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
Paint Easter spring flowers at Coalport China Museum 13 – 28 April
Go along to Coalport China Museum, near Ironbridge during the Easter school holidays from 13 to 28 April and join floral-themed ceramic family activities. Young artists can decorate a money box, fridge magnet or paper plate with spring flowers such as daffodils, tulips and bluebells using quick drying paint. The daily sessions take place from 11am – 1pm and again between from 1.30pm – 3.30pm. Afterwards explore the museum’s many galleries. The ceramic painting activities carry a charge of between £1 and £4 per item plus entry while the paper activities are included in your admission fee. You can take your finished items home with you on the day. One of the 10 Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Coalport China Museum is open from 10am until 4pm. A great value Annual Passport Ticket allowing multiple visits into all 10 museums can be bought at the entrance or online in advance saving 5%; individual entry tickets are also available at each museum. Activities will vary from day-to-day and some additional costs will apply. The Coalport China Works was built in 1796 alongside the Shropshire Canal, Coalport China Works occupied this factory until it’s closure in 1926. Half a century later, IGMT bought the site and restored it as a museum, now home to the exquisite collections of Coalport and Caughley China. You’ll be amazed by the spectacular treasures made in these quirky buildings – from elaborate statuesque vases to hand-painted miniatures, they were made for everyone from wealthy families to Queens and Tsars. See traditional techniques in riverside workshops, dress-up in the Children’s gallery and step inside the atmospheric kilns. The Ironbridge Gorge Museums are all set in important historic industrial buildings, Explore our award-winning attractions in the beautiful Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site. Where will your visit take you? For further information, about the event or an Ironbridge Museum call the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M54 motorway exiting at Telford junction 4 or 6.
Learnit aims to ‘change the conversation in education’
Here, our editor Victoria Galligan speaks to the Learnit team to find out the background behind the new-for-2019 show and what educators can expect to see… How did the team come together? The Learnit team consists of Anil Aggarwal, an American tech-entrepreneur and investor, and Katy Fryatt, a Cambridge University graduate and a millennial parent. They met whilst developing the world’s most important events for fintech and retail innovation: Money20/20 and Shoptalk. Learnit aims to be “world-changing” – how does it hope to do this? Learnit is doing two really important things. Firstly, it’s uniting the entire global learning community – from government and educator leaders to startups, investors, tech companies and heads of talent and training within employers. We’re talking about learning, not just education. Secondly, we’re leading an intellectual conversation about the current and future state of learning. Our 100+ speakers will talk about how we can revolutionise education, and ultimately change the world. All speakers are chosen on merit, not ‘pay-to play’ and range from Andreas Schleicher at the OECD, to the Ministry of Education in Afghanistan, to the Head Master of Eton and to Euan Blair, who’s set out to build an outstanding alternative to university. Learnit itself is a venture-backed startup with $1million in funding. We’re building Learnit very differently to any other event. What makes Learnit stand out from other events? Learnit is bringing together the right people in an environment that is conducive to accelerated change. To do that we’ve focused on developing a groundbreaking agenda and thoughtfully curated networking program that will bring senior-level decision makers to learn and build the partnerships needed to make meaningful progress. We offer educator and government leaders free tickets and up to £750 for their travel. What are the main issues within education which you feel need changing the most? Education has remained largely unchanged for decades, and is now disconnecting from the real world in increasingly material ways. Children of every age go to school, are taught a government-prescribed curriculum, are tested and retested and then enter The Real World. And while The Real World has changed, and continues to change exponentially, education hasn’t. Making learning relevant is one of the greatest challenges facing education today. We’re changing the conversation. The speaker line up is unparalleled. Learnit’s 2019 agenda focuses on important, timely themes including Equality & Access to Education, The Future of Work, Educating Generation Alpha, The Business of Education, Learning Spaces in 2025, Impactful & Scalable Learning Innovations and Artificial Intelligence in Education. To book tickets for the event, which takes place January 24-25, see the Learnit website here.
Bett and Learnit collaborate to gather global education professionals
Bett, the world’s oldest and largest EdTech exhibition, today announces a collaboration with Learnit, the brand new, venture-backed conference for the global learning ecosystem. This January, a group of Bett’s 35,000+ visitors, 200+ speakers and 850+ exhibitors will also be able to participate in Learnit at the QEII Centre in Westminster as one of its 1,000+ attendees, 150+ speakers, or 50+ sponsors. Rachel Brodie, Portfolio Director of Bett said, “Bett is the must-attend show for EdTech: for knowledge, for products, for networking, for suppliers, for learning and for the global education community. Learnit is where the global learning ecosystem goes for a conversation about the current state and future of learning. The significance and impact of both of these eventsis clear; they bring people together who believe education can change the world.That’s why we’re excited to welcome Learnit to London in the same week as Bett.” Katy Fryatt, Founder & CEO of Learnit said, “Change has never been this fast. The conversation and community at Learnit will explore what this means for learning at every age. Learnit welcomes government, educator leaders, heads of talent & training, startups, tech companies, investors and media from across the globe. Bett has long been the world’s largest and most important global EdTech gathering. It’s a fantastic place for teachers to see and experience the latest advances in education technology. We’re very excited to collaborate with Bett.” Before joining Bett, Rachel was an education publisher at Macmillan and also spent time teaching in Mexico City. Katy and Rachel spent a brief time working together on Bett in 2015. Katy spent the last three years working for Anil Aggarwal building Europe’s largest fintech and retail innovation conferences (Money20/20 Europe and Shoptalk Europe). Anil is a venture-backed tech entrepreneur with exits to companies including Google. He also joins Learnit as its Chairman and Co-Founder. “It’s time to rethink learning,” said Anil. “Our global education systems have been built on legacy. Learnit will celebrate the revolutionaries driving change in education and create an entirely new experience for the global learning ecosystem.” Bett will continue to take place at the ExCeL Centre, in east London, welcoming visitors from January 23 – 26, 2019. Learnit will take place in Westminster at the QEII Centre and Central Hall, from the evening of January 23 – 25, 2019. Visitors can register for Bett at www.bettshow.com and tickets for Learnit can be purchased here. Code QA100 gets readers £100 off general tickets at Learnit! About Bett Bett is the UK’s leading cross-sector education community. Every year Bett brings together 850 leading companies, 100 EdTech start-ups and over 35,000 learners and educators from around the globe. Bett’s mission is to bring together people, ideas, practices and technologies so that educators and learners can fulfil their potential. About Learnit At Learnit, we believe an event that unites the global learning community and leads an intellectually honest conversation about the current state and future of learning, can revolutionise education, and ultimately change the world. The Learnit community is inclusive, disruptive, bold and brave. It encompasses the entire learning ecosystem – from government, educators, corporates and established solution providers to tech startups, investors and media. It is united by a common goal to improve education outcomes globally. Learnit’s conversation is open and honest. It’s a conversation about how to give everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity or wealth, the opportunity to reach their greatest potential in a rapidly evolving world. It is untethered by legacy, politics or geography. Learnit’s 150+ international speakers are selected based on merit, not pay-to-play.
Sound and light show launches children’s competition to voice major event
The Enchanted Forest sound and light show is launching a competition to find a child who can lend their voice to the award-winning event. Auditions are open for the Voice of The Enchanted Forest competition, which is calling for children aged between 5 and 12 to record a script to be used during the month-long event at Pitlochry’s Faskally Wood this October. The winning Voice will appear in a recording to be played to tens of thousands of visitors as they travel by bus from Pitlochry to the forest for the event, which organisers expect to be another sell-out. The Voice will welcome visitors to the forest and remind them of some important health and safety messages. The competition is being run in conjunction with Bauer Radio and its Radio Tay, Radio Forth and Radio Clyde stations. The winner will record a pre-written script at one of the three radio stations, get VIP access to the station, and be guest of honour at the show’s special preview night on 27th September. This year’s Enchanted Forest show, Oir an Uisge, runs from September 28th to October 29th 2017. Event organisers The Enchanted Forest Community Trust have released a record 72,000 tickets for Oir an Uisge, which are already selling fast. The organisers fully expect the show to sell out before opening night for the first time in its history. Ian Sim, chairman of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “Families and children are crucial to the success of The Enchanted Forest, which is why we’re delighted to be running this competition along with Bauer Radio. We’re looking for a child with a voice that’s friendly, fun and assertive so that visitors will sit up and take notice as they’re bused to the event. The winner will get a sneak preview of the event, and some VIP treatment from us and our radio partners.” Kelly Murdoch, sales and events coordinator with Bauer Radio, said:”The Enchanted Forest is a mainstay of Scotland’s events calendar so we’re excited to be on board with them for this unique competition. We can’t wait to hear from all the talented kids out there and also to invite them behind the scenes to one of our radio stations. We just hope they don’t put our DJs out of a job!” To enter the competition, call 01738 400140 and follow the audition instructions or go to www.tayfm.co.uk, www.forth1.com and www.clyde1.com. Details are also at www.enchantedforest.org.uk. The competition runs until midnight on September 12th. Tickets and more information on The Enchanted Forest are available on www.enchantedforest.org.uk
Apprenticeships ‘on the menu’ as Mitchells & Butlers launch new video series at The Skills Show 2016
Mitchells & Butlers plc, the company behind leading pub and restaurant brands such as All Bar One, Harvester, Miller & Carter, Toby Carvery, Browns and Sizzling Pubs inspired school leavers at last week’s Skills Show, giving future school leavers an interactive experience and showcasing the opportunities that a career in hospitality can offer. During The Skills Show, the UK’s largest careers show which took place at Birmingham’s NEC on 17-19 November, the pub and restaurant operator also premiered its series of ‘Apprentice v Graduate’ and Ever wondered what the benefits of an Mitchells & Butlers Apprenticeship are? videos across social media, highlighting the benefits of an apprenticeship against the option of going to college or university. The two videos demonstrate why there may be practical and financial benefits to an apprenticeship for someone looking to begin a career in hospitality, and how it can be an alternative stepping stone by gaining valuable practical experience alongside a qualification. As the cost of university and further education continues to rise and earning power of graduates drop, Mitchells & Butlers is committed to opening the doors to 1,700 apprenticeships within the next year. The Skills Show is a great opportunity to not only premiere the series, but also get talking and help inspire the next generation of chefs and managers. Leading Teenologist Sarah Newton, also joined the team to capture imaginations with fun food, creative mocktails and a prize giveaway selfie competition. Sarah Newton, one of the UK’s leading youth experts specialising in the emergence of Generation Z comments; “Teaming up with Mitchells & Butlers at The Skills Show was a fantastic opportunity to talk to our next generation of talent and their parents. We all want the best for our children and their futures, but we need to make sure we’re not leading them down a path that might not be right for them. Jan Smallbone, Director of Learning & Talent Development, Mitchells & Butlers comments: “Starting as an apprentice gives young people a genuine alternative to academic study, and a real path to a long term career in hospitality. We are dedicated to working with our teams to nurture this raw talent and develop them into the future managers across our businesses – and The Skills Show is a fantastic platform for us to talk to these possible leaders and showcase what we have to offer. “Apprentices that join the Mitchells & Butlers team will work across our renowned portfolio of brands, learn from our experienced teams, gain a professional qualification and have a real opportunity to progress up the ladder. Your career really can start with us and help us harness a pipeline of future leaders.” There are currently four different apprenticeships open to all school leavers, the company’s Bar & Waiting Apprenticeship and Chef/Culinary Apprenticeships see young people gain a Level Two qualification within their chosen field within the first 12 months. Mitchells & Butlers Hospitality Management Development Apprenticeship is a three-year programme designed to FastTrack apprentices into supervisory and management roles. It is also one of the first schemes in the industry to offer a combined programme that ensures apprentices gain experience working in customer facing roles alongside learning in the kitchen. Apprentices can then decide which roles best suit them, whilst being provided with the opportunity to take on new challenges. Mitchells & Butlers was a Feature Exhibitor in the Hospitality and Lifestyle sector at the NEC Arena in Birmingham. For more information on the Mitchells & Butlers Apprentice Scheme, how to apply and variety of roles available visit www.mbapprenticeships.co.uk. For more information on the Skills Show visit www.worldskillsuk.org.