COMMUNITY

Schools across the UK are streamlining parental engagement with My School App, an innovative new platform that allows staff to send relevant news, updates and events to parents and guardians. Created by developers Pixelhead Creative, the software is tailored to each individual school’s needs, with digital flyers also supplied for printing and distributing. This resource is free to download. The first 10 sign-ups to mention Innovate My School will receive six months free-of-charge, with a further 20% off the set-up costs.

Around five years ago, a colleague suggested I set up a teacher account on Twitter. I was reluctant at first, anxious about the implications of having an open profile as a teacher. Now I am a self-confessed teacher tweep, using Twitter for free CPD, connecting with colleagues around the world, sharing good practice and organising events for teachers. I also have a class Twitter account, which I’ve used to enable pupils to share their learning with parents, pupils and the world!

Schools across the UK are being invited to take part in a national survey of internet use by pupils when at home. Education consultant Brett Laniosh from Catshill Learning Partnerships, who are carrying out the survey, said that the results will provide valuable information to schools on the range of hardware such as laptops, tablets, consoles and smart phones being used by young people.

The main priority of a school is to ensure that pupils are given the best possible chance of achieving their potential, both academically and personally. In the ever-changing world of education, it is imperative that teachers and other staff are as up-to-date as they can possibly be in their subject knowledge, teaching practices, and assessment requirements. It also important not to forget the professional development needs of the wider school community, including your governors.

It’s very difficult to put into words how incredibly important Twitter has been in our practice this year in Primary 1. It was a very new approach for me at the start of the academic year, and I was gently persuaded by my colleague to climb on board the ‘Twitter Train’. Little did I know the impact it would have, not only on the pupils, parents and school, but also on my life! I try to use my camera every day to capture moments of pure educational magic and then spend half my night uploading them with creative hashtags. In fact, I’ve been told by some family members it might become an obsession… and it has! However, it has to be said that this Twitter addiction has had a positive effect on my teaching practice and has allowed me to access areas of communication and learning I hadn’t reached before.

A UN-partnered Ugandan organisation is seeking teaching volunteers to join them for their education project. Founded in 1987, the Mmanze Centre for Rural Development and Training (MACERUDET) is a community-based organization working with the people of rural Uganda to improve their standards and conditions of living. This project sees British teachers working alongside their Ugandan peers, aiding with both Primary and Secondary pupils’ education in the process.

A group of teachers are doing their bit for the refugee crisis by volunteering with children in the French refugee camps. The Edlumino team work with public donations to teach in the settlements in Calais and Grande-Synthe to teach the young learners from countries such as Syria, Somalia, Iran, Iraq and Sudan. These teachers focus on an international curriculum of Maths, English, French, Science and Humanities. Those looking to get involved can donate or volunteer at edlumino.org.

Teenage years are full of enough stress and challenge without young people having to worry about being accepted for something they have no control over; their sexuality and identity. LGBTPAQ - whether you are a parent, student or teacher you may recognise some of these letters, and others may be leaving you wondering what they mean. Below, I have tried to 'sum up' as best I can the definitions as I have experienced and understand them. Please do comment and contribute to this article if you feel you have a clearer or more focused definition.

One of the most important parts of my job has to do with finding new ways to connect our parent community to the school. In some areas where I have worked this has not been a big problem. I have experienced schools with strong parent councils, and parents groups who have the time to put a great deal of time and resources into the school.

Teachers at a school specialising in Science and Health Care for 14 to 19-year olds sacrificed their beards In December to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust. Liverpool Life Sciences UTC has been supporting the charity after one of their students endured a long and difficult struggle with cancer.

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