Anti-bullying week

I have been asked to do upper and lower school assemblies in a secondary school to do with anti-bullying week. I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas that they are planning to use or have used in the past?
I have looked through the anti-bullying week website and all their examples seem only about communicating lots of information but I would like something that really grabs their attention.
I did the gossip assembly with the cows tongue last year so unfortunately thats a no go.
Would be grateful for any ideas

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Schools worker - teacher dialogue

From humble beginnings as a schools work intern, Tom Wade has journeyed from role to role in schools and finds himself currently as an RE teacher in Harpenden. Here Mr Wade writes some top tips that as schools workers, we NEED to read, absorb and form opinions on ourselves…what would you add?

“As an RE teacher (and a former schools worker!) it’s really insightful to see both sides of the fence in terms of Christian schools workers coming in to take lessons. It’s also interesting to see the perspective that both sides hold for the other – teachers talk about schools workers being lazy and rather lackadaisical while schools workers talk about teachers being bored and not caring about young people!
Hopefully though this can begin to change – through the only way possible – dialogue. I was recently chatting with some of my colleagues in our RE department (which just so happened to get the best RE GCSE results in the country last year fact fans!) and together we developed some tips that we’ve passed onto our local schools worker. There are a lot of things to think about here – but perhaps some of them could be useful for the work that you do. So sit tight, grab a coffee (after all, all you schools workers do is sit in coffee shops) and prepare for enlightenment straight from the staff room:

1. Talk to the teacher beforehand!

When observing lessons now, Ofsted are interested in how teachers treat the lesson in context of all the other information available to them. We’re expected to know incredible amounts of data about each student in the class, their prior attainment, their reading ability, their SEN status, their predicted grades – all that information should inform the lesson that we deliver. When you go into a school to take a lesson, do you have any idea about the group you’re about to see? Do you know where they are in their scheme of work (have you got a copy of their scheme of work?!) do you know what exam board they’re with if it’s a GCSE or A-level class? Do you know which students will need work differentiated for them because of a SEN status? Where does the lesson you’re taking fit into the wider scheme of things?
This may sound like a lot, but a quick conversation with the teacher with some paperwork changing hands can revolutionise the lessons your teaching

2. Learning objectives

All of my lessons have to have learning objectives – I need to show how the learning of my students has progressed in my lesson. For my school this follows the following patter:
Know – What will everyone know by the end of the lesson?
Understand – What will everyone understand by the end of the lesson?
Be able to – What will students be able to complete/do/achieve by the end of your lesson.
Most schools will also operate an all/most/some policy – differentiate your tasks so that mixed ability classes can all get something out of your lessons.

3. Plan your lesson!

This sounds really basic, but try to use the lesson plan structure that the school has – they should have electronic copies you can have to edit.

4. Have quick paced activities

Keep things interesting, snappy and short. Ideally no activity should take longer than 15 minutes in a classroom.

5. Don’t be afraid to get students to write things in their books

You can deliver the worlds most inspiring lesson, but especially for exam classes – if they don’t have anything to show for it in their books they wont remember it. Don’t be afraid to have 5 minute writing activities to consolidate knowledge. Also remember to link to the exam if you’re doing a GCSE or A-level class – make them see the point of the exercise that you’re doing.

6. Dress up – or dress down

Depending on your school you should have an idea of how to dress – even speak to the senior leadership to have an idea of what to do – but ideally smart is usually better. Jeans and a T-Shirt may look cool but can remove some of your authority.

7. Provide your own resources

If you’re doing a cut and stick exercise, don’t surprise the teacher by asking for resources 5 minutes into the lesson – this won’t win you any favour!

8. Use technology – but don’t rely on it fully

There is nothing worse than a lesson that starts with ten minutes of faffing around setting up technology, get in the class early to do this. Let technology enhance but not drive your lesson – remember you’re in a school. Technology in schools is rubbish! The traditional board pen will always be your friend – have a back up if your Youtube video of a bear falling out of a tree doesn’t work.

9. Work on your class discipline

Don’t be a walkover. You can be fun and authoritative. Work on conflict management to ensure you stay in control – don’t shout – you’ll have nowhere to go after you’ve done that. Keep that for emergencies!

10. Be academic

Especially for exam classes, work on your language. Change the language you’re using depending on the year that you’re teaching. Read their text books, do wider reading, explain key words that you use, there is nothing worse than a student outsmarting you with a philosophical theory so come prepared! Look at denominational differences on ethical issues. But own up if you don’t know.
And finally,

11. Be a Christian

You’re a real life Christian in a classroom. How exciting! Leave room for questions and answers – give a justified personal opinion – be careful of statements such as ‘all Christians believe,’ watch out for tricky questions such as ‘Is my Grandmother in hell?’ But most of all – utilise the skills you have. Tailor the lesson around your strengths. Be who you are. Live out your values.
So there it is. A lot to think about. Feel free to disagree in the comments, but let’s open the dialogue. How can teachers and schools workers live in harmony from now on? 11 tips to get you thinking – where do we go from here?”

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advice please

I’ve recently left full time schools work, and have become freelance self employed, for new drama projects and a few other things. One of my schools I used to go into and do lessons has asked me back on this basis and asked me how much I charge. (It’s a private, small primary school).
I would love to do it for nothing but also need an income of some sort, (and husband would flip)! I’ve got no clue what to say back to them! Barnabas trust charge £275 for a day, Damaris is £595 for 3 hours!
Thoughts? Thanks in advance,
A.

Tags: lesson costs

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Education & schools work update

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

 
• Jamie Oliver fears government is undoing school meal progress: Jamie Oliver fears the school meals revolution he kickstarted is in danger of unravelling because ministers are ignoring research showing that nutritious lunches improve learning.
 
• Education budget faces deepest cut since 1950s, warns IFS: Under-fives, 16 to 19-year-olds and building programmes will suffer as spending is slashed by 14.4% over next four years – the largest cut since the 1950s, Britain’s leading tax and spending experts have warned.
 
• What’s wrong with today’s youth? Nothing a mentor can’t fix: Once they’d have crossed the street to avoid them. Now, many professionals are making friends with so-called ‘feral’ teenagers - with startling results
 
• How intervention is keeping children out of care: Intensive family intervention programmes are helping parents and children to enjoy life at home together.  For professionals determined to prevent teenagers deemed “on the edge of care” being removed from often initially unco-operative families, a dogged persistence is key.  Being straight with parents about what will happen if things do not improve, while working alongside them, rather than doing things “to them” or for them, is also critical, a report by the watchdog concludes.  The report, Edging Away from Care, looks at good practice in 11 local authorities to keep young people at risk of entering care living at home, using methods that include family intervention programmes (FIP), family group conferencing or multisystemic therapy. Many of the young people were, or had been, subject to child protection plans.
 
• Britain’s primary school classes are most crowded in Europe: Britain has the most crowded primary school classes in Europe as applications for places rise by more than a quarter, new figures show.
 
• Scrap reading tests for pupils aged 6, experts urge ministers: Leading literacy experts will today urge the Government to abandon plans for a compulsory national reading test for all six-year-olds next summer.
 
• University adds six weeks to teaching year to offset fee rise: University students will be asked to work harder and longer as part of a radical charter to be introduced next year to coincide with the rise in tuition fees.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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UK university applicants drop by 12%

UCAS has published the number of applications received by universities by 15 October, the deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, and are an early indication of the total across all courses this year.

Candidates for other universities have until 15 January to apply, but there has been a trend for early submissions and the figures include early applications for other universities and courses too.

Check out these key articles:

 
• UK university applicants drop by 12% before tuition fee rise: Ucas reveals 52,321 UK-born students have applied for university next year, when fees will rise to up to £9,000 a year.  The number of UK-born university applicants for next September – when fees rise to up to £9,000 a year – has plummeted by almost 12%, official figures show.  The first set of statistics on applications to university next year, published by the Universities and Colleges and Admissions Service (Ucas), reveal that 52,321 applicants have applied from within the UK, compared with 59,413 this time last year.  The number of applicants from within and outside the UK combined has fallen by 9% to 69,724, from 76,612 this time last year.
 
• Universities see 40pc fall in soft subject applications: Softer university subjects such as communication studies and creative arts have seen a drop in applications of up to 40 per cent as students seek value for the controversial £9,000 tuition fee, according to figures released on Monday.
 
• Big drop in women’s applications after university tuition fees increase: Figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service showed the drop in women candidates was almost twice as high as among men.
 
• Government criticised over fall in university applications: Students and lecturers have blamed the Government’s “botched” policies on universities for a 9% drop in total applications.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics, university

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Celebrating Creativity Competition

Opportunity for the students you work with to show their ideas in Words, Pictures, Poetry and Music to enter a competition celebrating their creativity.

Themes include:

Beautiful messages…
Telling your story…
Questions for God…

Six prizes will be awarded by a panel of judges which will all be of equal value:

  £200 for your organisation to spend on a children’s project

  £50 to the child artist.

There will be three different categories: Up to 8 years old, 9 to 11 years old and 12 to 16 years old.

Judges will be looking for quality of presentation, originality of thought and creativity.

Visit the website to find out more information. The deadline is 15th December 2011.

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Schoolswork.co.uk is 4!!

It’s hard to believe 4 years have gone by since the launch of schoolswork.co.uk, but here we are coming up to another Youthwork the Conference, where we celebrated our launch, 4 years ago!

This year the theme is Essence and it is jam packed with loads of great stuff. Follow this link to get an idea of what to expect: http://www.youthworkconference.co.uk/whats-happening

Are you coming this year?

• Youthwork Conference Eastbourne
• Youthwork Conference Early Day news
• Back from Eastbourne
• Back from Eastbourne!

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Are they ready for university?

Bags packed, three-pronged IKEA forks purchased, freshers week party tickets pre-booked - they’re ready to go.  That moment for those in year 13 is now only 11 months away…

In 11 months’ time, they will be heading off into the next stage of their life, into three or four years which will lay significant foundations for the rest of their adult lives.  I believe that as those working alongside them now we have a responsibility to prepare them for that in such a way that they launch off confident in their identities and excited about seeing what God can do with them and their university campuses.

There’s so much we can do - create space for them to prepare themselves, encourage them to make decisions about who they are and who they want to be, fill them in on what lies ahead…

This generation is a bold generation.  This generation could see culture change, if they are ready to step out in faith…

Fusion are doing some one-off free training at their next student worker training for youth and schools workers who want to help prepare their young people for this transition to uni.  We believe that you are key in seeing these young people not just survive uni, but thrive and see their friends’ lives transformed in the process.  You are key to them starting well and we want to help you be able to equip them confidently and full of hope for their futures. 

Training:
- 7th Dec
- Loughborough
- Free for first timers
- Topics: How to make the most of the Olympics & How to prepare your young people for uni

To book on, visit http://fusion.uk.com/forstudentworkers/equipping-days
For more information, email pippa@fusion.uk.com

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Wonderful to receive a PREZI

Have you been eeking out every possible way to use power point? Are you resorting to making every word drop down individually? Are you basically bored with it? I am!

If you’re like me and work in a far more visual way then you’ve got to check out prezi.com.

Prezi is quite simply a very cool new way to present to a group. The best thing?! Well there’s actually lots. Starting with you not actually having to buy the programme. Simply make your prezi presentation online and then export the final thing.

To see what my excitement is based on you’ve really got to go and check it out, but if you’re not convinced, imagine power point in a 3D universe where any direction of thinking is right there for you to access.

With prezi it’s all about having an idea and revealing it rather than explaining it.

www.prezi.com top tip people, go and check it out.

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Chaplaincy in Education Conference

A day conference exploring new opportunities in school and college Chaplaincy, March 1st 2012.

The event will be aimed at people of all levels, so whether you are already involved in Chaplaincy or you are thinking about getting involved, then this event is for you.

Things to expect from the course:

• to hear from some well established Chaplaincy workers
 
• to take away tried and tested ideas on how to make it work for you
 
• a chance to get involved in networking, group work, structured conversations, and much more…

A choice of Workshops:

• One to one mentoring within Chaplaincy
 
• Addressing Multi-faith issues
 
• Resources for Spiritual Development

Where?

KingsGate Community Church
2 Staple Way
Warnwell
Peterborough
PE14 4TY

Please email KimR@scriptureunion.org.uk for more information.

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Education & schools work update

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

 
• Four senior education mandarins resign: Four senior civil servants at the Department for Education have resigned their positions.
 
• Educational TV for under-twos has little benefit, says US report: There is little evidence to back up advertising claims that television and DVDs can improve social and language skills.  TV programmes and films marketed as “educational” are of little value to children under two, according to US paediatricians.  They say there is even some evidence that exposure to TV at this age has a “negative effect” on language development.
 
• Fifth of secondaries began last school year in deficit: A fifth of council-funded secondary schools finished the 2009-10 school year in deficit, raising fears about how they will cope with expected budget squeezes, an official National Audit Office report shows.
 
• Schools issued with discipline ‘checklist’ to boost behaviour: Teachers are being told to punish bad behaviour outside school and shop unruly children to their parents as part of a new crackdown on indiscipline.
 
• Truancy rate in England’s schools rises by 2%: The truancy rate in England’s schools has increased by two per cent, latest figures show.  Warning as ‘persistent truants’ skip a month of school: More than 450,000 children missed the equivalent of a month of school last year amid rising truancy rates across England.
 
• More schoolchildren ‘being diagnosed with special needs’: The number of children diagnosed with special needs has soared by 10 per cent in just five years amid concerns schools are “playing the system” to disguise poor exam results.
 
• Ofsted: parents to ‘rate children’s happiness at school’: Parents are being asked to rate schools on issues such as children’s happiness, teaching standards, behaviour and levels of homework as part of a new inspection regime.
 
• 4.8% rise in five good GCSEs rate: Rising numbers of teenagers are scoring five good GCSEs including English and maths, official figures show.
 
• GCSEs: proportion of state school children doing English bacc falls: Just over one in five entered the English baccalaureate, taking English, maths, history or geography, sciences and a language.  The proportion of state school pupils entering the English bacc of academic subjects at GCSE fell slightly in this summer’s exams, figures from the Department for Education show.
 
• Boys falling dramatically behind girls by the age of five: Almost one-in-five boys are unable to write their own name after a year of school, figures show, as they fall behind girls at an early age.
 
• Basing A-level results on a year group’s GCSEs is unfair: Exam boards should award grades based on the standard of work, and not limit the number of top grades awarded.  ‘Cohort referencing’ was until recently an optional tool for exam boards. But from 2011 Ofqual have made it an essential part of their code of practice, to avoid so-called ‘grade drift’ and the usual public outcry about falling standards.
 
• Ofsted to target ‘coasting’ teachers: Incoming chief Sir Michael Wilshaw says schools inspectorate will drive up standards by singling out weaker teachers
 
• University of Wales abolished after visa scandal: Second-largest university in the country will be rebranded in a merger.
 
• Which? magazine to test value of degrees: The consumers’ champion will look at university courses – and academics say they are worried.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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Marriage…something to do when you get bored?

“It’s a beautiful night, We’re looking for something dumb to do, Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you”

Good enough??? NO!!! It’s certainly not anywhere near good enough, but what ideas are we (and more importantly our young people) absorbing without intending to…?

I was happily singing along to Bruno Mars in the office today when a colleague kindly pointed out the lyrics to me and I looked them up and was really disappointed in what I found. I’m not a huge Mars fan, but do enjoy singing along to a few of his song - and actually - some do carry great messages (e.g. “Just the way you are”). But does that mean we can accept the bad with the good? 

I’m a big believer in song lyrics helping us learn things. A lot of my scriptural knowledge comes from my Salvation Army upbringing and learning hymns + songs based on Biblical passages. Music has power to captivate our emotions, to have us learning ideas and words and absorbing them without even thinking.  Then one day something comes out of your mouth as you’re singing and you realise you’ve just condoned getting married “cos it’s something fun to do”...oh and a few lines later: “If we wake up and you, Wanna break up, that’s cool, No, I won’t blame you, It was fun, girl”.
I know this is just a song, and I may come across as way too uptight in this blog, but it’s a really sad message. Is this all Bruno Mars (and a growing number of younger people) think marriage is about??

Maybe we can have a role schools workers, in helping shed some light on some of these lyrics and stop them from drip feeding into our young people’s belief systems and instead allow them to question and form their own opinions. How about an assembly on relationships or PHSE lessons on values of marriage…let’s get creative, cos if we don’t we might just be making a big mistake.

Ok, rant over and Educating Essex is about to come on….go on, switch on C4, or if you read this later and have missed it, check it out here: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4od

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Steve Jobs creative post-it-noting

Until today I thought schools workers were most creative when it came to post-it-notes but this takes it to a whole new level!

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Education & schools work update

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

 
• Only 6 per cent learn facts of life from their parents: Most young people learn about sex from television, the internet or their friends, a survey has found.
 
• Teachers caught calling pupils ‘inbred’ and ‘thick’ on Facebook: Teachers have angered parents after posting on Facebook that their children are ‘inbred’ and ‘thick’.  But school apologises over ‘inbred’ Facebook comment by teacher: A primary school governing body has apologised to parents after a message appeared on Facebook, apparently posted by a teacher, which described locals as inbred.
 
• Schools are key to safeguarding runaway children: The Children’s Society is calling for better training for teachers so they can help to identify children at risk of running away and take preventive action.  The Children’s Society estimates that 100,000 children run away each year.  Many are fleeing family conflict, neglect or abuse.  Up to a quarter are “kicked out by their parents or carers”, according to the charity’s Make Runaways Safe report.
 
• Award A-level A*s to a fixed percentage of pupils, Gove proposes: The A* grade at A-level could be awarded to a fixed percentage of candidates each year, the education secretary, Michael Gove, has proposed.
 
• A third of teachers face ‘devastating’ false claims by pupils: Tens of thousands of British school teachers have been subjected to false allegations from a pupil that has placed their careers at “significant” risk, new research suggested yesterday.
 
• Mossbourne head is new Ofsted chief: A headteacher hailed as a “miracle worker” for dramatically improving failing inner-city schools will be the new head of Ofsted.  Sir Michael Wilshaw, renowned for showing “tough love” to pupils and their parents, will start his new job in January 2012.
 
• Private schools win case over showing benefit to society: Court rules Charity Commission was wrong in defining how private schools show public benefit.
 
• Warning over children’s ‘appalling’ handwriting skills: Children are struggling to write their own name because growing numbers of schools are shunning traditional handwriting lessons, academics have warned.
 
• Schools to ban skirts if pupils don’t lower their hems: Headteachers across the country are banning girls from wearing skirts in school for fear that their ever-shorter hemlines put them at risk of attack.
 
• Bishop of London attacks top public school after it demolishes its chapel: St Paul’s has become the first of Britain’s top public schools to pull down its chapel and do without a place of worship.
 
• School places shortage leave children facing being taught in ‘split shifts’: Children may be taught in “split shifts” at primary schools because of a critical shortage of places sparked by immigration and a rocketing birth rate.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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Spirited Poetry:  A new competition for RE this autumn

The 5 themes for 2011 Spirited Poetry Competition are:

1. Being Human

This theme asks pupils to think about what it means to be human. Are we like monkeys or robots? Children of God or angels? Computers or demons? Pupils might ask: Who am I? What shall I do with my human life? Why is it wonderful to be human? Why is it sometimes evil too? Cheerful self assurance or dark self doubt are both welcome.

2. The Promise

Some religious stories tell of promises made and broken by God or humans. We all make promises, and struggle to keep them. Sometimes a promise makes all the difference: it depends if you trust the person making the promise. What promises matter to you? Kept or broken? What about the big promises of life, to love, to marry, to care or to share?

3. Reflections

This theme encourages children to think about reflections – in a mirror, in a still pond, in their own heart or in some other way. When we reflect, what do we see? If you look in the mirror, then what looks back at you? If you reflect on the questions and mysteries that puzzle you, do things get clearer in the stillness?

4. Where is God?

Atheists, agnostics and believers in God might all respond to this by expressing their sense of the search or the find. Where’s God? In your heart, in prayer, in the temple or the universe? Or is she hiding? Is he not there at all? Looking for God, searching for him or her, matters: but how are we doing in finding God?

5. Path of Life.

This theme imagines life is a journey, and wonders what the motorways or service stations are like. If life’s a spiritual journey, where do you get refuelled? What signposts and what guidebooks help you as you travel? What speeds you up or slows you down? How’s your journey so far, and what drives you along? And is the destination going to be exciting ~ or nowhere at all?

Find out more info here, or download the pdf.
http://www.schoolswork.co.uk/media/files/Spirited_Poetry_RE_Today_2011.pdf

Entries need to be in by December 1, 2011.

• Spirited Poetry

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Youthwork Summit

Alongside all the other fantastic sessions available at the 2011 Youthwork Summit (see more here), RE adviser Lat Blaylock will be speaking about God in school:

Do you have to search for God at your school? Do you take God into school or is He there already? If God is absent from school, is He missed? Does God show up in the schools where you work?”

Join Lat and hundreds of others as we search, question, explore and chill out together. Check out the summit website: http://www.youthworksummit.com/. It’s happening next Friday and Saturday in Manchester (21st + 22nd October).

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Christian Aid Harvest Assemblies

Assembly for harvest aimed at the primary age group here.
Assembly for harvest aimed at the secondary age group here.

Tags: harvest

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Relive Christmas

Click this link to check out this trailor for the Relive films for use in schools…
http://www.relivefilms.co.uk/

James provides great quality resources, read more about them on http://www.reliveresources.co.uk/

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Rage, Despair & Hope

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Back To School

If you have not done so already, it is not too late to book for the Back To school Conference in York this Saturday (8 October). 
All the details are here: www.yoyotrust.org.uk/backtoschool

Online registration has now closed but you can still book a place by calling the Conference Administrator on 01904 631148.

It is promising to be an excellent day.  Don’t miss out.

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Educating Essex

A new channel 4 series focuses on real life in today’s Secondary schools as it follows a group of GCSE students, and the staff who teach them, as they go into Year 11.
The first programme aired last week and the next one is tonight at 8pm. Snow fights in the playground, Christmas music blasting out of staff computers and some humorous singing along to the cheesy Christmas tunes, set the first episode off with a light-hearted air. The senior leadership team comprise a larger than life deputy head (Mr Drew) and the Head Teacher (Mr Goddard), accompanied by some fed up and worn out looking other senior staff who look more than ready for the holidays to come.

Mr Drew is charged with dealing with the students who persistently challenge the behaviour code, both befriending these students but in equal measure managing to wind them up to breaking point. One student describes him as “just like something that won’t go away”. I continue to watch this series with interest and I recommend setting up a series link or looking it up on 4oD.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/educating-essex

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Archbishop of York Young Leaders Award

Hello, I’m brand new to this site, but there’s a brill new resource I’d like you to be aware of.  The Archbishop of York Young Leaders Award is taking off like mad at the moment, so I thought I’d better get on here and tell you all about it!  It can be run at KS3 or KS4, as a twilight session, in form period, or even out of school time.  Basically it combines learning about faith heroes with actual social action and doing.  Young people learn what Bono’s faith means to him, or Andy Hawthorne’s or The Archbishop’s or even Mother Theresa’s, they then make contact with an organisation they want to help, and in term three they go off and do!

We’re hearing amazing stories of young people leading the fight to re-pace an area after seeing an elderly person fall to the floor, young people beginning to help in Hospices, Care Homes, Nursing Homes and other places - all wearing their Youth Trust hoodies, and all BEING THE CHANGE THEY WANT TO SEE!

There’s more about this on our website but I’d be really delighted to chat here about it to anyone at all.  The only thing I would want to make clear is that as a charity any profits from this award are ploughed back into the poorest communities in the north of England, so it’s not about making money it’s about making a difference. 

Thanks

Rob Rolls
Youth Trust Director.

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Primary Assembly worship

Help ...

I am finding it increasingly difficult to find appropriate worship songs for Primary school children.  Worship songs for children generally seem to be very Christian, which are less appropriate for school, or so politically correct that they offend no one but say nothing about God either.

I work in a CofE school that is open to good worship.  Any ideas for resources?

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Delivering sex ed in schools?

Do you have the opportunity to deliver lessons on self-esteem, relationships and sexual health in secondary schools? Do you need training and resources to deliver these lessons? Do contact us at Esteem Resource Network to find out how we can support you. Our new website has gone live this week! Check us out at www.esteemresourcenetwork.org

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Junior Lunchtime Clubs

Our trust has been given the go ahead to start a new lunchtime club in a Junior school this term (yay!) and we’re meeting the deputy Head Teacher this week to discuss the club. We need to take some ideas along to the meeting of what the club is going to look like, so we’d love some feedback from others on what things you do in Junior Lunch Clubs, what material you use etc.
Thanks!

Tags: primary, cus, lunchtime

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CU’s Continuing the conversation

Had a little conversation with some people at Imagine’11 about Christian Unions and thought we could all continue this…

I guess CU’s have been something on my heart for a long time (it was what got me into this job) but something i’ve also wrestled with for a while, so here’s some of my thoughts which could be wrong, but hopefully will help us converse!

** Young people should be encouraged to lead CU’s themseleves (see newgeneration.co.uk)
** We should look to develop character, and how following Jesus works out in everyday situations, not soley focus on events outreach.
** Schools are one of the places where ‘gospel advance’ is fast growing.
** We should therefore ALSO encourage them to get out and do things that bless their school! (it really doesn’t have to be big!)

love it if we could share ideas and prayers and questions here…

Tags: christian union, , imagine'11

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Imagine pics and quotes

Imagine gave me the opportunity to sit and think about the year ahead, and reminded me that I serve a massive God who can do more than I can imagine!

There has been so much inspiring stuff…I’ve got so many ideas I’m going to pop!

There is nothing better than joining with a group that have committed themselves to inspiring you!

Good quality sessions from experienced professionals. Inspiring and refreshing.

Although it seemed disorganised at first, it was actually a great day. [this is a fair comment - there was a lot to communicate in the opening assembly!]

I most appreciated the welcome I felt.

An excellent day of inspiration and equipping.

Great sense of togetherness

You gain so much just from hanging out with people…so much innovation and creativity.

Excited for what God has in the year ahead.

Thank you for making me feel part of something bigger.

I was really blessed by the day and was buzzing all the way back home.

Great vision.

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Imagine reflections

140 schools workers gathered in a sunny Oasis Academy in Enfield last Friday for the second annual commissioning event. Following on from a successful event in 2010, bookings were up and expectations were high. Kicked off by a really great meal the night before, several guests and team met, relaxed and laughed the night away to mark the start of Imagine 2011. Entering the Agora (Greek for ‘meeting place’) in the centre of the Oasis Academy, guests were given a name badge in the shape of a tetris piece* and a chance to grab the first caffeine injection of the day. One of the big aims of the day was to give guests as much choice as possible and the ability to customise their day to suit their needs.

Therefore there were a selection of 5 main sessions in the morning, of which guests only had time to attend two…these included the creative and talented Elin Jaynes from the Lacey Theatre Company engaging us in storytelling; Tony Vino, a professional comedian helping us to laugh and make each other laugh; some top tips on developing resources from Rachel Warwick; sessions on what we are trying to communicate from Chris Curtis and even a session solely dedicated to picking Lat Blaylock’s brains!

Lunch was a feast of scrumptious Subway sandwiches couched in a ‘Long Lunch’ section, which had a mixed response judging by the feedback. The intention was to create a space in which we could make it possible for people to take from the time what they needed. So on offer were the four C’s:
CONNECT (network, form connections that could continue long after Imagine and support them throughout the year)
CONVERSE (some conversation topics and conversation ‘hosts’ had been appointed before the day to host some relevant discussions. Topics included:
- Why bother with 16-19s?
- If we’re not thinking about student’s self-esteem we’re wasting our time
- Bringing hope through action not assemblies
- Christian Unions, what’s the point?
These were designed to be informal conversations rather than seminars, but still to be significant times to explore various topics. Guests were able to suggest their own discussion topic and everyone had the chance to sign up to attend these discussions, which were held staggered throughout ‘long lunch’. Communication could have been better about where each of these conversations were happening, which meant some people missed out, so apologies for that.  However we’ve had some really great feedback too about people appreciating the freedom and flexibility of this time.
COLLECT (info + resources from the Agora, along with a nice dollop of wisdom from Lat Blaylock who led a session focused on spiritual engagement with the primary age group)
CONSUME (food, plenty of Subway goodness, cookies, sweets, fruit)…oh and we also had our Imagine Tetris championship* where people could compete against the Number 2 (official) tetris player in the UK!

Which led nicely into the afternoon where we returned to the Assembly Hall for our afternoon commissioning session. We were joined by MaLoKai (from the message) where Alex led us acoustically in worship and Jill Rowe (Oasis) delivered a challenging message for us to be active in changing student’s stories this year. We had time and space to dream about what we could imagine this year…how big dare we imagine? Our stories and what happens in our work is limited by one thing - our imagination.
The afternoon continued by everyone in the room praying for one another and ‘commissioning’ them into the year ahead. There was an incredible atmosphere and sense of God with us throughout the afternoon. All in all, a blessed day, and one in which I for one enjoyed immensely. Let’s see where this goes, it certainly feels like it’s a keeper for now. What did other people think?

*Tetris blocks were used on the publicity and as a theme on the day itself. Not sure why exactly…I was inspired by seeing some Tetris post it notes and it went from there really! You can read into this lots of great messages about us all fitting together to form a complete ‘body’...or erm, lots of different shapes and personalities being needed to make schools work what it is…whatever works best for you, hold onto that!

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Imagine info

Here’s some more information about our exciting one day event on Friday, 2nd September

Click here to book now.

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YouTube goodies for the week (Friday 22nd July)

Ah, term is ended and with it goes that urgent need to find a video that will somehow break a smile with that Year 10 who seem so unresponsive when you take their assembly. But less that six weeks from now, you’ll be back with all those ‘New year, New Hope’ assemblies and scrabbling for ‘that’ video to make your point. YouTube is perfect for that - most videos are just a couple of minutes and, unlike a film clip, you don’t have to explain the plot. They stand on their own merits… or fall.

So what’s been released this week? Nothing outstanding I admit, but there are a couple that I thought worthy of a mention. First up is this guy crossing the road on a very busy road in China. Wow. Does he have a death wish? Or maybe some access to the Star Wars ‘force’. Either way, rather him that me.

Talking about defying death, everyone’s talking about this amazing crash by Chad Reed in a Motorcross race Lucas Oil Motocross Championship’s Spring Creek National in Millville, MN, on July 16.

As ever, the application is over to you…. where, how - or maybe why - would you use these in an assembly. You have all summer to figure it out.

Tags: lesson, assembly, video, youtube

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What’s going viral on video this week?

Never before in the history of youth and schools work has so much video content been available at the drop of a hat, or click of a button or… well, you get the idea: there’s a lot of stuff out there. Gone are the days when you were limited to a clip from a video that you had to go out and buy. YouTube along has 48 hours of video uploaded EVERY MINUTE… yes, you read that right. And among all those weird instructional videos for taking a washing machine apart, wannabe karaoke songs and rips from TV, there are some truly amazing sights and sounds… some of which might even be useful for youth workers.

That last thought is debatable. At least some of these videos will get young people laughing, keeping them busy whilst you’re prepping your youth club epilogue or delivering your assembly. But occasionally they might do more and help explore a point… there’s a tip here to remember, the best films don’t give the answers, they ask questions. So look for the ones that will make young people want to explore something more, not those that are heavy on moralistic finger wagging.

My aim is to offer an update on what’s getting everyone’s attention on YouTube in the past week. It may or may not be useful, that’s for you to decide. But here goes for the last seven days… two to wet your appetite.

1. Star Wars

After everyone went head over heels about that Passat ad, it turns out it’s just one of many times brands have turned to the Force to make their point. This is the one that made me laugh the most…

2. BMW 1M

No surprise this astonishing ad from BMW has clocked up over 2 million hits in a matter of weeks….. guaranteed to get any teenager’s attention.

I’ll post more next week. Come back and check them out.

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Videos for Youth Ministry

I work for a church and it is my joy and blessing to work with young people in the area. Recently I have found it quite a fun quest to discover the gems on Youtube to use in youth ministry as there is a lot of stuff that is useless and pointless on there too! Here I have laid out the videos that have helped me and the youth group I work with. If you stumble across a diamond in the rough then please let me know and we will throw it up!

Check it out on http://ymvideos.blogspot.com/

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Self-harm Training Days

It’s thought that 1 in 10 young people will self-harm by the age of 16. When you meet that 1 in 10 will you know what to say? Would you know where to direct them for help? Would you know why it could be happening to them?

Selfharm.co.uk is taking its training programme on tour, enabling smaller organisations and individuals to get involved where the in-house training may not be feasible. This training would suit youth workers, teachers, counsellors and anyone else who has professional involvement with young people. The 6-hour programme will cover:

An understanding of the key steps to help young people reduce their harming

Questioning skills with young people who self-harm

Alternative coping strategies for young people who self-harm

Legal obligations and duties of those working with young people who self-harm

Understanding of physical, emotional and psychological indicators of self-harm

An opportunity to develop self-harm policy in line with organizational requirements

There are 25 places available at each event. Numbers are kept at this level to ensure all delegates have ample opportunity to feel involved in the variety of activities and discussions offered.

For more information, please visit www.selfharm.co.uk/find/training or email training@selfharm.co.uk

Tags: self-harm resources education training

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Victoria Cares

Check out www.victoriacares.org.uk for a week in the life of a young carer. Follow #victoria_cares on Twitter, a project run by Spurgeons and Share Creative. Brilliant and challenging project.

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Education & schools work update

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

New university gathers top academics to teach £18,000-a-year degrees: New College of the Humanities promises more direct teaching by likes of AC Grayling and Richard Dawkins.  A new private university in London staffed by some of the world’s most famous academics is to offer degrees in the humanities, economics and law from 2012 at a cost of £18,000 a year, double the normal rate.

Exams system risks ‘damaging teenagers’ reading ability’: A-levels often fail to provide teenagers with the tools and hunger to read beyond the narrow confines of an exam specification, says John Newton, headmaster of Taunton School.

Teachers ‘expect less’ from black, middle-class pupils – study: Teachers expect black middle-class pupils and their parents to be far less interested in education than their white middle-class counterparts, a study has found.

Government ‘underestimated’ university tuition fee hike: Ministers “significantly” underestimated the number of universities charging £9,000 tuition fees, MPs warned, raising fears of a huge funding black hole.

Ofsted warning over ‘weak’ vocational qualifications: Pupils are being awarded top grades on “weak” vocational courses that leave them with a poor grasp of business, Government inspectors warned.

Exam boards told to raise game after rogue question in AS-level biology: Exam boards have been told to raise their game after another rogue question appeared on an AS-level exam paper – the third this summer.

Thousands of children ‘fail to make progress in three-Rs’: Up to a third of children are effectively going backwards in reading, writing and arithmetic at secondary school, new figures suggest.

Primary schoolteacher filmed himself abusing pupils: A primary school teacher filmed himself sexually assaulting pupils as young as six in his classroom, sometimes when other children were present, a court has been told.

Fees will put teens off, say 42% of vice chancellors: A poll of university vice-chancellors shows that nearly half believe that it will become more difficult to convince young people of the benefits of a degree once higher tuition fees have been introduced.

Soaring school meal prices threaten to wreck ‘Jamie effect’: The price of a school dinner has jumped 10 per cent this year, an Independent on Sunday investigation has found, sparking fears that the financial crisis and rampant food inflation could jeopardise the “Jamie Oliver effect” of healthy eating for pupils.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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Education & schools work update

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

Schools win right to turn away middle class children: Radical reforms could see middle-class children miss out on most popular schools due to their family’s higher income.

14,000 British professors – but only 50 are black: Leading black academics are calling for an urgent culture change at UK universities as figures show there are just 50 black British professors out of more than 14,000, and the number has barely changed in eight years, according to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Are these overseas school trips just pricey package holidays?: Fans say they give children useful lessons outside the classroom, but Genevieve Fox is not sure.

School reprimands seven-year-old boys for playing ‘army game’: A primary school has been condemned by parents for disciplining two seven-year-old boys after teachers ruled playing army games amounted to “threatening behaviour”.

University applications rise 1.4%: The number of university applicants was up 1.4% this year, raising fears that more students will miss out on a place.

School dress code ‘to deter paedophiles’: Parents have been advised not to allow their children to go to school in short skirts and tight trousers because of fears they could be targeted by paedophiles.

Three in 10 UK children ‘own no books’: Three in 10 children in the UK do not own a single book of their own, with alarming implications for their future prospects, according to new research. The survey by the National Literacy Trust also shows that boys are less likely to own books than girls.

Student outrage over ‘impossible’ A-level maths exam: Students are demanding a second chance at an A-level exam after being set an “impossible” question. Board says sorry for impossible maths question: OCR said students will not be unfairly disadvantaged by mistake, amid fears it could affect their chances of getting into university

Thousands of children ‘not ready for school’ at five: Up to half of five-year-olds are not ready for school as working parents increasingly abandon traditional games, nursery rhymes, bedtime stories and lullabies, according to research.

Brian Blessed to run for Cambridge University chancellor: Brian Blessed has announced he will stand as a candidate to become the chancellor of Cambridge University.

Divorce hits children’s maths results - but not their reading: Children of divorced parents tend to do worse at maths than those whose mother and father stay together, a study has found.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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RE:Act

Friday 3rd Jun, 2011 by Amy Stock

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Follow this link to join the campaign to save RE

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Education & schools work update

Thursday 26th May, 2011 by Chris Kidd

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, Other, Blog

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

British Crime Survey finds one in five children frightened by bullies: Nine out of 10 report bullying taking place at school in the past year, with boys aged 10 to 12 the most likely victims.

Education spending in UK reaches £87bn: Public spending on education and training has more than doubled in the last 20 years, according to the latest Social Trends study, published by the Office for National Statistics.

Help with homework part of the curriculum: Parents will be expected to spend more time helping their children with schoolwork under plans to extend the reach of the national curriculum beyond the classroom and into the home.

Creationism ‘banned from free schools’: Creationism, intelligent design and other theories that contradict evolution are to be banned from being taught as science in free schools.

Children growing weaker as computers replace outdoor activity: Modern life is ‘producing a generation of weaklings’, claims research as physical strength declines in 10-year-olds. Children are becoming weaker, less muscular and unable to do physical tasks that previous generations found simple, research has revealed.

Labour ‘failure’ blamed as truancy rate hits record high: More than 64,000 pupils skipped school every day last year as truancy rates hit a record high.

Warning over drop in GCSE and A-level entries: GCSEs and A-levels are in decline as more teenagers turn to practical courses in subjects such as food safety, sports coaching and health, official figures show.

Give children feedback to improve standards in school, says new guide: Forget school uniforms and streaming by ability: schools will raise standards if they focus on giving children effective feedback. New guidance developed by academics at Durham University shows what works and what doesn’t to improve exam performance. Reducing class sizes and setting homework for primary school children are among the least effective ways to raise standards, the research finds.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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Art in Heaven Competition

Monday 23rd May, 2011 by Amy Stock

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Engaging students with big questions of faith is made incredibly interesting by using art. Whether you consider yourself an ‘arty’ person or not at all, I challenge you to take a look at this competition and as you look think about some of the students you know who could have fun taking part in this.

A Powerpoint presentation with images and information for you to use in schools can be downloaded here.

A PDF with competition details and themes can be downloaded here.

Visit the Spirited Arts website for more and to see entries and winners from previous years.

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Why spiritual development matters in school today more than ever…

Monday 23rd May, 2011 by Amy Stock

Categories: Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

A one day conference on developing and delivering spiritual and moral development in secondary schools. A day where some of your questions will be answered, and more will be opened up.

- What impact could this have on my school?

- What resources are available?

- What have other professionals discovered?

- Do students really care about spiritual and moral development?

TUESDAY, 28TH JUNE, £35. Includes lunch, refreshments and a goody bag full of resources.

This is a perfect opportunity to invite R.E. staff from your schools and to come along either on your own or with others from your team. The day will be relevant to all those who work to engage students of all ages with moral and spiritual development in schools. With inspirational speakers including the hugely respected RE Advisor Lat Blaylock, this really should be in every schools worker’s and RE teacher’s diary.

PLUS, the conference includes a goody bag full of must have resources for your schools work including your very own free pack of schoolswork.co.uk playing cards! There will also be an opportunity to buy other schoolswork.co.uk resources at our conference discounted prices.

To ensure your place, book online here today. If you have any questions, please get in touch with .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), the conference administrator, as soon as possible!

Tags: conference, smsc

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STOP PRESS!! Event this Friday…

Monday 23rd May, 2011 by Amy Stock

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, Blog

Wow, how did half term nearly get here already?!! I hope these few weeks after the Easter holidays have been full of fantastic opportunities for you in schools. It would be so great to get a snap-shot of different stories of input to schools happening around the UK every day in different ways…we’re hoping to enable that soon and find easy ways for you to access stories and upload your own. For now, here is an opportunity to meet with other schools workers and be inspired by a treat day for you just before half term, this Friday.

Download the flyer here, it has all you need to know.

As the conference is this Friday, please email admin@streamwork.org.uk as soon as you can if you plan on attending. At just £10 for the day including great coffee, delicious lunch and a day of inspirational input that could influence your schools work opportunities, I’m not sure how this can’t be something worth dropping whatever might be in your diary this week!

Feel free to ask any questions or phone 01582 748964 for more info. Hope to see you there!

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Dear Sacred Space day - sounds great but there has been too late notice -I have 25 young people from the USA coming to share how their faith impacts on their decisions to 7 different groups in the academy that day - so, it is important and can’t change the date.  Any chance of a 3 month heads up?

1

By REvd. April Keech on Monday 23rd May, 2011

ohh i’m going to this- see you there!

2

By Louise on Wednesday 25th May, 2011

its usually always the friday before may and october half term

3

By Louise on Monday 6th Jun, 2011

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Education & schools work update

Thursday 12th May, 2011 by Chris Kidd

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, Other, Blog

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

Church of England to reduce school places for Christians: The Church of England is planning to put a strict limit on the number of places reserved for pupils from Christian families as part of the biggest shake-up of faith schools’ admissions policies for decades.

School chaos warning as NUT threaten pensions strike: Millions of children face being turned away from school as teachers prepare for their first national strike in three years.

Teachers ‘considering suicide’ over classroom inspections: Teachers are being driven to the brink of suicide and alcoholism because of the stresses of the job, it was claimed.

Schoolboy given standing ovation from NUT over plea to save grants: Joe Cotton, a 15-year-old schoolboy, turns heads as he attacked the Coalition policy from the podium.

Fewer British pupils in private schools as fees rise: Fewer children are being sent to independent schools after average fees climbed above £13,000 for the first time, it emerged.

Up to 17,000 jobs to go in schools: Schools will have to make up to 17,000 staff redundant as they struggle to cope with budget cuts, headteachers warn.

Nadine Dorries: Teenage girls should be taught how to say no to sex: MPs narrowly pass first reading of Nadine Dorries’ bill to start classes in abstinence for girls aged 13 to 16. Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Nadine Dorries, the MP for Mid Bedfordshire, proposed a bill that would result in classes in abstinence, but only for girls aged 13 to 16.  Nadine Dorries’s abstinence bill is a definite no-no: Dorries wants just girls to be taught how to say no to sex. Sarah Ditum believes such grim sexism is a bad way to prepare children for relationships

11 per cent denied ‘first choice of primary school’: One in nine children is being denied their first choice of primary school, new figures suggest.

David Cameron under pressure to boost religion GCSEs: David Cameron is facing calls to revise exam league tables to ensure that religious education is at the heart of the secondary school curriculum.

Boy wears skirt to school in protest against ‘discrimination’: A 12-year-old boy has worn a skirt to school in protest against ‘‘discriminatory’’ rules which ban boys from wearing shorts.

David Cameron slaps down David Willetts over ‘buying’ uni places scheme: David Cameron was forced to slap down a senior minister after he risked fuelling public anger over tuition fees by suggesting wealthy students could ‘buy’ their way into top universities.

London School of Economics academics narrowly vote in favour of £8,000 fees: The London School of Economics’ academic board, which represents its academic staff, voted by a narrow margin to reject charging the maximum £9,000 tuition fees.  The board voted by 68 to 67 votes against charging £9,000. It voted by 65 to 64 votes in favour of charging £8,000.* This fee would be the lowest in the Russell Group of universities.

 

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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The key story here is about RE GCSE and it is possibly good news that Mr Gove may come under pressure from above: Cameron, Warsi and Pickles might be my unusual allies.

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By lat@retoday.org.uk on Monday 16th May, 2011

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Famous?

Thursday 5th May, 2011 by Wendy Swan

Categories: Primary, Blog

I’m looking for a story to illustrate the theme that we don’t always recognise people when we meet them ‘out of context’ or with a new ‘look’, until they do or say something that gives them away - as with the men on the road to Emmaus who knew Jesus when he broke the bread and gave thanks

Tags: primary, jesus, stories, assemblies, emmaus

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Hi Wendy, hope it’s not too late?

This story is a few years old but it does relate to your theme:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html

Or this one about my friend meeting Matt Damon in a coffee shop in London:
http://thediaryofanunknownactress.blogspot.com/2011/05/huge-bus.html

Hope that helps
Rach

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By Orison on Saturday 14th May, 2011

Thanks Rach, great stories!

2

By Wendy Swan on Monday 16th May, 2011

Interesting to think about why the couple on the Emmaus road didn’t recognise Jesus. Was he looking different? Did he hide in a cloak (as in Miracle Maker)? Were they unable to imagine it was the dead man? I think one key to the significance of the story is eucharistic (he was known in the breaking of bread), and another is in the idea of presence, known or unknown.

I have a guided story script on the story if you’d like it

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By lat@retoday.org.uk on Monday 16th May, 2011

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Social Skills Group

Wednesday 27th Apr, 2011 by Craig Mullen

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Hi all,

I’ve been asked to run this group to encourage students who struggle to engage in school with other students and develop ways in which we can help them see how they can adapt their behaviour. I’m aware that I could use some material and adapt it from other group setting, but I was wondering if anybody has done a group or individual work and has got some ideas?

Tags: social skills, groups

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I have used games from the SEAL website for primary kids to encourage working together and empathising with others.

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By steph on Thursday 5th May, 2011

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Education & schools work update

Wednesday 20th Apr, 2011 by Chris Kidd

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, Other, Blog

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

Schools ‘inflating GCSE results with easy courses’: The extent to which schools are inflating their results with “easier” vocational qualifications is laid bare in damning new figures.

We must teach our children to love books again: The love of reading is being stifled by a constricted exam system and a can’t-do culture, argues Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Boris Johnson calls on Gove to have a rethink on EMAs: London mayor becomes most senior Tory figure to speak out against cut after voicing his concern on Question Time.  The mayor said he fears young Londoners from low-income backgrounds could drop out of education altogether and see their life chances “radically diminished” as a result of a cut in funding.

US TV shows fuel British boom in school proms: Programmes such as Glee and 90210 responsible for increasing popularity of US-style school-leaving parties, research shows

Ban ‘fat knot’ school ties, says behaviour tsar: Schoolchildren should be forced to do up their top button and wear ties properly in a crackdown on bad behaviour, according to a top Government advisor.

Baby boom sparks record shortage of primary school places: Hundreds of extra primary school places are needed in highly-populated parts of England; in Essex, Bristol, Leeds and parts of London, hundreds of extra places are needed, a poll of 17 councils found.

A-level subjects to disappear as school budgets are cut by 20 per cent: Headteachers are drawing up plans to cut the number of A-level courses they offer students and increase class sizes in other areas to deal with spending cutbacks.

£9,000 fees ‘seen as status symbols’ for top universities: Universities are increasingly opting for maximum tuition fees for “status” reasons, a vice-chancellor suggested.

Poor children arrive at school feeling ‘tired and hungry’: Growing numbers of children are turning up at school unfit to learn because of crippling poverty, according to research.

Schools ‘refusing to teach yob pupils’ after attacks on staff: Teachers were forced to take industrial action to keep more than a dozen “unteachable” pupils out of the classroom last year.

Two-thirds of universities ‘to charge £9,000 tuition fees’: Two-thirds of universities want to charge maximum tuition fees, it has emerged, as institutions rush towards last-minute price hikes.

All universities to charge undergraduates at least £6,000: Ministers have suffered a major blow to their tuition-fee reforms after the government’s access watchdog revealed that all universities intend to charge at least £6,000 a year.

36,000 face losing place at university because of £9,000 tuition fees: Number of degree places may be cut by a tenth as universities ignore Government’s pleas not to charge maximum fees.

 

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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A Storyteller’s Take on Holy Week

Wednesday 20th Apr, 2011 by Julie Wilkinson

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

I’ve always been fascinated by the hidden spaces in Bible stories - the gaps in the narrative, how people just appear to play their role, then fade away from the action once they’re done.

I started a storyteller’s blog at Christmas, thinking about the genealogy of Jesus, how his ancestors were an important part of who he was.

Since it’s Easter, it seemed a good time to resurrect it, with a more definite storytelling emphasis this time, thinking about the stories of holy week and the spaces inside them.
Why did the man who owned the donkey let Jesus’ disciples take it?
How highly did the widow rate her offering at the temple?
Why were the priests so threatened by Jesus?
What motivated the woman with the perfume to anoint Jesus?

The blog can act as a great resource for a personal or devotional journey through Holy Week but the stories could also act as interesting discussion starters, perhaps providing a new way in to familiar texts.

The blog is available here:
www.thehiddenspaces.blogspot.com

I’d love to know if anyone is doing anything similar or, indeed, anything different creatively with Bible stories!

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Easter Assembly: Bad to Good

Wednesday 6th Apr, 2011 by Jon Jolly

Categories: Secondary, Blog

The following is an Easter assembly for use in secondary schools that has a focus on the cross as a symbol of hope.

Aim:

To explain that Easter is more than chocolate eggs, and to explore the idea that bad things (like a torture implement) can be used for good.

Intro:

Introduce yourself and the theme of the assembly. Explain that Easter is just around the corner, so you are going to be looking at the symbols of the season!

Game: Match the egg

In advance, find out the favourite chocolate egg of three teachers in the school (make sure they are different ones). Buy two of each of those eggs and bring them to the assembly. Ask the three teachers to come up the front and allow students to guess which egg is the favourite of each teacher. When someone guesses correctly, they can have one of those eggs and the teacher may keep the other.

As the last teacher/egg will be very obvious, you may want to include an extra “red herring” egg to make the game more challenging!

Explanation:

Eggs, rabbits and even lambs are symbols of Easter because they represent new life. Christians use these symbols because it helps them to remember Jesus being raised from the dead and having New Life. However the most powerful symbol associated with Easter is actually a piece of torture equipment!

The Cross:

Briefly explain about the use of the cross as a public humiliation and torture for criminals. There is a good explanation on www.allaboutjesuschrist.org here. Take care to assess the level of your audience and not go into too much detail. The following is an edited version from the website:

Crucifixion sometimes began with a scourging or flogging of the victim’s back. The Romans used a whip called a flagrum, which consisted of small pieces of bone and metal attached to a number of leather strands. After the flogging, the victim was often forced to carry his own crossbar, or patibulum, to the execution site.

Once the victim arrived at the execution site, the patibulum was put on the ground and the victim was forced to lie upon it and spikes about 7 inches long were driven into the wrists. The patibulum was then lifted on to the upright post, or stipes, and the victim’s body was awkwardly turned on the seat so that the feet could be nailed to the stipes.  The position of the nailed body held the victim’s rib cage in a fixed position, which made it extremely difficult to exhale, and impossible to take a full breath.

Ultimately, the mechanism of death in crucifixion was suffocation. To breathe, the victim was forced to push up on his feet to allow for inflation of the lungs. As the body weakened and pain in the feet and legs became unbearable, the victim was forced to trade breathing for pain and exhaustion. Eventually, the victim would succumb in this way, becoming utterly exhausted or lapsing into unconsciousness so that he could no longer lift his body off the stipes and inflate his lungs.

You can read more about the various medical effects of Jesus’ crucifixion on Wikipedia.

Tell the audience that the cross is a symbol of pain, torture and death. Yet what should be a terrible and scary thing, now gives hope to millions! Something bad has become something good.

Philip Lawrence:

Change the atmosphere by telling the story of head teacher Philip Lawrence. Mr Lawrence was tragically stabbed outside his school in 1995 when going to the aid of a pupil who was being attacked. He later died in hospital.  However, 2 years after his death, his family started the Philip Lawrence Awards in his memory to reward outstanding achievements in good citizenship by young people aged 11 to 20. Every year they recognise contributions to the community which bring out the best in young people, empower them to take the initiative and make a real difference to their lives and the lives of others – building confidence, promoting safety and reducing crime.

You can read more about the Philip Lawrence Awards at philiplawrenceawards.net.

Out of something bad, something good has happened!

Explanation:

In 66 books, hundreds of stories, poems and thoughts, the bible is one long theme of how something bad became something good. The cross is the main symbol of that hope.

Most historians agree that there was a man called Jesus who lived and was killed around 2000 years ago. Christians believe that Jesus was killed for everyone. He died and rose again bringing new life. He took on death and said that we can live because He died.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8

Reflection:

Ask these questions as an end to the assembly. Challenge the young people to think about their own response to the symbol of the cross.

 
• Have you ever experienced something bad turn into something good?
 
• Do you think death can turn into life?
 
• What does the symbol of the cross mean to you?

Image Credit: peasap on Flickr

Cross-posted on my blog at jonjolly.com

• Easter assemblies and activities
• Easter Assembly Resource
• Easter Cracked
• Easter Ideas
• Easter resource

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this is great - thank you Amy.
I like the way that you have linked Jesus’ death to stories of sacrifice like the mazing Philip Lawrence

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By lat@retoday.org.uk on Monday 11th Apr, 2011

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A christian opinion on stem cell & embryo research?

Wednesday 6th Apr, 2011 by Paul Harris

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Hi,

I have a question & answer lesson with year 10’s coming up and they have asked for a christian perspective on stem cell and embryo research. Does anyone know much about them? Does anyone know what are the main things that need to be considered?

Any help would be gratefully received!

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I’m no biologist here, but the RE GCSE syllabuses like to put the hot new ‘sanctity of life’ issues into the exams. My best strategy for dealing with this is to create a very personalised scenario that points up the ethical issues and choices. Get a pupil who is confident to volunteer to answer this:
“Imagine you are 39. You work in a research lab. At the lab, another project on embryo research has been using human embryos, according to the law, to try and develop better fertility treatments, with some success. You have never got involved, and perhaps that is because you feel uneasy about experimenting on human embryos, even tiny ones, that are under 12 days conceived. It feels wrong to ‘breed’ an embryo, do an experiment then snuff out the potential new life.

In your personal life, you and your partner (also 39) have been trying for a first baby for ages, but with no success. One day, in the course of your work, you make a breakthrough, and you realise it might be just what you need to make your own wish to be a parent come true. The breakthrough could only be confirmed by further human embryo experiments. You and your partner talk: is it right to use embryos for research?

Ask your volunteer to choose someone in the class to paly the role of their partner and role play the conversation. Ask others in the class to write their advice anonymously. Collect the advice, and read out some examples. Take it from there. 

A lesson on this topic iin RE needs a spiritual focus: I’d ask ‘Is life a gift, to be received with thanks, or an accident, to be palyed around with, or a mystery?’ Note that Roman Catholic teaching is very cautious about this kind of issue, but liberal Christians might say ‘Great: God gives us the brains to make life better and solve problems’ Christian answers not clear cut.

Cheers
Lat

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By lat@retoday.org.uk on Wednesday 13th Apr, 2011

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Ideas for running a schools week

Tuesday 5th Apr, 2011 by josmith

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

We have recently started working in a local senior school and have been given the opportunity of running a schools week in May. Has anyone got any ideas, plans resources that they have used that could help us. The school will never have had anything like this before so we are very conscious that we have to do it well.

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Hi

I was involved in something last autumn which went really well. Probably difficult to replicate next months but there are versions available. Do e-mail if you’d like to know more. We called it CAW - Christianity Awareness Week -  best week I’ve ever had in schools!!!

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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By Wayne Dixon on Wednesday 6th Apr, 2011

if you chat to the folk at n:flame in north London, they have been running a few in Haringey in the last few years - Andie will have some good stuff and maybe ideas you can use

2

By roy on Friday 8th Apr, 2011

This has great potential for high imapact and good learning. I think you need to work on making it interactive and creative for the students who get involved, so alongside whatever you want to make it, I’d suggest it is a ‘listening week’ and a ‘games week’ in which you energise the students to be articulate, argumentative, reflective and self aware. Do you have a theme for the week?

I’ve got some rersources that will do this - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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By lat@retoday.org.uk on Wednesday 13th Apr, 2011

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Easter Cracked

Tuesday 5th Apr, 2011 by Wayne Dixon

Categories: Primary, Blog

Easter Cracked is an initiative I first got involved with 17 years ago - we’ve just had our week and had such a GREAT time. What I love about it is not just those schools who come to us (this time we had 10 schools, 500 year 6 pupils in one church over 9 sessions). It’s not just the great feedback we get from pupils and staff who come (see below) but the biggest encouragement is when visitors come and say ‘we’d love to do this’. At Christmas people from Langley Free Church came - loved it and didn’t want to wait until Christmas so planned for Easter. They have just done this for 2 schools and it had been very well received.
Interested for next time? Why not check out the website, see the map, come and visit us or one near you, do call or e-mail. Pretty much all the resources are already tried and tested and ready. All you need is a church, some keen people, one primary school (or more) and you are away.

Staff feedback:

“Really enjoyed this session and looking forward to do this again with the other year groups. Thank you very much

“ Very entertaining way of teaching children about Easter, they will retain more with this way of learning”

“Always something new for both children & adults”

Pupil feedback:

“ Even though I am not a Christian I enjoyed it. I thought you did an amazing job and I would love to come back again”

“ I learnt about when Jesus died and came back to life again”

“ I think the Baptist church is a fun place for children to learn”

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Serving the Community / Media Days

Monday 4th Apr, 2011 by Matt Harris

Categories: Secondary, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Hi all,

Been asked to help out a school who are running ICU (collapsed timetable) days for their Year 9s. There are 4 days - Challenge, Service, Activity and Skills (pinched from the DofE methinks!)

We’ve been asked to run two of the days (service and challenge) and have come up with an idea for the young people, in teams, to complete some form of community service on one day and to report on others’ progress on another day using video cameras and editing equipment to come up with a presentation / news report, and producing a form of newspaper describing the day’s events.

There is nothing new under the sun, and to avoid re-inventing the wheel and mixing any more metaphors, I was wondering if anyone had run days similar to either the community day or the media one, or knew of resources that might help in this.

Thanks, you stars!

Tags: lessons, service, media, community, icu days

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I’ve got some experience of these kind of days ~ a lot of hard work, and a lot of fun, and I think it’s really good to inject the language of the spiritual into the work. Are you going to give them a spiritual challenge, and and opportunity for spiritual service? Hope so.

Give them some real high impact examples of what others have done - Damaris are a source for this through the global student forum. I’ve got some interesting case studies as well, expecially the Maputo Tree of Life project (contact me if you want more on this). Your idea sounds great - students will really warm to it. Where have all the video cams come from - is it a phone based project?

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By lat@retoday.org.uk on Wednesday 13th Apr, 2011

also check out crux media, YFC’s media and film team… they’re great! http://media.thecrux.co.uk/

2

By beth on Monday 2nd May, 2011

Thanks for the feedback on this - the school changed the goalposts at the last minute and we ended up having to put together a Team Challenge day. It went OK. :)

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By Matt Harris on Tuesday 24th May, 2011

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Education & schools work update

Wednesday 30th Mar, 2011 by Chris Kidd

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, Other, Blog

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

 
• Pupils sent home early in cost-cutting drive: Children at a comprehensive school are to become first in the country to be sent home early every Friday in an attempt to save money.
 
• Children bored by ‘tedious’ maths lessons: Thousands of children are being turned off maths and science at school because of “tedious” lessons, according to one of the world’s top physicists.
 
• Universities ‘to charge average £8,600 tuition fees’: Average university tuition fees will soar to £8,600 a year under the Coalition’s higher education reforms, according to research.
 
• Students ‘put off university by fee hikes’: At least 45,000 students will be driven out of higher education because of rising tuition fees, according to research.
 
• Gove’s bursary plan ‘is a shambles’: Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, was accused of presiding over a “shambles” after he announced a £180m bursary scheme to help the poorest teenagers to continue their studies after 16. The fund will replace the £560m Education Maintenance Allowance, which was controversially scrapped last year.
 
• Primary school truancy rate hits record high: At least 22,600 primary school children skipped school every day last year as truancy rates hit a record high.
 
• Children’s laureate damns Michael Gove’s ‘arbitrary’ reading plan: Anthony Browne is latest critic of the proposed campaign for children to read 50 books a year.
 
• Top teachers for deprived schools: A programme designed to address the link between poverty and low academic achievement is to be introduced in struggling primary schools.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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Memorial Service

Wednesday 30th Mar, 2011 by BeckieP

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

One of our head teachers died a few weeks ago and the school have asked me to do a short talk at the memorial service this Friday.
I’ve been asked to make it fun and reflective…and may be add the Easter message!!
So far we have got a tree and students will add leaves with their memories of the head.
Now I’m stuck.  Any ideas would be gratefully receIved.  Its from reception to yr11 but some family will be there who couldn’t make the funeral!

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Easter lesson for year 6 children

Tuesday 29th Mar, 2011 by Abi

Categories: Primary, Blog

I’ve been asked to take a lesson on Easter for some challenging year 6 children, any ideas? 30 kids, lesson to be 30/45 minutes long

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Hi Abi, did you see this lesson?: http://www.schoolswork.co.uk/resourcetoolkit/entry/easter-emotions1/. That would work well with year 6, although would need a lot of tightening up for a challenging group with such a short amount of time. Maybe take one element from that, or check out this site for inspiration: http://www.easterjourney.org.uk/.
Another fantastic resource is ‘Picturing Easter’ from RE Today: http://shop.retoday.org.uk/9781905893041

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By Amy Stock on Tuesday 29th Mar, 2011

We have just been doing some year 6 lessons looking at the biiger picture.  Below is our lesson plan, feel free to use parts and adapt it.

Drama: A fun drama to get them thinking why Easter needed to happen.
Ask for two volunteers, one girl and one boy.
•  In front of the girl have 3 props; a beard, a mobile phone and a box of tissues.
•  In front of the boy have 3 props; a large leaf, a mobile phone and a water pistol.
•  The girl represents God, and the boy represents humankind.  Ask each to pick one of the props which best represents their character.  (The girl needs the beard and the boy the leaf).
•  It’s the beginning of time and Humankind is in the garden of Eden and God is looking at His great creation, Humankind and God are great friends, they shake each other’s hands and perhaps hug, they walk around the garden of Eden together, and because we believe God is with the times Him and humankind may be texting each other (mobile phone), sending pictures to each other of the garden of Eden and talk on their phones.
•  Then one day humankind turns his back on God, he starts to do bad things to others which hurt them (water pistol), and he also starts to hurt himself.
•  This makes God really sad (tissues), God is really upset and is crying.
•  FREEZE, humankind has created a barrier between him and God stopping them from having that great friendship.
•  Hold the large sheet of paper in between and ask for the class to think of bad things, sin that we may all do which would put a barrier between God and humankind.
•  Back to God; God came up with a way to deal with all the bad stuff that humankind had done, so He came to earth as a baby boy (Take beard off) and grew up as a carpenter until later He died on a cross, He had nails put into His wrists and feet and was hung to die an excruciating death, a death which took all those bad things with Him when He died, allowing humankind to have a clean slate and able to choose a friendship again.
•  Jesus dive bombs through paper and can shake hands with humankind.
•  The end.

-Overview of the Easter Story.

-Easter Headline.
Ask students to come up with a catchy and creative headline picking up on a part of the Easter story.
More able students might want to write a short article and add a picture.

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By BeckieP on Wednesday 30th Mar, 2011

Lopved the sound of this lesson Beckie. If you fancy publishing it in RE Today, I’d be interested. Let me know.

Cheers

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By lat@retoday.org.uk on Wednesday 13th Apr, 2011

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Education & schools work update

Tuesday 22nd Mar, 2011 by Chris Kidd

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, Blog

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

Graduates ‘to pay back double’ on loans: Graduates could be forced to pay back double their original student loans under the new fees system in England.

80,000 children denied place at first choice secondary school: One in three children in London was denied a place at their first choice secondary school this year, as almost 80,000 pupils across the country missed out.

First News helps children to read: Teachers believe that the weekly newspaper First News is improving children’s literacy. A survey of 735 schoolteachers found that 87% of their pupils are more likely to read if they have access to the paper.

Brightest pupils may be allowed to skip GCSE and start A-levels early: Michael Gove is considering plans to allow the brightest pupils to skip GCSEs and start studying for A-levels at 14.  The education secretary wants to encourage schools to fast-track their cleverest students on to the most taxing courses as soon as they are ready. At the moment a school would fall down the league tables if some of its brightest pupils did not take GCSEs.

European Court of Human Rights rules crucifixes are allowed in state schools: The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that crucifixes are acceptable in the continent’s state school classrooms, describing them as an “essentially passive symbol” with no obvious religious influence. In its judgment, handed down in Strasbourg, the court found that while the crucifix was “above all a religious symbol” there was no evidence that its display on classroom walls might have an influence on pupils.

Michael Gove: schools should be ranked by number of pupils getting degrees: Schools could be ranked by the number of pupils gaining university degrees under Coalition plans to drive up education standards.

Religious leaders are out of touch with issues of sexuality, survey reveals: Results also indicate young people are finding it difficult to combine their religion with their sexuality.

Free schools will not teach creationism, says Department for Education: The Department for Education has said Michael Gove is “crystal clear that teaching creationism is at odds with scientific fact” after a warning that the government’s new free schools could be exploited by churches looking to promote a literal interpretation of the Bible.

Children ‘should read 50 books a year’, says Gove: Children as young as 11 should be expected to read 50 books a year as part of a national drive to improve literacy standards, according to Michael Gove. But authors raise doubts over Gove’s 50-book challenge.

Number of foreign students to be cut by 25%: The number of foreign students and their dependants coming to Britain could be cut by around 100,000 a year under plans unveiled by the government.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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Education & schools work update

Thursday 17th Mar, 2011 by Chris Kidd

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Blog

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

Parents to get budgets to spend on special needs children: Parents will be given a personal budget to spend on services such as home-based education and equipment including laptops and wheelchairs for their children with special education needs, under proposals intended to give greater control to families.  But campaigners warn that cuts to council budgets will sharply reduce the services available for parents to choose from.

Ofsted: standards slide at quarter of schools: Almost a quarter of schools are getting worse as tough new Government inspections expose falling standards, figures suggest.

Archbishop: omission of RE from English Baccalaureate ‘indefensible’: The Archbishop of Westminster has attacked decision over RE.

History ‘marginalised’ in schools, says Ofsted: Children’s understanding of the past is being undermined by poor history teaching and crowded timetables, Government inspectors warned

Parents who shun fairytales ‘miss chance to teach children morality’: Politically correct parents who shun traditional fairy tales are missing the chance to teach their children right from wrong, an education expert claims.

Girls are smarter than boys when it comes to spending at university – survey finds: The Student Loans Company said that, on average, girls spend nearly £1,500 less than boys every year at university. Beer is the biggest difference - with boys clocking up £76 a month in pubs and clubs compared to £46 spent by girls. They also spend much more heavily on food (£76 compared to £60)  every month, and twice as much on sports (£25 versus £14). The survey debunks a number of gender stereotypes around spending,  revealing that on average males at university spend £34 a month on clothes compared to the £31 spent by females. They also spend more on restaurants - £37 a month compared to £29, and more on their phones, £29 compared to £22. But the SLC says that part of the reason why females spend less than males at college is that they are often better at shopping around for the best deals on a range of goods from gas and electricity to phones and broadband.

State school pupils ‘being put in for soft A-level options’: Thousands of state school pupils are being put in for “soft” options at A-level to boost their school’s league table ranking.

England’s newer universities face biggest cuts as teaching budgets slashed: Official figures show £940m cuts will target teaching colleges.  All but five universities in England are to have their funding cut next year, according to official figures, which show that newer universities focused on teaching will be worst affected.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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Schools and the Spiritual Conference

Friday 11th Mar, 2011 by Jane Malcolm

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Schools and the Spiritual is a one day conference on developing and delivering spiritual and moral development in secondary schools. With Lat Blaylock from REtoday the conference will explore why spiritual development matters in schools today more than ever alongside offering the chance to experience tried and tested resources that can be used in your school.

To find out more please follow the link below

http://www.lcet.org/chaplaincy_work/schools_and_the_spiritual

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Lent Assembly/Lesson idea: Are We Equals?

Friday 11th Mar, 2011 by Paul Tilley

Categories: Secondary, 16+, Blog

Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Day, Pancake Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, and Mardi Gras) this year was also International Woman’s day 100 year anniversary.  So as we enter Lent maybe a question we could ask is ‘are we equals’?  So I put this school assembly together that I’m doing next week, asking people to challenge inequality for lent!

1) I start by saying it’s Lent and on pancake day it was also the 100th anniversary of IWD
In celebration I’m going to tell a story (cue PowerPoint http://www.slideshare.net/paulmtilley/are-we-equal-assembly )

2) I then show the film from weareequals.org http://youtu.be/gkp4t5NYzVM :

3) I then talk about Jesus confronting racism and sexism with the woman at the well. Being a rabbi and talking to a Samaritan woman was beyond the pale.  I talk about my family and how I want them to grow up in a equal world.  I finish by challenging them over Lent to think about how they talk about (other) women, do they add to/or challenge inequality.

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I saw the above we are equals film the other day and was thinking about how it would be included in assembly, this looks like a fab example, thanks!

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By EMs on Wednesday 16th Mar, 2011

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Celebrating RE

Tuesday 1st Mar, 2011 by Amy Stock

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Blog, Curricular, Lessons

March is the month to celebrate Religious Education. Here’s an opportunity to talk about why it can be such a key subject for a student’s education and to explore ways to help students engage with and learn about different faiths in a creative and inspiring way.

First of all, if you haven’t signed the petition yet to say that you are concerned about RE being missed out of the new English Baccalaureate, click here to add your name: http://www.reactcampaign.co.uk/

Below are a collection of links to point you to some great websites for approaching RE creatively. Do you have links you’d like to share or stories to tell?

LINKS:
CelebratingRE Twitter
CelebratingRE website (includes a bunch of ideas and resources within the site specifically for this month)
REToday
Breathe
rejesus.co.uk

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400th Anniversary of KIng James Version of the Bible

Monday 28th Feb, 2011 by josmith

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

As a youth worker I work in a large senior school 2 days a week. The school are wanting to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible and I have been asked to do an RE lesson on the relevance of the Bible today for the Year 7s. Has anyone done anything similar? Could anyone suggest any resources? They are hoping that it will be a creative lesson.

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You could do the lesson around blowing the myths, showing that the bible isn’t boring and irrelevant. You could tell the story of Ehud and the King from Judges 3:12-30, it’s pretty gross but they’ll love it!

1

By diddle_19 on Monday 28th Feb, 2011

Could you work with the students to rewrite some of Jesus’ parables - put them into a modern setting? Thinking about how they were told to reflect life at the time but the principles they hold remain the same and are relevant today. There are some good short films on Proost’s website (http://www.proost.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=30) which are re-tellings of the parables.
When I lead assemblies, I usually tell an anecdote from my own life alongside a Bible story, then draw out the link - also a good way to show how it’s relevant today. Perhaps you could choose a Bible story (or a few - depending how long you’ve got), tell it and a story from your own life, then get them to think of incidences from their lives or those of people they know that contain parallels?

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By Julie Wilkinson on Monday 28th Feb, 2011

first idea would be to get someone local who loves the Bible, knows it and has had their life changed utterly by it to go with you for an interview!

second, i had a conversation with a teacher today who said she had just been on a course with some great resources - i can try and findout what they are for you if you like?

third, i would just tell some of the stories because thre is nothing like them! Rob Bell once said that we shy away from telling the stories of the Bible too much - that if the Bible were a movie most Christians wouldn’t go and see it! so… i would tell stories, do some acting, draw out the meaning and point it all to Jesus!

:)

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By matt rushby on Monday 28th Feb, 2011

Here’s a comment from Matt Harris:
“Jo, if you haven’t tried already, look at the Urban Saints’ ‘Energize’ website (http://www.energize.uk.net/). They have a lot of session plans that can be easily adapted for the school setting.
Other resources that might give you inspiration are:
http://bible.exploreforschools.co.uk/
http://www.reonline.org.uk/ks3/topiclist.php?3-288
http://www.reonline.org.uk/ks3/topiclist.php?3-278
http://bristoldiocesecyp.org/index.php/schools/re/item/84-king-james-bible-400th-anniversary-ideas
Hope that helps. :)”

4

By Amy Stock on Monday 28th Feb, 2011

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changemakers

Thursday 24th Feb, 2011 by emtron

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Great for a discussion starter.

Amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uZV90fsoCY&feature=player_embedded

Tags: poverty, change, responsibility, history

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You Paid How Much For That?

Thursday 17th Feb, 2011 by James Farmer

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Blog

Here’s a link to a great article about some of the world’s record-breaking buys, found on the MSN site - could be a great start for a discussion or a session on wealth and materialism etc….

£4m bed with 24ct gold
£29m pink diamond ring sold at Sotherby’s
£293k bottle of 64-year old single malt whisky
£2.2m diamond encrusted bottle of tequila
£5m gold-plated iPhone with 500 diamonds
£41.4m wedding which lasted 6 days
£20m car, a one-of-three-only Classic Bugatti
£1.6m 3-shilling stamp from 1855
£690m 27-storey Mumbai mansion
£961.00 chocolate bar: Wispa Gold
£1.2k bottle of Imperial Majesty perfume
£325k Tibetan Mastiff puppy bought in China
£2.7m cake decorated with 2,006 diamonds
£1k recipe book featuring 35 UK Chefs

The article with images for each item can be found at:
http://money.uk.msn.com/news/rich-lists/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=155300735

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Great link, thanks James! Slightly speechless at the £5m iPhone…would be good to do some comparisons about what that money could do in other areas of the world/your own town. Encourage students to dream about what that money could do to make their school/town better.

1

By Amy Stock on Thursday 17th Feb, 2011

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A Great Storyteller

Wednesday 16th Feb, 2011 by emtron

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Last nights lecture by Morpurgo is a great insight into the lives of children, and the importance of media.

Working in tv, I’ve often heard people talking about tv for children as if it’s something you do before you progress to ‘grown up’ tv…real tv. SOmetimes the same is said of stories, of books for children.

I totally disagree.  This lecture weaves in stories of real children, children based on those that Morpurgo has met and discusses the reason he tackles these stories.

Well worth a watch

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ymf57/The_Richard_Dimbleby_Lecture_15_02_2011/

Tags: stories, change, children, issues, importance, michael morpurgo

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Leaving Care - understanding young the story

Wednesday 16th Feb, 2011 by emtron

Categories: Secondary, 16+, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

My mum used to work in residential care homes for children, I can remember running around 30 years ago playing with the children who lived there. I lived with my mum and dad, they lived there, but there home just felt visiting another family.

Then almost 20 years ago, my mum wanted to foster my friend, but couldn’t - wrong colour skin, and awareness of my friends culture (same as my dad’s) didn’t count.

And me, I’ve worked with care experienced young people, and have been researching care for the last couple of years. So it’s good to read something authentic that care experienced teenagers can relate to too.

To me, I’ve been aware of homes and fostering and stuff that goes with it, but what about those for whom they want to know more about.

I’ve just read a book called ‘Control Freak’ by author Henrietta Bond.She’s had a lot of experience with looked after young people as she used to be press officer for BAAF (Brtitish Association for Adoption and Fostering) and has worked with other big organsiations including A National Voice and the Fostering Network.

The book feels real. The way it’s written sounds real. It sounds like bits of conversations I’ve had over the years with young people carving their way in the world. The capable ones, starting something new, but realising how many plans you have, things might not work out the way you thought they should.

I’d recommend it as a read, and the interview with care experienced young people talking to the author is worth listening to as well.

The book does have a recommendation for 13+ though, so be aware that it contains themes and scenes unsuitable for younger readers.

It’s interesting and insightful into young lives.

Tags: care, fostering, care home, looked after, college, looked after children

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Bullying and peer pressure lesson

Tuesday 15th Feb, 2011 by shep

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

I am taking 8 lessons with Yr 8 on the topic of peer pressure and bullying (both topics in same lesson)
Does anyone have any tried and tested ideas? The students are taught in same sex lessons. The lessons are part of a unit called Body Image and Self-Concept
Thanks

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Treat Someone Special…

Monday 14th Feb, 2011 by Amy Stock

Categories: Secondary, 16+, Blog

The 14th February. A date that can bring with it a sense of anticipation and expectancy, despair and rejection or maybe for some of us a sense of ‘I couldn’t really care less.’

A collaboration between Share Creative, Care and Stop the Traffik is this year illuminating a new way of looking at Valentine’s Day. Here is a quote from the Treat Someone Special website: 

Heart-shaped confetti? Hand-crafted chocolates? However you choose to celebrate it, Valentine’s Day is on its way! It’s the one time of year we all have an excuse to show everyone how much we value them. But for 27 million people across the world it’s a different story. These people are trapped in slavery, unloved, with a price on their heads but treated as worthless.

Human Trafficking is a multi-billion pound industry happening right now, in our world, and in our cities.

This modern-day slave trade is all around us. From the clothes we wear, the food we eat and the phone we use to the people we walk by every day.

It’s Valentine’s Day. It’s a day about love. Everyone deserves to be treated as that special someone – not as a commodity to be bought and sold. Let’s use this day to show the real value of people. Let’s use it to call for an end to human trafficking.

See their website here for how you can get involved: http://www.treatsomeonespecial.com/

Also see the Facebook page ‘Special Someone’, and you will see that they have extended the deadline for Valentine’s Cards to be sent to David Cameron by an extra week, so there’s still time to get yours in! Why not feature this in a group this week with your students or young people.

 

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Education & schools work update

Saturday 5th Feb, 2011 by Chris Kidd

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Blog

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

Michael Gove condemns charities’ ‘don’t touch’ warning to teachers: The education secretary said telling teachers to avoid physical contact with students was ‘playing to a culture of fear’

GCSE league tables: thousands of pupils failing in key subjects: Up to 500,000 teenagers are leaving school without a decent grasp of   traditional academic subjects, league tables show.

Head urges parents to apply for free meals: Parents who fail to claim for free school meals for their children, despite being eligible for them, are being urged by a secondary head to apply in order to boost school funding under the new pupil premium scheme announced last month.

The King’s Speech shines light on stammering: Just as The King’s Speech puts a spotlight on children who stammer, services to help them are being cut

‘70% would drop out’ if EMA is scrapped: Seven in 10 poor teenagers would drop out of school if controversial plans to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) go ahead,  research suggests.

National curriculum review: compulsory subjects ‘could be axed’: Compulsory lessons in subjects such as citizenship, IT, music and design and   technology could be axed under a sweeping review of the national curriculum.

Write it don’t type it if you want knowledge to stick: Children and students who write by hand learn better than those who type, a   study shows.

Text messaging ‘improves children’s spelling skills’: Mobile phone text messaging can boost children’s spelling skills, according to   new research.

Ofsted: white boys ‘held back by low expectations’: White working-class boys are falling behind their classmates after being let   down by unambitious teachers, according to the education watchdog.

Mayor caught speeding by local schoolchildren: The Mayor of Doncaster has been caught speeding by children in a police road-safety exercise.

Religion must be in key school exam, insist faith leaders: Bishop of Oxford says anti-Islam protests make the subject essential for the English baccalaureate.  Religious leaders and theologians have condemned the decision to leave religious education off the list of GCSEs that go towards the controversial new English baccalaureate.

Coalition seeks to introduce post-exam university admissions: Can the coalition succeed where Labour failed, to make university admissions follow A-level results?

The Children’s Manifesto of 2001: This is what the school children of Britain wanted back in 2001

Unruly behaviour in schools ‘caused by boring lessons’: Boring lessons are fuelling bad behaviour in the classroom as unruly children   “muck about” to kill time, MPs warned.

Writers speak up over plans to close 450 libraries: Protests against the planned closure of more than 450 library services were staged today. Library users, authors, parents and children took part in   “read-ins” and demonstrations at libraries in South Yorkshire,  Lancashire, Gloucestershire, Dorset and in Oxfordshire, where 20 of the 43 libraries still running are earmarked for withdrawal of funds.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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Storytelling…

Monday 31st Jan, 2011 by Amy Stock

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Blog

In honour of national storytelling week this week, we are putting together a new ‘I Need To’ guide on how to tell a story. To help us with this and to make it more relevant to what you are looking for, it would be great if you could add a comment answering one or all of these questions:

- Why do you tell stories?
- What kinds of stories do you tell?
- What do you need to know about storytelling?

Links…

If you’re looking for information about national storytelling week you can find that here: http://www.sfs.org.uk/

Cafe Credo did the training for our Stories With Significance storytelling training days back in 2008 - http://www.cafecredo.org.uk/

Here is a useful resource site for finding stories: http://www.story-lovers.com/listsofstories.html

No storytelling links list would be complete without including the fabulous Rocky - see his stories on http://www.markroques.com/

RealityBites - Storytelling at its best!

Stories and Songs - using music with a message

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Thought I’d share a story I’m sharing next week in an assembly.

ITS ONLY WORDS…

There is a story of a woman in a tribal town in Africa, this woman was known by everyone in the tribe, everyone would go to her…why? Because she had the most amazing food for sale, it looked so good it was mouthwatering. It looked better than the best of chocolate bars, juicier than any fruit you’ve ever seen, more wonderful than the finest of kings feast, better even than the food in your canteen (!)… but the chief of the tribe, he saw that food and he thought differently.

Now the women who everyone went to her food was not normal food, her food was gossip. You see the words of a gossip are like choice food; it goes down to the inmost part. They look amazing, they taste nice, when gossip is given you have to be strong to not be tempted…and it’s so tasty people hide it and sneak it around and pretend it’s something else. But as I said, this Chief he knew better. He knew that a gossip in the community would eventually bring confusion and distrust, he knew really the good food was riddled with disease. Because this chief was good and loved his community and wanted the best for them and for this woman, he called her in.

The woman was came into his tribal hut. She looked to his fireplace…the chief asked “why do you suppose the fire doesn’t burn” “there is no wood there, nothing to burn” she replied. The Chief took a block of wood and held it “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down”. Now the woman was very scared, she knew she’d been caught out, ‘without a gossip’ what did he mean?

The chief handed her 3 sacks full of feathers, he told her that as a punishment she had to go around the town and further and get rid of these feathers. She could do it however she wanted but she had to get rid of ALL the feathers, not one could remain in a sack. Now the woman didn’t understand how this was a punishment, but was glad it wasn’t harsher, so got to work giving out these feathers…

…she got to the end of the first bag and was exhausted so shimmied up a tree with the second bag and watched as the feathers fell like snow all over the town! Inspired she set off down to the water and giggled as she watched all the feathers float out, even as far as to the next town. This punishment seemed to be fun.

Happy that she had no feathers left, she wandered back to the Chief’s hut to find him outside it smiling. She obviously had done a good job. He motioned to her to come sit with him. As she sat down with the empty bags, happy she had been punished and ready to soak up more gossip to give out, the chief said “wait, now I need you to go pick up all the feathers that you have given out, every single one I want none left out” “how can I do such a thing?” the women cried. “That’s almost impossible some have been carried on the water and in the wind.” “Exactly he said “and every time you gossiped your words were like the feathers. Very easy to give out but very hard to take back”

1

By Louise on Wednesday 9th Feb, 2011

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Running a lesson on choices

Monday 24th Jan, 2011 by steven mitchell

Categories: Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

I’ve been asked to prepare a lesson that explores the different choices that young people make and for them to think more about the consequences of those choices.

It will be given to those between 14 and 17 years old.

Any creative ideas?

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2 pictures: one of a successful businessman/woman, another of a homeless man/woman. Each group/pair must create a story (perhaps in storyboard form?) for each of these people’s history up to the present day (the pictures are present day).
Get them to think about the decisions that these people would have made,(perhaps the story is built around these decisions you give?) such as GCSE choices, friendships, part time job, parties etc etc challenge stereotypes or thoughts that homeless/successful people just ‘appear’ as if by magic.

at the end ask if it was one big or many little choices that led to the persons present.
perhaps add in ‘if x had happened when they were 14 how may have this changed the story?’
If possible use pictures of people who actually exist and you can tell their story.
Highlight that other peoples actions also have an impact on our choices (steve redgrave’s rowing teacher story?)
who does the group have who they let influence their choices?
whose choices do they influence (ie be careful with your words, encourage dont put down)?

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By EMs on Monday 24th Jan, 2011

Great lesson idea, I’ll keep that in mind for future lessons myself.  Loving this blog area, so many great ideas.  Thanks schoolswork.co.uk

2

By Wendy Swan on Wednesday 26th Jan, 2011

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Flushed Away

Monday 24th Jan, 2011 by Louise

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Recently God has opened up doors into a secondary school to take assemblies. I thought this time I’d take inspiration from my Dodo Diary and from Youthwork Magazine. My diary told me it was the anniversary of the death of Thomas Crapper (for best interests I won’t be including his name in my assembly!) and lo and behold when I opened up YouthWork Magazine there was an article in ‘The Story Box’ section on a Christian Businessman who goes into columbian sewers. Have developed a assembly around this theme. So my questions this week are:

Whats the weirdest assembly theme you have ever run with?

How do you use stories in your assemblies?

My assembly is called ‘Flushed Away’ and here is the plan if you are interested…

Introduction: “Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of a man who changed our lives as we know it. He increased the popularity and developed the working process of the toilet! So today we are going to celebrate his work with our ‘flushed away’ assembly.”
Game: Needs two volunteers (one boy and one girl), and it does include kit kats and lots of toilet paper. The aim of the game is to unravel as much toilet paper as you can in one minute and the person with the least on their rolls or who finishes first, is the winner. You may choose to play music and have kit kat prizes ready for the winner.
Story: ‘Jaime Jaramillo and the Street Children of Colombia’ story from ‘The Story Box’ in Youthwork Magazine January 2011 edition.

Why tell such a story? One thing we can see from this story is that Jaime is actually a living demonstration of what Christians believe Jesus does for us. However in doing this in human terms, Jaime is showing that every human has worth. ‘The disposables’... that’s what these sewer children are called, the ones we don’t need, aren’t ‘worth’ anything in some people’s minds. I wonder if you have ever felt this way, was it about yourself, was it about other people? Chances are you’ve felt both. One of the girls Jaime rescued now plays violin in the Columbian National Orchestra… doesn’t sound like she was that disposable to me.

- Let us therefore this week look for the gold in each other
- Let us treat each other as if we were worth more than precious diamonds
- Let us strive to flush away that in us which wants to flush away others,
- Let us reflect on the message that Jesus brings, rescuing us from the sewers
- And let us aspire to bring out our best
- And to bring out the best in others, in new and inventive ways (this is the school’s tagline kind of!)

Tags: assemblies, youthwork magazine

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Faith in Hackney

Saturday 22nd Jan, 2011 by emtron

Categories: 16+, Young Leaders, Blog

I’m all about film. It’s a great way to share stories.

The Documentary Film Group have a project going on, unfortunately just for young people in Hackney,

but if you have a chance to, and it’s relevant any YP you may work with (16+), check out the details on

http://www.whatsyourstory.uk.com/news/

In addition to that, the main website has already have stories about young peoples lives up there that could be used as resources and discussions starters.

Tags: faith, film, story, sharing, hackney, documentary

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Should gay marriage be legalised?

Wednesday 19th Jan, 2011 by Wendy Swan

Categories: Secondary, 16+, Young Leaders, Blog

Do all humans have the ‘right’ to be recognised as married under law, whatever their orientation?
Any helpful suggestions for presenting a Biblical viewpoint in the face increasing social pressures towards acceptance of all lifestyle choices? 
And what about ongoing research that suggests a genetic tendency towards homosexuality?
‘Love the sinner, hate the sin’ seems to be a hard argument to hold to when Christians seem to be unable to agree on the definition of sexual sin.

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Hi Wendy, take a look at this same question being discussed in the Youthwork Magazine forum: http://www.youthwork-magazine.co.uk/main/node/476

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By Amy Stock on Friday 21st Jan, 2011

Yeah, that’s from me too! This morning’s discussion went well and we’ll continue the same topic next week.  The discussion looked at views on equality, with mixed responses to whether all people have the ‘right’ to a religious marriage ceremony in a church. I outlined the differences between civil marriage and civil partnership.  The question of with homosexuality is a sin was probably the most debated area, with two Christians saying yes and two others very uncertain.  Non-Christians spoke for freedom of choice; none spoke out against homosexuality.

2

By Wendy Swan on Friday 21st Jan, 2011

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Resources for running a Self Esteem Group?

Tuesday 18th Jan, 2011 by Lydia_S

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Has anybody got any good ideas or resources for running a self esteem group?
I’ve just been asked to run a group for eight girls from Year 9 and I don’t know where to start!

Thanks!

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Hi Lydia,

I’m a therapeutic worker for LCET and I specialise in self worth. One of the most important elements of a self-esteem group doesn’t need any resources. If the girls can come together, be listened to and feel able to share and talk openly about themselves, then their sense of worth will be lifted. If they can form bonds between each other and have opportunities to support each other, they will feel valued.

Another element which is a crucial part raising self worth is fun! Playing games (card games, perhaps) and laughing together will allow the girls to have a shared experience and a degree of interaction that they might not otherwise have.

So, on a more practical note, one really powerful activity involves a plastic cup and some water. When the cup is full of water, the level of self worth is as high as possible, and then group members take it in turns to poke a hole in the cup with a pin while naming something that makes them feel down. As the group share about the things that affect their self worth, the level of the water goes down.

Afterwards, you can go around the group and ask the girls to name something that positively affects their self worth while they pour some water back into the cup. (Water will still flow out of the pin holes, but if the cup keeps getting filled up with good things then the water level/self-worth level won’t go down).

I hope that makes sense, and I hope it’s enough to get you on your way. Best of luck with it, I’m certain the girls will really value the time you spend with them.

Grace

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By Grace on Wednesday 19th Jan, 2011

The Dove Self Esteem Fund - Campaign for real beauty - is worth a look Lydia: http://www.dove.co.uk/campaign-for-real-beauty.html;jsessionid=A75A4CD38FF65D297059848150CA6DA2 - some great videos and tips, related especially to a body image focus.

2

By Amy Stock on Wednesday 19th Jan, 2011

Lydia I’m also in the middle of compiling a brand new resource aimed at helping teenagers talk about things that matter to them. There will be two packs - a teacher pack and a youthwork pack and the aim is to get students looking at different issues (one of these being self worth) and how that can sometimes lead to self harm. If this is of interest to you either keep an eye on the site in the next two months or drop me an email.

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By Amy Stock on Wednesday 19th Jan, 2011

Hi Lydia

Amy Watson and the team at Colchester CYO have a 6 week course for girls called Beloved. Amy has blogged about it at http://belovedblog.posterous.com/ and I’m sure if you contact CYO they’ll be able to tell you more.

Rach

4

By Orison on Wednesday 19th Jan, 2011

Thanks guys - these look brilliant! I’ve printed out all these resources and look forward to using them. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thank you!

5

By Lydia_S on Wednesday 19th Jan, 2011

Hi,
Lydia, see if you have a Bodyshop lady in one of your local churches and invite her along to do facials and makeovers, hand and foot massage, getting the girls to do them to one another… a hands on workshop, and you’ll find the girls will chat beauty and self image whilst they are busy doing the pampering.

6

By gillian taylor on Wednesday 19th Jan, 2011

I would really recommend the Sophia Network blog as a great place to pick up links and tips about working with girls. Not only do we need to think about the idea of image with girls, but also the wider issues about what it means to grow up as a young woman in a world where all we are expected to care about is how we look…there’s some good articles and links here: http://blog.sophianetwork.org.uk/
(Sophia Network is a brilliant network resourcing and inspiring women with wisdom for youth work)

7

By Amy Stock on Thursday 20th Jan, 2011

The courses in the Wise Up handbook touch on these issues. Check out http://www.wiseup.info/

8

By Dave Roberts on Thursday 20th Jan, 2011

hey, sorry if its too late to say! we did a two week workshop called invisible. email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you want to see the kind of thing we produced. some of it however was based on work form Rachel Gardners book Cherished. Also definetley speak to the bodyshop. we were given freebies for the girls, MAC also gave us some freebie eye makeovers for the girls.

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By Louise on Friday 21st Jan, 2011

If you’re giving away make up, make sure you give away make up remover too - reinforces the point that you can be beautiful without as well as with. Can’t remember where I nicked that idea from. CYO possibly?

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By Orison on Friday 21st Jan, 2011

I have used russian dolls to get the girls to think about the You that people see when you first meet them,  You that your peers see, you that your family see, you that your best friend can see and the hidden you (potential).  I have also used some Jo Adam’s Go Girls stuff.  The girls also draw around one person then fill up with post-it notes on characteristics of Perfect Woman after discussion take them off and post-it notes on Desert Island girl - then compare the two.

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By Yvette on Tuesday 25th Jan, 2011

Hi Lydia, just saw this online, I run a five week course called Diva-licious which is an image empowerment project that was initially developed for The Prince’s Trust xl programme in 2008.  The project is aimed at helping girls to value themselves both on the inside and out, to increase their self-confidence and self-esteem.  If you would like more details please feel free to contact me via the website http://www.diva-licious.co.uk

12

By Hannah on Thursday 17th Mar, 2011

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Is mandatory worship actually worship at all?

Tuesday 11th Jan, 2011 by Wendy Swan

Categories: Primary, Secondary, Other, Blog

Are we making the most of the current Mandatory Collective Worship legislation in schools? 
Are our assemblies providing a daily act of worship, teaching the Bible as stories or giving children and young people opportunities to explore their own beliefs and respond to God?  Or all of the above?

Here is the Church Mouse’s response to the question ‘Should schools require Christian Worship’:

‘We need a creative approach to religious experience in schools

Matters of faith cannot be a solely academic exercise, but compelling children to take part in religious worship is wrong’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/jan/10/religious-experience-schools

Also read the original question:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/jan/10/schools-christian-worship-state-role

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I was a Secondary Geography Teacher for 33years, some of this time I was Ordained in 1986, and a part time minister. Now I am full time. Essential that Christian teachers are appointed to important positions, that have responsibility of ensuring that the gospel is introduced to pupils, for schools are now the"sunday school” of past generations. Much prayer is needed so that Christianity is continued in Secondary Schools, important that Christian Teachers make themselves known, and fellowship openly in their School.

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By Rev R Glyn Jones on Friday 21st Jan, 2011

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Facebook

Monday 10th Jan, 2011 by Wendy Swan

Categories: Secondary, 16+, SEN, Young Leaders, Blog

I get lots of Friend requests from young people I know through my schoolswork.  Rather than setting up a separate Facebook account, I’ve set up closed groups that young people who come to clubs in Secondary schools can join and share thoughts, ask questions, suggest activities.  This is new this week so no idea if it’ll catch on or not!
Anyone else out there got any good or bad stories of using social media as part of schools work? I’m planning to talk to headteachers before posting any photos taken at the clubs, I’ll let you know how that goes.

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Hi!
Here at LCET staff are not allowed to add the young people we work with on facebook, partly to protect the young person and the staffs’ privacy.
we have an LCET page which people can “like” on facebook and where we can set up events and post updates for them to see. We also have an LCET facebook person. The reason why we set up a separate facebook account is because it allows us to invite young people to events. If you only have a page on facebook and you try to invite young people to events you can only do so if you’re friends with the young person. The same goes with setting up a group on facebook.

By having a “person” on facebook it also means we can send young people messages without having to contact their private email accounts. In all it provides a degree of accountability to all our staff.
  The “person” on facebook is also an admin of the LCET page on facebook, which means we can still allow the young people to set up discussion threads to tell us what they think!
Also young people are on facebook A LOT, so it means we’re more likely to get a response from advertising events etc on facebook. Since setting up the facebook “person” and being able to invite young people to events and organise things like our after school discussion groups and send reminders about our Saturday cafe, numbers have appeared to increase and they’re more likely to remember to come!

Hope this helps.

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By Jo Coleman on Wednesday 19th Jan, 2011

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Assemblies on SEAL Theme “Going for Goals”

Tuesday 4th Jan, 2011 by dmilne

Categories: Primary, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Hi everyone - happy new year to you!

Doing school assemblies this term on the SEAL Theme “Going for Goals” Description is here: http://www.sgfl.org.uk/SEAL/themes/goingforgoals

How would you tackle this from a spiritual point of view? Is for years 1-6, so I am struggling how to tackle this theme.

Dan

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Hi Dan

We did a couple of assemblies on this last year but for secondary. Thought I’d share a couple of resources to see if you can adapt any of it for KS1/2.

We started off with the “what do you want to be when you grow up?” question. There’s loads of funny clips on youtube of kids giving funny answers (“I want to be a fire truck” for example!) if you want to illustrate it… Then talked about what you have to do to get to where you want to be (study, experience, skills etc)

Tried to move on from there though, to get pupils thinking beyond the career ambitions. What kind of person do you want to be? How do we become that kind of person?

We used the Marianne Williamson poem, quoted in the Coach Carter film.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

1

By Orison on Wednesday 19th Jan, 2011

Hi Dan,
I’m doing an assembly for years 1-6 on this theme in a couple of weeks and I’m looking at how we feel when we don’t achieve our goals, doing some volunteer challenges of varying impossibility (i.e. arm wrestling a teacher, drawing with a blindfold on etc) and then interviewing the kids who volunteered about how they felt when they did/didn’t succeed. I’m tying it all up with the verses from Hebrews that talk about focusing on the goal (in our case as Christians, Jesus) and saying that if we’re running a race but we’re not looking at the finish line, we’ll probably fall over a lot! I’m finishing the assembly with a song called ‘Going for Gold’ which my mum wrote years ago. Hope that helps! xx

2

By Becca Ceaser on Tuesday 25th Jan, 2011

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School Governor

Tuesday 4th Jan, 2011 by BexHK

Categories: Secondary, Other, Blog

Hi there everyone. Happy new year- hope you’re excited about all the potential for schools work in 2011! I certainly am. I was wondering if there is anyone who, as part of their schools worker role has been or is a school governor for a secondary school and could post a bit about their experiences please?
Becky

Tags: school governor

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There’s a useful short book about being a Christian school goveror just published as part of the Grove Booklets Education series - by Alison Farnell, I think, and full of good ideas. Their website shows you how to spend your £3.95. I’m not a governor, but I do think that the involvement of a Christian governor should include supporting RE to be the best it can be - not easy in secondary schools just at the moment

1

By lat@retoday.org.uk on Wednesday 5th Jan, 2011

Thanks Lat, I think it will be £3.95 well spent.

2

By BexHK on Wednesday 5th Jan, 2011

Here is another useful book:
Becoming A School Governor

This booklet is designed to help equip and encourage Christian school governors. It has been written by Carol Dadswell, Mike Simmonds and Ann Holt, all of whom have personal experience of school governing, as well as many years experience working within the national education system.
http://www.care.org.uk/resources/shop/educational-resources/becoming-a-school-governor/

3

By kevin baldwin on Thursday 6th Jan, 2011

I have been a school governor at a local secondary school for about 12 years, has been challenging at times but enjoyable for the main part.
A useful link to find out more http://www.transforminggoverning.org.uk/

4

By kevinb on Thursday 6th Jan, 2011

I was a a governor of a primary school in Essex.  We had opportunity to influence RE, although prior to that our church had already been invited to teach all the Christian RE to the school and do a weekly assembly.

The three things we were able to do were:

Genuine care for school staff, especially the Head Teacher who had very few people to use as a sounding board.
To join up some of the opportunities to help a needy community by agencies working together.
Create a long-term partnership, when I left, my boss the minister was invited on, and is now chairing one of the sub-committees.

5

By Chris Kidd on Thursday 6th Jan, 2011

Transforming Governing is for people just like you.  Do visit, join the movement and be part of developing networking between governors (http://www.transforminggoverning.org.uk/).
The BECOME A SCHOOL Governor section is an updated version (May 2010) of the CARE booklet referred to by Kevinb.  There is heaps of other stuff to equip Christians who are governors and we are continuing to add to it.  Please let others know.

6

By Mike Simmonds on Tuesday 11th Jan, 2011

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Education & schools work update

Monday 3rd Jan, 2011 by Chris Kidd

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, Other, Blog

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

Education review of the year 2010: review of the year by the Telegraph.

Children in poverty ‘as happy as more affluent classmates’: Research shows kids are most likely to say they feel happy if they can talk to their parents about their worries. Children living in poverty are as happy as classmates from wealthier homes, a study of 32,000 young people has found.

More than 500 pupils excluded for assault or abuse every school day: On an average school day 511 pupils in primary, secondary and special needs schools across England are excluded for abusing or assaulting an adult, according to statistics from 2008-9.  On average, 503 of the exclusions are temporary. Of these, 412 are for verbally abuse or threats, while 91 are for physical assault. A further eight exclusions are permanent and are equally distributed between physical and verbal abuse. In total, 96,990 pupils are excluded each school year.  Ministers said the statistics, from the Department for Education, justified their view that plans to “restore discipline in classrooms” were long overdue.

Schools ban pupils from using gossip website: Several leading independent schools are trying to block a “pernicious” website which they say encourages pupils to bully each other by posting anonymous gossip.

Scrap compulsory acts of worship in schools, say teachers and campaigners: The National Secular Society (NSS) has written to Michael Gove arguing that the legislation, dating from the 1944 Education Act, infringes children’s human rights and discriminates against pupils of no faith and non-Christians.

No web access at home for 2m poor pupils, warns charity: E-learning Foundation fears gap between rich and poor at school will widen unless more get home internet access. More than one million children in Britain live in homes without computers and a further two million have no internet connection at home.  The charity analysed a survey of family spending in Britain, published by the Office for National Statistics last year. The study found that 75%  of households had a home computer and 71% had an internet connection, a rise of three and five percentage points respectively on 2008. In the richest 10% of homes, 98% had a home computer and 97% had internet access, but in the poorest 10% of homes only 38% had a home computer and 30% an internet connection.

Poor pupils ‘fall further behind between seven and 16’: The gap between rich and poor pupils widens throughout primary and secondary   school, figures show, as middle-class children benefit the most from state   education.

Rules on school expulsions ‘will fuel bad behaviour’: Schools will be powerless to expel the worst behaved children under   controversial Government reforms, head teachers warn.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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What I’d like to know about the National Secular Society’s campaign to end school assembly is how many members they have. I notice that one person always seems to speak for them. I’m a fan of atheist presences in RE, and I don’t believe in compulsory worship (oxymoronic idea). But I doubt that NSS represent much support on this issue. A more thoughtful change to the law than anti-religious hate speech might be good.

1

By lat@retoday.org.uk on Wednesday 5th Jan, 2011

I agree with you Lat, they often seem to manage to make a lot of noise with not much support, so frustrating.

2

By Chris Kidd on Friday 7th Jan, 2011

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The Nativity

Friday 24th Dec, 2010 by Amy Stock

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

An impressive telling of the nativity story was presented this week over 4 days on BBC1.

Here’s some comments I picked up about it on Twitter:

- adamnprice:
Just been captivated for 2 hours watching #thenativity on iplayer. Outstanding production,made story fresh & deeply moved me. Well done BBC!

- RT @owenmorgan: Was so moved by the BBCs powerful retelling of #thenativity - struck by the compelling reality & incredible truth. Thank God!

- I think that #thenativity was amazing! Gripping stuff, even if you know the story so well!

- chriskidd:
Enjoyed #thenativity - very grateful to the #bbc for showing this beautiful story

- easyrew:
BBC Nativity: the greatest story ever told, or ‘the greatest story ever; told really well’ #youdecide #thenativity

Check out the website giving background information about the programme and tips about how to use it. http://www.nativitydrama.info/

Oh and if you missed it, don’t forget to visit iPlayer on the next 7 days to catch up: .

Tags: christmas

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Fantastic, well done BBC. Great interview from the Telegraph with writer Tony Jordan about how writing the series changed him: http://tiny.cc/ollxo

1

By Wendy Swan on Wednesday 5th Jan, 2011

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Education & schools work update

Thursday 23rd Dec, 2010 by Chris Kidd

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Blog

Headlines from the world of education and schools work:

 
• Half of pupils on free school meals can’t read: Nearly half the 11-year-olds on free school meals cannot read or add up properly by the time they leave primary school.
 
• Religious education ‘could be marginalised in schools’: Religious education risks being marginalised in schools after the Government   barred the subject from a list of “preferred” GCSEs.
 
• Tackling bad behaviour ‘is not our job’, teachers claim: Teachers are reluctant to tackle badly behaved children because it is “beyond   their remit”, according to Government research.
 
• Council budget cuts will hit the most deprived areas, says study: Cuts to local authorities will fall hardest on the poorest areas as the coalition reverses some of Labour’s funding mechanisms, councils are warning before the unveiling of next year’s budgets for schools, police forces and local services.
 
• Schools’ budgets will not rise above inflation for four years: Schools’ budgets will not rise above inflation for the next four years, the   government has admitted.
 
• Almost a thousand primary schools failing to hit targets: Almost a thousand primary schools are failing to give their pupils a decent grounding in reading, writing and arithmetic, official figures suggest.
 
• Travel grant for poorest pupils may be scrapped: The government is considering abolishing a £20m grant that has helped the poorest pupils afford the cost of travelling to school.
 
• UK falling behind other countries in mathematics: The UK is lagging behind in mathematics as fewer teenagers study the subject   to a high level than in other developed nations, according to research.
 
• Primary school league tables: faith schools dominate top positions: Faith schools dominated new league tables today as head teachers rejected   claims they boosted results by selecting “by the backdoor”.
 
• Bishop of Lincoln: tuition fees hike is against teaching of Jesus Christ: The trebling in student tuition fees will normalise debt and is contrary to   the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Bishop of Lincoln has said.
 
• A third of children leaving primary school are overweight: The number of pupils classified as obese is also rising, new NHS statistics show.  Almost a quarter of children are overweight or obese by the time they start primary school, and more than a third are by the time they leave.
 
• More than 50% of five-year-old boys making too little progress, data shows: Figures published by Department for Education based on teachers’ observations of hundreds of thousands of five-year-old pupils show more than half of all boys in England are not making good enough progress at school by the time they reach the age of five.
 
• Thousands of boys start secondary school ‘barely able to read’: Nearly one in 10 boys reading well below expected standard, although data show overall improvement.  Nearly 19,000 boys are starting secondary school with a reading age of a seven-year-old or below, government data has shown.
 
• Special needs pupils account for seven in 10 permanent exclusions from school: Children who just miss out on obtaining a “statement” guaranteeing support for special educational needs are being excluded from school at an alarmingly high rate, it has been revealed.  Official figures show that children on “school action plus”, the status ascribed to those who fall short of qualifying for a statement but have special needs,  accounted for 44% of all permanent exclusions in 2008-09.
 
• Universities face £400m ‘lag’  before fees income rises: Higher education budget reduced a year before higher fees income is recieved.
 
• University places to be cut by 10,000 by 2012, minister reveals: David Willetts says this year’s extra funding to meet surge in applications will be withdrawn.  The number of places on degree courses in England will be cut by 10,000 by 2012, according to a government letter that outlines future funding cuts to higher education.
 
• U-turn as Michael Gove agrees to continue funding school sports system: Michael Gove today performed a major U-turn by agreeing to continue funding the schools sports system in England he had previously pledged to scrap.
 
• ‘Name and shame’ unfair universities: A report by the education charity the Sutton Trust reveals that three of Britain’s leading universities – Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol – have fewer than one in 100 students from poor homes.

Tags: education, news, schools work, politics

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Christmas Clips

Friday 17th Dec, 2010 by Amy Stock

Categories: Primary, Secondary, 16+, SEN, Other, Young Leaders, Blog

Looking for last minute Christmas illustrations? Wingclips have some new Grinch clips that may be useful to you.

Tags: christmas

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