Shifnal secondary school gets to national awards final

A Shropshire school has beaten thousands of others to reach the final of a national competition to produce innovative videos which help pupils with their revision. 

Stuart Kettle, a science teacher at Idsall School in Shifnal, entered the O2 Learn award with an animated video to help teach his class about the physics of forces. 

More than 2,300 other teachers from around the country entered the competition, and Stuart’s creation has made the shortlist of just eight finalists, with the winner being awarded £30,000 for their school. 

The final videos are now on the O2 Learn website, which is an online library of educational videos, for people to vote for their winner. 

You can vote for Idsall School’s video by going to www.O2learn.co.uk and looking for the video called ‘Forces Revision’.  The polls close at midnight on Wednesday 19 December 2012 and the winner will be announced on Friday 21 December 2012. 

Stuart Kettle said he was delighted that his video had made the final eight, and hoped it had helped his students understand the tricky principles behind forces. 

He said:

“Forces are difficult for some pupils to understand without seeing something visual, so I thought the subject would work well in an animated video.  I entered the competition as I thought it would be great to win some money for our science department, so we could expand our equipment that we use in lessons.” 

Deputy headteacher Reuben Thorley added:

“It’s an exceptionally useful animation that I have used with my classes already.” 

Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for education and skills, said:

“Initiatives like these revision videos are just one of the many ways that our schools provide ever more flexible and interesting ways for children to learn.  I think it’s marvellous that Idsall has got to the final of this competition, which is not only great fun but could result in some new equipment to make science lessons even more inspiring and interactive.”