posted by Rodger Hill, Service Manager:

SCSSA’s Career Long Professional Learning programme for session 2015/16 is now available and is targeted at school leaders, teachers and local authority staff and can be accessed at  the SCSSA website at  http://www.ed.ac.uk/education/scssa .

You can also link to specific primary and secondary courses flyers at http://www.ed.ac.uk/education/rke/centres-groups/scssa/courses/course-flyer

This session’s programme is particularly exciting with a range of new Curriculum for Excellence programmes specifically designed for secondary schools addressing quality assurance, interdisciplinary learning, the Wood Report and supporting learners.

We also have two brand new primary and early years one day programmes entitled  ‘Curriculum for Excellence in Primary and Early Years – Innovation for Effective Practice’ and ‘Leadership for Powerful Learning in Primary and Early Years’.

In addition, we  continue to offer sector leading programmes that include ‘Developing your Staff: Leadership for Professional Learning’ and ‘Principal Teacher Leadership of Learning.’

If you would like further information on any aspects of the SCSSA programmes please do not hesitate to contact me.  I would be delighted to hear from you.

Graham Thomson
Director Scottish Centre for Studies in School Administration
School of Education
University of Edinburgh
EH8 8AQ
T:  0131 6516179
Mob:  07712596533

posted by Lesley Watson, Business Liaison Officer

Aberdeen’s Science Centre, Satrosphere, is in possession of a wide range of hands-on materials for exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and is happy to loan materials out to teachers that wish to explore topics in their classrooms before or after visiting Satrosphere with their class. Satrosphere’s STEM Learning Team has designed a selection of kits for primary schools on the themes Colour and Light, Windy Day and Puzzletastic Maths.  Each loan box comes complete with teacher guides and activity ideas. A vast array of equipment such as microscopes, model skeletons and maths puzzles can also be loaned.

For more details, please contact Satrosphere’s STEM Learning Team: 01224 6403640 or visit the website.

Posted by Lesley Watson, Business Liaison Officer

Last year over 400 primary and secondary schools took part in Micro-Tyco from across the country and between them they generated over £200,000 for microfinance projects to empower female entrepreneurs across the developing world.  Within Angus a total of 25 schools took part raising the phenomenal total between them of £34,031.00.

This year, based on your feedback, and to ensure Micro-Tyco is an even bigger success, the Wildhearts Team have updated the learning resources for teachers and changed the way that schools register for Micro-Tyco to ensure they have enough time to plan and get involved.

Registration is now open (https://microtyco-nov15.eventbrite.co.uk) and is much simpler and quicker than in previous years.  Registration will be open until the 2^nd October.  However the sooner you register, the sooner you will gain access to the 8 week Micro-Tyco Programme of Learning featuring Lesson Plans and videos so you can begin planning.  Further details are attached. 

To help with our administration locally, please can I ask you (in addition to registering officially with Wildhearts) to also express your interest to Lesley Watson (WatsonL@angus.gov.uk) stating whether you anticipate participating in the November 2015 or February 2016 challenge.  This does not commit you to take part, however knowing which schools in Angus are planning to take part in Micro-Tyco during Session 2015/16 will enable us to appropriately plan for the year ahead and ensure support can be offered in the right places.

Further information can be found at http://www.wildheartsinaction.org/microtyco.

Alternatively, please don’t hesitate to contact Lesley or the team directly at Wildhearts – info@micro-tyco.com.

Posted by Alita Spink, Schools and Learning Support Officer

The Sunday Mail and sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards will celebrate excellence throughout Scottish sports, recognising sportsmen, women, teams and schools for their outstanding achievements throughout 2015.You can now nominate your school for the School Sport Award, which is awarded to the school that does the most to develop the young sporting talent of Scotland.

Posted by Alita Spink, Schools and Learning Support Officer

The first School Food Day takes place on 23rd September to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, which also coincides with the first day of the Scottish Learning Festival on 23rd and 24th September in Glasgow. We’re looking for your help to make School Food Day a success and have a number of ways for you to get involved and pledge your support. You could create a food inspired poster, invite parents into your school for lunch or host your own Ready Steady Cook Challenge. You can show your support by registering for School Food Day here where you can tell us about the activities your planning to get your whole school involved. As part of School Food Day we’re asking schools across Scotland to take part in the 12 o’clock Lunch Crunch on Wednesday 23 September. We’re asking those taking part to eat an apple at 12 noon as part of The Lunch Crunch which will be broadcast live via Glow TV from our Food for Thought showcase area at the Scottish Learning Festival in Glasgow’s SECC. School Food Day is the perfect way to get involved if you’re unable to attend the festival – sign up here to show your support.