Assistant head Geraint Thomas is enthusiastic, saying "when we started with a pilot of 20 [iPods], within about 12 hours I had the whole of Year 11 knocking my door down, not for the iPods but for the GCSEPod resources". Students commented on the portability, with one student saying that she can revise whilst at tennis, "instead of having to carry around loads of books".

To listen to the full report, please click here.

Email GCSEPod for further information or call us on 0191 2111 999.

Click on the attachment to view the full article.

Email GCSEPod for further information or call us on 0191 2111 999.

GCSEPod was on BBC Spotlight South West last night. The story reported how students at Bodmin College are using the GCSEPod subscription service to
help them with their GCSE learning and revision. Teachers at the College are embracing the technology in their curriculum.

To watch the full report, please click here.

Email GCSEPod for further information or call us on 0191 2111 999.

The article describes how GCSEPod's subscription service is helping students at Kelvin Hall School with their GCSE revision.

One student at the School said: "GCSEPod is really helping with my revision as the information is presented in such a way that it just seems to sink in".

To read the full article, please click here.

Email GCSEPod for further information or call us on 0191 2111 999.

To watch the full report, please click here.

Email GCSEPod for further information or call us on 0191 2111 999.

To read the full article, please click here.

Email GCSEPod for further information or call us on 0191 2111 999.

Email GCSEPod for further information or call us on 0191 2111 999.

To read the full article, please click here.

Email GCSEPod for further information or call us on 0191 2111 999. 

We've pulled together key titles to help you with the Human Geography aspect of your GCSE exams, relevant across different exam boards.

Economic Geography and globalisation are important aspects, so we've included Global Trade and NICs and TNCs to help you. Aid can be a controversial issue, so our Aid title gives an interesting take on short-term and long-term aid, with specific reference to the 'Elephant Pump'. As case studies are key to bringing geographical concepts to life, we've included one specific to China's birth control policy, to help you with your population studies. The pack also covers issues closer to home in Settlements, and discusses how the tourism industry has changed over the years.  

As always, if you have any ideas for GCSE Essentials packs you'd like to see featured on GCSEPod, just let us know. 

After valuable feedback, we've re-worked our Science content to make it more accessible to you than ever before. We've created new topics for the major exam boards, whether you're studying Science or Additional Science. So you can now view exactly what you need to know - and nothing else! Topics include:

• AQA GCSE Science and AQA Additional Science
• Edexcel GCSE Science and Edexcel GCSE Additional Science
• OCR 21st Century Science A and OCR 21st Century Additional Science A
• OCR Gateway Science B and OCR Gateway Additional Science B

 
So, if you're struggling with Science, GCSEPod has it covered!

Watch out for our special BETT show offers (including the chance to win an iPod) and the trademark GCSEPod t-shirts!

We've also added Fractions and Percentages to our extensive Number topic. You'll be able to work out how much you're saving in the January sales (as well as getting good grades in your exams!).

Watch out for loads more titles being added to Shape, Space and Measures, and for the arrival of Algebra and Data Handling. You'll never have a problem with Maths again!

We've come over all festive here at GCSEPod and bring you a Christmas present that will warm your cockles - the brand new Winter Warmers GCSE Essentials pack. 

Across 5 subjects, it's perfect for revision over the Christmas holidays, whether it be for mocks, January exams or even Summer exams (if you're that organised!).

Come celebrate with GCSEPod! 

Maths is jam-packed with images (just like the one opposite) to help you understand the subject. Don't forget you can Test Yourself at the end of each title as well. Happy calculating!

It will be replaced by our seasonal 'Winter Warmers' Essentials pack, which is across 5 subjects and is guaranteed to help you through the winter months.

Don't forget to get in touch if you have any recommendations for packs that you would find useful.

To listen to the industry announcements please click here, GCSEPod appears at 7 minutes 13 seconds in.  

Attached is the opening address of Zenna Atkins, Chair of Ofsted, where she recommends GCSEPod content!

For a full list of conference proceedings, please click here. 

Philosophy and Ethics Pack
We've come over all philosophical here at GCSEPod! This fascinating pack covers the ethical beliefs of Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism. It also includes belief, morality and matters of life and death across different religions, and balances this up with a scientific view using one of our Biology titles.

The Craft of Writing Pack
Get crafty with GCSEPod! Specifically created for the November English Language exams (AQA, Edexcel and WJEC), this pack will be essential for those good grades. Includes titles from Media and Non-Fiction texts and the triplet of Writing to Argue, Persuade and Advise.

We hope you find these choices useful. Please do let us know if you have any other ideas for GCSE Essentials packs. 

Director of GCSEPod, Anthony Coxon, will make an industry announcement at 12pm in the Industry Showcase on Monday 5th October. There will also be other members of the GCSEPod team at the Conference, on hand to answer any questions. We hope to see some of you there!

For full details of the programme of events, please click here. 

Email GCSEPod for further information or call us on 0191 2111 999.

Human Biology - This pack will take you on a tour of your body, from birth to what happens when you become ill. You'll see why the human body is designed to cope with changes, such as becoming too hot. The pack is based around the AQA Biology 1a Human Biology unit, but like all of our other topics, it is relevant across the different exam boards - just watch out for a tick in the ‘Exam Board Relevance' box!

Modern World History - We've pulled together some closely linked titles that cross continents as well as obviously going back in time! This pack is a must for all those studying these key areas of History.

Planet Earth - This pack includes titles from not one, but four different subjects - Biology, Chemistry, Geography and Physics. This would appeal to anyone with an interest in the world around us.

But that's not all! GCSE Essentials is an ever-expanding range and we'd love to hear from you about what you'd like to see included. Simply email info@gcsepod.co.uk with any ideas. We look forward to hearing from you.

The streaming subscription makes our curriculum-relevant audio visual podcasts available ‘on demand' to students whilst at school! The service is available via a ‘site-wide' license and can be used independently by students in the library, on school computers or via their own laptop.

The library subscription enables iPods, 'loaded up' with our podcasts, to be loaned to students like books. The subscription includes GCSEPod updates (new and revised content) via RSS throughout the year. 

Find out more here, email GCSEPod for further information or call us on 0191 2111 999.

Don't forget that our History podcasts are fully relevant to the other exam boards - AQA, OCR, NICCEA, SQA and WJEC, whether you need them for exams or coursework! Just check out the 'Exam Board Relevance' information under each title.

If you require further information on how any of our podcasts relate to individual specifications, exams or coursework please don't hesitate to contact us. Whether it's for History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, Geography or Religious Studies!

Between five and 10 mp4 players - which play audio and visual content - have been donated to each of seven children's hospital schools around England.

Each player is loaded with more than 50 hours of learning and revision notes covering topics in English Language, Religious Studies, History and Geography.

It means youngsters living with long-term health conditions can continue their studies. Without help, these children risk falling behind as they miss school for hospital treatment.

The donation of mp4 players, complete with downloaded content has been made by Soundbitelearning UK, the company behind the GCSEPod service.

One patient, 15-year-old Aleena, who attends the Evelina Hospital School, part of the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in central London three times a week for kidney dialysis said the player will help her to study.

She said: "It will mean I don't have to carry so many books but still be able to work on my subjects."

Mary Paddon, assistant headteacher at the Evelina Hospital School, one of the first to receive the players, said it was vital that sick children are able to lead as normal a life as possible.

"Taking GCSEs is a crucial time in any child's education, so these GCSEPods with their wealth of subject content will be really beneficial in helping them to keep up with their studies whenever they are here."

Delivery of the players has been co-ordinated by the Starlight Children's Foundation, a charity granting wishes to sick children.

 Subjects

At the moment we are particularly keen to hear from Science and Maths teachers, but we are also interested in hearing from teachers of:

History (particularly a specialist in British history)
Geography (particularly a specialist in Economic systems and employment)
Religious Studies (particularly a specialist in Hinduism)

Benefits

Writing for GCSEpod means you can work from your own home in your own time. We can often commission substantial volumes of work and payment is also prompt.

Many of our teachers have commented on how much they have enjoyed the writing.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Finding studying for GCSEs a grind? Let GCSEPod take the strain - while you're on the bus, in the bath, under the duvet...

Wednesday 22 October, 2008, Newcastle upon Tyne - Today marks the launch of GSCEPod, a revolution in the way students can learn and revise for their GCSEs. This brand new product offers bite-size learning and revision modules, which can be downloaded from the internet to your computer, iPod, or mobile phone, enabling education anywhere.

With over thirty hours of content across four subjects available to download at launch, initially spanning subjects such as English Language, Religious Studies, History and Geography, working for those all important GCSE exams has never been easier. GCSEPod will also cover English Literature, Science, Maths, French and Design and Technology.

Written by teachers and narrated by actors, GCSEPod titles are assured for the accuracy, validity and cross exam board relevance of the subjects covered. Additionally, all subject content is supported by music and broken up with an introduction, several three to five minute chapters followed by a summary and recommended weblinks, to create a more tangible and accessible learning experience for users.

The brand new concept of structured education audio books from GCSEPod extends beyond the offerings of any other current GCSE learning and revision tool, with up to 100 times more audio content for any of the subjects GCSEPod covers.

Priced from as little as £1.95 per title, the GCSEPod service is a widely accessible mode of learning. It is also important to note that GCSEPod is as beneficial to high-flying individuals as it is to students of average ability, with titles suited to all levels of learning.

Anthony Coxon, Director, Soundbitelearning UK Ltd, says, "GCSEPod aims to provide students with an easy, straightforward and hopefully entertaining way to wade through endless studying and revision. What's more, it's also a great excuse for teenagers to put an iPod on their wish list this Christmas!

"With the new school year in its infancy GCSEPod is perfectly primed to assist students, whether in Year 10 or Year 11, right from the very start; a whole year of GCSEPod learning is now here for the taking."

GCSEPod has been developed by Soundbitelearning UK Ltd., an innovative British company based in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Full details on GCSEPod can be found at www.gcsepod.co.uk

Some 47% of pupils in schools across England achieved the basic target grades.

The government insisted it was a 0.9 percentage point improvement on last year but opposition MPs criticised the lack of progress in closing the achievement gap between rich and poor.

The A-level results, also published today, revealed stark differences in attainment between state and private school pupils. Some 7.6% of pupils in comprehensives got three As at A-level, compared with 30.3% in independent schools.

The GCSE results showed record rises in London, where 49.8% of pupils hit the target - five GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and maths - beating the national average.

The government claimed this as a success for the London Challenge programme, which offers tailored support to struggling schools, and the academy programme, which is most concentrated in the capital.

Academy improvement rates continue to outstrip the national average, with a rise of 2.9 percentage points, bringing the proportion getting five good GCSEs, including English and maths, to 28.1% overall.

However, this still leaves the average of academies below the government's target of 30%, which marks schools out for closure.

Jim Knight, the schools minister, said: "These are very positive results that build on the improvements of the last decade. I congratulate pupils and schools on their hard work.

"Five higher-level GCSEs, with the all important English and maths passes, are a good academic achievement, so let's give credit where credit is due.

"Whatever the critics will bleat, the long-term trend is one of sustained improvement. The bottom line is that over the last 11 years, 467,000 more 15 year-olds have gained the benchmark than if results had stayed at their 1997 levels.

"More young people than ever before have now got a firm foundation for further education, apprenticeships or the work-based training that they want to do."

The Conservative party presented data today on small local areas which they said suggests that the gap in exam results for pupils in poor and rich areas of England is widening.

In 2007, only 3% of children achieved the government's benchmark of five good GCSEs including English and maths in one area of the country, compared with 100% in another area and 45.5% nationally.

David Laws, the Liberal Democrat education spokesman, said: "It's completely unacceptable that so many children are still not getting a good basic set of qualifications.

"These figures highlight the appalling fact that half of all children in English schools are still failing to get five good GCSEs, including English and maths. After 11 years of Labour promises, whatever happened to 'education, education, education'?

"It is also of deep concern that there is still such a huge gulf between rich and poor areas - with as few as 29% in poorer areas getting five good GCSEs compared to around 65% of children in the most affluent rural counties."

Source: The Guardian

All four subjects registered more students completing A-levels, which led to claims that the longstanding trend of students moving away from these "hard" subjects is being reversed.

The numbers receiving a grade for further maths rose 15.5 per cent; for maths, 7.5 per cent; for chemistry, 3.5 per cent; for biology, 2.7 per cent; and physics, 2.3 per cent.

Professor John Holman, director of the National Science Learning Centre, said: "We have growing evidence that the corner has been turned in the popularity of science and mathematics."

Professor Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society, said: "The results for science and maths A-levels give us reasons to be encouraged.

"In the longer term, if we are to see further increases ... it is vital that there are enough specialist teachers who can bring these subjects alive to their students."

There was also a note of caution from the Campaign for Science and Engineering. Dr Hilary Leevers, its assistant director said that, while the absolute number of grades awarded in the sciences had increased, this was explained by an overall rise in the number of A-levels taken across all subjects.

In fact, the proportion of biology, chemistry or physics A-levels in relation to all subjects taken did not go up this year, she said, although the proportion did increase for maths and further maths.

Dr Leevers added that she was also concerned that there had barely been any increase this year in the number of girls taking physics.

Science organisations and campaigners have given the reported increase in teenagers opting for maths, physics, chemistry and biology A - levels a cautious welcome.