Canva for Education growth fuels $6B valuation
Canva for Education, the free design and collaboration platform for schools that launched at the start of 2020, has seen its total monthly active users increase tenfold since March, highlighting how the tool has played a key role in keeping education alive during lockdown across the world. With the average Canva classroom designing 9.6 times more content than they were pre-lockdown, equating to more than 800 designs being created every hour, education institutions around the globe are reaping the benefits of adopting Canva to power rich online project- and inquiry-based learning. There are now people across 90,000 schools and universities globally, using Canva every month; such a positive result has not only played a significant part in the organization’s recent valuation at US$6billion, it also reaffirms the valuable role Canva plays in leading the charge for the future of education – regardless of whether that takes place in a digital or tangible format. Canva for Education, an entirely free offering for students and teachers worldwide, uses Canva’s intuitive drag-and-drop design tools millions have come to know and love. Tailored to the needs and requirements of schools worldwide, Canva’sEducation platform empowers users to design education-specific content such as worksheets, lesson plans, how-to videos, infographics and presentations – just to name a few, through to an all-new collaboration space, a review workflow, version history plus much more; it is a one-stop-shop for creating and collaborating in the classroom. Georgia Vidler, Director of Product at Canva commented, “The Canva platform is driven by one simple belief; technology should break down barriers, not build them, something that has been more essential than ever during lockdown. The ability to interpret, communicate and present ideas visually is critical for students to thrive in today’s world and prepare themselves to be the leaders of tomorrow. We’re proud of the way we have been able to help classes work together, even when they’re apart.” For similar articles please visit our features section
High School Students with Autism to Get Help Finding Their Career Path
A Liverpool entrepreneur has launched the ‘first of its kind’ workshop for special educational needs high school students who want to find their career path in life or set up their own business. Francesca Manca, founder of Underwing has created the ‘Shaping Your Future’ programme. These sessions are for students with autism or special educational needs who are about to leave high school but don’t know whether higher education is for them/ have a business idea and need help turning it into a money-making business or job. Francesca came up with the idea because as a SEN mum she experiences first-hand the lack of services and help in picking a higher education path or a career for people with special needs. She is also really passionate about educating the world about special needs and autism in particular, and a fierce ambassador of equal opportunities. The workshops are delivered in partnership with schools across Merseyside and can be run individually or in small groups and tailored to suit the needs of the students involved. The full run includes four 90-minute sessions plus monthly follow-up accountability calls/emails/chats for six months. The sessions show students how to identify their passions, skills, and take into consideration their needs when choosing their chosen job or career; how to write a business plan; how to market their business and how to overcome their unique needs. Francesca Manca, who works with entrepreneurs with special needs says, “This idea has been a long time in the making and I’m so excited to finally launch it. “As a PDA mum, I experience first hand the immense lack of services people with special needs have to cope with once out of education. There is not enough information, not enough mentoring, no one to help give them direction or simply suggesting what to do, and how to find their ideal jobs or start a successful business. Courses for neurotypical people don’t work as they never take into consideration any behaviour or thought process ‘outside the box’. “My mission in life is to help people with special needs to go from a career/job where they are stressed, angered, overwhelmed, into a job/career they can do with passion, purpose and excitement. I can help special needs professionals change their job/career into one that doesn’t involve coping with stress and burnout, and is, instead, fulfilling and passionate. I help my clients eliminate the stress and anger of working in the wrong environment, and achieve their dream business/job in 8 weeks. So I figured that I could bring this work one step forward, and actually help who could be a future stressed out client pick the right path from the beginning! “At Underwing we have a lot of experience working with people with autism and special educational needs and are well-versed on how to make working as stress-free and seamless as possible. “Each individual can have their own restrictions such as sensory overload, needing longer breaks after meetings, struggling to complete important projects or being overwhelmed by too many social requests. “If students don’t have a business idea yet, that’s ok too. We’ll work with them to understand their limitations, champion their strengths and look at their interests to develop a business idea and identify a career path that works best for them.” If you would like to introduce the ‘Shaping Your Future’ programme at your high school, please email fran@underwingliverpool.com or info@underwingliverpool.com or fill in the contact form on the website: https://underwingliverpool.com/contact/
Pupils’ winning flavour becomes brand new retailed Carb Killa® bar from Grenade®
Grenade ® is excited to announce it’s bringing a brand-new tasty limited-edition flavour to the Carb Killa® range, following the announcement of the winning entry of The National Enterprise Challenge (TNEC). The official masterminds and winning pupils from The Bourne Academy, including Amy Lewis, Lina Salata and Toby Durham – all aged 15 and from Bournemouth – not only unleashed their business minds and creative flairs but showed true entrepreneurial skills with their winning design, which will be taken to market towards the end of the year. What’s more, the three lucky winners will be taken through each manufacturing step of producing the healthier alternative protein-packed Carb Killa ® bar, right from concept to creation: learning about each stage of the process including manufacturing, marketing, and retail. Grenade ® proudly partnered with TNEC last year, providing Key Stage 4 (KS4) pupils with a chance to design a brand-new protein-packed bar. Students were tasked to deliberate all the different elements involved in developing and launching a new protein bar to market, including branding, packaging, ingredients and marketing. In total, 104 schools across the UK participated in the national school competition, proving how popular, appealing, and successful the opportunity was to be involved. Once all entries were submitted, they were shortlisted by an expert judging panel. Consisting of fitness famous couple, Chloe Madeley and James Haskell, professional football freestyler, Liv Cooke, and Head of Innovation at Grenade®, Rob Page, they ranked each entry out of 100 based on metrics such as idea, presentation, design, and brand. The six shortlisted entries were then shared with CEO and founder of Grenade®, Alan Barratt, who made the final decision of the winning group. Alan, comments: “We created this challenge with TNEC to help motivate the next generation of entrepreneurs – getting them set up with a key set of business skills that can be used upon leaving school. The amount of thought, dedication and passion that went into each entry was mind blowing and we can’t thank all the pupils involved enough for their hard work and participation. “TNEC helps pupils get prepared for the world of work, engaging their minds in a way they may not have done so before – and that’s why we wanted to be involved. Adapting to lockdown life in an instant, TNEC transitioned their nationwide competition to an online format so students were still able to participate, allowing them to remain engaged from the comfort of their own homes. “We’re looking forward to releasing the new flavour in the next few months – watch this space, it’s one that won’t disappoint and sure to add more fuel to your tank!” For more information on Grenade® and its Carb Killa® range, visit here.
Passageways partners with The Confederation of Schools Trusts to support boards of academy trusts in England
Passageways, a leading provider of board management software solutions for boards and leadership teams has today announced it is partnering with The Confederation of Schools Trusts (CST), the national organisation and sector body for Academy and Multi Academy Trusts. By partnering with Passageways to implement the OnBoard board portal, CST is able to recommend a solution to its members that will provide a clear line of sight for Trusts to their local governing bodies, with the confidence of having gold standard security. In addition, the portal provides a solution for Trusts that ensures meetings can continue to go ahead remotely, whilst guaranteeing various levels of permissions so all participants can access meeting notes and content to ensure they have full visibility of activity. Passageways technology will allow Trust Boards to manage the complexity of the relationships between them and the local governance level by making individualised decisions more visible. Alongside this, the portal will provide a secure process for voting and approvals, as well as sharing meeting engagement analytics. “Building a strategic partnership with an organisation that provides a quality board platform to all of our members that is secure and easy is an important step for us. We’re delighted to have partnered with Passageways who have developed a product that we think will hugely benefit our members.” Leora Cruddas, CEO of the Confederation of Schools Trusts explains. “We wanted to ensure we would be working with a partner that was able to handle the complex needs of our members and provide a product that was personalised to our specific needs, as well as allowing our trust boards to build strong and resilient governance across their schools.” “Ensuring communication and security across a range of executive and board levels, whilst maintaining visibility is something, we at Passageways, understand well. We know how important it is for board members to continue to have sight of how operations and decisions are being made at lower levels, as well as ensuring the security of confidential documentation” said Paul Stark, Director at Passageways. “We know, now more than ever, that having sight across an organisation is increasingly important and using a leadership meeting management software that’s comprehensive, secure, and simple to use is paramount. We are thrilled that we have been able to offer the Confederation of School Trusts a platform they can depend on to improve their, and their members’ operational efficiencies.” About Passageways and OnBoard Passageways is a SaaS provider of collaboration solutions for boards and employees. It inspires and enables teams to do better, together. OnBoard is a board management software platform that empowers leaders to make agile, smart decisions. That’s why people have voted OnBoard the No.1 board meeting management solution. About the Confederation of School Trusts The Confederation of School Trusts (CST) is the national body and sector organisation for school trusts in England, advocating for, connecting and supporting executive and governance leaders. Visit our website to find out more about our work: www.cstuk.org.uk
QRoutes launches instant eligibility calculator for home to school route travel funding
QRoutes, a provider of software solutions for local authority transport planners, has launched a new product, QPaths, which will automate the assessment of children’s eligibility for home to school route travel transport. Developed in partnership with North Tyneside Council, QPaths will be used by local authority home to school transport departments to help ease the processes of assessing home to school distances. Using routing technology and a GIS map, planners can create a precise view of students’ shortest, safe walking route, in seconds, which determines their eligibility to free school transport. It also integrates with council online portals to assist with more immediate answers and ensuring speedy decisions for parents. Replaces a long manual process with a 30-second search QPaths uses the UK’s most comprehensive maps from Ordnance Survey including its very latest Paths Network, making it reliable and accurate. Previously planners were manually calculating hundreds or even 1000s of applications using Google Maps as a guide. This time- consuming process is replaced by a speedy, reliable and accurate search. Accuracy drives savings on school transport QPaths’ automation offers councils hours in saved time and, with the average travel pass costing between 300 to 400 pounds, its precision could create significant cost efficiencies. The accuracy of the automated tool also reduces the need for human interpretation on whether or not a student is eligible for a pass, making the final decision straightforward and promoting trust in the outcome with parents. And in the event of appeals it also allows interventions by planners with an audit trail of outcomes. Promotes safety and contributes to improvement The QPaths product, which is GDPR compliant and stores no data on students, has other functionality which can improve road and route safety. It is integrated with Google Street View meaning travel routes can be assessed for their suitability, (i.e. are they well-lit or busy). With this tool, planners can easily label unsuitable routes to be blocked when it comes to eligibility assessment. There is also the ability for planners to compare and evaluate changes to routes and perform “what-if” scenarios. For example, if a school has more than one gate or if there are planned site changes, meaning that planners can review the distances to the alternative locations, enabling them to assess the potential impact on students’ home to school journeys. Andrew Fish, Customer Success Manager at QRoutes says: “We are pleased to offer a faster and more accurate solution for planners in education and transport departments. Helping them to free up their time, which will be particularly critical as schools begin to reopen following the impact of Covid-19. Student safety is also a priority for us at QRoutes and we hope that this solution will offer peace of mind to parents that their child’s safety is paramount. “ “This also signals an exciting growth opportunity for QPaths as a company as eligibility assessment is a new business area for us.” North Tyneside, the local authority development partner, comments: “Distance eligibility testing was taking our small team too long, causing potential delays in decisions for parents. We wanted to improve our service to our customers and needed a fast, efficient and accurate way of calculating the safest walking route to school. QPaths provides us with this tool.” Available for purchase immediately, QPaths can be integrated with all major education management systems for the purpose of loading in information on student journeys in need of assessment. If you would like further information, please contact info@qroutes.co.uk
Prizes up for grabs as BCIA launches school competition
The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has launched a brand new summer school competition that encourages young people to get their thinking caps on and devise an idea that could help reduce the energy consumption of their schools. The Schoolz Out competition challenges school pupils to design an energy saving product or initiative for their school which uses an element of control to save energy. Rather than an extra bit of homework, the BCIA says the competition is a bit of fun for the school holidays. The innovation could be hand drawn or designed on a computer – whatever method you think best shows how your invention will work. You can also write up to 300 words to explain your idea. Terry Sharp, BCIA President, said: “Today’s students are perhaps more aware of environmental matters than anybody as it is their future that is most at stake right now. The next generation of engineers will be the key drivers in developing the innovative technologies to help create a sustainable future and the Schoolz Out competition encourages people to take the initiative as early as possible in shaping the world they will inherit.” The competition is open to two age categories; age 10 and under, and age 11-16, with a prize to be awarded to the winner in each category. All you need to do is fill in the entry form on the BCIA website and send it with your design by email or post to arrive before the deadline of Monday 31 August 2020. Every entry will be put in front of the BCIA’s judging panel who will look for the best invention and the best use of controls to save energy. The winner will be the design which the panel believes shows the greatest use of innovation and invention to control the amount of energy being used in a school and more importantly, the entry which will save the most energy for their school. The winning entries will be revealed on 17 September 2020. Terry Sharp concluded: “It is vital that we at the BCIA engage with young people like this and I am really looking forward to seeing the ideas that are put forward.” Full details and an Entry Form are available at https://bcia.co.uk/awards/schoolz-out-2020/
First-ever online safety hub to prevent children from falling victim to online risk
A new online safety hub from Internet Matters, is being launched today to help children with special educational needs navigate connected technology safely. As part of a joint initiative, the online safety joined forces with Youthworks and Facebook to hold a series of workshops with teenagers aged 13 to 17 with additional learning needs and their parents or carers. The findings of the workshops and extensive consultation with young people throughout the hub creation identified key areas where children with SEND needed greater support and more focused advice to stop them ‘falling through the net’. The findings, which have been detailed in The Life Online for Children with SEND report, published today, identified areas where young people with SEND differ from typical children in relation to online safety. Firstly, many with additional learning needs lack the critical thinking skills, and sometimes the consideration for consequences that young people without additional learning needs have. This can mean they are more trusting of both people they encounter and content they see online. It also meant they had fewer concerns around privacy and were keen to have public profiles. Finally, they are also more open to parents and carers being involved in their online lives and having their devices regularly checked. While parents or carers of young people with SEND recognised the huge benefits of social media for their children, they also had a series of concerns ranging from their child developing extreme views to fears that their child could be easily manipulated online. They also highlighted how there is a lack of unambiguous and authoritative advice on how to help their children safely navigate the online world and guidance on how they can interact together online. As a result, Internet Matters, Youthworks and Facebook are today launching a new hub, which can be found here for both young people with SEND and their parents or carers. With a supportive and enabling approach, the tool helps adults and young people explore and learn together in a step by step way. It includes tailored advice on how to connect safely online across a range of social platforms. CEO of Internet Matters Carolyn Bunting said: “The findings of the report highlighted how online safety isn’t a one-size fits all approach and society’s most vulnerable young people need tailored support to help them navigate the online world. “Having listened to the experiences of young people with SEND and their parents, carers and teachers we recognised we would need to create something different for these young people. “Social media for young people with additional learning needs is increasingly important and they are more likely to spend time online than their peers – which is why a collaborative approach in preventing any risk, is essential. “Our joint hub aims to help parents, carers and young people with SEND more aware of the risks and provide them with guidance to tackle them head on to ensure they don’t ‘fall through the net’. Youthworks Director, Adrienne Katz said: “Our research highlights how important it is to give bespoke advice to young people with SEND, that, as one girl put it: ‘is not patronising’. I was inspired by working with young people throughout this project. “Only by listening to them and their parents, carers and teachers, can we try to create the resources they and their families need to be safe online. “This microsite respects young people and allows them the opportunity to explore online safety on their own, or with parents or carers in a way that suits them.” Head of EMEA Safety at Facebook, David Miles said: “Working with our partner Internet Matters has been a fantastic experience and we are delighted with the microsite which will help ensure that all children have a safe time online. “We were pleased to support the creation of this resource, which offers tailored advice for SEND young people, so that they feel well equipped to connect to their friends and family safely online across a range of social platforms. To visit the new hub visit: www.internetmatters.org/connecting-safely-online/ For more information on how to keep your child safe online visit internetmatters.org
Record number of teens sign up to learn cyber security skills in digital summer courses
A RECORD number of tech-savvy teenagers are taking cyber security classes this summer as courses have been moved from classrooms to their laptops. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) moved its annual CyberFirst summer courses online, with virtual classes for 14 to 17-year-olds run by qualified instructors through June to August. Children are taught how to analyse common cyber-attacks, crack codes and defend devices and networks, with the help of leading experts from industry and GCHQ. The change in format prompted the highest number of applications yet. More than 1,700 UK pupils will be accepted on to the courses – an increase of 600 (35%) from last year. Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Growth, said: “Moving this year’s CyberFirst summer courses online has proven hugely popular, with a record number of boys and girls participating and developing their cyber skills from home – in a way that is fun, insightful and engaging. “These courses offer a golden opportunity for young people to explore their interests in cyber security and hopefully they will be inspired to pursue this further and become a part of the next generation of cyber talent.” Courses are being offered at three levels: Cyber Defenders (14-15-year-olds), Futures (15-16-years-old), Advanced (16-17-years-old) – all of which are aimed at helping pupils develop their digital and problem-solving skills and to introduce them to the cyber threat landscape. The first cohort has just completed the free two-week course and feedback has been positive, with one pupil on the pilot describing it as “a great learning experience”. In previous years the NCSC has offered residential summer courses, but in light of the high uptake of online learning this year it will look to offer a mixture of both in future. One pupil who took part in the pilot course said: “For an online delivery of the course, this was amazing. It was a great learning experience and so much more fun than I originally anticipated.” At the end of the course, pupils receive a certificate to show the course is recognised by the NCSC and the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA). Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman of QA, said: “These initiatives from NCSC and DCMS are set to deliver a great summer of learning for young people across the UK. Digital skills are the single largest area of skills shortage in the UK and the CyberFirst programmes tackle this issue head on – and have the added benefit of keeping young minds active at this difficult time. “The road to the UK’s economic recovery from this pandemic will be built on the skills we learn at this time. That’s why it was critical that initiatives like CyberFirst were pivoted to virtual delivery, so they could go ahead as planned. We are proud to partner with the NCSC to deliver these fully virtual training programmes.” Dr Kevin P. Stenson, chief executive of The Smallpeice Trust, said: “With some schools still closed and the summer exam series cancelled, it is fantastic to see how many students have signed up for the CyberFirst programme to develop their passion for technology and learn key skills at home. “The cyber industry offers many diverse and rewarding career paths, but often students do not have access to experiences where they can develop their knowledge and skills. Our aim is to give young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to realise their potential and develop their tech talent.” Students who have completed the programme, which is run by skills provider QA in partnership with children’s charity the Smallpeice Trust, have praised the experience, calling it “fun”, “comprehensive” and “invaluable”. The CyberFirst courses were launched in 2016 to help young people explore their passion for technology by introducing them to cyber security. This comes at a time when there is still a lack of diversity in STEM careers – just 15% of the UK’s cyber security workforce are women, for instance. CyberFirst is committed to offering the support, skills, opportunities and exposure young people need to excel in this field and to inspire them to join the industry. Earlier this month, the government’s online cyber security training programme Cyber Discovery – a part of CyberFirst – began its fourth year early to give students the chance to take part in the initial assessment phase over the summer. For more information about CyberFirst courses: https://smallpeicetrust.org.uk/cyberfirst
Youth Music fund aims to smash barriers to working in music industry
Youth Music has launched a campaign and a new £2 million Incubator Fund to pave the way for an alternative future for the ‘broken’ music industry and fix its ‘diversity deficit’. In its new report, A Blueprint for the Future, the national charity sets out a plan that is centred on cultivating the talent, energy, and passion of young people. It calls on the industry to follow suit to tackle longstanding inequalities in the music industry, brought into sharp focus by the Black Lives Matter movement and amplified by the coronavirus pandemic. Over two years, the Incubator Fund, made possible by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, will offer grants of up to £30,000 to forward-thinking music industry employers to support the careers of people aged 18-25. The funding, which can be spent on wages and support, provides a tangible way for small, independent organisations in the music industry to thrive and collaborate with the next generation and the wider sector. The Incubator Fund also gives a lifeline to ambitious young creatives whom, along with creative industries, have been significantly hit by the pandemic. A Blueprint for the Future report, published today, features the voices of 1,300 young people with plans to begin careers in the music industry. It showcases how, despite the overwhelming tenacity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit in young people, current routes for them to move from education to employment are not fit for purpose. This further illustrates that the existing industry is seriously lacking in diversity, which is crucial to creativity and economic success. Addressing young people’s frustrations, it warns that two in three (66%) will be forced to forgo aspirations and take jobs in other sectors if they’re not able to break into music and sustain a financially viable career. Factors affecting whether young people get a foot in the door, gain meaningful experiences, and stay employed are gender, class, ethnicity, and geographical location. Key findings from A Blueprint for the Future include: Women are less likely to be earning through music than men, and have less access to support to help them achieve success in the music industries People from lower income backgrounds are less likely to be earning through music, have fewer networking opportunities, and are less likely to have help or be mentored by people in the industry People from Black, Asian, Mixed and Minority Ethnic ethnicities backgrounds are marginally more likely to be earning through music but gaining experience is harder, with less access to unpaid internships than people who are white Those in the South of England are more likely to be earning from music than the rest of England but, overall, people in England are more likely to be earning than those in Wales or Scotland With barriers often intersecting and issues magnified by the coronavirus lockdown, the report warns that thousands of young people are currently being driven out of the sector they love, or forced to go it alone outside the system. A Blueprint for the Future sets out a positive vision for change that’s centred on the power of cultivating young creatives across the music industry. Support of young people is said to be fundamental to avoid a narrow and homogenised pool of music professionals, and to ensure the industry is a thriving environment filled with diversity, creativity, and fresh ideas. Matt Griffiths, CEO of Youth Music, said: “The existing music industry model is broken and there’s a new one up for grabs. We must use the upheaval and challenges of 2020 as a springboard to hit reset on the music industry and fling open the doors. There’s never been a better time to map and follow a blueprint for the future and prioritise what’s truly important.” In launching the Incubator Fund and A Blueprint for the Future, Youth Music is opening doors for a generation of ambitious music professionals. But with creative industries at risk in the wake of coronavirus, the charity is now calling for more to be done. Youth Music is urging the music industry to recognise the huge creative and commercial opportunities to be gained from nurturing talent, and to take responsibility for removing the barriers young people face. It is calling on music organisations, large and small, to take direct action to work with them towards a diverse and sustainable ecosystem by: Reviewing and overhauling recruitment policies to promote diversity and inclusion Reforming entry-level roles to ensure meaningful experiences, ending unpaid internships, and becoming a Living Wage Employer Building long-term relationships with the music education sector and grassroots projects Matt continued: “For more than two decades, Youth Music has invested in music education projects nationwide supporting the next generation of young musicians. But time and time again, we’ve witnessed a stifling of young talent as career aspirations are cut short by unnecessary barriers and discrimination. “Music has always been a force for inclusion and revolution, helping us imagine a better future. This seminal moment presents us with a real opportunity to not only reflect but to act. We know there’s a deep desire for transformation across the grassroots of the music industries. By working together, individually and collectively, we can create the change that’s being loudly called for.” Jamz Supernova, DJ and BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter, has shown her support for Youth Music’s campaign. She said: “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the kick-start experience of the BRIT School which is state funded. Out of college, I was on the Guardian Media scheme, I learnt my craft at Reprezent radio, and also did a paid internship at the BBC. These were invaluable boosters which helped me get closer to my dream. “One of the things we don’t talk about enough across many industries is class and the lack of representation and accessibility. Community station Reprezent is a clear case of how an industry can be democratised. Through investing in young