AVer Europe announces Zoom certification for DL10 and PTC310UV2 auto tracking cameras

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AVer Europe, the award-winning provider of video collaboration and education technology solutions, announces today that the innovative DL10 and PTC310UV2 cameras are certified as Zoom Rooms Certified Hardware by Zoom Video Communications, Inc.

The DL10 is the newest Distance Learning Tracking Camera from AVer that features a 6X total zoom, camera tracking AI, and USB plug-and-play functionality, allowing educators to teach classes anywhere without having to worry about manual framing or tracking adjustments. The DL10 is the ideal choice for space conscious rooms and hybrid teaching environments, perfectly balanced between classroom needs and school budgets. The PTC310UV2 is part of AVer’s latest auto tracking PTZ cameras, featuring an all-new chipset and an incredible zoom power of 144X (12X optical and 12X digital zoom). With its 4K resolution and AVer’s highly accurate AI functions, including various auto tracking capabilities and human detection processing, the PTC310UV2 offers the ultimate experience for broadcasting, streaming, and recording.

“The DL10 and PTC310UV2 camera are from our extensive range of solutions available to the European market, to optimise the potential of teaching environments and enrich the learning experience,” said Rene Buhay, SVP of Sales and Marketing, AVer Europe. “The Zoom certification highlights their enhanced capability for creating high quality and accessible content for audiences.”

The Zoom Certified badge is a certification given by Zoom representing hardware devices that have been tested for compatibility and performance with Zoom software. As AVer offers camera solutions that cover a wide range of room sizes, from elementary classrooms to large auditoriums, users can find a suitable camera that is Zoom certified and tailored to their needs and enjoy a highly efficient video performance when paired with the Zoom platform.

“At Zoom, we consistently deliver high-quality video communications technology that is easy to use and manage. We are pleased to certify AVer’s distance learning and Pro AV PTZ camera for use with Zoom Rooms in classrooms and any settings where a professional video experience is needed,” said Eric Yu, Head of Hardware Partnership, Zoom.

“AVer is committed to providing users with innovative technology solutions that delivers seamless video collaboration performance,” said Andy Hsi, CEO, AVer Information Inc. “We are thrilled to receive this Zoom Rooms Certified Hardware certification to give our customers a continued peace of mind.”

Cost of living is dramatically impacting key workers as new research finds nearly 37% of teachers are struggling financially

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  • 37% of teachers are struggling financially
  • Yet, using discount schemes can save key workers over £2,200 a year across every area of household expenditure including the weekly shop, holidays, broadband, mobile phones, clothing, household goods, motoring, eating out, leisure, any many other categories
  • Of the 2.7m key workers who use Network’s discount schemes:
    • 91% say they have a better quality of life
    • 46% say they feel more loyal to their role
    • 37% are more likely to recommend their workplace to others

 

A new study has highlighted the acute financial burden on teachers amidst the cost-of-living crisis with 37% saying they are struggling financially.

 

Concerned about the impact of the cost of living crisis on its members, Network, providers of discount schemes for key workers commissioned research to understand the effect of the enormous pressures facing teachers in the current climate.

 

The research has found that 37% of teachers are in financial difficulty and describe their financial situation as either; ‘making ends meet, but no more’; ‘falling a little behind, relying a bit on credit’: or “a very difficult situation-heavily in debt’.

 

Prisha, a teacher, said: “Cost of living is constantly on my mind and it is stressful. Finances are always difficult to manage and no matter how much I cut down, I always feel like I’m not making any headway.”

 

Network is calling on policymakers to make key workers more aware of the availability of discount schemes so that all staff working across education are able to take advantage of the additional helping hand that these schemes provide.

 

Discount schemes also have the additional benefit of boosting morale at a crucial time when recruitment and retention are among the biggest challenges facing the education sector.

 

A teacher, Laura, added: “My workload is never-ending, and no matter how much time I have it never seems to be enough…I absolutely love teaching and working with young people, I am passionate about making a difference, but I am tired…I know I can’t keep this up.”

 

Significantly, the research reveals that 91% of key workers who have access to one of Network’s discount schemes have a better quality of life and save an average of over £2,200 a year. The study also shows the impact of discount schemes on recruitment and retention, with 46% saying they feel more loyal to their role and 37% are more likely to recommend their workplace to others.

 

Commenting on the impact that discount schemes have, teacher Maria said: “Being a member of the discount scheme does influence my attitude towards my job; it makes me feel a lot happier about my job and it makes me feel supported and as if my job is important and I do matter to people.”

 

Storm Postlethwaite, Managing Director of Network said: “Our frontline workers make an extraordinary and invaluable contribution to the country every day, and yet many are faced with financial hardship and increasing pressures due to workforce shortages and the cost of living crisis. 

 

“While times are tough, it is vital that we offer a helping hand to relieve some of the pressures and provide some additional reward and support. Discount schemes are an important way in which we can achieve this and show our appreciation.

 

“Whilst we acknowledge the pay rise for public sector workers, we recognise that that these vital workforces remain under financial pressure. It is therefore important that the role of discount schemes is not overlooked in helping to make ends meet and to recognise these people for the amazing work they do.

 

“We are therefore calling on the Government to ensure that employers are aware of the schemes available to help their staff cope with the cost of living crisis.”

INNOVATIVE APP IS A SHINING LIGHT FOR HUNGRY SCHOOL CHILDREN

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Kirklees School’s Out! App, designed by Torchbearer.
18.07.22

An innovative app developed in Huddersfield is benefitting thousands of school pupils in Kirklees with parents on low incomes, by providing them with access to meals and activities during school holidays. It has been so successful that it will now be rolled out nationwide, which follows advice from leading Yorkshire law firm, LCF Law.

The ‘School’s Out!’ app was launched in 2019 and is the brainchild of Kirklees Youth Alliance (KYA), which provides support to a wide network of youth organisations across Kirklees, and was developed by Huddersfield based digital design specialist, Torchbearer.

Parents using the app can book a wide range of sessions and activities during school holidays for their children that incorporate a nutritious meal, physical exercise and enrichment activities.

Last year alone, 85 organisations hosted more than 2,600 sessions that were attended by approximately 12,000 children and more than 28,000 nutritious meals were served.

Following this success, KYA and Torchbearer have now enlisted LCF Law to create a licensing model and agreements that will enable local authorities throughout the UK to start using School’s Out!.

L-r James Sarjantson from LCF Law, Pete Waugh from Torchbearer and Susan Greenwood from Kirklees Youth Alliance.
18.07.22

Pete Waugh, technical director at Torchbearer said: “When KYA initially approached us with the idea for the Schools Out! app, we immediately knew it could be a big success. We’ve designed it with an easy-to-use booking system, so parents can book their children onto sessions quickly and easily. After the session, parents can send feedback and rate events.

“It’s also a centralised monitoring tool for the Council’s Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) team, negating the need for them to collate information from scores of provider organisations for the Department for Education (DfE).

“Although there are off the shelf products available, this is the only HAF-specific, web-app product, optimised for use on mobile phones. It is bespoke and can be adapted depending on specific requirements, which also includes rebranding it if a local authority wants to call it a specific name. We’re now looking forward to rolling it out to other forward-thinking organisations and seeing it benefit even more children and their families throughout the UK.”

James Sarjantson, commercial & digital partner at LCF Law, said: “Schools Out! has been hugely beneficial to KYA, Kirklees Council and the thousands of families using it.

“We’ve worked closely with Torchbearer and KYA to create a series of agreements that enable Torchbearer to resell, test and lead the installations, as well as providing relevant technical support to new customers, whilst also ensuring that KYA benefit from the intellectual property rights that they have on the product. It’s a unique partnership and we’re looking forward to watching it develop and grow as more local authorities and end users sign up to use the app.

“We work with many IT and technology businesses in the local area, but few of those projects have the genuine and deep social impact that this one will have.”

Susan Greenwood, from KYA, said: “Although school holidays are a fun time for many, research shows some children are not only going hungry, but that they also regress during long holiday breaks in terms of learning and behaviour.

“In 2019 Kirklees Council provided KYA with funding to co-ordinate a local ‘Healthy Holidays’ programme and the idea for Schools Out! was born. It was an immediate success and in February 2020, KYA signed a three-year agreement with Kirklees Council to continue the programme.

“Then the pandemic hit and the number of children eligible for free school meals rose significantly. Footballer Marcus Rashford highlighted the plight of children going hungry in school holidays and that resulted in Kirklees receiving £1.7 million from the government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which provides healthy food and enriching activities to children, with free places for those on free school meals during the school holidays. This superseded our Healthy Holidays Programme and now means more children than ever in Kirklees benefit from the scheme, and this has made Schools Out! even more popular. To think that our initial idea now has the potential to go nationwide is a very exciting prospect.”

The government has now committed to providing a further three years of HAF funding from April 2022 which will see KYA continuing to support Kirklees Council with the 2022/23 programme and contributing to planning for 2023-25.

LCF Law is a leading commercial law firm that works with both businesses and private individuals. The long-established firm employs more than 125 people across offices in Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and Ilkley. Visit www.lcf.co.uk for more information.

New tech solution to create better learning environment for young people

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  • Nuance Hearing, a leading provider of focused listening technology, has created the Voice Selector Study, a new technological solution to help young people concentrate in noisy and distraction-filled classroom environments.
  • Developed by a team of technology and health experts, the device utilises Nuance’s world-leading advancements in tech to support focused listening.
  • The Voice Selector Study aids attention and focus in the classroom by cutting through background noise, honing in on the speaker and tuning out everything else. 
  • Aimed at any pupil who is struggling to concentrate in learning environments, the device is also useful for those with ADHD and other sensory and auditory processing difficulties.
  • Clinical study showed significant improvement in the ability to listen to the teacher in a noisy classroom.

 

 Nuance Hearing, a leading provider of focused listening technology, has launched the Voice Selector Study, a new technological solution to help young people concentrate in noisy and distraction-filled classroom environments. 

 

The device creates a better learning environment for young people, helping them to listen to the teacher and follow instructions, while tuning out other distractions. A clinical study* which tested the efficacy of the Voice Selector Study in classroom settings for 31 adolescents with ADHD showed highly significant improvements in the ability to focus on and listen to the teacher and in the ability to ignore distractions in the classroom.

 

Eight built-in microphones automatically track the teacher’s (or the dominant speaker’s) voice as they move around the classroom, reducing the level of background noise and enabling the user to focus with less cognitive effort. 

 

Nuance Hearing’s cutting-edge beamforming technology gives a world leading signal-to-noise ratio of 15db, (the relative reduction of overall noise in relation to the target sound), which compares to an industry-standard in real-time applications of 4-5dB.

 

The Voice Selector Study is an easy to use, small tabletop device that works with any wired headphones. In addition to automatically tracking the dominant speaker, the user can also manually select up to two dominant speakers to track.

 

Aimed at any pupil who is struggling to concentrate in learning environments, the device can also be particularly useful for those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), auditory processing difficulties (APD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who tend to struggle more with concentration in classroom settings. ADHD is estimated to affect about 2-5% (around 1 in 30) studentsat school. APD is estimated 0.5-1% of school aged children. 

 

A clinical study which tested the efficacy of the Voice Selector Study in classroom settings for 31 adolescents with ADHD showed highly significant improvements in the ability to focus on and listen to the teacher and in the ability to ignore distractions in the classroom. 

Tami Harel, Director of Clinical Research at Nuance Hearing, said: “Classrooms nowadays can be very noisy and full of distractions. It is difficult for everyone to tune in on the teacher in a noisy environment, but for some children this task is even harder. Some children struggle to concentrate and focus on the teacher, and this effort affects their ability to learn and participate in the classroom. We’re proud to launch the Voice Selector Study to help children ignore the unwanted noise and distractions and focus on the teacher. We believe this can facilitate learning and empower students.”

 

According to the ADHD Foundation, the ‘core symptoms’ of ADHD are usually present before the student is 12 years of age and can persist throughout their school life. ADHD students typically have a short attention span and so can find it hard to concentrate and learn, especially in group situations. This can impact on their education and many of these students underachieve at school. Among children aged 6–16, there is a clear association between ADHD symptoms and academic attainment. Furthermore, recent research has found that medication alone does not help children with ADHD to learn.

 

The Voice Selector Study is available to purchase from www.nuancehear.com.

 

NIKE AND DISCOVERY EDUCATION LAUNCH SUMMER DRIVE TO KEEP KIDS ACTIVE

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‘Active Kids Do Better’ helps families to keep moving in the school holidays

 

Families across the UK are being encouraged to keep kids moving during the school holidays, by using a popular website that gives tips and ideas for active summer fun. 

 

Created by Nike and Discovery Education, Active Kids Do Better offers lots of activities to keep kids busy and moving throughout the day. Helping families to enjoy being active together, it includes mini-workouts, fun games and exercises, all freely available at www.activekidsdobetter.co.uk. 

 

Active Kids Do Better was launched by Olympic sprinter Daryll Neita in 2018, and the programme has already helped thousands of UK primary school children to stay active both in the classroom and at home. As the school summer holidays approach it’s hoped that the website will be used by parents as an easy way to inject fun movement into every day. 

 

Today in the UK, less than a quarter of children get the physical exercise they need – and the pandemic has had a huge impact on kids’ activity levels. Sport England’s Active Lives – Children and Young People survey, published in December, showed that kids’ activity levels continue to be negatively impacted by the pandemic at a time when getting active is more important than ever for their physical and mental wellbeing. 

 

Over 30% of young people do less than 30 minutes exercise each day and during the academic year 2020-21, there were 94,000 fewer active children and young people compared to the previous year. [1] Active Kids Do Better offers plenty of ideas to help families address this, by keeping them moving together and boosting their physical and mental wellbeing. 

 

Howard Lewis, Discovery Education’s Managing Director UK and International said:

 

“Discovery Education is delighted to be working with Nike to make our Active Kids Do Better resources available to parents across the UK again this summer at no cost . The website is easy to use and contains lots of fun ideas and activities to help parents introduce movement and play into every day. Active kids are healthier, happier and show stronger academic performance. Active Kids Do Better makes it easier than ever for families to stay active whether at home or away.” 

 

Active Kids Do Better’s fun activities and resources are linked to the National Curriculum, meaning that parents can also combine movement with learning during the summer holidays. 

 

Some of the activities include:

  • Spell Check – a hopscotch-style outdoor game which teaches spelling
  • Clock Lunges – an indoor activity to help kids learn to tell the time
  • Compass Jumps – a fun indoor movement that helps kids understand direction

 

With tips and ideas for indoor and outdoor fun, Active Kids Do Better makes it easy for families to keep moving, whatever the weather.  From learning how to recreate sports like tennis or ping pong with everyday household items, to calming family yoga sessions, the Active Kids Do Better website has something for everyone.  

 

Parents and families are encouraged to get started at www.activekidsdobetter.co.uk.  An Active Kids Family Pack is also available to download from the website. 

 

Find out more about Nike’s commitment to getting kids moving and providing opportunities for equal playing fields for all at purpose.nike.com

 

Acer & Google for Education: Striving to Support Digital Transformation.

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Ashlyns secondary school, draws on a rich heritage and character focused on providing the best and latest technology to support 1399 students to excel during their academic journey. Ashlyns’ EdTech journey began several years ago. The idea was to integrate cloud-based solutions investing in a new ESXI cluster and high-density wireless to support a 1-2-1 learning model. For such a long-term commitment to change and transition, Ashlyns decided to rely on Acer and Google.

 

 

 

 

Continuously upgrading. 

The school’s principle intention was ‘to work with the best technology available on the market to allow students explore and develop their IT and the way in which that is used in their education’ [1]. Thus, throughout the years, the school developed a strong relationship with Acer and Google having the key advantage to be able to easily upgrade through the academic progress. Such choice was supported by Ben Marks – the school’s network manager and teacher of computing – who affirmed could count on an exceptional IT support and a quick responsiveness service.

The latest upgrade made was to Google Education Workspace Plus, which allows to provide a more tailored education to pupils because of easy management tools. In fact, technicians can centrally deploy policy changes, not only lowering response times and overheads, but also easing teachers’ work making sure their students can open up their ready-to-go Chromebooks with all apps and extensions required. As a result, children’s performance and quality of work was tremendous.

Ashlyns School case: more Chromebooks than students.

The school always wanted to ensure that every single child did have a device. Luckily, during the pandemic, Ashlyns was well-prepared for the switch to remote learning. As a matter of fact, each enrolled student was given a Chromebook for independent and distanced study accessing all materials needed via Google Classroom. When students returned to classroom-based learning, the school found itself with more Chromebooks than students.

This year Ashlyns has chosen a more sustainable option: the Acer Chromebook 512. Indeed, this device is built using 17% post-consumer recycled plastics and is equipped with on OceanGlass touchpad made entirely of ocean-bound plastic. Moreover, Acer Chromebooks consume up to 46% less energy than comparable devices, being designed with a sustainable mind.

Pupils and teachers have been really appreciating the large 3:2 aspect ratio display that gives 18% more vertical space for working on assignments. They can login their devices in seconds and the long-lasting battery life means that they do not run out of it during their school day. Furthermore, children can receive instant feedback from teachers whenever they need some help with homework, they can add comments and smoothly collaborate with their classmates.

Product link: https://acer.co/3ajqUkR

 

Acer & Google ensuring outstanding academic results.

Chromebook integration boosted both teachers and students IT knowledge skills, enabling them to explore and develop tech abilities to deliver the best academic results. Surely, such experience will have a considerable positive impact on their future prospects, opening opportunities to succeed in the digital working world that is waiting for them.

 

Would you like to start your first digital transformation project? Contact your preferred reseller or our team. We will be happy to help you find the Acer solution that best fits your school needs. Reach out today: Sales.uk@acer.com

References

 [1] Acer and Google for education, (2022). ‘Supporting the digital transformation of Ashlyns Secondary School’. London, UK.

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To learn more about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office via www.acer.com

BRIGHTON SCHOOL LEADS THE FUTURE OF MOTION CAPTURE

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Technology suite enables next generation of visual effects artists


A Brighton school is leading the UK with the most sophisticated Motion Capture suite of educational facilities in the country. The Institute for Contemporary Theatre (ICTheatre) is one of the UK’s most advanced educational institutions for theatre, film and the arts. The newly installed motion capture suite allows students to create realistic holograms of performers.

 

Motion Capture has received global acclaim with the launch of ABBA Voyage. Abba performed in motion capture suits for five weeks and used more than 160 cameras that scanned their movements and their facial expressions. The motion capture technology works by creating reference points on the body which can then be used by visual effects artists to create avatars.

 

ICTheatre runs regular Motion Capture workshops for students at its campus in Portslade.

 

ICTheatre Patron Julian Stoneman managed/produced Billy Elliot, Rock of Ages and has won Laurence Olivier, Tony and WhatsOnStage Awards. He was also instrumental in bringing ABBA’s Mamma Mia the musical to the stage. He said; “It is more important than ever to be future forward and equip young people to work in the broad business of theatre and film. With an emphasis on the film industry, ICTheatre’s Motion Capture Suite is a powerful resource in creating the next generation of visual effects artists who are going to pioneer Motion Capture in the future. We are at the start of an incredibly exciting time with this technology which is going to revolutionise some elements of live performance and expand the possibilities of what we have imagined before.”

Mia Bird, Founder and Creative Director of ICTheatre said; “Our students start to work in front of the camera from week one, they spend time learning in our Motion Capture Suite, they engage with a range of vocal and physical styles, they have voice-over classes, work on their own podcasts, do applied and immersive theatre. All this is not offered at the expense of rigorous training, they still have a thorough training in the core elements, however we need to make sure that our students graduate with skills that will find them employment. We run regular workshops and taster sessions so that young people can come in and experiment with motion capture and get a unique insight into how it works.”

 

ICTheatre empowers people who want to work in the vast world of theatre & film. Throughout her years of being a performing arts training specialist, Mia Bird observed that gifted graduates were ill equipped with life and mental resilience skills needed to find their own way to build a fulfilling career in the industry and that sufficient industry connections had not been made throughout their training.

 

Through regular industry advisory panels with leading experts, ICTheatre (previously known as BRICTT) is built on excellent traditions of training but its courses are developed to stimulate fresh skills that speak to the industry as it is today. Created by the industry for the industry, ICTheatre equips students with entrepreneurial skills, mental resilience strategies, and the confidence to value what they have to offer and to promote themselves. Industry professionals regularly lead classes. Recent examples include Franny Rafferty and Ed Burnside, Associate Directors of SIX and MATILDA, who directed the BA3 musicals for our recent graduates.

 

For more information, please contact Helen Trevorrow or Vicky Hague on 0794 000 9138 or email helen@greenrow.co.uk

 

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UK schools warned to take action ahead of summer crime spate

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Schools across the UK are being warned to take precautions amid fears of a rise in crime over the summer holidays as cost of living soars.  

 

As many schools across the country prepare to close their doors for the summer holidays, specialist insurer Ecclesiastical says schools will be an attractive target for criminals over the coming months.

 

Ecclesiastical has reported an uptick in schools being targeted over the summer months including vandalism, arson, break-ins, smashed windows, theft of lead from roofs and stolen laptops. In April, The British School1 in Wotton-under-Edge had lead from the roof stolen for a second time in two years.

 

Now with Covid-19 restrictions lifted and against a challenging economic backdrop and soaring prices, there are worries there will be a large spike in criminal activity.

 

Faith Kitchen, customer segment director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Schools are far more vulnerable during the summer holidays when school buildings are closed and largely unoccupied, tempting opportunists. It is vital that schools take steps to protect their premises from unscrupulous offenders. There are a number of measures schools can take to better secure school property and assets, which would ideally be a combination of both physical and electronic protection. Fencing around the perimeter can often offer a good first line of defence against unwanted visitors, while CCTV can act as a visual deterrent for those not wanting to be caught on camera. We urge schools across the country take steps to protect themselves from criminals and follow our guidance.”

 

How to protect schools this summer

 

  • Ensure CCTV systems have remote 24/7 monitoring services. Monitoring and alerting the police is far more effective than tracing criminals after a crime has taken place.
  • Install remotely monitored intruder alarms and change alarm security codes and passwords on a regular basis.
  • Install security lighting systems that have motion sensors to detect body movements.
  • Restrict access to school premises. Well-designed perimeter security such as walls, fences and electric security gates, and anti-climb paint help to prevent people from getting onto school sites.
  • Restrict vehicular access to the school site. Locate any designated parking as far from the school building as possible. The further thieves have to travel on foot the greater the risk of detection.
  • Use security marking systems such as SmartWater which can help with successful prosecution of thieves.
  • Ask the local community near your school to be vigilant and report any unusual or suspicious activity they notice on school grounds.
  • Inform neighbourhood watch schemes / police liaison officers of planned work over the holidays as thieves might pose as contractors.
  • Seek advice. Specialist insurers can offer advice and expertise to help schools manage security risks. Insurers can offer a combination of onsite and remote risk management services including security assessments and advice, alongside broader property protection and building valuation services. 

Ecclesiastical Insurance offers a range of risk management support and guidance to help schools manage the risks they face. For more information, visit the Hub for Education.

 

HALF OF TEACHERS FACE PENSION FUNDING SHORTFALL

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  • Nearly half (48%) of teachers expect not to have enough money to fund their retirement
  • Three quarters (75%) of teachers plan on leaving the profession before retirement age
  • Nearly a third (29%) want to find other work outside of teaching
  • (37%) of teachers will need to keep working in some form to fund retirement after they start drawing their pension benefits.

 

Almost half (48%) of UK teachers say they will not have enough money to fund their retirement– highlighting a potential retirement ‘funding gap’ within the profession according to new research from Wesleyan, the specialist financial services mutual for teachers. 

Three out of four (75%) UK teachers say they are looking to leave the profession before the normal retirement age for their pension savings, but many haven’t enough saved up enough to fund their retirement. 

The research also showed a trend in ‘flexi-retirement’ – teachers continuing to work after they have ‘retired’. Nearly two fifths (37%) of respondents to Wesleyan’s survey said they will need to keep working in some form after they start drawing their pension benefits.

The main reasons for doing so were to generate income for luxuries (27%) and one in six (14%) said they would need to work to ensure they could meet their basic needs.

The results found that many teachers are confused by the TPS, just a third (34%) of teachers said they fully understand the TPS rules around ‘phased retirement’.

These give teachers the option to access up to 75% of their TPS benefits while still working and contributing to the scheme – but require changes to working patterns and salary as a result.

Additional research with members of the teachers’ union the NASUWT found that 22% teachers planned to take early retirement because of stress/workload pressures. A further 21% stated that they were retiring early to have a better work/life balance (21%)*.

Retirement Living Standards guideline is that an individual will need £33,600pa in retirement to live comfortably**. This means they will be able to cover everyday cost plus pay for some luxuries such as holidays and beauty treatments. However, the average pension for a male teacher is £16,034pa and £11,581pa for a female teacher.*** This would mean a shortfall in income of up to £22,019 in retirement. This shortfall will reduce to approx. £12,392 if the full flat rate state pension is paid from state pension age.***

Simon Rake, Head of Education at Wesleyan, said: “It is concerning to see that so many teachers are worried or confused about their retirement.

“The traditional concept of retirement as a time when people fully leave the world of work behind is becoming more and more outdated. As our findings show, teachers are increasingly choosing to work in retirement. For a small but nonetheless significant proportion, it will be a necessity so they can meet basic needs – a worrying finding.

“It is important to start retirement planning from an early age and factor into your plan flexi retirement options. This is vital because the TPS has phased retirement regulations, so some may find they need to either reduce teaching hours or move to a less senior position, in order to stay eligible for benefits. A specialist adviser can help navigate all of these considerations.”

 

 

Nottingham Pupils Sparkle in National School Assembly

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Nottingham pupils had a starring role in a national assembly which was broadcast live to hundreds of schools across the UK recently.

 

Students from Oak Field School and Middleton Primary and Nursery School in Nottingham took part in the assembly for RSE Day – an annual event which celebrates health and relationships education in schools. 

 

Organised by Nottingham City Council and Discovery Education, the theme of this year’s RSE Day was ‘Celebrating Differences – Everyone Can Sparkle’. Nottingham students led the assembly by sharing their thoughts on diversity and how we should all celebrate what makes us unique. 

 

The assembly was watched by students across the country, with many schools holding celebrations in their classrooms. Taking inspiration from the broadcast, students were encouraged to get involved by writing or drawing ‘What Makes Me Sparkle’, and sharing their work online. 

 

Tom Hall, teacher at Oak Field School in Nottingham said:

 

“Our students really enjoyed RSE Day! We hosted lots of exciting activities around expressing ourselves and thinking about what makes us sparkle! We had special guest readers including a local councillor, a ‘Just Dance’ station, a ‘Dress to Express’ area and self-portraits. The students even made their very own ‘Oak Field stars’ to show us what makes them sparkle! It was a wonderful day and I felt very proud of our students.”

 

Mark Brumwell, Headteacher at Middleton Primary and Nursery School in Nottingham said:

 

“RSE Day was a fabulous way to encourage children to think about their own positive qualities, whilst noticing and valuing those of their peers. As a UNICEF Rights Respecting School, the opportunity to celebrate diversity and children’s individuality – showing how every child does indeed ‘sparkle’ – was one we fully embraced.”

 

Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Schools at Nottingham City Council, said: 

 

“RSE Day is now an annual event celebrated by schools right across the country and I’m so proud that it started four years ago here in Nottingham.  I was lucky enough to visit Middleton Primary and Woodlands Special School on the day and observe the creative activities children were involved in.”

 

“We know from our on-going work with headteachers how important this is for children and young people in terms of highlighting the need for safe and healthy relationships. The lessons in schools are all age-appropriate and pupils are taught by experienced staff who understand how to deliver these messages.”

 

Howard Lewis, Discovery Education’s Managing Director UK and International said:

 

“Discovery Education is delighted to support RSE Day 2022, an important event which encourages students to value and respect diversity. We’re proud to help teachers deliver these important topics through our Health and Relationships programme, which supports schools to deliver the primary RSE curriculum with confidence.” 

 

Schools can find out more about RSE Day at www.rseday.co.uk. And explore Discovery Education’s Health and Relationships programme at www.discoveryeducation.co.uk/rse.