posted by Pauline Stephen, Head of School & Learning

Please click on the links below to view competition information and application form for Scotcon 2016

A3 Poster                                             Schools Application Pack

posted by Alita Spink, Schools and Learning Support Officer – Schools and Learning

NEWS
NEW – Final report from LfS National Implementation Group now available for download

• NEW learning for sustainability whole school self-evaluation and improvement framework on National Improvement Hub

• Book up today for LfS seminars at the Scottish Learning Festival 2016
• Thousands of pounds of grant funding available to support LfS projects
• Reminder – Maths Outdoors is the theme of National School Grounds Week, 6^th-10^th June
• World day against child labour on 12^th June focuses on child labour and supply chains
• Promote the benefits of cycling during Bike Week from 11^th
• Refugee Week Scotland begins on 20^th June, while UNICEF have also produced a teaching resource on Children and the Refugee Crisis in Europe
• Scotland’s Environment launch Citizen Science Portal
• Summer camping at the Shieling Project

Views sought for national school gardening survey

Research and Reflection
Global competency for an inclusive world – The OECD report on plans to measure global competencies as part of future PISA assessments.

Video Inspiration
Children from Dalmarnock Primary School in Glasgow have collaborated with students from Glasgow Caledonian University to produce this short animation on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Transforming lives through learning

posted by Kellie Smith, Teacher, Langlands Primary School

As many of you will know, the Scottish Learning Festival (SLF) will be taking place on 21st and 22nd of September this year. To coincide with this, SLF teachmeets are being organised across the country. Teachmeets give us the opportunity to share good practice or good resources, and things that work well for us.

The Angus one has been arranged for 21st of September, from 5pm to 7pm at Langlands Primary School in Forfar. It will take the format of short presentations, either a “nano presentation” of 2 minutes or a “micro presentation” of 7 minutes.

More information about teachmeets can be found in the attached link, as well as the sign up link, should you wish to take part, or just come along to listen. So get your thinking caps on! What works well for you? Come along and share your great ideas. Hope to see some of you there.

https://tmscot.wordpress.com/2016/06/04/tmconnect-angus/

posted by Gemma MacKintosh, PT PCS & Teacher of Physics, Arbroath High School

Arbroath High School pupil Ailsa Chung: Winner of the Institute of Physics’ Reflections on Light Competition 2015 was the International Year of Light which celebrated the impact light and its applications have on all aspects of our lives. As part of the celebrations, the Institute of Physics challenged Scotland’s pupils to write a story about light. Arbroath High School S5 pupil Ailsa Chung was the winner with her essay entitled LEDs: Portable Sunlight for Plants and Crops.

Ailsa has also been successful in her application to the 2016 Scottish Space School in Glasgow and through this has a chance to gain a place on a visit to NASA at Houston.  Ailsa is enthusiastic about all things scientific and has been successful in competitions for problem solving and enquiry skills. Her prizes have included an Isaac Physics Award and Tickets to TEDxGlasgow.  Ailsa will be joining Cambridge University on a Headstart taster course this summer before considering where she may wish to study in the future.  Her motivation and enthusiasm for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects is a great example to other Arbroath High School pupils.  Well done Ailsa!

posted by Lynsay Jukes, Teacher of PE, Arbroath High School

Football – S3 Angus Cup Final

On Wednesday 25^th May, Victoria Park saw Arbroath High School play Arbroath Academy in a Derby Final for the S3 Angus Cup for football. Conditions were far from perfect with an unseasonably strong wind blowing. Both teams had not met this season but with players in both schools in the same Sunday league teams the game was shaping up to be a Cup Final classic.

The High School were playing with the wind behind and during the first half played a more direct style of football looking to play long over the mid-field into space for the strikers to run onto. The Academy played more patiently and shortened their passing resulting in a strong period of pressure. The Academy produced some good football and came close to scoring but the High School broke the deadlock on 31 minutes.  A corner was driven in by Wood with pace into a dangerous area. The Academy keeper rushed out and tried to punch the ball but only managed to push it across their goal. The ball fell at an academy defender who miss kicked the clearance with the ball falling at the feet of Stewart who side footed the ball into an empty goal. After a strong finish to the first half, the High School looked to build. However, strong tackling and a high work rate from the Academy saw them dominate play throughout the second half.

The Academy came close to equalising on a number of occasions but excellent defending and a good dose of luck saw the High School keep a clean sheet. On 75 minutes the Academy played a searching ball instigating a foot race between an Academy striker and Lyall. Lyall who had been flawless up to this point met the ball first but sclafed the clearance resulting in the ball popping up.  Land at centre half came across to compete for the ball but the central midfielder of the Academy headed the ball towards the left hand post. Lyall sprinted back but the ball was heading for what looked like a certain goal, only to hit the post and to rebound into Lyall’s arms. The game finished 1-0 in favour of the school. Man of the match was L. Stewart. Both teams made a memorable final playing good football in difficult conditions.

S3 Boys Angus Cup Football Winners photo.
Back Row Left to Right: Arran Lyall, Mr Pandrich, Liam Stewart, Matthew Robbie, Elliot Burns, Jack Land, Ross Fraser (Captain), Elliot Boath, Alex Martin, Calvin Wood, Mr Herron (Coach)
Front Row Left to Right: Morgan Buick, Max Duff, Ben Sellars, Lee Paterson, Brandon Prouse, Lewis Greig, Lloyd Cathro.

posted by Rhonda McFarlane, Funding Officer, Chief Executive’s Department

The Grants 4 Schools website has been updated with the following new funding opportunities

BBC Children in Need – Small Grants Programme (UK)

Schools can apply for grants of up to £10,000 through the BBC Children in Need Small Grants programme. The grants are available for projects that help children and young people experiencing illness, distress, abuse or neglect; any kind of disability; behavioural or psychological difficulties’; and / or living in situations of deprivation. Projects supported in the past include the develop coping strategies, social communication skills and help them to overcome anxiety; Trewirgie Junior School which received a grant of £9,760 to provide after school sailing sessions to disadvantage children aged 7-11; and Park School in East Ayrshire which received a grant of £8,000 to purchase equipment for disabled children and young people to access the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme. The school will also purchase sensory equipment leading to improved engagement in education, increased life skills and better health The closing date for applications is the 1st September 2016.

Support for Breakfast Clubs (UK)

Kellogg’s, Forever Manchester and Northumbria University have joined together to provide free online training to help you run a successful breakfast club. The training includes information on the benefits of breakfast clubs, healthy eating and child nutrition, effective planning and handy hints on funding and marketing. Breakfast Clubs can apply for this training up until 31st July2016. Breakfast clubs who have successfully completed the training will be eligible to be assessed for further support from Kellogg’s, in the form of a sustainability grant to the value of £500. To be eligible your breakfast club must be already set up in a school or community organisation in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Priority will be given to schools that have 35% and above of children eligible for free school meals and community based breakfast clubs that can evidence how their children are disadvantaged.

School Grants to Promote Physics (UK)

UK schools and colleges can apply for grants of up to £600 from the Institute of Physics for small-scale projects or events linked to the teaching or promotion of physics. Projects linked to astronomy, space and particle physics are particularly encouraged. The types of activities supported by the grant can include running a science week activity; organising a visit to or from a working physicist; supply cover; transport; marketing and publicity; and materials/resources; etc. Previous projects to receive funding include Ampleforth College for a Visit to Jodrell Bank Radio Observatory; and St John’s High School for a Practical Rocketry workshop to design a water propelled rocket. The next closing date for applications is the 1st November 2016.

Grants to Promote Horticulture (North of England)

The North of England Horticultural Society (NEHS) has announced the launch of its new Grants Scheme, offering grants from £100 – £2,000, to community groups, schools and charities within the North of England (Yorkshire and The Humber, Lancashire, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, Cumbria, Northumberland, Greater Manchester and the North Midlands) to fund horticultural projects and activities within the community. Applications are now invited in the following categories: Improving our landscape – aimed at community societies, friends groups and organisations committed to improving their local landscape; Grow and learn – aimed at encouraging schools and colleges to become involved with horticulture through hands-on activity and development; and A Greener Future: The Dr Bruce Rigby Programme – support for individuals keen to develop a career in horticulture. The closing date for applications is the 27th June 2016.

Sport Wales Development Grants (Wales)

Sports clubs and associations, community and voluntary groups looking to start a new team, develop new training facilities or purchase much needed equipment to take a project to the next level can apply for a grant of £1,501 – £25,000. The grants can also be used to provide coach education; buy floodlighting for training purposes; purchase land or rights in land to develop activity areas; and as start-up grants to support new enterprises. Applicant organisations must have a bank account in the organisation’s name to apply to the fund and the project must not yet have started. Primary schools or an associated body arranging activities for children, or secondary schools who are part of the 5×60 scheme, are ineligible to apply for a Development Grant. Applications can be submitted at any time but applicants are encouraged to discuss their ideas with their regional office before applying.

Teacher Training Scholarships (England)

The Institute of Physics (IOP) has announced that the next deadline for applications to its Teacher Training Scholarships for 2016 -17 is the 27th June 2016. The IOP, in partnership with the Department for Education offers teacher training scholarships, worth £30,000 for people in England who would like to train to teach physics or physics with maths. Scholarships also include a package of benefits such as Institute membership and early career mentoring. 150 scholarships are available each year. To apply applicants will need to have a physics or related degree (such as engineering or mathematics) with a proven or predicted grade of at least 2.1; or hold a relevant PhD or master’s degree or recognised equivalent; or have completed a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course in physics. If an applicant has a 2.2 degree, the IOP will consider the application if he/she can demonstrate significant physics-related experience and knowledge. Please refer to the UKCISA website for full details; and meet the bursary eligibility criteria as set out in the National College for Teaching and Leadership’s bursary guidance.

Funding for Schools Science Projects (UK)

The Royal Society Partnership Grant scheme has re-opened for applications. Through the scheme grants of up to £3,000 are available for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) projects run at a primary or secondary school or college in partnership with a professional scientist or engineer. The aim is to make the teaching of science more interesting within primary and secondary schools. The Partnership grants scheme forms partnerships to allow teachers to increase their scientific knowledge and to give scientists and engineers the chance to develop their communication skills and engage with enquiring young minds. Any UK primary or secondary school teacher or practicing scientist/engineer can apply as long as the students involved in the project are between 5 and 18. Examples of previously funded projects include: Germoe, Godolphin, Marazion and Sithney Primary Schools in Cornwall, who received a grant of £3,000 for the identification of pests & biological pest controls in indoor salad crops and St Mary’s CE Primary School pupils who made a bridge out of newspapers and studied all types of bridges, making models and testing them. The closing date for applications is the 1st August 2016.

Funding to Help Academy Trusts Take on Additional Schools (England)

The Department of Education has re-opened the Sponsor Capacity Fund. Through the fund academy trusts that need additional funding to take on schools (this includes academy trusts with an open free school or a free school in approved pre-opening) can apply for funding of between usually £50,000 and £100,000. The funding can be used to set up or expand the academy trust and its organisational structures, pay for IT infrastructure related to setting up the academy trust, to develop and prepare the leadership team, to employ staff, to bring in additional education experts and to provide accountancy, finance, business management of HR advice. Funding cannot be used to pay for the running costs of schools in or joining the academy trust. To be eligible for funding, the academy trust needs to be an approved academy sponsor (or is in the process of becoming one), or has an open free school (or one in the pre-opening stage); and intends to take on at least 1 school in the coming 12 months. This can be a sponsored or converter academy; free school; studio school; and/ or university technical college (UTC). The deadline for submitting applications is the 31st July 2016.

Character Education Grant 2016-17 (England)

Schools, colleges and other not for profit organisation can apply for grants of between £50,000 and £750,000 through the Department of Education’s Character grant. This new funding round is looking to support projects that use activities such as sports, debating or music to help broaden children’s learning experiences and boost their character. Last year’s character grant winners included Premiership Rugby, which received £500,000 to use the expertise of leading rugby coaches and players to instil character and resilience in disaffected children. The Department for Education want to fund a diversity of approaches that increase the number of children aged 5 to 16 involved in activities and environments that promote character education; develop key character traits, attributes and behaviours in children aged 5 to 16 that support academic attainment; are valued by employers; and enable children to make a positive contribution to British society. This year’s grants also include up to £2 million earmarked for projects with a military ethos, following the success of initiatives like Commando Joe’s and Challenger Troop, which use the expertise of former armed services personnel to instil resilience in children. The closing date for applications is the 23rd June 2016.