GTCS backs second English teacher training course
The University of Buckingham has become the second English institution to have its PGCE course accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). The body has also rubber-stamped teacher training at the University of Northampton. The accreditation of the University of Buckingham’s courses, which are favoured by the private sector, will be welcomed by Scotland’s independent schools after plans were announced to enforce GTCS registration for all staff, meaning that some will need top-up qualifications.
The science centre with a direct line to space
The European Space Agency’s first British astronaut, Tim Peake, is to help children learn about space flight. The Destination Space programme, run by Glasgow Science Centre, includes experiments, rocket demonstrations and a live feed from the International Space Station. The centre’s chief executive Dr Stephen Breslin said: “It is well known that space and astronomy provide major inspiration for young people.”
Glasgow 2014 legacy to target teenage girls
A new Scottish government scheme to encourage physical activity among the country’s least active citizens - including teenage girls - aims to ensure the lasting impact of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The pound;800,000 Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund will target the 21 per cent of people who do less than 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. As well as teenage girls, this group includes people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, older people and some ethnic minorities. Grants of up to pound;70,000 will be available for projects that encourage physical activity in local communities.
Programme aims to Stem gaps in teachers’ knowledge
Events to address gaps in teachers’ knowledge of the new science Highers and Advanced Highers are set to run in Scottish schools later this year. At the first one, teachers will be able to tap into the expertise of a group of Stem ambassadors - professionals who are tasked with inspiring young people and highlighting routes into careers that use science, technology, engineering and maths. The four events in September will inform teaching staff about life science careers as well as addressing knowledge gaps around the new science courses. The sessions will take place at Perth High, St John’s High, Dundee, Baldragon Academy, Dundee, and Arbroath Academy. For more information and free tickets, visit bit.lyStemEvents
Most children in poverty are from working families
The majority of poor children in the UK live in working households, figures published last week reveal. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies report (bit.lyIFSreport), the proportion of children living in poverty in working families rose from 54 per cent in 2009-10 to 63 per cent by 2013-14. The change is a result of rising employment coupled with a reduction in real earnings, the report says. Julia Unwin, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which funded the research, said: “A strong economy and rising employment have masked the growing problem of in-work poverty, as years of below-inflation wage rises have taken their toll on people’s incomes.”
