50% Less Sugar Hot Chocolate Drinks
DELICIOUS Hot Chocolate– with 50% Less Sugar – with hot chocolate drinks being the most popular hot drink between 11 to 18 year olds, and with ever increasing levels of obesity in our society – the compact table top hot chocolate dispensers have been designed especially for schools to offer 50% less sugar hot chocolate drinks. There are two models available – just hot chocolate on its own, or with fat free skimmed milk for added Choco-latte, this offers a healthier option than all the leading brands of hot chocolate.A new school to introduce our 50% Less Sugar hot chocolate drink for the start of this term is the Tile Academy, Birmingham. They have already used 5 cases in just a week, and just ordered another 6 cases urgently, with 340 drinks per case our reduced sugar hot chocolate is proving a huge success and very popular with students. OBESITY– has been much publicised across the Media and many voices within the NHS over the increasing costs year on year in treating obesity and rising and concerning levels of diabetes in our children. By switching your hot chocolate to a 50% less sugar chocolate will contribute and assist your school in tackling rising levels of obesity. ARE YOU A FAIRTRADE SCHOOL? – Fairtrade Vending offer a wide range of vending and beverage equipment solutions for schools, from table-top Bean to cup hot drinks systems to Cold Drinks and Snack Vendors, Fresh Food and free-standing hot drinks machines which can operate with cash or cashless payment systems. All our coffees – Beans Fresh Ground and instant, fresh leaf tea and T bags and hot chocolate are Fairtrade Certified and our 50% Less Sugar chocolate is ethically sourced. Fairtrade Vending Ltd, Email: mike@fairtradevending.co.uk Website: www.fairtradevending.co.uk, Tel: 01634 726163
Statutory Relationships Education – we’ve got your primary school covered
From September 2020, all primary schools in England must teach relationships education. Growing up with Yasmine and Tom is an intuitive and lively online teaching resource. Developed by teachers for teachers, and loved by children, it makes teaching relationships and sex education (RSE) easy and fun. “This has transformed and updated our RSE programme – thank you for introducing us to a brilliant resource” The age-appropriate lesson plans and interactive whiteboard activities are in line with the national curriculum, covering the following areas recommended by Department for Education guidance: Families and people who care for me Caring friendships Respectful relationships Online relationships Being safe Additional topics give you everything you need to deliver comprehensive, high-quality relationships and sex education. Body care Body parts Positive body image Positive sense of self Puberty Reproduction Gender stereotypes and identity Equality Where to get help “[We] loved the way that it was so user friendly and visual. The fact that Yasmine and Tom are the same age … made it even more relevant to the children, especially as they were from a more ‘modern’ family … that many of our children would identify with.” One simple cost-effective subscription covers the whole school Growing up with Yasmine and Tom is available as an affordable yearly subscription. A single subscription can be used by every teacher in school, making it a cost-effective resource that’s always up-to-date and never wears out, gets lost or needs replacing. Request your free trial today To request a free trial contact: Julie Arnaa, Sales and Marketing Manager 07506 405337 yasmineandtom@fpa.org.uk
Justin Craig Education
Tailored Small Group Tuition For Schools – GCSE & A Level Engage Students – Support Teachers – Demonstrate Progress We can help improve your students’ mindset and performance in exams, by providing tailored tuition in a stimulating, small group environment. With over 35 years experience of working with schools and parents, Justin Craig has a proven track record of helping students perform their best on exam day. Why use Justin Craig Education? We help your students: Catch up with revision or fill knowledge gaps Build expertise in exam technique and key subject skills Improve their confidence and attitude regarding their ability to succeed Increase their self motivation to study and revise We support your teachers and school: Supports teacher wellbeing by alleviating some of the pressure on teachers’ time Provides Department Heads with an alternative high quality, flexible and cost effective tuition option, which is proven to work to increase grades Enables Schools to give additional, highly targeted help to individual students or specific groups of students “GCSE results improved in all subjects supported by Justin Craig; Maths, Science, French and Spanish. I unreservedly recommend the Justin Craig School GCSE revision programme” Joan Deslandes, Headteacher, Kingsford Community School What We Do? We work with schools to design the best programme to help their GCSE & A Level students maximise their potential with less stress. We offer significant choice to schools on the content, location, duration and timing of courses, including the option of courses on school premises. Furthermore, all our courses are: led by experienced tutors, (teachers, heads of departments, examiners and professional tutors) comprised of small groups (maximum 9 students recommended) to optimise learning effectiveness designed in partnership with the school and tailored to fit specific requirements. Who is it for? With continual pressure to raise attainment levels year on year, a growing number of schools use Justin Craig Education to help Year 10-13 students maximise results. Schools also frequently use our courses for disadvantaged students, using Pupil Premium funding to help students achieve significant grade uplifts. The Education Endowment Foundation toolkit lists Small Group Revision as one of the most effective ways to help disadvantaged children achieve better grades. Our small group courses support students with minimum impact on school staff and show a clear audit trail for pupil premium spend. Our courses are designed to complement school work and encourage Year 10-13 students to overcome their personal academic challenges. This exam-focused learning consolidates knowledge, enhances exam technique and builds confidence. The focus of school revision courses varies between individual schools. However, generally our schools are looking for support in the following areas: Underachieving students High achieving students Borderline grade students Gifted and talented students Accelerated learning programmes By providing reassurance, structure and knowledge to students, we help students overcome their personal academic challenges and provide a springboard for further learning, revision and exam preparation. “We wanted to improve our pupil premium students’ grades and sent 28 of our students to study some key subjects that required attention. The courses far surpassed our expectations – with everyone improving their grades over and above previous results.” Laura McGregor, Baylis Court School Justin Craig aims to help students and schools by working in tandem with teachers to complement and build on work already taking place in the classroom, whilst also reducing their workload. Our Tutors Our tutors are teachers who excel in their subject, specialising in GCSEand A Level teaching. 97% of our tutors work in mainstream education, with many examiners and Heads of Department. All have up to date knowledge of the exam curriculum and exam requirements, and create a lively, vibrant, inclusive environment in our classes. We recruit only the best tutors. In addition to being subject experts, our tutors are: skilled at establishing what your students know and need, building on their subject knowledge and closing the gaps resourceful and well prepared, with the ability to create a flexible programme according to student/school requirements knowledgeable about examiner requirements and able to demonstrate strategies to achieve maximum marks, for example, by explaining how to interpret questions, identify key command words and formulate appropriate responses inspiring and motivational, helping to promote independent learning, time management and revision techniques beyond the course “Students were enthused by the excellent tutors who reinforced their understanding of key concepts across the unit. The result has been enhanced levels of confidence and improved performances in mock examinations (by two grades in some cases)” Samson 97% of students believe our courses achieved or exceeded their expectations 90% of students rated their tutor as either 4 or 5, out of 5 93% of students would recommend our courses to a close friend “Our tutor was really good, I asked for him specifically because we had him last year and he helped massively. He gives good feedback and information and echoes what I’ve been telling the pupils about skills and ways to hit the marks but he does it in his own way which reinforces what needs to be done. I cannot speak highly enough of his resources and his work, and in all honesty I have not been impressed with other experts from other providers. Everyone I have come into contact with at Justin Craig has been so helpful and understanding – you should all be proud of your customer service and work.” Erhan Bora, Head of RS and Sociology, Goffs Academy For further information, call our Schools Team on 01727 744340 or email schools@justincraig.ac.uk.
4 Energy saving tips for schools to save money
As schools continue to face budget constraints, finding ways to save money becomes more important than ever. One area where schools can make significant savings is by reducing their energy consumption. By implementing energy-saving strategies, schools can not only reduce their carbon footprint, but also save a substantial amount of money on their utility bills. In this article, we will discuss four energy-saving tips that schools can implement to reduce their energy costs and save money. These tips are simple, easy to implement, and can lead to significant savings over time. 1. Get the best energy rates Before we even get into reducing consumption, it makes sense to ensure that you are on the cheapest rates in order to make maximum savings. The first step is to check your school’s energy contract and ensure that there are no hidden fees or penalties for early termination. If you are on a fixed-rate plan, make sure that you have an understanding of how the rate will change over time. 2. Bill validation and cost analysis You may think the margins for error are slim when it comes to discrepancies in your energy bills. ESS recorded that nearly 20% of all energy bills contain at least one mistake, and if you consider the size of your site and the number of invoices you receive, this can become very costly over time. 3. Reduce school energy costs through lighting Given that lighting can make up to 40% of a school’s electricity bill, switching to a more efficient method, such as LED is a good investment for long term savings. LED lights retain up to 80% of their efficiency even after eight years, so they save energy, money and hassle. 4. Go green Solar panels are a good way of reducing your reliance on the grid and therefore reducing bills and cutting carbon. Not only are solar panels an effective way of reducing energy costs and saving money, but they are also an environmentally friendly option for schools. By harnessing the power of the sun, schools can significantly reduce their reliance on the grid, which not only lowers their utility bills but also helps to cut their carbon footprint. Installing solar panels is a long-term investment that has a wealth of benefits for schools, including reduced energy costs, improved sustainability, and increased energy independence. Moreover, with advances in solar technology, schools can now generate their own electricity, which not only saves money but also puts them in control of their energy usage. Overall, solar panels are an excellent option for schools looking to reduce their energy consumption, save money, and make a positive impact on the environment. In conclusion, implementing energy-saving tips can help schools save money while also reducing their carbon footprint. By taking simple steps such as getting the best energy rates, validating bills, switching to LED lights, and investing in solar panels, schools can significantly reduce their energy consumption and cut their utility bills. These strategies not only lead to cost savings but also promote sustainability and energy independence. As the focus on environmental responsibility continues to grow, schools can lead the way by adopting energy-saving measures that benefit both their budgets and the planet. By implementing these energy-saving tips, schools can make a positive impact on their finances and the environment, paving the way for a brighter, greener future.
Be ready for RSE2020
Be ready for RSE2020 Support U offer schools training on LGBT+* issues. Whether it’s to talk to teachers, to support your whole team, create a policy, or to receive training for a group of schools, we are here to talk about inclusion and acceptance for LGBT+ people across all areas of education. Originally accredited as a Stonewall Train the Trainer for Schools, Support U has been able to develop their own unique take on what it means to be LGBT+ in education. The training highlights what the terms gender and sexuality mean in 2019, and why/how it’s important to be inclusive in your school. We provide resources and training materials to be used in a variety of settings; from in the classroom, to teacher conferences and staff training exercises. Some of our training so far has included: Train the Trainer for Teachers One to One for children Headteacher Support Policy advice Parent Support Assemblies on Identities PSHE Classes Youth Group Provision – Affinity Educational Resources from our LGBT+ history projects and from wider resources If you feel your school needs further assistance in understanding LGBT+ inclusion, please get in touch for a quote. We are happy to accommodate you in the training you require, so please do let us know how we can be of service. Support U is a charity that is run by funding, training, conferences and donations. Who are Support U? Support U was founded in 2011; it was clear that Berkshire had a lack of local support for the LGBT+ community. The charity provides services for individuals which include one to one support meetings, counselling and group support. To this date, Support U are the only charity offering this type of support within Reading and the Thames Valley. The one to one and counselling service is vital for the LGBT+ community as it allows them to talk openly about sexuality and gender identity without judgement. Support U can be the first time someone has ever said it out loud that they could be LGBT+. Our clients range from all backgrounds and the ages can be from 7-73! We don’t just support people who are LGBT+, we also support the wider family and friends so they can understand better and create a supportive network for their LGBT+ friends or family members. At Support U, we don’t judge that you don’t know the answers, we are happy that you asked. The Support U service is free and you can contact us through email, phone, website and more. This is to all clients/beneficiaries who need direct support with understanding their sexuality and gender identity. Olly Alexander, frontman from Years and Years, said:“There’s such a stigma around mental health that stops us from speaking out. In the workplace, in education, or even at home, it can feel difficult to express what you’re going through in the first place. Tackling that stigma is one part of it. I also think we have to have the actual services and provisions for LGBT+ people, because they are quite slim on the ground. The things that we can do to help that situation is to be on our local representatives so they are not defunding or shutting them down.” If you feel you have identified individuals in your school, whether it be teachers or students, who need this type of support, please refer them to us. We create an individualised support plan to target the key issues a person is coping with, and provide a friend to discuss these sensitive matters. Check out our website for further details on our groups we facilities. *Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and other identities. #SupportU #LGBT #Transgender #education #support #training
Brilliant Brainz Monthly Magazine For Teachers
Are you a primary headteacher or school teacher looking for a fun and colourful magazine resource? Brilliant Brainz is a monthly print magazine available on subscription. Aimed at 6 -12 year olds, it is packed full of educational, creative and inspiring content and activities. Each main section in Brilliant Brainz; Art, Music, Philosophy, Food, Science and Nature, Health and Wellbeing is written by an expert in their field who has educated this age group. The activities and projects that are an integral part of the magazine are tried and tested and intended to develop a skill set and a deeper understanding of the subject. We work hard to make sure that the magazine doesn’t look like a text book, it has bright, colourful illustrated characters, like the terrible twins, Wiz and Dom and Professor Parrot, who pop up on the pages and make comments or jokes. Every page is bursting with colour and there are stories to read, quizzes to try and competitions to enter. The Philosophy section, written by Emma Leeson, an ex-Deputy Head who now works with Sapere and P4C, doesn’t give answers but asks thoughtful and challenging questions about BIG subjects, like Friendship or Happiness and encourages the children, through its activities, to think creatively. The Food section written by chef and nutritionist, Michele Harper, who goes into schools to teach children about food and how to cook, is funny and engaging and features easy to follow healthy recipes. Our new Wellbeing Section is written by Beth Parmar who runs workshops and individual sessions for children to help them deal with situations and emotions they are struggling with. It offers helpful insights and exercises for children to think about and experiment with. In the Science and Nature section we have one page dedicated to caring for the environment, as well as a fun experiment every month. Every section is full of information and activities which will encourage children to think and do. In fact, creative thinking and doing is our mantra and the aim of the magazine. Brilliant Brainz is a gender neutral, advert and plastic free magazine which is printed on high quality sustainable paper. At £3.33 per issue for an annual subscription it is amazing value and we offer a discount for schools on bulk subscriptions. So please do take a look at our website; brilliantbrainz.com (click on the teachers tab on the subscribe page) or call us on 0800 193 0092.
Premiership Rugby Champions
An innovative new app harnessing latest technology and sporting role models to help primary school children discover their inner champion Premiership Rugby is on a mission to improve the lives and prospects of children and young people across England, using the power of rugby to inspire the current generation to learn, be active and discover their inner champion to help them achieve their potential. Understanding that being a champion isn’t just about being on the winning team, lifting trophies or scoring straight A’s, Premiership Rugby have developed Premiership Rugby Champions – an interactive cross curriculum-based digital app to inspire primary school children’s learning across multiple subjects whilst embedding digital literacy outcomes and developing important life skills. Curriculum mapped content Developed with expert learning technology company, Aspire 2Be, Premiership Rugby Champions will provide FREE interactive themed project based lesson plans for use in the classroom and outside. With digital literacy at the heart of all content, the first resources will tackle health, with modules on tackling numeracy and character to follow as the term progresses. It uses the inspiration and role models of Premiership Rugby Clubs to connect pupils’ learning to the world around them, via themed digital content and lesson materials. Initially aimed at primary schools (7-11-year-olds), the app aims to improve the educational outcomes for young children, increasing their digital know-how, self-esteem and raising their aspirations. Rugby World Cup “With rugby firmly in the spotlight this autumn because of the Rugby World Cup, we have the opportunity to influence perceptions, attitudes and behaviours for life. Our players will become role models to so many young people, so the launch of the Premiership Rugby Champions app is incredibly timely.” Said Wayne Morris, Community & Corporate Social Responsibility Director at Premiership Rugby “We appreciate teachers are extremely busy with resources stretched. We hope this app will help teachers create engaging, interactive lesson plans in line with the national curriculum and that pupils can relate to and be inspired by.” Developed by teachers for teachers Pilot testing of the app was carried out with a group of teachers in Hertfordshire, in partnership with reigning Premiership champions Saracens and the Hertfordshire Sports Partnership. Initial feedback has been incredibly positive with teachers reporting a positive impact on pupils as well as complimenting the ease of use of the platform, its effectiveness of meeting curriculum requirements and the adaptability of content to different age groups. “All of the sessions really engaged the students. As a teacher, it gives me everything I need and is packed with relevant curriculum links and resources.” Year 4 Teacher, High Wych Church of England Primary School “We got how it worked straightaway, it was really simple and effective. I really enjoyed that we all had to work as a team together.” Year 5 Pupil, Bedwell Primary School Register early and win Be one of the first 1,000 teachers to download the app and you will be entered into a prize draw to win tag rugby equipment for your school. Grow a classroom full of champions with the Premiership Rugby Champions App. Available for download now on iOS and Android. To find out more about Premiership Rugby Champions, visit http://www.premiershiprugby.com/champions and download the app.
Find your perfect career opportunities with Jooble
Jooble is a job search engine created for a single purpose: To help you find the job of your dreams! It provides more than 700,000 of vacancies in the United Kingdom. In the same way as any other search engine operates, Jooble does not compile all the information in its own database but conducts effective search through the network. You’ll get links to job postings from more than 15 different job sites throughout the UK. It is created to save your time and energy, enabling you to your desired job from a single query. Even from searching for ‘gourmets’, for instance, we have created a variety of tools such as an advanced search as well as a lot of filter options. Compared to using the newspaper or using a regular job board, job-hunting with Jooble may seem unusual initially, however, once you fully learn how to master it – you are guaranteed to find the job of your dreams. Depending on your experience and skills Jooble provides you with the list of the most relevant jobs. The teaching segment is presented with a variety of career opportunities, such as: Teacher jobs Teacher assistant jobs Depending on school type, there are available positions for: Primary School Teacher Secondary School Teacher According to the main subject, you’ll find jobs for Science Teacher, English Teacher, Maths Teacher, Geography Teacher, History Teacher, Music Teacher etc. Jooble team is constantly working in order to make a job search as simple as possible. It is constantly being fine-tuned, as new services and features are added every day. So – if you have any other ideas about how to improve Jooble, let us know. But, as it says: “A picture paints a thousand words”. So better try our search instead of reading about it!
The importance of educating young people about nature
Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee last week enjoyed input from Professor Donald Gray from the University of Aberdeen on the importance of educating children in and about nature. Professor Gray has done extensive research into why nature matters in childhood, including the fact that we have an inherent affinity with the natural world as human beings. He recognises it has a role to play in attention restoration, in empathising with nature and in embodied cognition, capitalising on the idea that our bodies and movement play a fundamental part in memory and learning. Professor Gray commented: “Imaginative play in the natural world is very important; if you give a child a car, they’ll play with it as a car but give them a stick and it could be a wand, drum sticks or a paint brush. It also has a huge impact on health and wellbeing, and is proven to support a decrease in stress and an increase in physical health. Even taking exercise outdoors has been shown to be more beneficial to us than that taken elsewhere. Children’s experiences in nature also appear to help them develop a resilience to mental ill health in adulthood and support a healthy environmental identity and understanding of the natural world.” The local authority has done its own research into the activities supporting outdoor learning, and learning in and about nature in schools across Aberdeenshire. Common examples include gardening, taking lessons outdoors, recycling and litter initiatives, and outings supported by the Council’s Ranger Service. Mintlaw Academy was cited as an example of best practice, having developed an extensive therapeutic garden after starting with a couple of tubs in a small courtyard area. The garden has been developed with a team of teachers, pupils, local businesses and members of the community creating a space with therapeutic features such as various paths leading to different areas, a beautiful shelter, sensory flowers and plants, bird feeders and artwork by pupils. The garden is a long-term project that will evolve over time and will include eco features such as solar panels, water features and areas cultivated purposefully to attract wildlife. One of the many benefits of the garden is in its use as an outdoor learning area for pupils with additional support needs and mental health issues. Young people have found this a hugely beneficial resource as an additional space for 1:1s with support staff, using the reflective area to promote discussion and the flower beds to weed and plant. Cllr Gillian Owen, Chair of the Education and Children’s Services Committee explained: “We’re pleased to see so many great examples of outdoor learning and of educating children in and about nature across Aberdeenshire. An outdoor learning space that is peaceful, tranquil and beautiful is the perfect place to support team building, confidence building, anxiety management, behavioural management as well as intergenerational opportunities for young people to work alongside other members of their communities, enjoying practical activities such as weeding or tending to animal habitats. Enabling pupils to learn and develop skills through planning practical projects and seeing those come to life has been shown to help engage young people in an overall positive school experience. We’d very much encourage teachers and support staff across the board to consider opportunities to harness the opportunities nature brings. The importance of educating children in and about nature was raised earlier this year as a Member Promoted Issue by Cllr Martin Ford. The work done to assess what’s happening across Aberdeenshire stemmed from this. Cllr Ford thanked officers for their input and added: “It’s clear to see that educating our children and young people in and about nature changes how well they cope with the world, how they see the world and what matters. This is fundamental to us as an education authority because although we’re doing some great work, we’ve heard just how important this is to what we’re trying to achieve at the end of the day.” Cllr Mark Findlater added: “We are doing everything we can to ensure young people across Aberdeenshire do grow up with the skills to help them understand, benefit from and look after nature. It is embedded in the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s standards for teachers, and there’s also an important role for parents through family learning.” For more information please email news@aberdeenshire.gov.uk