to sales@topical-resources.co.uk
• By post to Topical Resources, P.O. Box 329, Broughton, Preston, Lancashire PR3 5LT.

Topical Resources
P.O. Box329
Broughton
Preston
Lancashire
PR3 5LT

www.topical-resources.co.uk
sales@topical-resources.co.uk
You can follow us on Twitter @topicalr 
Tel: 01772 863158

According to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) 85% of teachers say that they have CCTV in their schools, and that it is primarily used for monitoring school grounds, entrances and to prevent vandalism. Half of the teachers admit that cameras are also present inside the school. The main reason behind placing cameras indoors is often to monitor students’ behaviour, help teachers improve their performance, instil discipline or prevent bullying. While there may be even more reasons to justify the use of CCTV all schools need to comply with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) code of practice.

Many schools still believe that having CCTV installed inside the school building will help with students’ discipline and misbehaviour and most schools often receive positive feedback from the parents and students who claim they all feel safer with monitoring systems in place. ATL also points out, that incidents of violence happen much less in the monitored areas.

Obviously all of us want to feel safe, and we take safety and security even more seriously when it comes to our children. This is why more and more schools consider installing CCTV cameras on their premises. However many schools have outdated analogue standard definition CCTV systems, which could be easily and cost effectively upgraded to high definition.

Are you thinking of upgrading your CCTV to High Definition?

At JMC Secure we stock a range of products including HD over Coax and HD IP CCTV Systems perfect for protecting any school. Whether you need a single camera or a large scale system, we can work with you to put together the right solution.

We stock products from some of the largest CCTV manufacturers in the world, and have years of knowledge to help your technicians with any CCTV related questions.

Feel free to have a browse through our website and contact us with any questions about your requirements – call 01902 213 999 if you need any advice about your CCTV requirements.

With the Virtual Physics Laboratory they can fire an AK47 at a ballistic balance and calculate the muzzle velocity of the shell – without the possibility of causing any harm.

This is just one of a set of 20 virtual Physics experiments that include many of the AQA required activities. They are extremely realistic and really do give the look and feel of doing the actual experiments, but there’s no setting up, nothing to break, wear out or steal and the equipment always works!

These virtual experiments can really save you time and be a big factor in your students gaining much more experience of practical science.

Have a look at our website here: http://www.keylinkcomputers.co.uk/virtualscienceexperiments.html

Where you can watch a video of the experiments in action and find a complete list of all the experiments. You will also find a couple of experiments you can try.

If you have any questions or would like a demonstration please do let me know.

Dr Rob Lucas MBCS CITP Cert Phys (Open)
Director

“I thought that the controls were pretty easy to get used to and the detail in the apparatus was excellent being able to zoom in and see the set up of the multimeter and read scales, being careful of parallax. This type of software is most useful in experiments which can’t be done in the lab like the gravity on the moon or where the equipment is too expensive or difficult to use like the Millikan Oil drop.“
Physics Scholar Coordinator

Mental resilience for the year ahead. Develop your students’ motivation, engagement and attainment.

Mental resilience and well-being are concepts that are gaining recognition within schools because of the growing evidence that happier individuals perform better both academically and socially (Seligman, 1991; Lyubomirsky, King & Diener, 2005).

The pressure for students to perform well during the exam years can become stressful for both students and staff. Managing this stress and supporting students to stay motivated throughout the year ahead and focus on their goals is essential. Some students will need more support than others but everybody can benefit from exercises that challenge them to think differently about their situation, strive for more in life and align their goals with their values.

The earlier students are encouraged to develop their mindset and focus on resilience for the year ahead the better. Raising grades does not happen overnight, you need a structured programme that can be used from the outset all the way to the start of the exams.

Our solution comes in the form of eight worksheets in a ready-made booklet – ‘Greatest Strength Workbook for Students’. It comes with a free teacher’s guide and is available as an instant download. The teacher’s guide and a sample can be downloaded for free to get you started. The full license to print for use with your whole school is only £49.99.

Helping students learn to overcome stress, teaching them to motivate themselves, encouraging them to plan for the future and develop confidence to try new things are essential skills. They help to build mental resilience and enhance overall mental well-being.

To develop these skills, students must explore them. Finding time in the school day to focus on these areas can be challenging and you may not have the resources or ideas to hand to achieve the desired result. But could you find ten minutes to introduce an activity that was already prepared?

The full details are available at: http://newset-training.com/students.html

Thanks and I wish your students the best for their up-coming exams.

Clare Martin

Newset Training

Pantomimeplay bring you more than just the regular pantomime for schools. All our original Christmas shows have an educational twist entwined within the usual panto audience participation, wonderful characters and recognisable stories.

Our pantomime plays are devised and developed by us alongside pupils and based on our extensive experience within theatre in education. We realised through our work that schools struggled to have the budget for PSHE or educational plays as well as treating the pupils to a show in the winter term…so we decided to bring the two together

The pupils are learning throughout all the fun as there are tonnes of educational factors within the shows and our teacher packs offer the option to continue to use the plays as a resource within your primary school.

CURRENT SHOWS AND THEMES:

“The Incredible Christmas Story” by the boy who didn’t like books!
Supporting literacy, reading, and writing. Ben doesn’t like writing or reading but when mum threatens to cancel Christmas he muddles all his books up after knocking them off the shelf. Prince Charming appears in his bedroom and the story adventure begins. Pupils explore many aspects of the curriculum as they help write a rap, solve the pirates message, take a space journey through alliteration, and much much more.

“Gnome Alone”
A PSHE theme of friendship and bullying runs throughout this pantomime play. Gnorman the gnome gets picked on in Lapland and is left in the enchanted woods – but he has the sleigh keys and must get back to save Christmas. The problem is that Gnorman needs friendship tokens to buy his train ticket back…but he’s never been very good at making and keeping friends and keeps running in to lots of baddies. The pupils help Gnorman and vast array of “Baddies” to learn all about friendship and combat bullying.

“The National Elf Service”
This pantomime play includes the topics of being healthy and being safe. Christmas is not going to happen this year as Santa can’t get out of his chair, and the elves are all too busy playing the new computer games, there’s no money left to make the toys, and everyone in Lapland just can’t be bothered! It might be time to call in the ‘National Elf Service’.

Future shows on the way will explore: Citizenship, Technology, Relationships.

FOR ALL AGES
Our Christmas shows are fast paced, funny, and visually exciting to keep all ages entertained. The older year groups are kept interested and involved by the more advanced script and plot, whilst the physical comedy and fun characters appeal to the younger years. The educational elements cover KS1 and KS2 topics.

AUDIENCE INVOLVEMENT
The whole school is involved from beginning to end ensuring a unique and unforgettable experience. There’s lots of vocal and physical audience participation – they even become part of the play.

PERFORMANCE LENGTH
The timing is slightly adaptable depending on the amount of time you have available in your school. The interactive element of the play allows the length of the play to vary, the plot and story remain the same but the sections that involve the audience can be shortened or lengthened. The minimum performance time is 55 minutes and the maximum is 1 hour and a quarter. We are happy to perform 1 to 3 performances per day.

Prices

1 SHOW = £450 + Travel + V.A.T
2 SHOWS (a.m) = £600 + Travel + V.A.T
2-3 SHOWS (a.m & p.m) = £850 + Travel + V.A.T

An overview of our products can be seen on the following page on our website:

http://www.tipoftheiceberg.biz/education/education.html

Contact us for any information regarding workshops, performances and how we develop bespoke projects to suit you.

Email: lisa@tipoftheiceberg.biz

Telephone: 0845 4747907

Mobile: 07519593711

We look forward to hearing from you.

Lisa Schulberg

(Creative Director)

Plan your study trip before the end of term and take a well-earned break this summer!

The new Studytrips Perform brochure is crammed with exciting programmes that will inspire your students. They can work with West End professionals; make a movie in Hollywood or ‘break a leg’ on Broadway…and much more too!

Your students can also create and perform their own musical on our exclusive six-day course. You’ll stay at a top boarding school, in stunning surroundings, and have use of the amazing theatre and leisure facilities. Leading West End professionals will mentor the students throughout, helping them to create a 30 minute musical production that they will perform, on stage, to an enthusiastic audience. They will also have the opportunity to make friends with our international students, who will also be on campus.

Click here to download our new Perform brochure or e-mail me at info@studytrips.co.uk for more details.

Have a lovely summer break.

The new national curriculum for Art and Design at KS2 and KS3 requires students to produce creative work whilst exploring and recording experiences and developing their skills in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.

Pupils should also have the opportunity to evaluate and analyse their own and others’ work using art, craft and design language.

Arty Tasks is a new book of Art resources and in this regard is an ideal starting point. It incorporates step by step instructions for 35 separate projects each of which requires pupils to produce a piece of artwork based on the work of a selection of artists as diverse as Georgia 0’Keeffe and Joseph Cornell.

The pupils using the book are thus encouraged to use a wide variety of techniques and materials to create their artwork – and if desired each project can be used as a starting point for researching the historic content of the artists and art movements.

Each project comes on a single sheet of A4 and individual activities can thus easily be photocopied for your class to use as starter activities or homework tasks, either as one-off tasks or incorporated into longer projects. They can also be handed out for higher ability students to work more independently or used for extra-curricular activities.

Arty Tasks thus offers 35 creative projects which can be used simply as creative projects or as a way into research into a particular artist or art movement.

Arty Tasks, ISBN 978 1 86083 807 1, order code T1833EMN, is available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom. An extract is available at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/art/T1833.pdf

Prices

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

You can purchase the book…

• 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://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=813
• By phone with a school order number or a credit card to 01536 399 011
• By email with a school order number to sales@firstandbest.co.uk

When ordering the book please quote the reference T1833EMN.

What is the best way to take students from a predicted lower grade up to the achievement of an A* at GCSE?

When we brought out How to get A* in French we were asked if it was also available for Spanish – so now here it is.

As with the French version the author has analysed the writing and the speaking criteria of various exam boards and has come up with a simple and clear summary of these criteria written in a student friendly language. These criteria have been divided into four sections; each section corresponding to a GCSE level while at the end of the booklet students can find a very useful list of recommended idioms and high level expressions.

Additionally the booklet includes the conjugation of the 50 most used Spanish verbs, including the modal verbs, into different tenses.

This is followed by different language structures which the students can use to develop their writing.

The use of this booklet is proven to improve students’ levels not only in writing and speaking, but also in listening and reading.

How to get A* in Spanish? is published as a download so that you can receive immediately a copy onto your computer which you can print out for colleagues and your students as often as you want.

There are sample pages from the book at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/authordownloadsamples/T1834samples.pdf and you can order it at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=814

The price is £10 plus VAT (the VAT can be reclaimed in most cases by the school).

How to get A* in Spanish? is published by First and Best in Education, part of the Hamilton House group. If you have any enquiries you can call 01536 399 011, or email sales@firstandbest.co.uk or write to us at First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, Northants NN17 4HH.

The full range of First and Best books can be seen at www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk

First and Best in Education
Earlstrees Road
Corby
UK
NN17 4HH

Website: www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk

It’s always nice to get something for nothing and until July 31 you can get 50 FREE (black ink) pens and 50 FREE metal compasses with your orders (details below).

Every year about this time we try to offer our customers a little extra, partly to say “thanks for your business during the year” and also to see if we can tempt schools which have never ordered from us before.

So here’s the deal…..

When you order 100 or more Casio FX 83GT+, Casio FX 85GT+ or the LK 183 scientific calculators we’ll give you a pack of 50 good quality black ink pens……completely FREE…. and if you can stretch to ordering 120 of the calcs then in addition to the FREE pens we’ll also give you 50 metal compasses and half pencils completely FREE.

But wait, that’s not all…….

We (fairly) recently introduced a new product, the Value Maths set, which has proved to be popular with many schools, especially just before exams.

The Value Maths set comprises a 180 degree protractor, metal compass and half pencil, two quality black ink pens, a full length HB pencil, eraser, metal sharpener and a 15 cm ruler, all packed in a convenient A5 size clear PVC “exam friendly” wallet with a zip slider. From just £1.10 ex vat it’s a handy (and cost effective) way of providing your students with the basics they need for maths lessons and exams.

Ordering is easy. Just call 020 7515 1797, or fax to: 020 7515 4420 or email signpost@talk21.com
or post to: Signpost Educational Ltd., PO Box 999, London E14 6SH

Details of our products can be found at: http://signposteducational.co.uk/student-packs/

PS. If you need more information call Martin Evans on 020 7515 1797 and he’ll be pleased to help.

Mental resilience for the year ahead. Develop your students’ motivation, engagement and attainment.

Mental resilience and well-being are concepts that are gaining recognition within schools because of the growing evidence that happier individuals perform better both academically and socially (Seligman, 1991; Lyubomirsky, King & Diener, 2005).

The pressure for students to perform well during the exam years can become stressful for both students and staff. Managing this stress and supporting students to stay motivated throughout the year ahead and focus on their goals is essential. Some students will need more support than others but everybody can benefit from exercises that challenge them to think differently about their situation, strive for more in life and align their goals with their values.

The earlier students are encouraged to develop their mindset and focus on resilience for the year ahead the better. Raising grades does not happen overnight, you need a structured programme that can be used from the outset all the way to the start of the exams.

Our solution comes in the form of eight worksheets in a ready-made booklet – ‘Greatest Strength Workbook for Students’. It comes with a free teacher’s guide and is available as an instant download. The teacher’s guide and a sample can be downloaded for free to get you started. The full license to print for use with your whole school is only £49.99.

Helping students learn to overcome stress, teaching them to motivate themselves, encouraging them to plan for the future and develop confidence to try new things are essential skills. They help to build mental resilience and enhance overall mental well-being.

To develop these skills, students must explore them. Finding time in the school day to focus on these areas can be challenging and you may not have the resources or ideas to hand to achieve the desired result. But could you find ten minutes to introduce an activity that was already prepared?

The full details are available at: http://newset-training.com/students.html

Thanks and I wish your students the best for their up-coming exams.

Clare Martin

Newset Training

What is the best way to ensure that art and design students present a good case study?

For anyone who has never previously presented a case study or undertaken their own research, the whole notion of what they are being asked to undertake can be completely overwhelming and daunting.

Indeed, if there is one question on their lips at that moment when the issue is first raised, it is most likely to be “What am I supposed to do?”

The problem is, of course, that they find themselves not just coming to terms with the issue of what GCSE art is all about, but simultaneously with the question of what research is and how it can be presented.

A lack of understanding can lead to a lack of confidence in what one is doing, and as a result some students can dither, unable to start for fear of doing the wrong thing or present work that is inappropriate or way below the standard that you know they could achieve.

To help overcome this problem Pam Bradshaw has produced Presenting Research in Art and Design.

It starts by examining what a case study is and how to research, structure and present a comprehensive and successful piece of work.

It goes on to work through four separate examples with workpacks on a painter (Van Gogh), a designer (Vivienne Westwood), an art discipline (African masks) and an art movement (Pop Art).

Each workpack contains sections on contextual studies, objective description and subjective response, with worksheets on the compilation and ordering of information and its presentation.

There is also a section on both solo and group oral presentations – an area which is often a source of extreme anxiety for students. This section includes tips and exercises on research, structuring and the presentation skills required.

Presenting Research: Art and Design GCSE
Publisher’s reference: T1598emn ISBN: 978 1 86083 637 4
Sample pages can be viewed on www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/art/T1598.pdf

Prices

• Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
• CD with school-wide rights £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
• Both the Ring Binder and the CD £26.94 plus £3.95 delivery
• Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the book…

• By post to First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Way, Corby, NN17 4HH
• By phone with a credit card or school order number to 01536 399 011
• By fax to 01536 399 012
• On line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=439

Family of 7/7 victim launches cross-curricular
anti-extremism campaign

Next week is the ten year anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings, and to mark the occasion the family of one of the victims is launching a campaign to help tackle extremism in schools.

Visit miriamsvision.org to access unique, high-quality curricular resources that tell Miriam’s story and explore issues surrounding violent extremism. Miriam’s Vision:

• uses the events of 7/7 as a starting point to develop transferable life skills through critical thinking, and resilience in adversity
• fosters empathy and appreciation of diversity through experiential learning
• explores democratic process as a non-violent alternative for dealing with conflict.

“Miriam’s Vision” is apolitical and non-religious. Developed in association with the UCL Institute of Education and Miriam’s school, Copthall in London, the resources are curriculum-linked for ages 11-14 and cover History, Citizenship, PSHE, Geography, Art, Dance and Business & Enterprise.

Please pass this on to colleagues. We look forward to working with you for Miriam’s Vision of a safer, more inclusive society.

With thanks

The Miriam Hyman Memorial Trust

Contact for more details: info@miriamsvision.org