Scholarship fund helps Black and mixed Black heritage students studying geography at university
Esri UK and Black Geographers today announced that this year’s Geospatial Scholarship Fund is now open to applicants. Two awards will be made this academic year, consisting of an Undergraduate Award of £30,000 and a Masters Award of £20,000, to study within the disciplines of geography or geoscience. Supporting Black and mixed Black heritage students to achieve their full potential at university, by removing some of the financial burden, the fund is now in its second year. Successful students will also receive support and training during their time on the programme from Esri UK and Black Geographers, who co-created the fund. Applications are now welcome and close on 6 April 2022. Statistics compiled by the Royal Geographical Society and Black Geographers organisation show that although the number of Black students taking geography increased significantly between 2008 and 2018, Black students are still under-represented on geography degrees. They are also significantly less likely to complete their degree; in 2018, 72% of White students studying geography completed their course compared to just 57% of Black students. “The Geospatial Scholarship Fund was created as a vehicle to promote and encourage diversity and inclusion in the geospatial industry,” explained Dr. Addy Pope, Higher Education Manager at Esri UK. “Black and mixed Black heritage students are significantly under-represented within the fields of geography and geoscience education and employment, so the programme aims to increase this number, provide financial and other support throughout their studies and promote the subjects as a positive life choice for students.” Francisca Rockey, founder of Black Geographers, commented: “Black Geographers formed as a collection of Black geography students and graduates who have first-hand experience of the many barriers which prevent Black students from studying geography, and how isolating the field can be even after navigating these barriers. I am delighted to be working with Esri UK for a second year to award two geographers or geoscientists with the opportunity to pursue their dreams, without the financial barrier. The diversity of people in science will set future outcomes.” Applicants need to have Black or mixed Black heritage, be from a disadvantaged household in the UK and have an offer from a UK university for the next academic year. The course must be either an undergraduate degree in geography or related geoscience, a master’s degree in GIS, or a course with a significant component of GIS. Candidates need to submit a brief video or a 500-word essay or other medium of their choice. Summer Singleton Martins, this year’s undergraduate scholar and first year BSc Geography student at University of Liverpool, said: “This is only the beginning of my university and scholarship journey. In 2023 I am hoping to go with the research conservation company Operation Wallacea to Fiji, and be a Research Assistant. I want to gain some fieldwork experience in marine and terrestrial science and never would have dreamed that I would be able to travel with my degree and gain work experience somewhere so far away! I sincerely appreciate the help and guidance from Black Geographers and Esri UK. Everything that they have done for me has been a great help and I sincerely appreciate it.” More information about the fund’s criteria and the application process, with tips for applicants can be found here: https://geospatialscholarshipfund.com
Digital game offers UK pupils and teachers a new approach to foreign language learning
A digital game is helping to improve the way that children learn French, Spanish and German grammar. Uptake of Gaming Grammar, in which pupils enter a virtual world of code-cracking and spies to complete a series of missions presented as mini-games, has more than quadrupled across UK schools over the last 12 months. Developed by the University of York and the National Centre for Excellence for Language Pedagogy (NCELP) in collaboration with the University of Reading, the game works by combining digital technology with language learning and teaching research, introducing a fresh approach to a subject often regarded as difficult and dull. In order to successfully complete each mission, the player must crack the code by learning how to understand and use new grammar features. Since the first playable online version of Gaming Grammar was launched, more than 350 primary and secondary schools across the UK have registered with the game. In the period between December 2020 and December 2021, the number of games played increased from 3,325 to 15,326. Aimed at upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3, the game aims to provide a strong foundation of grammatical knowledge for teachers and students to build upon in preparation for the revised Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) GCSE Subject Content in French, German and Spanish, announced on 14 January 2022. The release of the revised GCSE Subject Content marked the culmination of the Department for Education’s consultations on proposed changes to the subject content requirements, following a review of language pedagogy carried out by the Teaching Schools Council in 2016. Gaming Grammar aligns closely with the grammar components of the MFL pedagogy review and uses a research-informed teaching and learning approach that makes grammar essential for understanding meaning. The approach, called form-meaning mapping, teaches grammar through listening and reading practice. Emma Marsden, Professor of Education at the University of York and Director, NCELP commented: “Research on form-meaning mapping has shown that by providing focussed listening and reading practice, which draws students’ attention to the meaning (or function) of grammar, students get better at understanding new pieces of grammar when listening and reading. Students also tend to improve their ability to accurately use new grammar features when writing and speaking.” Dr Rowena Kasprowicz, Lecturer in Second Language Education at the University of Reading, commented “By using this grammar teaching technique and harnessing the proven educational power of games – narrative drive, in-built rewards, interactivity, personalised pace, and measurable progress – Gaming Grammar aims to make grammar practice effective, engaging, and motivating.” In addition to providing a new and research-informed curriculum resource, the game also generates valuable data on the nature of the grammar learning process, and on the wider application of gamification in education. Data from Gaming Grammar provides the research team with information about how learners’ grammar knowledge is developing and how effective the game is at supporting this learning. The online nature of the game also means that researchers can collect learning data on a much larger scale than is normally possible in traditional classroom-based research. Gaming Grammar has received funding from the EPSRC (via the Digital Creativity Labs), and from the Department for Education, ESRC IAA, and the Higher Education Innovation Fund (for NCELP). The latest version is available to play online and to download for free from Google Play (Android devices) and Apple App stores (iPad only)
Environmental art competition invites schools to take part with the chance to win free beach trip
To mark Earth Day and to encourage more students to become active in protecting the planet, the competition invites children to create artwork addressing, ‘my role in protecting the environment’ Primary, secondary and special schools across the country are invited to take part in a national art competition, aimed at inspiring children to tackle the climate emergency and play their part in protecting the planet. Created by immersive storytelling organisation, Lyfta, the competition aims to connect students to environmental issues and inspire them to get involved. In celebration of Earth Day on 22 April, the competition invites students aged three to 18 to explore an immersive real human story featuring a beachcomber artist activist, Rob Arnold, based in Cornwall who collects plastic waste and turns it into awareness raising art. After experiencing Rob’s story, they will get involved in creating their own artwork. The winning entry will be awarded a fully funded trip to a local beach for their class. Making the world more sustainable and tackling climate change are some of the biggest challenges we face globally. Around 60 per cent of young people are extremely anxious about climate change and the impact it may have on their future. Improving climate change education in schools is a key focus on the Government’s draft strategy for Sustainability and Climate Change, and so the competition seeks to empower students with the knowledge and skills to better understand complex themes such as sustainability and biodiversity. As part of the competition, schools will be given access to the interactive human story with Rob sharing his real-life experiences collecting plastic waste on his local beach in Cornwall. Rob feels responsible for finding a solution so uses art as a way to raise awareness. Taking his story as inspiration, students will be asked to create their own artwork based on the theme, ‘my role in protecting the environment’. Schools can enter the competition for students individually, in pairs, groups, or as a whole class. Entries can be submitted as photos or videos of a range of art forms including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and poetry. The judges include Rob, who will be looking for original, creative artwork, alongside a written explanation of each student’s inspiration in response to the theme. Serdar Ferit, co-founder and co-CEO at Lyfta, said: “The climate crisis has given us an enormous mountain to climb, so it is really heartening to see that so many children and young people around the world have been doing an incredible job of raising awareness and taking action to protect our planet. We are thrilled to launch our Earth Day competition and share a collection of real-life stories that will help to engage students with these complex issues on a human level. We believe that the stories will provoke and inspire some brilliant and creative work, which we very much look forward to seeing!” Rob Arnold, activist and artist said: “I am honoured to be taking part in Lyfta’s Earth Day art competition and sharing my story with young people up and down the country. The competition is a wonderful opportunity for students to get creative and make a piece of art which reflects their feelings about protecting the environment, helping them to critically engage and realise the important role they play in safeguarding the planet.” The teaching resources for the competition are free for schools and can be used in lessons in the lead up to Earth Day (22 April) and beyond, with entries open now and closing on Friday 27 May. To enter, schools must register for a free Lyfta account to access the ‘Beachcomber’ storyworld. Entries must then be sent via a submission form and both the judging and winner announcement will take place in early June. Full details and T&Cs can be found on the website: www.lyfta.com/earth-day-competition
Oldham student takes home British Muslim Award
Hannah Miah, of Lyndhurst Primary in Oldham, picked up the Young Achievers award at the British Muslim Awards on the 24th of February. Now in its 9th year, the British Muslim Awards honour top professionals for their ingenuity and achievements at the Marquee British Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester. Hannah Miah, just 10 years old, was commended for her work raising awareness on the hardships experienced by the street children in Bangladesh, whilst also raising a staggering £15,600 for charity. Inspiration for the charity work struck after Hannah’s dad showed her a video on the crisis, the video helped her to appreciate how fortunate she was to have a family and home. Her father, Jewel Miah, was rewarded with an MBE for voluntary services to British-Bengali football in 2016 – he has played a key role in encouraging Hannah’s efforts. This year, Hannah plans to walk 50km during Ramadan to raise money with a target of £5,000. Lizzie Egan-Walsh, Headteacher at Lyndhurst Primary School, has commended Hannah for her ‘inspiring’ charity work. Hannah is a Focus-Trust Pupil Parliamentarian at Lyndhurst and acts as a spokesperson for her peers. Lyndhurst Primary School forms part of Focus-Trust a charitable primary schools trust which is based in the North West of England and West Yorkshire. The trust recently donated £1893.23 to Young Minds following an ambitious fundraising effort. Commenting on Hannah’s achievements, Lizzie said: “We are incredibly proud of Hannah’s achievements here at Lyndhurst, she has inspired children across the school and further afield to fundraise for a cause they believe in. “Hannah’s charitable ethos is something we encourage here at Lyndhurst and we will continue to support her efforts as she looks to raise further funds for the cause.” Focus-Trust is a charitable primary schools trust which is based in the North West of England and West Yorkshire with a vision of providing ‘great schools at the heart of our communities’ where children thrive, achieve and succeed.
Edtech firm launches in 100 schools to tackle pandemic learning gaps
Elastik, the pioneering analytics and assessment platform for schools, is launching in the UK to help schools and teachers urgently address gaps in learning that have been created or exacerbated by the pandemic. Designed by teachers, for teachers, Elastik maps student performance data against the national curriculum, so that teachers can quickly and easily pinpoint individual and class-wide learning needs. Elastik initially launched to help schools identify learning gaps in Western Australia in late 2020 and will now start working with over 100 schools and Multi Academy Trusts including the Astrea Academy Trust which has schools in South Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire. Between March 2020 and April 2021, students across the UK missed on average over half a year of normal, in-person schooling. Ofsted reports significant delays in educational development as a result of remote learning, with Year 1 and Year 2 pupils falling behind in topics such as phonics knowledge, number and symbol recognition, and number bonds. The Department for Education has identified 55 ‘cold spots’ where education outcome is the weakest to target intensive investment. Bridging the learning gap in areas like these will be one of the key focuses of the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ policy. Teachers know that subjects missed, particularly at early stages, can fundamentally undermine teaching in later years where those topics need to be built upon. However, identifying precise gaps can be difficult and extremely time consuming to address accurately. With more than a quarter of teachers in England working more than 59 hours per week, record stress levels are being recorded. Elastik is a custom-built, software platform for schools, which uses the school’s historic data or data from new assessments to provide accurate student learning insights as well as automating time-consuming administration for teachers. Its proprietary analytics technology can identify student learning gaps from assessment data in under two weeks and map this to curriculum requirements at a granular level. From these insights, Elastik can develop detailed individual and class lesson plans for teachers to use as appropriate, delivering focus on areas that need addressing and saving essential time for teachers. Jeremy Waters, Founder of Elastik, said: “As a former teacher, I understand all too well the simultaneous pressures and privileges of teaching. My priority when establishing Elastik was to give teachers easy access to the insights across their pupil cohorts, take away as much admin as possible and in turn support them to pursue their passion for teaching. “Inequalities in learning are unfortunately not new, but as many in the sector will agree, gaps that were already there have been exacerbated by the pandemic and we are now at a crisis point across the vast majority of schools in the UK as teacher and pupil absences persist. To effectively address the government stated ‘expected standards’ in reading, writing and maths and to support children of all abilities to achieve their best, we must first establish where the specific learning gaps are so that teachers know where to focus their attention.” Hywel Jones, from Astrea Academy Trust said: “Our mission is to deliver the best possible education to every child. While the pandemic has caused significant challenges for education, we are pleased to be participating in a pilot with Elastik, to help the children who have struggled with remote learning or had reduced levels of concentration and ensure they are supported. Having the insight as to what our children have either missed or not understood properly at any stage of their schooling plays a fundamental part in our ability as teachers to lay the right educational foundations for them.” Paul Kinsella, Headteacher of St Monica’s Catholic Primary School in Liverpool said: “What I rate about Elastik is its ability to inform and empower our teaching. It pinpoints problem areas quickly and offers a real range of support, which teachers can use as they need to. The platform itself is extremely visual and easy to use, which means it has been rolled out quickly for staff to use without onerous IT or training requirements.”
Twinkl celebrates International Women’s Day by sharing the inspiring thoughts of their female leaders, to empower the next generation
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2022, the women of Twinkl have come together to discuss their roles within the company and offer advice to the next generation of women who may be looking for a role in education. “We are living in a historical moment” International Women’s Day is set to be a global celebration of female achievements and will raise awareness of equality issues women face daily. Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks and Amelia Earhart, are just some of the remarkable women featured in Twinkl educational resources as we aim to educate the next generation on the injustices women have faced throughout history and how changes have been made to encourage a better future for all. These women along with many others have paved the way for future generations. They battled inequality, racism, discrimination, violence and much more just because of their gender. Sadly, even in 2022 women across the world are still facing daily prejudices. “Our priority is to be in solidarity with each other as women” In 2021 *Catalyst, a global non-profit that builds workplaces that work for women, conducted a study looking at women in senior roles across the globe. Their findings showed that the proportion of women in senior management roles around the world was 31%, this is the highest number ever recorded, showing that it is increasing but is still not equal. 91% of Twinkl’s Country Managers are women, who work in senior roles managing the operations of Twinkl in countries across the globe. These incredible women have supported the growth of Twinkl and are paving the way for future female leaders. In celebration of International Women’s Day, Twinkl’s Country Managers have come together to share their stories in the hope of inspiring young women and the next generation of leaders. Mónica Rojas Heidkie joined Twinkl as the Chilean Country Manager six months ago, after having been a Primary School Teacher for over 20 years. She has stated she has faced various challenges throughout her career, mainly due to her gender. Mónica said: “Our priority is to be in solidarity with each other as women, because our gender has been oppressed for a long time, and we are living in a historical moment where women are the protagonists and masters of our destiny.” “You will make a difference wherever you are” Agnieszka Gardziel, Poland Country Manager, joined Twinkl over two years ago as a Marketing Coordinator before developing her skills and progressing into her role as a country manager. She understands the difficulties women face and understands the importance of not giving up on your goals. Agnieszka said, “To all those girls who are shy, quiet and who feel unseen and unheard – it may seem that we live in an era of bold, extrovert entrepreneurs but don’t let it hold you back. Work tirelessly on your dream, focus on doing small things that matter every single day and sooner or later you will make an impact – and I promise you, you will be seen, and your voice will be heard.” “Work tirelessly on your dream” As a company, Twinkl are inclusive to all and provide a working environment where their teams are supported, so that they can grow as individuals and progress professionally. Rebecca Usherwood, Australian Country Manager, joined Twinkl in 2016 with over 20 years experience of working as a teacher. She joined as a Marketing Assistant Team Leader before progressing into management, she credits the support she has received over the years as a contributing factor to why she enjoys working at Twinkl. Rebecca said, “The sense of community I feel amongst my team and the wider community of teachers parents and educators who we are supporting and inspiring each and every day. I am able to be a part of an amazing team, who are able to help those who teach, hear about their successes and help them through the tough times by letting them know that we are here 24/7 to help them is amazing. I honestly think I’m pretty lucky with what I get to do each day.” “I took every day at a time and kept my eyes wide open” Ioana Sima joined Twinkl in 2014 as the Romanian Country Manager, she found her passion for helping children complimented her role well, and now offers advice to young women who may be struggling to figure out their own dreams. Ioana said, “I had found my mission and knew there was so much to be done. I sought after all the learning and development opportunities I needed to reach my goal of helping as many Romanian children as possible. I took every day at a time and kept my eyes wide open to see what life had to give me and what I could give back. With my goal in mind, every step I took, this dream became more defined.” As International Women’s Day is a celebration of the achievements of women throughout history and around the globe, Twinkl wants to empower young women to dream big as they look to the future. Tugce Erdik, Turkey Country Manager said, “Remember, every day, every minute the world is developing. Do not fall behind. With passion and knowledge, you will make a difference wherever you are.” “Your voice will be heard” For more information about International Women’s Day here at Twinkl or to access our connecting resources, please visit https://www.twinkl.co.uk/event/international-women-s-day-2022
The world’s first International Baccalaureate autism school opens in Cambridge
The world’s first International Baccalaureate (IB) special autism school building has officially opened its doors, enabling The Cavendish School to accept an additional 50 students this term in Years 3 – 7. The school, which started teaching in September 2021, was previously located in temporary accommodation at Girton Glebe Primary School with capacity for just 10 students. The new site means that more families, whose children’s needs cannot be catered for within current state provision in the county, will be able to access the specialist provision. Stephanie Smith, Deputy Headteacher, said: “It is tremendously exciting to finally move into our new school building, especially after watching the progress of the construction work during the past 12 months. The state of the art building reflects our vision of providing a safe, nurturing and inclusive space for our students to access their learning; enabling us to deliver specialist education for autistic students in the county, where they have not been able to thrive in a mainstream school.” Work on Cambridgeshire’s first state maintained special free school provision for young people with autism began in January 2021, and has been designed to provide optimal education environments for students with autism. Manufactured off-site in Northern Ireland by The McAvoy Group, the building is constructed from connected modules and offers sensory breakout rooms, a life skills room, a horticultural space and wider corridors to ensure that students do not feel claustrophobic when moving around the school site. Drawing on the success of the co-located mainstream schools, Impington Village College and Impington International College, the school will provide opportunities for the students, through shared use of support staff and bespoke extra-curricular activities. At full capacity, the school will provide specialist provision for up to 100 autistic students, in Year 3 – 13. This week, students and their families will familiarise themselves with their new building and meet their new teachers and support staff to ease the transition into their new academic environment. During their time at the school, students will pursue the IB programmes and accredited qualifications, alongside specific individual therapies or interventions, provided by dedicated onsite specialists in Occupational and Speech and Language Therapy. Each of the programmes allow teachers to personalise learning to the unique abilities of their students and the curriculum model allows for a wide range of activities including: Forest School, Lego-based therapy and life skills learning, to support the school’s mission of helping students develop into independent adults. Lucy Scott, CEO of Eastern Learning Alliance – a multi-academy trust of which The Cavendish School is a member of – said: “I am delighted that our concept of a school that breaks down the educational barriers that autistic students face has finally become a reality after years of planning, research and preparation. Through the knowledge and expertise of team, The Cavendish School will deliver an exemplary education provision for students with Educational Health Care Plans to help them flourish and thrive as healthy, happy individuals.”
National Book Retailer To Donate 18,000 Children’s Books Across The UK To Celebrate World Book Day
To celebrate World Book Day on 3rd March 2022, independent, online children’s bookseller, Books2Door, is donating 18,000 free books to several charities, libraries, schools and hospitals across the UK. Confirmed partners include The Children’s Literacy Charity, Alder Hey Children’s Charity, several primary schools and regional libraries. With World Book Day 2022 coming up, the donation demonstrates their commitment to “make books accessible for all children.” The donation also coincides with Books2Door’s 18th birthday on 2nd March 2022 and as part of the campaign, the company has also invited social media followers to come forward with their own suggestions of where books can be donated. This is not the first time Books2Door has offered free books. Illustrating their commitment and dedication to providing access to reading, the company also donated almost 20,000 brand new children’s books in 2021: World Book Day & World Book Night, March 2021 – 17,500 books to customers Gaza bookshop, June 2021 – 1,000 books to restore a bookshop destroyed in the violence between Hamas and Israel Leicester City Council, December 2021 – 1,000 books to welcome Afghanistan refugees and families into the city As part of the campaign, Books2Door is also encouraging other charity partners to get in touch should they wish to participate in the generous scheme. Abdul Thadha, founder of Books2Door says, “I can’t believe we’re celebrating 18 years. During and post-pandemic, we have seen the love for reading at an all time high, but our main focus is to ensure parents and children can access books at a cost that they can afford. At the same time, we recognise that not every child has this. That’s why we are donating 18,000 brand new children’s books across the country for free. We would like to thank every partner that has been involved and we hope this is the start of a long-term relationship with each of them.” Senior Community Fundraising Manager of Alder Hey children’s charity, Axon Irene said, “What a wonderful gift for our patients to receive” and a spokesperson for The Children’s Literacy Charity, upon receiving the donation said, “We are incredibly grateful to Books2Door for their donation of books which will benefit the children who attend our partner primary schools in London and Manchester.” The 18,000 books have been provided by Sweet Cherry Publishing, Books2Door’s sister company, of which Abdul is also the Managing Director. For more information contact eve.mccann@cigroup.co.uk
English schools facing a significant rise in water rates
The Coronavirus pandemic has increased the amount of bad debt in the commercial water market. In April 2022, this cost will be passed on to customers through a temporary price rise. The commercial water market was deregulated in 2017, allowing schools to choose their water supplier. Until recently, the savings available from switching business water tariffs have been minimal, so the vast majority of schools have continued with the water supplier they’ve always had. Businesses that have never switched water suppliers pay business water rates on a deemed contract with their default supplier. Default water rates increase each year slightly as the cost of maintaining the water network increases. April 2022 is different; not only will schools be hit with inflationary increases in the cost of water, but they will also be charged more due to Ofwat’s decision to raise prices. To avoid the rising cost of water, schools can compare business water suppliers, just like they do with electricity and gas supply contracts. See how much your school can save today with the AquaSwitch water comparison service. Here are the other reasons why schools should consider comparing the water market for a better deal: Are you satisfied with the service of your current supplier? Billing and charging issues are the most common complaints with business water suppliers. Some water suppliers take customer services more seriously than others. See what your options are using the AquaSwitch water comparison service today. Would you like a more environmentally friendly water tariff? The treatment and pumping of water around the country is a highly carbon-intensive activity. See if your school can save money and help the environment by switching to a green tariff today. Save money on water rates. Schools often pay significant surface drainage charges on their water bills due to the large area covered by schools grounds. In the deregulated water market, suppliers compete for price. See how much your school can save today with www.aquaswitch.co.uk