Digital Theatre Plus – a unique online theatre education resource for schools, colleges and universities – has launched its new website www.digitaltheatreplus.com.

Digital Theatre Plus is an online learning resource from Digital Theatre, who work with the UK’s leading theatre companies to capture the best of British theatre authentically onscreen. Digital Theatre Plus offers a new online approach to experiencing and learning about theatre, and can help break down the cost, time and geographic barriers faced by many educators and their students. 

Complementing existing feature productions, from the Royal Shakespeare Company, Young Vic, Almeida Theatre, Royal Court and the West End, are feature-length interviews with some of the best-known actors and leading theatre practitioners working today. 

Leading assistive technology company iansyst have given their website a makeover, which now incorporates a comprehensive online shop.

Visitors can instantly purchase popular software programmes to assist with a variety of disabilities and special educational needs at their school.

Many of the products featured are used widely in schools, such as: Nessy Learning Programme, Clicker 6, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Inspiration, Numbershark and many more. In addition to SEN products, the shop offers a variety of hardware accessories, computers, printers and furniture, now making it even easier for schools to browse and purchase essential items all in one place.

Dragonfly Training are hosting an exclusive training course on the 23rd May centered around putting digital creativity at the heart of teachers' lessons.

Most technological advancements have had some impact on education, but the iPad has the potential to transform the learning experience. Why? Because it can turn the student from a consumer of information, into a creator. With the pupils in the creator role, your lessons will guarantee instant high levels of Bloom's Taxonomy, massive differentiation and opportunities for challenging the gifted and talented, as well as providing otherwise impossible learning experiences. Dragonfly only believes in using technology when you can do something with it that couldn't be done without it.

A big green wave will sweep the UK’s schools next week, as children gear up to showcase their eco-credentials during Green Schools Revolution Week (18-22 March) from The Co-operative.

Throughout the week, The Co-operative is challenging schools across the UK to complete a range of sustainability activities each day, ranging from “Energy Monday” to “Fairtrade Friday” with biodiversity, healthy eating and water-themed activities in between. Schools can share their experience with the Green Schools Revolution team for the chance to win prizes and also bring to life their own eco projects.

Levi Roots is today launching his School of Life Tour, which will see the well-known entrepreneur visit many schools throughout the year in a bid to get more young people excited about cooking and making music, as well as motivating them to success.

In support of the Government’s initiative to introduce compulsory cookery lessons for kids aged seven to fourteen, Levi’s tour will enable him to chat to students about his passion for food and music and show them how exciting both subjects can be. Levi will tailor his visits to individual schools, offering students a flavour of his music and his golden rules of success in business, as well as the chance to join him for a cookery lesson. For Secondary school students, Levi will also give an honest and inspirational insight into his life and show how determination and passion can be the keys to success.

Red Nose Day is back on Friday 15th March offering schools a great opportunity to have some fun, make a difference, and teach about global issues.

And to make getting involved with Red Nose Day super simple, Comic Relief has produced free School Fundraising Resource Packs full of fundraising tips, activity ideas, balloons, stickers and posters.

The Red Nose Day website also offers curriculum-linked resources that explore the lives of Robert (aged 8) and Dennis (aged 13), and the issues they face living in a slum settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. Short films, lesson plans, assemblies and more can be downloaded at www.rednoseday.com/schoolsite.

The ‘Outdoor Classroom’ is a great free resource for schools - you may have noticed a recent shift towards schools making more use of outdoor spaces as well as their traditional indoor classrooms.

A rich outdoor learning setting can encourage children to be inspired by the world around them, and promotes a sense of responsibility for their external environment. Fresh air and stimulating surroundings raise energy levels and can even aid positive behavioural changes too. Outdoor spaces allow for students to take part in practical activities such as gardening, composting, woodland learning, and even keeping chickens! These horticultural activities also link up nicely with more academic subjects such as biology and geography.

More and more schools are making the move to utilising an “outdoor classroom” which might take the form of a lawned area, conservatory, shelter, or even a trendy alternative such as a wigwam or yurt. An outdoor “classroom”, in whichever form it takes, also allows for a spacious environment for group workshops, morning assembly, acting and performances, and imaginative free play and exploration. The structures themselves can be decked out with outdoor furniture, plastic seating or even bean bags.

A primary school that has been in Special Measures since January 2012 is now reaping the benefits from introducing the Education in Human Values programme.

The school has 9 core values that are the cornerstones of its ethos and form the basis of the collective worship timetable. The EHV materials have been used to supplement them as the 5 human values of truth, peace, love, right conduct and non-violence, which children remember on one hand and which form a framework for the programme, are almost the same as the school's values. Staff found the EHV materials were easily adapted to fit with both the school’s weekly and termly themes.

In light of the new computing programme of study, Optimus Education are bringing together a line up of primary ICT and computing experts and inspiring practitioners to share best practice around delivering outstanding ICT in schools.

As stated in the new draft programme of study, at Key Stage 1 pupils will now be expected to write and test simple programmes, and understand the basics of algorithms. At Key Stage 2, pupils will now have to explain how a simple algorithm works and to correct errors in algorithms and programs (DfE 07/02/13). Many schools feel ill-equipped to deliver these new expectations, but Optimus Education’s timely event is designed to help primary leaders prepare their school and staff to deliver the new computing programme of study at primary level.

As East Village, the first legacy neighbourhood to result from the 2012 Games, is being transformed in preparation for its very first residents this summer, the team is busy getting to know its new neighbours and is delighted to announce funding for chess sets and lessons across 14 Newham Schools, in association with Chess in Schools and the Communities (CSC) and Newham Council. The 'Urban Chess' programme is planned to expand to all 64 primary schools in the borough by 2015, with the aim of teaching every child in Newham how to play the world's most enduring game.

On 13th March, just 2 days ahead of the World Chess Candidates Tournament in London - which will see 8 of the world's greatest players including world number one Magnus Carlsen compete for a €500,000 prize fund - East Village will celebrate the arrival of the great Grandmasters and its sponsorship of CSC, by welcoming local schools to Stratford Library for a fun and educational morning of Chess games and classes on a giant board - led by British Champion Grandmaster Gawain Jones.