Bromley ICT Forum Blog

A new video conferencing programme for schools run by Parliament’s Education Service

As part of a new video conferencing programme offered by the Education Service at the Houses of Parliament, these pilot sessions focus on the issue of Prison Reform in order to bring to life the role of Parliament, both historically and in the present time.  The conferences include the opportunity to talk with a member of the House of Commons or House of Lords
Set amidst the backdrop of Victorian prison reform, the session is based in 1878 as the government takes control of the prison system.  Your students will meet a Victorian prison governor and a long-time prisoner as they talk about their experiences of life in Pentonville Prison.

During the workshop, your group are encouraged to engage with both characters, played by costumed actors, and to ask questions before being led into a debate on the issues surrounding the prison system and its purpose.

Students will explore what prison is for and whether it works from both historical and contemporary angles; developments in the prison system and the role played by Parliament in its reform; as well as the future of prisons today.

A member of the House of Commons or House of Lords will be invited to conclude the workshop and discuss the role of Parliament in relation to this issue*.

A pack of preparation materials will be sent to you in advance of the session, including background information and discussion topics, to help your students prepare their arguments in advance of debating the issues involved.

To book, please call the Education Service on 0207 219 2105

Available: 12 May – 23 May 2008
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: free of charge
Suitability: Years 8 and 9 (KS3)

*Please be aware that on occasion due to the nature of Parliamentary business, Members of both Houses can be called away at short notice.
Parliament’s Education Service
Parliament’s Education Service works with schools and Members of both Houses of Parliament to support young people in developing their understanding of Parliament and democracy. It runs a busy visits programme all year round and provides printed and online resources for schools.
http://www.parliament.uk/education

New Voices, Old Vic

Under Kevin Spacey’s direction, the Old Vic Education section has employed professional directors, writers and actors to work with pupils and students from South London schools on a variety of projects to encourage them to think about the creative use of drama in other subjects. The first project was a joint collaboration with the Imperial War Museum around the theme of the first day of the battle of the Somme in 1916.

LGfL has agreed to host this and subsequent OVNV projects to make them available permanently as an anytime, anywhere resource for the National Education Network. Each project comes with full lesson plans and videos to help teachers and students create their own version of the project in their school.

Find this in the KS3/4 English and History menus or directly at www.ovnv.lgfl.net

(Thanks to David Mason LGFL)

LGfL has been given by the City of London a website about the life and experiences of George Bridgetower. This site was produced for the City of London’s 2007 commemoration of the abolition of slavery and celebrates the extraordinary achievements of this Polish-born Black Londoner.

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Attention Year 8 History teachers

In February the SEGfL funded the development of a new VC workshop at the National Archives based on the English Civil War, and due to its popularity and success another week of Civil War video conferences is being run this May.

The session is targeted at KS3, year 8 and will be based on a role play that will take you and your pupils back in time to 1642. The key characters will lead your pupils, who will be Royalists and Puritans alike, in an inspiring debate on the causes of the civil wars. Together they will argue the causes of the civil wars and the attitudes of people to them at the time. In order to prepare for and research their part in the debate, a pack of preparation materials and teacher’s notes, are available online at http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/workshops/civilwar.htm. The pack includes copies of original documents and simplified transcripts, such as the very important ‘ Petition from the citizens of London, Sept 1640’ on which the pupils structure their arguments.A flyer is attached with all the details on the workshop and how to book. The week of workshops will take place 14th May to the 18th May 2007 and are free and open to all.