The Education Show comes of age from February 28 until March 1 when it offers another opportunity in its 18th year for people to catch up with the very latest resources and add to their knowledge through the extensive programme of CPD seminars.

Schools Minister Jim Knight has said that all secondary schools should give parents real-time access to their children's data by 2010. Mr Knight said the ability to reach accurate and immediate information about children would break down barriers between school and parents.  He cited several examples of trailblazing schools who already had direct communication through Facility ePortal from Serco. One of those is Cardinal Wiseman Catholic Technology College in Birmingham.

A campaign called ‘Next Generation Learning' launched this month to promote the benefits of technology in schools and further education institutions - Stephen Crowne explains how technology has the potential to improve results and transform the way people learn.

It is widely accepted that effectively using interactive learning technologies in the classroom makes a positive impact on lesson delivery, information transfer and knowledge retention. However, as a new generation of interactive solutions emerge, it is becoming increasingly apparent that these support the achievement of wider government objectives, such as the personalised learning agenda.

Expansion plans at the Northumbria University required a new £136 Million development at its Newcastle site, with the construction of a new East Campus. There was just one snag: Newcastle's Central Motorway which runs through the middle of the site. Clearly considerable thought and creative ideas were required to ensure that the existing and new campuses did not become separated and divided. Physically, the problem was solved with the construction of a stunning, landmark footbridge, erected during a single weekend. To help create and maintain a single University entity and culture the project development team chose to implement a Digital Signage system from ONELAN - the UK-based specialist manufacturer of Digital Signage solutions.

Vidflow:

• Records with automatic removal of commercials.
• Record from 2 channels via two HD ready TV tuners.
• Integrates all existing video resources in an online library.
• Edits video clips to maximise curriculum relevance.
• Supports teaching with a projector and whiteboard.
• Provides fast feedback via online Questionnaire.
• Gives video content for study via intranet or podcast.
• Can broadcast video announcements to a whole school.
• Offers a virtual TV station with scheduled broadcasts.
• Runs on a Microsoft® SharePoint platform.

The communication link between teachers, parents and  pupils is vital in order to maximise the quality of education for each year of school leavers. If a good relationship is maintained between all three parties then the chances of attainment slipping or truancy taking place are kept at a minimum. However, with the size of classroom numbers increasing it is becoming more of a challenge for teaching staff to keep track of each individual pupil, and even harder to maintain a close working relationship with their parents, thus the communication break down begins.

With over 15 years within media services, Sound Performance can offer the education sector a comprehensive range of bespoke CD Audio, CD ROM and DVD replication services. Artwork and packaging can be tailored to schools, colleges and publishers needs through in-house graphic design. Education Today talks to Chris Marksberry from Sound Performance to find out about the benefits of this service.

The average secondary school  has over 30 school policies in place.  Proving to Ofsted that they exist is easy - managers just hand over a folder marked "Policies".

With over a century of experience in the educator sector, Hope Education will be showcasing a host of its exciting new 2008 curricular products at the Education Show on its indoor and outdoor themed stand.

Primary Heads and those responsible for Wider Opportunities music implementation should take a serious look at the new, class-sized African Drumming Package from Drums for Schools. For just £987* (RRP £1659) it gives you everything you need to get a class of 30 up and drumming and the quality is such that it's a genuinely long-term resource. As well as 30 high quality djembe drums (a drum for everyone in the class, so no tantrums), it includes a brilliant new teaching guide and CD, 30 free protective drum hats and an add-on percussion pack containing 15 additional instruments.

Philip & Tacey, a leading provider of innovative learning resources for schools, will be showcasing its strongest product range in decades at The Education Show 2008.

This month sees the launch of a national campaign to get more primary school children reading.  The "2008 Nobby Travels National Children's Book Review" competition is the brainchild of husband and wife team Darren & Julia Spence, authors of the children's books, Nobby Travels. 

Qwizdom will be showcasing on stand IT-W67, the latest in handheld technology in the form of the Q2 handset, ‘Synaptiqs' - new cutting-edge curriculum software for Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, and the new Actionpoint Suite software. Actionpoint Suite (available in 8 different languages) encompasses Adobe Flash-based games to encourage healthy classroom competition and diverse reporting tools to help teachers identify patterns of ability from their pupils' test results.

Experts in Early Years resources, Galt Educational will be exhibiting its diverse range of products, which inspire learning and promote play from birth up to age seven. Throughout the show Galt will be focusing on its new nursery environments initiative. 

Sharp has been awarded the BLI 2007 "Line of the Year". The annual award determines the best overall multifunction printers (MFPs) in terms of reliability, image quality, productivity, ease of use, scanning, connectivity attributes and value.

For most maths teachers, if there is one thing that they would really like to do more than anything else, it is to take all the students who are projected to get a grade D or E at GCSE maths this summer and give them the extra tuition and help that will take them up to a C.

New materials to help teach GCSE Science lessons about animals can now be downloaded from the RSPCA Education website.

Few would argue with the notion that schools in the 21st century also need to be warm, friendly places in which pupils and students feel secure and in which parents and official visitors feel welcomed.  

Rapid Racking provide a variety of storage solutions for education at all levels.  Great value, quality products and excellent service are trademarks of this all round storage provider - simply order using the catalogue or by visiting the website at www.rapidracking.com. Easy ordering and quick delivery means that your storage problems are solved within days, delivered to the door at your convenience.

Leading stationery manufacturer, BIC®, will be exhibiting on stand AZ-B58 at the 2008 Education Show. BIC will be displaying their exciting range and raising awareness for National Doodle Day.

As the competition for university places continues to increase, ensuring that your students are fully supported in writing their application to university must be a primary goal of any sixth form or college.  UniTracker has revolutionised the Personal Statement process for students and tutors, not only improving quality but saving a great deal of time.

The Pilot Pen Company will be showcasing a wide range of exciting new products including its new V Board Master, an extraordinary new whiteboard marker, from the company's award-winning BegreeN range of recycled writing instruments.

Called Teach Me, the concept is to give pupils coloured card in familiar shapes with interesting fold ups that can be decorated and embellished, without restrictive boundaries or instructions.

CFS Carpets has supplied textile and fibre bonded carpets and carpet tiles into hundreds of educational establishments for over 25 years. Ranges such as Chinook and New Typhoon broad and narrow rib fibre bonded products have become firm favourites with contractors and specifiers throughout the UK. CFS Carpets also has several ranges of extremely hard wearing textile carpets and carpet tiles that are suitable for use in communal areas, staff rooms and halls of residence. CFS Carpets products are regularly specified in large universities and City Academies.

Innovative ICT school, Arnewood School has teamed up with wireless solutions provider Deverill Ltd, to become the first education provider in the South West region to install a second generation WiFi system.  The wireless network delivers comprehensive e-learning capabilities via individual laptops to teachers and students, and a portal for parents to interact with the school at their convenience.

Anchor Fast is a Doncaster based manufacturer of a wide range of wood and wood/concrete picnic benches,tables and chairs.It is a long established company and counts thousands of schools,leisure and sports clubs among its customers.