People and the Planet: A 72 page full colour set of worksheets for just £10 plus VAT

This is the GCSE Geography Revision Guide for the Edexcel B syllabus Unit 2, People and the Planet.

For each topic it covers the key terms, and asks and answers fundamental questions such as “how and why is population changing?”

It also covers specific issues of interest, such as the particular situation affecting Russia’s declining population, while Yemen’s population is growing quickly.

There are detailed graphs, analyses of the factors driving change, the advantages and disadvantages of having an aging population, and numerous examples of differing government policies.

The full contents list is…

Topic 1: Population Dynamics
Topic 2: Consuming resources
Topic 3: Living spacesTopic 4: Making a living
Topic 5: Changing cities
Topic 6: Changing countryside
Topic 7: Development dilemmas
Topic 8: World of Work

At the end there are practical exam questions for each topic.

The volume is only available as a download – not as a printed book.

There are sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/authordownloadsamples/T1774samples.pdf

GCSE Geography Revision Guide: People and the Planet is published as a download so that you can receive immediately a copy onto your computer which you can print out for colleagues as often as you want. You can also put it on your school learning platform so all staff can access the document – and indeed you can make it part of the induction documentation for new members of staff.

You can obtain GCSE Geography Revision Guide: People and the Planet by going to http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=749

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

GCSE Geography Revision Guide: People and the Planet 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.

For other Geography revision guides that can be bought as downloads from First and Best please go to http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/index.php?cPath=76_112

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

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

Twentieth Century History – brought to life in the places it was made

 

YOU know that Berlin is the place to visit for pupils studying almost any part of twentieth century German history – Weimar Republic, Reich or Cold War.

WE know Berlin best!

We have been taking school groups there since the days when the Wall was still standing and we know the ins and outs of this magnificent city.

You will have the personal attention of our Berlin and Central Europe expert throughout the planning of your tour and whilst you are away; so you can be sure your pupils will get the most appropriate experience for their studies. Visits are themed to suit your syllabus.

Central hotels and single rooms for staff

Wherever possible, we use three-star hotels rather than hostels, and accompanying staff have single room accommodation. Unlike many other school tour operators, we include all visits, guiding and entry fees in the price of your tour. We are confident that on a like-for-like basis, even with all these pluses, you will find our prices very competitive.

Extend your tour beyond Berlin

You might extend your tour and discover the wartime history of Theresienstadt and Prague or of Kraków and Auschwitz, or you could visit the immense Rally Grounds and the courtroom of the War Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg.

For Cold War studies, why not add on Leipzig, scene of the anti-government demonstrations through 1989 which culminated in the fall of the Berlin Wall and the East German state, together with a selection of the intra-German frontier fortifications.

Whatever your requirements, Culture Trails are experts in school travel so please call
01691 88 61 61 to discuss your plans or e-mail: hugh@culturetrails.co.uk

Take a look at some of our ideas at:

http://www.culturetrails.co.uk/berlin1.htm

Culture Trails, Travel House, Llwynmawr, Llangollen LL20 7BB

Auditory Learners and Religious Studies in the Digital Age (and a Free Podcast!)

As all good teachers know, a lot of people learn best by listening. That’s fine in the classroom, but send them home with some reading to do for homework and it just doesn’t sink in. These auditory learners don’t get on as well with the written word. Fortunately for today’s ‘digital natives’, there are a wealth of programmes, videos and podcasts available for immediate download across the Internet.

But, as ever, the key to exam success is to make sure what they listen to is relevant to the specification. That’s where Topical Podcasts for Religious Studies come in. Not only does each article cover a topical issue in relation to religious morality and ethical theories according to the exam board specification, they also include tasks and discussion questions, leading up to exam-style questions to help you prepare them for the exam. The accompanying printed materials mean both your visual and auditory learners will keep pace.

Specification-specific editions are so far available for:

  • GCSE AQA B Unit 3: Religion and Morality (18 articles)
    For GCSE Religion and Morality we look at the whole range of issues, from ‘Matters of Life’ (e.g. IVF; selling kidneys) to ‘World Poverty’ (e.g. why religious people help the poor at home and abroad; fair trade). Preview and order at www.zigzag.at/MoralityPodcasts
  • AS Edexcel AS Edexcel Ethics (10 articles)
    Ten articles cover all the key ethical theories students need to look at, applying them to topical debates such as ‘Does religious morality protect girls?’ or ‘Would Joseph Fletcher give Terry Pratchett the right to die?’ Preview and order at www.zigzag.at/Pratchett

Lecturer of Religious Studies Ms B Knibbs says ‘textbooks often focus on theories and thinkers without applying them to the modern world which is what students actually have to do in their exams… the issues covered are bang up to date – MPs’ expenses and hacking scandals… I like the clear language used to explain them. It has tasks that will stretch students whilst also starting from basics so it caters for all abilities.’

Free Podcast!

Listen to ‘Article 2: Would Joseph Fletcher give Terry Pratchett the right to die?’ for FREE now at www.zigzag.at/Pratchett (Bookmark it and you can play it to your class when you start looking at situation ethics and euthanasia! It’s a great way to kick-start debates, with questions at the end to guide the discussion.)

ZigZag resources are available as ‘copy masters’ or in editable format and come with a site licence, allowing you to pay once and copy as often as you need, or put on your server for multiple use – and students can download the podcasts to their MP3 players. All resources come with a quality-guarantee, 10-day sale or return period.

The Topical Articles and Podcasts are available as photocopy masters with a site licence (£59). Also available in:

  1. Easy-printing PDF files (add 30%+VAT), or
  2. PDF with editable Word files (add 50%+VAT).

ZigZag Education, Unit 3, Greenway Business Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol BS10 5PY
t: 0117 950 3199 | f: 0117 959 1695 | UR40@zigzageducation.co.uk

Give your promotional code UR40 to get free postage!

UCAS Personal Statement App

“A brilliant app! I love the fluidity of the app, making the whole task of the personal statement easy, practical and enjoyable.”
Emily Folkes

The most time-consuming part of the UCAS process is the personal statement. It needn’t be. This app helps create the best possible personal statement as straightforwardly as possible – from start to finish.

“ As soon as I opened the app I felt comfortable. I knew I would be able to use the app and the statement would be achievable!” Mitali Agarwal

Designed by a sixth form tutor for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, the app allows your students to plan, and structure their statement in easy stages – maximising their time. It explains the UCAS system and what university admissions officers are looking for. Then it shows students how to create, shape, edit and view their statement – wherever they are. They simply follow the app’s step-by-step advice to write a highly effective and individual personal statement.

 

5th, 6th and 7th September – half price – only £1.49!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ucas-personal-statement

 

“I know how difficult it can be for students to put together an impressive personal statement. This app allows students to read a section for advice and then apply that advice to their own statement all on the same place. It’s intuitive and easy to use, providing practical assistance for the daunting task of writing your personal statement.

Well done for bringing UCAS advice into the 21st Century!” *****

Alex Newman, sixth form tutor, Yarm School

More reviews below

The App:
Speeds up the process
Saves time for Sixth Form Heads, tutors and students
Gives weaker students a structure to follow
Allows high-flyers to concentrate on their studies
Instills confidence in the student handing them the initiative
Achieves excellent statements
Maximises students’ use of time
Makes a daunting process straightforward
Provides step-by-step no-nonsense stages
Removes pressure at a stressful time for students and tutors in their busiest term
Guides students through the essential redrafting process
Includes a range of highly successful university commended statements
Displays the full statement in pdf or plain text ready to print
Allows statement to be cut and pasted into UCAS Apply
Includes character and space count keeping the statement to the required length

Advice you can trust
Based on a best-selling book used by many of the best schools and colleges in the UK, the UCAS Personal Statement App is packed with experience and expertise, tried and tested information and advice that you can trust.

The App’s creator, sixth form tutor, Paul Telfer, has been guiding his tutees through their personal statements for over 25 years.

Paul says:
“The personal statement process can be so much more immediate on an App. Students simply read the advice and apply it there and then.”

User reviews:
“It’s sharp and clear, but most importantly not condescending – it has heart unlike so many other apps on the market.”

“The interface is great on my iPhone, the app is fast and I like the small touches such as character count.

“I LOVED how it was all split up into the five stages. This is the main reason I would recommend it. It made the personal statement seem achievable.”

“The screen where you can draft the statement is very easy to use, particularly the fact that you can navigate through the different sections of your statement and see the character count.”

“Brilliant to use on the iPad.”

The app is great. The 5 steps of writing the statement break everything down concisely and effectively.

Fantastically simple to use. For the help and confidence it’s given me I’d seriously recommend it.

Great app for anyone attempting to write a personal statement – clear guidelines and simple to use but with some expert advice.

Really helps you get started. Simple and easy to use. Lots of advice. I actually feel like I can do this now!

“The app is great, really easy to use and will definitely help me with my statement. My dad was really impressed too!”

Parents
This is fantastic! So easy to navigate, concise and inspirational. I would recommend this app to anyone about to write their personal statement and if you have already composed yours, download this anyway and then take a second look at it!

This is a great app. The book got interviews for my two children at Oxford and Cambridge. The app is even better!

Android and Blackberry versions to follow

www.perfectstatements.co.uk

Raising Grades through Study Skills

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

Self-evidently, if the student can know more, and can also become more adept at reproducing this knowledge in a meaningful way when required, then the student’s grades will go up.

However, it is a fact that although in every single subject there are many resources that cover the facts of the course, there remain few books which help students to learn and subsequently reproduce the knowledge they have.

This is where Raising Grades through Study Skills comes in. The volume, which is available either as a photocopiable master or on CD (so that it can be placed on the school’s learning platform) focuses on the ways in which students can help themselves by learning more quickly and more effectively.

22 separate methods of learning are detailed in the volume, plus details of 10 teaching methods which can be used to help develop the learning approaches. There are also a series of active learning assignments and a further 15 sections on memory and how students may enhance their own memory abilities and increase their ability to utilise the knowledge that they have learned.

Of course, most schools recognise that the benefits of a study skills programme throughout the school are overwhelming, as the natural way in which most students learn is very inefficient.

But it is quite clear that once students have been shown how to enhance their learning processes and how to ensure that they can remember and use the material they learn, the motivation and self esteem gained from rapid success that results, becomes a factor in motivating them to ever higher goals.

The activities developed in this volume need not be set up as separate lessons (although this remains an option) but can be integrated into the existing timetable.

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: T1787emn – please quote with order.

Sample pages can be viewed at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/education/T1787.pdf

  • Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £24.95 plus £5.95 delivery (approx AU$48)
  • CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £5.95 delivery
  • Both the Ring Binder and the CD £31.94 plus £5.95 delivery (approx AU$58)
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report…

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

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

What do you do if a colleague is starting to suffer from stress?

The signs may be obvious: anxiety, depression, a decline in work standards, emotional behaviour, time off work. But the solution?

What you and your senior colleagues will want is to help your colleague recover, both for the well-being of your colleague and of course for the well-being of the school.

But it is sometimes quite hard to see what can be done to help the individual.

In fact there are two things that you can do – one is to look at the cause of the stress that is being felt by the individual teacher and so see if anything can be changed (not only for this teacher, but for others who may also be starting to feel stressed within their job).

The other is to offer help and support to the teacher in terms of suggesting a programme of activity that can be used to help overcome the stress.

Of course, the fact that teaching is the profession which now suffers from the third highest level of stress of any occupation in the UK does not make recovery from stress easy. But if a stress reduction programme is incorporated into the school’s work and is available for any member of staff who is feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of teaching, then it is very possible that some staff who might succumb to serious levels of stress can be helped. The resultant benefits for the teacher and the school are enormous.

By introducing the teacher suffering from stress to various techniques it is quite possible that the teacher will be able to avoid the stress turning into a serious long-term illness allowing the teacher to make rapid progress on the road to recovery.

Such an approach simply recognises that the only way out of stress is for the individual to undertake the journey of recovery him/herself. That does not mean that the stress causing factors in the school or elsewhere are ignored, but it is nevertheless essential that the individual teacher is taking the steps to start to deal with stress.

The volume thus helps school managers who don’t suffer from excessive stress to understand what their colleague under stress is going through and to see how she or he can be helped.

It deals not only with ways of reducing the levels of stress that teachers suffer from, but also offers a programme of practical help that can be offered to the teacher who is suffering from stress. The volume also includes a set of templates relating to the school’s policy on stress and a risk assessment programme.

The volume can be bought as a photocopiable ring bound book or on CD Rom.

You can see some sample pages at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/education/T1786.pdf

Publisher’s reference: T1786EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 840 8

Prices

  • Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £49.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £49.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the Ring Binder and the CD £56.94 plus £3.95 delivery

Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1786EMN

 

Giving Mr Gove what he wants

Of course, the problem with giving Mr Gove all he wants is that he seems to want quite a lot of things quite quickly.

So for the moment we’ve focussed on one specific want of the minister – the teaching of times tables up to 12.

We started from the premise that for children to progress with maths they not only need to be able to recall their tables, but they also need to understand what it means to multiply and divide and be able to use their tables to solve problems.

Additionally we know that if we get children to enjoy the process of learning the times tables, that will make the learning a lot faster.

Our resultant resource produced a significant improvement in children’s understanding of the times tables in the trial schools where it was used. What’s more, at the beginning 86 per cent of the children said they hated times tables and thought they were boring but at the end of the year 90 per cent said they loved them.

The Mighty Multiples Times Table Challenge is designed to appeal to all children whatever their learning style as it uses a visual, auditory and kinaesthetic approach.

Characters such as Long Jump Jim and Backstroke Brenda have their own poems and songs, with recordings on the CD as well as activities to enthuse the children about learning the times tables.

Suitable for reception children through to year 6, this resource has been produced to teach times tables by developing a clear understanding of how to use and apply the knowledge to division and word problems, and not simply learning by rote.

Integral problem-solving is included allowing children to learn to use and apply their times tables in real life situations.

The resource includes a motivational rewards system using bronze, silver, gold and platinum rewards, badges and certificates and contains everything you need – from group games to number fans and visual grouping activities to songs and poems, as well as assessment activities.

What’s more, you can get parents involved with the tips sheets that are included for use at the park, while shopping and in the car, making times tables relevant to everyday life.

Free sample pages and audio files are available on our website – www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/the-mighty-multiples-times-table-challenge-381

You can order these resources in any of these ways:

  • On our website
  • 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.

Raising Grades through Study Skills

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

Self-evidently, if the student can know more, and can also become more adept at reproducing this knowledge in a meaningful way when required, then the student’s grades will go up.

However, it is a fact that although in every single subject there are many resources that cover the facts of the course, there remain few books which help students to learn and subsequently reproduce the knowledge they have.

This is where Raising Grades through Study Skills comes in. The volume, which is available either as a photocopiable master or on CD (so that it can be placed on the school’s learning platform) focuses on the ways in which students can help themselves by learning more quickly and more effectively.

22 separate methods of learning are detailed in the volume, plus details of 10 teaching methods which can be used to help develop the learning approaches. There are also a series of active learning assignments and a further 15 sections on memory and how students may enhance their own memory abilities and increase their ability to utilise the knowledge that they have learned.

Of course, most schools recognise that the benefits of a study skills programme throughout the school are overwhelming, as the natural way in which most students learn is very inefficient.

But it is quite clear that once students have been shown how to enhance their learning processes and how to ensure that they can remember and use the material they learn, the motivation and self esteem gained from rapid success that results, becomes a factor in motivating them to ever higher goals.

The activities developed in this volume need not be set up as separate lessons (although this remains an option) but can be integrated into the existing timetable.

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: T1787emn – please quote with order.

Sample pages can be viewed at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/education/T1787.pdf

  • 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…

Make the most of tutor time!

Do you want to make the most of your time with tutor groups? Develop the thinking skills of all your students, with quick, creative and interesting activities. The tasks are accessible to all ages, with clear instructions and timings for the tutor. All handouts and answers included for quick reference in limited tutor time.

Don’t just take our word for it – independent reviewers are excited about these resources too!

  • ‘Wow! What a resource… It’s smashing! All activities are different and call on different ranges of skills. Some are numerical, some linguistic and others spatial or visual… It encourages teamwork, teambuilding and a developing understanding of individuals’ needs… an exciting and invaluable resource.’ Paul Nolan, Vertical Tutor & Independent Reviewer
  • ‘Teaches the pupils a range of valuable skills and genuinely fosters team building in a fun way… I’ve been waiting for something like this for a while.’ Rhiannon Richards, Vertical Tutor & Independent Reviewer

Designed specifically for 20-minute weekly sessions for students from Year 7 through to Year 11. Can be used as a complete scheme, or stand-alone tasks for one-off tutor sessions.

  • Tried & tested in a large secondary school with mixed-age ‘vertical’ tutor groups
  • Team-building tasks encourage interaction across age boundaries
  • Peer assessment meets AfL objectives

Tasks include: code breaking, memory games, lateral thinking, ‘General Knowledge Sums’, logic problems, ‘Word Merge’, ‘Visual–Spatial Sequencing’, ‘Pig Latin’.


A full year’s worth of tasks are available as a photocopy master with site licence (£39 per term or £99 for 3 terms). Additional electronic site licence available at 30% for PDF or 50% for PDF and Word Editable; order this for digital downloads and zero postage.

ZigZag resources are available as ‘copy masters’ or in editable format and come with a site licence, allowing you to pay once and copy as often as you need, or put on your server for multiple use.

Order online and view inspection copies at http://zigzag.at/UT01 (or email UT01@zigzageducation.co.uk for a proforma invoice). For more information on ordering from Australia and New Zealand see http://zigzag.at/UT01-International or email UT01@zigzageducation.co.uk

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 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 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

There’s no such thing as a free service

Or is there?

The old free lunch adage might be true for free lunches but when it comes to getting rid of unwanted IT equipment, there really is something free on offer.

In fact the free-ness of the offer includes not just removing unwanted IT equipment free of charge from school but also data wiping and ensuring that all disposal is environmentally friendly.

Our service runs 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. We have our own fleet of trucks that travel the country retrieving unwanted IT equipment, from computers to telecom equipment, from monitors to cables.

Of course we need more than trucks to do this, which is why our trucks come with a handy bunch of lads who will do the picking and loading at your end, and the unloading at our end.

The only requirement we have is that you have at least 30 items for collection at one time and that they are all gathered together in one easily accessible place for our driver to pick up.

We can take PC base units, CRT monitors, TFT monitors, servers, laptops, server racks, switches, telecom switches and printers.

Indeed as long as you have 30 of these items to take away, we will take away other IT equipment at the same time, such as keyboards, cabling and telecoms.

At the end of the process we issue you with free certification evidence so you can see the correct procedures were complied with.

For more information please call 0800 840 9195 or visit our website at www.prmgreentech.com for further details of the free IT disposal and recycling service we offer.

What is the best way to promote the safe use of social media by staff

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.

The policy document is available to download online from www.iTeachingResources.com. It 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.

The resource helps educational establishments to ensure that the use of social media by staff ensuring that the usage:

  • Does not bring the school into disrepute
  • Does not bring the teacher into disrepute
  • Does not expose the school to legal liability
  • Reflects ‘safer internet’ practices
  • Minimises risks associated with the personal use of social media by professionals and
  • Reflects the school’s standard of behaviour and staff code of conduct.

The safe use code was written by teacher Tom Tolkien, a Senior Manager with extensive experience of whole school assessment, internet and e-safety as well as initiative and policy development.

The document provides practical step-by-step guides to applying recommended privacy settings on popular social networking sites, with explanations on how to determine if posts, comments, images, links and videos shared on a profile by a teacher are appropriate and transparent.

The policy also includes information for teaching staff about maintaining privacy and keeping personal information such as phone numbers and addresses private while using their own or school equipment.

Detailed guidelines regarding communication with parents and pupils cover sites like Facebook and Twitter, acceptable content for social network profiles and how to respond to initiated contact from pupils. The policy concludes with guidance on recognising exceptions and reporting abuse or cyber bullying.

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 www.iTeachingResources.com

or

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

What is the simplest way to stop classroom chairs being damaged or vandalised ?

Quite simply, the answer is to purchase chairs that come with a TEN year guarantee.

 The “Postura Plus” classroom chair has a ten year

“fair wear and tear” guarantee, so you can look forward to years of hassle free use.  Many of our customers have been replacing their traditional classroom chairs with the “Postura Plus”. They do so because they appreciate its durability, while their students like its comfort and ergonomic design.  It’s available in all UK sizes and a wide range of colours….and what’s more, it’s manufactured here in the UK.

For more details, please visit our website (www.centraleducational.co.uk) or call us on

020 7515 1797 for a chat.

 Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,

PO Box 999, 

London

E14 6SH

Tel:  020 7515 1797

Fax: 020 7515 4420

E mail:  signpost@talk21.com

www.centraleducational.co.uk

PS.  It’s not only classroom chairs we supply, but also tables, exam desks, storage units, cupboards, lockers etc as well as staffroom furniture. 

Raising standards in creative writing

Encouraging children to be creative and original in their story writing can produce some weird and wonderful ideas. However, this doesn’t mean that their stories take them forward in terms of their creative writing.

A number of skills are required to help children to bring their writing to life and it is with this in mind that we have produced a set of books that explore these skills and offer activities and exercises that children can use to improve their creative writing.

The result is a series of three books: ‘Developing Skills for Writing’ covering levels 2, 3 and 4.

Each book contains sentence and text level activities which explore exactly how ‘powerful verbs’ can be used effectively, how ‘connectives’ can be used to signal time, how to compose ‘complex sentences’, how to use adjectives to create detail etc. In fact there’s a whole range of skills to move children’s writing on from National Curriculum Level 2 to Level 4.

Developing Skills for Writing uses, throughout the series, a multisensory approach to teaching, including word games, role play and oral activities covering all frequently used punctuation and grammar skills. Clear lesson plans explain every activity.

A ‘helping hand’ is also included to help pupils remember key facts and, where possible, optional worksheets focus on boys’ interests.

Free sample pages are available from our website at the web links below

Developing Skills for Writing – level 2

Developing Skills for Writing – level 3

Developing Skills for Writing – level 4

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

As always, you can order in any of these ways:

  • Online at the web links above
  • 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 5LT

www.topical-resources.co.uk
sales@topical-resources.co.uk

Tel: 01772 863158

Change, support, reform, change… what next?

As everything changes, so a question arises. In this new world of careers education, what support would you welcome?

The problem is, because everything is changing at the moment, no one quite knows what support would be welcomed. So we are trying to find out.

And in this regard, we need your help.

If you could spare a couple of minutes, please complete a simple online questionnaire to let me know the kind of information you are looking for.

Should you be interested in knowing how this project develops, please register your details within the survey and I’ll keep you informed of progress.

Everyone who completes the questionnaire before Friday 20 July will be entered into a draw to win one of four £25 gift tokens.

Let us know how we can help you.

Complete the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/W2GMPKQ

Regards

Kim Neighbour

enquiries@magentaonline.co.uk

Philosophical Arguments

A problem faced by students lies in the fact that core philosophical arguments are very often buried in discursive text and can be difficult to discern. This resource book of philosophical arguments presents and discusses such arguments, and where relevant looks at individual philosophers, in a way that is accessible and comprehensible to students. After each argument there is an explanation – where necessary – of each part of the argument, followed by discussion of any problems or issues arising. Finally there are questions and points for discussion.

Philosophical Arguments by Paul Hill is written primariy for students who are taking the AQA AS level course in philosophy. It covers the modules concerning Theory of Knowledge, Moral Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion.

Some of the material on God and Moral Philosophy will also be useful to students of A level Religious Studies whose course includes some Philosophy of Religion and Ethics. Of particular relevance are sections on: arguments for the existence of God; faith, reason and belief; religious experience; God and morality; miracles.

There are sample pages from the photocopiable book at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/re/T1706.pdf

Publisher’s reference: T1706EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 771 5

Prices

  • Photocopiable book: £25.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £25.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the book and the CD: £32.94 plus £3.95 delivery

Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1706EMN

 

Fantastic new online teaching resource for Media 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.

It contains a wide range of promotional campaigns and advertisements for different products, selected to clearly demonstrate how meanings and responses are created.

The resource illustrates why companies run campaigns and explains ‘in a nutshell’ the key elements of a campaign.

It is packed full of materials to provide you with both variety and focus for deconstruction and analysis of media concepts and themes covered by AQA, OCR, WJEC and Edexcel exam board specifications, for Key Stage 4 and 5 media related courses, including: objectives; messages; audience; communication techniques; media language; genre; representation; and more.

Intended for you to adapt easily for your own use in the classroom, it is quick and simple to download and 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 Media Studies departments and is great value at £50. However, if you are planning now for teaching in 2012/2013, take advantage of our fantastic introductory offer of just £30 if you purchase before 20th July 2012.

Click here to find out more.

 www.hatads.org.uk


Promoting a healthy school approach

The benefits of drinking water are well-known so it is a bit surprising that a recent study at Sheffield University found that six out of ten youngsters in the UK are at risk of daily dehydration because they do not drink enough.

The study recommends that students drink between three and four glasses a day. In addition to maintaining physical health, it is proven that this aids students’ concentration levels and thereby serves to enhance their academic performance.

So clearly it is beneficial to promote the regular drinking of water throughout the day, but it’s not ideal to suggest that students leave their desks during class times in order to get a drink.

What many schools have found is that by allowing each student to have a water bottle on their desk, disruption is kept to a minimum and the students get the drink they need.

It is with this in mind that we have developed our range of water bottles for schools.

We offer a wide range of tough, durable and non-spill water bottles with different designs and prices to suit any budget.

What’s more, we can also incorporate your school’s name and logo into that design.

You can find more information on our website – www.ospreyuk.com/index.php/bottles-for-schools

Alternatively, if you would like to see a free sample of the bottles we produce simply call us on 0845 450 5600.

Social Media Policy Document For Schools To Promote Safe Use of Social Media by Staff

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, with 14 teachers suspended and 18 placed on probation. In addition, 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.

Schools are becoming increasingly aware of the need to regulate social media use by teaching staff but often struggle to create a single, detailed policy document which is updated and organic, capable of responding to new trends and sites as they happen. In response to this need, we have liaised with internet and teaching experts to create a trusted, cohesive, accessible and robust school-wide policy that can be practically applied and will, provide clear distinctions between public and private use and most importantly, cover the safe and appropriate use of social media by members of staff.”

The policy document is available to download online from iTeachingResources.com. It 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. It promises to help educational establishments to ensure that the use of social media by staff;

  • Does not bring the school into disrepute
  • Does not bring the teacher into disrepute
  • Does not expose the school to legal liability
  • Reflects ‘safer internet’ practices
  • Minimises risks associated with the personal use of social media by professionals and
  • Reflects the school’s standard of behaviour and staff code of conduct

The safe use code has been developed in line with good teaching in PSCHE, ICT and other subjects with regard to “safer use of the internet”. It was written by teacher Tom Tolkien, a Senior Manager with extensive experience of whole school assessment, internet and e-safety as well as initiative and policy development.

The document provides practical step-by-step guides to applying recommended privacy settings on popular social networking sites, with explanations on how to determine if posts, comments, images, links and videos shared on a profile by a teacher are appropriate and transparent.

The policy includes information for teaching staff about maintaining privacy and keeping personal information such as phone numbers and addresses private while using their own or school equipment. Detailed guidelines regarding communication with parents and pupils cover sites like Facebook and Twitter, acceptable content for social network profiles and how to respond to initiated contact from pupils. The policy concludes with guidance on recognising exceptions and reporting abuse or cyber bullying.

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 iTeachingResources.com

or

Phone: 0113 2660880,

Fax: 0113 2697889

Email: orders@iteachingresources.com

Post to: iTeachingResources, Allerton House, 75 Allerton Hill, Leeds, LS7 3QB.

The Nature of Matter

An elephant and a racing car don’t have much in common – except for the remarkable fact that they’re made of similar fundamental building blocks.

The Nature of Matter” programme from the “Physics In Action Series” of DVD resources takes a simulated subatomic look at a glass of water to better understand the nature of matter, a minuscule world of molecules, atoms, and elementary particles. The behaviour of matter under the effects of gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces; the process of scientific experimentation; specifics of atomic structure; the organisation of matter via the periodic table; ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonding; the process of radioactive decay; and the death of fusion-fuelled stars are scrutinised as well.

The main topics are covered in 8 distinct video chapters:

Chapter 1: Inner Space The programme begins with an outline of the basic building blocks of nature — molecules, atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, and quarks — and the fundamental forces of gravity, electromagnetism, the weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force.

Chapter 2: The Rise of the Atom After a brief review of elements, compounds, chemical reactions, and the scientific method, viewers get a history of the concept of the atom, beginning with ancient Indian and Greek ideas, continuing through the Bohr model, and ending with today’s quantum model.

Chapter 3: Organising Atoms Elements, the atomic number, the neutron number, the atomic mass number, isotopes, and ions are reviewed in this section.

Chapter 4: The Periodic Table of Elements This section explains why the periodic table is set up as it is, and how it helps scientists both orga nise elements, and predict how elements will react when combined with each other. Viewers learn about quantum numbers, energy shells and subshells, and the exclusion principle.

Chapter 5: Chemical Bonds Ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds are the focus here. The role of valence shells, polarization, and electronegativity is highlighted.

Chapter 6: Reactivity This section details the dynamics of alpha, beta, and gamma radioactivity. Also included is a discussion of half-life and carbon-14 dating.

Chapter 7: Nuclear Energy Along with an explanation of the difference between fission and fusion, viewers learn how the sun, bombs, and nuclear power plants generate so much energy.

Chapter 8: Elementary Particle Physics The final section introduces elementary particles such as quarks, leptons, and bosons, and the role that strong and weak nuclear forces play in their study. The programme ends by challenging students to contemplate ‘theories in progress,’ such as anti-matter, and researchers’ hopes for the Large Hadron Collider.

Learning Objectives – after viewing the program, students will be able to:

  • Understand the difference between atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, quarks, elements, molecules, and compounds
  • Define the fundamental forces of gravity, electromagnetism, the weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force
  • Understand that scientists form a hypothesis and then conduct experiments to come up with a theory or model
  • Define the following terms: atomic number, neutron number, atomic mass number, isotope, ion, fission, and fusion
  • Understand the arrangement of the periodic table of elements
  • Understand the four quantum numbers and the exclusion principle
  • Understand ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds
  • Understand alpha, beta, and gamma radioactivity
  • Understand the basics of elementary particles

32-minute chaptered DVD with viewable/printable instructor’s guide available online.

A Films for the Humanities & Sciences Production ©2010

Available on approval from Viewtech Educational Media http://www.viewtech.co.uk/detail.html?pgcode=22253 – quote promotional discount code: HHM110 at the checkout for a 10% discount!

If you’d like any further information or assistance please contact:

Viewtech Educational Media
7-8 Falcons Gate
Dean Road
Yate
Bristol
BS37 5NH
————————————–

tel: 01454 858055
fax: 01454 858056
email: info@viewtech.co.uk
http://www.viewtech.co.uk

————————————–
Viewtech Educational Media is the trading name of Viewtech Audio Visual Media Limited, a company registered in England and Wales under number 4205240. A member of the British Educational Suppliers Association. E.&O.E.

I need a minibus, but we don’t have the cash

The school minibus: gateway to education beyond the classroom, but seemingly too expensive to buy, full of red tape and the need to have someone in the school who sees to the maintenance.

Except that there are solutions, solutions which can be used to provide a minibus, whether for the exclusive use of the sports department or to be shared with other departments in the school.

For a start, a minibus does not necessarily require a large payment of money up front. If the school leases a minibus rather than buying it outright the school then pays for it on a monthly basis, thereby overcoming completely the problem of squeezing already limited cash reserves. And that is only the start of the saving.

Where some school visits and trips are paid for through contributions from parents and the PTA, this can often generate enough funds to cover the monthly cost of the minbus.

Alternatively, the minibus can be funded through small monthly deductions from various departments’ income. Or, if you can persuade both the PTA and perhaps half a dozen departments in the school to agree to fund the bus jointly, the funding problem is completely resolved.

The issue of keeping the vehicle fully maintained and operational at all times can be overcome by an arrangement whereby the company from whom the school leases the minibus is also in charge of maintenance.

What’s more, if you order a minibus in the near future, the chances are it will be delivered to you in September.

Benchmark Leasing specialises in the supply and maintenance of school minibuses. If you are interested in the benefits of a minibus do call us on 01753 859944 or click here to see what we can offer.

Grant funding for teacher visits to Croatia Geography, History, Adventure Education

Croatia is the newest member of the EU, and grants are available to support planning visits for teachers considering school travel to Croatia in 2013.

Schools Own Adventure is a school travel specialist dedicated to developing Eastern Europe for the study of history, geography and adventure education.

We would like to send you a free teachers’ guide to support GCSE and A Level study in Croatia and to explain how to apply for grant funding. All you have to do is let us know that you would like to receive this.

Please e-mail info@schoolsown.com and say ‘I would like to receive a free Teachers’ Guide for the study of: (History, Geography, Adventure Education)’. Add your name, job title and the name of your school. We will be happy to send you a teachers’ guide for the subject of your choice, by return e-mail.

Remember – there is no charge for this service and there is no obligation upon you whatsoever.

UK tel: 0208 533 7734

www.schoolsown.com

Registered in the UK as UK Educational Travel Ltd, no: 07332238 at Holman Enterprise House, 10 Church Hill, Loughton IG10 1LA

Free kitchen extraction survey


Cleaning Maintenance Service

This summer you can arrange to have a free survey of the kitchen extraction facilities in your school.

We are currently offering a hard to beat 3 year parts and labour warranty on all school kitchen extraction systems which includes systems from any supplier.

The warranty includes: all fans, speed controllers, interlock panels & canopy and duct cleaning.

We specialise in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of commercial kitchen extraction systems.

Based in Cambridgeshire, all of our products are built at our custom-made facilities and our services are available nationwide. Full terms and conditions can be found on our website at www.ckdirect.co.uk

Call 0808 178 0001 for your FREE school site survey.

 

 

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.

Does this pupil have dyscalculia – and if so what should we do about it?

Assessing a pupil or student who appears to be poor at maths to see if the child is suffering from dyscalculia is useful as means of helping assign limited resources.

This assessment can be done through an educational psychologist, of course, although this can be rather expensive – and of itself it doesn’t actually provide any resources that can be used to help the pupil or student after the assessment.

The Dyscalculia Centre has been looking into this problem for some time, and we have now come up with an on-line test which is much lower cost than a visit to an educational psychologist.

What is more, having marked the test we then provide a comprehensive set of copiable materials relevant to that student. These resources can then be used in school by an assistant teacher or SENCO working with the student.

The on-line Dyscalculia Test covers the individual’s attitude towards mathematical concepts and issues, plus specific questions on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, shapes, percentages and time. It is intended for anyone aged over seven years, but obviously does imply that the individual would be expected to be able to answer some basic questions in each of these subject areas.

Testing costs £49.95 per pupil. This price includes taking the test, receiving a specific report in relation to the individual taking the test, and being provided with resources relevant to that individual which can be used to help them progress in maths.

To read more about the test please visit http://www.dyscalculia.me.uk/testing.html

The test itself is set up for payment by credit card on-line, but if you wish to use a school order number you can do this by phoning 01536 399 011, or by fax to 01536 399 012. In each case we will need your email address so that we can email you a link to the on-line test. There are more details about payment for schools on http://www.dyscalculia.me.uk/teacher.html

What’s the benefit of learning a second language at primary school?

Of course, one answer is that it speeds up the process of learning that language in secondary school.

But surprisingly, this is just a minor benefit. Indeed, in a major study of the subject Michał B. Paradowski, of the University of Warsaw, discovered that children gain a vast array of benefits from learning a second language.

They gain, for example, a sharper perception of language. They learn more rapidly in their native language, become more efficient communicators in English, are better able to deal with distractions, develop a greater vocabulary size in English, develop sharper memories, become better at problem solving…

In fact the list that Paradowski has found goes on and on. It can improve a child’s critical thinking ability, they have a better understanding and appreciation of people of other countries, and are less likely to have racist tendencies…

So overwhelming are the benefits that it is perhaps surprising that more children are not exposed to a foreign language earlier on.

In order to help with the teaching of foreign languages in primary schools we have developed two volumes containing activities that can be used in every classroom.

Suitable for most languages, the books contain activities which help children to develop oracy and literacy skills in relation to the Key Stage 2 Framework for Language.

100+ Fun Ideas for Practising Modern Foreign Languages in the Primary Classroom contains 137 fun activities for developing oracy and literacy skills using simple props such as flashcards, puppets and bean bags. The tried and tested activities in this book are interactive and allow for as many children as possible at one time to communicate.

More Fun Ideas for Advancing Modern Foreign Languages in the Primary Classroom contains 77 activities for use with pupils who have been studying a new language for a while and are ready to progress beyond learning simple vocabulary and phrases.

This resource will help pupils learn to manipulate the language, improve their decoding skills and discover how the new language functions at sentence level.

Free sample pages are available at the web links below:

100+ Fun Ideas for Practising Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) in the Primary Classroom

More Fun ideas for Advancing Modern Foreign Languages in the Primary Classroom

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.

 

Geography Starters

Starter activities can be invaluable to you as a teacher. They help you to achieve one or more of the following:

  • Engage the pupils as soon as they enter the room, preventing instances of boredom that can lead to poor behaviour.
  • Set the tone for the rest of the lesson. The pupils have engaged in work right from the start.
  • Demonstrate your expectations of the pupils and set a routine. As soon as the pupils enter your classroom they will start work.
  • Recap the main ideas or key words from the previous lesson.
  • Pass on any general geography ideas or skills that you otherwise don’t get time to teach.
  • Get the pupils brains going and instil some motivation.
  • Challenge the pupils in a fun way that makes them look forward to the next one.
  • Challenge the pupils against one another in an enjoyable way.
  • Give yourself the chance to get ready anything you might need for the lesson, or take the register.

Geography Starters is a set of starter activities – crosswords, puzzles, wordsearches, etc – designed for pupils at KS3. It is provided in a photocopiable format so that sheets can be copied and given out to pupils as required – and obviously re-used as much as you wish. Answer sheets are provided.

You can see a full list of the topics and some sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/geography/T1717.pdf

Publisher’s reference: T1717EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 722 7

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: T1717EMN

 

Who wants to be a doctor?

For some families, the decision of a son or daughter to study medicine is hardly a surprise, for there is a family tradition of working in medicine. For other families it can come as a big surprise – and a worry about whether the student really will find this field of work to be as they imagine it.

In both cases it is important for students to understand exactly what working as a doctor is all about.

Of course the student who comes from a family of doctors may feel that he/she knows what’s what in medicine, but it is often the case that one family’s perception of being a doctor does not incorporate every aspect of medicine as a way of life.

And for those who have no family connection with medicine the whole issue can be simultaneously bemusing, confusing and worrying.

Which is why we offer students the opportunity to see what the world of medicine is really like. Through our facilities would-be medical students travel to Africa, India, The Caribbean or Thailand to shadow experienced doctors and healthcare professionals.

Not only does this experience help students to make the right decision about their future career, it is also a useful addition for their UCAS forms.

Recognised by the majority of British medical schools, our hospital work experience is ideal for those students who are interested in medicine, nursing, dentistry or midwifery.

In terms of the practicalities students are met at the airport by one of our specialist staff team members and are looked after by an extensive staff team throughout their stay.

If you have any students who are interested in a career in medicine, there are several ways of giving them the relevant information.

First, you can of course pass on this email.

Alternatively you might direct the student to our website at www.gapmedics.co.uk to find out a lot of detailed information regarding the placements.

Third you can click here to print out some information to pass to your prospective healthcare students.

Finally they can call us on 0191 269 6818 or email us at info@gapmedics.com and we’ll send a brochure in the post.

Regards

Mark Hinksman
Business Development Director

Gap Medics – Launching medical careers
Collingwood Buildings

38 Collingwood Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 1JF

T. +44 (0)191 269 6818
F. +44 (0)191 229 9501
E. mark@gapmedics.com
W. www.gapmedics.com

How good are you at negotiation?

There is one way in which virtually every school in the UK could save itself a considerable sum of money each year.

Negotiation is something most of us think we are good at because we do it every day. We negotiate with colleagues, we negotiate with students. If we have a family at home we also spend time negotiating with them. (After all which parent has not at some time resorted to, “You can watch TV after you have done your homework”?)

But there is no doubt that most of us working in schools don’t have much background in negotiation with suppliers. We tend to accept the contract that suppliers offer us, sign it, and expect everything to be fine.

If we do negotiate it is usually to try to get a discount without necessarily noticing that in so doing we might actually be negatively affecting other aspects of the purchase.

And yet the contract between the school and the retailer offers an opportunity for each side to be specific about what is possible, to clarify assumptions and to enter into a relationship which is satisfactory and beneficial for both parties.

It is because many schools pay little attention to the contracts that they sign that the book Contract Matters:

Connecting the Education and Contract World has been written. It exists because many schools find it nigh on impossible to recover from having entered into a bad contract. Invariably all they can do is see the contract through and rue day it was signed.

Contract Matters contains numerous tips in everyday language for anyone in a school who is in charge of managing contracts. It lists the do’s and don’ts and prompts everyone to investigate assumptions before making decisions.

One minor change to a contract made as a result of reading this volume will pay for the book many times over.

Contract Matters book costs £35.00 plus £3.95 postage and packing. Further information is on-line
at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=760

Order code: CMAAA £35.00 ISBN: 978 0 9876527 3 7

Sample pages can be found at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/bursar/ContractMatters.pdf

You can purchase the book

Can learning about finance really be entertaining for pupils?

Penny Wise is ten. She wants to know what ‘money’ is all about and why grown-ups make such a fuss about it. So she decides to keep a journal of her discoveries about bills, taxes, borrowing and saving.

The ‘Penny Wise’ books (for KS2 pupils) are informative, visual, amusing and entertaining. They are supported by teacher’s books containing photocopiable activity sheets. You can see sample pages on our website.

www.southgatepublishers.co.uk

Southgate Publishers, The Square, Sandford, Crediton, Devon EX17 4LW

Email: info@southgatepublishers.co.uk
Phone: 01363 776888
Fax: 01363 776889

ICT Information and Services


Is there a way of improving students’ workrate and concentration in lessons?

www.centraleducational.co.uk
Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,
PO Box 999, London E14 6SH

Tel: 020 7515 1797
Fax: 020 7515 4420
Email: signpost@talk21.com

Is it possible to improve your students’ performance in lessons?

We all want to be sitting comfortably at a lecture or meeting when we have to concentrate on what the speaker’s saying. In fact if we don’t feel comfortable then it’s usually more difficult to keep track of what’s going on.

It’s no different for our students!

The solution could simply be to replace any chairs which are past their “sell by” date. It’s also possible to obtain “tamperproof” IT chairs which, as the name suggests, make it hard for students to unscrew components and walk off with them!

For a selection of chairs why not view the Central Educational Supplies website (www.centraleducational.co.uk) or call 020 7515 1797 to discuss your requirements.

PS. If you need new storage units, cupboards, tables or benches they can help with these as well.


Here’s the answer Mr Gove

www.keylinkcomputers.co.uk
Keylink Computers Ltd, 2 Woodway House, Common Lane, Kenilworth, CV8 2ES

Phone: 01926 850909
Email: sales@keylinkcomputers.co.uk

Get your entire class writing programs that achieve outcomes that the students find interesting and meaningful – all within the first session.

The TOM simulator enables students to gain a firm understanding of how computers work in a deep way, interrupts, memory mapping, logic gates – all via a safe and easy to use WYSIWYG system.

There is more information on this on our website – www.keylinkcomputers.co.uk. You then need to click on ICT resources in the left hand panel.

Also, there is more information on our blog (which can be found on our website then click on “blog” on the left hand side).


Boardworks – free resources, lesson plans & teaching tips

http://www.boardworks.co.uk/ict_637
Boardworks, Units 5–7 The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1LF

Email: enquiries@boardworks.co.uk
Phone: 0845 0 300 400
Fax: 0845 0 300 200

Boardworks ICT blog contains free resources, lesson plans and teaching tips for KS3, KS4 and vocational ICT teachers. Follow the weblink to download the resources free of charge or follow us on Twitter @BoardworksLtd.

 


Microsoft – and just one of those FREE Software Assurance Benefits

http://www.computerbox.net/?p=913
Computer Box Ltd, Eaton Place, 114 Washway Road, Sale, Cheshire M33 7RF

Phone: 0845 658 2552
Email: peter@computerbox.net

Data Encryption – on Drives & USB sticks with Windows 7 Enterprise BitLocker secure encryption.

It seems that everyone is looking for a data encryption solution.

But did you know that potentially there is one already built in to your operating system! Check this out here …..

For more information on data encryption that can be used in your school please contact Peter on 0845 658 2552 or email him at peter@computerbox.net.


Free IT equipment recycle service

www.prmgreentech.com
PRM Green Technologies Ltd, 19 Kimberley Business Park, Kimberley Way, Brereton, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 1RE

Email via form at http://www.prmgreentech.com/contact.htm
Phone:
0800 840 9195

We collect redundant IT equipment (PC base units, CRT monitors, TFT monitors, servers, laptops, server racks, switches, telecom switches and printers) for recycling, ensuring all data is removed and adherence to the WEEE directive by offering industry leading environmental practices.

What is the most effective way of motivating your pupils to participate in and enjoy creative writing?

Of course many children will be interested in reading and writing. But the question is always, how do we motivate everyone to become excited about literacy?

We set up our Little Books programme five years ago in which schools submit their pupils’ creative writing to us which we then publish in a quality paperback book. Teachers at the hundreds of schools that have participated have been amazed at the enthusiasm the children have demonstrated in creative writing when they are told that their work will be published in a ‘real book’. You can see some of the many testimonials we have received from these teachers on our website www.thelittlebooks.co.uk.

In short, the project involves collating and submitting your pupils’ writing (which can be on any subject) either in typed or handwritten format. This is then sent to our professional typesetters who provide first a proof of the interior followed by a full colour cover. Once both have been approved your Little Book is sent to our digital printers for printing perfect bound on quality 85 gsm crème paper and 240 gsm glossy cover card.

Publishing children’s creative writing in a ‘real paperback book’ has been proven to inspire more children to read and write, and the published books can be sold to proud family members to help raise funds for the school.

If you’re worried about time or commitment – don’t. We’ve made the whole publishing process easy so that your school can participate. Our experience in publishing Little Books has enabled us to streamline and simplify the whole publishing process from start to finish. Also, teachers, members of the PTA or Classroom Representatives have reported that they have enjoyed helping to co-ordinate the project.

We also understand that budgets are under pressure so we’ve made it cost effective and easy for your school to participate. In fact, your first copy is completely free. That’s right, we’re offering to professionally typeset your book and print one copy for free, with no obligation to purchase further copies. If you do decide to, these will cost £5 per copy + P&P with no minimum order.

We are able to make this amazing offer because we are so confident that your children, their family members and your school will love their own Little Book. Hundreds of schools have seen their pupils’ attitudes and writing skills transformed after publishing their Little Books and have set up annual writing projects. All of a sudden, reading and writing is ‘fun’.

Please contact me if you have any queries or require further information.

Tamsin Rush
Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd
t: 01483 243450
e: tamsin@grosvenorhousepublishing.co.uk
w: www.thelittlebooks.co.uk
P.S. Every child who participates in your school’s writing project receives a free ‘I am a published author’ sticker to show off.

Little Books – written by little people

Social Media Policy Document For Schools To Promote Safe Use of Social Media by Staff

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, with 14 teachers suspended and 18 placed on probation. In addition, 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.

Schools are becoming increasingly aware of the need to regulate social media use by teaching staff but often struggle to create a single, detailed policy document which is updated and organic, capable of responding to new trends and sites as they happen. In response to this need, we have liaised with internet and teaching experts to create a trusted, cohesive, accessible and robust school-wide policy that can be practically applied and will, provide clear distinctions between public and private use and most importantly, cover the safe and appropriate use of social media by members of staff.”

The policy document is available to download online from iTeachingResources.com. It 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. It promises to help educational establishments to ensure that the use of social media by staff;

  • Does not bring the school into disrepute
  • Does not bring the teacher into disrepute
  • Does not expose the school to legal liability
  • Reflects ‘safer internet’ practices
  • Minimises risks associated with the personal use of social media by professionals and
  • Reflects the school’s standard of behaviour and staff code of conduct

The safe use code has been developed in line with good teaching in PSCHE, ICT and other subjects with regard to “safer use of the internet”. It was written by teacher Tom Tolkien, a Senior Manager with extensive experience of whole school assessment, internet and e-safety as well as initiative and policy development.

The document provides practical step-by-step guides to applying recommended privacy settings on popular social networking sites, with explanations on how to determine if posts, comments, images, links and videos shared on a profile by a teacher are appropriate and transparent.

The policy includes information for teaching staff about maintaining privacy and keeping personal information such as phone numbers and addresses private while using their own or school equipment. Detailed guidelines regarding communication with parents and pupils cover sites like Facebook and Twitter, acceptable content for social network profiles and how to respond to initiated contact from pupils. The policy concludes with guidance on recognising exceptions and reporting abuse or cyber bullying.

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 iTeachingResources.com

or

Phone: 0113 2660880,

Fax: 0113 2697889

Email: orders@iteachingresources.com

Post to: iTeachingResources, Allerton House, 75 Allerton Hill, Leeds, LS7 3QB.

Having a loan service of netbooks for students is highly desirable. But how can the logistical problems be overcome?

This is the story of Swansea University’s desire to implement a self-service netbook loan solution via their main library building and in a newly developed study area.

Self-service library books have been in place for a number of years, but the self-service of netbooks introduced a new set of challenges – especially as the university desired it to be a low maintenance and secure service that could be operated 24 hours a day.

A key element of the service was to allow a student to self-issue a netbook in the quickest possible time and to then proceed to use the netbook just as quickly.

Swansea University also envisaged the use of the self-service lockers as a supplementary service to their fixed, open access PCs – the netbooks could cater for students who didn’t need the “full fat” service as supplied on PCs, whilst also allowing them to bring the device to where they are studying.

Obviously, the university was also keen to ensure that they only loaned netbooks to known, valid students and that the students return them in a secure manner.

It was a fair collection of requirements: students to have a 24 hour access to netbooks, getting to use the equipment quickly, low maintenance, available to valid students only, keeping track of returned netbooks and having a solution that fitted in with university’s existing systems.

The university found one solution that met all these requirements, and that was the Bretford Myritrac – but they then came up with one more challenge. The university wanted to launch the service with little or no publicity or instructions. And, in fact, students started using the system and found it quite intuitive; there was no need to introduce extra directions or instructions or carry out training. Staff support training requirements were minimal too.

The Bretford Myritrac system allows you to take control of all aspects of managing electrical equipment including laptops, tablets and even mobile phones. Securely storing it; charging it; running software updates; assigning user access rights and even feeding back information about when, at what time and by whom the allocated item was removed or replaced.

Additionally, they reduce the requirement for mains supply outlets within library/study areas as each cabinet is connected to a single mains supply.

There is still more that the Bretford Myritrac system can do; more detailed information can be found on our website. Alternatively call us on 01753 53 99 55.

Ensuring your school website is compliant with the new Privacy Directive

The Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive from the EU is not necessarily something you might consider as bedtime reading, but it does have an impact on your school.

For that is the formal name of what is becoming known as the Cookie Law – a regulation which came into effect on 26th May this year.

Cookies are typically used to enable users to log in to a website, to display content relevant to the user, to remember a user’s preferences, for Google Analytics, etc. If you have a video of your school on your website and it is hosted by someone such as YouTube, then that will probably have cookies within it.

The Information Commissioners Office has powers to fine website owners up to £500,000 for serious breaches in the law – but fortunately the chance of a school being fined anything in the first couple of years of the implementation of the regulation are slight.

However… (and this is the point that some schools have found when they have been wrapped over the knuckles in relation to issues such as having pupil data on memory sticks or laptops) the embarrassment factor that can arise from being caught out publicly is rather large. Indeed the resultant publicity can, at a stroke, counter all the good that a well-designed website does the school.

To help you ensure that everything is in order on your website we can undertake a “Cookie Audit” review for you for £75.00. We’ll undertake a review of your site and let you know if you are compliant with the Directive.

What’s more, if you are not compliant we will advise you on the necessary steps to take to correct this.

You can find out more about the cookie law and also our Cookie Audit Review on our website at www.inco-education.co.uk/cookie_audits.php

Or contact us by email at info@inco-education.co.uk or by calling 01902 784 800.

Alphabet of a Teenager – The entire PSHE curriculum in one sitting

Michael nervously opens his GCSE results. He remembers everything that’s happened up until this very moment. What did he feel like on the day that he first arrived at School? What went through his head when he was offered a cigarette by one of his peers? What did his Mum and Dad think when he did no revision for his exams? Why now, because of what he’s experienced, does racism make his blood boil furiously?

Has he done enough to claw his way back up and achieve exam results that he can be proud of? In this 50 minute play, packed full of stories and teenage angst and adventure, find out how it is possible to cover the entire PSHE curriculum in less than an hour.

The curriculum that we adhere to is the non statutory programme, as set out by the Department of Education. This includes coverage in the production of the following topics:

  • Drugs and Alcohol Education
  • Emotional Health and well-being
  • Sex and relationship education
  • Nutrition and physical activity
  • Personal finance
  • Safety
  • Careers education
  • Work-related learning

The production gives a broad overview of the curriculum and our post show workshop programme allows each of these elements to be explored in far greater depth and instigates debate of sensitive subject matter amongst the students.

How does it do this?

The story is told by one single actor and follows his journey through Secondary education right the way through from his first day in Year 7, to receiving his GCSE results in Year 11. Told through his eyes, this piece is not only interactive but will also appeal to students because the story is told to them at their level, making the content easy to relate to.

The notion that students will be able to say ‘I know how that feels’ or ‘Yes, something similar happened to me’ helps build the ethos of the entire production. We want students to relate to the material and feel like they are not alone in the trials and tribulations that they are facing.

Something like choosing the subjects that are right for you at GCSE and using your personal identity blue print to make these subject and career choices is incredibly important but not necessarily easy for students to access. The play light heartedly shows them the journey across the misty fields towards their goals and ambitions and if they’ll let it, may even help to shape their destiny.

Teachers’ resources:

As with all of our productions, full post show support is offered with our Teachers’ resource pack. This is full of information about the production itself, including a full copy of the script. It also contains several lesson plans including worksheets to develop the themes within the play further.

From September there will be an audio version available to download online. This will be made available to staff in the school and parents at home too, should they wish to listen to an audio version of the play. Part of our pre-performance check contains a letter that you can distribute to parents, informing them of this resource. There will be a small charge to download this.

For more details please see http://keystagetheatre.co.uk/alphabet-of-a-teenager/
Key Stage Theatre
01483 306899
07730878190

The fascination of watching your colleagues at work

Perhaps one of the most interesting experiences that a primary teacher can have is that of witnessing the day to day activity of a colleague in the classroom.

Quite often it is not the overall structure and approach to a lesson which grabs the attention, but the way in which the smaller moments and events are handled.

One obvious example is the way in which teachers organise times of transition. What do you do with children who finish tasks before the others are ready to move on? Everyone has a few favoured activities for such moments – but it is often the case that alternatives are welcome. And this is what can be observed when visiting a colleague’s classroom.

These are the types of activities that we have now gathered together: the activities that teachers across the country use to cover short periods of time within the school day.

They cover a wide range of different subject areas including English, maths, thinking skills, science and PSHE skills. Each activity has an estimated time for completion, anywhere between 3 and 10 minutes and answers are also included.

These resources can be used as class activities, as homework or for those gifted and talented children who finish the other set work first.

There is more information and free sample pages available on our website by clicking the links below:

Timely Tasks for Fast Finishers aged 5-7 years

Timely Task for Fast Finishers aged 7-9 years

Timely Tasks for Fast Finishers aged 9-11 years

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.

Social Media Policy Document For Schools To Promote Safe Use of Social Media by Staff

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, with 14 teachers suspended and 18 placed on probation. In addition, 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.

Schools are becoming increasingly aware of the need to regulate social media use by teaching staff but often struggle to create a single, detailed policy document which is updated and organic, capable of responding to new trends and sites as they happen. In response to this need, we have liaised with internet and teaching experts to create a trusted, cohesive, accessible and robust school-wide policy that can be practically applied and will, provide clear distinctions between public and private use and most importantly, cover the safe and appropriate use of social media by members of staff.”

The policy document is available to download online from iTeachingResources.com. It 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. It promises to help educational establishments to ensure that the use of social media by staff;

  • Does not bring the school into disrepute
  • Does not bring the teacher into disrepute
  • Does not expose the school to legal liability
  • Reflects ‘safer internet’ practices
  • Minimises risks associated with the personal use of social media by professionals and
  • Reflects the school’s standard of behaviour and staff code of conduct

The safe use code has been developed in line with good teaching in PSCHE, ICT and other subjects with regard to “safer use of the internet”. It was written by teacher Tom Tolkien, a Senior Manager with extensive experience of whole school assessment, internet and e-safety as well as initiative and policy development.

The document provides practical step-by-step guides to applying recommended privacy settings on popular social networking sites, with explanations on how to determine if posts, comments, images, links and videos shared on a profile by a teacher are appropriate and transparent.

The policy includes information for teaching staff about maintaining privacy and keeping personal information such as phone numbers and addresses private while using their own or school equipment. Detailed guidelines regarding communication with parents and pupils cover sites like Facebook and Twitter, acceptable content for social network profiles and how to respond to initiated contact from pupils. The policy concludes with guidance on recognising exceptions and reporting abuse or cyber bullying.

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 iTeachingResources.com

or

Phone: 0113 2660880,

Fax: 0113 2697889

Email: orders@iteachingresources.com

Post to: iTeachingResources, Allerton House, 75 Allerton Hill, Leeds, LS7 3QB.

What is the visitor’s first thought?

Creating the right impression for visitors to your school is always going to be of the utmost importance. But what is it that creates the right impression?

One could put comfortable furniture in the reception area, with awards and school photos on display. But what else?

It is interesting that in some locations (and schools are by no means alone in this regard) it is assumed that the visitor’s experience starts at the reception area – when in fact it actually starts as the visitor looks for signs pointing the way to that reception area.

But the impact of signs doesn’t stop there. Visitors will see signs on the doors of offices and classrooms, signs about safety, and so forth. Where these signs are printed on paper and stuck on with blue tack, all the hard work of making the reception area look smart is wasted.

The reason that some schools have been restrained in their use of quality signage has generally been because signs have been expensive to buy and install. You had to get quotes and then place the order (which may take a while to arrive); you may even have the pleasure of paying a delivery charge on top of everything else.

Thankfully, this is no longer the case. Delivery time has come down to zero, and the cost has dropped beyond belief (and all while the quality has not been affected).

This is all achieved because it is now possible to print signs on your laser printer within school. The Quick-Mark Digital is a unique product that allows you to produce self-adhesive signs, front panels and labels up to A3 size, on a standard office laser printer at an extremely low cost and with the highest quality.

All you need is some Quick-Mark Laser Film and Base Sheets and you can then print self-laminating, high quality self adhesive labels, panels or signs. The signs are highly durable, the laser toner is always sub-surface, and you can work on metal or plastic Base Sheets producing a polycarbonate finish if needed.

There is more information on this unique printing system on our website – http://www.megauk.com/qmd_signs/

Alternatively, call us on 01223 893900 or email us at sales@megauk.com.

English Information and Services

Free dictionaries for your students ….. is it really true?

www.signposteducational.co.uk
Signpost Educational Ltd

Email: signpost@talk21.com
Phone: 020 7515 1797
Fax: 020 7515 4420

Well yes, it really is true!

With 384 pages and a clear, easy to read typeface, the “New Choice” dictionary is an excellent choice for your KS 3,4 and GCSE students. It’s the normal paperback size (196 x 128 mm) and costs only £1.99.

So where do the free copies come in?

Simple. Just order 100 or more copies and you’ll get 50% extra free of charge.

Order 200 and you’ll get another 100 copies free. There’s no limit to the quantity you can order and you’ll always get an extra 50% free with orders over 100 copies.

What’s more you can get the same deal with the “New Choice” Thesaurus which is also £1.99. In fact you can combine your free copies to include both dictionary

AND thesaurus eg.Order 100 dictionaries and 100 thesauri and you could get 100 Dictionaries or 100 thesauri free…or 80 dictionaries and 20 thesauri free. It’s your choice!


Boardworks – free resources, lesson plans and teaching tips

http://www.boardworks.co.uk/english_626
Boardworks, Units 5–7 The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1LF

Email: enquiries@boardworks.co.uk
Phone: 0845 0 300 400
Fax: 0845 0 300 200

Boardworks English blog contains free resources, lesson plans and teaching tips for KS3, KS4 and KS5 English teachers. Follow the weblink to download the resources free of charge or follow us on Twitter @BoardworksLtd.


Pupil reports made easy

www.reportcommentbank.co.uk/?r=hamilton
Teach ICT Ltd, 1 Ffordd y Felin, Trefin, Haverfordwest, SA62 5AX

Email: info@reportcommentbank.co.uk
Phone: 0845 094 6427

Fax: 0700 349 7137

Our point and click report writer is FREE to join and will save you hours when it comes to writing pupil reports. You can use our comments, comments from other teachers or write your own.

50% ROYALTIES FOR YOUR OWN RESOURCES ARE NOW BEING PAID PLUS THE CHANCE TO WORK PART TIME AS AN EDUCATION CONSULTANT!!

Our Summer Term drive to publish new resources and recruit new education consultants is now in full swing and we have already been contacted by many teachers who are looking for specific material for the new school year to fit new curriculum specifications in September.

Many have asked if we are taking on resources to cover the new syllabi they have to teach or whether they have a whole Summer’s lesson preparation work to look forward to!

Others have contacted to discuss the fact that they would probably have to write something for themselves anyhow and what exactly was the publishing deal Classroom Resources could offer.

Others still, who write for alternative publishers and are only being paid 15% to 20% royalties for their resources have asked us to put the offer in writing so they can sign up!

SO HERE IT IS AGAIN

  • 50% royalties, that is half of the sale price, excluding VAT, of all new resources taken on to be paid back to the teacher authors in royalties.
  • Copyright to remain with the teacher authors at all times.
  • Guaranteed individual email promoting only your new resource to all HOD and interested teachers on a worldwide basis by the acknowledged independent market leaders in the field (Hamilton House). Thereafter continued promotion through various media outlets.
  • Professional proofreading, editing and publishing, all pre and post production, ISBN registration, VAT, postage and packing, handling and despatch undertaken on your behalf.
  • Printed statement sent to you of all schools, colleges and individuals who have bought your resource every 6 months together with your 50% royalty payments.

Some teachers who have contacted us have even already accrued some pre-production sales interest and potential earnings. That is before they have even written the resource!

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITIES WITH CLASSROOM RESOURCES.

As a Classroom Resources author we also offer you the chance to greatly enhance your experience and expertise, and of course your CV by writing sponsored material for FTSE companies, local authorities, government institutions and many other commercial organisations.

Have you thought why other “educational publishers” cannot offer their authors, the perk of fixed fee commissioned work for FTSE companies?!? Is it because they perhaps do not have the professionalism, expertise and simple educational credibility which hard nose, money making corporate institutions demand of partner businesses? Or is it because they are offering you their authors much lower royalty rates and making all their money from your resources? Or is it perhaps both of these reasons? (Answers please on a post card by this weekend!)

Innovators in publishing practising teacher’s own work we have the educational pedigree other publishers lack. Many Classroom Resources teacher authors have taken advantage of consultancy work and have recently significantly changed their “underpaid” status!

With much more consultancy work in the pipeline we would now like to take on more teacher authors with writing experience to meet our clients needs.

Take a look at the impressive Consultancy Client list on our website to see the kind of work our teacher authors produce and the subjects that we cover.

It looks great on your CV to say you have written and researched educational resources for a corporate institution and you will then receive not only royalties for your sales but fixed fee payments for all commissions.

Give us call if you would like to discuss any projects that you might be interested in or just to join our list of authors ready to accept a commission!

To see a full list of our Corporate Clients as well as samples of materials our teacher authors have produced for them go to: www.classroom-resources.co.uk

 

Classroom Resources
PO Box 1489
Bristol
BS99 3QJ

www.classroom-resources.co.uk
sales@classroom-resources.co.uk

Tel: 0117 940 6409

What price PC and Apple security?

Having computers and Apple devices stolen from the school is no-one’s favourite scenario. It is disruptive (both in terms of getting in the replacement machines and trying to recover lost data) and therefore incredibly time-consuming.

And, if a server is stolen as well, the matter can be a lot worse – not least because the Data Protection Office is increasingly showing an interest in such matters and will want assurance that the data on the machine was encrypted.

Because the number of computer and Apple thefts from schools are rising, both insurance companies and the police are endorsing the use of security cages to help reduce the loss.

These not only reduce thefts but also reduce malicious damage.

Better still, the security devices are themselves reusable. For when a computer and/or Apple device is retired from active life in the school, one can move the security device and put it on another machine.

In other words, security, once bought, provides protection for your computers and Apple devices and may well result in a discount on your insurance policy.

At PC Safe we offer a range of tower PC/server security cages and desktop PC/Server security cages that are both totally enclosed and also partially accessible, in standard and bespoke sizes.

These cages can be supplied in a colour of your choice and at a price to meet your budget.

Furthermore, these cages are insurance compatible and police recommended.

PC Safe also offer security products for all your Apple devices at very reasonable prices. You can find the full range of Apple Security Devices on our website.

For more information please visit our website www.pc-safe.co.uk, call us on 01902 784800 or email us at info@pc-safe.co.uk.

Improving literacy through the Olympics

This is going to be an extraordinarily busy summer, and to help pupils focus on the Olympics GrowStoryGrow are offering free stories each month for schools to use.

The current story covered is The Olympics and is available in English (for English as an Additional Language) and in French, Spanish and German.

The reason this story is special is because of the way that it ‘grows’: slowly becoming harder with the addition of high frequency words.

What’s more, the story includes interactive games and resources.

To access the free story, simply go to www.growstorygrow.com/story-of-the-month and enter your details and use the password: 123456

We are also are running a story competition entitled ‘A day in the life of an Olympic athlete.’

The winner will have their story translated into several languages, animated, and produced using sound effects.

If you would like to find out more, please go to http://www.growstorygrow.com/teachers/competition/competition-details.

The deadline is June 29th and certificates will be given to runners up.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me: val@growstorygrow.com

Kind Regards

Val Thornber
GrowStoryGrow, online stories and games for learning languages
www.growstorygrow.com
val@growstorygrow.com

“To say they enjoyed the stories is an understatement!” Christine Brown, Hillary Primary School

GrowStoryGrow is winner of the Commitment to Excellence Award by Best Practice
GrowStoryGrow has been shortlisted for:
the BETT awards 2011
the Nielsen Innovation of the Year Award 2011
the Frankfurt Book Fair Digital Award 2011

the Linguascope Product of the Year Award 2011

What is the most effective way of helping boys understand the importance of school and in particular raising their interest in maths?

Interestingly the answer to both these questions, and indeed the answer to a large number of other interesting challenges schools face, can be found in the same teaching resource.

This finding became apparent when we worked with children using “Career Detectives” (a resource centred around a board game) who reported that understanding more about the world of work made them want to try harder in school. In fact, we found that children are gaining benefits far in excess of anything we first imagined.

Career Detectives provides a range of stimulating information about careers across all sectors within the context of a set of activities that can be completed either in small groups or with the whole class.

Career Detectives has within it enough material for an entire term’s work across every subject of the curriculum. Using the resource enhances and raises awareness of key skills including teamwork, communication, leadership, creativity and confidence and embeds other key learning outcomes including healthy eating and citizenship.

At the same time the resource helps pupils to discover all about the world of work and which career sectors may interest them. Research led by Simon Hughes MP, who has endorsed Career Detectives, has shown that greater understanding of the world of work not only raises aspirations but also improves attainment.

What’s more, using Career Detectives can also enhance your outcomes when Ofsted inspect as it enables you to demonstrate spiritual, moral, social and cultural development in your school. It also helps in a number of other areas, such as achievement or quality of teaching, details of which can be found on our website.

So if you’re looking to re-engage boys with education, or broaden girls horizons regarding non-stereotypical career options, then we’re confident Career Detectives will be of immense value to your school.

You can read more of the comments that pupils have made after a Career Detectives session here.

And there is more information available on Career Detectives itself here.

********************

“I am happy to recommend Career Detectives, which was demonstrated to me in a year 6 class at a school where I am a chair of governors. The game met with enthusiasm from the children, who responded well to the tasks set and enjoyed the vocal and timed aspects of the game. Very importantly, the children were genuinely interested in discussing potential careers after using the game – which is a great way of opening up elements of careers advice as advocated in my Access to Education Report.”

Simon Hughes MP, Minister for Access to Education

Free Geography KS3/4 resources

This free BMRA pack offers a range of learning opportunities that enable students to explore key aspects of geography through the study of real-world examples.

Students learn about place, from the location of recycling centres in their town to the location of metal ores throughout the world.

They learn about space and investigate the interactions between places and the networks created by the flow of goods. They are encouraged to consider what they can do to aid recycling on different scales, from personal, local, national, international and global perspectives.

By investigating how human actions can reduce impacts on the environment they consider the interdependent nature of physical and human processes and, importantly, how sequences of events lead to changes in places and societies.

Students consider how recycling metals is a sustainable use of resources with significant positive impacts on the environment and climate change.

Through a series of enquiry-based activities students ask geographical questions, thinking critically, constructively and creatively. They analyse and evaluate evidence, presenting findings to each other, and draw and justify conclusions. Through decision-making exercises students solve problems, develop analytical skills and are encouraged to think creatively about topical issues.

In presentations and group work activities students develop skills of graphicacy and visual literacy, using geographical information system (GIS) techniques to communicate their knowledge and understanding in both speech and writing.

For information on how this resource relates to the KS3 and KS4 national curriculum and full teacher’s notes please click here.

You can download the resource from the BMRA website at www.recyclemetals.org/metals_and_me

This resource is produced by British Metal Recycling Association. If you have any enquiries please contact us by email at admin@recyclemetals.org.

Advertising Layout

Creating a successful print ad involves a dynamic mix of visual theory, consumer psychology, and nuts-and-bolts tinkering.

“Advertising Layout” is a new two-part DVD resource which provides a thorough grounding in all of the above, familiarising students with the terminology and working concepts that successful graphic designers and advertising creatives make use of on a daily basis.

Advertising Layout Part I: Space Allocations

This programme helps students understand the proper space allocation for the main elements of a two-dimensional advertisement, including the illustration, headline, copy, and logo. [more…]

Advertising Layout Part II: Visual Direction

This programme shows how to attract a reader’s attention with the layout concepts commonly known as picture window, silhouette, square zero, Mondrian, closure, over-sizing, juxtaposition, surrealism, and shock. [more…]

Although both episodes are rich in detailed guidance, their class-friendly run times make them ideal for coursework in marketing, advertising, design, and commercial art.

Available on approval from Viewtech Educational Media. To order online click on the title links above and then add to order – quote promotional discount code: HHM110 at the checkout for a 10% discount!

If you’d like any further information or assistance please contact:

Viewtech Educational Media
7-8 Falcons Gate
Dean Road
Yate
Bristol
BS37 5NH
————————————–

tel: 01454 858055
fax: 01454 858056
email: info@viewtech.co.uk
http://www.viewtech.co.uk

FREE resources that equip young people with the skills and confidence they need to travel safely and responsibly on public transport.

UK train and bus operator Go-Ahead’s new education programme ‘Go-Learn’ is an ideal way of introducing public transport to pupils. It aims to help children and young people improve their knowledge of public transport and develop skills for independent travel. It also raises their awareness of the social, economic and environmental benefits of using buses and trains rather than cars.

David Brown, Group Chief Executive of Go-Ahead, said: “Our rail and bus services have a key role to play in the communities they serve and will become an increasingly important mode of travel for the next generation. We are committed to providing a safe, efficient and sustainable transport service and to equipping young people with the skills and knowledge they need to travel independently and with confidence on buses and trains.”

Go-Learn is free to download and uses the theme of public transport to deliver a range of informative and engaging resources which are mapped against the National Curriculum for literacy and numeracy (ages 4-7 and 7-11) and PSHE and citizenship (for ages 12-14).

Downloadable fact and worksheet topics include:

  • Different forms of public transport and their relevance in urban and rural settings
  • Bus tickets (coins, change and working out fares)
  • Environmental benefits of public transport
  • Timekeeping and understanding timetables
  • Safety when using public transport
  • The causes, consequences and impacts of anti-social behaviour on public transport
  • The importance of team work and communications in the workplace

Activities for pupils include whole-class and group discussions, individual written tasks and opportunities to carry out research. Word glossaries, extension tasks and suggestions for further study are also provided.

Go-Learn is free to download from www.go-ahead.com/go-learn

Playground Sunshades and Rain Shelters

Do you wish you had extra covered space?

We are all too aware of the increasing need to provide shelter for pupils from harmful UV rays and the worst of British winters. Our large range of canopies and playground shelters are all designed to protect your Students from the sun and keep them dry on those less pleasant days.

Many secondary schools now require extra covered areas for outdoor eating and drinking. If like them your cafeteria or dining room is too small to cater for an increase in the number of your students then a canopy structure could be the answer. Typically a fraction of the cost of a new building or extension our canopy structures are the cost effective solution to creating that additional covered space.

Zenith provide experienced advice and quality canopies to provide you, the customer, with the perfect outdoor covered environment. Give us a call for a FREE site survey and quotation on 01189789072.

   

Colours and designs to suit your school

    With a large range of canopy stylesand many colour options we will work with you to create the covered area that best suits your application.

 Our structures are all manufactured to sizes to suit your site enabling us to cover almost any space.

 

Free no obligation site survey….

Why not give us a call today on 0118 978 9072 or email us and find out how your school will benefit from installing one of our playground shelters?


 

We provide a full range of walling options including PVC walling, PVCu double glazing and roller shutters.

Let us take care of everything…
From the initial measure up, to organising groundworkers and installing the shelter, we do it all.

 

Stay Safe …

We are accredited to several health and safety schemes including; CHAS, Constructionline and Exor. Also all of our staff are CRB checked.

Is leasing an option?

We have seen a recent increase in the number of schools leasing canopy structures. Call us today and we can discuss the range of plans available for schools.

It only takes 2 minutes

In the last couple of years I have been very interested in the different ways in which schools are approaching the issue of sublimation printers.

While the D&T departments in some schools see the sublimation printer as a key element in the development of the department, other schools have chosen to go down other routes.

I would really like to understand more about the thinking behind this, and as a first step I’ve constructed a simple questionnaire which I’d like to invite to complete.

It will only take about two minutes to complete, and your answers will not, of course, be revealed to anyone else.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sublimation

Many thanks

Tony Hawkins
Mega Electronics

SAINSBURYS CHIEF RE-VISITS COLLEGE FOR AWARDS EVENING

The Sixth Form College, Solihull will host its annual Awards Evening at the Renewal Conference Centre next week, celebrating student success during the 2011/2012 academic year.

Staff and students will be joined at the Lode Lane centre by parents and other notable guests to hand out prizes and enjoy student performances in Music, Dance and Drama. Prizes are being given out for every subject, as well as extra curricular activities, including sport and exceptional progress. A large number of students are also receiving College Colours, which is a special award that any student can apply for by demonstrating leadership, team-work and completing a challenging activity.

Special guest for the event will be Justin King CBE. He was a student at the College from 1977 – 1979 and has gone on to achieve great success since. He has recently been awarded an AoC Gold award for his achievements since leaving College. He is currently the Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s, having also worked for a number of other prominent food manufacturers such as Mars Confectionery, Pepsi International and Haägen Dazs before becoming Director of ASDA in 1994. In 2001, King moved to Marks & Spencer where he managed the food division.

Justin joined Sainsbury’s in 2004, charged with improving sales and halting its declining market share. Within six months, King had launched his recovery programme under the banner, “Making Sainsbury’s Great Again” and has recently been able to announce that the company has achieved 30 consecutive quarters of sales growth.

In January 2009 Justin was appointed to the Board of the London Organising Committee for the Olympics by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. He was then made a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group and awarded a CBE in the Birthday Honours in 2011.

College Principal Paul Ashdown, commented: “It is fantastic to have such a high profile individual as Justin King as one of our alumni. It just goes to show what you can achieve with a good education behind you and a drive and determination to succeed. We are delighted that Justin is able to join us at our Awards Evening this year and feel sure that his presence will act as a motivation for all our students.”