posted by Alita Spink, Support Officer, Schools and Learning

News from the Commonwealth

How does democracy affect my life?

What is democracy? In what way does it affect your students’ everyday lives?

Join us on Thursday 20 October for our next Commonwealth Class debate, a wonderful opportunity for your students to delve into the topic of democracy with peers all around the world.

Democracy is the foundation for so many of the things we take for granted in Commonwealth countries, not least of all freedom of expression and the right to vote. In this month’s debate, we will be asking students to reflect on what it would be like to live without democracy, as well as discuss ways they can make sure their voices are heard in their community, school and beyond.

The debate will take place on Schools Online on Thursday 20 October from 9:30 to 11:00 GMT, but you can leave your comments up until Thursday 27 October – we look forward to seeing you there!

Join the debate

Prepare for the next Commonwealth Class debate

Catch up on the world’s largest democracy
Swot up for the next debate with the latest edition of First News, the award winning newspaper for young people. With a special focus on India, the world’s largest democracy, this is the perfect way for your students to learn about and discuss issues related to democracy, such as online activism and international legislation.

In Focus: democracy
The Commonwealth  believe in building, supporting and strengthening democracy, and recognise the right to vote to be an essential pillar of democracy. Make sure your students are prepped and ready for the next debate by exploring this value and understand how this big concept is entirely dependent on the actions of individuals.

Opportunities for budding Commonwealth writers

Submit your story to our competition
What does the word ‘Belonging’ mean to you and your class? We are accepting submissions from teachers and students alike for our Commonwealth Class story writing competition, a fantastic way to add your voice to the Commonwealth’s inspiring storytelling heritage…and be in with the chance of winning some great prizes!

Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition
Get your students’ creative juices flowing with the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. Running until 1 May 2017, this is a chance to weave writing, critical thinking, and global awareness into your curriculum, as well as an incentive for students to raise their game by competing with thousands of their Commonwealth peers.

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

Colleagues
I am delighted to be able to inform you that applications for funding from the NHS Tayside Health Promoting Schools Grants and Awards Scheme are now being accepted.

I have attached the updated application form and information sheet (they can also be accessed through the HWB tile on the Angus Glow page).

Applications should be submitted to me spinka1@angus.gov.uk by no later than Friday 4 November, 2016.

Please click on the links below to view information and application:
angus-grants-information-2016              angus-application-form-2016-17final

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

NEWS
Register for new series of Education Scotland LfS Practitioner Network events.
• Free British Council CLPL course for teachers in Scotland – Learning for Sustainability: Connecting Classrooms.
• Your views are needed to improve UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools Programme.
• Global citizenship and children’s rights CLPL courses in Glenrothes and Perth.
• Create richer learning environments with the Loose Parts Play Toolkit.
• Explore the Scottish food system through this CLPL opportunity at Whitmuir Farm Field of Enquiry 2000m2.
• Recognising and realising children’s rights in youth work resource now available.
• OWL Gardening and Woodland CLPL session for teachers coming up.
• Game of cones – tree health and survival strategy game & app now available for download.
• Sign up for the Royal Horticultural Society’s school gardening courses.

PROFESSIONAL READING
• Natural connections research shows outdoor learning can lead to a variety of improved outcomes.
• Making Gains report shows outdoor learning residential experiences can help raise attainment.

posted by Alita Spink, Schools and Learning Support Officer

The experience of having a mother, father, brother, sister, other family relative or even a friend go to prison can be incredibly traumatic for a child. Families Outside works with children and families affected by imprisonment across Scotland and has done so for the last 25 years.  With our awareness of the difficulties these often marginalised children face, Families Outside has produced My Diary aimed at addressing the difficulties experienced by young children in such distressing circumstances.

Book Version                                      Video Version

As a consequence of imprisonment, children with a family member in prison can become isolated from their community, including school, and may become the victims of bullying or display bullying behaviour themselves as they struggle to manage their anger and confusion. These children are more likely to have problems at school, with increased risk of school exclusion and disengagement from education. Often children are not told what is happening, which is confusing and worrying, or they are asked to keep it secret, which puts an enormous strain on them.

Children affected by imprisonment suffer from serious mental health issues at up to three times the rate of other children and are at higher risk of offending and, therefore, of ending up in prison themselves. The experience of a family member’s imprisonment puts children and young people at a serious disadvantage and makes engaging positively in society extremely challenging. 

My Diary is available to download from our research and publications page.  For copies of the diary, please email admin@familiesoutside.org.uk

The video version of the diary is also available which may be more suitable for the child or for training of professionals working with children affected by imprisonment.  The video can be downloaded from our Vimeo account.

Jonathan

Families Outside Support & Information Helpline: 0800 254 0088

posted by Carol Lyon Support Officer, Schools and Learning

Important changes are taking place to Education Scotland’s websites. Find out more>>

Preparations are underway for a major update to the Education Scotland websites to ensure we continue to meet the needs of practitioners as Scotland’s education system evolves.

By November, four sites will be available, which will be search-driven to help users quickly access the information they seek.

Corporate website – with information about Education Scotland, policy and legislation, news, Scotland’s education system and our role in it.

The National Improvement Hub – the dedicated source of education improvement materials and resources for education practitioners.

Parentzone Scotland – the dedicated information site developed for, and with, parents.

National Qualifications site – providing practitioners with support materials for qualifications.

In preparation, we have been reviewing the content on our current sites.  Education improvement materials and resources that remain relevant are being moved to the National Improvement Hub  some topic-specific content is being moved to partner organisations and will appear on their websites.  Other content is being archived for future consideration, and may be deleted or re-worked and used again.  Where content has already been moved, site visitors will find a relevant link or message.

The websites with sciences and learning for sustainability content will be affected as follows:

STEM Central – core content is being migrated to the National Improvement Hub. The site in its current format will no longer be available beyond the end of October 2016.
Weather and Climate Change – core content is being migrated to the National Improvement Hub. The site in its current format will no longer be available beyond end of October 2016.
Exploring Climate Change – core content is being migrated to the National Improvement Hub. The site in its current format will no longer be available beyond end of October 2016.
NQ Higher Sciences – content is being migrated to the new National Qualifications site. The site in its current format will no longer be available beyond end of October 2016.
Giant Pandas – the site in its current format will no longer be available beyond end of October 2016. In time, some of the content will appear on the Beyond the Panda website developed by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
Schools Global Footprint – this website is being deleted and will no longer be available beyond the end of October 2016.
Ready for Emergencies – the site in its current format will no longer be available beyond the end of October 2016. The content is currently being migrated to Scottish Government’s Ready Scotland website.
NQ Course Material Glow site – materials that have been developed for NQ Sciences by Education Scotland will appear on the new National Qualifications site. Most of the other material developed and shared by local authorities will not be available beyond the end of October 2016.
Sciences and Learning for Sustainability pages on Education Scotland’s Corporate site – core content will remain but there will be a significant reduction in content in the resources and sharing practice sections. Some content will be migrated to the National Improvement Hub.
National Assessment Resource – sciences content will no longer be available beyond the end of October 2016.

Due to the volume of content being migrated there may be a period of time at the end of October where some of content which is being retained or migrated may not be available on the National Improvement Hub or partner websites. We will be endeavouring over the coming weeks to minimise any loss in continuity of access to this material.

If you have any further questions then please email: nih@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk