Ink Pellet is a great supporter of work-related learning and was disappointed when the government cut direct funding to schools to support careers education in secondary schools. But when one door closes, another opens and we discover the existence of The Yes Programme, aimed at our younger viewers. The programme is a bank of 90 career-related films and resources developed with curriculum specialists showing the connection between learning and the employment. The films can be used to show pupils real-life occupations that use skills covered by the core subjects in the national curriculum at Key Stage 2. Occupations and skills include a drummer using fractions, a referee explaining the difference between fact and opinion, a computer games designer using simple algebra and a radiographer describing how to use magnets. The Yes Programme is the brainchild of Sonita Alleyne who says:  ‘We wanted to give teachers a simple, inventive way to encourage an awareness of a wide range of occupations at an early age.  Our mission is to connect everything in the curriculum to a job that is using those skills and help teachers reinforce the relevance of what pupils are learning.’ Very good. Schools can subscribe to The Yes Programme for £1.35 per pupil. For more information visit www.yesprogramme.co.uk.

Lovers of science fiction have been celebrating at the National Space Centre this month. We missed the fun but the event inspired Ink Pellet to remember the massive appeal of this genre – both in books and film. We hope to bring news in the next edition of which tome was voted the Best Science Fiction Book of all Time. Which is yours? By the way, have you been to the Space Centre? It’s fab. For more details visit spacecentre.co.uk/spacefiction

Amazing design idea that could inspire some great graphics work comes from the Spineless Classics crew which have recently added The Hobbit to its store. The company prints classics on a single sheet of paper and this new addition comprises all 95,500 words in 4pt text with all the original formatting and wrapped around a white design depicting the dragon Smaug and the book  title. The standard print is 70cmx100cm and costs £44.99.

In a former life, Ink Pellet worked for Creative Partnerships, the Arts Council-funded programme that employed artists to use their skills to enhance the curriculum. One highlight was seeing the face of a truly brilliant science teacher when I tried to link the planets with their literary incarnations. Shock was not the word; horror might be closer. We learned together that creative learning really brought his subject alive – he was a great example of the conversion of a sceptic. I now spy ‘evolve’ a creative drama manual for science teachers from Tees Valley Arts. The downloadable publication offers tips on how to bring alive science topics.  The Middlesborough-based arts development organisation believes that STEM subjects can be enhanced through the arts and offers a wide range of programmes from large scale projects to half day workshop, not to mention a useful website brimming with ideas. Check out the website at www.teesvalleyarts.org.uk

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