Author: Site Manager

Common’s Chair calls for abolition of GCSE

Calling for GCSEs to be scrapped is not new –  that this time it comes from the Conservative Chair of the Commons education select committee is.  Robert Halfon a Tory ‘moderniser’ who also supports a Norway style Brexit arrangement, is following in the footsteps of a long line of business  leaders,  think –tank directors and … Continue reading Common’s Chair calls for abolition of GCSE →

Nissan: is it still the age of the car?

Nissan’s decision to move producing the X-Trail from its Sunderland plant to Japan has undoubtedly been caused by fears over Brexit. In particular, the recently negotiated free-trade deal between Japan and the EU might result in Nissan’s complete departure from the UK with a catastrophic effect on the Sunderland area. Nissan has been there since … Continue reading Nissan: is it still the age of the car? →

How teaching can be different

Valerie Coultas takes issue with the view that teaching is improved  by extensive supervision and imposed lesson observations. Instead she argues for a return to and enhancement of collaborative teaching approaches to re-establish the principle that teachers and lecturers are able and willing to reflect on their practice without fear of sanctions. She  argues that … Continue reading How teaching can be different →

‘An Economy that Works for all’

Notes accompanying presentation to Ferndale  branch, Vauxhall Labour Party (17/01/19).   Labour’s  policies  for the economy  not only represent a clear alternative to the Tories, but are also significantly different to those of the Blair/Brown years.  Representing a return to the centre-left ‘interventionist’ social democracy of the post-war years, they will encounter (the usual) opposition … Continue reading ‘An Economy that Works for all’ →

A third of 18 year olds now get ‘unconditional offers’ – what’s the problem?

What should we make of the recent UCAS  release that a third of 18 year olds now receive unconditional offers for university places? School and college representatives  are right to argue that this is a reflection of an  ‘out of control’ market based higher education system where universities  have to  chase students or face financial … Continue reading A third of 18 year olds now get ‘unconditional offers’ – what’s the problem? →