Autism finding
New research shows that children with autism are better at combining information about moving objects than their peers, which may explain why they experience sensory overload.
The study, by the Centre for Research in Autism and Education at the UCL Institute of Education, asked 33 children with autism and 33 typical children aged six to 13 to judge the average direction of a set of dots on a computer screen. The children with autism were better at doing this when the dots moved in different directions. However, they did not show the same enhancement when they had to ignore dots moving in random directions. These results suggest that children with autism can combine dynamic information well but may not always know what information to combine and what information to ignore. Visit: http://crae.ioe.ac.uk/
Not-for-profit CPD
A one-day, not-for-profit CPD event featuring an array of teacher-led workshops and best practice sessions is being hosted by Oriel High School in Crawley, West Sussex, on July 3. Aimed at both teachers and school leaders, the inaugural EducatEd event will also see external speakers such as David Weston, chief executive of the Teacher Development Trust, and Phillipa Cordingley, chief executive of the Centre for the Use of Research and Evidence in Education. Attendance costs £60. Visit: http://educatedcpd.com/
Scholars scheme
Applications for the Lloyds Scholars programme, a social mobility initiative, are now open. Now in its fifth year, the programme gives undergraduates professional and vocational opportunities and an annual bursary. Applicants must have accepted their place at one of the eight partner universities and must come from a household with annual income under £25,000. Visit: www.lloyds-scholars.com
UTC go-ahead
Plans for a new University Technical College in Leeds are a step closer following the approval of a funding agreement worth £9.5 million by the Department for Education. The funding agreement covers the cost of building works and initial staffing and means that the recruitment process for a principal designate can begin. The UTC is aiming to open in September 2016 and is targeting a first intake of 105 14-year-olds and 120 16-year-olds.
Dyslexic enterprise
We should do more to expose dyslexic students to entrepreneurialism, it has been said. Ben Dyer, co-founder of the National Enterprise Challenge, and who is himself dyslexic, said that enterprise allowed schools to build the confidence of dyslexic students and foster creative-thinking. The National Enterprise Challenge will see 160 schools competing, with the national finals taking place in July. Visit: www.nationalenterprisechallenge.co.uk