NEWS
CBI WELCOMES PM’S NEW
TARGETS FOR SCIENCE & MATHS
COMMENTING on the Prime
Minister’s announcements of
new government targets for
SCHOOLS HAVE £222
science and maths in secondary
schools, John Cridland, the
MILLION RESOURCE
CBI’s deputy director-general,
said: “These are positive moves
BUDGETS UNSPENT
by the government. We need
RESEARCH by BESA (British because of direct threats in some
more young people studying
Educational Suppliers’ areas and rumours elsewhere that
science and maths – these skills
Association) suggests that local authorities may try to recoup
are vital to the future of the UK
schools are being cautious with surpluses – despite schools now
economy and valued by all
their spending at the moment in having three-year budgets. We
businesses.
Gordon
Brown
the face of the current economic want schools to keep their
“The government needs to raise
climate, despite funding being funding in order that they can
its ambitions further still,
to see all young people who are
available to schools. make informed decisions about
however, to achieve truly
capable, expected to do so and
In light of the announcement how best to use it for the benefit
significant increases in numbers
opted in. It is right to focus on
by the Commons Select of their learners, but if they hold a
taking science and maths.
raising numbers doing A level
Committee in December 2008, moratorium on spending, this will
“In addition to all students
maths and more should be
that investment in schools may be not be of benefit to learners and
being entitled to study triple encouraged to study some form cut as a result of the recession, the commercial sector. The
science at GCSE, the CBI wants of maths after the age of 16.” and the recent reporting of education supplies industry has
revenue balances of maintained often led innovation in curriculum
schools, BESA research indicates change, by the development of
SMART PUBLISHES
that education funding is still world-class resources, and we
positive, but schools are being need to ensure this continuity.”
WHITE PAPER ON
naturally cautious in their The research was produced by
spending patterns. BESA through a range of research
CLASSROOM
Dominic Savage, director activities from October 2008,
general of BESA comments: “It is using responses and feedback
AMPLIFICATION
understandable in these uncertain from headteachers and other
times that schools are spending BESA members. It looked at
carefully, particularly with the market performance projection in
SMART Technologies has copiers and projectors; and the
announcement by the Commons a range of areas for the period
published its white paper, ‘Why clicking of keyboards and
Select Committee. However, it is January to March 2009. All
Classroom Amplification Systems mouse devices.
important that schools do not hold percentages and quarterly
Help Teachers Teach and Why Classroom
money in reserve, but continue to spending figures are broad
Students Learn: Preventing Amplifications Systems Help
make wise spending decisions for interpretations. In the early years
teacher vocal disorders and Teachers Teach and Students
the continued benefit of learners sector, the annual market value
helping students hear in the Learn explores research on the
and teachers. We support Jim for educational supplies is £31
classroom’. The white paper effects that three different forms
points to research on how of sound obstruction have on
Knight, minister for schools and million. Of this, £5 million is still
classroom amplification systems students and teachers in
learners, when he said on 25 to spend. At primary level (worth
can increase student classrooms. Building design,
February: ‘...we expect revenue in total £618 million), £129
comprehension while decreasing classroom size and reverberation
spending to be used ... on learning million remains unspent. The
the number of teacher sick days. can all have negative effects on
resources to support the education secondary market, normally worth
Classroom amplification the way a teacher’s voice
of pupils in school now, working £554 million, shows an under-
systems also help students with carries. As a result, students and
towards raising attainment’.” spend of £88 million before the
minor, even undiagnosed, auditory teachers face many challenges.
Dominic Savage continues: end of the financial year. In all,
problems, those sitting at the back Students may process less than
“BESA suspects that schools are BESA research shows that £222
of the classroom and students 30% of what they hear. In
feeling their way cautiously, so million remains unspent,
learning a second language. The acoustic dead zones, that
may still have a period when they reflecting 18% of annual spend.
white paper addresses a timely percentage can drop to zero.
will stop spending, but are likely Dominic Savage concludes:
topic in today’s classrooms, which Teachers also suffer from vocal to want to spend-up by the end of “Schools will always continue to
are more interactive, more densely strain and noise-related stress. March. In all, BESA research receive funding, and three-year
packed with students and often in The white paper is available at shows that £222 million of the budgets give them to opportunity
buildings with more ambient noise
www2.smarttech.com/resources normal resources budget remains to plan and look forward. In hard
from heating and cooling systems; unspent, reflecting 18% of annual times it is ever important to look
fans in computers, printers,
Circle No.E4
spend. This may be in part for quality and reliable resources.”
Technology in Education No.165 March 2009 10 Check out our website:
www.technology-in-education.co.uk
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