Are we investing enough in Education?

Are we investing enough in Education?

ECIS Conference, Cascais, Portugal

Over 500 senior school leaders from across the world attended the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) Conference in Cascais, Portugal. The conference held over April 16 - 19 focused on 'Leading for Educational Excellence through the Economic Crisis'

Throughout the conference, Eteach International contributed to this vibrant discussion and extended it's network with Directors, Headteachers and Business Managers representing International Schools from every continent.

With the world undergoing tremendous changes in finances and leadership, with birth rates falling and life expectancy increasing on a global scale the planning and development of future International Education are clearly hot topics...

What do you think? How do schools and professionals prepare students for...

• higher old age dependency rations and long life societies
• developing life course arrangements of working and learning
• an increased diversity of populations
• modern and future labour markets

As you know Eteach International leads recruitment innovation and we believe in the delivery of cost effective ways to connect schools, teachers, leaders and support staff. This is even more important during this current economic period...

The provision of quality education provision is essential for long term economic recovery and the stimulus of industry and political leaders of the future... what do you think?

Is Education in the UK and overseas investing enough in the education of children and young people? Add a comment in the post below.

Scrap the SATs?

Scrap the SATs? This is a really hot topic, which has generated lots of discussion! On Saturday at the NUT conference held in Cardiff, delegates chanted “Scrap the SATS.” Some delegates felt that the chanting episode was setting a poor example for children. Do you think this was the best approach from delegates to get their message across? And what do you think about the SATs?

Teachers at the NUT conference also voted unanimously to boycott tests for seven and 11 year olds. We’re keen to hear your thoughts whether you’re a teacher, member of support staff, governor or parent/carer.

Post your views on our blog…

It’s just got better for job seekers in education...

It’s just got better for job seekers in education... There was a time when teachers had to wait for the weekly education supplement to land on the staffroom coffee table, then we spent Fridays fighting for a copy and browsing jobs "just to see what’s about".

Those days have long gone, today teachers and support staff browse the internet 24/7, with unlimited access to a wider range of vacancies than ever before across a growing number of websites on a global scale. As a teacher and job hunter and more recently a recruiter I am constantly amazed at how the internet has enhanced the ability for people to manage their careers.

I hear about schools interviewing via YouTube, teachers promoting themselves on social networking sites, talking CVs, e-bulletins containing specific vacancies tailored to the reader, in one generation the whole process has changed for teachers and recruiters of teachers. Today there is no reason why a British school shouldn't’t recruit a teacher directly from China as easily and cheaply as recruiting a British teacher and just as easily a Brit teacher can go online and find a job teaching anywhere in the world e.g. Singapore Key Stage One Teachers.

Eteach were the first jobsite for teaching jobs in the UK and we are about to launch our next generation website, which will provide teachers and support staff an even better job seeker experience with brand new features, even if you’ve already found a job its worth a look, you'll find enhanced information hubs so you can keep in touch through the blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

What’s more we think we offer the widest range of jobs and consistently carry more overseas jobs than any other UK website or newspaper. Oh yes, it is always FREE to teachers and it definitely is worth a look http://www.eteach.com/

More next week on how we are helping you to find your perfect role

Eteach at Everton vs Wigan football match

Did you watch the football game yesterday, Everton vs Wigan. Were you able to spot Eteach amongst the crowds. Click on video below.

Parents involvement in schools

How do you deal with the parent in the playground that is undermining you to others? What about the parent who believes you are not stretching their child? Are you the type of teacher who becomes very defensive or do you actively go out and recruit them into your classroom?

There are two distinct camps when it comes to the role of parents in primary schools. Those who believe they should drop their children off at the gates and collect them at the end of the day and the other that actively encourage parents to be involved in school life.

Personally I have always believed the better you know your parents, their skills and concerns, the more it benefits you and the children. Getting fathers and grandfathers in to work with children is an excellent way to have positive role models especially for boys. It can open up areas of the curriculum that you are not a specialist in such as IT and DT. Additional hands are always great for offering cooking, gardening, sewing and activities outside. In my sons school they give reading training to parents who then listen to the children, so increasing the number of times they are heard in a week.

Many of these forays into school can lead to parents becoming fully fledged members of the school community with them moving across into the PTA and school governors.
So tell me what’s not to gain by having parents in? Tell me are there ways secondary’s can also benefit?