The head who lobbied for £18.4m to build a new school
When the roof collapsed just days after a condition survey carried out by the Department for Education concluded the building was in A1 condition, High Tunstall College of Science Headteacher Mark Tilling headed to Parliament to lobby for a new school. With the help of the previous Member of Parliament for Hartlepool, Iain Wright, Dean Jackson, the former assistant Director of Education for Hartlepool Borough Council, Mark was able to secure a meeting with Minister of State for Schools at the time, David Laws, and his assistants. Mark Tilling said: “The College has been an important part of Hartlepool for over 47 years, but the building was old and tired. The facilities and the resources for our young people were nowhere near up to the standard they should have been. “We took a portfolio of this evidence down to Parliament as we felt it was important to put forward a strong case as we’re just one of thousands of schools across the UK and everyone wants a new building. “We were lucky enough in arranging a meeting with the Minister of State for Schools where we explained the situation the College was in and presented to him our evidence.” Six months later Mark and High Tunstall were successful in being placed on the Priority Schools Building Programme 2 (PSBP2). The PSBP2 came into effect in 2014 and was the replacement of the previous Building Schools for the Future programme implemented in the 2000s by the previous Labour Government. This meant the College would be allocated a portion of the £4.4 billion fund specifically set aside by the Government for the renovation and development of new schools across the UK. Mark was initially allocated £17.1m from the programme but when the local authorities increased the number of pupils at the College from 240 to a 270 intake, Mark was allocated an additional £1.3m from the Local Authorities Basic Need Funding. Contracts were then put together and the design for the school began in 2016 with key contractor BAM and the Department for Education working together. Mark continued: “The team came up with six or seven different models for the new college and eventually came up with a design that was functional and aided in movement and navigation for our students. “All the way through the process, the Department for Education was very much in agreement with what we were doing with the new building and worked hand-in-hand with ourselves and BAM.” Learning resource centre facilitates independent learning in new school Facilities in the new 3-storey building include 10 new science rooms and one demonstration laboratory, creative design rooms, design technology and one food technology classroom and a food demonstration room. The College has also benefited from a brand-new learning resource centre where students can learn independently. The four-court sports hall features solid wood sprung flooring and the ground floor features a theatre and dance studio as well as a large open plan cafeteria, which is the heart of the College. Classrooms in the new school contain interactive televisions. There are currently 4,188 secondary schools across the UK. A recent report from the National Audit Office has stated that 35% of these school buildings require substantial repairs costing more than £1 million to return to satisfactory condition. The report also states in order to get all schools into an acceptable state of repair it would cost £6.7bn. Mark said: “Projects like this show students they are cared about, are invested in and they can come to a school that they can be proud of. “We’ve always been proud of the High Tunstall name and now we have a facility that is befitting the name, befitting the College and makes students feel proud. Also, teachers come into work to a nice environment. With their well-being being looked after, they’re going to teach better and everyone is going to achieve better in the long run. “High Tunstall College is set for a very bright future.”
More applications to education roles, as job opportunities improve
Are you looking to ramp up your hiring efforts as Brexit pressure eases? Well, according to the latest job market report from CV-Library, the UK’s leading independent job board, it’s definitely a good time. In fact, applications for new education jobs have increased by a promising 6.6% year-on-year. Indeed, the findings, which analysed job market data from October 2019 and compared it with findings from September 2019 and October 2018, found that salaries for education jobs also increased by an almost equal 6.3% year-on-year. Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, comments: “Education plays a crucial role in driving a skilled workforce, so it’s encouraging to see this sector perform so well in our latest job market report. Candidates are clearly responding to the market strength and with the country now facing a significant break between any likely conclusion to Brexit, it appears to be a positive time to hire. “That being said, it is important for employers to remain wary. We know that this sector is suffering from a major skills shortage and while applications are up, the result of the upcoming general election could have a huge impact on the job market and how funding is allocated.” As well as this, the amount of education jobs on offer rose by a smaller 3.1% year-on-year, suggesting that employers across the sector are regaining faith in their hiring efforts once more. Biggins continues: “While many employers are tempted to wind down in the lead up to Christmas and the New Year, it’s a good opportunity to get ahead with your hiring plans. The promise of higher pay is driving applications up right now, but it’s important to evaluate and assess the suitability of a candidate before offering them a bumper new pay packet. “Set up a structured, fair and thorough hiring process to give you the best possible chance of making a great hire. Rushing or cutting corners can do more harm than good, and it can increase your chances of letting good candidates slip through the cracks.”
Ofsted finds parents ‘coerced’ into home education
According to a new Ofsted report, students are being pulled out of school to be educated at home with little notice. Parents are advised that students should not switch to home education simply to solve difficulties in schools. The report – based on a small study of families in the East Midlands area, found that students with special educational needs, medical needs and behavioural issues were all reasons why children had been moved from secondary school to being educated at home. Parents “commonly viewed home education as the only option for them”. Some parents had tried their children in other schools, but found these to also be unsuitable or unsuccessful. The report also found that some parents had also moved their child into home education despite not wanting to. The report warns that in some cases children can be moved to home education on very little notice – “the period between a parent finding out about the possibility of home education and their child leaving school can be as little as one day”. It found schools and councils are “rarely” told about a child switching to home education before they leave school, with some schools only being notified this by a parent’s letter. The study also considered the issue of off-rolling, which is when students that are considered problematic or academically low-achieving are removed from school rolls. “Our research did find examples that support other evidence that parents have been coerced into moving to home education. “For example, one local authority had previously received letters from parents asking to move a child to home education that were written on school-headed paper but signed by parents.” “Where inspections identify pressure being applied to parents to game the system in the interests of the school, directly or indirectly, we will consider this to be off-rolling. “Unfortunately, our evidence suggests that letting children go can be an easy option for schools. Participants were aware that schools can also apply pressure to parents or children indirectly.”
Empowering the Education Sector – Schools and Academies Show
The education sector remains under pressure and faces both new and long-standing challenges. Funding remains tight, inspection frameworks are changing, rates of disadvantage and high needs are increasing, all of which places more work on teachers and school staff. But there is opportunity too, with more solutions, providers, talent and expertise within the sector than ever before. There is also a new Secretary of State, with a background as a Governor and a TA as a wife, promising extra money and support in the coming months. To address these challenges and make the most of the opportunities, the Schools & Academies Show returns to Birmingham’s NEC on 13th-14th November, with a renewed focus on the key things that are important to the sector. Funding and income generation; Wellbeing & mental health, for both learners and teachers; SEND and the Curriculum will be central to the agenda of sessions across the expanded two days. Supporting staff is more crucial than ever, with the extra burdens on their time and greater demands being made of many. To reflect this, we have several case studies on the subject, as well as bringing the Wellbeing Demo Area to Birmingham. This dedicated area on the exhibition floor will showcase a range of classes, mini-presentations, demonstrations and talks aimed at senior school and education leaders with the purpose of tackling the growing mental health crisis and wider pupil health issues within the education sector. Stonewall, Food for Life, and The Teen Yoga Foundation, among other organisations, will all provide practical, free workshops for staff on things that they can implement day today. With policymakers continuing to drive change across the sector, we are proud to host the Government Education Village, returning once more in partnership with the DfE and ESFA, which will include as a new offer for Birmingham, demo sessions running throughout both days. This means that you will be able to explore in detail specific policies and make the most of their expertise and advice, with representatives from Schools Resource Management, Academies Funding, Finance, Educate Against Hate and The Apprenticeship Service. Sharing best practice and innovation is important to you, as it is to us, so we have arranged case study seminars in the main agenda on topics such as Opportunity Areas, Private/Maintained School Partnerships, EdTech Implementation and many more. Minister for the School System, Lord Agnew, will be delivering a speech to open the Show and a representation of the political opposition with education spokespeople from Labour, the Lib Dems and the Green Party offering competing alternative futures for education on Day 2. The Business & Finance Theatre will be packed with offerings from the DfE and ESFA as well as specialist case studies in income generation and procurement advice. We have partnered with nasen to bring you the biggest ever SEND Theatre, alongside talks from Dr Adam Boddison the government’s independent advisor and founder of research ED Tom Bennett. Panels will debate Ofsted, the future of work, the curriculum, technology in schools, optimum school resource management and the sad rise of youth violence. We have brought together Public Health England, the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, a former young offender and parents to discuss this life-changing issue. New this year is the Charity Village. We recognise the huge contribution charities are making and the good work they are conducting within education. This interactive village of key organisations will provide the perfect opportunity for third sector organisations to showcase their work to you and foster collaboration between the two sectors. We will also offer new opportunities for networking. Key to this is our MAT Matchmaking Area, where roundtables comprised of MAT leaders will share their knowledge on specific issues, with each 45-minute session chaired by an expert. All MAT leaders and wider senior leadership teams that register for the Show will be offered the option to upgrade free of charge to a VIP ticket which will give them access. As ever, we are solutions-focussed, with expert providers such as Sage’s finance software, CENTURY Tech’s ground-breaking AI-powered tools which can improve student performance by 30% and cut teacher workload by 6 hours per week. For schools struggling with staffing, Randstad and Smile Education will be on hand with their specialised recruitment systems designed to give top-class support both inside and outside of the classroom. If your school is looking to expand, look no further than Maun Funding and Arcadis, experts in securing funding and delivering high-quality facilities. Classroom resources abound too, with such successes as Mighty Writer: a brand new, innovative and multisensory resource that transforms children’s literacy almost overnight. Join us for this and more at the Schools & Academies Show Birmingham on 13th-14th November at the NEC. Click here for full agenda and speakers list Click here for 5 brand new features onsite You can register for free to attend by clicking here Schools and Academies Show – Birmingham – 13th & 14th November Schools and Academies Birmingham is the UK’s leading 2-day education policy and best practice event for schools, local authorities and the wider public sector. Over the past 8 years, we have seen great representation from professionals like yourself who are keen to learn more about funding and financial management in schools. This year, we are delighted to have organisations such as ISBL, Ofsted, ESFA and the Department for Education supporting and speaking at our seminars. Why attend the Schools & Academies Show this November? • Meet 200 education suppliers, innovators and solution providers • Network with over 4,000 school and MAT leaders and over 120 speakers. • Get Involved in our live Hot Seat debate and have your questions answered by experts • Network with Government officials and other education professionals from across the UK • Government Education Village supported by the DFE and ESFA to provide you with practical advice and policy updates. • The newly launched MAT Matchmaking Area; sponsored by ParentPay, will provide visitors with a dedicated area
Cardiac Science Launches New Defibrillator For Schools
Cardiac Science Launches New Defibrillator For Schools Thousands of school children will learn about the role of a defibrillator in saving lives next year under the latest government plans for health education. From 2020 pupils in secondary schools will be taught basic life-saving skills and first aid, including how to administer CPR, the purpose of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and basic first aid treatments for common injuries. It is a landmark result for those who have long campaigned for school children to be given the opportunity to learn these important skills and looks set to improve the odds of survival for countless people who have a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the future. Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, commented that learning the basic skills of first aid and techniques like CPR and being introduced to the workings of a defibrillator will give young people the confidence to know that they can step in to help someone else in need and in the most extreme cases – it could potentially save a life. Every year there are around 30,000 out of hospital sudden cardiac arrests across the UK, but, sadly, less than 1 in 10 survive. According to the UK Resuscitation Council, 270 children a year die from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome in school. Having a defibrillator nearby can increase the chance of surviving by up to 90%. Shaun Ingram, Managing Director of Cardiac Science, said that getting defibrillators into public places is only half the battle. He commented: “Encouraging a new generation of youngsters to recognise what a defibrillator is and feel comfortable using it – and knowing how to administer CPR – will make a massive difference. We welcome the plans to push a life-saving agenda in schools which will also help raise awareness Once young people start to drive the message home we will make great progress I am sure. These are literally skills for life that they will be learning.” Schools and councils getting ahead of the curve Two years ago Ealing became the first council in London to ensure that all its schools had access to defibrillators provided by Cardiac Science. Defibrillators were given to 91 schools in the Borough free-of-charge through joint funding from Labour Councillor’s ward forum budgets and the Leader’s Fund. Training on the devices was also provided to staff members and pupils, although, defibrillators are designed to be used by anyone regardless of training or first aid experience. The training also included basic CPR, which is vital to increase survival chances alongside and/or before a defibrillator can be brought to the scene. What does CPR do in those crucial early moments? During a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a person’s heart stops pumping blood around the body and brain. Without CPR the person will die within minutes. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency procedure of manual chest compressions and rescue breaths, performed to help save a person’s life who is in sudden cardiac arrest. If you want to know more about how to perform CPR, including how to give CPR to a child, go to https://www.cardiacscience.co.uk/how-to-perform-cpr/ When a person is in sudden cardiac arrest, their heart can’t pump blood to the vital organs and the rest of the body. If the person doesn’t receive help immediately they will die within minutes. By performing chest compressions and rescue breaths, you are taking over the role of their heart and lungs, pumping blood and oxygen to their vital organs. Every second counts, because a delay quickly reduces a person’s chance of survival. A delay can also lead to permanent damage to the person’s brain if they do survive. The importance of a defibrillator for schools It is imperative to perform CPR on a person in sudden cardiac arrest, however CPR alone cannot restore the heart’s normal electrical function. Defibrillation within the first few minutes of an SCA is vital to give the patient the best chance of survival. That’s why Cardiac Science specialises in developing and distributing innovative defibrillators, training devices, and related services throughout the world. With the right defibrillator on hand anyone can help save a life. Cardiac Science have had a range of Powerheart®defibrillators aimed at the schools market for many years and have taken the opportunity to introduce a new generation version of the popular G3 model. The Powerheart®G3 Elite AED is an affordable option for schools; featuring modern circuitry as well as the industry-leading technology you would expect from the Powerheart®brand. The G3 Elite is simple to use, providing clear, user-paced voice and text prompts to rescuers of any skill level. Prompts only advance after successful completion of each critical step. Powerheart® AEDs use non-polarised defibrillation pads for quick placement on either side of the patient’s chest.The fully automated version of the device delivers the shock automatically to the patient. Using proven and unique Rescue Ready®technology the device conducts self-tests every day that ensure electrodes and battery are both present and functional so it is ready to rescue 365 days a year. Many other defibrillators test as infrequently as once a week. The highly visible Rescue Ready® indicator makes it easy to determine the Powerheart® G3 Elite’s status at a glance. If your device detects a self-test error, the indicator turns from green to red and is accompanied by alert tones to indicate attention is required. The device uses STAR® biphasic to provide an effective shock – a patented technology proven in successful rescues across the world. STAR® biphasic technology measures the impedance of the patient – as everyone’s is different – in order to deliver a tailored shock. Powerheart® AEDs employ variable escalating energy, if a subsequent shock is required the device will escalate the energy to deliver a higher dose of therapy to the patient. With a comprehensive indemnification policy covering anyone using a Powerheart®defibrillator, Cardiac Science always protects those who are willing to rescue others. The G3 Elite comes with a seven-year warranty and a four-year, operational replacement guarantee on the Intellisense® battery*. Better awareness of life-saving skills can’t come soon enough With many
Lancashire Police Warns Parents Of Money Mule Scam
Lancashire Police have warned parents about the dangers and consequences of their children becoming money mules. Young people are increasingly being targeted to become money mules. They are being approached online through social media, or in person at school, college or sports clubs. Sometimes people they know will persuade them to take part, often because they are also acting as money mules. A money mule is someone who transfers stolen money through their own bank account on behalf of someone else, and is paid for doing so. Money mules will usually be unaware of where the money come from and that it can go on to fund crimes such as drug dealing and people trafficking. Being a money mule is illegal, and if your child is caught your bank account will be closed, they will have problems getting loans/student loans, mobile phone contacts and mortgages. Your child could even face arrest for money laundering which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. How to tell if your child has become a money mule There are many tell-tale signs that your child may have become a money mule; if they suddenly have extra money, are buying expensive items and gadgets without explanation as to how they got the money. They may also become withdrawn, secretive or extremely stressed. You and your child can learn more about money mules, and can get advice on how to handle being approached about the scam by visiting www.moneymules.co.uk. If you are worried that your child or someone you know may already be caught up in money muling, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Over 1,000 outstanding schools not inspected in 10 years
The BBC recently discovered that 24 schools have gone without inspection for more than 13 years. According to the data there are 1,010 outstanding schools that have not had a visit from Ofsted in 10 years. There has been an exemption rule on routine inspections for outstanding school which has been in place since 2012. Ofsted has now called for it to end due to concerns about falling standards in classrooms. The latest data showed that more than half of previously outstanding schools lost their outstanding status at their most recent inspection. 56 schools dropped to the lowest mark ‘inadequate’ whilst another 159 dropped to ‘requires improvement’. 1,203 schools dropped from outstanding to ‘good’. 32% of students in Trafford, Greater Manchester, went to a school that had not been inspected for 10 years or more. The research showed 39 of its 94 schools were graded outstanding but 24 of those schools has not been inspected since at least 2009. Sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-49579520
Twinkl creates industry buzz with new EdTech accelerator TwinklHive
Twinkl Educational Publishing is launching a new start-up accelerator which will bring together and provide support to emerging education technology companies. The accelerator, named TwinklHive, will support EdTech startups with a customisable investment opportunity, including options for mentorship and a cash injection. Located near to the company’s head office in Sheffield, TwinklHive has been created to catalyse an EdTech revolution and support companies that are set to transform areas of education and make a difference to the lives of teachers and pupils. Companies joining TwinklHive will be able to choose from a portfolio of services including resource production, marketing, application development and partnership consultancy. There is also an option for residency at TwinklHive, which has space for up to 80 team members. Jonathan Seaton, Co-Founder and CEO of Twinkl, said: “Entrepreneurs everywhere are having innovative technological ideas that could help millions of teachers. At Twinkl, we want to make sure that we are getting the right technology into classrooms so that we can empower educators and expand their teaching capabilities. “The team at Twinkl has specialised knowledge in augmented reality, international expansion, partnerships and a whole host of other areas, which we are eager to share. We are also excited to learn from the start-ups, as we believe that this shared experience will be invaluable.” Twinkl was founded in 2010 by husband and wife Jonathan and Susie Seaton. The idea for the company came when Susie was working as an Early years teacher and was frustrated with the resources available to educators at the time. When they first started Twinkl the couple worked evenings and weekends to make resources from scratch and published them online from a spare bedroom after work. The business has grown exponentially since then and now has over 500 employees, with over 625,000 teaching and learning resources available on the Twinkl site. Jonathan, Susie and the team at Twinkl are delighted to now be in a position to support new businesses that share the same values and mission. TwinklHive will be officially launched in October. For more information please email hive@twinkl.co.uk
Children are becoming more vulnerable to cybercriminals
As children head back – or off – to school, parents will naturally focus on making sure they have all the equipment they need to begin their studies. However, guardians often forget about the devices their kids take to school – the increasing number of which is making more children vulnerable to cybercriminals The number of devices children have access to continues to increase. Research shows that 42% of five to seven year-olds now own a tablet, up seven per sent from the previous year. In addition, more than nine in ten (92%) children aged between five and 15 go online using any type of device, which increases to 99% of 12-15s. Around six in ten five to 15 year-old use a tablet or a laptop or to go online, while half use a mobile phone. In addition to tablets, smartphones and desktop computers, children also have access to a plethora of connected devices – toys, smartwatches, fit-bits and more – and most bring them through the school gates. This is posing a worrying trend – as the more devices young people use to connect to the internet, the more the threat vector grows. From Momo challenges to Fortnite scams, the younger internet users potentially face countless threats from cybercriminals: but worryingly, most parents don’t realise how much time their children are spending online. Kaspersky research shows that the average child spends 40 minutes per day watching online video content on a mobile device, whilst 87% of parents don’t restrict how much time their young children spend online. Compounding this is the lack of security on these devices: 49% of guardians have never reviewed the default settings on a device to prevent their child viewing inappropriate material, whilst only 13% install online security solutions onto their youngers’ smartphone, laptop or tablet. This growing number of devices also increases the chances of school and home networks being compromised, too, as in most cases, these devices will be connected to domestic networks. “While younger children are becoming more tech-savvy, they are not protection-savvy by nature and lack the understanding to know about the dangers that being online can present. With reports of even toys being used to spy on children, and children as young as three-years-old owning social media accounts, it is clear the dangers are real – for homes and schools as well as children,” said David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky. Whilst the government and schools are increasingly teaching children how to spot potential dangers online, there remains a lack of awareness around basic device protection from cybercriminals. This means parents need to take greater responsibility to ensure their children are cyber-secure for the start of the academic year. “This year’s back to school period will probably see an increase in connected devices in classrooms, and adults need to play their role in ensuring children’s safety is maintained,” adds Emm. Kaspersky recommends the following tips for parents to help ensure that their children are kept safe from cyberthreats: 1. Supervise – This may seem obvious, but monitor your child’s internet use. Encourage them to visit, and stay on, websites you’re familiar with. Be sure to know about any password-protected sites they may be accessing, and ask them to share their login details with you. 2. Be open – Encourage your child to be open about what they are doing online and who they are socialising with. Promote a culture of safety within the home and talk about the possible dangers which exist. 3. Protect your family – Use parental controls to block access to sites you don’t want your child looking at as part of your online security product – it’s an easy way to avoid disaster. Review the default settings on each app that your child uses to ensure that the camera or microphone, for example, aren’t needlessly turned on as these can pose a threat. About Kaspersky Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.