Teachers face tougher tests in bid to raise standards

Prospective teachers will have to sit new tougher tests in English, maths and reasoning - as part of the government’s drive to raise standards in the education system.

The changes – recommended by an independent review group of leading head teachers and education experts – would see calculators banned from the new mathematics tests and pass marks in English and mathematics raised.

Trainee teachers currently have to pass basic skills tests in literacy and numeracy. Until this September, they took the tests only towards the end of their training course and were allowed unlimited re-sits.

Latest figures show that around 98 per cent of trainees passed the tests. Candidates have already been limited to two re-sits for each test from this September, and the pass mark has been raised.

Chaired by head teacher Sally Coates, the Skills Test Review Panel has now recommended:

•                the current tests are strengthened 

•                the pass mark for the English and mathematics tests is raised again, to the equivalent of GCSE grade B;

•                a new test for verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning 

The education secretary Michael Gove said: “The evidence from around the world is clear – rigorous selection of trainee teachers is key to raising the quality and standing of the teaching profession.”

BDA welcomes Dyslexia Awareness Week

Across the country, schools, colleges, universities, groups and workplaces have been taking part in Dyslexia Awareness Week – from 8–14 October –  holding events, assemblies and activities to both learn about and to celebrate dyslexia.

A petition opened at the beginning of Dyslexia Awareness Week last year and has reached over 17,000 signatures. 

The British Dyslexia Association launched the online petition calling for all teachers to receive dyslexia awareness as part of their initial teacher training draws to a close.

Dr Kate Saunders the chief executive of the British Dyslexia Association said: “We want this to be the biggest Dyslexia Awareness Week yet spreading information and understanding about dyslexia far and wide. This year the theme is Empowering Teachers and therefore the perfect reason to push our Initial Teacher Training campaign epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20674

“Please use this dyslexia awareness week to sign the petition, if you haven’t already, and to spread it.”

Report highlights cheaper solution for children with SEN

A new report from Baker Tilly, commissioned by the National Association of Independent Schools and Non-Maintained Special Schools – NASS – has confirmed that independent and non-maintained special school provision is cheaper than the equivalent local authority provision for students with complex special educational needs. 

A second study, using social return on investment methodology, calculated that placements in the eight participant schools represent annual savings and returns of approximately £24 million to the government. 

The association said if these findings were to be replicated across the non-maintained and independent sector, this would represent annual returns of more than £600 million.

The Baker Tilly Study has indicated that a day or weekly/fortnightly boarding placement in a non-maintained or independent special school (NMISS) is cheaper than the equivalent package of support being provided by a local authority. 

This expanded study follows last year’s cost comparison report which suggested that, on average, packages of support in day and term-time NMISS provision were cheaper than a local authority providing such support themselves. 

It comes as the government is in the process of implementing the biggest changes to SEN provision for 30 years.

Claire Dorer the chief executive of NASS, said: “We now have strong evidence that day and weekly/fortnightly boarding in NMISS offers a more cost effective route to delivering multi-agency support to young people with complex needs.

“We know that parents have had roadblocks put in their path when they have attempted to place their children into non-maintained and independent special schools. We are, therefore, pleased that the government SEN proposals plan to give parents the right to express a preference for a non-maintained special school. 

“However, NASS calls on this right to be extended to Independent Special Schools. Independent Special Schools provide services generally not available in other special schools, improving the life chances of those pupils.”

New spelling software for Dragon speech recognition system

A new vocabulary enhancement for Dragon Naturally Speaking speech recognition software has been launched to enable users to easily dictate and correctly spell healthcare, legal, and bioscientific and engineering words and phrases.

Launched by the Spellex Corporation Spellex Dictation is aimed at students and professionals.

Three new versions are available Spellex Dictation: Medical, Spellex Dictation: Legal and Spellex Dictation: BioScientific

For more information http://www.spellex.com/products/speech-recognition-products.htm.

Dragon speech recognition software aims to make it easier for anyone to use a computer. Users simply talk and it types. Users can use their voice to create and edit documents or e-mails, launch applications, open files, control the mouse and more. 

Sing Up offers new six month package

To help schools with budget pressures Sing Up is offering a new six month membership package, available now for a limited period. It aims to provide teachers with the complete singing solution for their classroom.

The not-for-profit music education company wants to help smaller schools and those with less stable budgets to continue to be singing schools. 

Both the six month and 12 month packages also now include song download credits and an increased streaming allocation.

The first phase of Sing Up Local Training was launched in the autumn term and is rolling out across the country, providing members exclusive CPD sessions with expert vocal leaders. Training courses will run until March 2013 and can be booked via the Sing Up website www.singup.org/book-training.

The next issue of the Sing Up Magazine is released on 15 October. Focusing on ‘Singing across the curriculum’ it provides lesson plans, activities and resources to help teachers and music practitioners put singing at the heart of wider learning. Plus the Sing Up CD includes 10 new songs, with audio and sheet music exclusively for members to download for free into their libraries.

RCN urges investment in specialist nurses for children with epilepsy

Commenting on today’s first national audit of epilepsy care for children and young people, The Royal College of Nursing expressed ‘profound concern’ that fewer than half of children with epilepsy had access to a specialist nurse.

RCN chief executive and general secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said: “Epilepsy is clearly being treated very well in many parts of the country, and specialist nurses have led the way in helping children and their families to manage epilepsy. However, it is a matter of profound concern to us that this is not the case everywhere. 

“The recommendation that all children have access to a specialist nurse is there for a reason – the nurse can offer an unparalleled combination of expert clinical advice alongside practical help for children and their families. 

“Too often, without the right advice many children face needless complications which affect not just their health but their education and other activities. 

"We would urge NHS organisations to give every child access to a specialist nurse to keep them as well as possible and to avoid unnecessary and expensive hospital admissions.”

Dyslexia group concerned by Baccalaureate plans

The British Dyslexia Association says plans revealed by the education secretary Michael Gove, for English Baccalaureate Certificate examinations to replace the current GCSE examinations in 2015, have the potential to have an adverse impact for dyslexic students.

The BDA is “extremely concerned” by the proposals which place more emphasis on the final examination and less on coursework. 

The BDA intends to lobby the government – not to discriminate against those with specific learning difficulties. 

The association said the proposals represent a “backwards leap in the examination process and will have an adverse effect on those with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties.” 

Dr Kate Saunders the chief executive at the BDA said: “Dyslexia is most often characterised by a deficit in information processing and working memory, speed of working and difficulty accessing and recording written information.

“Dyslexic difficulties can be exacerbated in an examination context, due to stress. This can make it particularly difficult for dyslexic students to demonstrate their ability, knowledge and understanding through one off, timed examinations. 

“These plans, should they be implemented, will create an additional barrier for dyslexic students to continue on to higher education. Course work is generally a much fairer method of assessment and constitutes a reasonable adjustment for these students.” 

The BDA will also continue to urge the government to ensure all dyslexic students receive diagnostic assessments and specialist support in a timely manner, and that all teachers receive input about dyslexia on their initial teacher training courses. 

A petition has been launched for supporters to sign at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20674 

Dr Kate Saunders, chief executive, British Dyslexia Association