NEWS FOCUS
www.sec-ed.com
SecEd: On Your Side
SecEd is your paper,
tell us what you want
AND SO the year is reaching
its climax. We are nearing the
Pete
Christmas holidays and the Henshaw
chance to unwind and relax is
Editor,
close.
SecEd
The holidays are also a
Shout About
chance to take stock, and at SecEd we are no different. We
are already deep into planning for 2009 and discussing and
debating what we should be reporting on and covering.
Our ethos has always been one of listening to teachers
and letting you drive the content of the newspaper. That climate change
is why we have an editorial panel of around 80 practising
professionals.
But every teacher in every school has a right to have
their say on what we should focus on in SecEd and this is
THE GOVERNMENT’S maths teacher at Charter School
my appeal to you – to tell us what you want.
Committee on Climate Change has Friends of the Earth this week in London, claims that with more
For example, last week I travelled to Scotland to visit
published a report calling for the
UK to reduce its greenhouse gas
launched its Shout About campaign,
and more computer use, and the
introduction of interactive white-
schools. A trip which has – as most of my school visits tend
emissions by at least a fifth over the
to do – reinvigorated my vision of SecEd’s purpose and next 10 years.
which aims to get students and
boards, schools are becoming more
and more energy hungry, and less
motivation.
The December 1 paper was the
schools taking on climate change
environmentally-friendly.
I love getting into schools and discussing the newspaper
Committee’s first on how the UK He said: “I think kids do take
could go about meeting its pledge to
with teachers and leaders. I ask everyone I meet what
awareness raising activities. Chris Parr
climate change quite seriously, and
cut emissions by 80 per cent (from are up for schools taking a lead on
SecEd can do to support schools, and this helps me to take
1990 levels) by 2050. In order to
explains the campaign and asks two teachers
this issue, but there are some major
stock on where the newspaper is, and what more we should meet the targets, the UK will have
be doing.
to increase its use of renewable
how they tackle this issue in the classroom
obstacles to overcome. Lots of staff
are very good on this, but many are
These conversations are incredibly valuable to me
energy, reduce fuel use, and move very reluctant to see change, and
towards using more electric and Vicki Felgate, the charity’s great way to start in science les- just see it as ‘one more thing’.
as we strive to ensure the newspaper continues to be of
hybrid cars, the Committee said. youth and education co-ordinator, sons. We take an infrared sensor “Why should they have to take
genuine use to practitioners in secondary schools across
The publication comes as the told SecEd: “The March Shout pointed at a radiant heater and then a bus to work when they’re getting
the UK, and once again my travels have provided me with
charity Friends of the Earth has About activity week looks at what put an empty bottle of lemonade in shouted at all day and have kids in
plenty of ideas for the coming months.
issued a rallying cry to UK schools, young people can do to reduce their between the two and measure how their face? I think many staff see
During my trip, I had the pleasure of hosting a
asking them to sign up for its Shout own carbon footprint and how they much infrared gets through. being a school teacher as ‘doing
About activity week. can influence change within their “We then repeat it with a bottle their bit’, and driving to work, for
journalism workshop at St George’s School for Girls
Campaigners say it is vital for school and community. sealed and full of carbon dioxide, example, as pay-back.”
in Edinburgh involving students from four different schools to get on board as much of “Each year we get great feed- and less gets through, as it gets However, he has seen his school
schools. We had the ladies of St George’s, and students
the effects of climate change will back from schools, youth groups absorbed and radiated back out in incorporate a number of simple ini-
from nearby Tynecastle High, Wester Hailes Education
be felt by today’s children in the and young people who have taken all directions. tiatives to inspire youngsters about
Centre, and Craigroyston Community High.
future. They say it is important to part in Shout About, and we are “Unless the experiment is set tackling climate change.
look at the ways in which the topic really keen to get as many people up very carefully, keeping the “We have had ‘alternative trans-
In days of yore, it could perhaps be argued that a
can be introduced to the classroom as possible involved.” alignment of the sensor exactly port days’ where staff and students
“them and us” attitude existed between neighbouring not just in dedicated environment- In addition to dedicated aware- right, you can get spurious results pledged to take a more environ-
schools, especially state and private schools. However,
based lessons, but also in less obvi- ness-raising projects, it is possible and students come up with alterna- mentally-friendly mode of transport
today this kind of work is really breaking down social
ous subjects. to introduce the issue of climate tive theories based on insufficient to work. We’ve also got year 10
The Shout About week takes change into day-to-day teaching data. They will argue vociferously students doing recycling collections
barriers and raising aspirations for students in state
place in March, and will aim to get practice. Perhaps the most obvious until you go back and repeat their around the school which has seen
schools, such as for those from Craigroyston who attend
11 to 13-year-olds raising aware- candidate for climate change teach- data. many tonnes of paper collected that
St George’s on a Monday afternoon for a weekly media ness about the things children can ing is the science department. “It demonstrates how important would otherwise have gone into
course.
do to help to beat climate change. Nigel Bispham, science teach- data is in making a judgement about normal waste.” SecEd
I know this kind of working is not a revelation, and
More than 1,100 schools and er and assistant headteacher at an issue, and then when they start
youth groups have already regis- Camborne Science and Community to research alternative theories of
Further information
indeed SecEd has promoted many such schemes in the past.
tered and received their free infor- College in Cornwall, explained the causes of global warming they • Shout About: www.foe.co.uk/
But this visit has given me much food for thought, and
mation pack with CD, interactive about an activity he uses in class. assess the reliability of evidence and learning/educators/shout_about
the promotion of innovative and best practice with these
whiteboard resource, and curricu- He said: “Finding evidence of its sources far more rigorously.” • Committee on Climate Change:
kind of projects has now been added to my list of SecEd
lum-linked activity ideas. the climate change process is a Meanwhile, Kester Brewin, a www.theccc.org.uk
priorities for the new year.
The trip also gave me the chance to visit Cauldeen IN RESPONSE…
Primary School in Inverness on behalf of 5to7 Educator,
SecEd’s sister magazine. I was there to learn about the
Jean Poole and Carol Wood The gathering gave us
school’s international work, which earned them the British
were two of the finalists at the the opportunity to meet staff
Council’s International School Award this year.
recent SecEd Headteacher’s from other schools, and it was
PA of the Year Awards 2008, fascinating to discuss similarities
The school has all manner of international links – with
held at the Landmark Hotel, and differences in both our roles.
Malta, Iceland, America, and many more. Some of the London. The day saw awards We were not alone in appreciating
projects are as basic as the sending of school work and
handed out to 34 finalists. the opportunity of spending a
messages via email to link schools – but the value and
Jean, who is PA to day out together, away from the
Catherine Britton at Blessed school and the office.
impact on student engagement is almost immeasurable.
Edward Jones Catholic High Please pass our thanks to
Again, it’s not rocket science, and SecEd has spent
School in Wales, and Carol, the sponsors, the International
much of this year promoting good international work who is PA to Jill Berry at School Award and the National
and the benefits it can have on attainment, but this visit
Dame Alice Harpur School in Association for Head Teachers.
has reinvigorated my belief in this area and SecEd will
Bedford, have both written to Their recognition of the
us thanking us for the event. importance of the relationship
continue to promote best international linking practice in
between heads and support staff
2009.
Jean Poole: All winners: Jean Poole is pictured collecting her PA of the is welcome and to promote it
So what is my point? What I am driving at is that at
“I felt I must write to you to Year certificate from the International School Award’s John in this tangible form gave an
SecEd we don’t just imagine up the content and write about
thank you and your team for such Rolfe and last year’s winning PA Debbie Ferry opportunity for this to be voiced.
what we think you should know. We ask you. We go into
a wonderful day on Friday at the And last, but not least, our
SecEd Headteacher’s PA of the well that the headteacher works Once again, please accept our thanks to the SecEd team for
schools and see for ourselves what is working out there.
Year Awards presentation. so hard and tirelessly to give the sincere thanks for a wonderful day encouraging the nominations and
Trips like my journey to Scotland are essential to keep I felt so special and privileged children the best education they and may we wish you and your for the excellent organisation
the newspaper up-to-date and genuinely useful.
to be there with such wonderful deserve. team a very happy and peaceful of the whole process. Your
Just as vital are your views. So I am asking you now, to
people in such a lovely venue. Having spent nearly 23 years Christmas and a prosperous 2009.” message that everyone who was
get in touch with us. Tell us what you want to read about
I don’t think I have stopped in this school and 40 years in this nominated is a winner came
smiling since! career, I have never been so proud Carol Wood and her headteacher over very clearly and was much
in 2009. Tell us about innovation and best practice in your
Listening to the citations of to be part of it. Jill Berry: appreciated. The quality of the
school. Heck, invite us to your school next year so we can all the PAs present filled me with My headteacher had a “Thank you for the opportunity event and the warmth of the
see it for ourselves. SecEd is your newspaper – make sure
inspiration, enthusiasm and such wonderful time also and it was that we had to join other heads welcome was down to you and
you tell us what you want. Have a merry Christmas.
pride to be part of an education so good to see her relaxing and finalist PAs at the Landmark your staff.”
SecEd
system where so many good and enjoying herself instead of Hotel. It was a lovely occasion,
people work so hard ultimately ploughing through mountains of and very affirming of the role that • The 2009 PA of the Year Awards
• Pete Henshaw is the editor of SecEd. Contact 020 7501
for the good of the children in paperwork, telephone calls and heads’ PAs play in the life of their will open in January. Keep an eye
6771, editor@sec-ed.co.uk or visit www.sec-ed.co.uk
their school, as I know only too meetings. schools. out for details in SecEd.
6 SecEd • December 11 2008
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