Understanding and enhancing pupils' learning progress in schools in deprived communities

This paper draws on data from the ‘Raising Pupil Attainment in Key Stage 1 in Stoke-on-Trent’ research project. The particular focus is on how teachers, head teachers and teaching assistants (n = 59) articulate pupils’ learning success in five highly achieving schools in deprived communities. Six key themes are highlighted which are identified by participants as influencing successful pupil learning and progress. These are analysed in relation to Biesta's theory on the parameters of ‘Good Education’ [Biesta, G. J. J. 2010. Good Education in an Age of Measurement. Boulder, CO: Paradigm] and within Bourdieu's understanding of ‘distinction’ [Bourdieu, P. 1998. Practical Reason: On the Theory of Action. Oxford: Polity Press]. The research reveals that issues related to socialisation and subjectivity are presented as critical and foundational for the more formal measures of success in pupil learning

CFD designed experiments for shock wave/boundary layer interactions in hypersonic ducted flows

The successful operation of scramjet combustors requires compression of hypersonic viscous ducted flows and avoidance of separation effects which may preclude steady flow. Separation effects in scramjet inlets and combustors can be caused by shock wave/boundary layer interactions. The hypersonic turbulent flow experiments needed are inherently difficult to design because of the high sensitivity of the macroscopic flow parameters which cause the turbulent flow processes. Hence computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a useful tool for the design and characterisation of models in hypersonic flows before model construction. One of the greatest challenges however is to ensure that the flow is being modeled accurately. In this paper, a commercial code has been used to model an experiment performed in a small reflected shock tunnel using a Mach 8.65 condition. The research being carried out in this facility is concerned with separation due to incident shock wave/turbulent boundary interactions in hypersonic ducted flows. The model is designed to produce two conical shocks which interact with a turbulent boundary layer and it is instrumented with pressure transducers and thin film heat transfer gauges. The measurements have allowed graphical representation of unseparated static wall pressure and heat flux prior to and after each wall interaction. The results of the simulations are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. The code has been applied to identify parameter boundaries in the design of a model of similar scale that will produce separated flow

Temperature measurements behind reflected shock waves in air

A radiometric method for the measurement of gas temperature in self-absorbing gases has been applied in the study of shock tube generated flows. This method involves making two absolute intensity measurements at identical wavelengths, but for two different pathlengths in the same gas sample. Experimental results are presented for reflected shock waves in air at conditions corresponding to incident shock velocities from 7 to 10 km/s and an initial driven tube pressure of 1 torr. These results indicate that, with this technique, temperature measurements with an accuracy of + or - 5 percent can be carried out. The results also suggest certain facility related problems

Development of an orthogonal-stripe CdZnTe gamma radiation imaging spectrometer

We report performance measurements of a sub-millimeter resolution CdZnTe strip detector developed as a prototype for astronomical instruments operating with good efficiency in the 30-300 keV photon energy range. The prototype is a 1.4 mm thick, 64×64 contact stripe CdZnTe array of 0.375 mm pitch in both dimensions. Pulse height spectra were recorded in orthogonal-stripe coincidence mode which demonstrate room-temperature energy resolution \u3c10 keV (FWHM) for 122 keV photons with a peak-to-valley ratio \u3e5:1. Good response is also demonstrated at higher energies using a coplanar grid readout configuration. Spatial resolution capabilities finer than the stripe pitch are demonstrated. We present the image of a 133Ba source viewed through a collimator slit produced by a 4×4 stripe detector segment. Charge signals from electron and hole collecting contacts are also discussed

Teachers' classroom feedback: still trying to get it right

This article examines feedback traditionally given by teachers in schools. Such feedback tends to focus on children's acquisition and retrieval of externally prescribed knowledge which is then assessed against mandated tests. It suggests that, from a sociocultural learning perspective, feedback directed towards such objectives may limit children's social development. In this article, I draw on observation and interview data gathered from a group of 27 9- to 10-year olds in a UK primary school. These data illustrate the children's perceived need to conform to, rather than negotiate, the teacher's feedback comments. They highlight the children's sense that the teacher's feedback relates to school learning but not to their own interests. The article also includes alternative examples of feedback which draw on children's own inquiries and which relate to the social contexts within which, and for whom, they act. It concludes by suggesting that instead of looking for the right answer to the question of what makes teachers' feedback effective in our current classrooms, a more productive question might be how a negotiation can be opened up among teachers and learners themselves, about how teachers' feedback could support children's learning most appropriately

Lay support for pregnant women with social risk: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES We sought evidence of effectiveness of lay support to improve maternal and child outcomes in disadvantaged families. DESIGN Prospective, pragmatic individually randomised controlled trial. SETTING Three Maternity Trusts in West Midlands, UK. PARTICIPANTS Following routine midwife systematic assessment of social risk factors 1324 nulliparous women were assigned, using telephone randomisation, to standard maternity care or addition of referral to a Pregnancy Outreach Worker (POW) service. Under 16 years and teenagers recruited to the Family Nurse Partnership trial were excluded. INTERVENTIONS Pregnancy Outreach Workers were trained to provide individual support and case management for the women including home visiting from randomisation to six weeks after birth. Standard maternity care (control) included provision for referring women with social risk factors to specialist midwifery services, available to both arms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcomes were antenatal visits attended and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) 8–12 weeks postpartum. Pre–specified, powered subgroup comparison was among women with two or more social risks. Secondary outcomes included maternal and neonatal birth outcomes; maternal self-efficacy and mother-to-infant bonding at 8-12 weeks; child development assessment at six weeks, breastfeeding at six weeks and immunisation uptake at 4 months, all collected from routine child health systems. RESULTS Antenatal attendances were high in the standard care control and did not increase further with addition of the POW intervention (10·1 versus 10·1 (MD) –0·00, 95% CI, (95% CI, –0·37, 0·37)). In the powered sub-group of women with two or more social risk factors, mean EPDS (MD –0·79 (95% CI, –1·56, –0·02) was significantly better, although for all women recruited no significant differences were seen (mean difference (MD) –0·59 (95% CI, –1·24, 0·06)). Mother-to-infant bonding was significantly better in the intervention group for all women (MD-0.30 (95% CI, -0.61, -0.00) p=0.05) and there were no differences in other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS This trial demonstrates differences in depressive symptomatology with addition of the POW service in the powered sub-group of women with two or more social risk factors. Addition to existing evidence indicates benefit from lay interventions in preventing postnatal depression. This finding is important for women and their families given the known effect of maternal depression on longer term childhood outcomes

Marine and giant viruses as indicators of a marine microbial community in a riverine system

Viral communities are important for ecosystem function as they are involved in critical biogeochemical cycles and controlling host abundance. This study investigates riverine viral communities around a small rural town that influences local water inputs. Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Phycodnaviridae, Mimiviridae, Herpesviridae, and Podoviridae were the most abundant families. Viral species upstream and downstream of the town were similar, with Synechoccocus phage, salinus, Prochlorococcus phage, Mimivirus A, and Human herpes 6A virus most abundant, contributing to 4.9-38.2% of average abundance within the metagenomic profiles, with Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus present in metagenomes as the expected hosts for the phage. Overall, the majority of abundant viral species were or were most similar to those of marine origin. At over 60 km to the river mouth, the presence of marine communities provides some support for the Baas-Becking hypothesis "everything is everywhere, but, the environment selects." We conclude marine microbial species may occur more frequently in freshwater systems than previously assumed, and hence may play important roles in some freshwater ecosystems within tens to a hundred kilometers from the sea.Lisa M. Dann, Stephanie Rosales, Jody McKerral, James S. Paterson, Renee J. Smith, Thomas C. Jeffries, Rod L. Oliver, James G. Mitchel