#LfS – Learning for Sustainability

Apply for Global Learning Partnerships 2017

GTC Scotland registered practitioners from Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Highland Council and Stirling Council are invited to apply for Global Learning Partnerships 2017.

WHAT IS IT?

35 days of CLPL delivered over an 18 month period. Global Learning Partnerships (GLP) provides participants with the opportunity to spend four weeks, over the Scottish summer holidays, living in host communities in rural Rwanda and Western Uganda. During this time, participants will work alongside local educationalists and teachers, developing their teaching methodologies and improving the provision of education within host schools.
In addition to the four weeks in-country, participants will attend two pre-departure training weekends (March / June 2017) and a post placement debrief (October 2017)
GLP is accredited by GTC Scotland in Global Education within Learning for Sustainability.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The programme costs on average £3,600 per person. Participants are asked to fundraise £1,250 towards this cost. The remainder of programme funding is met by The Wood Foundation and local authority partners.
Costs include: all pre-departure training (accommodation and sustenance), placement costs (flights, living allowance, accommodation overseas, in-country orientation, mid-phase review and in-country support costs), and debrief (training provision, accommodation and sustenance).

WHO DELIVERS THE PROGRAMME?

Developed by The Wood Foundation, GLP is currently delivered in Scotland in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Highland Council, and Stirling Council.
In Rwanda, the programme is developed and delivered alongside Inspire Empower Educate Rwanda and The Lotic Group. In Uganda, The Wood Foundation will work in partnership with Redearth Uganda.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Applications are open to permanent, GTC Scotland registered practitioners who work for one of our partner local authorities.
Application forms are available by contacting Kelly Work (Kelly.work@thewoodfoundation.org.uk), or by contacting your local authority champion (Fiona Saunders – Aberdeen City; Christine McLennan – Aberdeenshire; Christine Gordon – Highland; and Helen Winton – Stirling).
Applications will be accepted from now until 5pm on Friday 6th January 2017.

See flyer below:

download-the-global-learning-partnership-flyer

British Council: LfS Connecting Classrooms Course

Glasgow: 14 January – 18 March (Venue TBC)

Edinburgh: 21 January – 25 March 2017 Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh
Oban: 22 April – 25 June 2017 (bookings not yet open, please register interest)

This professional learning initiative by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with the British Council and Learning for Sustainability Scotland, is a timely opportunity for teachers to grapple with what Learning for Sustainability means, what existing and new skills and knowledge are required, and how this might all look in the your school context. Connecting directly with Curriculum for Excellence, involvement will enable you to effectively plan for and implement Learning for Sustainability approaches in your school.

This programme offers teachers the opportunity to engage and collaborate over a ten week period which includes two full day face to face sessions at the beginning and at the end of the period, supported by fortnightly inputs from online materials.

Teachers who successfully complete the programme will be eligible to apply for overseas study visits to partner schools in other countries. Learning can be used to strengthen international links at your school, enriching teaching and learning through partnerships and joint projects.

The professional learning is fully funded.

For more information on the Glasgow course, including what is involved and how to book please click HERE.

For more information on the Edinburgh course, including what is involved and how to book please click HERE.

If you would like to be included on the mailing list for future courses in other Scottish locations, please email Abi Cornwall.

Grants available for range of LfS projects

Scotmid Community Grants (Scotland)
The Scotmid Co-operative is offering small grants to assist and support community projects and initiatives throughout Scotland. Last year Scotmid awarded grants totalling £235,000 to organisations ranging from parent and toddler groups to national campaigns. Funding is concentrated on the areas of Children/education; Community Groups; Active Lifestyles; Environment; the Elderly; Homelessness; Fairtrade; Arts & Culture; and Charity.
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be a group or individual acting for the wider benefit of the local Community; and live within the geographic boundaries of one of Scotmid Regional Committees.
Applications can be submitted at any time.
http://www.scotmid.coop/community-and-charity/supporting-local-communities/scotmid-community-grant/

Greggs Foundation Small Environmental Grant Scheme Re-Opens for Applications (England, Scotland & Wales)
The Gregg Foundation’s Environmental Small Grants programme has re-opened for applications.
The grants programme which is funded by the 5p levy on carrier bag sales in Greggs shops aims to improve people’s lives by improving their environments. The funding is available to small, locally based community led organisations with a turnover not in excess of £300,000. Schools are also able to apply and will receive the same level of preference as small organisations. Under the small grants programme funding of up to £2,500 is available to purchase equipment, sessional salary costs, purchase of trees/plants, small capital projects and learning activities.
The type of activities that can be funded include:
• Groups of volunteers who completed litter picking exercises in their local parks or along a local riverbank
• An allotment project for people suffering early stages of dementia
• A growing project in a local primary school
• Clearing an area of wasteland in an area of high social need to create a community garden; etc.
The Foundation are more likely to make grants to local organisations based near Greggs shops.
The closing date for applications is the 1st July 2016.
https://www.greggsfoundation.org.uk/environmental-grants

Skipton Building Society – 2016 Grassroots Giving Programme (England, Scotland & Wales)
To celebrate its 163rd birthday, the Skipton Building Society will launch its Grantsroots Giving programme for 2016 on the 3rd May.
Through the programme 163 community and voluntary groups around the country can win award of £500 to help them with their community work. The idea behind our Grassroots Giving campaign is to help community organisations, or groups, who only have access to limited funding from elsewhere. The programme is also able to fund projects within schools but this needs to be addition to its statutory services.
For example, last year’s winners included the creation of a frog garden at St Anthony’s School in Kent and the Friends of Luttons School (FOLS) who received funding to improve the outdoor learning areas within the school.
The closing date for applications will be 29th July 2016. Following the application closing date, a shortlist of organisations will be compiled and listed on the Grassroots Giving website. The public will then be free to vote for their favourite organisation.
https://www.skiptongrg.co.uk

Funding for Schools Science Projects (UK)
The Royal Society has announced that its Partnership Grant scheme will re-open for applications in May 2016.
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.
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 will be in July 2016.
https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/partnership-grants/

Equipment Grants for Children with Additional Support Needs (UK)
Schools and not for profit organisations have the opportunity to apply for funding through the Wooden Spoon Society’s Capital Grants programme.
Wooden Spoon the British and Irish Rugby charity which supports mentally, physically disadvantaged children. Through the programme funding is available for:
• Buildings and extensions
• Equipment & activity aids
• Sensory rooms and gardens
• Playgrounds and sports areas
• Transport and soft playrooms.
Since being founded in 1983, Wooden Spoon has made grants of over £20 million to more than 500 projects in the British Isles.
Projects funded in the past have included:
Ashmount School in Leicestershire, which received a grant of £13,500 towards a sensory room.
Enfield Heights Academy in London which received a grant of £23,000 to improve its play areas.
The Colehill &Wimborne Youth & Community Centre which received a grant of £8,000 towards a wheelchair lift.
Applications can be made at any time and applicants should contact their regional volunteer group. Subject to an application being approved by Wooden Spoon Trustees, the Society require a minimum of one Wooden Spoon membership to be taken out by a representative of the applicant organisation.
Applications can be made at any time.
https://www.woodenspoon.org.uk/apply-for-funds

Grants Available to Promote Use of Tap Water (UK)
Grants of between £300 and £3,000 are available to Schools, Colleges and Universities for projects that significantly reduce their reliance on single-use plastics and plastic waste.
The Tap Water Awards aim to support projects that develop new solutions to replace pre-existing systems that rely on plastic and promote the use of tap water. Grants are available to support educational establishments install mains fed drinking water machines and using reusable bottles. The Awards will however not pay for activities or services that schools have a statutory responsibility to provide.
Applications can be submitted at any time.
Educational establishments wishing to apply are strongly advised to contact tapwater.org before applying.
http://www.tapwater.org/grants

Make your voice heard in national survey

Schools are being asked to share their views on “Edible Gardening” as part of a research project in association with the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). The five minute questionnaire aims to gather feedback from all schools, regardless of whether they have a school garden or not.

Terry Griffiths, who is leading the research, explains “There is strong research evidence of the benefits of school gardening, particularly in learning, behaviour and emotion and in food choices. Organisations such as RHS Scotland, RBGE and the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society are increasingly providing interdisciplinary learning initiatives to develop gardening in schools. These include direct involvement in schools with pupil groups, career-long professional learning for staff, as well as educational materials and free seeds. This survey aims to build a comprehensive picture of the extent of school gardening across Scotland and will help assess the benefits and the difficulties associated with developing gardening in schools.”

Responses will be anonymised for analysis and reporting. A small number of schools may be contacted for further enquiries once the initial survey has been completed.

The survey is online at https://goo.gl/AXypRp . For further information, please contact Mrs Terry Griffiths at T.Griffiths@rbge.ac.uk .

LfS at the Scottish Learning Festival 2016

Registration for this year’s Scottish Learning Festival (SLF) is now open. SLF 2016 will focus on promoting excellence and equity for all through the key themes of:

• school leadership and school improvement

• assessing children’s progress and parental engagement

• teacher professionalism

There are a number of seminars exploring how these themes can be addressed through learning for sustainability. These seminars include:

Wednesday 21st September 2016

Learning for sustainability, leadership and school improvement
Ian Menzies, Education Scotland
Focusing on key drivers from the National Improvement Framework, including leadership, teacher professionalism and parental engagement, this seminar will explore how one school has developed a whole school approach to learning for sustainability as an integral part of their school improvement process. Seminar Code: D2E

Global learning partnerships: Inspiring today’s global citizens through career-long professional development, Georgea Hughes, The Wood Foundation
Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire education teams share their experience of global learning partnerships; showcasing examples of partnership working and interdisciplinary practices which support and encourage young people to become thinkers, questioners, challengers and responders in a globally sustainable way. Seminar Code: D2C

Outdoor learning and Curriculum for Excellence
Daniel Moncrieff, FSC Scotland
Outdoor learning is increasingly being used as a powerful tool across all subject areas in Scotland, and in both primary and secondary schools. Our charity provided outdoor learning experiences for over 165,000 people last year, and during this seminar we will explore some of the different ways we work with schools to raise attainment in literacy, numeracy and other curriculum areas through residentials and day visits. The focus of the discussion will be on activities teachers can utilise to access outdoor learning environments and make these learning experiences as powerful as possible. Seminar Code: M1A

Outdoor learning – a whole school approach to raising attainment
Jenny Watson, Middleton Park School, Aberdeen
We will share our effective outdoor experiences to promote excellence and equality for all. Our outdoor learning has successfully raised attainment across the school and has been pivotal in our journey to excellence. Our sector leading approach to embedding the principles of GIRFEC in our outdoor learning
have been commended by HMI. Seminar Code: M1D

The James Maxton and WW1 project: a collaboration between teachers and archivists
Michael Gallacher, Glasgow City Archives
The seminar explores the lessons from the James Maxton and WW1 project, a collaboration between archivists, and primary and secondary teachers from Glasgow, supported by Education Scotland. It examines how partnerships create resources to enrich learning outcomes, empower teachers and engage pupils with unique, interdisciplinary sources of evidence. Seminar Code: K3B

A smorgasbord of support for practical food education
Lorna Aitken, Education Scotland
Join us at the table to discuss current ingredients within food education in Scotland. From self evaluation and support around whole school engagement with Better Eating, Better Learning to assessing pupil progress in practical food experiences, we will aim to fuel your learning with inspiration from colleagues across Scotland. Seminar Code: D2B

GIRFEC through eco-schools co-curricular participation
Dugald MacGilp, Keep Scotland Beautiful
This seminar draws on the experience of three school clusters in raising attainment through co-curricular participation. We will hear from students, teachers and education research staff about successfully achieving GIRFEC through participation. There will be the opportunity for attendees to discuss their experiences and to learn about the refreshed Eco-Schools programme. Seminar Code: B1D

Our 5Rights: Digital rights of children and young people
Scotland’s 5Rights Youth Commission
Young Scot, Scottish Government and 5Rights introduce Scotland’s 5Rights Youth Commission – a diverse group of young people passionate about their rights online. We will hear from them what their ‘5Rights’ mean to them, and how children and young people can be empowered to access technology creatively, knowledgeably, and fearlessly. Seminar Code:C2A

Thursday 22nd September 2016

Throwing out the plastic; constructing an environment which supports the development of high quality creative play, Catriona Gill, Craigentinny Primary School, Edinburgh
This practitioner enquiry used high quality self-evaluation to make deep and sustainable improvements to practice with real benefits for learners. The enquiry explored the effect of changes made to the nursery environment in order to cultivate creativity and develop opportunities for free flow play. Seminar Code:D1F

Rights made real: Rights-based learning in action
Christine Creaney, South Lanarkshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council’s fully accredited Rights-based learning model – Making Rights Real – has been embraced by both primary and secondary schools within and beyond the authority as a practical and effective conduit to achieving equity for all, improving school ethos and deepening engagement with
parents and the wider community. Seminar Code:B1G

Recognising and realising young people’s rights in youth work (resource)
Nicola Sykes, Education Scotland
This seminar will provide an introduction to the Recognising and Realising Children’s Rights resource for youth workers. The passing of the Children and Young People’s Act (Scotland) 2014 places further duties on Scottish Ministers and public organisations in relation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This important legislation, enshrines in the education system enhanced duties in relation to the UNCRC. Recognising and realising children’s rights permeates the essence of youth work. The new resource supports youth work practitioners knowledge and understanding and invites reflection on how young people’s rights are realised in policies and practice. Seminar Code:A2H

Walking back in time
Donald Macdonald, Sustrans
Every local community has a story to tell. From the Romans, to Victorians and WW2’s Home Front, there is a story children can use to put their learning in context. This outdoor learning project uses active travel to engage children in learning and discover more about the place they live. Seminar Code:K3H

You can view the full conference programme here .

Volunteering for sustainability

Project Trust is now welcoming applications from those leaving school in 2017 who are interested in becoming Global Volunteers.

Project Trust’s aims are to “empower young people to be confident, creative and resilient through a challenging volunteering experience overseas. Acting as responsible citizens and effective contributors, volunteers make a positive difference to their overseas host communities and share their learning and understanding when they return home. ”

From the charity’s home on the Hebridean island of Coll, Project Trust selects around 300 young people from across the UK for 8 – 12 month teaching, social care and outward bound projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

“Project Trust gives young people the opportunity to explore the world whilst making a real contribution to the global community. … you don’t just see a place but become part of it.”

Lucy Hughes (Cambodia volunteer)

Global-Citizenship-Ambassadors
Working and living in challenging environments within communities around the world, offers volunteers an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of various global issues. Through Project Trust’s Global Citizenship programme, returned volunteers also share their experiences and knowledge with schools across the UK. Volunteers can receive an accreditation of a Level 3 Foundation Year in Global Volunteering and Citizenship as formal recognition of their learning.

Volunteering overseas with Project Trust is open to all young people with the desire, motivation and aptitudes required to succeed. A bursary fund has recently been established to provide financial assistance to volunteers who may require extra support.

To find out more visit http://www.projecttrust.org.uk

To organise a visit from a Project Trust representative to talk to S5/6 pupils, contact Claire.Jennings@projecttrust.org.uk

Minister invites schools to share LfS story

Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages launched the #ThisIsLfS campaign this week, encouraging schools across Scotland to share their stories of what learning for sustainability means to them.

The announcement came as the Minster helped St. Aidan’s Primary School, Wishaw, unveil their sixth Eco Schools green flag. The learners displayed great confidence, knowledge and enthusiasm as they took Dr. Allan on a tour of their school building and grounds. They shared the many different ways they receive their entitlement to learning for sustainability.

P2/3 shared their learning on their whole class ‘Clyde in the Classroom’ topic, including an introduction to the “alevins” that had hatched in the special tank in the classroom. The children shared their knowledge of brown trout life cycles and displayed great care and attention in regulating the temperature and looking after the eggs. Dr. Allan commented on the potential of this project for furthering their knowledge of river ecology and care of the local environment.

In addition to the P2/3 class, Dr. Allan met representatives from a number of pupil groups including the Eco group, the Rights Respecting Schools group and the Fairtrade group. He was even treated to some home made carrot cake made from carrots recently harvested from the school’s raised beds. The children also spoke passionately about their links with Malawi and how much they had gained from their work in supporting and learning from their link school.

Dr. Allan said: “The Scottish Government supports every learner’s entitlement to learning for sustainability. We think it is a great way to learn and can help raise attainment and prepare young people for the world of work. For me, learning for sustainability is about learning for a better world. Education Scotland would like to hear what LfS means to you. You can share your pictures and stories and thoughts, using #ThisIsLfS. I look forward to seeing your responses. ”

Fairtrade snack attack is back

tuck shop

The Snack Attack Challenge is back for 2016!

Invent a Fairtrade snack, design the packaging and promotional campaign and win £100 of Traidcraft goodies for your school!

Traidcraft are looking to encourage the next generation of decision makers to be creative and pioneering in their approach to life and enterprise; to think about people as well as profit and the impact of the choices they make every day.

The deadline for competition entries will be 1st April 2016, which makes it a perfect activity for Fairtrade Fortnight (29th February – 13th March 2016).

To download an application pack, click here.

Hands up for LfS award nominations!

Croftcroighn Primary School won the Learning for Sustainability (LfS) award at last year’s Scottish Education Awards. In this guest blog post, the Glasgow school share their story and encourage others to apply for this year’s award:

“We were delighted to win the Learning for Sustainability award at last year’s Scottish Education Awards.

We first decided to apply for the award to gain recognition for the excellent practice in Learning for Sustainability we feel we have established, not only in Croftcroighn School itself but across our wider campus and with various other partners.

We reflected upon Glasgow’s Growing Good Citizens diagram which provided us with a framework to work within and used the Reflection Tool: A whole school journey towards Learning for Sustainability to track and monitor our progress.

As a school we have undertaken a lot of work across many areas of Learning for Sustainability, this has included our extensive International Education programme We have gained our full International Schools Award from the British Council and received our plaque and flag. We have hosted many International visitors to the school from Namibia, Sweden, Dubai, Holland and Japan. We are currently involved in the Erasmus Plus project and have a social enterprise link with Malawi, working alongside a local secondary school.

We also have a thriving eco-committee in the school, which pupils, parents and the wider school community are involved in. We are currently working towards permanent green flag status.

Last session we were awarded a grant from Education Scotland which allowed us to undertake a whole school Food for Thought Project. This enabled us to raise awareness around the importance of healthy eating with both parents and pupils as well as developing a range of life skills. This has continued this session through the Love Food Hate Waste initiative we are involved in.

Another of our recent developments was to look at effectively taking our learning outdoors to develop pupil’s skills and understanding across the curriculum. This initiative was fully embraced by all staff and pupils and it now firmly embedded within the school and the wider campus as a whole. This included the development of a whole campus orchard.

It is important that our pupils learning takes place in a variety of contexts to make it meaningful for them and to develop their life skills, self-confidence and communication. On reflection many of the different initiatives we are involved in under Learning for Sustainability allows this to happen in a variety of ways and we were extremely proud to be shortlisted for the award. The judge’s visit was a very positive experience and they were keen to hear about all the work that was going on within the school.

A number of pupils represented the school at the award ceremony and celebration which was a wonderful experience for them and one which they thoroughly enjoyed. ”

There is still time to nominate in the LfS category for this year’s Scottish Education Awards. Nominations must be submitted by 12pm on Monday 15th February.

Thank you to Clare Fitzpatrick and Margaret McFadden from Croftcroighn School for sharing their story.

#ReadyToVote – Scotland’s Schools Registration Event, March 2016

The Electoral Commission invites all schools to take part in: #ReadyToVote – Scotland’s Schools Registration Event, March 2016.

It is easy for schools to take part. They just need to select a day during the month of March and encourage their students to go online and register to vote. The Electoral Commission is providing schools with a toolkit which will contain everything they need to deliver the event.

If you would like to take part and be sent a copy of the toolkit please email Jonathan Mitchell, at the Electoral Commission jmitchell@electoralcommission.org.uk supplying your schools’ name and contact details.

This initiative is being delivered in partnership with Education Scotland, SOLACE, ADES, SLS, ERO’s, SCIS, and Colleges Scotland.