futures MARCH 2009
futures8
MICK
FARLEY
UCLan's Director for Cumbria
Science:
vital for
our future
L
AST month two important things
relating to science occurred �-
both unnoticed by the popular
media but both of particular
significance for the West Cumbrian
economy.
On January 22 the Government
issued its Annual Grant Letter to the
Higher Education Funding Council for
England (HEFCE). This sets out the
Government's priorities and future
funding for higher education. A week
later, the Government launched a
Campaign, "Science (So What? So
Everything)", to create a more
science-literate society and highlight
the science and technology based
industries of the future.
The Grant Letter to HEFCE was
explicit � "promotion of STEM (science,
technology, engineering and
mathematics) disciplines should be a
factor in all your activities" since these
are subjects that employers consistently
say they will need in the long term. The
supply of STEM graduates and
postgraduates has increased in recent
years but this needs to be accelerated.
The campaign is aimed at people of
all ages but supports and complements
work including websites such as
www.scienceandmaths.net designed
for young people and schools to show
just some of the amazing and
unexpected careers that studying the
STEM subjects can lead to.
The West Cumbrian economy,
substantially built around the nuclear
industry and its supply chain, is hugely
dependent on STEM-based skills. It is,
therefore, no coincidence that one of
the two specialisms of the West Lakes
Academy is science. The other, business
and enterprise, is also important to the
local economy. Beyond the local
economy, both will facilitate students
having the skills required to win the
jobs of tomorrow in emerging and
growth industries across the UK and in
the wider global economy. (The
Academy will, of course, also provide a
balanced curriculum including the
humanities, languages, art, music,
dance, literature, drama and sport).
Science is going to be an important
tool for getting the UK out of the
current economic downturn. And the
Government's Grant Letter to HEFCE
makes clear, as had its earlier Grant
Letter to the Learning and Skills
Council (responsible for, inter-alia,
further education colleges and training
providers), that the Government
expects both sectors to support the
economy through the recession. The
HEFCE Grant Letter couldn't be clearer.
The "chief priority for the Council for
2009 is ... to deal with the
consequences of current
circumstances". Both sectors have
issued brochures offering their services:
"Standing together: universities
helping businesses through the
downturn" is the HE version: "FE
works" is the FE version.
SCHOOLS
PGCE Primary
with Cumbria Primary Teacher Training
We only recruit 26 trainees. This means that
we can offer exceptional individual support
to you as a trainee.
Our partnership schools have talented
mentors who are excited and enthusiastic
about sharing their wealth of knowledge
with you.
Our centre based tutors are experienced
practitioners who will ensure that you
are trained in the most innovative and
progressive teaching methods.
Weassesseveryapplicationonitsindividual
merits and expect high standards.
To apply, read the information on our
website www.cptt.org.uk and apply via the
GTTR.
We pride ourselves on our informal and
friendly approach. If you have any queries
or would like to discuss your application, do
not hesitate to contact Rachel Ashburner.
Telephone: 01900 325060
Email: enquiries@cptt.org.uk
Train to teach on our innovative one year PGCE
with QTS course. Starting in September 2009.
Stephen's return
to the classroom
T
HERE'S a new face in the history
department at St Joseph's Catholic
High School. The Workington
school, which is actively involved in
regular teacher training, has seen
new recruit Stephen Anderson put his
knowledge to good use.
The 22-year-old is currently studying a
Post Graduate Certificate in Education
(PGCE) with the University of Cumbria.
And the students of St Joseph's School
have been benefiting from his extensive
knowledge of history.
Stephen, from Ashington,
Northumberland, started the PGCE
history course in October 2008.
"I was studying history and politics at
Northumbria University and saw the
teacher training course with the
University of Cumbria," Stephen said.
"Teaching had always been in the back
of my mind after I coached a youth
football team.
"I really enjoyed it so in my third year I
started looking into the PGCE course.
"My girlfriend's mother is also a
teacher so she gave me advice and
guidance when it came to expectations in
teaching."
Stephen applied for the PGCE course
through the GTTR (Graduate Teacher
Training Registry) website before
graduating.
In between placements, Stephen spends
time at the university but four days of his
week are devoted to gaining experience in
the classroom.
He said: "This has been my first
placement so far and I found it really
useful when it comes to developing my
classroom skills.
"St Joseph's is a good school and the
teachers are very supportive. Gareth
Hugh, head of the history department, has
been a great help and so has James
Thorpe who has been my school mentor.
"When I first started I was only
observing but then I soon starting taking
full lessons."
But, Stephen said, secondary teaching
appealed to him because of the ease in
teaching only one or two subjects.
"You don't have to spoon feed the
students when they're this age," Stephen
added.
"They have a certain level of
intelligence which you can then build
on."
Stephen will go back to university for
two weeks once his placement finishes
next month. He will then be sent on to
undertake another placement at a
different secondary school.
He said: "My course is portfolio-based
and I spend a lot of time doing work and
planning lessons. It's quite a demanding
profession. But once I finish my PGCE I'd
like to go on to have NQT status which
means I have qualified teacher status.
"But I'm pleased I had that experience
working with kids when I was coaching as
it was then that I realised teaching could
be for me."
Managers are
top of the class
T
WO Workington school managers are
celebrating after gaining top
qualifications at a graduation
ceremony recently.
Alyson Henderson, of St Gregory's
Catholic Primary School, and Dianne Eccles,
of St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, have
been awarded the certificate of school
business management.
The new qualification will mean they will
both bring the latest business and financial
expertise to their schools allowing the head
teachers more time to teach.
Alyson said: "It is an honour to have this
award.
"Earning the qualification has been both
challenging and rewarding, allowing me to
help my headteacher address the
organisational difficulties facing many
schools."
The graduates were two of only 136
business managers from across the country
to pick up their awards at the ceremony in
Nottingham. The qualification gives
graduates skills in areas such as finance,
securing additional funding, HR and
providing additional leadership support.
BACK TO SCHOOL: Stephen Anderson
ALYSON HENDERSON: Top qualification

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