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New ideas on learning
As the government launches the first year of its new Diplomas for 14-19 year olds, school-based vocational campaign, PrintIT!, is off to a successful start, in this, its fourth year.
PrintIT!'s core values are in tune with the new Diploma and this was recognised by Prime Minister Gordon Brown when he commented on this year's awards. He said: "It is this sort of imaginative, exciting and practical learning that will be a feature of the new Diplomas, taught for the first time this year."
PrintIT! has once again been developed in conjunction with the Fairtrade Foundation, however the fourth phase has seen a number of new developments. The competition is now available to 14 year olds, giving pre-GCSE students the opportunity to learn about the modern printing industry. This will offer pupils experience of printing before choosing their GCSE subjects and may influence how many opt to follow print-related courses.
Additionally, teachers are being given more time to run the course, which will now take place between September and the middle of January. This gives students longer on the project, to get as much out of the process as possible.
Finally, schools will be able to submit all PrintIT! workbooks for judging whereas previous entries were restricted, thereby giving every student an equal chance to win a prize.
Project director of PrintIT!, Paul Evans, commented: "It is a testament to the commitment of all those involved that we have been able to establish PrintIT! as a successful, growing initiative and a forerunner in a new era of vocational learning."
