Only one local authority is currently meeting the Scottish Executive’s target to provide two hours a week of PE to schools, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.
East Renfrewshire Council appears to be alone in providing primary and secondary pupils with at least two hours of PE a week - a target schools are supposed to hit by the start of the 2007-08 academic year. Councils have blamed a lack of PE teachers, facilities and money.
East Renfrewshire Council has won the Lawn Tennis Association’s County of the Year Award, after its Active Schools team helped provide coaching to 5,000 children. The authority said the success of Andy Murray had boosted interest in the sport.
The UK’s largest specialist schoolwear retailer will sell bigger school uniforms to fit overweight children. The National Schoolwear Centres chain is to offer blazers with 52-inch chests, trousers with 42-inch waists and shirts with 17.5-inch collars, for boys. It is already offering blouses to fit a 48-inch bust in its range for secondary school girls.
The “total vacuity” of educational jargon has been attacked at a teachers’
conference in Bourne-mouth. Incomprehensible “edu-babble” is often used as a status symbol in the profession, delegates heard at the annual conference of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.
The Programme for Alternative Vocational Education at Midloth-ian Council has reduced the number of young people entering the Neet group, a study has found. Educational psychologists noted those involved in PAVE had better attendance rates, confidence and relationships with adults.
Perth and Kinross Council is looking for a new executive director for education and children’s services following the resignation of Stuart Powell after only a year in post. A council spokesman said Mr Powell’s departure was for personal and family reasons.
Free financial education workshops for secondary teachers will be held at various venues in May and June. Delegates will look at resources and discuss cross-curricular working within A Curriculum for Excellence.
* www.LTScotland.org.ukfinancialeducationprofessionaldevelopmentEventsInde x.asp Learning and Teaching Scotland has decided to make use of the YouTube website. LTS’s first video posts include an interview with education consultant Stephen Heppell about his hopes for education in Scotland.
