PricingHelp Upload Home 

When I first started to write up my presentation from the  2010 Learning and Teaching Scotland Outdoor Learning Regional Events it was going to be one long post. In the end I split it into eight shorter ones because I seemed to have a lot to say.

I promised delegates at the event that I would post my slides and notes on-line.

The slides that I used are embedded below:

The notes from the presentation are in eight parts:

• New Technology and Outdoor Learning: Introduction

• New Technology and Outdoor Learning - 1 of 8: Geocaching

• New Technology and Outdoor Learning (2 of 8): Educaching

• New Technology and Outdoor Learning (3 of 8): Using Mobile Phones

• New Technology and Outdoor Learning (4 of 8): 4 of 8: Bing Maps and Google Earth

• New Technology and Outdoor Learning (5 of 8): Activities with purpose - Open Street Map and Microsoft Photosynth

• New Technology and Outdoor Learning (6 of 8): Using Blogs

• New Technology and Outdoor Learning (7 of 8): Inspiring Stories

• New Technology and Outdoor Learning (8 of 8): The Curriculum

I guess with this summary post that makes ten in total!

We heard earlier this week that the Qualification and Curriculum Development Authority is the latest Arms Length body to be culled (an £8m saving this year and over £100 the next), and the General Teaching Council will also go. Now, in a letter the Education Minister wrote to Ed Balls, more detail is revealed about other cuts.

The TDA, National College of School Leadership and Children’s Workforce Development Council will all receive a 10% cut to their budgets this year (saving £60m in total). Could these be wound down further next year? The 10% in-year cut is in line with my previous prediction, but to realise the 40% of savings next year, one or two more £150m/year quangos may have to go.

Elsewhere in the letter, there are indications that some of the pet schemes of the Labour executive will be wound down:

• £21m saved from stopping Diploma development, support and communication
• £7m saved from unallocated budget for Enterprise education
• £15m from cutting grants for Specialist Schools changing designation or for High Performance specialist schools
• £7m for not proceeding with Rose review and less on PHSE and Citizenship
• £1m less from Gifted and Talented

At Teachable, we feel the combined effect of all of these may leave the education sector reeling for a while, but in time the restructuring will probably lead to more schools seeking advice and support from non-governmental organisations. There is no reason why curriculum development, support and workforce training needs to be funded and delivered centrally.