...and now, that should be a little bit easier.
Fieldwork image by Alan Parkinson (Creative Commons)
As Geographers we are more aware than other subject disciplines of the importance of fieldwork and out of classroom learning activities.
The DCSF yesterday held the first LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM campaign conference and awards, and there was also the release of an official OFSTED REPORT on the 2nd of October (click the link to get your own copy)
Fieldwork image by Alan Parkinson (Creative Commons)
Thanks to Angus Willson, who was present at the event in Greenwich for passing on details, and also the press release, which includes the following:
More children and young people will be able to go on educational school trips thanks to new measures slashing red tape and giving teachers more support, Children’s Secretary Ed Balls and Children’s Minister Kevin Brennan said today. The Out and About package, launched this morning and backed with £4.5 million of funding, is designed to give schools much clearer information to organise effective learning outside the classroom activities for all pupils. It includes a new Quality Badge scheme which will cut paperwork for teachers by helping schools and local authorities to identify organisations that provide high quality experiences and manage safety effectively. Mr Balls said learning outside the classroom – whether within school grounds, locally and on visits further afield or even abroad - should be part and parcel of every child’s school career. But he said it was wrong to deny children valuable learning opportunities or wrap them in cotton wool because of risk assessment paperwork or fears over compensation culture. And he stressed it was time to allay teachers’ fears about litigation over incidents on school trips once and for all.
The plan is to encourage teachers to take students out more by reducing red tape.
More from Ed Balls:
"It is wrong to wrap children in cotton wool as they grow up. Trips and getting out of the classroom should be part and parcel of school life and always form people’s most vivid childhood memories."
“Learning outside the classroom is not some optional extra. It should excite young people, deepen their understanding of classroom subjects and is vital for young people to become independent, confident and motivated."
“The vast majority of England’s eight million children go safely on school trips or learn outside the classroom at some stage. But we know that more can be done to make sure it is an integral part of every child’s education."
And if you're short of ideas for what young people could do, check out MISSION EXPLORE.
E-mail if you want to know more details of this project of the GEOGRAPHY COLLECTIVE.
Fieldwork image by Alan Parkinson (Creative Commons)As Geographers we are more aware than other subject disciplines of the importance of fieldwork and out of classroom learning activities.
The DCSF yesterday held the first LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM campaign conference and awards, and there was also the release of an official OFSTED REPORT on the 2nd of October (click the link to get your own copy)
Fieldwork image by Alan Parkinson (Creative Commons)Thanks to Angus Willson, who was present at the event in Greenwich for passing on details, and also the press release, which includes the following:
More children and young people will be able to go on educational school trips thanks to new measures slashing red tape and giving teachers more support, Children’s Secretary Ed Balls and Children’s Minister Kevin Brennan said today. The Out and About package, launched this morning and backed with £4.5 million of funding, is designed to give schools much clearer information to organise effective learning outside the classroom activities for all pupils. It includes a new Quality Badge scheme which will cut paperwork for teachers by helping schools and local authorities to identify organisations that provide high quality experiences and manage safety effectively. Mr Balls said learning outside the classroom – whether within school grounds, locally and on visits further afield or even abroad - should be part and parcel of every child’s school career. But he said it was wrong to deny children valuable learning opportunities or wrap them in cotton wool because of risk assessment paperwork or fears over compensation culture. And he stressed it was time to allay teachers’ fears about litigation over incidents on school trips once and for all.
The plan is to encourage teachers to take students out more by reducing red tape.
More from Ed Balls:
"It is wrong to wrap children in cotton wool as they grow up. Trips and getting out of the classroom should be part and parcel of school life and always form people’s most vivid childhood memories."
“Learning outside the classroom is not some optional extra. It should excite young people, deepen their understanding of classroom subjects and is vital for young people to become independent, confident and motivated."
“The vast majority of England’s eight million children go safely on school trips or learn outside the classroom at some stage. But we know that more can be done to make sure it is an integral part of every child’s education."
And if you're short of ideas for what young people could do, check out MISSION EXPLORE.
E-mail if you want to know more details of this project of the GEOGRAPHY COLLECTIVE.
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