Two Year 10 ICT GNVQ groups have been taking part in a project with African and UK schools. They have been using a piece of software called JellyOS created by Africa Bookcase to communicate with students in Malawi, Sudan, South Africa and Kenya. The Year 10 students created web pages about themselves and Melton Mowbray and also about African issues; health, poverty AIDS and HIV and crime. You can view these pages if you visit the school intranet site (http://learningat.ke7.org.uk/ictafricaproject/index.htm). King Edward students were mainly part of the group looking at health, but many students produced work on a variety of issues affecting people living in Africa. Young People’s Commission for Africa are also going to be publishing all student work from Africa and the UK on a designated web site on June 16th @ www.ypcfa.org.
H Snaith and D Harris
April 2005
Deputy head, Kath Lee has been awarded a prestigious research associateship with the National College for School Leadership. Kath, wants to find new ways of improving behaviour of pupils, and as a result, improving education standards. She explained, “I will be investigating the way in which healthy relationships can be built up in the school community, to improve pupils’ emotional intelligence. The research will also give teachers new strategies for managing behaviour. I will be drawing together the experience of six other schools; and examining research in educational psychology, teaching skills and leadership.
“I hope to complete my research by December 2005. My findings will then be published in a research paper by the College, which will be distributed to headteachers throughout England and will be available to download from the College’s website.”
This work also forms part of a development project with six other secondary schools, with additional funding from Leicestershire County Council to produce practical tools which schools can use to develop good relationships with students in an ‘emotionally secure’ school. Kath added, “I’m very grateful for the research associate opportunity provided by the National College for School Leadership, and to my governors and colleagues for their support and encouragement. This is a real chance to have an impact of future leadership thinking, and to share the results of my research with others in the profession.”
Geoff Southworth, Director of Research at the College said: ‘The Research Associate programme, now in its fifth year, is proving to be very successful. Kath has come through a rigorous selection process and her study will make a significant contribution to the College’s work on leadership development programmes for existing and aspiring school leaders.’
January 2005
Two schools are leading the way in the county with initiatives aimed at promoting good behaviour. There were 154 youngsters excluded from schools in the county during the academic year 2003-04, increasing from 127 the year before and 111 in 2001-02. A panel of councillors at County Hall was set up to find out what caused the increase and they said schools could do more to help modify the behaviour of children. Members found most expulsions were caused by disruptive behaviour, which could be tackled at an earlier age.
Grove Primary School and King Edward VII Upper School, in Melton, were hailed by the panel for the way they focus on raising the self-esteem of children and helping them integrate and make friends. Grove was applauded for its buddy scheme, where pupils are assigned to make sure other children are included in playground games or to mediate if arguments have developed. The school also randomly pairs up youngsters in special sessions where they work together in a task with someone who is not necessarily a friend.
Head teacher Adrienne Holland said: "Every school would benefit from doing these kind of things. "They help children to develop social skills, to integrate and build-up their self confidence and self-esteem. "Children have to learn how to get on with each other. Schools are focused on academic development but it is equally important how they develop as social beings."
King Edward VII School was praised for its "halls system", which gives pupils a sense of belonging. The panel found teachers managed the behaviour of students by creating a relaxed atmosphere in school, avoiding conflict and using humour to diffuse certain situations. Head teacher Chris Williams said: "We are delighted that the county council has recognised the quality of work at King Edward VII School in promoting good behaviour." Coun Matthew O'Callaghan, a member of the scrutiny review panel on behaviour in schools, said: "The feeling of the panel was that improving the behaviour of pupils will help reduce the number who are excluded."