Round-up

Issue 36

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Teaching Scotland journalist

Headline news from GTC Scotland and beyond.

New teachers recognised by GTC Scotland

Probationer teachers undertaking a range of CPD projects were recognised by GTC Scotland recently.

The group of 30 probationers from across Scotland received a certificate from the Minister for Schools and Skills

Keith Brown and our Chief Executive Anthony Finn.

Speaking at the event, held at our Edinburgh headquarters, Keith Brown said: "The Teacher Induction Scheme is a real asset to Scotland and a plays key role in developing the next generation of inspiring teachers.

"Continuing Professional Development is an important part of the scheme, helping to build skills and professional knowledge. The work I've heard about today is impressive and I'm pleased to be able to congratulate the new teachers involved personally."

Anthony Finn said: "These are tough times for probationer teachers trying to find employment in Scotland's schools, but there is no doubt that the CPD work they have been doing with schoolchildren will help give them a competitive advantage in the hunt for jobs.

"I have been impressed and heartened by the quality of work on show here today and I would like to wish all of the probationers present, and indeed all of the other probationers across Scotland, every success in their teaching careers."

For a list of all the teachers recognised, go to www.gtcs.org.uk

Enterprising Student Awards 2010

This year's Enterprising Student Awards will be held at the Falkirk Wheel on Thursday 30 September 2010.

The Enterprising Student Awards have been designed to recognise the students who have started their own business, either whilst at college or after they have completed their studies. Scotland's Colleges, in association with the Federation of Small Business Scotland, present these awards to recognise the considerable talent of the enterprising students involved with the college sector. They also recognise the important contribution the college sector makes to Scotland's economic development.

The closing date for nominations is Friday 10 September 2010.

Go to www.scotlandscolleges.ac.uk/curriculum/enterprise/enterprising-student-awards.html to download an entry form

SCQF needs your help!

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQFP) is inviting schools to come up with a new design for the Achievement Counts leaflet.

They're keen to update the design and make it more appealing to young people between the ages of 13-18.

This competition is open to all pupils from S3 to S6 in every secondary school in Scotland. Deadline for registration is 17 September 2010.

The deadline for competition entries is 29 October 2010.

The winners will receive £250 of Amazon vouchers to be split between the team members. They'll be invited to Glasgow to spend a half day at the graphic design agency and printer to see their winning design brought to life! The SCQFP will also take them to lunch and cover travel expenses.

Runners-Up will receive £150 of Amazon vouchers, with £100 of vouchers going to a highly commended team.

What is the SCQF?

SCQF helps people of all ages and circumstances to access the education and training appropriate to them. It can help learners plan their learning and develop progression routes to follow, whatever their situation.

Visit the SCQF website at www.scqf.org.uk or more information on the competition and to download the entry form

The journey continues for education

It seems obvious to me that holidays are a good thing. So when someone asks, "Did you have a good holiday?" The answer is surely: "Yes." I know things sometimes go wrong - the destination is a disaster, or it rains every day (as it did for me last year) - but the ritual of switch off, unwind, relax and recharge is so essential to our wellbeing that the summer break is a sweet release at the end of a busy year.

I've just had one of those busy years combining the day job as a Depute Head in an Orkney secondary school with my role as Convener of GTC Scotland. I've enjoyed most of it (although I could live without the 6.45am check in for the early flight to Edinburgh), and have been astonished at the amount and range of work that GTC Scotland gets through as a regulatory body.

I'm a newcomer to Council, being elected as a teacher member for the first time last September, and though I've been involved in Scottish education for many years at a national level, I have had much to learn. This has been made easier by support from GTC Scotland staff and officers, and by the example of fellow Council members.

It is the responsibility of the Convener to chair full Council meetings, which are held five times a year. There are currently 50 members of Council - 26 are serving teachers elected by GTC Scotland registrants and 24 are nominees and appointees representing major educational stakeholders and the public interest. Council meetings are always interesting given the remarkable range of educational interests represented. In addition to the elected teachers representing all levels of education, the voices of local authority employers, directors of education, universities, churches, other professional regulatory bodies, parents, and public interest groups are all heard. Scottish Government and HMIe also attend as observers.

The task of these meetings is to scrutinise and approve the work of the Council committees and to agree the strategic direction of GTC Scotland. While debate can be sharp, there is a real imperative for consensual working.

I am looking forward to the work of the coming year, but did I ask: had you a good holiday?

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Post- holiday blues? Maybe we can give a little helping hand! Teaching Scotland has teamed up with Green Hotel in Perthshire to offer one lucky reader a free luxury break.

To enter our prize draw, all you need to do is register for the Teaching Scotland e-newsletter at www.teachingscotland.org.uk/subscribe before 30 September.

One lucky winner will be selected at random and will win two nights' dinner, bed and full Scottish breakfast in a double or twin room for two adults sharing. Their stay would also include either two rounds of golf or two beauty treatments per person. Guests have complimentary use of Gravity Leisure Club during their stay. Once the winner has been selected a voucher will be sent for them to redeem against this prize which will be valid for 6 months from the date of issue.

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Young offenders supported

Plans to reduce crime by improving help for offenders, and those at risk of offending, to meet their learning and skills needs have been unveiled by the Scottish Government.

Minister for Schools and Skills Keith Brown said the aim was to break the cycle of crime many young people find themselves trapped in by providing offenders with more of the skills they need to live positive lives.

The plan will see efforts coordinated more effectively to support offenders, with key employment, skills and justice services working together.

While a pilot will be rolled out in a Scottish prison in the coming months, the measures go further than helping those already behind bars. The report also outlines how young people at risk of offending can receive the help they need before they pursue a life of crime.

The measures are included in the Scottish Government's response to the Options for Improvement report into Offender Learning published earlier this year.

Mr Brown said: "We know that many people going through our courts and in to our prisons have disengaged from society and that this tends to start with disengagement from learning.

"Intervening at an early stage to address patterns of offending behaviour is a key aim for this Government. We must work together to stop young people disengaging from learning and engaging in offender behaviour. We must also work with those already in the justice system to encourage and support them to develop their learning and skills."

Consultation on review enters its next phase

Since it commenced work in February the Review of Teacher Education has met with a wide range of stakeholders to discuss many aspects of teacher education. This has included University staff and students, local authorities and teachers in schools.

Those met with have been enthusiastic about the aims of the Review and have identified both aspects of teacher education which are working well and should be developed further, and those where change may prove positive.

Many organisations and individuals from across Scotland have submitted responses to either the Review's Call for Evidence or the Teacher Survey. The volume of responses has been very encouraging and has confirmed the interest and engagement from the education community. The responses are being analysed and will inform the next steps of the Review.

Although these particular routes to submit views have now closed, the Review team is happy to receive any further comments and ideas on teacher education by e-mail - enquiries@reviewofteacher educationinscotland.org.uk

There will be further opportunities to engage with the Review in the autumn when the team will take part in a range of Glow meetings with teachers and pupils and will host a discussion on the Engage for Education website.

Graham Donaldson will be speaking at the Scottish Learning Festival in September. In his spotlight presentation he will highlight some of the challenges that have emerged during the evidence gathering phase and begin to explore potential ways of addressing them. Additionally, there will be opportunities for discussion and debate in associated workshops.

Throughout autumn there will be further opportunities to discuss emerging ideas, problems and potential ways forward on the Review website: www.reviewofteachereducationinscotland.org.uk

First Minister forms new educational links with China

First Minister Alex Salmond has signed a partnership agreement with the Tianjin Municipal Government to strengthen business, cultural and educational links between Scotland and Tianjin - dubbed China's 'new Shanghai'.

In the Memorandum of Understanding signed today, both Scotland and Tianjin agreed to continue to work together to strengthen collaboration in education by encouraging greater links between research institutions, universities and colleges.

Following the signing First Minister Alex Salmond said:

"Signing this Memorandum of Understanding with Tianjin represents another positive step forward in strengthening the significant links that exist between China and Scotland.

"Scotland already enjoys strong relations with Tianjin and seven Scottish organisations have a presence there including Heriot Watt University. Scotland is committed to developing long term, meaningful relations with this area, due to its high economic success and growth."

Kilgraston scoops prize

Teaching Scotland's innovative support of the Scottish School Magazine Competition continued at the recent award ceremony, thanks to the wonder of twitter.

The Teaching Scotland team set up a twitter feed and encouraged schools attending the event to tweet their observations and experiences.

One school, Dollar Academy, was rewarded for their efforts with a digital dictaphone after it secured an exclusive interview with guest presenter Judy Murray.

Teaching Scotland sponsor the editorial content section of the competition, which is run by PPA Scotland.

The winner of the section this year was Kilgraston School in Bridge of Earn, who will receive coaching and mentoring from editor Daniel Lambie.

Russell engages parents

Parents were given a chance to put their questions about CfE directly to Education Secretary Michael Russell this summer.

A series of public events were held to give parents, teachers and others who care about the future of Scottish education the chance to air their views and have their voice heard at the highest level of government.

The roadshows built on the recent launch of engage for education.org which has created an ongoing dialogue on education between the public and the Scottish Government. The first events will take place in Inverurie, Alloa and Benbecula, with more to follow over the coming year.

Mr Russell said: "I know that some parents still have questions about the new curriculum. I recently wrote to the parents of every Primary 7 child and now I'm taking to the road to give them a chance to have their say and have their questions answered.

"These events build on the innovative Engage for Education website (www.engage for education.org) I recently launched, which also gives people a chance to have their views on education heard. Thousands of people have already visited this ground-breaking site and many are taking part in conversations about a range of diverse topics."

Conference shares views

The Assessment for Excellence (AfE) conference held in Edinburgh in June brought together a range of local authorities and other stakeholders who have expressed a desire to work more closely together to help develop their understanding and a coherent approach to planning, learning, teaching and assessment.

The Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM), in conjunction with Fife Council, hosted the conference, which focused on Building the Curriculum 5 and Quality Assurance within Assessment. The aim of the day was to bring about a meeting of minds from all over Scotland, to facilitate discussion, sharing of information, working practices, experiences and progress, and to offer alternative perspectives on assessment. In doing so, new approaches were put forward for consideration.

Following the success of the event, CEM anticipate a subsequent meeting to move the agenda forward.

Sign up to receive an invitation to the next meeting and keep up to date with developments at www.cemcentre.org/afesignup 

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they do feel that fostering a sense of global citizenship in the classroom can have a long-term, positive effect on the wider world?

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Firstly , Taking them in your car alone is the last thing to do. Phoning all the parents and getting through to someone would be the most...