The Classroom Quality Standards (CQS) provide a universal, classroom level, self-evaluation tool to support schools in improving provision for their more able, gifted and talented pupils. http://ygt.dcsf.gov.uk/LibraryResources.aspx?libraryId=12
Following this consultation, revised versions will be provided on CD-ROMs and made available free to all schools. Here is Naace's response.

Members are invited to comment on the strategic objectives proposed for this influential body.

Here you will find both the inputs and the outputs from this successful and timely event.

Naace celebrated twenty-three years of advancing education through ICT, and its recognition as the key professional association for ICT practitioners at all levels, including school leaders, subject managers, teachers, advisers and consultants. Anyone with an interest in ICT in any aspect of education can now join Naace and the Association encourages an inclusive and creative approach to the development of effective teaching and learning of ICT and promotion of e-learning strategies.

We continue to look at colleagues ideas on how to use VLEs effectively and this week have Roger Broadie and Gill Deadman sharing their ideas ...

As part of a longer article to published in the next edition of Primary Focus, Jim Fanning provides his blog of a two-day flexible learning course. Is this the way of the future?

Arnaud Mandan livens up MFL by inviting famous French and German guests from the past onto their VLE forums. Dave Calver came up with the idea of getting his students to write questions to a virtual World War I veteran in order to get an idea of what life was like living in the trenches before writing their own assignment on what life was like.

There has been much discussion on the value of e-portfolios, their purpose, how they are used, the data they contain and indeed whether they are worth the trouble of setting up, maintaining and developing. In this Article, Ray Tolley outlines in great detail why e-portfolios can provide meaningful evidence to their importance. He believes an e-portfolio has a number of essential characteristics: portable, personal, generic, flexible, lifelong and credible.

Jim Fanning, Assistant Head at Tideway School, has produced some really interesting ideas for what an online lesson might look like and has created a picture of what a cover teacher/supervisor might need to be aware of. Tideway School is a Specialist Technology College in Newhaven serving 700 students aged 11-16.

Our first 'hot-seat' guest is Phia le Roux. She will be answering your questions from 9 January 2008. Phia has kindly agreed to share an hour per week 'live' at 4-5pm every Wednesday and will pick up and answer any other questions at 8.30am Mondays and Fridays. Please fire all your questions on what podacasting is about, why podcast, how to get started, what you need to get started, potential difficulties, problems encountered etc.