Surprising benefits of outdoor adventure for children
These days, it can be easy for children to get into the habit of staying indoors. Yes, there are many home comforts, computer games, watching TV and hot chocolates are always a good idea! But there are so many advantages to being outdoors, experiencing the wonders of nature. Outdoor adventure and education expert, Kingswood, shares the best benefits being outdoors can bring you and your children. Encourages team building There’s no I in team…or outdoors! Improve your child’s team building skills by getting them together with a group of friends to complete some fun tasks. They could do some orienteering, play sports or even build a fort using nature’s tools. Doing things as a team really creates a sense of community and improves friendships. It grows your imagination Imagine all the people, sharing all the world. Wise words! Getting out into the world can create a whole new one for yourself. Just think of all the amazing things your child could do and see if they put their imagination to the test. Improves your physical health The excitement of running around outdoors and taking part in outdoor adventure activities is a great way to exercise and what’s more, it won’t feel like a workout because everyone will be having too much fun! It increases productivity Being outside increases our energy levels. Theories show that by taking a break from being in front of a screen and going on a short walk, allows our eyes to have time for a rest and our mind have time to regroup. So when we come back to doing work, we feel more motivated to get it done. That homework won’t seem like such a big task after all! Sparks inspiration Humans have always been inspired by nature to create beautiful things. Some of the world’s greatest pieces of art and literature (here’s looking at you, Van Gogh) were influenced by the great outdoors. So if you’re in need of some motivation, whether that be at home or school, let wildlife take the wheel! It does your mental health wonders Tom Madders, campaigns director at Young Minds, the children and young people mental health charity and Kingswood charity partner, said: “Children and young people today can face a wide range of pressures, including stress about exams, worries about body image, and the pressures associated with around-the-clock social media. Spending time outdoors, learning new skills, being with friends, taking time out from your daily routine, and having space to talk about how you’re feeling can have real benefits for mental health.” For more information visit www.kingswood.co.uk or www.youngminds.org.uk
Why cybersecurity needs to be a priority for the education sector
Adrian Jones, CEO at Swivel Secure Education institutions need to make cybersecurity a priority. Despite the sector facing major challenges such as a lack of staffing and a lack of funding and resources, cyber attacks are no less frequent or less severe in education. In fact, they seem to be gaining ground in prevalence year-on-year as instances of breaches in schools and higher education are widely reported. In recent years we’ve seen news of ransom attacks causing financial damage – like that on the University of Calgary where the institution allegedly handed over $20k to cybercriminals, and malware attacks causing mass disruption – similar to the disruption which, apparently, caused the Minnesota School District to shut down for a day while IT professionals rebuilt the system. The more worrying breaches are where student safety is compromised. Educational institutions are entrusted to safeguard their students, many of whom are minors, but a weak cybersecurity infrastructure can put them at risk. This was made all too clear when the CCTV in several schools in Blackpool was allegedly breached, and the footage reportedly live-streamed on the internet. It’s an unfortunate fact that, while cybersecurity in education is necessary to protect against financial loss and prevent disruption, it’s also crucial to protect students from harm. Which is why the sector needs to do everything it can to ensure their applications and systems are protected, and work to overcome any challenges. In this article, we’ll look at the current state of cybersecurity in education. We’ll discuss the most common reasons for attack, the highest threats and the main challenges facing the sector to help you understand why cybersecurity needs to be a priority, and how you can make it a priority for your educational institute. Why education is a target for cybercrime There are four key reasons why Education is a target for cybercriminals. With Education venues varying in size, purpose, and stature, the motives for attack can vary too. For example, what might be a common threat for world-renowned Universities/Colleges might not be an issue for schools or school districts. So, institutions need to evaluate the risk and understand what data is vulnerable to unauthorised access. DDoS attacks – Distributed Denial of Service, or DDoS attacks are a common type of attack on all levels of Education venue. This is where the attacker’s motive is to cause widespread disruption to the institute’s network, having a negative effect on productivity. This can be a relatively easy attack for amateur cybercriminals to carry out, especially if the target network is poorly protected. There have been instances of students or teachers successfully carrying out a DDoS attack, with motives ranging from simply wanting a day off, to protesting the way a complaint was handled. Data theft – This is another attack affecting all levels of education because all institutions hold student and staff data, including sensitive details like names and addresses. This type of information can be valuable to cybercriminals for several reasons, whether they plan to sell the information to a third party or use it as a bargaining tool and extort money. The concerning aspect of this type of attack is that hackers can go unnoticed for long periods of time. As was the case at Berkeley, where at least 160,000 medical records were allegedly stolen from University computers over a number of months. Financial gain – Another motive for hackers carrying out an attack on an education institution is for financial gain. This might not be as high a risk for public schools, but with private institutions and Universities/Colleges handling a large number of student fees, they’re a prime target for cybercriminals. Today, it’s usual for students or parents to pay fees via an online portal, often transferring large sums of money to cover a whole term or year of tuition. Without proper protection or preparation on the part of education institutions, this presents a weak spot for cybercriminals to intercept. Espionage – The fourth reason why education is a target for cybercrime is espionage. In the case of higher education institutes like Universities/Colleges, they’re often centres for research and hold valuable intellectual property. Universities/Colleges need to be suitably protected, as it’s thought that scientific, engineering and medical research by UK Universities has been previously compromised by hackers, and with plenty of time and money to fund them professionals are often at the helm of these attacks. With these four motives in mind, the way in which hackers carry out an attack on Education networks can further help us understand how to protect them. How education is targeted JISC’s 2018 Cybersecurity Posture Survey questioned IT professionals within further and higher education. They were asked to name the top cyber threats facing their institutions, and the top three answers give us insight into the most common ways Education networks are breached. Phishing – Phishing scams often take the form of an email or instant message and are designed to trick the user into trusting the source in a fraudulent attempt to access their credentials – whether that’s sensitive student data or confidential research. This type of attack is highlighted as the top threat facing higher education venues, suggesting hackers regularly target the sector using the method. Ransomware/Malware – Also in the top three cyber threats highlighted by the report, ransomware and malware attacks prevent users from accessing the network or files and cause disruption. More advanced forms of this threat can see attackers hold files to ransom. Ransomware or malware typically infects devices using a trojan, a file or attachment disguised to look legitimate. However, some ransomware (like the WannaCry attack) have been shown to travel between devices without user interaction. Lack of awareness – The third threat listed by professionals in both further and higher education is a lack of awareness or accidents. This could be on the part of staff or students who aren’t sufficiently trained to practice good cyber hygiene or accidentally compromise the network. Despite taking on different appearances,
Initiative to tackle holiday hunger for disadvantaged children
A programme to help tackle holiday hunger, physical inactivity and social isolation for some of the disadvantaged children in Hertfordshire returned to the county for the Easter Holiday. The initiative which first ran in the summer of 2018 is a collaborative programme run by Herts Sports Partnership, HCL (Hertfordshire Catering Limited), Hertfordshire Fire Department and Hertfordshire Library Service. The Fit, Fed and Read programme for children aged 8 to 11, focuses on healthy eating, sport and physical activity, and improved literacy. Children who attend the programme are treated to a nourishing hot meal, prepared and freshly cooked by a team from HCL, who also provide education catering facilities to over 450 schools, academies and colleges around the county. HCL also initiated special learning sessions where the children were blind-folded and then given a piece of fruit or vegetable to guess what it is. They were also given the opportunity to make their own fresh smoothies by using pedal power on smoothie making bicycles. Angela Pearson, a Training and Development Supervisor at HCL said: “We encourage children to learn about the benefits of a balanced, healthy diet. A lot of the children have not tried or seen many of the food on display such as asparagus or artichokes, so it is nice teaching them about all the variety of foods on offer and encouraging them to taste different food.” HCL Chief Executive Ian Hamilton said: “We’re proud to support the Fit, Fed and Read programme. Holiday hunger is a huge issue around the nation, with more and more research showing some children do not get the same nutritious food during their holidays as they do at school. We hope this programme will help to work towards addressing these issues in Hertfordshire. We would also like to thank Onslow St Audrey’s, Barnwell Middle, Tudor Primary, Kingsway Junior and Andrews Lane Primary schools for allowing us to use their kitchens to cook for the children attending the programme.” Rory, a 9-year-old boy from Hertfordshire said: “Since coming to the sessions I have made some new friends and I have learnt about different types of food and their benefits. I liked the smoothie making pedal bike. It was fun filling the jug with all different fruits and then using the pedal to mix it into a delicious smoothie.” The Fit, Fed, Read programme will continue to run for the remainder of the Easter Holiday. The programme returns to Hertfordshire in the summer. Events are scheduled to take place across 10 fire stations in the county with the aim to tackle holiday hunger. For similar stories like holiday hunger click here
Zehnder UK unveils integrated heating and lighting panel for schools
Zehnder Group UK is proudly unveiling its integrated Multi-service ‘Foil’ product, which encapsulates heating and cooling, lighting, acoustics and other functions all in one panel. The Foil has been jointly engineered with lighting specialists Whitecroft Lighting, and is ideal for schools and other educational facilities. Bringing together Zehnder’s expert knowledge in radiant heating and cooling and Whitecroft’s heritage in specialist lighting, the Foil combines all the best features of energy efficient heating and cooling, lighting and acoustics. Other services such as speakers, fire alarms, sprinklers and smoke detectors can also be easily incorporated into the design. Case study: Mercia School, Sheffield In 2017, Sheffield Council and the Mercia Learning Trust embarked on an ambitious, £25million new school development in the Bannerdale area of south-west Sheffield. Upon announcing the project, Mercia Learning Trust commented: “The offer of Mercia School will be very different. We intend it to be a traditional school with its culture rooted in exceptionally high behavioural standards and an academic curriculum which celebrates mastery of knowledge.” Educational excellence was the common theme that ran throughout the project brief, ensuring that the school would provide an optimal space for learning, development and achievement. All contractors and building products were chosen with this aim in mind, meaning that every aspect of the build would adhere to these high standards and contribute to the enhanced learning environment. Zehnder’s multi-service foil, developed with lighting specialists Whitecroft Lighting, provided the ideal solution for the school’s science classrooms, combining heating, lighting and acoustic services within one easy-to-install solution. The build was approved in April 2017 and completed in September 2018. The project brief £25million invested by Mercia Learning Trust and Sheffield City Council Brand new secondary school and sixth form building for 11-18 year olds Modern building facilities to deliver a traditional academic environment Ergonomic furniture and room design throughout Specific requirements and challenges Aesthetically aligned to the building Save space and not disrupt the learning environment Cost-efficiency Easy to install Easy to maintain The architect, Bond Bryan’s, vision for Mercia School was to have clean, uncluttered spaces conducive to a positive and academically rigorous teaching and learning environment. The contractor, BAM Construction, was tasked with selecting solutions which adhered to this vision and would supply the necessary functions needed in the building whilst not detracting from the idea of a clean, productive learning space. Over 200 foil radiant luminaires were installed in the science classrooms. The ergonomic furniture design in the classroom resulted in a lack of space for heating services against the wall. Thus, integrating both the heating and acoustic services into a single lighting feature ensured an uncluttered space matching the teaching and learning environment that had been envisaged by both the architect and the Mercia Learning Trust, to support the vision and values of the school. Product specifications: Maximum working temperature: 80°C Maximum test pressure: 7.8 bar Maximum working pressure: 6 bar Tested to EN14037, EN12464 and ISO 354 standards Product benefits: Space saving: combining heating, lighting and acoustics in one unit Radiant panels: savings in excess of 20% vs. traditional heating systems Silent operation: enhancing the quality of the learning environment for students and staff Ease of install: a single install reduces risk of delay to the building programme Simplicity: accessible for easy cleaning and maintenance Energy efficiency: reduces the school’s carbon footprint
Spring into action to combat childhood obesity
Children are being offered free PE lessons in an innovative bid to combat teenage obesity. Free passes for school children are being doled out to schools nationwide in an effort to encourage kids to bounce themselves fit. Cash-strapped schools will be able to swap dusty gymnasium halls and knee-cutting Astroturf’s for foam pits, stunt box zones and Ninja warrior courses. The keep-fit initiative has been launched by UK trampoline franchise Flip Out after alarming statistics revealed nearly half of children are overweight or obese in parts of Britain. The move was backed by former Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch, who is also an advocate of the sport: “Trampolining is a really popular activity right across the country and it’s a great way to exercise, socialise and have fun. Arenas like this provide a safe and enjoyable environment for people of all ages and with different levels of experience.” Flip Out co-owner, Richard Beese, who launched the campaign across 21 sites today (April 2nd) said: “We are in the middle of an obesity crises that is plaguing our youth. More needs to be done to encourage kids to exercise and keep fit and active. Studies have proven that bouncing on a trampoline improves balance, coordination and motor skills. We have 2.5m visitors a year – mostly children – and we think we have a massive opportunity here to play a crucial role in tackling this national epidemic.” Trampoline exercise is one of the most effective forms of keeping fit and Charlotte Evans, Paralympic Skiing Gold Medalist, argues that the activity provides a myriad of other benefits: “It’s really important to have an area where kids can come down and be involved in sport and try something new. As a kid I would have loved to have something like this. Trying new sports is really important, if you just try one sport it can cause burn out and boredom. If you try a variety of different sports it brings new skills to the sport you finally want to get into.” Steve Sallis, mentor with the England u15 national football squad and author of Educating Football, also backed the new scheme: “Having spent 20 years of my life working in the physical education of young children I know how important it is to encourage children to exercise, especially those at risk of childhood obesity as this can potentially lead to a lack of confidence. I think Flip Out’s initiative to allow schools to hold P.E lessons within their trampoline and adventure parks is a big step in the right direction. Exercise on a trampoline is social, very inclusive, fun and it’s so important for kids to try out something new.” Interested schools can sign up directly for an hour session during term time, to register to combat teenage obesity click here.
Nigel Duncan awarded OBE for services to Further Education
The Principal of Fareham College, Nigel Duncan has been presented with his OBE by Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle for his services to Further Education, during a career spanning nearly 40 years. After a number of years as a part-time lecturer in Birmingham, Nigel started his full-time career in Further Education as a lecturer at Solihull College of Technology in 1981. Following this he moved on to hold senior posts at Lowestoft College, as Director of Faculty for Vocational and Technical Studies, and West Herts College as Director of Curriculum. Nigel joined Fareham College in 2005 as Vice Principal Curriculum and Corporate Development, before being appointed Principal and Chief Executive of the College in March 2012. Over the next few years, Nigel led Fareham College to win the prestigious TES Best FE College Award in 2018. The steps to this prime position included Fareham College opening a Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Manufacturing and Advanced Skills Training (CEMAST), a leading centre in the UK for apprenticeships and technical qualifications and being judged ‘outstanding’ at its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2017. This Autumn, the College is to open a £4.1m Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC) created to deliver more than 1,600 civil engineering and groundworks apprenticeships during the next five years. Accepting his award, Nigel said, “Today has been a day I will never forget. This award is a huge honour and one I simply would not have received were it not for the amazing support of my family, friends, and the fantastic colleagues I have had the opportunity and privilege to know and work with over the years.” For more information about Nigel and his OBE please visit https://www.fareham.ac.uk
Tomorrow’s designers & technologists supported by Dudgeon grant
A grant from the Dudgeon Community Fund has enabled Neatherd High School in Dereham, Norfolk to establish an out-of-hours Design School, On your Bike. The aim is to inspire students to embrace STEM education [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] as they consider their future career options. The Design School runs from 3:30-5:30pm once a week, and groups of between 15 and 20 students, aged 12 to 16 years, undertake a practical STEM project which seeks to provide a solution to an identified problem. The Design School initiative started in September 2018, and, with each project structured to last for a half a school term, two projects have so far been completed. On your Bike saw students working with representatives from local business Pauls Cycles to improve their skills in basic bicycle maintenance, gaining valuable skills in identifying parts of the bike to repair and maintain. Students then went on to study micro controllers, using these to develop their own design of a bicycle light, with rapid prototyping being used to produce a casing for each light. WestCotec, a Dereham based business producing vehicle activated traffic signs, supported student progress and the development of their design ideas. With support from Norfolk County Council, all the students who participated in the On your Bike project also had the opportunity to participate in road safety training, improving their awareness of road hazards. Book Stands was a community design project inspired by Dereham Library’s desire to identify bookstands which would help engage more readers in the library. Having been given that brief, students had to choose a genre of book for which they would design a stand. Initial design pieces were modelled using proto-card, and this was then taken into a CAD design software package before being sent to the laser cutter to be machined. The stands were then bent to shape using an industrial strip heater. The stands are currently on display at Dereham Library, accompanied by each student’s design paperwork. The Design School initiative has been spearheaded by Jason Chapman, Head of Design Technology at Neatherd High School, who said: “It would have been impossible to fund this initiative from internal resources, so my colleagues and I are extremely grateful to the Dudgeon Community Fund for this grant. With some of the grant funding, the department has purchased a 3D printer which is proving invaluable in producing prototype models of students’ designs. The first two projects involved 39 students, and enabled the School to form strong links with two external organisations and two local businesses. The third project, Light Your Night, is now underway; a total of 22 students spread across two groups are involved and the project is being supported by two external organisations.” Sonja Chirico Indrebø is the Power Plant Manager of the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm which provides the funding for the Dudgeon Community Fund. She said: “With over 60 students already engaged in this highly practical initiative, I shall be very interested to see how many of them embark on a STEM career pathway as they move into their GCSE studies.” For more information about On your Bike please visit www.dudgeonoffshorewind.co.uk
Schools and colleges must act now to ensure their it systems are effective
EFFECTIVE IT technology has never been more important to the education sector – and now is the time to invest in systems. That’s according to specialist Fifteen Group which is seeing an increasing number of schools and colleges turn to its experts for support. The business believes that at a time of increasing pressure on education leaders from inside and outside the classroom, schools and colleges need to act now to ensure their IT systems are working to the same high standards they expect of teachers and students. Add to that the ever-changing data security threats and greater demands on staff time and IT Support Team Leader Paul Williams says the services offered by companies like Fifteen Group can provide a lifeline in more ways than one. Paul said: “There has never been a more important time for education providers to review their IT infrastructure and the role it plays in their overall aims. Not only can access to the right technology enable schools and their students to achieve their full potential, the right IT support can free up valuable teaching time.Whether it be making sure systems are running at their peak, or ensuring data is fully protected, we at Fifteen Group do what we do best, so teachers can concentrate on what they do best. And with many education centres feeling the funding pinch, it pays to ensure systems are well maintained and working at optimum levels.” Fifteen Group offers a range of services that can be tailored to the needs of individual schools. These can include engineer visits, remote and on-site support, anti-virus software provision and server monitoring. Paul added: “We have extensive knowledge and experience of not only installing equipment into schools and colleges but also of what these establishments demand from their IT and communications systems. And because we can put together a bespoke package of support, it leaves schools in control of their costs.” Jared Eccles, chief executive of The Moorlands Primary Federation, said: “We have commissioned Fifteen Group for IT support on several occasions. Their team are professional in demeanour, skilled and knowledgeable in practice. In this rapidly changing sector, it is reassuring to know there is an organisation such as Fifteen Group we can contact to solve our small or large IT issues that might otherwise cause our company loss in business. We would recommend their services unreservedly.” Paul believes that while schools and colleges are having to look closely at funding issues, technology is an area where they can find value for money – with the right guidance. He added: “January 2020 will see the end of support for Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 operating systems. These systems are still heavily used by a lot of educational establishments and will leave them vulnerable. Schools should be asking whether their next solution is value for money, what the total cost of ownership will be and whether the solution will meet the needs of the organization should it grow or join a multi-academy trust. As a Microsoft Partner, we are constantly up to date with the latest offerings. We also have a wealth of knowledge of other technologies offered by players such as Apple and Google and would be able to talk the customer through the pros and cons of each solution on offer.” For more information about IT technology please visit https://www.fifteengroup.co.uk
New Business2School scheme launch
Business2Schools was established to connect businesses such as Jaguar Land Rover, Tesco and several City financial firms with schools so that pupils can benefit from both cutting edge technology and high-quality furniture. The programme has resulted in thousands of pounds of furniture and equipment, including state of the art computers – surplus to requirements for businesses, but still fully-functional and way beyond the reach of a normal school IT budget – being given to schools in the Chichester, Bognor Regis, Kent and Watford areas. Business2Schools plans to expand the programme across the UK creating new opportunities for both schools and businesses Lindsey Parslow founder of Business2Schools commented: “At Business2Schools, we hope to create an ethical and environmental solution to the way companies in the UK replenish, refurbish or relocate their offices. The programme aims to help businesses and schools collaborate in a sustainable way that has the added benefit of improving the level of infrastructure in schools.The firms involved have been very generous in terms of their time and investment because they see the importance of ensuring that the future generation and their potential future workforce is prepared for the offices of the future. We are extremely grateful for the recognition of all our hard work today. We hope that Bishop Luffa School is just the beginning. We’re looking for more firms and schools to participate in the programme and to take Business2Schools nationwide.” Austen Hindman, Headteacher, Bishop Luffa School: “In offices across the UK, there is a regular need to replace and upgrade furniture and tech, far more quickly than a school would. The Business2Schools platform will allow us to fill classrooms with items that will help students fulfil their potential and provide them with far better technology and inspiring furniture. We hope it will also create a stronger relationship between businesses and schools across the UK, so we can also improve the educational experience and career path of students. I am delighted that so many businesses have got involved already. It is fantastic to see such a broad range of industries supporting the initiative. Dominic Pegram, Salt & Pegram, commented: “We supply businesses with millions of pounds worth of new furniture every year, but where does their old kit go? With the Business2Schools initiative, we now have the perfect answer. It will contribute to delivering the potential of Britain’s young people. Fabulous.” Richard Snowball, EFG Private Bank “EFG Private Bank is delighted to be involved in this initiative and to be giving a helping hand to future generations as well making a better impact on the environment. Supplying unwanted IT equipment and office furniture allows schools to really focus on using their already overstretched budgets on areas that really matter; providing tools and support to children to enrich and enhance their education. Business2Schools’ ethos is closely aligned to EFG’s five key values of being Accountable, Hands-On, Passionate, Solutions Driven and Partnership-Orientated. With the backing of EFG Private Bank, we will personally continue to provide support, where possible, to make this a success and urge other companies to think about this initiative when disposing of IT equipment and office furniture.” Stuart Bonthrone, ESRI UK: “ESRI UK have long supported schools and higher education providing both software and resources free of charge to the sector with the aim of helping students to develop expertise and understanding of geographic information systems and associated IT. This also supports future employment in a growing sector. We are delighted to combine these efforts with the Business2Schools’ mission to create an even more compelling offering to support schools and meet the multiple budget challenges in today’s environment.” For more information about Business2Schools please visit