Teaching innovation
Teachers who have great ideas to help students achieve more are being invited to apply for one of 10 grants worth up to £15,000 each. It is part of the Let Teachers SHINE competition being run by education charity SHINE. The aim is to uncover the best ideas to raise the achievement of disadvantaged children in England. The grant will be to help the teachers develop their ideas and evaluate the impact they have. The most effective innovations will be rolled-out to other schools. The deadline for applications is April 27 after which shortlisted applicants will be interviewed. Visit: www.shinetrust.org.uk
Cyber-safety film
Students aged up to 16 are being asked to create a short film to educate their peers about how to stay safe online. The fifth annual Childnet Film Competition aims to help schools equip young people with the skills they need to become confident digital citizens. This year’s competition builds on the theme from Safer Internet Day 2014 – Let’s create a better internet together. Secondary entrants are being asked to create a two-minute film answering the question: what does a perfect online world mean to you? Visit: www.childnet.com/resources/film-competition
Talking cancer
A new online resource is hoping to help teachers and other professionals to tackle the difficult subject of cancer with young people. It has been created by the Teenage Cancer Trust and is designed to fit in with the national curriculum. Around seven 13 to 24-year-olds are diagnosed every day and the resource helps teachers and students to talk about the disease, its signs and treatments, as well as how it can affect friendships, relationships and body image. The resource complements the free cancer awareness sessions Teenage Cancer Trust delivers in schools. Visit: www.teenagecancertrust.org/educationresources
Engineering plea
Last year, only 4,228 girls applied to read engineering at university, compared to 28,020 boys. The stark disparity has been highlighted as nominations open for £1 million Queen Elizabeth (QE) Prize, which rewards the world’s most innovative engineers. Organisers of the global award are calling on parents to help dispel gender stereotypes of the profession. It comes as the QE prize launched an international network of young engineers, called QEPrize Ambassadors, who will also help to spread the message.
UCAS pledge
University admissions service UCAS has pledged to respond personally to every enquiry it receives via social media. It comes as its Facebook advisory page passed 100,000 fans. Beth Hayes from UCAS said: “We guarantee a personal response to all the questions that come through on social media.” UCAS also has around 66,000 followers on Twitter. Visit: www.facebook.com/ucasonline and www.twitter.com/ucas_online