The EBP Term Talk Newsletter Autumn 2015

POLICY POWWOW
Karen Ponulak looks over the latest legislation
Karen has managed contracts for The
EBP with scrupulous efficiency and
financial probity since 2013. Having
previously served on a Department
of Education policy team, she soon
appreciated the importance of
understanding legislative changes to The
EBP’s partners and clients, and has now
added the title Policy Officer to her role.
As Karen puts it, “Government policy
provides the contextual backdrop to
everything The EBP and its partners
in education do. Understanding
it directs us toward current best
practice, and ensures we leverage the
maximum statutory support for our
programmes. But it can be hard to
juggle everyday responsibilities with
staying up to date and complying
with the latest developments. That’s
where I can help.”
She is eager to provide insight and
inside information on the world of UK
educational policy, both to The EBP
colleagues and practitioners at the
institutions we serve.
Briefly, recent trends that have caught
Karen’s eye include the continuing
social justice agenda, with a focus
on traineeships and apprenticeships.
The EBP’s role as a bridge between
educational institutions and the
business community chimes well with
the government’s preference for careers
guidance to be delivered by employers.
Despite the emphasis on academic
subjects heralded by the English
Baccalaureate, policy direction continues
to support character education, as
promoted by NCS and Step up to Serve,
plus improvements in personal, social,
health and economic education (PSHE)
and sex and relationships education (SRE).
Because of the rapid shifts in the policy
landscape, Karen is committed to
providing this information in real time,
in a blog that users will be able to access
via The EBP website and social media
accounts from January 2016.
Keep tabs on policy news by
following us at:
facebook.com/ebpuk
twitter.com/ebp_uk
or exploring links from
www.lrebp.org.uk
Contact Karen directly at
karen.ponulak@eblo.org.uk
or on 01522 574281.
TALENT ON SHOW
Harvesting highlights of the Lincolnshire Show Schools’ Challenge
Run jointly by The EBP and the Lincolnshire
Agricultural Society (LAS), the 2015 Schools’
Challenge introduced students from 44
primary, secondary and special schools,
to innovative thinking for and greater
understanding of the agricultural industry.
Worked on for months with the help of
expert mentors appointed by LAS, school
entries are based on food production,
local community or sustainability themes,
linked to areas of school curricula. On
judging day, entries were displayed
and presented to an eminent panel.
Congratulations to our winners!
First place school teams
Primary Over 150 pupils
Holbeach Primary Academy
Primary Under 150 pupils
Potterhanworth CE Primary School
Secondary
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Alford
Special
The Sincil Sports College, Lincoln
Great Gardening Challenge
Wragby Primary School
The EBP professional development day
for teachers and careers advisors was a
key component of this year’s programme.
The day aimed to increase understanding
of food, farming, the local community
and sustainability within the school
context – including curricular links,
best practice examples and networking
opportunities with staff from other
schools and organisations.
Among the five workshops, teachers’
highest evaluations went to Bobbie
Harvey’s lively presentation of farming
and countryside education, followed
by Juliane Caillouette Noble from the
Jamie Oliver Food Foundation and
Stuart Garner from major local employer
Branston Ltd. Two new challenges will be
introduced to the 2016 programme based
on feedback and requests.
To see how the 2016 show programme
could broaden students’ and teachers’
horizons, our networking meeting
on 19 January is an excellent opportunity
to meet food and farming professionals,
industry mentors and fellow education
professionals, plus hear expert speakers
on best practice and guidance for
the challenges.
Contact Suzy Stone for more
information at suzy.stone@eblo.org
or on 01522 574100
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