Curriculum Changes – How to Plan Your Prospectus from 2015

Imminent changes to A Level, GCSE and Post-16 funding may leave you feeling nervous. But don’t panic! Stay in the know with our FREE document on curriculum changes to help with prospectus planning. It lists all the dates to be aware of including the start of linear A Level Teaching and the new GCSE Maths and English qualifications. It also contains vital questions you should be asking yourself in the run up to the changes, such as:

• Should you put all new linear subjects together in the prospectus saying that additional
  information will be made available as you get it?
• Should all students be entered for AS or should criteria be based on likely academic
  achievement? (feedback from most of our schools suggests that they will continue to run
  with 4 AS levels moving to 3 linear A Levels. University admissions staff we have spoken to
  are also planning to continue to consider the AS results in making their decisions)
• How do you make up the 540 guided learning hours in Year 13 if students are only taking 3
  AS Levels?
• Move to 600 GLH is expected – how will you manage this internally?

To get YOUR FREE guide today, click here: Curriculum changes and Prospectus Planning and stay clued up about curriculum changes and how they may affect you and your school.

Ever Considered Teaching Online?

Students throughout the UK and even as far as St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean can be found studying for their GCSEs and A Levels with the help of distance learning providers ‘WeTeach’.

WeTeach is a leading provider in services to schools via video-collaboration technology. The WeTeach teachers are subject-specialists in their areas and teach from one to several schools, either from their own homes or from the WeTeach teaching hubs.

Teachers deliver the courses via live video-link with the students twice a week. In between classes, students can contact their teachers via email or phone with any queries they may have about work covered or homework set to complete before the following class.

WeTeach teachers become a part of each school they deliver a course to and have regular contact via weekly feedback reports.

Teaching through distance learning is an enriching experience as it gives teachers the opportunity to teach all around the country and even further. It gives the rare chance to help and develop many different students in many different areas which is a unique opportunity for anybody that chooses this career.

If you have ever considered teaching via distance learning or would like to know more please get in touch on 0844 811 5497 or send your CV to enquiries@weteach.org.uk

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Studying Classics – Still Relevant to Secondary Curriculum?

With only small numbers of schools submitting students for exams in the classics each year, why are these subjects not given much importance by curriculum managers? Is taking Classical Greek, Latin, Classical Civilisation or Ancient History a waste of time for students? WeTeach has been doing research into the benefits of these subjects and why we shouldn’t forget the importance of  the languages, culture, history and thought of the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome. 

1. Understand today’s world more clearly – Classical subjects are relevant to everything from politics and business ethics to history, art and architecture, the ancient world shows its influences everywhere in the modern world.

2. Ability to assess the failings and successes of political systems.

3. Development of rare translation skills – understanding more than one language and culture not only benefits the individual but also looks great in a C.V or UCAS statement. It also helps students to really appreciate the classic literary pieces.

4. A great improvement in the understanding of the English language – 60% of English words and 90% of words consisting of more than two syllables are derived from Latin.

5. Romance languages become easier to learn – there are five Romance languages which are Spanish, French, Italian, Romanian and Portuguese. These languages derive more than 80% of the words which make up their vocabulary from Latin.

6. Students study the fascinating work of philosophers including Plato and Aristotle and the epic poetry of Homer and Virgil. 

7. The subjects offer a challenging enrichment course for Gifted and Able students

Are classics subjects relevant in today’s classroom? Have your say, tweet us @WeTeachOrg or comment below.

For information on how to deliver classics subjects to your school cost-effectively, visit www.weteach.org.uk

 

Gove Reveals Plans for Tougher Arts Subjects at GCSE and A Level.

Education Secretary, Mr Gove has announced that planned reforms for more “rigorous and demanding” arts subjects will be put in place over the next few years.

With reforms being announced across the curriculum, it is reassuring to know that Gove hasn’t forgotten the importance of arts subjects.

The new GCSE’s, effective as of September 2016, will include art and design, music, drama, dance, citizenship, computer science, design and technology, PE and religious studies.

“I am passionate about great art, drama, dance, music and design, and I am determined to ensure every child enjoys access to the best in our culture,” announced Mr Gove.

Science has also been at the forefront of conversation regarding the reforms as students will now be given a separate mark for practical work. The decision has been made as it is thought students are able to help each other via social media.

Have your say on the reforms and comment below or talk to us on Twitter: @WeTeachOrg

 

“Educate academic students, skill the rest”

 

In a recent article for the Guardian, Principal Ian Pryce has described the government’s current policy as “educate academic students, skill the rest”. He blames this on a need to train students on lower level courses for work that meets the needs of the economy.

Now this doesn’t sound too bad, increasing employability in the current job climate can surely only benefit students?

But, does this also mean students are not getting the full skill set required for their long-term future?

With masses of work experience under their belt and barely any time spent focusing on subjects such as Maths and English, are we enabling the future generation to succeed in modern life? Of course they will gain skills necessary to start them off in the world of work, but it is highly unlikely that they will stay in just one sector their whole working life.

Are vocational qualification narrowing students skill set and therefore becoming a hindrance to their future?

200 Vocational A Levels to be offered from September 2014

 

From September, 200 vocational A Levels will be offered to students targeted at boosting skills most desirable to employers.

The new qualifications will include areas such as agriculture, engineering and IT, and will be supported by the likes of Siemens, BAE and Canon.

The qualifications are being called upon to “bridge the gap between education and employment and to ensure young people are prepared to compete in the global jobs market”. Says Mr Hancock, Skills Minister.

Can we trust the value that these new qualifications will bring to today’s students?

Have your say and comment below.

weteach.org.uk

Eradicating Illiteracy and Innumeracy

Education Secretary Mr Gove has recently stated that we must be tackling illiteracy and innumeracy in the same way polio and tuberculosis was.

The aim is to ensure 85% of pupils at primary level are on target to get A*-C grades at GCSE.

The urgency comes after more than a third of pupils did not pass English and Maths GCSEs in June 2013. In addition, almost half of students didn’t continue to study these subjects at all.

How will schools achieve the 85%?

Gove says “every child is now checked to make sure they are decoding words fluently – helping teachers to make sure pupils are making progress in reading, and to identify any child who might need extra help. Failure to secure a good maths or English GCSE renders any student effectively unemployable.

Teachers will also be expected to assess pupils at the end of key stage 1 – when children are 6 or 7 – to ensure they are making appropriate progress in literacy and numeracy. A new test in spelling, punctuation and grammar will inform teachers’ assessment of writing and help keep children on course.”

Will it work? Share your opinions on Gove’s latest claims below.

10 reasons to use Pinterest with your students

10 reasons to use Pinterest with your students

1. Store video’s

Store videos of video clips relevant to your subject in one accessible place. Say goodbye to scratched discs and memory draining video clips on your laptop.

2. Store current events

If you are/were a teacher that stored away topical newspaper articles in the hope that they may someday form part of a future lesson plan these can now see the light of day, giving your subject the topical edge you had only previously dreamed of.

3. Store infographics and website visuals

Pin as you search. Any relevant web based material that you come across can be pinned to your board including subject relevant infographics.

4. Store all the above under relevant topic and subject headings

Use your topic headings and subject specific terminology so students can use their frames of reference to navigate your boards easily.

5. Store revision based material

Pinterest is student revision heaven. Almost purpose built for students who like to engage with visual material for engaging revision.

6. Brainstorm a topic

A form of educational mood board where students can investigate, present, discuss and critique their ideas in a fun and engaging way.

7. May the best board win

Divide students into groups and ask them to populate their boards for a possible classroom debate.

8. Showcase students work

Pinterest is the ‘fridge door’ of Educational presentation. An excellent platform to showcase good practice, precision and excellence

9. Encourage students to share resources

Give students the freedom to explore and populate their own boards, seeking out content and sharing with other students.

10. Suggest reading material

Relevant books and magazines can be pinned to boards and students encouraged to follow suit with their reading related research. 

To pinfinity and beyond

A recent article by Marcus Wohlsen (http://www.wired.com/business/2014/01/pinterest-more-popular-than-email/) points to Pinteret as being more popular than email as a means by which to share information. With its popularity looking set to increase it is interesting that its use as an educational tool seems, to date, to have been largely overlooked. As a teaching resource it enables teachers to store articles, video’s, infographics, and visual information under topic headings. As such it lends itself to a fantastic resource bank that students can access without having the possible barriers to learning such as logging on to a learning platform or having to download information. Topical newspaper articles can be pinned and it has practical application to promoting group work and making links with other teachers. The visual nature of Pinterest makes it particularly attractive and it makes for an engaging revision resource for students. Teachers and students can collectively pin relevant helpful educational content to help one another.

Here at WeTeach we have been looking closely at some of our subjects such as A Level Law and Psychology and pinning subject specific content. WeTeach would be keen to know if you have been inspired to use Pinterest as an educational tool, please let us know. If you are currently using Pinterest as an educational resource or have maybe been inspired to do having read this blog then please do let us know.

Related article;

http://www.bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/UsingPinterestforEducation.aspx

A blog about blogging

WeTeach have been at the forefront of bringing technological advances into the classroom and we are always on the lookout for creative and innovative ways in which technology can be utilised in order to improve learning. An article by Holly Fairbrother, an English teacher living in Singapore details how she uses English lessons to prepare her students for the world of blogging.

http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2014/jan/15/citizenship-lesson-pens-paper-teach-digital-citizens

Students initially develop their ideas on paper working towards publishing their blogs online. Along the way they learn valuable lessons about providing sensitive and constructive feedback to other students about their blogs with emphasis being placed on students behaving ethically and responsibly to one another. The idea that blogging can help learning via documenting success, progress and achievement through her subject is a concept that could lend itself to all subjects. WeTeach would be delighted to hear from any teachers or students that might be already be using blogs in their subjects or who may be inspired to do so having read the article.

Teachers and parents are well aware of the need for schools to be helping in raising awareness of the need for children to be become responsible digital citizens. As student interaction increasingly happens digitally, and many future careers will involve increasing amounts of digital input, a lesson in responsible digital citizenship is probably long overdue.

To read more about digital citizenship and stay up to date with offers and news from WeTeach, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.