Receive some Vital training for FREE!

Vital is a new initiative from the Open University and E-skills providing a range of innovative ICT CPD for use across the curriculum.

In Redbridge we have been offered free involvement in 2 online tutor led courses:

- Sharing ideas (using a wiki) Primary (V01a-PW)
- Sharing ideas (using a wiki) Secondary (V01b-PW)

We are looking for 30 teachers to trial this new way of taking part in CPD…

All you need to do is register on the website www.vital.ac.uk and email London@vital.ac.uk to let them know which course you would like to attend remembering to name the school where you work. You will also need to email Tina.Pennells@redbridge.gov.uk so that we may confirm to Vital that you work in a Redbridge school and that you are eligible for this free trial.

The commitment Vital need is 20 hours over 8 weeks (and access to an internet based computer for at least 13 of those hours) to participate from 29th March. We will require that you complete a borough CPD feedback form at the end of the period to review the project.

If you would like to take part, or have colleagues who might, please contact me to find out more or register directly on the Vital site.

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Redbridge Beijing Partnership Visit - 2010

Good morning all.  It's 6.30 am on Tue 23 March and I can see a lovely sun coming up through the buildings so sand storm over!!

 

Last night we went out to a restaurant which was lovely - lots of different dishes - some like Chinese at home but other dishes that you would only get here - including a hugh fish which everyone prods with their chopsticks. 

 

Our chopstick skills are advancing - attainment target is to eat peas one at a time without landing onto lap or floor.  Some of us are obviously in the G&T group and might even exceed all expectations but others really do need some support and maybe even differentiated materials although they might get hungry.

 

We then went for a walk in Tiananmen Square - saw the entrance to the Forbidden City with its hugh picture of Chairman Mao.  Also lots of soldiers either running in unison or marching or just walking up and down.  Of course Tiananmen Square is a sensitive area so there is always a high military presence - totally non-threatening but just there.

 

Then back to hotel but before falling into bed in almost a coma due to a complete lack of anything resembling sleep since Sunday 6.00 am we were all uploading images and text onto Fronter.

 

Must stop now as breakfast at 7.00 am - meeting at 8.00 am - this is hard work!!!

 

Annette Carlon
Redbridge Secondary ICT Consultant

Redbridge Beijing Partnership Visit - 2010

Greetings from Beijing.  I'm here with 19 Redbridge primary and secondary teachers.  We arrived this morning to a smog filled capital.  There have been sand storms - not unusual at this time of year - apparently they will go by tomorrow!

 

We're all feeling very tired and jet lagged but have had a couple of hours to get ourselves together.  Out for dinner this evening and a walk around Tiananmen Square. 

 

Tomorrow up bright and early to meet the teachers from the partner schools at 8.00 am at our hotel.  Teachers will then be taken to their schools for their first day.

 

Excellent broadband connection so will keep you posted.

 

Annette Carlon
Redbridge Secondary ICT Consultant

Virtual Teaching and Learning for 2 Weeks!

Press release:

Can a Managed Learning Environment (MLE)really create an online learning environment that both teachers and students can call their “Virtual School”? Loxford School of Science and Technology in Ilford, Essex are about to find out at the end of March 2010.

The Virtual School

Loxford School is part of a major building project funded by the Partnership for Schools building programme B.S.F (Building Schools for the Future).

Students will be given access to lessons via Fronter MLE whilst the school is moving to its new building. Students can continue their school work and learning whilst at home. They will collaboratively do work, take part in discussions, and complete tasks as they would do in the classroom. Teachers will be able to give them feedback and monitor the students activity and progress. Hopefully it will be school as normal for the students without a teacher in sight. You can see more about the new Loxford School by visiting http://www.loxford.net/ and clicking on ‘Our New School’.

About Loxford School

Loxford School of Science and Technology in Ilford, Redbridge have 1624 pupils. Loxford achieved a 5+ A*-C pass rate at GCSE of 79% in 2009 (with 54% of students gaining 5+ A*-C grades including English and Maths). Maintaining a record of 100% of the GCSE cohort gaining 5or more A*-G grades. These are the school's best ever GCSE results. This has been accomplished while facilitating an £44 million rebuilding programme at the Loxford site as part of BSF project.

The school was judged to be "outstanding" in an OFSTED good practice survey inspection of literacy and numeracy at the school in December 2008. They have also just been redesignated a DCSF Training School (Nov 2009) and become a regional hub for the Schools Specialist and Academies Trust, with a responsibility to develop future school leaders. Loxford has been presented with the Investors in People Award, the International Schools Bronze Award, the Investors in Careers Bronze Award, the Healthy Schools Award and the Quality in Study Support Award. The school has also become the lead centre for Fronter (Managed Learning Environment) for the borough of Redbridge.

About the LMLE ( London Managed Learning Environment)

The London MLE is an integrated learning management system powered by the Fronter Platform. Offering a range of tools for learning and collaboration online, the London MLE was selected in 2007 by London’s local authorities, working collectively as The London Grid for Learning, as the preferred platform for London schools.

Deputy Headteacher comment

We are dedicated to helping our students to achieve to their highest potential. The new building will offer an exceptional learning environment. Moving over the Easter holidays has presented many challenges, especially as this means an extended break for some students in the run up to their final examinations. The Virtual School will reduce the effect of this break, enabling all students to continue with learning activities. Teachers have developed tasks which students complete alone or collaboratively with forums to support progress. Our use of Fronter has evolved greatly over the last 2 years and we are grateful for their support in enabling us to realise our vision of a virtual school. This will continue and be built upon as we take advantage of our new ICT equipment.

For further information contact:

The London Grid for Learning is a consortium of the 33 London Local Authorities which provides a filtered broadband connection, network services, a common learning platform, online content and support communities for all schools across London.


Mina Patel - mina.patel@lgfl.org.uk
Curriculum Consultant
London Grid for Learning Trust


Tanya Hurst - tanhurs@loxford.net
Director of E-learning
Loxford School of Science and Technology

Redbridge@ Games Based Learning 2010 conference

Good to see Redbridge ICT teachers maintaining a presence on the national stage. Coming up soon on the 29th and 30th March is the Games Based Learning conference held in central London. On the Tuesday programme is the following listing:

10:00 - Dawn Hallybone (bio), Senior Teacher, ICT Co-ordinator, Oakdale Junior School & Nicholas Hughes (bio), ICT Co-ordinator and Advisory Teacher, Nightingale Primary School

They will be talking about the Redbridge games network which has an informative blog to follow, and you can also follow individually the work of Nick and Dawn on their individual blogs. Go along to find out more, or get in touch with them directly.

AfL in Mathematics Staff INSET - Video Conference

Monday, 21st June 2010 – Inspirational Assessment For Learning in Mathematics CPD - Video Conference

Time - 3.45 pm to 4.45 pm

For both primary and secondary school teachers. Alison Clark Wilson from the Maths Association (MA) in partnership with the NE London Maths Association and LGfL will be hosting a live STAFF INSET from Waltham Forest CLC . If you wish to take part, please fill in the registration form before 12pm June 1st.

Schools without VC equipment can still participate using their LGfL internet connection, via the live stream; all schools must complete the online registration form here.

For more information about the event contact mina.patel@lgfl.org.uk

Mina Patel (LGfL)

School Leaders' Course for Next Generation Learning

Next Generation Learning: Digital Technology and Institutional Change
An essential two-day programme from the LGFL for school senior leaders

Are you ready for.....?

• Parental Engagement and On-Line Reporting...
• The new Ofsted Framework....
• …and Ofsted Report February 2010.....
• Building Schools for the Future and the Primary Capital Programme...
• Safeguarding pupils, staff and data...

This programme will address these issues by allowing you to explore the development of ICT strategy and your leadership of change. You will leave the programme having identified appropriate next steps for your school. This is a well established two-day support programme aimed at head teachers and members of the senior leadership team. It provides opportunities for the school team to work together and collaboratively with other schools.

To maximise the impact on school improvement it is essential that a member of the school’s senior leadership team attend together with one other who has strategic responsibility for ICT.

Courses running on:

• NGL 11 - 18th/19th May
• NGL 12 - 21st/24th May
• NGL 13 - 27th/28th May
• NGL 14 - 7th/9th June
• NGL 15 - 8th/11th June
• NGL 16 - 14th/17th June
• NGL 17 - 6th/9th July
• NGL 18 - 2nd/3rd November
• NGL 19 - 8th/10th November
• NGL 20 - 30th November /2nd December

Cost: £150 per delegate (heavily subsidised by LGfL). Lunch, refreshments and course materials are included. To book places please email julie.walker@lgfl.org.uk and provide the following information: Full name, job title, School, LA, email address.

Further details available directly from LGFL here.

Primary ICT Subject Leaders' Meeting

Where and when:
9:00am to 12:15pm (coffee from 8:40am)
Redbridge Teacher Centre – 11th March 2010

Agenda for the day:

1. Welcome & news
2. Key theme: Assessment
3. Project feedback: Race to Learn
4. Improving your school: The Learning Platform Implementation Model
   
5. Training: New ideas that can be used in your school
6. News from the floor: What’s the latest greatest thing

Please remember:
Three examples of work that you have or can assess during session 2.
A laptop or equivalent


Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Nick Hughes