| National Education Trust Newsletter
June 2012
June Newsletter
Dear Friends of the National Education Trust
We hope you had a good Jubilee break. As we embark upon another eventful few months, please take some time to read our newsletter. This edition will inform you about our plans and ventures for the remainder of the academic year, celebrating key achievements and keeping you updated with all the latest news. |
New in the Trust office
We have a new Events and Marketing Officer, Pippa Carr who joined the team in May. You can read a little more about Pippa here.
After six happy years at International House, we moved our head office to a charity hub in Buckinghamshire. Our new contact details are:
National Education Trust, Saunderton Estate, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4BF.
The telephone number is 01494 568869.
Mobile numbers remain unchanged. |
Looking Ahead
Here are some key dates in our calendar during the latter part of the summer, and into the autumn term. With busy diaries, we thought you'd appreciate early notice!
Curriculum Innovation in Primary Schools
Wednesday 27 June 2012, Park Primary School, Wirral. Speakers include Alison Peacock, Hilary Ryan, Paul Bennett & Pat Jefferson.
The future of the past. The importance of school history.
In Partnership with the Wiener Library, Thursday 4 October 2012, London. Speakers include Dr Nick Tate.
Closing the Achievement Gap
Tuesday 6 November 2012, Stockton-on Tees. Speakers include Liz Bramley, Pat Jefferson, Ger Graus.
Making Britain Count
Friday 9 November 2012, Keystone Development Trust, Thetford Norfolk. Speakers include: Elizabeth Truss MP, Pamela Matty, Rachel de Souza and Roy Blatchford.
All events have a £10 booking fee.
If you have an idea for a seminar or an event please contact Marc Rowland (marc@nationaleducationtrust.net). |
New Leading Thinkers
Our group of influential Leading Thinkers continues to grow. New Leading thinkers are:
Dr Maggie Atkinson became Children's Commissioner for England in 2010. Her statutory role is to promote and protect children's rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and to bring forward their views and interests.
Estelle Morris, Baroness Morris of Yardley was elected to Parliament in 1992 for Birmingham Yardley, gaining the seat from the Conservatives with a majority of 162. She became a Minister in the Department for Education and Employment in 1997 and briefly worked as Secretary of State for Education and Skills in 2001.
Further information on these new leading thinkers can be found by clicking here. |
Three Suggested Reads
The Adventurous School tells the uplifting stories of three primary schools who took charge of renewing their vision, their place in the community and their curriculum to become environments where children, teachers, parents and partners thrived. The book considers four main questions:
- What do we want for children now and for their future?
- What vision and values will achieve this?
- What is the relationship of a school to its community?
- What curriculum design brings life to learning and learning to life?
Alison Peacock, Headteacher, The Wroxham School (NET Advocacy School) and Leader of the Cambridge Primary Review Network said 'This is a practical, engaging read that inspires the reader through the art of story.'
Find out more here: www.ioe.ac.uk/about/63939.html
|
|
'Pupil Premium'
This booklet sets out the background to the Pupil Premium, based on a presentation from its chief architect, David Laws, MP. Case studies of approaches to narrowing the gap from the primary and secondary sectors are presented, followed by perspectives from a special school and a virtual school. In conclusion Roy Blatchford, the Trust's Director, takes a look into the future.
Copies available via the following link: www.amseducational.co.uk |
 |
|
Learning without Limits has just been published by Open University Press. Co-authored by Mandy Swann, Alison Peacock, Susan Hart and Mary Jane Drummond, it tells the story of how one primary school community worked to build a learning environment that is inclusive, humane and enabling for everybody, a place free from the damaging effects of fixed ability thinking and practices.
Copies available via the following link: www.amazon.co.uk |
 |
|
Recent Events
 The Trust continues its leading role in the education policy area, with two recent events on the Pupil Premium. Both were held in London and included speeches from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, David Laws MP and the launch of our booklet featuring case studies of how schools are using pupil premium funding to help close the achievement gap. Here is a link to the booklet: www.amseducational.co.uk.
In his speech, entitled 'Delivering Educational Promise: Using the Pupil Premium to Change Lives', Mr Clegg describes the function of the Pupil Premium as being "to equip every school to support pupils from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, to help us build a more socially mobile Britain where ability trumps privilege, where effort trumps connections, where sharp elbows don't automatically get you to the front".
You can read the full speech and more details of the event via the following link: www.dpm.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
.
Research, Policy and Practice: Redrawing the Boundaries, part of the Coalition for Evidence Based Education events series, supported by Wellcome Trust- 3rd May 2012 with Baroness Estelle Morris
This event explored effective working between education research, policy and practice. Baroness Estelle Morris, former secretary of State for Education, discussed the political realities in using research evidence in policymaking. Professor Kathy Sylva examined the factors that help or hinder the process by drawing on her extensive experience of working with government on the highly regarded EPPS (Effective Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education) project.
An expert panel discussed the opportunities and challenges in redrawing the boundaries between research, policy and practice.
We will shortly publish a report on our website examining the issues discussed, as well as films of the keynote talks from Estelle Morris and Kathy Sylva.
London Early Years Event Change and Challenge in Early Years - 29th May 2012
Early Years Networks in Cornwall, Newham and London have met together this month to learn more about the changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage. President of Early Education, Helen Moylett and NET Early Years Associate, Jane Mansfield led sessions on the characteristics of effective learning and the use of Development Matters as an early observational assessment tool.
High quality early education impacts profoundly on children's learning and development through school and through life. The Change and Challenge in EYFS training events were devised to provide early years practitioners with the knowledge, information and resources to reflect on their current practice and make it even better.
The EY NETworks have taken on this challenge; they are already cascading the training back in their own settings, sharing information with parents, and improving their learning environments ready for implementation of the new framework in September 2012. This is one event as part of a series.
Creating an Outstanding Curriculum - 30th May 2012 at Red Oaks Primary School Swindon
This seminar brought together over 60 schools from around the country to hear about the growth and development of a curriculum that 'stands out' at Red Oaks Primary School in Swindon. Red Oaks, led by Terri Menham, has an outstanding curriculum and one which contributes not only to pupils' academic achievement but also to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
The school believes in enquiry learning, building on past successes and emphasising the need to continually prepare students for the 21st Century.
Red Oaks Primary School is a National Education Trust Advocacy School.
|
Please get involved with NET - whether by holding a seminar, attending one of our events, asking us to come into your school to act as a fresh pair of eyes (Blink), or sending comments to comments@nationaleducationtrust.net.
NET needs you to be part of that voice shaping the education service ahead.
National Education Trust
Saunderton Estate
Bucks HP14 4BF
Registered Charity Number 1112893 |
|
