2007 marked a turning point for the UK housing market. The boom in prices during the Blair decade, when average prices had soared by over ninety per cent, came to an end. And in the early months of 2008 it was becoming clear that the property market was entering a very different phase with a price recession on the cards.

The 2008 edition of the Tutor2u Housing Market Study Companion is a 78 page study resource for teachers and students preparing for the AQA Unit 3 paper ‘Markets at Work’.  The guide covers the micro foundations of the market and the inter-relationships between the fortunes of the property market and the broader economy.

There are thirty data charts which are up to date to February 2008 and eleven supporting data tables. There is also a comprehensive glossary of terms and a directory of fifty links to audio-visual clips from the BBC website that teachers might want to use to enhance their teaching of this topic.

The guide also includes hundreds of external links to articles, research and information from a range of organizations linked to the housing sector. All of these links are live within the PDF version of the study companion. A PowerPoint presentation provides a collection of thirty housing data charts used in the study companion

Sophi Tranchell is MD of the leading social enterprise business Divine Chocolate.  Sophi was recently named the ‘First Woman of Retail and Property’ in the Real Business/CBI First Women Awards, and also picked up first prize in the Enterprising Solutions Awards in 2007.

Sophi manages a fairtrade company with a turnover of £9 million, which is holding its own in the multi-billion pound chocolate industry. But Divine’s business model bears no resemblance to that of any of the big chocolate names. The Divine story is a fantastic case study of how social enterprise can work and is a great one to use with our students.

On a personal note, I’m also trying to arrange a free tasting session for conference delegates from Divine’s delicious range of fairtrade chocolate!

Find out more on Divine Chocolate here:

http://www.divinechocolate.com/home/default.aspx

Our sweet-toothed theme for the conference continues with Fraser Doherty.

As a result of the runaway success of his startup business SuperJam, Fraser was named ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year (UK)’ and ‘Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year (2007)’, in a competition that saw him compete against 750 student entrepreneurs from around the world. Many were running multi-million dollar companies and Fraser became the fist winner of the competition from outside North America.

Although SuperJam has clearly been a massive success, Fraser has faced numerous setbacks on his entrepreneurial journey. This should make for a fascinating session - with plenty of time to Q&A too. What a great example of a startup business to take back to your new business students at the start of September 2008…

Discover more about SuperJam here:

http://www.superjam.co.uk/

The remaining parts of the Conference programme will be announced next week.  There really is something highly relevant for everyone, with a strong focus in the other sessions on effective teaching strategies for business and getting to grips with curriculum change.

I really do hope that you and your colleagues will be able to join us for what is widely regarded as the must-attend Business Teacher CPD event of the year.

As expected, places are booking up fast (we are expecting another sell-out) so don’t hesitate to contact me to reserve your provisional places.

Delegate places can be booked online here:

http://www.tutor2u.net/acatalog/Business-Teacher-National-Conference-July-2008.html

or via the printable booking form here:

http://www.tutor2u.net/assets/orderforms/business040708.pdf

Alternatively, give us a call in the office on 0844 800 0085.

Now, where’s that unfinished packet of Divine Chocolate?....

Book your places online here

- Are you looking for something different to organise as part of Enterprise Week?
- Do you need inspiration for the 2008 summer term activity programme?
- Are you keen to integrate enterprise into the curriculum but need some fresh ideas from colleagues that have done so successfully?

The programme for the Conference is outlined below:

Susie Alderson (Young Peoples Enterprise Forum) - Beyond the Car Wash
How can you take your enterprise activities beyond the traditional enterprise solution? Where do you find funding and other support for more challenging cross curricular enterprise projects? The aim of this session is to challenge your thinking and provide inspiration for new ideas and approaches in 2008.

Wendy Blower (Priory School, Shropshire) - DIY Enterprise
Whole school? Whole Week? Organisational nightmare or not? How one school successfully took on the challenge of delivering Enterprise by drawing on the resources of the whole organisation.

Samantha Hipkins (Coca Cola Enterprises Ltd) - Fizzy not flat – The Coca Cola approach
Outreach programmes from supportive businesses are a great way of building enterprise links. Learn how it all works from one of the best in the business – Coca Cola Enterprises Limited.

Ian Gunn (Whickham School, Gateshead) - Outside in!
Some schools outsource the management of their Enterprise activities, as an alternative to a DIY approach; is this a worthwhile investment? Ian will take you through the benefits and problems of using external providers.

Don Firkins (St Nicholas High School) - An Introduction to Social Enterprise
Everyone is talking about social enterprise and the topic is sure to be an important part of the Enterprise agenda. What is it and how can you build social enterprise into your programme?

Michelle Stephenson (tutor2u) & Martin Seery (Longsands College) Making Enterprise Count
How to motivate students to record their experiences to demonstrate achievement of key employability skills plus tips from a college that has achieved an outstanding grading from Ofsted for their enterprise programme.

To reserve your places, you can download the booking form (pdf) from the following link:

www.tutor2u.net/assets/orderforms/enterprise140408.pdf

or online at:

http://www.tutor2u.net/acatalog/Enterprise-Education-That-Works.html

Alternatively, call tutor2u on 0844 800 0085 or email sharoncurtis@tutor2u.net with your requirements.

We are also happy to take provisional bookings whilst you sort out the paperwork.

The single delegate rate is just £150 (+ vat) and additional colleagues from your school or college may attend for just £100 (+ vat).

We look forward to welcoming you in Leeds for a really useful and enjoyable day.

A brief profile of Diane is provided below.  It should be great to hear her speak.  We’ll also make sure that there is plenty of time allowed for some Q&A too!

To book your place(s) at the Conference, select from the following options:

Book online:  http://www.tutor2u.net/acatalog/Politics-Teacher-National-Conference-2008.html

Download booking form:  http://www.tutor2u.net/assets/orderforms/politics030708.pdf

Call tutor2u: 0844 800 0085

or email: sharoncurtis@tutor2u.net

Diane Abbott MP - Speaker Profile

Introduction
In 1987 Diane Abbott made history by becoming the first black women ever elected to the British Parliament. She has since built a distinguished career as a parliamentarian, broadcaster and commentator.

In Parliament
Diane has served on a number of parliamentary committees on social and international issues. She was also elected on to the National Executive of the Labour Party. For most of the 1990’s she also served on the Treasury Select Committee of the House of Commons.  She went on to serve on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. As a member of that committee she travelled to Kenya, Uganda, China, Hong Kong and many countries in Europe. She took a particular interest in human rights. Most recently she has set up a special parliamentary committee investigating gun crime.

In the Public Eye
Diane is an experienced public speaker and broadcaster. She has spoken at colleges and universities all over the United States including Ivy League universities like Harvard. She also appears regularly on radio and television. Her most recent appearances include hosting a phone-in show for LBC radio, presenting a programme on the Treasury for BBC Radio 4 and regular appearances on the BBC1 late night political discussion show with Andrew Neil and Michael Portillo MP. 

These case studies have been written with both the teacher and student in mind; the intention is that these questions will provide students with structured homework tasks that provide vital case study experience along with practice at working effectively within both the assessment levels/criteria structure and a time constrained situation.

From the teachers perspective they provide an organised and relevant homework task that is structured and straightforward to assess. The results will also offer an invaluable guide to the student’s progress of theoretical knowledge but also the development of exam technique and the use of higher level skills.

Each case study consists of a single sheet for easy photocopying. At the top of each case study is some basic information enabling the teacher to choose the most appropriate time within the course to set each piece of work.

Each of the tasks follows the same pattern. A short piece of stimulus material is followed by four questions, each becoming progressively more challenging and requiring the student to achieve a higher level than the previous one

It is recommended that these tasks are set at the end of a lesson, thereby requiring the students to read the material in their own time rather than discuss it in the lesson with their peers. Each of the case studies has been designed so that it can be completed in a work session of 30 minutes.

For simplicity each of the case studies has the same mark allocation for the four questions and therefore a standard marking grid can be used.

You can download samples of these new case studies from the following link;

http:/www.tutor2u.net/assets/samples/briefcases-vol2sample.pdf

To order, visit our online store:

http://www.tutor2u.net/acatalog/Business-Brief-Cases-Volume-2.html
Or download and send us an order form:

http://www.tutor2u.net/assets/orderforms/business-resources.pdf

We’re working hard on the Spring 2008 edition of Latte - our free print magazine for all Business, Economics & Enterprise teachers.

However, I wonder whether you and your colleagues have already subscribed for the free Spring 2007 and Autumn 2007 editions of Latte?  We still have some copies left if you would like them.  Each is packed with teaching ideas, resources and other information that make Latte essential reading in the staffroom.

You can order your free copy using the links below.  Don’t forget to mention this to colleagues in the department too.  We send a free copy of each new edition of Latte to every teacher who requests a subscription.  If you have ordered previously, then you will be automatically sent the new Spring 2008 edition as soon as it is published!

Latte Magazine - Autumn 2007

- One school’s industry partnership proves a retail success
- Business, ICT and Enterprise unite at the Trinity Academy
- Radio 4 presenter Peter Day talks exclusively to Latte about his illustrious career
- Strategies for stretching the best and brightest
- Successful finance teaching for economic well-being
- Experimental Economics in action
- Great suggestions for plenary activities
- Ian Marcouse on Teaching Enterprise
- Is it worth being an Examiner?

Latte Magazine - Spring 2007

- Successful Starter Activities for Business & Economics - Tried and Tested
- Cars, Cola & Chocolate: ten of the best business visits in the UK
- Personalised Learning - a practical guide
- Business & Economics Student Competitions - 5 of the best challenges to stretch your students
- New GCE Business Studies Specifications for 2008 - revolution or evolution?
- Phillipe Legrain on the economic benefits of immigration
- The Pre-U - the replacement for A level Business & Economics?
- In The Hot Seat - an exclusive preview of a great new business game
- Development Economics & A Great Red Curry: Yr13 students discover Thailand

To order your free copies of Latte, please visit the following link:

http://www.tutor2u.net/acatalog/latte-magazine.html

Or download and fax/post us a subscription form:

http://www.tutor2u.net/assets/orderforms/latte.pdf

Over 100 teachers are already preparing to attend this essential CPD event on effective methods and resources for using ICT Business Studies or Economics classroom.  Will you and your colleagues be there?

In their recent (January 2008) report on best practice in Business Education teaching, Ofsted focused on the need for more innovative and effective use of ICT.  This event pulls together many examples of good practice that have been recognised by Ofsted as being exemplar in nature.

The wonderful British Library Conference Centre at St Pancras is our venue for a fresh, resource-packed programme. 

Our conference programme includes:

· Digital starter activities that help test knowledge and understanding;
· How blogs, wikis and other freely available online tools can be used to engage with colleagues and students;
· How to use ICT-based simulations to develop key skills in Business Studies & Economics;
· Online video: how to find materials your students will love; how to capture and present it;
· Using common software as an integral part of your lessons;
· ICT shortcuts to help you keep on top of current issues and stay at least one step ahead of your students

Our speaker & session facilitators include:

· Kevin Abbott
· Simon McCrossan
· Geoff Riley
· Jon Clarke
· Jim Riley
· Michelle Stephenson

Places can be booked online now using this link:

Or by downloading and completing the conference booking form:

p.s. you can also book a place by emailing sharoncurtis@tutor2u.net or by calling the tutor2u office team on 08454 800 0085

BTEC First in Business Studies is one of the UK’s fastest-growing Level 2 qualifications.  tutor2u, the market-leading publisher of digital learning resources for business eduaction, has recently committed to a significant investment to support schools and colleges offering BTEC First in Business.  We are looking for experienced and enthusiastic BTEC teachers who would like to get involved in authoring a range of learning resources.  These include quizzes, assignments and study notes.  For more information, please contact Michelle Stephenson (michelle@tutor2u.net).