Local School Pupil Welcomes Residents To Their New Homes
Following a greetings card design competition with David Wilson Homes, an imaginative pupil from Church End Lower School in Marston Moretaine is spreading joy to new residents at the homebuilder’s Marston Fields development. As part of a ‘Welcome Home’ campaign, David Wilson Homes reached out to the school nearby its Torry Orchard site for the help of the pupils in designing greeting cards to be handed out to new homebuyers. Joey Rice, in Year 4, was the winner of the competition and alongside claiming a £25 book token will see his printed cards distributed to all residents at Marston Fields. Brian Storey, Head Teacher at Church End Lower School, said: “It was great to be part of David Wilson Homes’ Welcome Home design competition and we’re very proud of the entries submitted by the children. “We hope to be doing some welcoming of our own once the children of the families moving into Marston Fields join us here at Church End Lower School.” The scheme aims to provide a warm welcome to those making a fresh start during Christmas and the New Year, whilst also highlighting key information about the local area. The theme of the county-wide competition for schools is all things home related and the children are encouraged to be as creative as possible and to add in pictures and details about the suburb they live in. Jason Hearn, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “It’s important to us to make new residents feel welcome as they join our new communities, and we’re thankful to Joey and the pupils of Church End Lower School for helping us to do just that. “This time of year is a great opportunity for greetings cards to be distributed and receiving a personal message from a local school pupil will really put a smile on the faces of our homebuyers. “We received a variety of inventive entries as part of the Welcome Home campaign and it was a difficult task choosing a winner, however we hope this project has inspired the imaginations of the children involved.” Marston Fields currently has a selection of four and five bedroom available with prices starting from £449,995. For further information about the development, please contact the David Wilson Homes sales team on 033 3355 8486 or visit https://www.dwh.co.uk/new-homes/bedfordshire/H734001-David-Wilson-Marston-Fields/.
Excel Machine Tools
Excel Machine Tools was formed during the 1970’s – a name now known far and wide for the supply of quality products and complete after sales service which at that time were confined to a range of Lathes and accessories. Our limited company status was then gained in 1981. The inaugural success of the company along with multiplying customer demand has forced us to become larger and, as a result, increase our product range to include Milling machines, Drilling machines, Surface Grinders, Cylindrical Grinders, Bench Grinders, Bandsaws (Automatic and Semi-Automatic), Hacksaws, Fabrication equipment, including Guillotines, Press Brakes, Workshop Presses plus many more machines and accessories. The everyday working environment frequently presents teams and individuals with challenges and problems that require efficient and innovative solutions. Our objective is to provide the best quality machinery and accessories at the best possible price. Our comprehensive range of products, competent quality goods and technical support to customers has earned Excel its reputation as a reliable supplier and that is a status that we strive to continue. Excel Machine Tools supplies for teaching training to colleges and large factories. The extensive range of Excel Machine Tools products fit exceptionally well to every teaching situation. The range of basic, low cost, manual machines provide excellent initial training. Cost effective CNC systems deliver you advanced instruction for students preparing to enter the workplace (Training is available on site on request). We supply to engineering industries worldwide, turnkey products, schools, Colleges, universities and training centers. Based in Coventry, our headquarters are split into two. A working demonstration area and workshop staffed by skilled engineers and technicians and a warehouse facility filled with our latest range of both metalworking and woodworking machinery along with accessories ready to be chosen to best suit your needs. We pride ourselves in looking after all of our customers in the best way we can so let us not forget the 12 months parts and labour warranty that is provided with each machine purchase for our UK customers and our parts only warranty for our valued overseas customers also. We as a company and team, are very proud to have achieved our ISO9000 accreditation in 1995, which led to ISO9001 accreditation since 2004 and strive to maintain in order to remain efficient and reliable for all our customers. Should you wish to visit us, please feel free to contact us on 02476365255 or by emailing sales@excelmachinetools.co.uk www.excelmachinetools.co.uk
NewVIc Sports Academy teams excel to The AoC National Finals
NewVIc win AoC Sport London Regional Championships in cricket, football and table tennis in the first term. NewVIc’s sports teams have had an impressive start to this academic year, with the Cricket Academy beating east London rivals Newham College and George Monoux to win the AoC Indoor Cricket Regional Championships, held at University of East London, and are now on their way to Nottingham to compete at National Finals for the second year running! The AoC regional tournaments are open to students in AoC Sport member colleges and are held in the autumn term. The top teams and individuals in 13 sports qualify for the AoC Sport National Championships, where they compete for both their college and their region. The winning Ability Counts Football Team is a testament to the significant support provided by The Inclusive Sport programme over the past six years. The opposition teams withdrew the day before and one on the day of the game, proving our team was too intimidating for the other colleges. On the same day NewVIc students Mohammed Raqueeb and Mubarak Farah competed in the AoC Sport London regional Table Tennis Championships and topped the London tables! Mubarak won 4 out 5 games and Raqueeb went undefeated in all 5 of his games. Both students will also be playing at the National Finals in Nottingham in April 2019. Cricket Team Captain Jawwad Hussain, said “I’m proper excited about playing and representing London in April at the Nottingham finals. Playing against other regional teams like the Midlands, North and West is going to be challenging. I played at the National Finals last year, we came 2nd in the entire country in cricket, we lost 1st place just by 1 run. I was nervous, the entire team was nervous but excited at the same time as we were away at Nottingham for 3 days. We are training hard, putting in the extra hours and just being on it to play that extra bit better than last year. This time we will win it!” Jawwad Hussain Cricket Team Captain and Business Level 3 Year 2 Student NewVIc is already a very successful college with one of the highest sports participation rates in the country with 55% of our students taking part in some kind of sport or physical activity on 1 or more occasions. All of the achievements have required a lot of commitment and hard work from the NewVIc Sports Academy team and their dedicated students. In September 2017, Sport England has awarded NewVIc £92,850 funding, in order for the college to provide an additional focus on tackling levels of inactivity amongst our student population outside of mainstream sport in open sessions across the college site away from the Sports Hall e.g. circus skills, roller disco, skate club, free running, health club, slack lining, skipping and archery. Beth Harris, Sports Academy Manager, said “we are beyond thrilled to once again have so many students selected to represent London at the AoC Sport National Championships in April. This is the sixth year running our Ability Counts Footballers have won the Regional Tournament, going on to represent the Capital and we’ll once again be vying for a position near the top of the table. With our Cricket Academy there are some wounds to heal, as having lost the National Championships last year by just 1 run we can’t wait to get back to Nottingham, put some demons to rest and show exactly why we are well renowned for our history of excellence!” For more information about the Sports Academy please contact: Beth Harris elizabeth.harris@newvic.ac.uk 020 7540 0944 For more information about the college please contact: Shah Rahman srahman@newvic.ac.uk 020 7540 0651
College makes double appointment
Gateshead College has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of two assistant principals. Deni Chambers will lead a number of curriculum areas including digital tech, while Suzanne Slater will be the strategic lead for the delivery of apprenticeship programmes. In their new roles they will build on the college’s long track record of providing the highest quality training which gives students the skills, confidence and business acumen needed for a successful career. Deni brings experience in change management and senior leadership in the creative and digital sectors, having previously headed up the School of Creative & Digital Industries at Newcastle College. She also sits on the advisory board of the regional tech steering group, Dynamo North East, and is a governor at the Excelsior Academy in Newcastle. Meanwhile, Suzanne joins Gateshead College having worked within the education and training industry for over a decade as a regional manager for NECC Training and more recently at Northern Skills Group, the commercial training arm of Middlesbrough College. She has also worked in management roles for telecoms giant BT and recruitment firm Reed, and brings a wealth of experience in employer engagement, account management and partnership development. Suzanne said: “It’s great to be working at an organisation that puts employability at the centre of everything it does – an ethos I really buy into. At Gateshead College, students get the chance to gain valuable skills and relevant work experience throughout their course which will really benefit them and their employer when it comes to getting a job. “I’m also looking forward to working with employers to support their workforce development programmes and making sure we continue to build and develop an offer and service which meets their needs.” Deni said: “Digital tech is the fastest growing sector in our region and Gateshead itself is right at the forefront of emerging technology and innovation. “We are perfectly placed to support the region’s ambitions, addressing skills gaps and developing a curriculum that provides a steady stream of skilled and talented individuals into the sector. Gateshead College is forward-thinking and responsive and I am excited to work for an organisation that puts employers at the heart of its curriculum design.” Judith Doyle CBE, principal and chief executive of Gateshead College, said: “I’m delighted to welcome these two brilliant professionals to our senior management team. We were seeking individuals who can inspire, lead, encourage and influence and Deni and Suzanne most certainly possess these vital qualities. “I’m confident that, with them on board, we can continue to deliver programmes that ensure our students are the most highly prized in the jobs market.” To find out more about Gateshead College and the courses on offer, visit www.gateshead.ac.uk/employer
Irish VR Team Receive Ed-Tech Awards Nominations
Irish virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR) software firm, Immersive VR Education (IVRE), has been shortlisted for the BETT Awards 2019 in the following categories: The Bett Awards are a celebration of the inspiring creativity and innovation that can be found throughout technology for education. The awards form an integral part of Bett each year, the world’s leading showcase of education technology solutions. The winners are seen to have excelled in ICT provision and support for nurseries, schools, colleges and special schools alike, with a clear focus on what works in the classroom. The winners will be announced on the evening of 23rd January 2019, at the Awards ceremony and dinner in London. This ties in with the Bett Show expo event, where IVRE will showcase their latest offering to the virtual reality education market by exhibiting its ENGAGE Platform. The Bett event takes place from the 23-26 January 2019 at ExCeL London and is the first industry show of the year in the education technology landscape, bringing together 800+ leading companies, 103 exciting new edtech start-ups and over 34,000 attendees from the global education community. They come together to celebrate, find inspiration and discuss the future of education, as well as the role technology and innovation plays in enabling all educators and learners to thrive. IVRE were shortlisted for the Awards on the back of their work to date in bringing Virtual Reality to the world of education. The software experts have been working diligently since their inception on a range of VR initiatives that allow students to experience education through the realm of augmented reality. The ENGAGE Platform ENGAGE is an online virtual social learning and presentation platform for creating, sharing and delivering proprietary and third-party VR content for educational and corporate training purposes. Through ENGAGE, students can build virtual worlds and scenes that create simulated life experiences, which culminate in five-minute immersive training experiences for real-world clients. In addition to school environments, the creators envisage that ENGAGE driven training videos and modules will aid business, law enforcement and emergency medical services in everything from suicide prevention to simulations for communicating with patients of dementia. The power of the platform is that students not only build the virtual scenario, but they star as role players in the experience. IVRE CEO and Co-founder, David Whelan, spoke of their dedication to transforming the delivery methods of education and corporate training by utilising VR technologies, to deliver fully immersive virtual learning experiences, “It is a powerful virtual reality collaboration and creation tool. It allows educators to host meetings, classes, private tutorials, training sessions and presentations with people from all over the world participating in a safe, virtual, multi-user environment. It is designed as a complementary tool to enhance classroom teaching, or as a standalone tool providing distance learners with access and opportunities to connect at a collegial level with their fellow students. Our ENGAGE platform aims to fully immerse the user into their learning experience, in order to increase learning retention and engagement. It will allow people to receive the best education, from the best educators from around the world, all from the comfort of their own home using virtual reality.” The Power of Ed Tech Mr. Whelan spoke of the exciting future ahead for ed tech, “Recent studies have shown the use of VR in education has a positive impact on knowledge retention and actually improves the learning experience overall. We are only at the cusp of the ed tech revolution and the possibilities and permutations of how technology can shape the education of future generations is endless. A 2016 report from Goldman Sachs predicts $300 million in revenue for VR/AR educational software in 2020, and that figure is expected to grow to $700 million by 2025. The developments in automation and innovative technologies within the educational sphere are progressing at a rate of knots and a commonality we find in these advancements is that ed tech has the potential to immerse the student further into the learning experience than ever before – building on and complimenting more traditional methods rather than replacing what has gone before. ENGAGE is the perfect example of this – it has the potential to transform distance learning – taking the conceptual to the practical with the touch of a button.” Other highlights of the IVRE work to date include: The Titanic VR Experience Mr. Whelan spoke of the award-winning production, “Titanic VR is a factually animated VR experience that tells the tragic story of the sinking of RMS Titanic as witnessed by survivors. As well as creating a realistic VR experience that tells the story of the tragedy in a compelling way, the game will also serve as a valuable resource for discovering more about the stricken ship, through a realistic exploration experience, using detailed maps and 3D models of the historic wreck site. We have used motion capture, face-scanning technology and professional voice actors to immerse users in the story and to enable them to relate to the people involved. In developing this, we wanted to create an accurate portrayal of events, so it is not only educational, but also emotional and very engaging.” The Apollo 11 VR Experience Apollo 11 HD also allows VR users to land on the Moon’s surface, explore the Apollo 11 landing site and deploy the original experiment, and explore every detail of the lunar module and command module at their own pace. It allows users engage in a breath-taking educational virtual trip of the mission taken by astronauts Neill Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon. Mr. Whelan, went on to comment, “Apollo 11 is the story of one of the greatest journeys ever taken my humankind. Our Virtual Reality creation allows people to experience this historic event through the eye of those who lived through it in July 1969. It is my belief that there is a child alive today somewhere on this planet that will on day set foot upon Mars. I hope that they get to try VR in school as
Cambridge Regional College lecturer one of the first in the country to achieve Advanced Teacher Status
Christine Helme, Teaching and Learning Development Manager at Cambridge Regional College, is one of only a small number of teachers in the UK to have achieved Advanced Teacher Status (ATS) this year. Advanced Teacher Status is a widely respected accolade of advanced professionalism and mastery in further education and training. It is an advanced professional status that is conferred by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) through the Society for Education and Training (SET). Designed to offer a progression step from QTLS and recognise teachers and trainers with significant experience, the award can only be achieved by demonstrating mastery in teaching, an exemplary level of subject knowledge and effectiveness in working collaboratively to improve teaching standards. The ETF has worked closely with the Chartered College of Teaching to ensure holders are also granted Chartered Teacher Status. Assessments for those enrolled includes producing an in-depth portfolio that consists of critical incidents, case studies, research projects, reflective journals, meetings with mentees, observations of teaching practices and more. Less than fifty teachers from across the country achieved accreditation on Christine’s course this year. Christine says, “I am delighted to have achieved Advanced Teacher Status as this was an extremely challenging but rewarding endeavour. This experience encourages you to build collaborative relationships with colleagues and learners, as well as develop your skills in mentoring colleagues in a way that brings about positive change. Maintaining and updating your subject knowledge and educational research is essential for personal development and I am very thankful to have had this opportunity.” Cambridge Regional College Assistant Principal, Quality Improvement, Corrin Hoyes says, “We would like to congratulate Christine on this wonderful achievement. At CRC, we firmly believe in development for everyone, teachers and students, and encourage this across the college, providing regular training and CPD sessions for staff to keep their skills and knowledge at the cutting edge. Christine is a fantastic role model for both her colleagues and students; everyone at CRC is now set to benefit from her experience gained during this process”. Christine’s Advanced Teacher Status achievement is just one of many success stories relating to CRC lecturers in recent times. Catering lecturer Katie Churchard reached the second heat of Channel 4 cooking show, Bake Off: The Professionals earlier this year and QTLS lecturer Graham Taylor appeared on Channel S in his role as a judge of the ARTA Awards. CRC also played a significant part in the ‘Further Pathways to FE’ scheme, designed to encourage graduates to consider exploring a career in teaching in partnership with the Education and Training Foundation and local universities. For more information on CRC please visit www.camre.ac.uk
Bank of England Museum
Saving and spending money and the prices that we pay for goods and services are such a key part of all our lives that it is never too soon for young people to learn about them. The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the Bank from its foundation in 1694 to its modern role in the economy. Learn through a variety of interactive exhibits such as banknote jigsaw, a roller ball game and a virtual boat to set monetary policy to keep inflation on a stable course. Other activities include some safe cracking and a genuine gold bar which can be held! The Bank of England Museum’s education programme is designed to support aspects of teaching in several curriculum areas for key stages 2 and above. It includes free cinema presentations tailored to suit the age and interests of the group (booking essential). Pounds & Pence (60 minutes) Key stage 2 and 3 – Encourages pupils to think about the value of money and prices, and their spending and saving decisions. Keeping on an even keel (60 minutes) Key stage 4 and above – Explains what the Bank does to keep inflation low, maintain trust in its banknotes and keep the financial system stable. All presentations are free of charge and must be booked in advance by emailing education@bankofengland.co.uk or calling 0203 461 5545. For more information visit www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
Bring the magic of music to the classroom
Classical 100 is a free resource for primary schools in the UK that’ll ignite enthusiasm for classical music in your classroom. Classical 100 features 100 pieces of classical music in a dynamic list, ranging from Bach to Bernstein and Handel to Haydn. You can sort the music by mood, instrument, tempo and historical period, or in any other way that suits you. “Classical 100 offers exciting opportunities for teachers and pupils to explore and enjoy a wide range of classical music. The 100 pieces are a perfect stimulus for storytelling, drama and dance, with lots of ideas for music-making activities. The resource is ideal for introducing pupils to the joy of classical music, where pupils can improve their aural skills in identifying a range of orchestral instruments along with interpreting the emotions of the music while developing concentration in listening skills.”Kate Picken, Music Teacher and Youth Music Development Officer in Dumfries & Galloway Council Make your lessons more engaging Each of the 100 pieces features its own musical challenge. Challenge your students to complete the activities. Listen, learn and explore all 100 pieces. The challenges are fun and flexible enough to use in a number of ways – from short starter activities to longer pieces of work spanning several hours. “The children clearly loved taking part in the Classical 100 lessons, they were intrigued by the challenge titles and are looking forward to taking part in their next challenge and collecting more stars. It was great to be asked ‘when can we do our next challenge?’ at the end of the session!” Helen Wiles, Leader of the Arts at St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Accessible to all You don’t have to be a specialist music teacher to use it in your classroom. Each challenge includes a helpful guide and all the resources you may need to tackle it with your class. Even if you’re not too confident with music, you can still bring the magic of music to your classroom. How did Classical 100 come about? Classical 100 was developed by industry experts with a wealth of primary teaching knowledge and professional experience compiling syllabuses and other education materials, and has been rigorously tested by a broad community of teachers, music services and music education experts. Michael Elliott, Chief Executive at ABRSM: “Classical 100 is about igniting enthusiasm for, and keeping children engaged in, music. This is really important for all of us and is part of ABRSM’s commitment to support and inspire achievement in music.” Classical 100 was developed in collaboration with Classic FM and Decca, and is supported by the Department for Education.
Marvel Legends Join Forces To Inspire Next Generation
The Government’s Year of Engineering campaign has teamed up with iconic comic brand Marvel, to launch a set of fun educational resources to help KS2 students aged 7-11 identify the super hero qualities needed to solve the global challenges we face. And it features a wealth of inspiration for keeping kids busy and entertained over the Christmas Holidays. The exciting new More Heroes Needed Marvel resources, which feature iconic favourites such as The Hulk, Black Panther, The Wasp and Iron Man can be found in the schools hub of the Year of Engineering website at www.yearofengineering.gov.uk/lesson-ideas and include: § An aptitude test that helps young people identify which super hero they share the most aptitudes with, and how these would suit a career in engineering § Real life super hero case studies featuring the aspirational stories of engineers § A curriculum linked lesson to facilitate teachers running the super hero session including a fun classroom activity with role play challenges The free Marvel resources aim to challenge engineering stereotypes, encourage a re-evaluation of gender roles in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) careers and showcase to young people that they have what it takes to be real world super hero engineers, playing a vital role in tackling complex global issues. By taking the super hero aptitude test and then playing the role play activities, young people are encouraged to identify and practice the skills and talents they share with their favourite super heroes that would also make them the engineers of tomorrow – skills such as resilience, resourcefulness, collaboration and curiosity. Nusrat Ghani, Minister for the Year of Engineering said: “The characters who inhabit the Marvel universe are famed for achieving amazing things against all odds; something engineers do on a daily basis. “Whether it’s tackling the problems of climate change, helping to provide clean water and energy in developing nations or using technology to help us live healthier, more independent lives, the engineering profession is full of its very own super heroes. “I’m certain these resources will encourage many young people to look again at their own amazing abilities and realise that, while they may never possess the strength of The Hulk, they could one day move mountains as an engineer.” Since the start of 2018, the government has worked with more than 1,400 partners from Apple and LEGO, to FIFA and The Science Museum to help young people take a closer look at engineering. The aim of the campaign is to encourage more young people from a wider range of backgrounds to discover the opportunities offered by engineering careers. Over the course of 2018 young people have been engaging with a varied range of Year of Engineering free and exciting events, resources and challenges. Research carried out after the first six months of the campaign shows the percentage of 7-11 year olds who would consider a career in engineering has increased by a significant 36 per cent since 2017. The new Marvel More Heroes Needed test is part of a wide range of free resources for teachers and parents on the Year of Engineering website, which also features a wealth of inspiration for keeping kids busy and entertained over the Christmas Holidays. For more super hero inspiration go to: www.yearofengineering.gov.uk/schools or www.yearofengineering.gov.uk/activitieszone