Too many children are routinely identified as ‘average’ and their abilities and problems are overlooked as a consequence, says a new study published today (22 September 2017). The experts behind the analysis claim that this has a significant outcome on pupil performance in the classroom and, critically, on GCSE results.

Only one in five (20%) children should be considered ‘average’ across the ability range, according to an analysis of 24,000 children. The study, The Lost Middle by GL Assessment, has found that the vast majority of children exhibit some type of definite verbal, quantitative or spatial reasoning bias.

Digital Schoolhouse, the non-profit programme delivered by Ukie, the trade body for the UK’s games and interactive entertainment industry, hosted a panel debate with industry bodies and students in order to help tackle the digital skills gap. The panellists discussed the role that the technology and games industries could play in helping schools addressing the current shortage. 

Muriel Huet, Education Consultant and lead educator of ‘Short Film in Language Teaching’ on the FutureLearn platform, talks about how educators can keep students of all abilities engaged in language learning through the medium of film.

Motivating and engaging students in language lessons are challenges that educators face every day. How can we keep students engaged in their learning, when young people live in a world with such easy access to the media? 

The challenge for language educators today

Ofsted inspectors have praised Lincroft Academy in Bedfordshire for the strength of its GCSE offer and how it has prepared so successfully for its switch to a secondary school.

Lincroft Academy in Oakley, part of Sharnbrook Academy Federation, became a school for students aged 11 to 16 this term, changing from Lincroft Middle School as part of the local authority's move to a two-tier education system.

Fusion21 has announced the contractors successfully appointed to its national Consultants framework, worth up to £90 million over a four year period.

A total of sixty six highly skilled firms – including several SMEs and multinational organisations – have secured a place on the framework following a rigorous selection process. 

Tailored to specific UK regions, the framework offers 10 lots and covers a range of construction related consultancy services including surveying, stock monitoring and appraisal, environmental, architectural, engineering, project management and multi disciplinary works.

IMPROVING quality is a critical step on the (seemingly endless) road to nirvana for school leaders, says Louise Doyle, director at quality assurance specialists Mesma, who considers how to produce an effective plan.

Like many things, preparation is critical when writing an improvement plan. It’s also important to remember to keep things simple, clear and precise to a deliver a successful roll out of your plan. If the printout is as thick as a doorstop, or you have a spreadsheet with so many columns you can’t see the beginning and end on one screen, the whole thing becomes a pain to oversee.

With the start of the new school year, BVS ECOtouch screens have launched their new wireless ready ETA series interactive touch screens. These screens are designed and developed in the UK with direct input from Head Teachers and Network Managers.

The ETA series of Interactive touch screens boast a built-in Android PC with integrated browser and whiteboard, with an optional OPC slot to bolt on a Windows OPS PC. All are available with SMART and/or OKTOPUS software. They come with fully integrated Wi-Fi, allowing for seamless, wireless connectivity of Apple and Android devices as well as Windows laptops. To top that, an industry leading 7 year warranty is standard for extra peace of mind. 

Digital Schoolhouse, the non-profit programme delivered by Ukie, the trade body for the UK’s games and interactive entertainment industry, hosted a panel debate with industry bodies and students in order to help tackle the digital skills gap. The panellists discussed the role that the technology and games industries could play in helping schools addressing the current shortage.
 

●     Computer programming has been included within the National Curriculum

●     An estimated £900m is spent on education technology by schools every year

●     Ebuyer.com has created a guide for parents on how to help your child learn to code

With schools spending an estimated £900m on education technology every year,[1] and computer programming featured in the National Curriculum, technology is now a fully fledged part of a child’s educational experience. But how can parents aid their child’s development at home?

Free ‘Food For Thought’ event will offer ideas and inspiration to boost pupil health and wellbeing

Primary school teachers from across the UK are being encouraged to join science, nutrition and health experts at a special event in London next month.

Hosted by Discovery Education and Alimentarium Academy on 17th October, Day of Discovery - Food For Thought will bring educators and specialists together for aday of dynamic workshops, experiments and seminars exploring healthy eating and body image in primary school age pupils.

Birmingham based Open Study College has been shortlisted in two categories of the finals of the prestigious Solihull Chamber of Commerce Awards.

Open Study College has been shortlisted in the ‘outstanding small business’ category and Samantha Rutter, Chief Operating Officer from Open Study College and Director of Wiggles & Giggles Day Nursery, has also been shortlisted for the Solihull Business Person of the year.  

Free online course explores the factors that support girls to reach their full potential

Social learning platform, FutureLearn, is today launching a free online course ‘Girls' Education: Teaching Strategies That Develop Confidence, Resilience and Collaboration’, in partnership with the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST).

When planning washroom facilities for school premises, there are various best practice design guides to point you in the right direction, such as how to choose the perfect urinals for your school or college. 

However, when it comes to swotting up on the rules and regulations that must be followed when installing amenities, it can be difficult to find the right information, with many people pointing out inconsistencies between varying versions of government guidelines.

Caledonian has been awarded a position as an approved supplier on the £50m Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Framework to act as Lead Designer and Principal Contractor for the design and build of new schools, academies, and other educational facilities.

Caledonian and its Design partner HLM Architects will deliver innovative design led solutions that promote the intelligent use of Building Information Modelling (BIM), Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) and the use of Lean Manufacturing techniques to eliminate waste. This will enable entire school buildings to be manufactured off-site with only minimal works required onsite to install, connect and commission the buildings.