Gratnells Engineering inspires school students to consider careers in STEM
The Harlow-based manufacturer is committed to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing subjects to young people and recently welcomed local school students on-site for a day of activities. Historically known as the leading name in school storage in over 68 countries of the world (and the producer of the iconic Gratnells Tray) Gratnells Engineering has developed into a multi-sector manufacturer capable of providing high-volume laser cutting, powder coating and bespoke metal solutions to a wide range of customers. The company has previously supported campaigns such as the F1 in Schools’ program, the Year of Engineering and most recently, has developed key relationships with educational institutions in the local area such as BMAT STEM Academy. The business has become a Gold Level sponsor to the school this year, which will see them provide support and opportunities for students to further their understanding of manufacturing and play a role in product development. As part of this initiative, the Gratnells factory recently welcomed a group of 20 BMAT STEM students on-site, giving presentations about the company history, providing insight into areas such as quality control and delivering experiences such as tours of the impressive facilities. The students were introduced to the different roles and responsibilities found in a typical manufacturing environment and were set an activity to evaluate a real, current prototype product using evaluation sheets, followed by making prototype designs and layouts for their own ideas. Every student completed a feedback form at the end of the day and these almost unanimously stated the tour of the impressive Gratnells facility was the favourite part of the day. This included a chance to see some exciting Powder Coating, Injection Moulding and Laser Cutting machinery in action, producing many of the classroom tools and equipment they use in school every day. Designed to showcase the variety of manufacturing solutions Gratnells Engineering provides, students also had the opportunity to witness primary metal work, such as drilling, tapping, folding and welding; as well as foam cutting and vac forming taking place. The importance of health and safety in the factory environment was reiterated throughout with the wearing of high vis jackets and following of specified walkways and crossings. Dave Ramsey, Assistant Head Teacher at BMAT STEM, said “The students had a brilliant experience and a number of them have said that they want to work for Gratnells in the future! We really appreciate all the effort the team put into the students’ experience both on the day and the impact working with the company is having on their learning. Students have been inspired and can’t wait to start using some of the ideas in lessons and in their project work.” Chloe Winyard, Gratnells Engineering Marketing Assistant, commented, “The students from BMAT STEM were so engaged and came up with some really brilliant ideas. We are delighted the tour in particular proved popular and we hope to have inspired some of the students to consider a future career in a STEM subject. Grantells Engineering has a long history of offering opportunities to students and just last year saw three apprentices convert into full-time members of staff.” Chloe is herself working towards a CIM qualification – further evidence she says, of her employer’s commitment to education, “By supporting my continued development, Gratnells Engineering are showing they truly believe in personal progression. If we continue to show the importance to keep learning ourselves, we hope we can inspire others to do the same.” Find out more
NASBTT statement: Response to Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy
The Department for Education (DfE) has today published its Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy, which NASBTT has been involved in shaping. Giving her reaction to the strategy, NASBTT Executive Director Emma Hollis said: “NASBTT is pleased that the government has clearly recognised the challenges faced by the teaching profession and is committing to address them. It is good to see competitive salaries and pathways for teachers remaining in the classroom on the agenda, alongside the acknowledgement that there is a highly competitive (and shrinking) graduate market. We are also thrilled that our own contributions to the development of the strategy are recognised and we are committed to continue to work in consultation with DfE as plans are put into action. We are especially delighted that the Early Career Framework (ECF) is outlined as we hoped for – and we look forward to seeing the transformative plans for an entitlement to professional development for all early career teachers being implemented. It was essential to have a commitment to funding the ECF, as well as the additional time off-timetable in the second year of teaching for all for early career teachers, and we are pleased that both are guaranteed. Having previously advocated that mentoring is crucial to making the ECF work, we are very pleased to see the strong focus on quality mentoring, with fully-funded mentor training. This commitment is also reflected in plans to launch the Teacher Developer NPQ, which will be explicitly tied to the ECF, as the first of a new suite of qualifications. We would be delighted to share with the DfE our expertise in creating our own suite of Teacher Educator Programmes which develop the knowledge and skills of those people working in schools who support and educate other teachers, including newly-appointed mentors, coaches, CPD co-ordinators, CPD facilitators and teaching school managers. We are excited about working with the DfE and other key sector bodies to ensure that the ECF builds on and complements high-quality ITT, starting with a review to the ITT core content guidance. Whilst we also appreciate plans to streamline the complicated application process for candidates, we need to ensure there is continued support for partnership working and a change in the dialogue from schools-led or HE teacher training providers to a recognition that both are valuable and both are needed for a vibrant, choice-driven marketplace. We are therefore cautiously optimistic about plans to rationalise the complex ITT market but maintain that this must not disadvantage smaller providers where they are necessary and valuable – for example in remote areas, coastal regions and other cold spots. We would also encourage caution in any review of the ITT market – the wording of the strategy points to there being a need for a “more efficient and effective system”. However, if taken out of context this could undermine the sustained contribution and impact of School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) providers and School Direct Lead Schools, and the challenges they face around recruitment, a message that needs to be emphasised. We maintain that government teacher recruitment policies should aim for the brightest and the best and not simply ‘bums on seats’, and the DfE must put its trust in local providers to ascertain local need and set their recruitment practices accordingly.” Find out more
Music & Drama Education Expo at Olympia, London
Music & Drama Education Expo is returning to Olympia, London for its seventh year on 6 & 7 March 2019. The event is Europe’s leading free-to-attend conference and exhibition for music and drama education. An event perfectly tailored for teachers and those passionate about the creative sector is right at your fingertips. Register now for Music & Drama Education Expo by clicking here. What you can expect: 70+ CPD workshops, seminars and debates from expert speakers, teachers and practitioners A comprehensive exhibition with stands from more than 130 leading performing arts organisations Peer-to-peer learning sessions, to share best practice and get advice from your peers on particular areas of pedagogy Music and drama performances showcasing the talents of young people Listen to big names in the industry speak at our show such as; LangLang, Nicola Benedetti, Miloš Karadaglić, and loads more expert speakers. View the entire conference programme here! Expo offers over 70 free-to-attend CPD sessions covering both music and drama education – with practical workshops on body percussion, stage combat, street dance and dhol drumming; as well as seminars on the new piano and brass syllabuses, assessment at KS3, gender and sexuality in classroom drama, writing A-level essays, devising using practitioners, celebrating creativity in young people with additional needs, rap, DJing and music production. ‘Our London 2019 show will be the best yet’, said head of content Sarah Lambie. Exhibitors are already lined up from all over the arts education world: suppliers, exam boards, publishers and other organisations will all be on hand with advice and special offers. If you have a passion for music and drama education, this is an event you won’t want to miss! Join us on 6 & 7 March, where you can learn how to take your teaching to the next level at the cost of nothing. Make sure to book your free ticket below so you don’t miss out. Click here to register for FREE
Bett show celebrates the joy of learning to energise 35,000 teachers from around the world
A “mini movie” was commissioned by Bett and had its first playing this week at the opening of the annual trade exhibition, the world’s largest EdTech event attracting over 35,000 people from 130 countries around the world to inspire teachers to fall in love with teaching all over again. The animation and music were created by artist James Rosamond, a former teacher with over 10 years-experience teaching in Primary schools in the west of England and London. James has recently taken up a new career as an artist specialising in short-form pieces with original music that draw inspiration from urban life. In a previous life James was a musician, releasing music on famed London label Output and working with New Order and Trevor Jackson. The brief was to create a piece which celebrated the joy of learning and inspire the attendees at the show. It provides a moment in a hectic world that connects educators with the positive emotions that inspired them to fall in love with teaching. The animation was created using traditional stop-motion techniques which were manipulated in Photoshop and After Effects. Speaking about the commission James Rosamond said “To be asked to create a piece for such a prestigious event which many of my peers from education aspire to attend is a dream come true. I tapped into the joyous parts of being a teacher, it’s a career full of unknowns and quirkiness and this really came through in the final animation.” He went on to say “everyone knows at the moment being a teacher is hard, so the philosophy of fun is an essential tool for any teacher to try and stay in the profession, so to be able to make people smile, even for a minute is amazing!” Speaking on behalf of Bett, Fergal Kilroy, Head of Content for the Global Series said “over the last few years Bett has built a reputation for pushing at the boundaries by having a creative project to open the show. This year’s brief was more important than ever, our research has uncovered that 65% of classroom teachers believe they’ve spent over half their time dealing with policy change over the last three years. So, to be able to celebrate the work they do by reconnecting them to creativity will be hugely rewarding for all of us.” The animation was directed by Graham Clayton-Chance and features original music by James Rosamond. The piece will be seen by representatives from over 10,000 schools in the UK and abroad, 100 ministries of education and a range of speakers which this year includes the creators of Alex Rider, How To Train Your Dragon, The Dot, Scratch Programming and organisations such as Adobe, Microsoft, Apple and Lenovo. Bett 2019 an animation was shown to inspire teachers to fall in love with teaching all over again. To view the ‘mini movie’ click here
Dalby, the Great Yorkshire Forest
Dalby is on the southern slopes of the North York Moors and covers over 8,000 acres – perfect for fun, exploration, learning and adventure. We have walking, cycling and running trails for all abilities, exciting play areas, Go Ape, bike hire, self-led learning, Gruffalo and Zog trails, an activity centre and an Enchanted Wood. To refuel, there are two cafes plus BBQ and picnic spots. Our experienced, enthusiastic staff and onsite partners will point you in the right direction. Discover learning, the Dalby way Dalby Forest is the perfect place for discovery and learning, for all ages and abilities. With venue hire, café and a variety of trails and activities available, it is a wonderful setting for groups to get involved in a range of learning activities that combine hands-on education with ideas for active minds. If you’re planning a trip for a group or class, there’s always plenty on offer. Whether you want to a book guided visit or organise your own, there are lots of opportunities and free downloadable resources. Ranger in a bag These resource backpacks provide all you need to run your own successful educational visit in the forest. They are really popular with schools and groups. Each activity bag contains equipment, games and resources for a class of up to 35 children and are most suitable for children aged 4-11. Each pack includes a 10 minute introduction talk from a Forest Ranger about Dalby Forest. Each bag includes enough activities for a half day session. Why not hire two bags of your choice to make your own full day programme? Session times available are 10am-12.30pm and 1pm-3.30pm. Environmental education We are delighted to offer led educational environmental educations session through our on-site learning partners, Dalby Activity Centre. Each session lasts two and a half hours and can be run as an independent half day activity or two sessions combined to make a full day. Alternatively you could mix an environmental activity with one of the half day multi-activity sessions that we offer. See their website or give us a call for more information. Activity packs for families These are available to buy at the Visitor Centre to help you explore the Dalby and find out more about the forest and its wildlife as a family. A great way to learn while having fun. Choose from the Habitat Trail or Orienteering – or do both! Find out more: Dalby Forest: http://forestryengland.uk/dalbyforest Telephone: 01751 460295 Email: dalbyvisitorcentre@forestryengland.uk Dalby Activity Centre: https://dalbyactivitycentre.co.uk/ Telephone: 01751 460590 Email: info@dalbyactivitycentre.co.uk
Careers advice you can give to students with a flair for fashion
If you have pupils who wish to study fashion at university, they’ll want to know about their career options after graduation. Luckily there are plenty of opportunities available, some of which they probably haven’t thought of yet. Students can discover a role in communications, or go down the finance in fashion route, so the opportunities are varied. Here CT Shirts, retailers of men’s casual shirts, take a look into the roles out there for fashionistas and have some careers advice which you can pass on to your pupils… Pattern graders An important role within the fashion industry is a pattern grader. They focus on producing scaled-up and scaled-down versions of design patterns, which enables the manufacturers to produce the same patterned piece of clothing in different sizes. There are various tasks within the role of a pattern grader including. The main tasks include; tracing the outline of a pattern with scanning equipment, quality checking to ensure that the final pattern is in-line with the original design and creating sample garments from the pattern to send to prospective buyers. In this role, employees need more than just an interest in design and textiles, but also mathematical skills. They must be able to take accurate measurements and make calculations in order to scale the patterns correctly. It’s also important that they enjoy being part of a team, so to cooperate with others in the design process, and be able to confidently use IT to work with a digitising table. There are a few different ways to get into a job as a pattern grader, employees don’t need to have a degree. Instead, they could take the apprenticeship route through college by studying subjects such as fashion or textiles. Or, work their way up from an assistant or pattern cutter to become a grader in a fashion company. Fashion illustrators A creative role to go into is a fashion illustrator, they are responsible for the fashion drawings and diagrams that represent the garment to others. They work closely with designers to create a conceptual sketch and illustration of the fashion products. In addition to this, they may produce advertising copy and images for promotional material for print and online coverage. To succeed in this role, employees need to be able to use computer design, as well as drawing by hand and have an eye for fashion. Generally, fashion illustrators have a degree in graphic design or a related subject. To get accepted onto a degree of this kind, they will need GCSEs and potentially A levels, or entry based on passing a foundation course. Alternatively, they can build up a strong portfolio and gain experience in relevant positions to impress prospective employees. Garment technologist A role students may not have initially considered is a garment technologist, but this is a highly important role in the fashion industry. This role is largely about quality control and investigative work with regards to the materials that are used to create fashion pieces. In this position, they’ll be involved in the design and development of new materials. Through testing new combinations of materials and fibres, people in this role look to find the best type of fabric for what’s to be made. These people work closely with designers, pattern graders and buying teams to find the right type of fabric for what’s to be made. They’ll also be expected to improve production techniques and help the company they’re working for to be more efficient. This might be to do with price and would involve liaising with buyers and suppliers to negotiate a cost that’s within the budget of the project. Or, they might be looking to make the company more sustainable, and therefore the technologist would investigate the production of the fabrics. Having an interest in the creative work that goes into the production of clothing and being aware of the textiles and manufacturing process would be essential. Employers may also expect students to have a degree in a related topic, such as garment technology and production, or students may complete a module around this as part of a wider subject. Or, look out for apprenticeship schemes and junior roles, where employees can work their way up to this role. Fashion journalist Much the same as a news writer, this role will see a journalist writing about the latest in fashion trends and accessories for a range of publications. With the online world being as big as it is today, a fashion journalist is no longer limited to securing a job for a print publication. There are a lot of opportunities available as there are so many online magazines out there. Journalists could also go freelance, but work isn’t guaranteed here. As part of the job, they’ll likely be required to travel and meet new people to conduct interviews and get the latest on fashion stories. A creative flair, love for writing and an interest in fashion will put students in good stead to becoming a fashion journalist, but there are some educational choices that students can make to better their chances of getting a career in this field. Choosing A-levels such as English language will further their creative writing skills, for example. There are speciality degrees out there too, such as the fashion communications course which will teach students more about the sector and increase their employability. A good way to impress employers would be to put together a writing portfolio. Start a fashion blog to write about the latest news in the sector and approach editors for freelance opportunities. Networking is also a great way to get to know about future vacancies. Try to secure unpaid work in relevant positions to build up experience too. Fashion accountant If students are interested in fashion and finance, then this is the role for them as it combines both. There are multiple finance roles available within the fashion industry, from retail accountants to accountants in textiles who ensure that a budget is adhered to when buying materials. Roles like this allow employees
reuse4education – like eBay, but better
With another term underway, schools, colleges and universities will have the opportunity to make their budgets go a little bit further thanks to the launch of reuse4education. At a time when funds are constantly being stretched, this free, easy to use online platform allows educational institutions to buy, sell, swap and loan anything from photocopiers and PE equipment, to musical instruments and books, and reuse4education is the only site that is exclusively for education institutions. Accessible on a local, regional, national and international scale, it is hoped that reuse4education will not only help fill resource voids, reduce waste and maximise recycling, but also build a sense of community between users. The service has been created by Mark Abrahams, the CEO of Recycle Your Cycle, an innovative programme run in partnership with HM Prison Service that sees over 300 bikes and more than 100 vacuums being refurbished by UK offenders every month. Mark says, “While buying, selling and recycling furniture, books and clothes on a personal level is common place, this isn’t generally the norm in educational settings, but with this site, it could be. Whether you need a new set of French textbooks or stacks of old classroom chairs are taking up valuable space in your school hall, you can add them to reuse4education, the only site of its kind for the education sector, and we are confident that a solution will be found. He adds, “We believe that by re-using, recycling, upcycling, and sharing equipment, not only will students be educated within budget, but a new community will be created and connections will be made. We know there is a need in the UK for this service, but we also hope reuse4education will help those studying in developing countries where resources are scarce but the passion for learning is alive and kicking. One teacher, says, “As a science teacher in an 11-16 secondary school, I often find myself wanting pieces of equipment for lessons that wouldn’t justify the cost of only being used once a year. I love the idea of sharing such equipment between schools and allowing the students to access even better resources for their learning!” Another teacher comments, “Amazon and eBay are great but searching for text books and resources is hard work, so reuse4education is just fantastic and really, really needed. We have items at school which I know would be of use to someone else when we finish doing certain courses, so it is great to know we can now put them on this site and pass them on.” Users simply sign up and list the equipment they need, as well as the things they no longer require and want to donate to someone else. As well as items being listed on the website, an email is sent out to members once a week as a reminder that a wealth of resources are there for the taking. For more details go to reuse4education
The Mutual Revolution: New Insurance To Cover Staff Shortages
Shock figures reveal a staggering 57% of teachers have considered leaving the education sector within the past two years because of health pressures. The latest studies from the Teacher Wellbeing Index expose the problems facing the sector with the recruitment and retention of teachers being a key issue. Now one company, based in the North East, is trying to change the way school finances are run so that profits are fed back into the system rather than being sucked into the private sector. Education Mutual has been set up by schools, for schools and looks to give educators the flexibility to design their own staff absence cover to match each school’s exact needs. This can include existing and ongoing absences, planned surgeries and ongoing maternity leaves, all supported by our fast-track health cover services. With schools struggling to deal with teacher absences and seeing their budgets being squeezed across the country the idea of a mutual, where members all have a democratic say on how money is spent and refunded, is becoming increasingly attractive. The mutual was established in 2018 by education professionals disillusioned with the insurance policies in the sector charging a premium for a decreasing service. Company chairman Nick Hurn OBE said: “Education Mutual provides a new innovative way to manage staff absence and healthcare. Our continuous focus on clinical governance ensures the highest level of service provision and quality outcomes for our members.” Unlike traditional insurance companies, a mutual does not have to make money for investors or shareholders. Instead Education Mutual is owned by its members – schools, colleges and nurseries, all education providers, with the purpose of keeping more of the budget within education. Education Mutual is operated solely for the benefit of the members with all members paying a contribution to the mutual which is used to pay claims. Members can attend Annual General Meetings and vote on important issues such as; who is elected to the board, cover improvements and contribution levels. The mutual board makes key decisions such as what to do with any surplus after payment of claims and administration costs. While a mutual isn’t a new concept (in fact it’s an idea that’s been around for centuries), it has had a resurgence in popularity in recent times because it offers a stable and trusted alternative to traditional insurance. Find out more
FXP Festival launches for 2019 with new creative category
FXP Festival, an East Anglian education initiative which aims to drive social mobility in the region, has announced the launch of its 2019 competition (6-8th July) with the introduction of an exciting new category. Originally formed as a STEM initiative based on a computer game design and development competition, FXP Festival 2019 is expanding to include a ‘Storytelling’ category, which will encourage students to develop both their creative writing and illustration skills. Publishing and education company, The Curved House will be supporting FXP’s Storytelling category with the provision of creative writing workshop materials and one-to-one mentor sessions, with established authors and writers, to help teams to develop their work. Hosted annually by Cambridge Regional College, FXP Festival is linked to the computer science curriculum and, for three years, has successfully been using computer games to increase interest and uptake of STEM subjects, build young people’s digital skills and provide an insight into what careers in the technology, creative digital and related industries might offer. In previous years, there have been two competition categories – ‘Game Concept’ where teams design and map out the creative concept of an original computer game, and ‘Game Development’ where teams programme and build an original game concept. New for 2019, the third category – ‘Storytelling’ – will challenge students to work in teams of up to five, to write and illustrate an original story for publication. The initiative was developed by Cambridge Regional College, Jagex, North Cambridge Academy, and Conscious Communications, and, thanks to its sponsors and supporters, the FXP weekend is completely free for participating teams. Alison Taylor Co-founder of the Festival and Managing Director of Conscious Communications, comments: “FXP Festival is all about providing exciting progression opportunities for the young people in our region. By incorporating elements of the national curriculum, as well as sourcing valuable learning materials from our industry supporters, we aim to provide students with an important connection between what they learn in the classroom, their further and higher education options, and the exciting career opportunities right on their doorstep. “In previous years it has been wonderful to see student teams come to FXP to try their hands at games development and, as a result, engage more with their computer science education. This year, we wanted to expand our reach to students that won’t necessarily have an interest in coding or games design, but might have a hidden flair for other important skills, such as creative writing and art. The ‘Storytelling’ category will give these students the opportunity to develop their abilities with the support of industry experts, while building other important soft skills such as team work, ingenuity and communication.” FXP Festival is supported by major companies in the technology, creative digital, and publishing sectors, which provide expertise, mentoring and coaching to students and their teachers. 2019 supporters include: Anglia Ruskin University, Arm, Rizing Games, Jagex, Table Flip Games and The Curved House. Kristen Harrison, Founder, The Curved House, comments: “The Curved House – alongside our flagship publication, Visual Verse – aims to inspire and celebrate creative writers, both published and unpublished, and we are so excited to use our expertise to develop the next generation of writers at FXP Festival! Ahead of the weekend, we will share valuable creative writing teaching resources with the teams to help them hone their skills in preparation for the competition. We will also run an additional writing competition over the course of the weekend for all participating students, and will publish the winners in our August edition of Visual Verse. The Curved House is excited to bring a range of writing challenges and expertise from the book industry to FXP – to inspire the writers, illustrators and publishers of the future.” FXP 2019 will take place from 6th – 8th July, at the Rizing Games studios at Cambridge Regional College and is open to schools, colleges, home school groups and out-of-school clubs across East Anglia. Teams can register their interest by emailing joanna.colley@consciouscomms.com. If your business would be interested in getting involved with FXP Festival through mentoring, funding or other support please contact Joanna Colley joanna.colley@consciouscomms.com. Find out more