Tag: schools

Maths to the masses!

Creative projects and activities planned for biggest ever ‘Maths Week Scotland’.

More than 100 different activities – from weather forecasting to codebreaking – are part of the biggest Maths Week Scotland ever which kicks off today.

Supported by a £70,000 small grants fund, the events are designed to spark the interests of young and old across schools, science centres, adult education centres and nurseries.

The week-long festival of all-things-numbers will be launched by Education Secretary John Swinney at a ‘Mathletics’ event held at the home of Scottish Rugby BT Murrayfield Stadium. Teams from more than 30 secondary schools across the Lothians will scrum down in a series of maths-themed challenges at the final of ‘Enterprising Maths’.

Mr Swinney will be tweeting maths challenges – produced with the help of the Scottish Mathematical Council – during the week, with the best solutions then being illustrated in videos featuring maths teacher Chris Smith and his pupils from Grange Academy in Kilmarnock.

National Museums Scotland is running events at its sites throughout the week.

Former BBC weather forecaster, meteorologist and maths advocate Heather Reid is also adding her celebrity experience to proceedings, helping pupils at Sprouston Primary School in Kelso to interpret and bring to life data collected by their own weather station throughout the week.

John Swinney said: “We started Maths Week Scotland in 2017 to give everyone the chance to engage with maths in a creative and engaging way.

“The enthusiasm, commitment and passion of teachers, learners and maths champions has helped Maths Week Scotland grow every year since. It is fantastic to see events for people of all ages and all backgrounds to come together and appreciate the maths all around us.”

Heather Reid, affectionately dubbed ‘Heather the Weather’ for her breezy forecasts on BBC Scotland, said: “This year’s action-packed Maths Week Scotland explores the importance, usefulness and beauty of maths at events in schools and learning environments across the country. Good maths skills open up a wide range of excellent job opportunities, and help us to lead more successful lives.

“Maths lies at the heart of modern-day weather forecasts and climate change science. I can’t wait to visit Kelso and discuss the maths of weather with some young forecasters.”

Katie Oldfield, Maths Week Scotland Coordinator at National Museums Scotland, said: “We all use maths in our everyday lives whether we realise it or not. Activities taking place throughout Maths Week give children and adults the chance to experience the fun and creative side of maths and improve their maths skills.

“From codebreaking and enigma machines, discovering the maths behind the creation of Edinburgh Castle or exploring the universe through maths – there really is something for everyone.”

Information on activities taking place throughout Maths Week Scotland can be found at www.mathsweek.scot. 

 

NSPCC Scotland urges primary schools to help children stay safe from abuse

  • Last year the NSPCC visited almost 900 schools in Scotland, speaking to over 150,000 children about abuse and what they should do if they ever feel unsafe.
  • Charity wants to reach every school in the Scotland as well as the rest of the UK.
  • The ‘Speak out. Stay safe.’ programme can help schools deliver on the new compulsory Relationships Education curriculum.

Primary schools across Scotland which are yet to receive a visit from the NSPCC’s free ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ programme are being urged to sign-up as soon as possible.

In 2018/19 the charity visited 872 schools, from the Scottish Borders to the Northern Isles, and delivered workshops to almost 150,000 children, helping them understand how to recognise and report abuse in an accessible and age appropriate way.  Continue reading NSPCC Scotland urges primary schools to help children stay safe from abuse

Additional support for learning: £15 million to recruit frontline staff

Approximately 1,000 extra pupil support assistants will be recruited this year to work with children with additional support needs. 

This week the First Minister announced £15 million for councils to expand on the 13,636 pupil support assistants already working in Scotland’s classrooms – but the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition say greater investment yet is still required.

Visiting West End Campus in Dundee, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Every child should have the support they need to reach their full learning potential.

Through listening to the experiences of children and young people with additional support needs, their families and those who support them, we recognise we need to do more to enhance their experience at school.

“Working in partnership with local authorities we will invest an extra £15 million in the coming year to increase frontline staff to support learners with additional support needs.

“This will make an significant impact in our classrooms and will help to ensure our young people and their families get the right help at the right time.”

COSLA Spokesperson Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “Additional resource for Local Government is always welcomed and this funding will make a positive difference to children and young people in classrooms across Scotland, helping those with additional support needs to reach their full potential on their school journey. 

“Core Local Government services like education are vital to all of Scotland’s communities and COSLA will work hard in the coming months to ensure that Councils across Scotland continue to have the resources they need to support every child, young person, citizen and community.”

Responding to the Scottish Government announcement, a spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition commented: “This increase in investment to expand the number of pupil support assistants working in Scotland’s schools is to be greatly welcomed.

“However, what is also vital is boost in the number of ASN teachers, who have seen their numbers slashed over the last few years, as well as specialist support staff.

“Between 2012 and 2018 the number of specialist teachers supporting those with ASN has decreased from 3,840 to 3,437, a decline of 403, representing a new low. 

“There has also been  a fall in the number of specialist support staff in key categories such as behaviour support staff, where the number has dropped by 58 from 2012 (from 180 to 122) and by 43 in the number of educational psychologists (from 411 to 368).

“This fall is against the background of an overall increase by 68.7 per cent since 2012 in the number of pupils identified with ASN, from 118,034 to 199,065 in 2018, representing just over a quarter of all pupils (28.7 per cent). 

“Figures reveal that per pupil spend on those with ASN has slumped from £4,276 in 2012/13 to £3,387 in 2017/18. This amounts to a cut of £889 per pupil, representing a 26.1 per cent drop in real terms (20.8 per cent in cash terms).

“It is vital that those with ASN get the care and support they need, which is also key if we are to genuinely close the educational attainment gap. Any increase in support, which this Scottish Government announcement does, is to be welcomed, but this is clearly challenging in an environment of austerity and evidence of cuts in sspending per pupil with ASN.”

 

 

First Minister launches new app for teen readers

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joined Portobello High School students from S1-S3 yesterday to launch a new app, Bookzilla, at Portobello Library.

Developed by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, and digital agency Dubit, Bookzilla is aimed at early secondary school students in Scotland. The app encourages pupils to read for pleasure, whether they are already regular readers or just embarking on their reading journey. Continue reading First Minister launches new app for teen readers

Exam Results Day: help is at hand

Thousands of young people will have access to information, advice and support when the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) exam results helpline opens.

Expert careers advisers will be on hand to discuss next steps with young people receiving their results and to provide more information to parents and carers who are keen to understand the choices available.

The helpline will be available from 8am to 8pm today and tomorrow (Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 August), and from 9am to 5pm weekdays from Thursday 8 until Wednesday 14 August. The number to call is 0808 100 8000.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney met some of the advisers who will be standing by to provide dedicated support. He said: “I want to wish everyone receiving exam results the very best of luck and offer my congratulations on the culmination of all your hard work.

“This is an extremely significant time but it is important to remember that this is the start of a journey, not the end. If your results are what you hoped for that is great news but if you miss out on the grades you were looking for, or do even better than expected, there is a huge variety of options available to you that the SDS careers advisers are on hand to talk through.”

James Russell, Skills Development Scotland’s Director of Career Information, Advice & Guidance Operations, said: “If your results aren’t what you expected don’t panic, you have lots of options. 

“Skills Development Scotland is Scotland’s career service and our experienced advisers are here to help you and your parents and carers with information on all the options and opportunities available to you.”

The helpline is free to call however some operator charges may apply. Get in touch with the helpline via Facebook or Twitter.

Results information and advice is also available on Scotland’s careers website My World of Work.

Find out more about the role of a Skills Development Scotland careers adviser.

Weird and wonderful street science in Muirhouse

Spectacular street science entertained children in North Edinburgh yesterday. 

Busking Bikes
Edinburgh Science Festival ‘Busking Bikes’ were in the area entertaining children from four local primary schools as well as having a public show in the new ‘town centre’ by Muirhouse Library.

Continue reading Weird and wonderful street science in Muirhouse