Teachers Resource Spring / Summer 2024

Taking charge of your wellbeing

THE GIFT OF TIME BEATING BURNOUT

Make a meaningful impact globally or locally by volunteering

Trust the Outdoors

Transform education and embrace nature with The Outward Bound Trust

Share your views with SQA

Sign up to our pulse survey panel for practitioners to help us understand what issues are important to you. Visit www.sqa.org.uk/pulsesurveys or scan the QR code to find out more

PUBLISHER

Denise Connelly denise@dcpublishing.co.uk

STAFF WRITER

Kate Stevenson

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Patricia- Ann Young

Louise Zecevic

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

Lucy Baillie lucy.baillie@dcpublishing.co.uk

SALES

Marian Mathieson marian.mathieson@dcpublishing.co.uk

198

Tel:

DC Publishing Ltd, 198 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HG Tel: 0844 249 9007

Editor’s Letter

The countdown to summer is o cially on, and while you might have started planning for your dream holiday, your students will be focused on one thing only: their upcoming exams.

Before you begin to think about how you’ll spend your time o , we’re helping you to support your students through their exams on page 10. Afterwards, if you have time this summer, we share some fantastic volunteering suggestions on page 16 or you could look at starting a CPD course on page 8.

The next few months will be extremely busy, as they are every year, and it’s important to look after yourself. On page 12, we share tips on how to avoid burnout and take charge of your wellbeing, we also share the benefits of teaching at a remote location and changing your pace on page 14.

Having a healthy work-life balance is key, so we’re recommending our favourite podcasts to unwind to on page 29, sharing the best discounts for teachers on page 24, and inspiring you to get cooking on page 30. All this and much more inside!

Resource

What’s Inside

Pupil support

4 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Stay on track with our helpful calendar.

10 STUDY SMART

Help your students to study and ace their exams.

In the classroom

14 TEACHING BEYOND THE CENTRAL BELT

Develop your teaching skills at a remote school and make a di erence in the wider community.

19 WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

Some schools in Scotland are choosing to ban mobile phones from their classrooms.

21 TRUST THE OUTDOORS

Support your students in flourishing in a new learning environment.

27 MY SCHOOL DAYS

Actor Greg McHugh remembers his time at school.

takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers within the publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that information is accurate; while dates and prices are correct at time of going to print, DC Publishing Ltd takes no responsibility for omissions and errors.

www.teachersresource.co.uk

ResourceMagScot

Professional development

8 DEVELOP YOUR LEARNING

Advance your skills on a CPD course.

After hours

6 YOUR ONLINE IDENTITY

Protect yourself from online harassment.

14

16 THE GIFT OF TIME

Could you spend time volunteering or making a positive di erence this summer?

24 DISCOUNTS FOR TEACHERS

Discover a range of discounts exclusively for teachers.

29 EXPAND YOUR MIND

Listen to a podcast and learn something new.

30 RECIPE

Nathan Anthony shares a delicious slow cooker pasta dish from his new book.

Life

12 BEATING BURNOUT

More teachers than ever are experiencing stress-related illnesses because of unbearable workloads.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Support your pupils and plan ahead with our helpful calendar

22

START OF THE SQA EXAM DIET

It’s time to encourage your pupils as their 2024 exams begin.

6

MAY DAY HOLIDAY

Take a break and enjoy a wellearned day o – you deserve it!

24-27

BANK HOLIDAY

Some councils around Scotland will be o for the last May bank holiday weekend.

END OF SQA EXAM DIET

Hooray, you did it! You successfully got your pupils through their exams – well done.

29 APRIL MAY termdoubleAlwayscheck dates for the

live in

26

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER

It’s time to chill and enjoy some time o . What will you be getting up to this summer?

Get inspired on how to fill your free time this summer on page 16

SQA EXAM RESULTS DAY

Today your pupils will find out how they did in their exams. Be prepared to o er advice and discuss their next steps.

IN-SERVICE DAYS

It’s time to head back to work and get ready for a new school year.

6 14 12-13

PUPILS RETURN TO SCHOOL

And just like that, summers over and a new year of classes, pupils and opportunities begins.

YOUR ONLINE IDENTITY

In today’s digital age, personal information is often only a click away. Take these simple steps to safeguard yourself from online harassment

Social media platforms are very much part of the fabric of modern life, with a recent study showing that people in the UK spend nearly two hours a day scrolling through their favourite online apps. The video platform TikTok is particularly popular and boasts four million UK users, 60% of which are ‘Gen Z’ – young people born between 1997 and 2012. Or in other words, the generation that currently makes up our secondary school classrooms.

Even though most students enjoy the platform without issue, some use it to subject teachers and other school sta to relentless harassment and abuse. The problem has gotten so bad that the UK Government has teamed up with TikTok and the UK Safer Internet Centre to o er advice on how to report content and get it removed. The national teachers’ union, NASUWT (www.nasuwt.org.uk), has also seen a rise in online abuse enquiries, with more sta than ever seeking guidance on how to keep their personal information safe.

COMBAT

The high volume of teachers witnessing and experiencing online abuse and harassment is a cause for concern and it’s important to report anything you see. Your school should have procedures in place that allow you to report incidents or register complaints relating to pupils or parents. Your employer should take this seriously and if necessary, reports should be escalated to the police. Unfortunately, a lot of online abuse isn’t considered illegal, but there are still ways to combat this.

Schools can make this process simpler by installing the Report Harmful Content Button on their website. Available to download free from SWGfL (www.swgfl.org.uk), the button helps users report legal but harmful content more easily.

If your school isn’t taking your reports seriously, speak to your union, or if you feel the abuse is illegal or extremely damaging, go directly to the police. Although cases are rising, there’s plenty of ways to make your online presence more secure.

SETTINGS

The first step to online safety is ensuring your privacy settings are up to date. It’s likely that you’ve done this in the past, but social networks are constantly updating their rules and services: scheduling in monthly or quarterly reviews of your privacy settings can ensure there isn’t any slips.

How much you share publicly is up to you, but we would recommend making your profiles completely private. Simple changes like removing the city where you live or your place of work from your bio can make it much harder for pupils to find you online. You could also consider changing your profile pictures so that they don’t include you, making it harder for you to be identified in this way.

the team page on its website, if you use sites like LinkedIn, or if you have a profile picture to help your pupils find you on resources like Glow. If you’ve used the same photos personally and professionally in the past you can still change this, but they may still appear in searches.

YOUR NETWORK

Making a conscious e ort to protect your privacy online will go a long way, but remember to discuss your choices with your wider network. This should include any other teachers you are friends with outside of the school walls. Your friends and family might not be as privacy conscious as you: asking people not to tag you in pictures from social occasions or holidays can reduce the risk of pupils finding your social media through other public profiles.

The same goes for sharing your location. Next time you’re out for brunch or want to share your summer holiday snaps, avoid using geotags to show where you are.

NAME CHANGE

If you’re new to the profession and know other teachers in your personal life, it’s likely that you’ve seen their names change on sites like Facebook in the past. Simply changing your name is a great way to avoid appearing in online searches, but you can make this even more e ective by switching the email address linked to your accounts to one that doesn’t contain any personal information. Changing your name can help you avoid unwanted friend requests from pupils and parents, and can reduce the chances that profiles are created to impersonate you using your photos and information.

“If you are a victim of online abuse or harassment there is dedicated help available”

IMAGES

Have you ever carried out a reverse image search? It’s likely that your pupils know how to. Google Images lets you upload an image to find where else it or similar photos are featured online. Tools like this highlight the importance of keeping your professional and private life separate in the digital world.

Try to ensure you or your school don’t use images of you that are featured on your personal social media accounts. Consider this if your school has a meet

No matter what measures you have in place currently, always double-check your privacy settings and see how you can make your online profiles more secure. And remember, if you are a victim of online abuse or harassment there is dedicated help available.

If you are experiencing online abuse or harassment, report this to your school or the police if necessary. Or contact the UK Safer Internet Centre Professionals Online Safety Helpline by calling 0344 381 4772 or emailing helpline@saferinternet.org.uk

Develop your learning

Professional development will help you to become more confident and help you succeed in your career

To thrive as an educator, you must stay up to date with what’s new in the world of learning. One of the best ways to do this is by continuing your professional development (CPD). Your CPD training is aimed at enhancing your knowledge and understanding of a topic. With various courses to choose from, covering vast subject areas, it’s easy to learn something new – and to have fun while doing it!

Exploring innovative assessment methods

(www.open.edu)

12 hours, online

This free course from the Open University will develop your learners’ skills for their future and explore the benefits of innovative assessment. The advancement of technology means that many of your pupils will have access to handheld computing via their phones. In this course, you will realise how to use existing technology to create student-centred assessments that include transferrable skills. As it progresses, you will discover how to improve your curriculum and meet your learning outcomes using technology. By implementing innovative assessment into your classrooms, you’re helping to prepare your students for their careers.

Shared Practice Event: Sensory Stories

(www.scottishbooktrust.com)

April 26, 2024, Glasgow, 5-9pm

Ran by the Scottish Book Trust, this course will help you be a more e ective teacher through developing your storytelling skills. On this course, you’ll learn about the benefits of sensory storytelling and how it can empower young people with additional support needs (ASN) to express their thoughts and ideas. Perfect for teachers and support sta working directly with ASN pupils, this event will teach you how sensory storytelling can engage pupils’ imagination and increase their engagement with new subjects during lessons. Book now on the Scottish Book Trust’s website to avoid missing out.

Climate change

(www.scotdec.org.uk)

Self-paced, online

Provided by Scotdec and funded by the Scottish Government, this programme explains how you can teach young people to challenge global inequalities. Designed for teachers who are passionate about educating for a fairer world, this climate change course will help you reflect on your lifestyle choices and consider how you can impact your

learners’ choices as consumers. The activities in this module will develop your confidence and skills to tackle sustainability in the classroom and positively influence your students. You will explore key climate change debates from a national and international perspective and discover how to support your learners in their journey as active global citizens.

FINDING CPD COURSES

In Scotland, you must complete 35 hours of professional development each year. If you still need to fulfil your CPD requirement, you can use these websites to search for courses.

General Teaching Council for Scotland

www.gtcs.org.uk

Free Courses in Scotland

www.freecoursesinscotland.co.uk

Time for Inclusive Education

www.tie.scot

Scottish Qualifications Authority

www.sqa.org.uk

You can also contact your local higher education institution to see what they have on o er.

Become a Cambridge examiner

We are expanding our examiner network, and inviting teachers to develop their professional practice by becoming examiners across the range of syllabuses in Cambridge IGCSE, O Level and AS & A Level. You will gain an insight into the teaching and assessment of Cambridge International Education qualifications, and we offer training and support with freelance opportunities which fit around your existing commitments.

For more details, just visit cambridgeinternational.org/examiners

STUDY SMART

With exam season just around the corner and nerves starting to build, it’s time to support your students to develop strong study skills and help them achieve their goals

The exam season is almost upon us and your students might be starting to feel the pressure. Maybe you’re starting to feel it too: after all, their performance reflects on you as a teacher. But most of all, you’ll want all of your students to do their best and get the results they deserve.

Some of your students may have never revised for an exam before so have no idea where to start. At this crucial time, it’s your job to provide them with the right foundation so they can go on to have a healthy and productive attitude towards preparing for exams.

ROUTINE

Getting into a good routine is one of the most important habits you should encourage in your students as they get ready for exams. Highlight the importance of being organised and not leaving revision to the last minute. Help them to create a realistic study schedule they’ll be able to stick to.

Setting intermittent goals, like finishing a book chapter or completing a practice test, can be really helpful, and students should reward themselves for these achievements. Remind them how essential it is to take regular breaks, too.

FINDING A STYLE

Everyone has a preferred style of revising, so encourage your students to find theirs. Some people enjoy old-school methods like reading and writing notes or doing practice papers. Some use flashcards or postcards, and others prefer creating mind maps, diagrams or flow charts. Some prefer to work alone, whilst others thrive in

“Encourage your students to experiment with different approaches”

a group setting where they can share ideas. Encourage your students to experiment with different approaches, and then prioritise the ones that work for them.

Remind your students that studying doesn’t need to be boring. Help them get creative and have fun with their revision. Creating very visual flashcards or revision notes using colour, pictures and stickers can help them to organise their knowledge and aid memory.

SELF-CARE

While you want your students to work hard, it’s important to ensure they look after their physical and mental health throughout the exam period. Remind them to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, drink plenty of water and do some exercise, ideally outdoors. Encourage them to take regular breaks to do something completely unrelated to schoolwork.

Reassure them that doing all of these alongside their studies will help, not hinder, their performance in exams.

Above all, remind them why they’re going through this. Exams can be extremely challenging and stressful for students, but it’s also an exciting opportunity for them to show off what they’ve learnt and prove their abilities. Educating your students about smart study skills and healthy habits will ensure they do the best they can in their exams and establish a positive attitude to studying that will serve them well in the future.

Looking for more resources to help your pupils prepare for their exams? Mental health charities like See Me (www.seemescotland.org) and Young Minds (www.youngminds.org.uk) have information and advice for young people.

Beating BURNOUT

Increasing numbers of teachers are experiencing stress and stress-related illness, while more teachers than ever before are leaving the profession early as a result of unbearable workload strain. We examine a burning issue for the workforce

Stress affects us all at different times and in different ways. It can cause people to feel physically unwell, can cause mental health problems and can make existing problems worse. Most people get stressed at work at some point, but teaching is regularly cited as one of the most stressful occupations.

Burnout in teachers occurs as a result of sustained stress that never subsides. This is due to prolonged periods of intensity and excessive demands on energy, strength and resources. Burnout has been linked with reduced quality of teaching and classroom instruction, and an increased risk of poor student classroom behaviour.

A major survey of Scotland’s teachers, carried out by the country’s largest teaching union – the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) – found that over two-thirds of teachers said they felt stressed frequently or all of the time. Almost half said they had poor or very poor wellbeing within their job overall. Only 15% of respondents were satisfied with their workload levels.

Sources of stress

According to EIS, pupil behaviour, Additional Support Needs (ASN) of pupils and workload all play a role in teacher health, wellbeing and burnout. Only 3% of teachers reported “frequently” having enough time to complete paperwork, liaise with colleagues and external agencies, and attend meetings in relation to supporting pupils with ASN.

Policy initiatives and changes to the school system also play a role in burnout in teachers.

These factors impact on sickness absence due to poor mental health.

Last year, Scottish teachers took more than 380,000 sick days, with stress identified as the number one factor driving the rise. The Improvement Service, which collects the data on behalf of Scotland’s local authorities to help them assess and improve their performance, is warning that the picture is expected to worsen, with “stress continuing to be the number one factor driving absence across Scotland”.

Resolving the issue

To keep great teachers teaching, there needs to be a better understanding of the signs of burnout and the proactive measures that can be put in place to avoid it. As individuals, teacher’s stress tolerances vary, but schools and policymakers need to review the many demands placed on teachers.

According to EIS research, more classroom assistants and better support for inclusion and pupils with ASN was cited by almost two-thirds of teachers as likely to make the biggest impact in reducing their workload.

An EIS spokesperson says: “We are still in a period where schools are supposed to be receiving additional resources to support post-pandemic educational recovery, but the reality is that teachers are being pushed to and beyond breaking point because of the under-resourcing of our schools.

“Scotland’s schools are being expected to achieve more and more with fewer resources and fewer teachers and support staff. This isn’t sustainable, and we need to see a substantial increase in the funding and resourcing of our schools to deliver a high-quality education for our young people and an acceptable working environment for our teachers.”

RECOGNISING THE SYMPTOMS

Exhaustion

For teachers this may include both emotional and physical exhaustion, including frustration and irritability, mood swings, impaired concentration, chronic fatigue and insomnia. As well as physical symptoms such as increased illness, palpitations, gastrointestinal pain, headaches and dizziness.

Detachment from the job

This may develop through cynicism and pessimism towards teaching, students, colleagues or the school itself. The person with burnout may prefer to avoid contact and involvement with others, and experience a loss of enjoyment from the things that once brought pleasure.

Reduced performance

This can present as negative feelings, lack of productivity and poor performance. Evidence of this may be feelings of hopelessness and apathy, low self-confidence, increased irritability with yourself and others, increased time spent completing tasks and apathy to want to do so.

COPING STRATEGIES

The charity Education Support suggests these steps to help protect yourself against burnout:

1. Take charge of your wellbeing

To look after your pupils, you need to look after yourself. Try to ensure you have plenty of opportunities to properly relax and recharge. Eat well, get enough sleep and get outside for fresh air.

2. Do things that make you feel like ‘you’

It might be a hobby, seeing or chatting with friends and

family, or making a meal. It’s important to remember that you are a person beyond your job. Engaging in your passions and making time for loved ones can energise you and help prevent burnout.

3. Be aware of your emotions, stress levels and mental health

Connecting with how we feel and noticing our stress levels can help you to manage symptoms and find solutions. Can you use mindfulness techniques or journaling to feel calmer and let go of your worries?

Help and support

Education Support is a charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of staff throughout the education sector. It has a free and confidential helpline for all education staff, open 24/7 throughout the UK: call 08000 562 561 or for more info visit: www.educationsupport.org.uk

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) has created and curated a variety of Health and Wellbeing resouces and advice to support teacher health and wellbeing.

Visit: www.gtcs.org.uk/health-and-wellbeing/

Teachers’ Union NASUWT has a ‘talking toolkit’ with links to model action plans, risk assessments and other guidance to assist and support members experiencing work-related stress, anxiety and depression. For more info visit: www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/health-safety/mentalhealth-and-work-related-stress-toolkit.html

Teaching beyond the Central Belt

A teacher in a rural school can make a massive difference in the education of young people and the wider community. We spoke to Highland Councillor John Finlayson to discover the benefits of leaving the city schools behind for a new pace of life

You might be surprised to read that over a third of Scottish schools are classified as ‘rural’. These schools are often the heart of their local communities, and teaching at them can be both enriching and rewarding.

However, many remote schools need help recruiting and retaining sta , despite the incentives o ered by local councils. From relocation packages to car-lease schemes, teaching at a rural school can seem attractive on paper, but what’s it really like?

Exciting opportunities

Teaching in a rural school is a brilliant opportunity to gain valuable experience and develop your skills. Councillor John Finlayson, chair of the education committee for the Highland Council, says that the attractive locations of the schools are not the only thing that make the jobs appealing.

“It’s the lifestyle, it’s living in the outdoors, it’s working in a school where you get to know more than the pupils in your year,” he explains. “If you buy into being a teacher in a rural community, you’re buying into being a member of our community and a very important person too.”

Making a di erence

A teacher in a rural setting can make a huge di erence, not just to the education of the young people but

to the community by incorporating learning that’s relevant to the local area. Every remote location is di erent, meaning the opportunities to explore your teaching style are endless.

“There are pros and cons of working in a rural area, so it’s important to remember that every rural setting is di erent, and each school is unique,” adds John. “But working for a rural authority can be really rewarding and has health and well-being benefits too.”

The need for teachers

Under a new Scottish Government initiative, probationer teachers in Scotland could end up working in rural schools because of sta shortages. Although this may seem daunting, it’s a great opportunity for new teachers to learn how to work in di erent environments and take on bigger responsibilities in a smaller school.

John says that many probationer teachers end up falling in love with the school and the town they are allocated to.

“We find that when we do get probationer teachers coming to work in rural areas, they think they just want to do their probationary period and leave,” reveals John, “but a lot of them end up wanting to stay because of that community aspect.”

Shortage hotspots

So, what areas need teachers the most? Many schools beyond the Central Belt

need teachers, especially in secondary schools. These areas include Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, the Western Isles, Highland, Moray, Orkney, and Shetland.

There are over 400 rural schools among these local authorities, and they’re always looking for new teachers. Working in one of them will be completely di erent to any job or placement you’ve had in the city.

“If you’re working in Glasgow, for example, you’re working in a big city, and you might not know what’s happening in the community,” illustrates John. “In a rural school, you get a better understanding of your pupils and your community; you can make a huge di erence.”

Ideal candidate

Although secondary schools in remote locations desperately need new teachers, they’re cautious about accepting the right person. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for teachers to change their minds about working at a rural school.

“The one big thing is that you make the commitment to stay for some time,” states John. “The ideal candidate is someone who will stay but who’s also done their research and understands what they’re coming to.”

Visit Teach in Scotland (www.teachinscotland.scot) for more information on becoming a teacher at a rural school.

we have the pupils we have the schools we need you!

Come to Moray!

We have 44 primary schools, and eight secondary schools with more than 12,000 children and young people to teach;

Combine a great career with:

• great climate and coast

• fast connections to the rest of the UK

• lots to do, indoors and out

lindsey.stanley@moray.gov.uk

The gift of time

If you find yourself at a loose end these summer holidays, volunteering is a fantastic way to fill your free time, meet new people and make a difference in your local community and beyond

With the summer holidays almost on the horizon, you might be counting down the weeks until school breaks up, ready to relax and de-stress over the holidays. But a couple of weeks in, you may be starting to miss the routine and rewards that your job provides. Perhaps your partner or friends are all still working and you find yourself at a loose end.

If this sounds familiar, it might be your sign to start planning ahead to do some volunteering. There’s a wide variety of opportunities out there, and volunteering can be a fantastic way to give back to your local community and find that sense of pride and satisfaction that teaching provides.

FOOD SECURITY

With the cost-of-living crisis raging on, food insecurity remains a tragic reality for many people in the UK. An estimated 3 million people relied on food banks in the UK in 2022-2023, and demand is often higher during the school holidays with families missing out on free school meals. There are so many options to choose from across Scotland if you’d like to get involved in

“As a volunteer tutor you can help disadvantaged children build their knowledge and confidence”

this work over the summer.

Empty Kitchens Full Hearts (www.emptykitchens.co.uk) is a volunteer initiative that uses surplus food to provide healthy meals to people in need across Edinburgh, through both hot food services and home deliveries. They’re looking for volunteers to give their time to prepare, package and serve food, as well as cleaners, gardeners and delivery drivers.

Up north, Moray Food Plus (www.morayfoodplus.org.uk) provides a variety of services to tackle the increasing problem of food insecurity in Moray. They seek volunteers who can spend a few days a week sorting food, making up referrals. driving, and more.

The Food Train (www.thefoodtrain. co.uk) helps older people across Scotland with daily life, their volunteers provide helpful services like shopping deliveries, cooking and home help. If chatting is your thing, The Food Train is also seeking people to become ‘befriender volunteers’, offering home visits, phone calls and outings to older people who may be lonely.

OPPORTUNITIES OVERSEAS

Your idea of a relaxing summer holiday might involve getting the heck out of Dodge. A great way to combine travel and experiencing new cultures with giving back is to look for volunteering opportunities abroad.

Workaway (www.workaway.info) is an international programme that offers opportunities to work abroad, often in exchange for bed and board. This is the perfect chance to step outside your comfort zone and try something

entirely new, and there are so many options to choose from: a quick glance at the website reveals opportunities to tutor English in Morocco, clean up beaches in Mexico and volunteer on a Norwegian reindeer farm.

If you’re more interested in volunteering with a charitable organisation in a foreign land, thousands of meaningful and fulfilling opportunities can also be found at Go Overseas (www.gooverseas.com).

GIVE YOUR TEACHING SKILLS

If you find yourself missing your day job during the summer holidays, there are plenty of ways you can put your skills to good use in a voluntary

capacity. The Volunteer Tutors Organisation (www.vtoscotland.org) believes that every young person deserves to get the educational support they need, regardless of their background or circumstances. As a volunteer tutor you can help disadvantaged children build their knowledge and confidence, bridging the attainment gap in schools.

Or you could use your teaching background to become a English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) tutor. Organisations like Glasgow ESOL Forum (www.glasgowesol. org) help non-native English speakers, including asylum seekers and economic migrants, to gain confidence and skills in language. Your local community college may have a similar programme that you can get involved with.

WORK FOR THE PLANET

Many of us are concerned about the escalating climate crisis and the degradation of the natural environment. The summer holidays are a great opportunity to get involved.

If you fancy leaving society behind for a while, there are many volunteering opportunities with the Scottish Wildlife Trust (www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk) on Handa Island off the northwest coast of Scotland. They are seeking volunteers to spend a month working to support the island’s stunning nature reserve and its abundance of wildlife. Accommodation is provided in the form of a cosy bothy – it’s a simple but very sociable set-up!

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

National Park (www.lochlomondtrossachs.org/volunteering/) offers a range of volunteering opportunities to help protect Scotland’s natural beauty, from litter picking and wildlife surveying to setting up new homes for endangered species.

Closer to home, you can get involved in restoring your own local park with My Park Scotland (mypark.scot), whether that’s through fundraising, event organisation or setting up practical park improvement projects. It’s a great way to get to know people in your local area, too.

Find opportunities in your area with online tools like Volunteer Scotland (www.volunteerscotland.net) and Volunteering Matters (www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk).

What’s the buzz?

The papers are rife with reports of mobile phones being banned in schools. While an outright ban is deemed impractical and unworkable, some schools in Scotland are choosing to ban mobiles from their classrooms, and the government is expected to release guidance on the ma er soon

Recent research has revealed that a third of pupils admit they’re distracted by phones in every lesson. And a report by the Scottish Government on behaviour in schools found that students frequently use digital technology in a disruptive way, with 51% of teachers saying their pupils were distracted by using or looking at mobile phones when they shouldn’t be.

INTEGRAL

Mobile phones have become an integral part of the school day, with students submitting homework, accessing eBooks, using educational apps and researching topics using their phones. But their impact – on learning,

51% of teachers say their pupils are distracted by using mobile phones when they shouldn’t be

on children’s mental health, and on teachers’ ability to do their jobs – is deep.

Some schools are looking to reverse the negative impacts of mobile phone use by banning their use completely, with Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth saying she’ll support headteachers who want to ban phones from the classroom.

Since February, students at Galashiels Academy have had to ensure their mobile phones are not seen or heard within the school building.

UNFETTERED ACCESS

Meanwhile, at Gordonstoun School, students have been minus their mobiles since September 2023 – they need to leave their phones in their boarding houses during the day and hand them to sta overnight. Principal Lisa Kerr explained: “Teenagers may argue that it’s their right to have their phones. But we don’t allow them unfettered access to other addictive substances, so why mobiles?” Since the new rules, pupils and sta at Gordonstoun have experienced a change in pupil culture and a positive impact on their mental health, with more focus on real life, more

in-depth conversations taking place, and improved focus in class.

SET CLEAR GUIDELINES

If you’re a headteacher considering banning mobile phone use, it’s important to set out clear instructions for the whole school. Are you restricting use at certain times of the day, or prohibiting students from using their phones on school grounds, for example? When should students have their phones switched o , and are there any extenuating circumstances?

When setting up a school-wide policy, you also need to consider how you’ll deal with the misuse of digital devices. Usually, this involves confiscation for a set period. Some students might not respond well to the new rules – if they act out, your head teacher should provide more support to help you control your pupils and implement the new policies.

The debate over whether to ban devices in schools is divisive but, by setting clear boundaries and providing support where it’s needed, we can create spaces where learners thrive and distractions are minimised.

• Diploma in Child Counselling (eligible to apply for BACP reg.)

• Diploma in Counselling Teenagers (eligible to apply for BACP reg.)

• MA in Integrative Child Psychotherapy (UKCP reg.)

• MA in Integrative Arts Psychotherapy (UKCP reg.)

• Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health-Informed Schools and Communities (Practitioner Status) on-line

• Advanced Practitioner Certificate in Parent-Child Therapy

• Certificate in Therapeutic Skills and Trauma informed Care for Foster Parents

Do You Want to Train as a Registered Child Counsellor, Child Psychotherapist, Art Therapist, Parent-Child Therapist, Trauma and Mental Health Informed Practitioner for Schools? (live/blended/on-line/part-time trainings) www.artspsychotherapy.org

• Webinars on all the key topics on child mental health

Tuesday 21st May 2024

to 4.00pm

To book: £85

•

•

•

•

Trust the Outdoors

Sometimes teaching outside the classroom has the biggest impact. We spoke to Freda Fallon at The Outward Bound Trust about how getting students outdoors, fosters confidence, independence, and unforgettable memories for lifelong learning

It can be really helpful for students to get outside of the classroom every once in a while and learn something new without the usual pressures of tests, essays and exams looming over them. Not to mention, it’s also a chance for you to break out of your daily teaching routine and learn something new too.

Freda Fallon, development manager for Scotland at The Outward Bound Trust, is enthusiastic about helping others to have amazing learning experiences outdoors. The Trust is an education charity that offers teachers and students the chance to develop skills through a variety of amazing experiences that gets everyone outside.

She believes that the Trust’s programmes help students break out of their comfort zones, build trust with each other and have fun, allowing them to walk away from the experience filled with confidence and

reassurance that they’ll be able to tackle any obstacle that comes their way.

DEVELOPING INDEPENDENCE

Going on a residential trip allows your students to experience something brand new. It may even be their first solo trip away from home, which can be both scary and exciting.

It’s also a great opportunity for them to develop their social skills and learn to take initiative. Through different challenges and activities, your pupils will learn to solve problems and complete tasks that will help them grow in and out of school.

“By starting with small challenges and slowly ramping up the levels of adventure, we’re helping the students to reach their full potential,” explains Freda. “And if you’re upping the level of challenge all the time, then they will feel like they’ve achieved more than they thought possible.”

CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM

Residentials help students accomplish things they didn’t think were possible and also boost their self-esteem. Freda says she’s seen hundreds of students prosper at Outward Bound and find a new sense of capability and purpose.

“Imagine being in a small group of people, and you’re suddenly having to hold someone’s rope or trust that someone’s got yours?” asks Freda. “You will learn to communicate, build relationships, and form trust that you can’t do in school.”

She says that because your students will be placed in close quarters, they will have to learn to communicate effectively during team exercises. In turn, it will give them more confidence in their abilities and teach them how to work together.

“Young people need experiences like this to keep them engaged and excited when learning.”

IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS

Outside the classroom and in an unfamiliar environment, your students will see a new side to you. Getting involved in activities with your pupils helps break down barriers and form positive relationships.

“Residentials are all about building connections and relationships with others,” explains Freda. “The aftereffects of Covid-19 have meant that reconnecting and engaging students has never been more important.”

But the progress you make with your students while visiting a learning experience continues after the trip. Freda says that your pupils will leave with a newfound respect for you and continue to engage with you back in school.

“The intense nature of the experience helps teachers to build rapport with their students,” she shares. “It happens really quickly and helps teachers in their classrooms when they return.”

MOTIVATING STUDENTS

Students who struggle to pay attention and learn in a classroom environment often get the most out of outdoor learning. Taking your pupils to a new interactive setting is an excellent way to capture the attention of those who find academic work harder.

“You’re away from home, and you’ve taken away some distractions because you’re in a different environment,” explains Freda. “Young people need experiences like this to keep them engaged and excited when learning.”

MAKING MEMORIES

Ask anyone what their favourite memory from school is, and they will probably say it was their trip away. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your students, which they will remember for years to come.

Freda’s colleague ended up working with The Outward Bound Trust because of her dad’s adventure with them when he was at school. Years later, the positive impact the Trust had on her dad as a boy is still taking effect.

“Her dad had come to us when he was young, and even now that he’s nearing 80, he still remembers his experience,” reveals Freda. “As he got older, he took his own family to Outward Bounds, which would never have happened if his teachers hadn’t decided to visit us with his class.”

Visit The Outward Bound Trust (www.outwardbound.org.uk) for more information and to book today. Their advisors will work with you to create a tailored learning experience that’ll benefit you and your students.

This free taster course is for head and deputy head teachers, educational professionals, apprenticeship providers, and employers who would like to learn first-hand:

How outdoor learning can build resilience, confidence and self-belief in young people.

How other schools, employers and experts are using the outdoors to amplify learning.

How an Outward Bound residential specifically uses the wilderness to develop the skills needed to thrive in school, at work and in life. Find out more and sign up at:

There’s plenty of amazing deals and discounts out there exclusively for teachers – all you need to do is know where to look

Discounts for teachers

Teaching is a noble profession, although it doesn’t always feel like that in the classroom. You teach and inspire our young people, and parents and guardians across the country are grateful for how hard you work. That’s why you deserve a little treat every now and again – a small way to thank you for all the amazing work you do.

Luckily, lots of brands across the country think so too! Here’s a run down of what’s on o er for teachers like you.

UNION BENEFITS

Many of us are guilty of signing up for a union and never thinking much about it again past our monthly fees. If you do a bit of digging though, you might find that your union is doing a lot more for you than protecting your work rights! The UK’s biggest teaching unions o er amazing discounts on a number of things, from travel and cars to solicitor fees and insurance cover. Head to the benefits and services section of your union’s website to see the full scope of what your entitled to.

INTERNATIONAL TEACHER IDENTITY CARD

This fantastic card allows you to get discounts in the UK and abroad –

meaning you can enjoy the perks of being a teacher even when you’re on your hols. Signing up for this card entitles you for literally thousands of discounts across 130 countries, with partnered brands including Booking.com and Samsung. To be eligible for the card, you must work at least 18 hours a week at an accredited educational institution for a minimum period of 1 academic year (you’ll also have to provide a passport photo too).

DISCOUNT FOR TEACHERS WEBSITE

The Discount for Teachers website is a great resource for scoping out the latest deals being o ered to teachers. The website says that it saves its users a whopping £2,262 a year. They have partnered with brands such as Pandora and Oliver Bonas and promise to provide members with exclusive discounts, cashback and vouchers. It’s not just high street stores either – they o er discounts on travel, broadband and motoring too. All you need to do is sign up for an account –after that, you can start shopping!

DIG DEEPER

You might not realise it, but your mobile phone provider or favourite hotel chain might provide discounts to teachers without you even realising. Before making a big purchase, do your research on what companies o er discounts for teachers, as it might save you a significant chunk of change. Vodafone o er 15% o for teachers, and the Hilton group also o er exclusive savings for those working in education too. It’s always worth checking with your school’s local authority to find out if they o er any deals – gym memberships and local discounts are pretty common!

Get your discounts

Order a digital International Teacher Identity Card online at isic.totum.com/memberships/ teacher-itic-card. Once you’ve been verified, you will receive your ITIC number. Verifying your application can take up to two days, so visit Discounts for Teachers www.discountsforteachers.co.uk to start saving now.

My school days

GREG MCHUGH

Teachers can help shape a person far beyond their time at school, Edinburgh-born actor Greg McHugh will always remember the positive impact school had on him

Before Greg McHugh was writing, acting and appearing on our screens as Gary, Tank Commander he attended St Thomas of Aquin’s High School in Edinburgh.

What was your favourite subject?

When I first went to high school I’d say PE. I loved PE and St Tams had a fantastic department. As the years went on I started to love English; the language, words and discovering that ‘English’ wasn’t just studying the classics but also an opportunity to create and write short stories.

I’ll always remember a supply teacher called Mr Scott. He once asked me to read out a short story I had written to the class. He told me beforehand that my grammar was woeful but the story itself was entertaining and original. Whether it was or wasn’t I don’t know, but I remember that moment as the first time I’d been given confidence in an area that I never had before.

What were your interests outside of class?

I feel incredibly lucky that whilst I was becoming really interested in English, I’d been lucky enough to play in the St Tams football team and the PE teacher Ian Smith had moulded us into a pretty decent outfit. He was a brilliant coach and individual.

Did you have a favourite teacher?

There are several teachers who had a significant influence on me. Mr Smith was a superb role model, a man dedicated to both teaching during the week and extracurricular activity. He built a brilliant team spirit and encouraged me, and so many others, to try and achieve as much as I could.

Tams, he was ba ed. He thought I’d pursue PE at a teaching level. Little did he realise that all my former experiences had built my confidence to finally try the thing I had wanted to do for years.

Mr Scott, a ‘cover’ teacher, had a huge impact on me. Giving confidence to a student stays with you, trust me. I’d also like to give a huge mention to the English department as a whole. Ms Dugan, Spanish Teacher extraordinaire. Patient, funny, and showing a consistent dedication to her profession.

Lucy Dalgliesh – Drama Guru. She, without my knowledge, put me forward for a short film aged 17 that I then managed to get. That put me on the proper path to professional work. She called me ‘Mavis’ due to my whingey tone from Mavis of Coronation Street.

How did your time at school impact your career?

When Ian Smith found out I was doing drama in my final year at St

The short story in English, the team sport in PE, the confidence of learning a language in Spanish – it’s all connected. I am living my dream due to the brilliant teachers who kept adding to my education, who kept pushing and inspiring me.

“I am living my dream due to the brilliant teachers who kept adding to my education, who kept pushing and inspiring me”

toOrkney and Shetland and Spot

Discovering the Northern Isles has never been easier with NorthLink Ferries.

The comfortable and reliable service offers sailings from Aberdeen to Lerwick, Shetland, with regular calls into Orkney’s capital of Kirkwall. Alternatively travel to Orkney’s port of Stromness from Caithness. This 90 minute journey on MV Hamnavoe is the only sailing to Orkney which passes the iconic sea stack, the Old Man of Hoy.

Students in full time education are entitled to a 10% discount on passenger and vehicle fares.

Operated by

northlinkferries.co.uk

Shetland

Orkney

Expand your mind Learn something new with these feel-good podcasts

Listening to podcasts is a great way to teach yourself something new, be it a fun fact or a handy wellness technique. Here are five podcasts that are as educational as they are entertaining

How to Own the Room

You might feel like you don’t need this one – after all, don’t secondary school teachers ‘own the room’ several times a day? Keeping a group of teenagers engaged with Pythagoras’ theorem for an hour is no mean feat! But there’s plenty to learn from comedian and TV presenter Viv Groskop’s podcast, which aims to empower listeners to be the best they can be in their careers. Episodes range from how to nurture self-belief to how to bounce back from a professional setback, all presented in good humour and featuring celebrity guests.

Mindful in Minutes Meditation

Sometimes all we need is a few minutes of calmness to set ourselves up for the day ahead, or to help us hit the reset button on a day that already isn’t going our way. Mindful in Minutes is a guided meditation podcast with different guides for different situations, allowing you to dip in and out depending on what you need in the moment. Want something calming for your afternoon walk? There’s a meditation for that. Need something to help calm you down after an irritating work interaction? There’s a meditation for that too!

British Scandal

If you love storytelling and true crime, check out British Scandal. This podcast will teach you the true stories behind some of the biggest scandals that have rocked the British tabloids over the last 100 or so years, retold with aplomb by hosts Alice Levine and Matt Forde. There’s plenty of scandal to choose from, like the ‘The Canoe Con’, in which a prison officer in debt tried to fake his own death, or ‘The Coughing Major’ controversy which saw Who Wants to Be a Millionaire winner Charles Ingram stripped of his winnings.

More or Less: Behind the Stats

Statistics get a bad reputation for being a little dry, but all number lovers know that stats are one of the sturdiest storytelling methods we have at our disposal. This BBC 4 podcast explores

the latest statistics and reports to find out what they tell us about our modern world, be it the true impact of Brexit on the UK economy, or the reasons why there’s a massive gender split in young peoples’ politics these days.

The Anti-Dread Climate Podcast

Climate anxiety is a big issue right now, with many of us struggling to find the positives in an endless cycle of increasingly grim stories about the state of our natural world. This hopeful podcast aims to change that, educating listeners on the amazing work being done to keep our planet safe. It also gives helpful advice on what we can do to make a difference in our own lives. Even better, each episode is around 15 minutes max, meaning listening to this pod is often quicker than sorting out your recycling.

Red pepper bruschetta pasta

A note from Nathan:

This is another recipe I came up with when trying to decide between two favourite dishes. In this case, bruschetta and pasta. The result is this soft pasta with lots of flavour, crunchy croutons and a drizzle of balsamic: stunning. I do enjoy making my own sourdough croutons in the air fryer or the oven, but shop-bought croutons work very well if you don’t have the time.

SERVES 3

INGREDIENTS

2 x 300g jars of roasted red peppers, chopped

15 cherry tomatoes, quartered 700g passata

1 tsp dried oregano

4 garlic cloves, grated

Generous handful of fresh basil 250g fresh lasagne sheets, cut into thick strands

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 tsp balsamic vinegar, Croutons

50g grated vegetarian parmesan cheese, to serve

STEPS

1. Add the peppers, tomatoes, passata, oregano, grated garlic, salt and pepper and most of the basil to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.

2. Add the lasagne strands and cook for a further 20–25 minutes (if cooking on low, you may need slightly longer).

3. Plate up and top the pasta with the balsamic vinegar, croutons, parmesan and remaining fresh basil.

TOP TIP

To make your own sourdough croutons, cube a couple of slices of bread, toss them in olive oil and put in the air fryer at 200°C for 6 minutes, or in the oven at 200°C for 10-12 minutes.

Extracted from Bored of Lunch Healthy Slow Cooker: Even Easier by Nathan Anthony (Ebury Press, £20).

Costco Wholesale is a membership warehouse club, dedicated to bringing our members quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices. We provide a wide selection of merchandise, plus the convenience of speciality departments and exclusive member services, all designed to make your shopping experience a pleasurable one. We are confident in the quality and value of our products, and we stand behind them with our guarantee of satisfaction. For more information and to preview our warehouses visit www.costco.co.uk/join or scan the QR code.

MEMBERSHIP

Become an Executive Member and earn an annual 2% Reward on most of your Costco purchases*. The annual membership fee for Executive Trade Membership is £56 ex VAT (£67.20 inc VAT) and as an Executive Individual Membership is £62 ex VAT (£74.40 inc VAT). The annual membership fee for Standard Trade Membership is £22 ex VAT (£26.40 inc VAT) and Standard Individual Membership is £28 ex VAT (£33.60 inc VAT), all memberships include a complimentary card for your spouse or domestic partner.

To join and start saving please provide one piece of business evidence for Trade membership, or for Individual membership your employee ID card or current pay slip to prove your employment, PLUS one piece of photographic identification for both memberships.

Costco Glasgow, St Rollox Business Park,