Crime increase
A total of 30,294 crimes were reported at schools and further education colleges during 2014, an investigation by the BBC has discovered.
Violent crime and theft were the most commonly reported incidents, although there were 1,502 sexual offences among the total.
The data came after the BBC submitted Freedom of Information requests to police services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland – with 32 of 40 or so services responding.
The total is an increase on figures from 2013 when 28,444 crimes were reported. The 2014 figures included the following crimes:
- Theft, burglary, robbery: 13,003 reports.
- Violent crime: 9,319 reports.
- Criminal damage/arson: 4,106 reports.
- Sexual offences: 1,502 reports.
- Drugs offences: 754 reports.
The largest number of crimes were reported to the Metropolitan Police in London (7,002 reports), and the police services in Greater Manchester (2,434) and the West Midlands (1,929).
Holocaust lessons
MPs on the Education Select Committee are calling for evidence to aid an inquiry into Holocaust education. The investigation will focus on the quality of teaching of the Holocaust, the impact of Holocaust education, the focus on the Holocaust in the national curriculum, and the absence of teaching of other genocides. The deadline for submissions is November 6. Visit: www.parliament.uk/education-committee
Educating Children at a Time of Unprecedented Change
Leading educationalists from the fields of technology, digital and outdoor learning are among the line-up at Educating Children at a Time of Unprecedented Change, The King Alfred School’s annual conference, taking place on Saturday, October 10.
Speakers include Sugata Mitra, a professor of educational technology famous for instigating "School in the Cloud", Professor Bill Lucas, co-creator of the Expansive Education Network and author of Educating Ruby, Steve Wheeler, an academic expert on the socio-cultural impact of disruptive technologies, Nihara Krause, a clinical psychologist and founder of STEM4, a charity aimed at curbing teenage mental illness, John Blaney, a forest school education advocate, and Mike Grenier, co-founder of the Slow Education Movement.
Robert Lobatto, head of King Alfred, said: “Discussion will focus on how best to support children’s learning through use of technology on the one hand, and ‘elemental’ outdoor learning on the other; on what pace is right for young people when so much in their lives is instant or fast moving and on how we can motivate students to achieve their best without putting too much pressure on their emotional wellbeing?”
Visit: www.kingalfred.org.uk/blogs/news/
Joint purchasing
More than half of schools say that they have saved money by buying goods and services collectively alongside other schools. However, a snapshot survey of school business managers, governors and school leaders by education supplier register Incensu found that a lack of time and expertise remains the biggest barrier to joint purchasing. Availability of legal frameworks, more flexibility from suppliers, and more training would also help, respondents said.
Film resources
Charity Into Film has launched a series of new curriculum-related resources. They include Malala Youth Voice, a programme of resources inspired by the documentary film He Named Me Malala – about the life of global education campaigner Malala Yousafzai – and aimed at helping students to develop their own confidence, public speaking and campaigning skills. Other resources include 19th Century Novels on Film, Anti-Bullying on Film, and Macbeth Power Players. Visit: www.intofilm.org