Page 21 - link magazine

Engineering firm involved
MATTERS
with technology work
that the cultural shift away from Technology came to the forefront at power the wheels and the helicop-
most of arts subjects could limit the devel- Greendown School at the end of ter blades.
opment of children. "There is a last term when two year groups
As an incentive when the work
Curriculum danger that arts, music and drama had a chance to show off their module started, the students were
told that the company would rede-
will be regarded as less important achievements.
by parents. A good primary educa- The first years had spent a six sign the winning entry on their com-
tion should encompass the widest week module studying levers and puter system and then produce a
curriculum doesn't recognise that curriculum to allow the child to propulsion ending in a competi- larger version at their factory.
not all infants are equal. Older develop his or her potential. It's tion to see if the machines they had
children in a year group who arrive also crucial to build relationships bulitcould accurately shoota ping- Winner Andrew Blackford and Michael
at school in September have cov- between the child, the teacher and pong ball into a toy castle. Neal, Director of Production at Redmond
ered a lot more ground compared the parent. At this level school is The second year spent a Design Engineering, left, and Steve Onslow,
with those who enter at Easter. about developing the child socially Technology module studying gears Director of Engineering
"The resources we need are large alongside promoting academic and applying what they learnt to
as well. For a school this size we achievement." working machines which had to be
need a minimum of £5,000 to cater Alltheheadteachers stressed that displayed at a Toy Fair for parents
for 18 classes. We don't have any- although primary schools in West and visitors to the school. Each
thing like that available. The local Swindon are under some strain in student prepared a brochure with
authority have made a one-off making adjustments to the de- information and decorated a stand
contribution, but it means that the mands of the national curriculum, to 'sell' their machine.
rest comes out of school fund, fun- all have organised their work load The end of the fair was marked
draisingevents and moststaff bring and have established what attain- by a parade of moving toys which
in equipment, glue guns, torch ment targets their pupils are work- were judged by representatives of
bulbs, shaper saws and parents are ing towards. Redman Engineering of Swindon.
being asked to save boxes, toilet However the testing of children A helicopter created by Andrew
rolls and any bits of material which has been lurking in the background Blackford was chosen as the most
may come in handy." ever since the national curriculum effective piece of work because he
At Shaw's Brookfield School was proposed with very little idea had used gears in two plains to
headteacher Peter Woodcock is of what the tests might look like.
conscious of the speed with which The announcement at Easter by the For a short cut, via Downing Street, to a more
the national curriculum has been Secretary of State forEducation that
introduced and the unrealistic time- the Government didn't want teach- prosperous retirement, cut this out.
scale being demanded. "Most of ers to spend all their time involved 5$ 181
the general principles held within with testing has been welcomed as RING
the national curriculum fit with our a bit of sense entering the system. or write to the address below.
approach. I'm happy about the Now seven year-olds will be as- "Please contact me to discuss in
English, Maths and Science require- sessed in English, Maths and Sci- detail my pension planning"
ments, but it's worrying that too ence and not the eleven subjects
much is being asked for, too quickly. originally envisaged. Name
To maintain quality you need time Education ministers have re- Address
to work with children. There's a cently been triying to calm teach- Post Code
danger that with too many attain- ers' fears. "Do not try to do every- Tel. No.
ment targets, teachers won't be able thing at once," they said. When RING
to make sure that children have you don't know what 'everything' John Phillips, Abbey Life, 1St Floor,
sufficient time to consolidate their involves and you don't have a great Beaver House, 147 -150 Victoria Road,
knowledge. I hope experience will of influence over what is being Swindon. Tel: 531293
_j
allow flexibility in how the national demanded of you, that's easier said L A member of LAUTRO
curriculum develops so as not to than done. But teachers might be
overload children or teachers." regaining more of a 'say again Maggie and the taxman
Mr Woodcock is also concerned about how children are educated.
are queuing up to give
Building bonds between pupil and teacher you a pension present
Brookfield School teacher Fiona Mead shares a book with Harpreet No, this is neither a hoax nor an hallucination; it's hard
Gill whilst other children try out their ideas for a puppet show in the financial fact.
background. The Government will be giving you a golden handshake of
Reading aloud develops an enjoyment of books, language and up to £1600 to help you start a personal pension of your own.
communication skills, and contact between child and adult. As if that weren't enough even the Inland Revenue are
proving outgoing.
They're offering tax relief on all your pension and life
assurance contributions to build up in a tax free fund.
At Abbey Life we can help you take full advantage of this
unexpected bonus by offering you a pension plan from our
range of Leading Edge Pensions.
All in all, what one might call a premier personal pension.

LEAD1NK:EDG E
PENSI

ABBE'tIFE

Abbey Life, the right choice for pensions