Single sex classes help boys with English, but not maths

Boys may perform significantly better at primary school if they are taught in single sex classes.

A study at Bristol University found that in Key Stage 1 and 2 boys did less well as the number of girls in the class rose.

But the effect was only noted in English classes and disappeared after the age of 11.

In science and maths classes it was discovered that having a largely female class improved the performances of both girls and boys.

Researcher Steven Proud said that the differences could be down to boys ‘hiding in the background’ and not trying as hard because girls generally outperform boys in English.

He concluded that it could possibly be due to female teachers – in the majority in primary schools – unconsciously targeting their teaching more towards girls.

One in twelve labelled "gifted and talented"

The number of children singled out as gifted or talented in primary schools has risen.

Government figures show that in 8.1 per cent of children were identified as “gifted and talented” this year compared to 6.9 per cent last year. There were big ethnic differences. More than one in five Chinese children were "gifted and talented”, compared to less than one in sixty Irish traveller.

The figures are based on information gathered in the January 2008 school census.

The number of pupils who spoke English as a second language also rose slightly – up by 0.9 per cent to 14.4 per cent.

Overall, primary school class sizes remained broadly stable.

Pupil characteristics and class sizes in maintained schools in England

Stammering help

Children who stammer are to receive more help in the classroom.

A programme designed by the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children, a world leading facility, will be rolled out to schools by 2010.

An additional £340,000 of government funding will allow for the Centre to distribute information, advice and training materials to support children who stammer and their families.

An estimated five per cent of children experience some difficulty with language fluency at some time.

Stammering can have a major impact on a child’s academic and social life, by resulting in them becoming withdraw or anxious, and can also lead to bullying.

Last chance to have a say on future curriculum

Time is running out to contribute your views to a major review of the primary curriculum.
The Rose review, set up by education secretary Ed Balls, will be advising the government on whether the primary curriculum is too narrow, and how it could better meet the needs of all children.
The consultation, which will also look at whether summer-born children should be able to start school later, ends tomorrow April 30.
Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum - call for evidence

Big jump in TA numbers.

The number of teaching assistants in English primary schools has jumped by 10,000 in the past year.
There were 115,000 full-time equivalent TAs in primary and nursery schools in England in January this year compared to 105,000 last year - the biggest yearly increase for five years.
And because many TAs are not full time, the actual number of people in the job is much higher.
Provisional government figures published today also show a small increase in the number of classroom teachers in primary schools.
Since 2000, the number of children to each teacher in primary schools has fallen from an average of 23.4 to 21.6, and the number of children per adult from 16.8 to 12. In nursery schools too, pupil-teacher and pupil-adult ratios have dropped.
School workforce in England, January 2008 (Provisional)

Support staff pay body gets go-ahead

The new pay body for support staff looks set to go ahead after a dispute between government departments was settled.

Work has now started on setting up the shadow body, including moves to recruit a consultant to prepare the new pay scales.

The schedule for setting up the new national body promised to school support staff was delayed because of a wrangle between the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Treasury, but it is understood that this has been resolved.

The school support staff pay body was announced by schools minister Jim Knight last autumn. It was due to come into operation in September 2008, and would set pay for all support staff in schools.

Unison national officer Christine Lewis welcomed the latest development. "There is still a long way to go before our members are asked whether they want to move from the old to the new arrangements, but at least this blockage has shifted."

In a statement on Sept 26, the schools department (DCFS) said work would begin immediately on recruiting a shadow chair for the new body, which is to provide a separate negotiating forum for support staff pay and conditions. A shadow group was to be in place by January 2008 to prepare for the body going live in September.

It is understood that the plan had not been ratified by the Treasury before it was announced, and objections were raised.

Schools minister Jim Knight has been talking up the importance of teaching assistants. He told the ATL teachers’ union conference last month that that teachers should not be “rewarded and relieved at the expense of teaching assistants”.

He went on: “I am absolutely determined to get the new support staff working group up and running this year to deliver more consistency and progression for this crucial group of professionals.”

He also gave an interview on BBC radio 5 Live in which he mentioned teaching assistants several times.

He said then that increasing the number of teaching assistants in classes is key to improving education, says schools minister Jim Knight.

"If we’re going to improve behaviour, and that’s the beginning of good learning with people feeling safe and confident to speak up in their classes, we’ve got to continue to improve the ratio of adults to children in class."

Teachers strike advice for TAs

Teaching assistants could be disciplined and lose pay if they refuse to cross teachers' picket lines, unions have warned.

Unison has told its members that legally they cannot take strike action without a ballot of their own, and they should work as usual on Thursday if the teachers' strike goes ahead. But they should not do any work normally done by people on strike.

If TAs want to show their support for colleagues they can attend rallies and meetings outside working hours, said a Unison spokesperson.

Up to 6000 schools are expected to shut fully or partially on 24 April as teachers go on strike over better pay.

It will be the first time that the National Union of Teachers has organised industrial action over pay for 21 years.

A majority of three to one of teachers balloted voted in favour of the action, in protest at the government's pay offer of 2.45 per cent.

Only thirty local authorities in England are likely to be affected by the action - around a fifth of all local authorities.

Some authorities have published lists of the affected schools and others have made predications as to which schools will close.

NUT members are unhappy at pay increases being set at less than the rate of inflation since 2005.

Parents strictest with older siblings

Younger children are treated less strictly by their parents than their older siblings, say academics.

Parents were more likely to take steps such as stopping pocket money to older children to set an example, but had mellowed when younger children reached the same age.

Published in the Economic Journal, the study by American professors also found that younger children were more likely to rebel by engaging in risky behaviour.

Government to probe how commercialisation is affecting children

The impact of commercialisation on childhood is to be investigated by the government. Children, parents and others are being asked for views as part of a review that will end next year

Ed Balls, Secretary of state for Children, Schools and Families said,"I want to know if advertising and shopping, and other influences such as media and entertainment, marketing and promotion, commercial websites, and sponsored events are affecting our children's lives in any way. I want to know what these things are telling young people about how to behave, what to believe, and what kind of person to become."

The review follows warnings by a teachers' union that celebrity culture is affecting children’s career aspirations and progress in school.

Children model themselves on celebrities such as David and Victoria Beckham, said respondents in a survey for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

Sixty per cent of teachers said that sports starts are the type of celebrity most pupils aspired to be, with pop stars (at 58 per cent) coming a close second.

Although it was felt that celebrity culture could have a positive impact, for example, in class discussion, concerns were raised about the negative impact of celebrity culture.

Pupils wanted to be famous just for being famous and many modeled themselves on celebrities like heiress Paris Hilton, said one teacher.

The government review is being headed by Professor David Buckingham, a specialist in children and the media, at the University of London's Institute of Education. "We are intending to look at the positive aspects of children's involvement with the commercial world, as well as the negatives; and at how children and parents are learning to deal with commercial pressures," said Professor Buckingham. "We have assembled a strong team of experts, and will be welcoming responses and submissions from all interested parties."

For more information go to: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/

Free school meals for all

Children in Scotland will continue to get free school meals until the end of the school year.

The £5 million pilot scheme providing free, nutritious lunches for all primary one to three pupils was initially due to finish at the end of March.

More than 35,000 pupils are benefiting from the trial which is underway in the Borders, Fife, Glasgow, East Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Ministers are evaluating the scheme to see if it results in improved pupil behaviour and improved attitudes to healthy eating.

If it is found to have benefits the Scottish government has agreed to extend the scheme across Scotland.

Action urged to stop children buying adult video games

Video games should be classified in the same way as films, a government review says.

Classification should be lowered to start at 12+ and symbols would appear on the front of game boxes to restrict children’s access to adult games.

The recommendations are part of the six-month long Byron Review, led by child psychologist Dr Tanya Byron.

It also proposes the creation of a UK Council for Child Internet Safety, to safeguard children’s activity online, and calls for a campaign to educate both parents and children about using the internet without risks.

“The internet and video games are now very much a part of growing up and offer unprecedented opportunities to learn, develop and have fun,” said Dr Byron.

“However, with new opportunities come potential risks. My recommendations will help children and young people make the most of what all digital and interactive technologies can offer, while enabling them and their parents to navigate all these new media waters safely and with the knowledge that more is being done by government and the internet and video game industries to help and support them.”

The government has pledged to act immediately on the recommendations of the report.