The Secret Teacher is sick of being a slave to league tables

BTEC science has never been equivalent to GCSE and now will not count in the rankings of our school is falling. Where does that leave the lower level students who can not pass a test? Now I'm waiting for the next round to "improve performance" at the expense of learning

Sam I love teaching. It is a kind, happy 15 years, despite his intellectual limitations, remains largely happy. This triumph of nature must be recognized. Your school day is almost constant struggle cognitive, however, he can laugh and smile and treat people around you with the respect that is often associated with children his age. It is also a source of considerable joy. Recently asked to design a brochure to describe the transfer of energy in the home. A look of pain came in the light of his face which is not surprising, since the energy is one of the more abstract concepts of physics. "Lord," I finally asked, "What is a flyer?"

Sam is not rare, it is not surprising that strives to meet the learning of energy, regardless of their experience of brochures. If Sam had to pass a test most likely only be able to recall basic facts. However, Sam was lucky. He BTEC Applied Science course, which does not have exams. This is an important point. To pass, Sam did not demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding of yourself, armed only with a pen, paper and a brain. Instead, to assess their ability, Sam must produce a bewildering variety of courses. Basically, you can do that with my help, the help of his classmates, the Internet or any other source of information.

student work on your project is marked by the teacher, and then improve in response to the Board. This can be repeated as many times as necessary. If this occurs during a test, would be cheating, but in BTEC, not only allowed, it is encouraged. The course is assessed in this way. Therefore, BTEC is considered an easy solution.

The easy option is how we ensure that students do not miss. It is called D / C students limits, for which there are many intervention strategies in place, but students from low capacity for which a grade E is a success. The most gifted students are placed in courses such as BTEC science, providing the best possible chance of death. There is nothing wrong with developing students' skills in research and presentation, and rewarding work, and there BTEC.

In fact, these courses should be commended for precisely these reasons. However, we must not deceive a pass has a value equivalent to GCSE academic, because their model does not allow accurate measurements for assessing students' abilities. This is partly why BTEC science students, regardless of their qualifications, not the right to do A-Level science.

• Not that it matters at school. BTEC science is officially "equivalent" to GCSEs. Not significantly education, but when it comes to rankings. BTEC Results positions improve schools. Teachers therefore placed in the position where they are expected to pass students. Inevitably, in the case of courses, which will lead to bending of the rules. Not necessarily cheating, but what happens, but the shadows are fully explored in order to increase the degrees.
So I was surprised when I found myself in agreement with the technical details of the policy. BTEC Science is no longer equivalent to GCSE rankings in school, so our school is no longer the offer. They like Sam will now be sitting GCSE examinations. Probably not, of course. I mean you will not get the grade C is considered a success, but at least their performance closer to their capacity, what should be the goal of any test system. However, the rankings are, so it will not be long before I discovered the last breath "to improve performance" at the expense of real learning. I can not wait.

. Master Secret this week is a science teacher and guidance counselor.

could be our next Secret Master?

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Best bits: Employing disabled people

All advice and resources you need expert group during our recent live Q & A

Sally Reynolds, self advisor company

for people with disabilities seeking the creation of a business, the following support is available:

Unltd and SSE : While there may not be a specific aid for disabled people to create their own social enterprise spirit integration is not supported by Unltd and the School of Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) for various social entrepreneurs who want to fix something, which of course include persons with disabilities. Note: The deadline is looming funding SSE work program:

self-employment is now included as a way forward. It is actually less on training and employment information (or should be). However, they are paid by results (jobs) so it is in their interests to help people who really want to work -. If it is through self-employment or a job on the open labor market

Forum employers on disability and BASE: Business who are interested in the employment of people with disabilities, and to participate, either Entrepreneurs with Disability Forum or employer to work with a local employment agency supported - many of whom are basic -. British Association for Supported Employment

(But none of these agencies have nothing to do with the creation of social enterprises, and few companies make money, then I suggest you look for those who can provide direct support Unltd and SSE in the front.)

Temi Odesanya

adds

:. I recommend you look miEnterprise that his model is very interesting and expanding across the country also

Sectors improve the following options: recycling (Brighter Futures workshop for example) is up for a few years now. Contract catering upscale is another area where we saw special events such as Create in Leeds (although using very poor, rather than people with disabilities).

You should take a look at Social Firms UK

good practice guide

This includes the employment of the disabled / disadvantaged people, which could be very useful for any company name:

benefits addressing barriers to employment "

social enterprises in the UK also

this resource on the lack of incentives created by system benefits, although very dated, still retains many of the relevant principles.

Be clear business case for hiring people with disabilities: A social enterprise is the same as for any business and entrepreneurs Forum on disability has great resources, fact sheets and other that could help "put the case."

Tweets that mention Watch

occasions: is also on Twitter @ Clearkit Clear society constantly tweets about the benefits of hiring disabled people - worth checking out.

> Success Stories

Products . New Haven launch an initiative called the "additional labor" and it worked very well with private companies such as IBM.

. Bottling Orchardville affected some large employers in the head with the CSR. Following this meeting, one, Coca-Cola has contracted with them to do their bottle recycling and enable them to create more jobs for people with learning disabilities. Kathy Baker wrote a thesis on this subject can be found on the website of social enterprises in the UK.

Off employment can be a powerful marketing tool:

When marketing can and should be used aggressively is to demonstrate the impact of the company for the purposes of recruitment. In my experience, the best marketing for companies that employ disabled people is their ability to turn around a product or service at a competitive price and with extremely high quality. This is the best advertising for any business and is also the best education for people who would otherwise be adversely affected.

Temidire Odesanya, Director of Marketing

social enterprises in the UK

Social business associations and business are important : At our conference on July 12 in Leicester are looking at what works and how create a win "win." An example of a collaboration of the company is to Sims Recycling Solutions.

See

Social Enterprise UK industry mapping tool : 2011 We are finalizing the list, but you can see the previous reports on the performance by sector . Recycling is the largest industry and we have seen an increase in the education sector. We have recently expanded to include integration social enterprises work so I hope to continue to grow training.

A company head

: Clarity to a large company and are consistently innovative quality products to meet with the market and attract new businesses. Its rich heritage keeps clients that support ethical shopping and receive the support of major Joanna Lumley and celebrity Samantha Fox

Focus on

can not can not Brighter Future Workshop often say that if you focus on what a person with severe physical disabilities can do rather than what they can do no obstacle. Your business is proof. He received the Queen's Award for Enterprise last year and have a growing business.

network is the key:

• exchange of best practices and establish a dialogue as we are now. In our conference, we have plenty of time to network and still are highly qualified for it.

Stay in touch with Social Firms UK

This seems a very biased, but we are many resources to help all those who want to create a social enterprise, our members are networking and sharing of resources / skills in their field and our conference ins a key event in the calendar to facilitate relationships.

Paul Wilson, business writer
Pluss

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Men in Black 3 extra sues after costume causes 'serious bodily injuries'

Danika Gerner

complaint accusing him of negligence Columbia after "wardrobe malfunction" presumably

Men in Black III

additional Danika Gerner Columbia continued study on a "wardrobe malfunction," says she was injured and can not work.

• Gerner, a model based in New York and trainer, said the suit he had given the costume department for the rest of Will Smith was in a "defective and dangerous condition", which leads "serious bodily harm" during a five-day session in May. It collects defendants - including the production of Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment company and a number of members of the costume department of the film -. Neglect and failure "to take the necessary precautions for the safety"

Last week, an extra in the latest Transformers movie that has suffered significant brain damage when a shot that has not been allocated $ 18.5 million in compensation by a judge in Chicago an agreement. Last August, a specialist who suffered brain damage film The Hangover: Part Two has launched a lawsuit against the movie studio Warner Bros. The case was resolved for

Gernika did not detail the exact nature of his "wardrobe malfunction" during the proceedings before the Supreme Court of New York. Columbia Pictures has yet to comment publicly on the case.

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Give and take scheme provides a new blueprint for elderly care

initiative where volunteers serve the local population and "claim" for help when they need it intended to disable the demographic time bomb

Professor Heinz Wolff invented most of his life. Now, the scientist, 84, perhaps best known for his appearances on television shows such as Great Egg Race, expects its latest innovation will be one of their more powerful.

The challenge is enormous: how to disable the demographic time bomb. His solution is Care4Care, a system that allows volunteers to gain time for morning care to help others today. Currently being piloted with a group of about 90 volunteers, the plan Wolff eventually allow millions of people to have their own "board of health" -. A guarantee of care in old age, public funding has been significantly reduced

"Care4Care I see as a form of community mobilization is his mind to do something the country desperately needs. If you put in a couple of hours each week during the years here when reach 78 and are a bit creaky itself could have 5000 hours and can get what it's worth a lot of money -. including the minimum wage you are talking about £ 30,000 of attention, "says

Wolff has been associated with the Centre for the Study of Young Foundation, who has worked with age in the UK on the Isle of Wight Care4Care driver. According to the foundation, the combined regimen of altruism and self-interest, it is a convenient way to meet the growing demand for care for the elderly. "We believe there is always a gap between what the government is willing to pay and what is the need, and we need innovative solutions to bridge this gap," says the executive director of the foundation, Simon Tucker.

"An element of personal interest [in the provision of social assistance] may be useful. Gives people the feeling that more to give to others, others will be willing to give them. There is an element of reciprocity is at the heart of each community. "

• In the Isle of Wight, where the system was launched in March, volunteers have been hours of care to help older people with a range of tasks to help maintain independence in the home , trips to the shops to change a light bulb.

Jim Edmond and his wife in January and volunteers were aged UK when he enrolled in the plan. "My wife and I had aged parents who care in various ways for many years, and that motivated us., But it will attract other groups of younger people and possibly people who know that their pensions will be not so much in the future as they have been, "he said. "I know from my own experience that aid can be difficult not only expensive, but people getting the right time and continuity of care is a problem that more people are willing to do better - all hands .. the pump. "

In 2015, Wolff and the Young Foundation plans to have in place a national network, allowing people not only time banking for themselves, but to get credit for their elderly parents live elsewhere in the country. This was certainly the motivation for the Isle of Wight other voluntary part-time professor Louise Dewey, who had not been offered before Care4Care see diagram. "My grandmother went to the hospital at 99 with a hip fracture and I know she will need care when you leave," she said. "It is on the continent and we have not family nearby who can help you. This is what encouraged me to attend. Yet'm 50, so I do not seek attention to me. now make two or three hours a week and I It's very rewarding. "

Partners won £ 47,000 basic Nesta innovation for the development of the pilot project, and are now trying to develop a sustainable business model for national deployment. The Young Foundation has had "conversations" with the government on the potential of the system. But it is just that the volunteers are expected in the role of the state has played?
Tucker says it's a positive way. "With a big problem, it would be easy to fall into the trap of saying that everything is useless. But over the centuries, we have been good enough as a society in the use of ingenuity and spirit of the community to overcome obstacles. Already there is a large number of volunteers and we can build it. "

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Returning to their roots: housing associations and social investment

From Octavia Hill and Quaker communities, housing has always invested in community development. How can I protect this function?

housing associations and their history

are under fire from across the political spectrum. Appropriate suggestions come that housing associations concentrated unemployment and benefit dependency in their neighborhood, failing to transform the lives of those they support. From left to right, are accused of scheming in the business world, behave like private owners and disconnected from their communities.

A careful examination of these charges has little consideration, housing associations remain committed to disadvantaged communities and try to transform the lives and life chances of local people - despite is invited to adopt a more commercial, increase the value for money of our work and the sweat of our assets.

The audit of the National Housing Federation section concludes that partnerships invest approximately half a billion pounds in the districts each year, two thirds of which come from its own resources. Community investment focuses on employment services and business, education and skills, well-being, poverty and financial exclusion, safety, cohesion and ecology.

associations social housing investment also an indirect impact on local economies fragile. Programs through the development, installation and maintenance, providing local policies and provide employment opportunities

course, housing associations have been involved in social investment since its creation in time experiences and Octavia Hill Quaker pioneer home in Bournville, Birmingham and New Earswick. Housing companies in the 1930s and later, in the 1960s, hosting the importance of greater to provide more than one house, highlighting the role of social housing community.

A round table organized recently by the Institute for Human city, which includes housing for seniors and social organizations of society, has recognized this historical position and presented a series of proposals for the future.

The group is concerned that expanding the role of social investment partnerships often not recognized -. Those working in the sector of the need to promote this work more efficiently objective was agreed that the social history of associations not easily found with the marketing and merchandising of the Housing Act of 1988, is now gathering pace increased.

And it was decided that associations need to develop their own models of social investment, which goes back to its roots to attract philanthropic economic sphere at a time of austerity. This could be replicated in the social housing sector. my own association, which has reinvented itself as a social Trident Investment Group after 50 years of community work, ordered an audit of all social activities to measure the impact of the community and social return on investment. initial audit results illustrate both the narrow and wide impacts. Trident Financial Advisory Center, which helps about 300 clients per year, is able to increase the amount of money circulating in the local economy by £ 1,000,000 recovered by increasing the income of tenants through the evaluation of specific benefits and remove barriers to the use of debt and debt reductions tenants.

A fourth proposal by the group roundtable attempted to distinguish between social investment and social entrepreneurship. At Trident, we try to put this into practice by placing social investment in the center of business strategy rather than the creation of social enterprises alone, while social investment permeates all our policies, procedures and activities .

• social investment today is the realignment of investment behavior at the group level, equipment, personnel, and subsidiary, underpinned by training staff in their new roles and changing. It is also reinventing organizational behavior in order to maximize the impact on disadvantaged communities to mitigate the effects of austerity and changes in social benefits.
• Investment
• social housing is the deployment of all assets of the lessor to generate social returns beyond the provision of housing and services.

John Morris is Executive Director
Trident Investment Group office

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George Osborne forced into pasty tax U-turn

back against the government's fiscal and Chancellor accepts concessions courts plan secrets

the government's reputation has suffered a series of blows that the new Chancellor George Osborne was forced to make two climbdowns over your budget, including scrapping the "tax pasty" and ministers willing to make a series of secret concessions.

Osborne plans reverse charge VAT on food that is designed for cooling, such as sausages and pies, and also reduce the burden of the new standard VAT rate of 20% static caravans to 5%. The climbdowns followed weeks of protests, including the Conservatives, and together cost the cash-strapped Treasury as much as £ 70m a year.

budget concessions announced by the Chancellor in a letter to the Treasury Select Committee, has been postponed in the House of Commons was not sitting.

After intense lobbying by the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, the Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, is to abandon the project include summaries sealed with evidence heard in camera court secrets because your bill on Tuesday.

Clarke admitted he was "substantial changes" in the original Green Paper, the top Liberal Democrats claimed the balance between liberty and security has been transformed.

Ministers

no doubt that the latest wave of reversals are the risks of the job of the government coalition, or a sign of a government willing to listen, but adds to the feeling of incompetence appears to have exceeded the government's budget unfortunate event that led to a free fall in the polls staff, David Cameron.

Both taxes were also considered as a symptom of a government out of touch with the working class. Cameron defended the move, designed to put 20% VAT to all foods sold "over temperature", insisting he loved a paste.

George Eustice, Conservative Parliamentary Cornwall, who campaigned against the tax, he said: "This announcement is welcome: all the pies are exempt from VAT, and it shows that s' was a genuine consultation. "

Under the amendments, the government will pay VAT on foodstuffs intended to be eaten hot, for example, hot roasted chickens sold in supermarkets.

VAT, which will be implemented from October, would have added 50p to £ 2.50 tasty food. The Treasury had planned to raise £ 110 million so far, but now raise £ 70m.

critics said that proposals were incredibly complex, and it would be difficult to define temperature.

On the other hand, the tax will be 5% for used static caravans for holiday. This means an expected income of £ 40 million to £ 10m-15m falls.

Labour said it showed that the government was a disaster. Shadow Treasury minister Chris Leslie said: "I think they were forced to listen to the complete confusion of the public who were completely surprised these decisions rather strange Another reason I took this decision the House of Commons is not sitting,. therefore the ability to appeal to the parliament.

"On Wednesday, at the back of municipalities is not scheduled for a vote that threw us in the caravan tax - was a slim majority of only 25 the last time they faced defeat.

• "No U becomes the goodness of their heart. 'S because they are forced to
• "What a great way to run a chaotic country. How can you have a budget process that takes place in a day when you have that kind of chaotic business?"
• On Twitter, the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, said: "After tonight budget turn, we must rethink the biggest mistakes budget - tax cuts for millionaires and lack of employment and growth. "

A spokesman for the Treasury. "In the budget, announced proposals to address anomalies that have accumulated in the VAT regime and led to similar products are taxed differently

"Now that we have completed the consultation on these proposals and taking into account the issues raised, while ensuring that the objective of a. Clearer and more consistent that we have the time "

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Teachers need to get out more

working with industry - beyond the limits of the program - has a huge impact on students and teachers, and provide teaching moments golden "

As most people are aware of the teaching can be a very difficult and demanding. Programming models evolving and review of programs put enormous pressure on the teacher provides teaching and learning in the classroom. But the well-being can be huge when you witness the impact a teacher can have on performance and motivation.

I recently had one of those teachable moments when Gold alumnus, Zainab wrote to me to say thank you, and tell me what he was doing now was for employment opportunities and had given him. Zainab is in a program called the sabbatical year Industry organized by a charity called educational EDT. Zainab works at the Royal Institution of Great Britain and was the organization of mathematics and master classes for students of engineering enthusiasts in London.

Another student now in 13th year, is back with an enthusiastic attitude toward engineering after attending the event International Women Day in Arup offices last year. "Now I know I want to be an engineer," says Jessica. Jessica, as Zainab had participated fully in school programs EDT. Jessica was excellent demonstration of their skills in project management. It proposes to study engineering at the University of Bristol.

'have been enriched by the Science, Technology and Engineering Fortismere school since 1995 and hundreds of students (aged 11-17) participated in experiments focused on personal development and awareness professional. These experiments were outside the curriculum through the teaching plan Engineering (EEE), one of a series of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs by EDT.

ESS

these students worked in teams of four, with the support of myself and an engineer for a large civil engineering firm, Arup, a draft measure implemented by the company . The team worked for six months to solve the engineering problem set by the company. He made numerous visits to the business and engineering schools. As part of the design phase, the engineering team and I spent three days in a university working on the project, eventually led to a celebration in which the project team has been assessed by Councillor Senior Industry.

impact on students was overwhelming resulting in three of the team deciding to become engineers. Often, students in this program seems to be a pivotal moment in their future plans and aspirations and begin to ask questions about career opportunities and other enrichment. Project experience and business and information gathered about being an engineer mentor often cemented his decision to take an engineering degree at university. The icing on the cake for me is when I hear my students to access courses sabbatical in engineering, especially with the sponsoring company that sets the ESS project. Some of my students have also come to work in the company.

In my experience, these are not isolated cases, and feed my appetite for enrichment and my certainty that the provision of such extracurricular makes a big difference in student achievement and success. The commitment of the school to support these activities requires management team that is not always available in all schools because of the pressures of program delivery, the time of school to support teachers, etc. I ' 've always been lucky to work in a school that sees the bigger picture in terms of the effect of these commitments and additional resources at school.

• A fact often overlooked is the benefit it provides to teachers that support these activities. The adoption of different teaching methods results in a very real possibility and continuing professional development for students to see their learning outside the normal mold on providing teacher / student. The development of maturation observed students working in these programs is quite remarkable. In case of contact with teachers outside companies and organizations can improve their curriculum and relevance of subject delivery plan. I managed, monitored and supervised dozens of teachers enrichment activities, there is no doubt that, even if it requires a degree of workload, the results are both motivating and morale funds for all stakeholders.
• To successfully participate in enrichment studies and maximize the impact of the school should buy from them completely with a common vision and mission. Department or faculty participation is, of course, but valuable to integrate these programs into the school's philosophy and priorities, an understanding of their value and their willingness to support is essential. Teachers who are willing to go the extra mile deserves recognition and support to ensure ownership better teamwork and staff of student success.

. Peter Crompton teaches in a school Fortismere technology, Haringey, London Assistant Deputy Principal in charge of work-related learning and STEM enrichment. It has facilitated the participation of a large number of students in STEM enrichment programs to all secondary milestones since 1994.

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