Subject:                                     Head Teachers - Weekly news update 28

 

 

Text Box: SCHOOLS NorthEast weekly update The future of our region is in school  

 

 

 


This week.....get your pupils to celebrate families this week with the United Nations International Day of Families (officially

on Friday). This year’s theme is – "Mothers and Families: Challenges in a Changing World" and resources for schools can be

found at - http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family/

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News and Events

 

FAO: Secondary schools

North East Solar Car Challenge runs again

Year 6 pupils in the region will soon be racing for pole position for the fifth year at the North East Solar Car Challenge. Schools

across the North East are now invited to enter teams of four at the popular event held at Nissan Sports and Social Club in

Sunderland on Thursday 9 July. Each participating school is given two solar car kits and pupils taking part will gain valuable

experience in engineering, science and graphic design. The challenge also aims to promote renewable energy, sustainability,

and wider environmental issues in schools. There are exciting prizes for first, second and third places in both competition

categories – speed and design. This year’s event is being sponsored by One North East and supported by a partnership involving

the Energy Saving Trust, Nissan, Hartlepool Borough Council and the North East Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Schools. 

Any schools interested in taking part should contact k.stonehouse@schoolsnortheast.com

 

Learn ‘The How Of Happiness’

Build Resilience & Optimism in the North East

Join Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor of Psychology at the University of California for the next in the series of Master Classes aimed

at building optimism and resilience in children, young adults and their families. The workshops, aim to help practitioners develop

positive thinking strategies in order to promote resilient thinking and future optimism. They have been developed by Gateshead and

Newcastle City councils and sponsored by GONE and Northumbria University. Schools from North Tyneside and South Tyneside

and Northumbria will be showcasing their work.

The workshop cost £99 and will be held on  Monday 1 June at Newcastle Business School @ Northumbria University, the closing

date for applications is 18 May 2009.

For more information or to sign up, contact Helen Walker - helen.walker@newcastle.gov.uk, 0191 2115391.

 

Who Do We Think We Are? Week    

Who Do We Think We Are? Week runs from Monday 22 June to Friday 28 June 2009 and aims to engage primary and secondary

school teachers in the exploration of issues relating to identity, diversity and citizenship with their pupils, in their schools, local

communities and beyond. The initiative, launched following Sir Keith Ajegbo’s Curriculum Review on Diversity and Citizenship explores

the themes of:

Teachers can access starter activities, case studies, tool kits, guidance and ideas on how they can take part at - www.wdwtwa.org.uk  

 

Get prepared! Global Entrepreneurship Week

It may be six months away but we all know how time flies and it’s always good to be well prepared! Global Entrepreneurship week

(previously known as Enterprise Week) will be held from Monday 16 November until Sunday 22 November. Millions of people all

over the world will be encouraged to unleash their enterprising talents and turning their ideas into reality. Keep an eye on the

Global Entrepreneurship Week UK website for latest news. Events throughout the week include:

·         Make Your Mark Challenge - Mon 16 Nov

·         Women’s Enterprise Day – Wed 18 Nov

·         Social Enterprise Day – Thurs 19 Nov

·         Home Enterprise Day – Fri 20 Nov

For more information on Global Entrepreneurship Week or to download the new logo, go to - www.makeyourmark.org.uk

 

Interested in Next Generation Learning?

Cramlington Learning Village invites you to sign-up for the Next Generation Learning conference, a day of engaging workshops

that aim to offer insight, tips, strategies and materials for next Generation Learning. You will have the opportunity to question

practitioners with hands-on, proven experience of enquiry based learning, personalised learning, working in flexible learning

spaces, and the innovative use of ICT to support and enhance learning. Delegates are asked to create their own agenda by

signing-up for workshops that are split into four areas:

·         Next Generation Learning

·         Next Generation Learning Environments

·         Next Generation Learning Technology

·         Next Generation Learning Support

Date: Friday 26 June at Cramlington Learning Village, Northumberland from 8.30am-3.45pm. For more information on the

Conference or to reserve your place, go to – www.cramlingtonlv.co.uk/nextgen

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News round-up

 

Local news

·         More effort needed to find why some Northumberland schools are unpopular (News Post Leader)

·         'Green' village in County Durham gets backing from Brian Eno (Journal Live)

·         MP defends survey on Durham academy (Journal Live)

·         Pupils' project a Premier idea (Sunderland Echo)

·         New SSAT role for Bishop Auckland science teacher (Northern Echo)

·         Durham Chorister school girls finally allowed to sing (Daily Express)

·         Teesside's private schools buck UK trend (Gazette Live)

·         David Cameron visits Monkseaton School (News Guardian)

·         Eco-friendly pupils design Little Rotters logo (Northern Echo)

·         Rescue bid for South Tyneside special school (Sunderland Echo)

·         Cash comes early for Billingham school (Gazette Live)

·         Artistic engineering pupils’ work unveiled (Northern Echo)

·         Early release of £180m for school buildings in Tees Valley (Northern Echo)

·         Coffee contest for Durham schools (Northern Echo)

·         Confusion over Northumberland school transport situation (News Post Leader)

 

SATs, GCSEs, A Levels and testing

·         Danish schools ready to trial internet access during exams (BBC News)

·         Warning to top pupils on grades (Guardian)

·         Primary Sats to stay but league tables could go (TES)

·         Sats tests will survive - for now (Guardian)

·         Testing teachers and the validity of exams (Times)

·         Ed Balls backs experts who undermine future of primary school tests (Times Online)

·         Education experts support testing as teachers threaten boycott (Times Online)

·         New qualifications are rushed in too quickly, says exam watchdog (Guardian)

·         Wearside Head teachers vote on Sats 'farce' (Sunderland Echo)

·         Ministers and teachers on collision course over Sats exams (Daily Telegraph)

·         Changes to sats tests will be recommended (The Telegraph)

·         Primary school science Sats end (BBC News)

·         Labour to abolish science test (The Independent)

·         Science Sats to be scrapped but maths and English tests expected to continue (Guardian)

·         'Scrap science SATs tests at 11 in bid to beat union backlash', ministers told (Daily Mail)

·         Physics GCSE: is science a physical wreck? (Times2)

·         GCSEs are too easy and should be abolished. Discuss (Times Online)

·         Schools need testing (Telegraph)

·         Reduce exam stress: give pupils more tests (Times)

 

Swine flu

·         Exam plans prepared for swine flu (BBC News)

·         How snap decisions averted flu spread (TES)

·         Private schools are urged to set up quarantine areas (The Independent)

·         A-level and GCSE exams to be scrapped in swine flu schools (Times Online)

·         Swine flu plan to award GCSEs without exam (Guardian)

·         Schools advised as flu total rises (The Journal)

 

Gordon Brown’s speech

·         Gordon Brown's education plans branded 'populist spin' (Daily Telegraph)

·         Brown savages Tory schools policy (Financial Times)

·         Parents will rate local schools, says Gordon Brown (Guardian)

·         I pledge an education system that is more accountable to parents (Independent)

Diplomas

·         Ofqual chief backs diploma timetable (TES)

·         Diploma fears as regulator raises doubts over new qualifications (The Telegraph)

·         Most degree courses take Diplomas (BBC News)

·         Diplomas invalid for many top university courses (Guardian)

 

Special educational needs

·         Call for Ofsted to turn its eye on SEN (TES)

·         One child in five now classed as 'special needs' (Daily Mail)

·         Our children's needs are unmet, parents of gifted pupils claim (TES)

 

Free school meals

·         More pupils on free school meals (BBC News)

·         More children on free school meals (Guardian)

·         County Durham primary pupils get free lunches (Chronicle Live)

 

Other educational news

·         The great ministerial pretence destroying education (Sunday Times)

·         Parents doubt school cards plan (BBC News)

·         'Dragon' academy teaches teenagers who quit school to become tycoons (Guardian)

·         Tax-deductible fees 'perfectly moral' (TES)

·         What do you say? How to handle the press (TES)

·         'Rarely cover' rule to hit leave of absence (TES)

·         200m spent to woo graduate teachers (TES)

·         Schools set to fail new targets for care pupils (TES)

·         The seven secrets behind great teaching (TES Magazine)

·         English as a second language for almost 900,000 pupils (Daily Telegraph)

·         Balls mulls proposal to widen appeal of DCS role (Children and Young People Now)

·         Primary talk scheme is expanded (Children and Young People Now)

·         Fifth of 11-year-olds with poor maths skills, say MPs (The Telegraph)

·         Parent power could force councils to set up new schools (Children and Young People Now)

·         Children do worse at deprived schools (Children and Young People Now)

·         Schools producing a generation of illiterates, says David Starkey (Times Online)

·         Christine Blower confirmed as head of teaching union (Guardian)

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Star pupil

Meditation

With SATs tests coming up next week, many primary-aged pupils may be feeling under pressure. Schools across the UK have

turned to meditation to help their pupils de-stress and stay focused. The Maharishi Foundation claims that the teaching of

Transcendental Meditation in schools across the globe is proving a great success and that TM calms pupils, making them more

attentive to work and even alleviating some of the problems experienced by ADHD sufferers. Big, deep breath...ommmm!

 

Could do better

Teacher salaries

According to newly published Department for Children, Schools and Families figures, the North East has the lowest average

starting salaries for Teachers. Officials suggest this is due to lower levels of staff turnover and lack of recruitment issues, meaning

that North East schools are less likely to offer pay incentives to attract candidates. The research also says that despite equal pay

rules, the average starting salary was higher for men than women in all regions of England. The SCHOOLS NorthEast female

Communications officer about to start her PGCE in September is feeling doubly aggrieved!

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Head to Head

 

Leslie Howes has Head Teacher at Caldicotes Primary School in Middlesbrough for 26 years. Before taking over the Headship

at Caldicotes, Leslie was Head Teacher at St Hilda’s CE Primary School, ‘Over the Border’, in Middlesbrough, for 4 years.

 

Last week was a very exciting week - trying to fit 5 days work into 4 as I have a remit to work for the Local Authority on developing

‘Succession Planning’ one day a week.

 

On Tuesday I met with two newly appointed colleagues to discuss the process of induction to Headship in Middlesbrough, and how it can be

improved. They were very candid and I think that  we can certainly ensure that anybody joining the authority will benefit from their observations.

 

On Wednesday, we hold our weekly Senior Leadership Team Meetings at 8.00a.m. We discussed the organisation of the school for next year.

As I am retiring in July it was quite difficult confronting the reality that the school will be moving on without me, but I’m getting used to the idea.

I moved from that meeting to one with our Finance Officer in preparation for the afternoons, Finance, Premises and Staffing Committee’ meeting.

I’m always anxious before these meetings but Rita, our Finance Officer and I had discussed all the eventualities so when the meeting took place

I was well prepared. The meeting went smoothly and we seem to be in a very strong position financially for this year.

I rushed from that meeting to catch the train to London whilst my Governors discussed arrangements for the appointment of my successor. I

always think I can complete a lot of work on train journeys, no interruptions. The carriage emptied very suddenly when a passenger who got on

at Darlington started coughing uncontrollably. I watched as passengers left the carriage and then got up and exited to 2 carriages away (no point

in taking any chances).I met my son at Kings Cross and after a meal in pub full of noisy football supporters we went back to Leytonstone and I

thankfully climbed into bed. Andrew and Jo’s cat started scratching at the window at 6.00a.m. I’m so pleased it has 9 lives because if looks

could kill it would have been dead.

 

On Thursday, I made my way to Joseph Rowntree Foundation Offices, in Pentonville Road, for the meeting. I have been a member of the JRF’s

Project Advisory Group for 18months. I was intrigued by the work that they are sponsoring on raising aspirations and expectations in socio

economically deprived areas. I began e-mailing the department of Urban Studies at Glasgow University asking questions about their research

and they asked me to join their panel. The study has discovered that at 12 and 13 years of age the aspirations of young people do not differ

across the socio economic spectrum. This seems contrary to popular belief. The second stage of their research will be studying the aspirations

of the same young people at 14 and 15 years and seeing if there have been any changes in their aspirations, and if so what have been the

influences.

 

It’s Friday, and I have an 8.30a.m. Meeting with the Governors of Caldicotes School and Brambles Primary School. The two schools will be

closing, and as part of Middlesbrough’s, ‘Primary Strategy for Change’ will become one school during the next 4 years. This was a meeting to

discuss the process of federating the two schools and developing a seamless programme for transition. I was reassured by the good will

displayed by both groups of governors, and am sure that with the right support this will create very successful outcomes for our whole school

community. As I write I can already hear the scrape of chairs on the hall floor, the anxious whispers as the children bring their chairs and tables

down to the hall in preparation for Monday’s tests. This is an aspect of school life that if it is removed none of us will miss. Roll on next Friday.

 

The two best things in school last week were a 1) The building, putting in the soil and the planting up of the allotment tubs in the Key Stage 1

playground. 2) Year 3 had a very successful trip to the, ‘World War 2’ exhibition at the Dorman Museum. They all came back in one piece full

of enthusiasm for history.

The biggest disappointment last week was not learning how to use the old phone system effectively and we’ve replaced it with a new

one.

The funniest thing that happened in school last week was Arron and Lewis falling out with one another. They were made to stay in and wash

the plastic milk bottle tops that are going to be used for our environmental mosaic. Seeing them wash dozens of tops in soapy water and then

dry them individually with tea towels certainly helped them bond through their moaning and grumbling.

One thing that will make made my job easier is learning how to use the new telephone system effectively.

Top of my to do list for this week is to make sure that the meeting for School Business Managers that I’ve organised at ‘Middlesbrough

Teaching and Learning Centre’ goes smoothly.

My hero of last week was Ravi Bopara, 148 in his first innings as number 3 sets a great benchmark for the forthcoming tests.

My villain of the Week was Damian McBride.

If I could change job’s with anyone for one day?...My friend Chris runs a ranch up in the Rockies in Western Canada. He spends most of

The day riding in the mountains, working with horses and thinking about the meaning of life the universe and everything.

Question for next Week’s head is: Who has been the greatest influence on your career, and why?

 

If you would like to take part in our regular ‘Head to Head’ feature and tell us all about your week, please contact the team at

info@schoolsnortheast.com or call us on 0191 2805037.

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Funding and opportunities

 

FAO: KS2 and KS3 Teachers

Climate Change Schools Project

The Climate Change Schools Project is an exciting new initiative being piloted in the North East between 2007 - 2009 as a partnership

between Science Learning Centre North East & Durham University, the Environment Agency & the Northumbria Regional Flood

Defence Committee, SustaiNE, One World Network North East, the North East Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Schools and

ANEC (Association of North East Councils). The purpose of the Project is to raise awareness and understanding of climate change

science and associated issues and more specifically, develop a quality assessed, curriculum-linked ‘standardised package’ of Climate

Change resources/enhancement activities and teacher professional development opportunities that are equally accessible for all schools

across all North East Local Authorities in order to:

 

confident teachers and students;

 

The Climate Change Schools Project are looking for enthusiastic and inspiring teachers, schools and children to get involved with the

Climate Change Schools Project . If you would like to get involved or learn more about the project, contact: Dr. Krista McKinzey –

krista.mckinzey@durham.ac.uk, tel - 0191 370 6205.

 

FAO: Art Teachers

For all your budding artists!

The Sunday Telegraph and the Saatchi Gallery have launched The Saatchi Gallery / Sunday Telegraph Art Prize for Schools 2009.

In a bid to find and showcase art’s brightest young stars, primary, secondary and sixth form schools from around the world are invited

to submit art work from students, up to the age of 18. Over the next four months, a panel of leading artists and critics, including Antony

Gormley, Andrew Graham-Dixon, and Ekow Eshun, the artistic director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, will consider work from

the most promising young aspiring artists around the world. A first prize of £10,000 will be awarded to the winning school’s art department,

with a further £2,000 given to the winning pupil to be spent on art and computer equipment. There will be two further runner-up prizes of

£5,000 each to be awarded to the second and third placed schools, with a further £1,000 to each of the winning pupils. The winning entries

for The Saatchi Gallery / Sunday Telegraph Art Prize for Schools will be exhibited in the Saatchi Gallery in London and will also be displayed

in The Sunday Telegraph. Deadline for entries: Friday August 28.

For more information and to see which North East schools have already submitted entries , go to - http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/portfolio/ 

 

FAO: Primary schools

Europe Day Competition

Europe Direct North East is inviting all primary school pupils to tell them about their Europe Day celebrations  - what did you do, what

was your favourite part of the day, etc? Schools can send a short story, or draw a picture which captures their Europe Day. The pupils

who provide the best entries will receive an item to send to their partner school. Deadline for entries: 5th June 2009.

Entries should be posted to Europe Direct North East, International Relations, Durham County Council, County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UF.

 

FAO: Tees Valley schools

Do you want to unlock the creative potential of staff and pupils in your school?

Creative Partnerships is the Government’s flagship creative learning programme, designed to develop the skills of young people

across England, raising their aspirations and equipping them for their futures. They foster innovative, long-term partnerships between

schools and creative professionals, including architects, scientists, multimedia developers and artists. These partnerships inspire

young people, teachers and creative professionals to challenge how they work and experiment with new ideas. Young people develop

the skills they need to perform well not only in exams and extra-curricular activities, but also in the workplace and wider society.

Creative Partnerships are now inviting applications from schools in Tees Valley for the Enquiry and Change Schools programmes

to start in September 2009. Prospectus and FAQs for both programmes can be downloaded by going to www.creative-partnerships/es

The deadline has now been extended to Friday 5th June. For more information, contact - 01642 738546 or cptv@dancecity.co.uk. To register

and apply online, please go to https://creativeweb.creative-partnerships.com  

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Wise words

 

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.”

 

Plato

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SCHOOLS NorthEast is your network.  Please get in touch with your ideas, concerns, views and experiences- email: think@schoolsnortheast.com

 

....and don’t forget, if you’ve missed any of our previous weekly news updates, you can find them at:

http://www.schoolsnortheast.com/content/new-resources/weekly%20news.html

 

 

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Have a good week!

 

SCHOOLS NorthEast Team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katie Stonehouse

 

Communications Officer

SCHOOLS NorthEast

 

Tel:    0191 280 5037

www.schoolsnortheast.com