Devasted that Luljeta Nuzi has died after a long fight with cancer. An incredible, dynamic, fierce woman whose optimism and passion for equality for all, in education, as women, as members of refugee and global majority communities will remain an inspiration for those who met her. I first met Luljeta in 2009 when she came […]
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages
Royal Veterinary College Opportunities
Royal Veterinary College Summer Schools
Applications for the Royal Veterinary College 2021 Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 Sutton Trust Summer Schools are now open!
The RVC summer schools give young people a real taster of what life is like as a student at the RVC. As well as taking part in online lectures, practical demonstrations and Q&A with world-leading researchers, they aim for every student to come to campus for a hands-on experiences in animal hospitals, Clinical Skills Centre, labs or farm. Students get the chance to meet current RVC students, other young people with a passion for animals and professionals working in a range of animal science careers. Work together to solve veterinary case studies, reflect on their career goals and how to achieve them and enjoy student social activities!
Last year’s participants said:
“It was a wonderful exciting experience, I felt one step closer to achieving my goals in pursuing Veterinary Medicine.”
“The staff and ambassadors were really friendly and welcoming. The information that I was provided about university was useful and helped my understanding. The activities were interesting and the social activities were fun. I couldn’t have had a better virtual experience.”
To participate in any of their summer schools, young people must attend a state school and meet a number of other Widening Participation eligibility criteria such as being the first in the family to go to university, being eligible for Free School Meals, or living in an area with low progression rates to higher education.
This Summer the Royal Veterinary College launched a brand new free online programme to support young people from under-represented backgrounds to reach their goals of studying and working with animals. Members have access to exclusive support, advice and monthly events about animal careers, going to university, and of course learning from the RVC’s student and animal experts! The next online event is due to take place on February 9th 5.30-6.30pm.
To join the Animal Academy students must be aged 13 or above, and attend a state school in the UK. They will also need to meet some additional criteria such as being the first in the family to go to university, being eligible for Free School Meals, or living in an area with low progression rates to higher education. They can find out more and apply to be part of the Animal Academy here!
Updated Out-of-school settings guidance
The Department for Education out-of-school settings guidance has now been updated to provide more information on the position during the national lockdown.
The headlines are:
- For the duration of the national lockdown, out-of-school settings should only offer face-to-face provision for:
- children of critical workers, where it is reasonably necessary to support their parents or carers to work, seek work, attend a medical appointment, or undertake education or training
- vulnerable children and young people
- There is a list available outlining Children of critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or educational settings.
- Realistically, we know that the small numbers of children that are eligible to attend settings for face-to-face provision will mean that many out-of-school settings will likely need to move to online provision for the duration of the national lockdown.
- However, providers who offer face-to-face provision for the eligible children during the national lockdown should continue to follow the protective measures as outlined in our guidance. These are largely consistent with what you have already been doing, but given that there is likely to be fewer numbers of children in settings if they do choose to open, we have made it permissive for one member of staff to supervise up to two, small consistent groups of children if this is necessary.
The updated guidance documents are available at the usual links here: Protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) & Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
| Anne-Marie Mongan | Policy Adviser |Out-of-school Settings, Wraparound, and Integration UnitEmail: anne-marie.mongan@education.gov.ukgov.uk | Twitter | Facebook Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, SW1P 3BT |
Spoken Language Statements
Schools/Colleges and other examination centres have been asked by Ofqual to obtain spoken language statements for private entrants or their own entrants for languages they do not teach. This webinar will support community/supplementary school teachers to provide the spoken language statement and will support mainstream schools to work with supplementary schools to enable them to provide the exam boards with a spoken language endorsement level.
The endorsement level can be provided by a supplementary school or community school, by a private tutor or by a speaker of the language who is not a relative or friend of the student who will act as Assessor.
Does the school/college need to arrange to get an endorsement for any private candidates and any of its own students being entered in a language for which it has no teacher?
Yes. It is the responsibility of the school/college to liaise with the supplementary/community school or private tutor or find a speaker of the language who is not a relative or friend of the student. Ofqual has stated that awarding organisations must require each centre to provide them with a, ‘spoken language statement’, confirming that it has taken reasonable steps to ensure there is an opportunity for an assessment of spoken language for every learner.
To support supplementary school/community teachers in the preparation of Spoken Language Statements and to advice you on how to ensure that your pupils receive a mark for their spoken language NRCSE has invited Pearson EdExcel and AQA exam boards to go through the requirements with you. We will also be joined by key community language champions from the British Council, APPG MFL, ASCL who are all keen to ensure that pupils entering a mother tongue/home/heritage language are not disadvantaged by the changes as they were in 2020.
This webinar is for teachers supporting pupils entered for GCSEs. We hope to include those entered for Cambridge International IGCSEs and O levels. Please check with us.