Institute of Education

Every year, UoR students are invited to explore their creative side by entering the Raymond Wilson Poetry Competition. Held in memory of the late brilliant educationalist and Emeritus Professor of Education at Reading, the prize awards £200 for the winning poem.

This year’s winner, James Lloyd, is a Postgraduate Research student within the Classics department of the University of Reading. James’s poem, ‘April Shower’, describes in humorous detail the many things we can forget when April Showers strike. A poem like this helps make learning engaging, whilst also reflecting the daily amusements and challenge that children encounter in their gradual assimilation into the big wide world.

James Lloyd said:

“I am delighted to have won the 2017-18 Raymond Wilson prize. Thank you to everyone involved in the competition, especially the school children who helped to choose it! I hope that the poem has raised a few smiles, umbrellas, and hoods.”

Stephanie Sharp, the organiser of the competition at the IOE, commented:

“Children liked it because they understood it and thought that children everywhere would enjoy it.”

The competition is judged by children in a local school and their vote carries equal weight with Stephanie. This brings the perspectives of teacher, writer and young reader to bear on the judging. 

Raymond Wilson was an exceptional educationalist, as well as an inspired educational editor who introduced new editions of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poetry and Jane Austen’s novels. Wilson was also well-known as an intuitive, sensitive critic and a prolific anthologist.

More information: s.sharp@reading.ac.uk(ext 2675). 

THE WINNING POEM

April Shower

When you hear the rumbling

Of storm clouds in the skies,

And rain drops come a tumbling,

And puddles start to rise,

You’ll wish you’d not forgot

To wear your anorak,

or have your favourite brolly

Stowed in your school rucksack.

So when you hear the rumbling

Of storm clouds in the skies,

And rain drops come a tumbling,

And puddles start to rise,

From their pitter patter

You’ll have no need to cower,

Because you’re well prepared

For this April shower.

James Lloyd, 2018

The IoE is set to host its lively annual ATP (BA Primary Education (QTS) Advanced Teaching Project) conference at London Road on 30th May.

These conferences are an opportunity for our final year BA Education (QTS) students to showcase their lively, interesting and thought-provoking research. Above all, the conference is the culmination of three years of hard work.

It is a happy day in the calendar, as Programme Director Nasreen Majid hears and sees the fruits of her students’ study and research over the last three years. There is always an element of nostalgia too; the IoE bids farewell and good luck to another talented cohort of enthusiastic students as they start their journey into the wide world of inspiring through education.

This vibrant showcase event demonstrates the sheer variety of our students’ projects. The research is broad and accomplished and the posters in particular visually appealing and lively.

Five of our final year students will present their work, representing a broad cross section of the type of research undertaken. Nasreen Majid, Director of the programme, who leads the conference said of the presenting students:

“I am so proud of the calibre of research that our students have developed. Teaching is a research embedded profession. Our students demonstrate this by the range of work they undertake for their ATPs, including such cutting edge ideas as: the perceptions of the social inclusion of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder; what is it about mathematics that causes anxiety for pupils; and how does music intervention impact the social development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”

We are delighted to welcome our key note speaker to the conference: Dr Diana Dos Santos Sousa- Senior Teaching Fellow at UCL, IOE.  Dr Sous will deliver a key note closely linked to her career trajectory from an early years practitioner to teaching fellow at UCL, IOE. Her presentation will use evidence from three diverse Portuguese Early Years setting to illustrate how conceptual understandings of democracy reflect individual school philosophies and how a range of factors could lead to a democratic deficit enabled by discourses which displace the purpose, complexity and subjectivity of Early Years policy and practice.

The best ATP candidate will receive The Professor Rhona Stainthorp Prize for outstanding achievement in undergraduate research. There will also be two runners up and Dr Sous will present the well-earned prizes.

After the ceremonies, everyone will be able to kick back and relax over a picnic, enjoying the chance to be together one more time before our fantastic Year 3 students head off into their bright futures.

ATP 2018

30 May 2018

09.30 – 12.30
Institute of Education

University of Reading

London Road campus

4 Redlands Road RG1 5EX

ioe@reading.ac.uk

We are delighted to share with you some information regarding the Stephen Spender Prize for poetry in translation, which might be of interest to MFL and English departments, as well as to any learners with English as additional language. It could be especially empowering for learners who have community or migrant languages.

Stephen Spender Prize for poetry in translation 2018 | Closing Date: 06-July-18

Translate any poem from ANY language into English, and win cash prizes! Teachers and students are warmly invited to take part in the Stephen Spender Prize for poetry in translation, with categories for young people (14-and-under and 18-and-under) as well as an open category for adults.

Details:

Entrants are invited to submit an English translation of a published poem from any language, ancient or modern, together with a commentary of no more than 300 words. The translation should be max. 60 lines (extracts are accepted). Entrants must be UK or Irish citizens or residents. There are three categories: Open (adult), 18-and-under and 14-and-under.

Judges: Margaret Jull Costa, Olivia McCannon, Sean O’Brien.
Prizes:

Open category: £1000 (1st), £750 (2nd), £500 (3rd)

18-and-under category: £250 (1st), £150 (2nd), £100 (3rd)

14-and-under category: one prize of £100

All winners will be invited to an awards ceremony in central London in November 2018.

Entry Fee: Over-18s: £7 for each translation, Under-18s: free

Further details: Full information, general notes on translation, advice from the judges, and downloadable translation activity sheets for French, German, IsiNdebele, Italian, Latin, Portuguese and Spanish available at stephen-spender.org/spender_prize.html

You are warmly invited to the 5th annual The Reading Guild of Artists (RGA) Summer Show at the Institute of Education: Art building L04: June 14th to 24th, 10-4 (includes Saturday and Sunday opening). This year the show includes an amazing selection of extremely accomplished and eclectic works that cannot fail to inspire, as well as workshops and activities. run by the RGA 

Reading Guild of Artists, founded in 1930, is a diverse group of professional and amateur artists in the Berkshire area. The RGA holds regular creative art workshops and free art exhibitions throughout the year. Find out more of their activities on their website: rga-artists.org.uk/

RGA Summer Show

• Admission free
• Venue Building L04, University of Reading, London Road Campus, 4 Redlands Road, RG1 5EX.
• June 14 – 24 inclusive, 10-4pm.

Enjoy a range of contemporary artwork at the BA Education

(QTS) final degree show. 

The Art Department at the Institute of Education is proud to present the 2018 Final Degree Art Exhibition this month at London Road – please come along and sample the work of our talented students.  The exhibition will run from Tuesday 21 May until Tuesday 5 June, open weekdays 1.00pm-5.00pm at the Institute of Education Art Department (LO4), London Road. Admission is free.  

Themed around the concept of ‘naked’, the exhibition presents an eclectic range of pieces in different mediums including painting, sculpture, textiles and installation. It promises to be an inspiring celebration of contemporary art.  

BA Primary Education (QTS) with Art enables students to get a job as a primary school teacher following graduation. There is a high demand for specialist primary school teachers and many of our graduates go on to become subject leaders. Furthermore, the Institute of Education is one of the top three places to study education in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2018) and has strong links with local schools.

Take a look at the exhibition flyer for further details. 

 The tuition-fee funded Primary School Direct programme could be for you. This route allows you to:

• spend the majority of your time in school, whilst gaining support to develop your subject-knowledge and understanding of teaching, learning and child development through a carefully planned central training programme
• choose whether to follow a QTS-only route without assessed academic study, or to opt-in to the PGCE route
• be embedded within the school environment, with an assignment mentor responsible for your professional development throughout your programme
• receive additional training and support from your lead school.

Come along to one of our free information evenings for further information and a chat over coffee and biscuits.

Venue

Building L022, Room 113, Institute of Education, UoR London Road Campus, 5 Redlands Road, RG1 5EX
Free parking upon request.

Monday 14 May 2018, 16:00 – 18:00

Monday 4 June 2018, 16:00 – 18:00        

BOOK HERE  or email for further information: schooldirect@reading.ac.uk 

See you there!

The Improving Equity and Inclusion through Education (IEIE) Research group recently welcomed guest speaker, Lærke Testmann, to the Institute of Education. Laerke travelled to Reading  from The Danish School of Education, Aarhus University in Copenhagen, Denmark, especially to present her research on “Children’s communities in school – perspectives on inclusion” – a project that investigates how children collaborate on organizing their social life in school in communities. Laeke explained the project involved:

‘Ten months of fieldwork, where I have been following a group of children in their everyday life together both in and outside of school. I have investigated, from the perspective of the children, how community making and common social life unfolds among the children. My aim is to get closer to in- and exclusion as social practices connected to children’s everyday life in school and its related contexts. I work mainly with social practice theory and critical psychology with an analytical focus on social conflicts.’

The project is a part of larger research project called Children’s inclusion in school as conflictual collaboration between families, teachers, school-leaders and legislation, funded by The Danish Council for Independent Research, where a group of ten researchers from three different universities, together with children, parents and practitioners investigate contemporary challenges on inclusion, participation and democracy in Danish public schools.

Dr Karen Jones and Professor Jill Porter, Co-convenors of the IEIE Research Group who organised the event said:  

‘This was a great opportunity for staff and students at the Institute of Education hear about research in different international research environments, to exchange ideas and share experiences.’

For more information about the IEIE Research Group visit:  http://www.reading.ac.uk/education/research/ioe-researcheii.aspx

The Institute of Education has confirmed its national and international standing through its excellent results in the Complete University Guide 2019 league table, published on 25^th April 2018. It is ranked 16^th in the country, once again among the top 20 UK Universities in the field of Education, according to the Complete University Guide 2019 league table. 

The result echoes the IoE’s very strong position in the main UK league tables, being ranked 3^rd in subject in the country by the Guardian University League Table 2018.

Professor Cathy Tissot, Head of the IoE, commented: “This significant position on the table demonstrates how hard we are working to ensure our students are successful, secure excellent jobs and are studying in truly supportive and exciting environment.”

The Complete University Guide, published since 2007, uses nine criteria in its assessment, including:

• Academic services spend
• Completion rate of students
• Average UCAS tariff score of new students under the age of 21
• Expenditure per student on staff and student facilities
• Proportion of firsts and upper seconds
• Graduate prospects – or the employability of graduates
• Average quality of research
• Student satisfaction (from the National Student Survey)
• Student to staff ratio.

Research by Professor Suzanne Graham of the Institute of Education (IoE) to improve modern foreign language teaching in schools was recognised at the 2018 O²RB Excellence in Impact awards in Oxford this April.

Professor Graham, Research Division Leader for the IoE, was highly commended for excellence in impact for her work to improve foreign language teaching in schools. Over many years she has conducted research into some of the factors that influence motivation for, and attainment in, language learning.  She is currently working on the Creative Multilingualism project to look at the way in which modern foreign languages are taught and is considering creative alternative approaches.

The O2RB Excellence in Impact Awards are an opportunity for members of the University of Reading, the University of Oxford, the Open University and Oxford Brookes (together the O2RB) to come together to recognise and reward the successes of social sciences researchers who have achieved, or are currently achieving, excellent economic and societal impacts. 

Professor Graham, a Professor of Language and Education at the IoE, said of the award:

“I’m thrilled that my work with language learners and teachers over the last decade or more has been recognised in this way.  It will be a great boost for my current projects in modern languages classrooms, where colleagues and I are collaborating with amazing practitioners to bring about improved motivation for and attainment in learning another language.”

Chair of the O²RB Excellence in Impact Awards panel, Professor Mark Pollard of the University of Oxford (Associate Head of Division (Research), Social Sciences) said:

“The awards have been a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the exceptional impacts on society being made by social scientists from the four partner institutions. The panel has been impressed with the diversity and depth of the projects recognised, and hope that this will inspire even more social scientists to explore what impact might look like for their research, and the ways in which it might be achieved.”

The O²RB collaboration is designed to build and strengthen regional partnerships for research impact via Oxford’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA).