Welsh Government Dysg eNewsletter: 3 November 2014 (Issue 397)

3 November 2014 • Issue 397

Welsh education news

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Young people in Wales urged to ‘Focus on Science’

A new campaign encouraging young people in Wales to focus on science and play their part in helping to build a strong science talent pool has been launched.

Empty classroom

Statutory assessment arrangements for the end of Foundation Phase and Key Stages 2 and 3

This publication provides important information regarding the statutory assessment arrangements for the school year 2014 to 2015.  It outlines a number of statutory requirements as well as guidance on teacher assessment, transitions between the learning stages and assessment using the LNF.

More welsh education news

Two brand new ground-breaking e-Safety tools launch in Wales

Come to a launch event near you!

South West Grid for Learning (part of the UK Safer Internet Centre) has been working in close partnership with us, to look at where schools need support in terms of e-Safety. As a result of our findings we have developed two new e-Safety resources for Welsh schools, launched on 22 October by Minister of Education and Skills, Huw Lewis.

My Local School website - update

The My Local School website has been updated. The new data was updated on 23 October 2014. The areas updated include contextual data from the School Census and performance data relating to Foundation Phase, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3. The site can be accessed here. For any queries please email the IMS mailbox

New suite of Science GCSEs for Wales – for first teaching from 2016

The Welsh Government has been working with key stakeholders (including WJEC, Estyn, teachers and independent subject experts) to develop draft proposals for a new suite of Science GCSEs to be taught in Wales from September 2016.  We invite you to give your views on these proposals via our online survey.  The survey will be open until Monday, 24 November.

Social Mobility Foundation Residential Internship Programmes: Applications Now Open!

Bright Welsh students from low-income backgrounds can apply for a place on an all expenses paid residential internship programmes which take place in London over summer 2015.  Take a look at the firms that host students and read about the experiences Jack from South Wales on his internship with J.P. Morgan programme this year. 

Charities and charity trustees – an introduction for school governors in Wales

Statutory guidance outlining the duties of governing bodies of foundation and voluntary schools in Wales in their role as charity trustees in relation to compliance with the law. 

Written Statement - Ministerial update on University of Edinburgh Report’s Recommendations

Huw Lewis, Minister for Education and Skills

‘In June 2013, the University of Edinburgh’s research into education provision for children and young people educated outside the school setting was published…’

Written Statement - European Alliance for Apprenticeships

Julie James, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology

In July 2013 the European Commission launched the European Alliance for Apprenticeships in Leipzig, Germany, with the aim of improving the quality and supply of apprenticeships across the EU and changing mind-sets towards apprenticeship learning.

Welsh Teacher named UK Teacher of the Year

Education Minister, Huw Lewis has congratulated “one very special teacher” from Wales who won the prestigious title of UK Teacher of the Year in a Primary School 2014, at the Pearson Teaching Awards, last night in London.

External Mentors Supporting NQTs Through Their Induction

Potential External Mentors to support NQTs during their induction period are invited to attend briefing sessions that will be held throughout Wales during November and December.  The first sessions will be on 18 November at Ysgol Glan Clwyd and 19 November at  Ysgol Eifionydd. Please e-mail for more details.

The Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Management Committees etc.) (Wales) Regulations 2014

Statutory guidance for local authorities and pupil referral units Guidance

New legislation has been introduced which requires that management committees must be established for all PRUs by 23 February 2015.

Jobs Growth Wales job opportunities target beaten - more than a year early

More than 16,000 job opportunities have been created for unemployed young people by Jobs Growth Wales, announced the Deputy Minister for Skill & Technology, Julie James today (27/10/14).

hwb

Hwb events:

Anglesey is our next stop on the 2014-15 HwbMeet tour.  The next HwbMeet event is scheduled for 18 November 2014 at Tre-Ysgawen, Capel Coch from 4.30pm – 6.00pm and has just a few places remaining. Be quick - book your place here.

Hwb+ Training

Want to find out more about how the Hwb+ ADOPT framework can take your school from beginning their Hwb+ journey to transforming Teaching and Learning? Module 1 of the new Hwb Team’s Digital Leader training offers a strategic approach to Hwb + for school leaders. For more information and to reserve your space, visit Hwb.

Other news

Applications for this year’s IPLC visits are now open (British Council)

International Professional Learning Communities enable Welsh teachers to exchange experience and teaching techniques with educators from all over the world whilst building professional partnerships between their schools. This year’s visits consist of

  • Maths and Numeracy – Kolkata, India
  • Arts in Special Educational Needs, - Los Angeles, U.S.A.

International Awards Ceremony (British Council)

Do you want to gain recognition for your school or college’s international work?
Applications for the 2014/15 International Awards Ceremony are now open!

Our International Awards Ceremony in January highlights the excellent work done by local schools within an international educational capacity, whilst offering fun activities and showcasing different projects with our international workshops. 

Internationalising Young People Workshops (British Council)

These workshops in Carmarthen on the 19 of November and Cardiff on the 27 November aim to inspire teachers to pursue the kinds of opportunities available to them through learning and working in an international dimension.  Free tickets are still available

Resources / Competitions

Have you seen the National Support Programme Literacy and Numeracy (NSP) Resources Bank website which allows practitioners to search for resources which can support schools to implement the Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF)?

All the resources have been gathered from various sources and have been quality assured by the NSP; more will be added as they are identified or developed.  The Resource Bank can be accessed from here

Anti Bullying competition

17-21 November 2014 is anti bullying week we are inviting schools from all over Wales to help stop bullying by getting pupils involved entering Welsh Government’s Anti Bullying film competition.

#LittleThingsinWelsh competition

If you are aged between 14 and 25 you can try and win an iPhone 6.

To enter you will need to take a picture or create a video showing the little things you do in Welsh.  Find out more and how to enter

Living in the 20th Century

The Living in the Twentieth Century website is a resource to support Key Stage 2 pupils’ research into everyday life in Wales between the 1950’s and the 1990s. It contains a collection of diverse sources, including photographs, advertisements, data and statistics, newspaper cuttings, recorded interviews, music and interpretations of the past.

Latest statistics and reports