Category Archives: Education Solutions

Experience A Celebration Of Diversity With The International Community School

A well-rounded education and dynamic learning experience are what turn young children and teenagers into successful adults. The right choice of school is imperative for a bright future in a chosen academic field.

Many of the quintessential requirements for an educational practice can be found in the London-based International Community School (ICS). ICS is a genuine celebration of diversity – the student body contains more than 65 nationalities. Their international focus helps them stand out from others schools of a similar calibre.

ICS is an independent school that offers English language support. This could be for those with special needs or those struggling to learn the language. All pupils aged between 3 and 18 years old can participate in this programme if required. The passion for inclusion is abundant, as courses like these demonstrate.

Recognised as one of the top IB schools in the country, ICS offers an impressive curriculum. This was designed to have a wide appeal to students of all backgrounds and credentials. A celebration recently took place inside their London walls. The title was ‘International Day’, and the theme – ‘Young People in the 21st Century’. Students participated in various workshops and projects based on the future and the environment.

The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) was developed for pupils aged 11 to 16. This is a complex curricular framework that encourages participants to embrace and understand connections between the subject content and the real world. It places a strong emphasis on the development of reflective thinking skills. The MYP contains 8 subjects and requires all students to participate in the community and service schemes. This helps them to develop a sense of belonging and appreciation.

The Primary Years Program is a good resource for the development of primary life skills. This is for the younger students aged between 3 and 11 years old. The focus is on real life issues, as well as more traditional subjects such as language, mathematics, the arts and social studies.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Promethean Announces Triple Success At 2010 Worlddidac Awards

Promethean, a world leader in the rapidly growing global interactive learning technology, is delighted to announce that it has won three prestigious awards from the Worlddidac Foundation for excellence in education.

Promethean’s specialised ActivInspire education software, ActivExpression Learner Response System and teacher web community, Promethean Planet, were all honoured in the ‘Information and Communication Technologies’ category.

These awards, which are held biannually, were judged by a jury of teachers and industry experts based on educational and didactic capabilities, design and sustainability.

Promethean has a long tradition of success at the Worlddidac awards, recognising its leading global position in interactiveeducational resources and technology. This year’s triple win follows previous successes for Promethean Planet and its ActivPrimary software, the precursor to ActivInspire.

Iwan Streichenberger, Chief Marketing Officer, commented: “We are delighted with this triple success, which is overwhelming recognition for the significant educational benefits Promethean’s ActivClassroom brings to learning. Once again, this demonstrates Promethean’s ongoing commitment, through the development of innovation interactive learning solutions, to improving engagement in the classroom and raising student achievement across the world.”

The Worlddidac Foundation has been presenting Worlddidac Awards internationally for the past 25 years, recognising excellence in educational resources. Worlddidac is the global trade association for companies providing products for education and training at all levels. It has 180 member companies and organisations from 43 countries on 5 continents. The 2010 award ceremony will be held in Switzerland in October.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Promethean Partners With Bloodhound Supersonic Car Project

Promethean, a global leader in interactive learning technology, has become the official interactive education technology partner of Bloodhound SSC (SuperSonic Car) Project.

Bloodhound team members have held the World Land Speed Record for the past 26 years, however the new Bloodhound project aims to design and build the first car capable of achieving 1,000 mph and smash the World Land Speed Record. The three year project is lead by Richard Noble OBE and Wing Commander Andy Green OBE who set the current record of 763mph (1228kmh) in October 1997.

Promethean will work with the Bloodhound SSC team to support its international education programme and engage young people in the science that underpins this challenge. Supported by an array of global technology companies and universities, a key objective for Bloodhound is to inspire young people to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) education and careers.

The project will provide open access to its science and engineering research data and design iterations involved in the development of the Bloodhound SSC. Ultimately this will be the catalyst for a raft of cutting-edge research in fields such as; aerodynamics, materials technology, composite manufacturing and sustainable high-tech engineering.

“In the 1960’s, the goal of putting a man on the moon inspired an entire generation to take interest in STEM. We hope Bloodhound will have the same “Apollo Effect” for this generation” said Jim Wynn, Chief Education Officer at Promethean.

Promethean will be installing its ActivClassroom technology in Bloodhound’s education centres, creating the ‘classroom of the future’ and will be equipping Bloodhound’s education ambassadors with relevant software and educational resources for use in schools.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

The ICMA Centre Announces Launch of its Advanced Diploma in Investment Compliance

The ICMA Centre and the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) have announced the most comprehensive programme for compliance professionals currently available in the financial markets – the Advanced Diploma in Investment Compliance.

The new programme builds on the success of the Diploma in Capital Markets, Regulation and Compliance, launched in 2006 by the University of Reading and FINRA, by embedding the most successful UK industry qualification – the CISI Diploma in Investment Compliance – within an enhanced training programme for compliance professionals.

Professor John Board, director of the ICMA Centre commented: “The merging of these qualifications will lead to a cleaner and better defined route to the professional certification and demonstration of competence that is so much in demand following the financial crisis”.

The Centre also offers a compliance finance degree programme titled MSc Capital Markets, Regulation and Compliance which was developed to meet the growing need for compliance trained graduates. Launched in 2006, the degree is attracting a great amount of interest from those already working in the financial markets and pre-experience graduates.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Promethean Planet Is Changing

Promethean, a world leader in the rapidly growing global market for interactive learning technology, has unveiled a new look Promethean Planet to provide members with a faster, easier and more enhanced user experience.

Promethean Planet Is Changing

Available free in 11 languages, this next generation of Planet aims to provide its 600,000 plus teaching members with new functional enhancements. These include a one-click mega-menu and enhanced resource search and filtering, making it quicker to search for and access over 20,000 free teaching resources.

Proving once again that Promethean Planet is all about its members, the new site enables users to personalise their experience by customising their interactive whiteboard community homepage with their favourite content and resources, exchange private messages with other members and create bookmarked quick links to any Planet page. In addition, Planet’s free online storage means each member can save and store up to 1GB of resources securely in their free, personal storage space.

With its enhanced website, Promethean Planet continues to lead the way to encourage the true spirit of community. Promethean Planet’s new innovative private group functionality has been designed to meet the needs of educator groups, schools, districts and education authorities. Planet members can apply to set up a private group that includes private forum, blog and wiki functionality as well as the ability to file-share within the private group environment.

Brent Taggart, Head of Promethean Planet said: “Promethean Planet is the world’s largest online community of its kind and its success is due to its members who span 150 countries. We provide the platform for teachers and educationalists to share lessons and ideas, source training, and interact with their peers. The enhancements and improved functionality unveiled today have been designed with our members in mind in order to further improve their Planet experience and to build on its market leading position.”

Promethean Planet’s popular online store has also been given a new facelift, making it even easier to buy publisher created interactive whiteboard resources from leading names such National Geographic, Dorling Kindersley, Scholastic, the Waterford Institute and Collins. These low-cost, ready-made lessons are completely customisable, aligned to educational standards and can be purchased in US dollars, GBP and now Euros.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

International Community School Offers Global Education with IB Diploma Programme

The International Community School hosts students of more than 65 different nationalities from all over the world. Keeping to its commitment of creating global citizens, it now also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, among other curriculums. This international learning community offers an exhaustive academic environment for 3 to 18-year-old students.

Students can begin the IB programme from a young age. For those interested in starting right at the beginning, ICS offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP). The school’s courses are designed to build upon the skills and international understanding gained by students in the IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP). The courses are designed to create students with inquiring minds and who are committed learners. Teachers reinforce the attributes of the IB Learner Profile: to be inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers and to be knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, balanced and reflective.

The IB curriculum teaches your child to look beyond just knowledge. It encourages your child to be more than just another student in the classroom. The degree examines different ways of knowing – perception, emotion, language and reason – and different kinds of knowledge – scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical. It is usually a two-year programme, designed to equip students with academic and life skills. It is also recognised by the world’s leading universities. Students between the ages of 16 and 19 study six courses: three at a higher level and three at a standard level. Besides class assessments, students also take written examinations at the end of the programme.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Education Loan Source, Inc. Launches Private Student Loan Program For Louviers Federal Credit Union

Education Loan Source, Inc. (ELS), a leading provider of education financial solutions, is proud to announce the launch of a private student loan program customized specifically for members of Louviers Federal Credit Union (LFCU).

Education Loan Source, Inc. Launches Private Student Loan Program For Louviers Federal Credit Union

“Our credit union conducted a thorough review of three student loan programs and decided that ELS was the best solution for us. We chose ELS based upon their ability to fully customize our program to meet the unique needs of our membership and existing school relationships as well as their extensive knowledge of the student loan industry. ELS is great to work with – they have maintained excellent lines of communication to keep us informed and educated from start to finish and have quickly responded to meet our needs,” says Bob Walls, Director of Human Resources and Special Projects for LFCU.

The Custom Loan Source SM (CLS) Program offered by ELS provides credit unions with the opportunity to develop their own customized student loan without the need for additional staffing or resources. CLS is a turn-key student loan solution which includes every aspect of the student loan process including set-up, administration, marketing, branded online application, loan processing, underwriting, certification and disbursement with colleges and universities, loan servicing, and portfolio management.

According to Tracy Sniscak, SVP – Business Development for ELS, “CLS is a perfect fit for LFCU as it allows the credit union to bring their own corporate lending standards and philosophies to an education loan program. LFCU was able to set their own rates and fees, and define their own school list. The credit union has an existing relationship with the University of Delaware and this new program will allow them to continue to offer financial assistance to the students there as well as at other regional schools. It’s been a pleasure to help them create and develop a program that meets the needs of their members.”

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

ICMA Centre Executive Education Contributes To Henley Business School Financial Times Rankings

Henley Business School’s position as a world-ranked provider of executive education has been confirmed by the results of the Financial Times Executive Education Ranking published 10 May 2010. This is the first year that the ICMA Centre has contributed to the Business School’s entry.

ICMA Centre Executive Education Contributes To Henley Business School Financial Times Rankings

Henley Business School’s standing as a world class education establishment has again been confirmed by the results of the latest Financial Times Executive Education Ranking which were published on 10 May 2010. Ranking 33rd worldwide in a composite listing for open and custom executive education programmes. The overall results of this survey reflect the efforts and success of Henley Business School following the merger in 2008. The result highlights the way the School of Management’s business and leadership programmes are now complemented and strengthened by the ICMA Centre’s finance executive education programmes.

John Board, director of the ICMA Centre commented: “The merger with Henley has enabled us to work together on new and innovative executive programmes by combining the expertise of the schools within the faculty.”

The main strength of the combined organization is the international focus which it has been able to maintain with its international clients, international participants and international delivery – across Europe, Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia. The ICMA Centre has long offered a comprehensive range of custom programmes for international institutions such as the Bank of China, KSDA (Korean Securities Dealers Association) and the Qatar Stock Exchange. Henley is now ranked 15th in the world for the breadth and depth of its international clients within its custom programmes.

The ICMA centre provides financial degree courses in addition to specialised Islamic finance courses.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Increased Demand for International Baccalaureate Diploma in South Asia

The number of students from the countries of southern Asia that arrive in the United Kingdom for their schooling each year is on the rise. The increasing popularity of a British education and the increasing allure of private schooling in the United Kingdom has resulted in a significant rise in the number of students deciding to go to the country each year. Most of the students that choose to study in the United Kingdom are from either China, South Korea, Taiwan or Japan.

Increased Demand for International Baccalaureate Diploma in South Asia<br />

A recent survey of private schools in the United Kingdom indicates that Chinese students form the largest international groups in most boarding schools. There are over 50 schools across China that now offer courses designed by the International Baccalaureate Organisation. “I went to a well-reputed IB school in Beijing, where I completed my Middle Years Programme. My parents had promised to send me to the United Kingdom in order to complete my schooling and continue my further education there if I earned good grades. I kept my side of the bargain and my parents kept theirs. So, this September, I will be travelling to the United Kingdom in order to begin my IB diploma course at a private school in London”, says 16 year old Zhu Hiyang, with a bright smile on her face.

There are many students just like Zhu Hiyang who will be making a relatively easy transition from life in a Chinese school to life in a British private school this very year. Their host school will offer the strict IB curriculum that places high importance on the quality of teaching and the quality of the courses that are taught. Attaining an IB Diploma has become to schooling what obtaining an Oxford degree means at the university level. Most of the students who perform well at the IB diploma level find it much easier to cope with the rigorous demands of a university education in the United Kingdom.

Trends show that most students from South Asia which choose to move to the United Kingdom for their higher studies seek admission to an Independent school London. Admission to an IB Diploma Residential London school ensures that the students not only receive a world-class education, but they also get to live in one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Promethean Technology Key To Improved Results At St. Aidan’s

Promethean ActivClassroom solutions help the new £16 million campus at St. Aidan’s Church of England Academy, Darlington, achieve a dramatic turnaround in school attendance and academic results.

Since the implementation of the Promethean ActivClassroom with interactive whiteboards (IWB), the Academy has been transformed from one of the country’s “least effective” schools to a thriving centre of secondary education and beacon of ICT best practice.

Assistant principal, Alan Dick, commented: “We know that technology is a vital part of students’ lives, and we were determined to place it at the heart of our improvement strategy. This approach has paid immediate dividends, renewing students’ enthusiasm for lessons and giving a welcome boost to their results.”

Whereas only 19% of students left the school with five ‘good’ (A*-C) GCSE grades in 2006, this had doubled in 2009, with 39% of students achieving the benchmark – well above the national target of 30%.

Key to this transformation has been the role of classroom technology in addressing student attendance and improving the former school’s ranking as eighth worst in the national truancy league.

Alan Dick added: “Since the opening of the Academy, attendance levels have increased from 81% to over 90% – in a class of thirty, that’s the equivalent of three students turning up to class who were previously disengaged from lessons. The improvement has been influenced by a number of factors but it’s clear that students are more motivated by the use of tools such as electronic whiteboards and learner response keypads, meaning that they look forward to lessons and find it easier to participate.

These results support a recent poll by Becta, the Government agency responsible for promoting the use of ICT in schools. It reported that 95% of teachers now recognise that use of technology is raising standards in schools and colleges (Becta Raising Standards, 2009).

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Promethean Joined By Jim Wynn As Chief Education Officer

Promethean, a world leader in the rapidly growing global market for interactive learning technology, has announced the appointment of Jim Wynn to its senior management team as chief education officer.

Jim has over three decades of experience in education technology across more than fifty countries. He joins Promethean from Cisco, where he led their public sector consultancy for emerging markets, with an emphasis on education. Jim’s previous appointments include head teacher of two secondary schools in the UK where he pioneered the use of ICT, head of research at RM Plc, and partners in learning lead for EMEA at Microsoft.

Jim’s in depth global experience, both in education systems and serving education for highly recognised technology players, will further strengthen Promethean’s leading global position in the interactive learning technology market.

Jean-Yves Charlier, chief executive officer of Promethean, commented: “We are delighted that Jim is joining Promethean. His knowledge of education systems across the world, together with the benefits technology can bring to learning, will be invaluable in further shaping Promethean’s strategy and continued development of innovative products for the classroom.”

Jim’s appointment will help to strengthen Promethean’s pledge to bring to life the promise of 21st century learning, improving engagement and results for learners and teachers alike through the use of interactive whiteboards and other interactive learning technologies.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

IB Diploma, Truly Global!

What is the educational qualification that is accepted in over 138 countries and across all the reputed universities of the world? The only correct answer to this question is the IB Diploma. An IB Diploma in your educational resume ensures a favourable passage through most of the stringent conditions set by the University of your choice for your acceptance. Now you can study for your IB Diploma in London with the Geneva-based International Baccalaureate recognising London school International Community School for delivering the prestigious diploma from September this year

IB Diploma, Truly Global!

“I was very insistent that my children have a truly global education. That is why we decided against sending them to the local public school in York, though it is well-known for providing education of fairly good standards. But I wanted my children to have school diplomas that are head and shoulders above the rest”, says Peggy Thornton, a proud mother whose son is preparing to begin his IB Diploma next term. British parents are increasingly ensuring that their children reap the benefits of a quality private education. “But there is a new category of emerging parents who are globe-trotters themselves. So they want to ensure that if they have to get their children to move around with them, they should be in an education system which is offered in more countries. I think this has been a crucial factor in the popularity of the International Baccalaureate course”, says Rosie Harrow, a Surrey school administrator.

The International Baccalaureate organisation works out of Geneva and has an evolved curriculum that draws from the best practises of educational systems across the world. The course is structured in such a manner that every student passing the IB Diploma course is better prepared than students from other systems for the more challenging academic demands of the University. In fact, there are three IB courses that cater to students between the age group of 3 and 19, ensuring a holistic academic experience through their formative years. An international school London has to offer ensures that the student also gets a taste of metropolitan way of life. Besides, more importantly, an IB Diploma Central London ensures that a student aspiring to continue their University education has access to some of the leading London colleges under the University of London.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

PLH Online Launch NCPLH Personal Licence Holder Qualification And Exam In England & Wales

After a successful first year of delivering online SCPLH training and qualification throughout Scotland, PLH Online have launched an online version of the NCPLH (England & Wales).

PLH Online Launch NCPLH Personal Licence Holder Qualification And Exam In England & Wales

PLH Online enables users to achieve full certification in accordance with the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 or the Licensing (England and Wales) Act 2003.

The modules are fully approved by SQA who are accredited to award the Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (Off-Sales and On-Sales) and the QCF Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders in England and Wales. PLH Online has been developed in association with who Montpeliers (Edinburgh) LTD have extensive knowledge of training in the UK licensed trade.

The training can be purchased and accessed instantly on-line, and used at a time and a place to suit, helping managers become qualified personal licence holders quickly and conveniently. The training modules – which have been in development for over two years – have been tailored for both on and off-sales operators Director Karen Calvert explains:

“We are extremely pleased with the success of our Personal Licence Holder training in Scotland, so launching the product in England & Wales was a natural progression for us. We have attracted customers from a wide range of businesses across the industry, from large multi nationals to corner stores.

“It is proving to be a very cost effective and practical training solution, and the feedback on the quality and content of the training itself is fantastic. We are also appealing to a wide range of age groups proving that e-learning is for everybody.”

SQA Head of Business Development & Customer Support, Alasdair MacRae said, “SQA are delighted to be working with PLH Online to deliver our Personal Licence Holder qualifications through their innovative e-learning system. This will provide flexibility and choice for our candidates in when and where they undertake the course, benefits which are key in this busy and diverse industry.”

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Searches Increase for Healthcare Management Degrees on Emagister.net

The primary focus this year for most businesses including healthcare facilities is cost control. Business professionals holding Healthcare Management degrees are needed to help control costs, run cost efficient facilities, improve patient care and create profitable businesses. Additional variables such as looming healthcare reforms, aging baby boomers and the growing population all contribute to the need for highly educated professionals. Recent searches on emagister.net for healthcare management and Healthcare Administration degrees confirm the trend for increased job market opportunities available to those with the right skills and training.

Even with a slacking economy where most businesses have lost capital and job positions, the healthcare industry has managed to expand. The most successful healthcare managers are business oriented, natural leaders, well organized and most importantly sympathetic individuals with a desire to help people. Healthcare facilities recognize the need for skilled workers to fill these management roles and offer one of the most competitive salary rates on the market. The result is the rise in popularity for degrees specializing in healthcare management and administration. Emagister.net offers both on-campus and online degrees from Universities such as Kaplan University, Globe University and Ashford University who are benefitting from the current trend. Online degrees make earning your healthcare management degree more attainable than ever, especially for those individuals who for personal obligations such as family and work would otherwise be unable to complete their degree.

Emagister.net was launched in 2009 as an education resource for individuals looking to better themselves through education. Run by experts in the education industry, Emagister is currently serving 11 countries with 3 more planned launches in the second quarter of 2010. Emagister is well on its way of becoming the World’s Education Pathfinder.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

ICMA Centre To Partner CISI And FINRA On Diploma In Investment Compliance

The ICMA Centre at the Henley Business School, The Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) of the US have announced that they have joined forces to support and enhance education, training and certification in financial compliance.

ICMA Centre To Partner CISI And FINRA On Diploma In Investment Compliance

The CISI is the largest and most widely respected professional body for those who work in the securities and investment industry in the UK and abroad. It has developed a suite of well recognised and supported programmes centered around product knowledge and regulation to support practitioners in the financial services industry.

Since 2006, the ICMA Centre and FINRA have developed and offered a highly regarded Diploma in Capital Markets Regulation and Compliance aimed at mid-level securities professionals. With the development of the CISI’s Diploma in Investment Compliance, the industry was faced with two seperately recognised routes to certification, and it was agreed that, by joining forces, the parties can work together to enhance the professional credentials of capital market practitioners in the UK better.

The agreement will mean that those who have already achieved the Diploma in Capital Markets Regulation and Compliance will become members of the CISI and those with a partially completed qualification will receive appropiate exemptions from the jointly supported Diploma in Investment Compliance. In addition, the ICMA Centre will work with the CISI to deliver advanced certification for those who have completed the Diploma in Investment Compliance and whose needs are for expanded coverage of topics required by senior compliance staff on financial institutions. Additional details will be published at cisi.org in the future.

In announcing this new collaboration, Simon Culhane, Chartered FCSI and CEO of the CISI said: “We are very pleased to be working with the ICMA Centre and FINRA – two highly respected institutions that have a long history in capital markets education and training.”

About the ICMA Centre
The ICMA Centre at Henley Business School, University of Reading has an international reputation for being the premier institution in Europe for academic and executive education for financial markets, including studies into investment management,corporate finance leading to students attaining their financial degrees.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

ICMA Centre Announced As Top European School In Financial Trading Competition

The ICMA Centre has proved that it is one of the top finance schools in the world, coming joint 4th out of a field of 44 international schools in the 2010 Rotman International Trading Competition held at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. This result is in line with the ICMA Centre’s track record of finishing in the top 10, and usually top 5, in all previous Rotman competitions.

ICMA Centre Announced As Top European School In Financial Trading Competition

The team of four traders – Ioannis Oikonomou, Dimitris Korovilas, Aditya Pandit and Juan Cepeda Murcia – beat a veritable who’s who of corporate finance schools to take joint fourth place. Top place went to MIT while the closest European university was Luiss University which came 30th, and the next UK school was CASS Business School which was ranked in 33rd place.

The competition involved a series of different assessed cases that required trading either in an electronic environment or in the trading pit. Competitors had to trade a variety of financial instruments including corporate bonds, energy futures, stocks that were simultaneously traded in different markets, and futures on a stock index.

“As recent events in world markets have shown only too clearly, skill and competence in trading and analysis are critical both to success and to survival in modern markets. This result shows that our graduates are among the best in the world and that the time and effort invested in our dealing rooms and our trading simulation software (ICTrader) was well spent – to the benefit of us and future members of the finance professions,” said Dr Michael Smith, dealing room director at the ICMA Centre.

“Making it to the top of the competition requires a very diverse set of skills. One has to be numerical enough to create the appropriate pricing models, and strategic enough to find the most efficient ways to trade,” commented Ioannis.

“Being in the trading pit during the quantitative outcry session and trading against 87 people from top schools, some of them with significant trading experience, was like being thrown into a pool of sharks,” added Dimitris.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

More Schools Adopt Co-Operative Trust Model

The growing acceptance that the co-operative model offers schools a compelling structure was further underlined when the latest tranche of co-operative trust schools was announced.

Fifteen new co-operative trust schools, which offer all stakeholders an opportunity to be involved in the running of their school, become legal entities today (1 April) bringing the total throughout the country to more than 50.

The new co-operative schools include a Leeds based federation of eight schools with another cluster in South Bristol. Individual school trusts are also being established in Stoke-on-Trent, Oldham, Bradford, High Wycombe and Peterborough.

Anyone with an interest in the school including students, teachers, parents, employers and the local community will be encouraged to become members of the Trust, making the trust a community based mutual.

The members will elect representatives to a school stakeholder forum, which will meet on a regular basis, in order to ensure that those in positions of responsibility remain sensitive to the needs, views and aspirations of the different groups.

This co-operative mutual model is based on open membership, equal democratic participation (one member, one vote) and clear accountability of those in charge to those for whom services are provided is very much in fashion at the present time.

Russell Gill, Head of Membership at The Co-operative Group, said: “The co-operative model, which is very much in vogue with the mainstream political parties, allows all stakeholders greater participation in the running of the school and our values, that date back more than 150 years, offer schools an ethos which we believe can lead to higher standards, aspirations and achievements.”

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Safetyshop Reveal the Winning School of Their School Safety Sign Competition

Towards the end of 2009 Safetyshop, the UK’s number 1 safety sign manufacturer and supplier of over 30,000 safety solutions, launched a contest open to schools up and down the country to design a new safety sign aimed at school children.

The first prize was recently awarded to the EPRU unit located within the grounds of Whitefield Community Primary School, Manchester, closely followed by St John Fisher Catholic Primary School in Middlesex.

Safetyshop is delighted with the safety themes that developed from the competition. The best entries represented health and safety issues ranging from hand hygiene, playground safety, healthy eating to email and internet safety.

The Safetyshop panel, tasked with the difficult job of picking a school sign winner, commented “we were captivated at how creative some designs were and how students demonstrated the importance of safety within their school environment”

Prizes for the EPRU unit are:

• The chance to have their design digitally manufactured into a 300Hx400W mm safety awareness sign and then see it transformed into an interpretation of how the design could be manufactured into a prohibition safety sign
• £150 worth of vouchers to spend on health and safety equipment at Safetyshop
• 51 piece media mix art set
• WH Smith gift voucher
• 99 piece first response first aid kit
• Two “understanding safety signs” wall charts
• “First aid for children” wall chart

Safetyshop, still a British manufacturer of safety signs, is entering into its 40th year of trading and wanted to do something special to mark this achievement. One of Safetyshop’s core beliefs is that anyone who gets involved in health and safety practice is safer than those who don’t.

Safetyshop also believes that safety education at an early age can be developed into a safety culture that young people can carry forward into their working lives. A safety sign competition seemed like the logical opportunity to begin helping support young people think about and identify hazards in their school.

The Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (IOSH) is currently campaigning to have a similar initiative included in the UK’s national curriculum and Safetyshop fully supports this young people’s campaign.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Promethean Helps School Host Premiere Of Diary Of A Wimpy Kid

Promethean, a global leader in interactive education technology solutions, presented Riverside elementary School in Fairfax County, Virginia with an ActivClassroom after the school emerged triumphant over 5,000 other schools competing in a nationwide contest to mark the gala premiere of the motion picture Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Riverside submitted an impressive proposal to convert its auditorium/gymnasium into a movie theater, and promised that its students would generate Hollywood-style excitement for the unveiling of the long-awaited film based on the first of Jeff Kinney’s best-selling books. The prize consisted of an ActivClassroom including an ActivBoard interactive whiteboard, a set of 32 ActivExpressions, ActivSlate and ActivSound and the opportunity to hold the gala premiere of the film.

The premiere event was held in conjunction with the National Education Association’s (NEA) “Read Across America” program, which focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources; the NEA has designated March as National Reading Month. NEA also sponsored the contest, along with 20th Century Fox, School Library Journal, and publisher Harry N. Abrams Inc.

The Riverside Elementary safety patrol had special “security” duties on the red carpet. Also providing key assistance was WRES-TV, where some Riverside pupils – and budding news anchors – served as part of the morning news team.

F r o m its origins as a series of online cartoons, Diary of a Wimpy Kid exploded onto the pop culture scene when Jeff Kinney’s first “novel in cartoons” was published in 2007. Diary of a Wimpy Kid spent almost three years on The New York Times’ children’s best-seller list, and was translated into 33 languages. The book captured the imaginations of an army of formerly “reluctant readers,” and launched countless video reviews, social networking fan groups, and parties celebrating the release of each new Wimpy Kid book.

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases

Promethean Wins Major Spanish Tender

Promethean, a world leader in the rapidly growing global market for interactive learning technology, has been awarded a multi-million euro contract to install 4,550 of its ActivBoard+2 interactive whiteboards, together with ActivInspire, Promethean’s specialised teaching and learning software, in 1,900 schools in the Spanish region of Andalucia. This represents around a 70% share of the total number of interactive whiteboards available under this tender.

Promethean Wins Major Spanish Tender

With over 8 million inhabitants and over 6,000 primary and secondary schools, Andalucia has the largest population of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions. Completion of this roll-out of IWB systems will see some 8% of the estimated 78,000 classrooms in Andalucia equipped with interactive whiteboards*. This project is being funded through the Spanish Government’s Escuela ICT 2.0 programme, one of a number of financial stimulus
packages targeted at education technology currently being implemented across the EU.

Beyond the classroom, teachers are able to join PrometheanPlanet.com, the world’s largest online community for users of interactive display system technology. Promethean Planet is available in ten languages, including Spanish, enabling more than 530,000 members from around the world to connect and exchange ideas, share new and innovative lesson resources and access a wide variety of professional development materials such as interactive whiteboard tools.

Paul Berry, Promethean’s President of European Sales and Marketing, said: “We are delighted with this significant contract win, which follows a comprehensive tender process and demonstrates Andalucia’s preference for Promethean’s interactive learning solutions. We believe that one of the key reasons for our success was the quality of our integrated ActivClassroom offering, which brings together our ActivBoard interactive whiteboards, ActivInspire educational software and training, and our teacher community, Promethean Planet. This contract is further evidence of the growing adoption of interactive learning technology in Europe, which is a key growth market for Promethean.”

Via EPR Network
More Education press releases