December 2000

DfEE is now sending fewer publications to schools automatically. Please read this list to identify any other material that you would like to receive.

Copies of publications are available from DfEE Publications unless otherwise indicated.

CONTENTS :     HIGHLIGHTS

                           Mailings to schools during Christmas break

                           IT Training for Parents and Free IT for Schools

                        The Artsmark Award

                           Jubilee Bank Holiday in 2002

                           Show Racism the Red Card

                           Performance Management- Agreeing the Head's Objectives

                           Performance Pay Progression: Special Grant

GUIDANCE  & Information

·      Curriculum & Standards

·      Teachers & Staffing

·      Management & Finance

·      Pupil Support & Access

·      Examination & Assessment

·      Home & Community

·      School Governance

                            PRICED PUBLICATIONS

 
 

HIGHLIGHTS

 
 

Mailings to schools during Christmas break

 
 

Please note that an unexpectedly high level of requests means that some orders are currently taking up to eight working days to arrive. Over the Christmas period orders for multiple publications or copies of individual publications placed early/mid December 2000 may not be delivered until the first week of the Spring term, unless your school can guarantee there is someone to receive packages during the holiday.

 
     
 

IT Training for Parents and Free IT for Schools

www.bcdl.co.uk/pol  and  www.parentsonline.gov.uk

 
 

www.parentsonline.gov.uk highlights the educational benefits of the Internet and provides the necessary guidance for parents to get ‘on-line’ to support their children.

Learning Provider, BCD is supporting the programme by offering funded IT Training to schools and parents and simultaneously offering free IT equipment to schools as an incentive to participate in the initiative.

The training comes on Interactive CD and a book allowing the individual to work through a computing course at home. Using government funding, BCD can offer the course through schools for only £25, rather than the usual retail price of £250. The £25 student contribution is then given back to the

schools to spend on IT equipment, meaning that for every 40 individuals a school recruits, £1000 worth of IT equipment will be donated.

For further information on the programme, please contact BCD on (023) 9275 0234 or (023) 9261 8886. or see their  website at  www.bcdl.co.uk/pol

 
     
 

The Artsmark Award

www.artsmark.org.uk

 
 

Artsmark is a new national arts award for schools in England, to be awarded by the Arts Council of England following a school-led application process, supported by assessment and validation. Its aim is to encourage schools to raise standards of arts education and to raise their profile.

 

It is available for all schools on a voluntary basis at three levels, Artsmark, Artsmark Silver, and Artsmark Gold.  The scheme lasts for three years, although schools can apply for an upgrade at any application date, or it can be offered on an annual basis.

The Artsmark award scheme will be launched in early January 2001 with the closing date for the first round of applications on 5 March 2001.  The first awards will be made in July 2001.

Schools can register  interest in the scheme by sending details of a named contact, the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of their school to artsmark@artscouncil.org.uk.   Please note whether your school is primary, middle, secondary or special. Schools registering their interest will be sent an application pack in January 2001.  Artsmark Helpline is on 0800 0560 196 and is available from 1st December 2000. From mid-January 2001 application forms may be downloaded from the website and  returned by e-mail.

 
     
 

Jubilee Bank Holiday in 2002

 
 

There will be an additional holiday to celebrate the Queen’s  50th wedding anniversary  on Tuesday 4 June 2002, the day after the Whitsun Bank Holiday.  For schools, this day  will be added to the summer holidays.

 
     
 

Show Racism the Red Card

www.srtrc.org

 
 

Details in the October edition of Spectrum contained inaccurate information. The Address is incorrect (The new address is not for publication). The cost of the video is £20, and is available on order via fax no 0191 291 0160. Make cheques payable to “Show Racism the red card” or official orders can be faxed and recipients will be invoiced.

 
     
 

Performance Management- Agreeing the Head's Objectives

www.dfee.gov.uk/teachingreforms/training

 
 

Governing bodies who have not yet had a visit from an Accredited External Adviser should be aware that the deadline for appointed governors to agree the head's objectives has been extended to 6th April 2001. Preliminary objectives should still be agreed by the head and appointed governors by 31 December 2001. Supplementary guidance is on the DfEE website  www.dfee.gov.uk/teachingreforms/training   

 
     
 

Performance Pay Progression: Special Grant

www.dfee.gov.uk/teachingreforms/rewards/index.shtml

 
 

Schools are entitled to claim grant to support the cost of awarding the first performance point to heads, deputies and Advanced Skills Teachers for the 1999/2000 academic year.  Claims should be made to the LEA, using the DfEE claim form available from the LEA, by 31 December 2000.  Further guidance is available at  www.dfee.gov.uk/teachingreforms/rewards/index.shtml

 
     
 

GUIDANCE & INFORMATION

 
 

Curriculum & Standards

 
     
 

The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies, Guidance on Organising Literacy and Numeracy Booster Classes                                                                                                              DfEE 0251/2000

 
 

This provides guidance on effective practice in organising literacy and numeracy booster classes for pupils in Year 6 who are unlikely to achieve level 4 at the end of Key Stage 2. It is based on feedback from schools and gives guidance on a range of issues that headteachers, teachers, literacy and numeracy co-ordinators and others involved in organising booster classes should consider when setting up their own programmes.

One copy has been sent to all schools with Year 6 pupils.

The following materials are also available to support schools with their booster programme this year.

 
     
 

The National Numeracy Strategy, Sample Year 6 Booster Lessons, Mathematics Booster Lessons for Year 6                                                                                                                   DfEE 0326/2000

 
 

This book contains 12 sample lessons for use with Year 6 booster classes in mathematics. They are designed to reflect the mathematical content and approaches to teaching that have proved particularly helpful to children who need intensive targeted support to reach level 4 in the Key Stage 2 national tests.

 
     
 

The National Literacy Strategy, Model Lessons for Year 6  

www.standards.dfee.gov.uk/literacy

 
 

A set of 25 model lessons for use with Year 6 booster classes in English. These have been developed, along with model lessons for Year 5, as part of a new Year 5/6 intervention programme that is currently being piloted in five LEAs. The lessons will be on the Standards Site www.standards.dfee.gov.uk/literacy from the end of December 2000.

 
     
 

Transforming Key Stage 3, Revision Guidance for Year 7 Progress Test in:

English                                                                                                                        DfEE 0324/2000

Mathematics                                                                                                                DfEE 0325/2000

 
 

The Year 7 progress tests are targeted at those pupils who did not achieve level 4 in English or mathematics at the end of Key Stage 2. We strongly encourage schools to use these as they  are an important tool in measuring the progress of those pupils who did not achieve level 4 and who need to catch-up in literacy and numeracy. These tests will be made available free of charge for eligible pupils from May 2001.

The Year 7 revision guidance for English provides information on establishing, revising and reinforcing key literacy skills in order to move pupils from level 3 to level 4.

The Year 7 revision guidance for mathematics highlights key mathematical concepts and teaching strategies to move pupils from level 3 to level 4.

 
     
 

On The Move

 
 

‘On The Move’ is a project pack on Integrated Transport for the Literacy Hour. It is designed for use with Year 5 pupils and provides a week of Literacy Hours. The pack provides an opportunity for children to consider transport in a wide context and encourages them to suggest and investigate possible solutions to some of our current problems.

Available from The Pedestrians Association, 31-33 Bondway, London, SW8 1SJ,  Tel: 020 7820 1010,

Fax: 020 7820 8208 or e-mail  pete@pedestrians.org.uk

 
     
 

Primary and Secondary Teachers’ Resource Packs: Sustrans Safe Routes to School

www.sustrans.org.uk

 
 

The Packs help teachers cover school travel issues and education for sustainable development within the new National Curriculum.  Separate Primary and Secondary packs include classroom activities within each subject area, relating to respective programmes of study, plus travel facts, resources, information sheet “How To Develop a School Travel Plan” and questionnaires.     

The pack is available from Safe Routes to School, Sustrans, PO Box 21, Bristol, BS99 4HA

Queries & to order: 0117 929 0888

Separate primary/ secondary packs, English & Welsh Curricula - £15 to schools/ individuals:

(£20 local authorities)

Combined packs (primary and secondary), English & Welsh Curricula - £22 to schools/ individuals (£25 local authorities)

 
     
 

Teachers & Staffing

 
     
 

Threshold Grant - funding application packs                                                                    DfEE 0337/2000

www.dfee.gov.uk/teachingreforms/index.shtml

 
 

Funding application forms for the Threshold Grant (including supply teachers) will be given to schools by Local Education Authorities in December and January. Detailed instructions on how to claim the grant will be included with the forms. A summary of all the grants and deadlines involved is available on the Teaching Reforms website. 

 
     

School Leadership Update Poster                                                                                      DfEE 0330/2000

www.dfee.gov.uk

 

Issued to all schools in December, this fold-out A3 poster updates headteachers on the important recent activities and announcements relating to school leadership.  It highlights the publication of the National College for School Leadership guide to activities, Hay McBer’s models of excellence and a consultation on transferring funding responsibility for the three national headship programmes to the College.  The poster also outlines how headteachers can register an interest in joining Talking Heads – the interactive community area on NCSL online – and how new headteachers can apply for laptops (eligibility criteria apply).

  • The National College website is on www.ncslonline.gov.uk
  • If would like to comment on the funding consultation, it is on the Department’s website www.dfee.gov.uk/consultations/index.shtml  The consultation closes on 26 January 2001.
  • To register an interest in joining Talking Heads details are available on www.nsclonline.gov,uk   To join in 2001, you will need to register by 31 December 2000.
  • To apply for a laptop under the Laptop for New Headteachers Scheme, forms are available on www.nsclonline.gov.uk   The closing date for applications is 14 December 2000.

Further copies of the poster are available from The Headship Information Line on 08457 165136.

 
     

National Standards for Headteachers                                                                             DfEE 0195/2000

www.dfee.gov.uk

 

This booklet originally published by the TTA in 1998, has been reprinted and updated by the DfEE.

The National Standards are intended as a guide to aid professional development and set out the professional knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes necessary to effectively carry out the key roles of headship.

Further copies from  The Headship Information Line on 08457 165136.

 
   
 

Working with Teaching Assistants - A Good Practice Guide                                           DfEE 0148/2000

www.dfee.gov.uk/teachingreforms/support/teachassist/goodpractice/index.shtml

 
 

This was advertised in October's Spectrum as "Supporting the Teaching Assistant - A Good Practice Guide" but the cover title is  "Working with Teaching Assistants - A Good Practice Guide". You may order under either title and the publication number is unchanged.

 
     
 

Management & Finance

 
     
 

Independent/State School Partnerships Grant Scheme 2001-2002

www.dfee.gov.uk/indstatepartner

 
 

Grant funding in 2001-2002 will be announced shortly.  Pump-prime funding will be available for general partnership projects and for the first time this year, themed projects.  Full details of funding, themes and the application process, including forms, are on our website or contac by phone or e-mail. 

Telephone – 01325 391181 or e-mail  karl.bowes@dfee.gov.uk    

 
     
 

Admission to Infant Classes From September 2001- Update                                          DfEE 0343/2000

 
 

Infant class size legislation becomes law from September 2001.  The restricted rules on infant class size admissions and appeals can therefore apply to any infant admission for the 2001/02 academic year. This is an update to those rules, following a recent Court of Appeal judgment.

All enquiries to Max Galla, fax 020 7925 5696 or e-mail max.galla@dfee.gov.uk

 
     
 

Examination & Assessment

 
     
 

External qualifications to be approved under Section 96 of the  Learning and Skills Act 2000 for pupils, students and work-based trainees under the age of 19                              DfEE 0329/2000

www.dfee.gov.uk/section96

 
 

A new website at the end of December will list external qualifications that will be approved for use by learners under 19 (including those of compulsory school age) from 1 September 2001.  The provisions replace S400 of the Education Act 1996 and will apply to pupils in maintained schools, learners in other publicly funded secondary and further education and work-based training.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Pupil Support & Access

 
     
 

Provision of Speech and Language Therapy Services to Children with Special Educational Needs (England): Report of the Working Group                                                                           DfEE 0319/2000

www.dfee.gov.uk/sen and http://inclusion.ngfl.gov.uk

 
 

The report considers some of the difficulties around the provision of speech and language therapy for children with SEN and makes recommendations for the future. The establishment of the joint DfEE/DH Speech and Language Working Group was announced in the SEN Programme of Action.

 
     
 

Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence                                                                                         DfEE 0064/2000

 
 

The revised anti-bullying pack for schools “Bullying: don’t suffer in silence” is accompanied by a video for pupils, encouraging them to report any bullying.  The pack recommends a range of strategies already successfully used in schools; it also makes clear that firm measures such as permanent exclusion will sometimes be needed to protect victims of persistent and very serious bullying. 

The pack offers advice and guidance specifically about racial bullying (responding to the MacPherson report), bullying because of sexual orientation, sexual assault, and bullying because of a disability or special educational needs.  It also highlights the important role that parents have in combating bullying.  Other material updates information given in the 1994 edition. 

Maintained schools are encouraged to order one free copy from DfEE Publications; extra copies for schools, or for local education authorities, cost £15 each. 

 
     
 

Home & Community

 
     
 

Help Schools Help Children                                                                                                 DfEE 0320/2000

www.dfee.gov.uk/governor/index.htm

 

A new leaflet, Help Schools Help Children is part of a national advertising campaign to encourage people to become school governors.

 
     
 

Building Learning Communities                                                                                         DfEE 0344/2000

www.cedc.org.uk

 
 

This pack offers guidance to schools on developing their work with the community.  It focuses on activities, such as study support programmes, school-business links and parental involvement, which support pupils’ learning and lead to high levels of achievement.  It also looks at ways in which schools can become centres of learning for the community. 

The pack, produced by the Community Education Development Centre, consists of three booklets:-

Making it happen – a practical guide for schools on developing work with the community

‘We could do that!’ – case studies of schools working with their communities

Laying the foundations – examples of documents supporting schools’ work with the community.  A floppy disk containing the documents is provided.

 
     
 

School Governance

 
     
 

Consultation on School Governing Bodies                                                                        DfEE 0333/2000

www.dfee.gov.uk/governor/consult.htm

 
 

This consultation document takes a radical look at governing bodies’ responsibilities, recruitment, support and structure. The date for responses is 28 February 2001.

 
     
     
     
     
 

Guide to the Law for School Governors Updates to issue during January 2001

www.DfEE.gov.uk/governor/govguide.htm

 
 

Next month a second set of updates for the mainstream versions of the Guide to the Law will be issued.  The main changes will include replacement chapters to Governing Bodies, their powers, duties and relationship with the head teacher; the Curriculum and Organisational Changes to the School.  There will also be new annexes reproducing the School Government Amendment Regulations; Terms of Reference Regulations; and, Part IX of the School Teachers’ and Conditions Document.

We would like to thank all chairs for distributing the first set of updates to their governors.  As before there will be 21 sets of updates sent to secondary school Chairs and 14 sets for primary schools. 

These updates will be sent to the school, rather than Chairs’ home addresses. 

 
     
     
 

A-Z of School Leadership and Management -  New additions

www.dfee.gov.uk/a-z/intro.html

 

 

 

General addresses

Basic Skills Agency Association for Science Education
(ASE)
British Educational Communications and Technology agency
(BECTa [formerly NCET])
British Educational Suppliers Association
(BESA)
The Centre for Educational Management
(CEM)

Department for Education and Employment
(DfEE)
Standards and Effectiveness Unit
SEU [for access to schemes of work]
DfEE - SEN division

DfEE - Schedule 2(a)

Adult Learners

DfEE - Qualifications

Department for Education, Northern Ireland
(DENI)
Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI)
Electronic Training Village
hosted by CEDEFOP
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
(ECITB)
Further Education Development Agency
(FEDA)
Further Education Funding Council
(FEFC)
Government Information Service
(GIS)
Higher Education Funding Council for England
(HEFCE)
National Foundation for Educational Research
(NFER)
SchoolNet The Stationery Office
Training Standards Council
(TSC)
 
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
(UCAS)
 

 

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