SCOOP

NEWS FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S PRIMARY SCHOOLS

New tech lab shows route to future

Gloucestershire has opened its second Innovation Lab in Gloucester Library - a space where you can get creative and learn new skills with digital tech like virtual reality and 3D modelling. Individual innovators of all ages are invited to become a member and explore the lab’s resources with the aid of an experienced technician, and the lab will also work with schools to inspire children and develop their digital skills.

The opening comes as the county’s first Innovation Lab at Coleford Library scooped a national Contribution to Skills and Training Award for its STEMbased workshops for primary children. The workshops, held in 2019, were run in partnership with Coleford-based SPP Pumps, giving over 300 children the chance to get hands-on with technology and learn about local job opportunities.

“Sadly, most young people in our community believe they need to leave the area to have a successful career and future, so it’s been fantastic to showcase who we are and what we do to the engineers of the future,” says SPP Pumps’ Laura Hurcombe.

Gloucestershire Libraries W: gloucestershire.gov.uk/libraries/ library-services/innovation-lab

NEWS BITES Stroud aloud!

Stroud Book Festival runs from Wed 3 to Sun 7 Nov and features its popular School’s Day on Thu 4. Michael Morpurgo and Lydia Monks are among its high profile line up. See highlights, P9 and full story P13.

Road safety

Organised by road safety charity Brake, Road Safety Week runs from Mon 15 to Sun 21 Nov. W: www.roadsafetyweek.org

Become a reading champion

The National Literacy Trust has teamed up with Disney to invite schools to bring ‘Beauty and The Beast’ to life in the classroom. Pupils aged 7 to 14 can explore its themes and characters, perhaps creating a wall display based on their work.

Schools can send the trust photos of their display for a chance to win ‘Beauty and the Beast’, stationery and a teacher’s tote bag. The challenge offers a full set of resources. Entry by Fri 12 Nov.

National Literacy Trust

W: literacytrust.org. uk/competitions/ beautyandthebeast

Being kind to beat cruel

Kindness is at the heart of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week. With the theme One Kind Word, it runs from Monday 15 to Friday 19 November and launches with Odd Socks Day, on the Monday, the chance for everyone to celebrate what makes us all unique by wearing your finest pair of odd socks. Schools can download free teaching resources and themed assemblies geared to different Key Stages and the whole week is supported by CBBC and CBeebies star Andy Day - whose band Andy and the Odd Socks release a specially recorded song for the campaign. “The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten lives,” says the campaign.

Anti-Bullying Week

W: anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/ anti-bullying-week