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