5 September 2013 The two largest teacher unions, the NASUWT and the NUT, representing nine out of ten teachers, are today confirming the next phase of their jointly coordinated campaign to Protect Teachers and Defend Education. Following the continued refusal of the Secretary of State to genuinely engage with the NUT and the NASUWT to seek to … Continue reading NASUWT AND NUT CONFIRM NEXT PHASE OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION – press release
Author: Martin Allen
Exam system ‘unsustainable’. We need a General Diploma for everybody!
Letter 24/08/13 http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/aug/23/gcses-unsustainable-pressure-pupils Martin Allen The pressures and contradictions that young people now face when they take their examinations have indeed become ‘irreconcilable’ and ‘unsustainable’ - as Russell Hobby of the National Association of Headteachers told The Guardian (21/08/13). The education system is now increasingly like trying to run up a downwards escalator where you … Continue reading Exam system ‘unsustainable’. We need a General Diploma for everybody!
‘Young lack the grit to get jobs: Too many school leavers aren’t fit for work’, says Minister
With almost three quarters of a million youngsters about to pick up their GCSE results and the number of 16- to 24-year-olds classed as ‘Neets’ – or ‘not in education, employment or training’ –standing at 1.09million, with over 600 000 estimated as never having had a job; Nick Hurd, (pictured) Minister for Civil Society, Old Etonian and son … Continue reading ‘Young lack the grit to get jobs: Too many school leavers aren’t fit for work’, says Minister
A-level stampede continues as Twigg defends the AS
On the day that 300,000 students received their results, Stephen Twigg, Labour’s spokesperson – not usually prone to intervening in debates about education (!) – criticised the Coalition’s decision to make changes to A-levels, making them linear rather than modular with end of course exams, but also committed Labour to restoring AS level as a … Continue reading A-level stampede continues as Twigg defends the AS
‘Improving’ monthly unemployment figures: but a growing ‘reserve army’.
The official monthly ONS figures on the state of the labour market covering the period March –May 2013, published this week show another small reduction in overall unemployment, (but a rise in youth joblessness, now up to 973 000 -21.3% of economically active 16-24 year olds). Regardless of what this month’s figures may show, it’s … Continue reading ‘Improving’ monthly unemployment figures: but a growing ‘reserve army’.
Employment without work
At last! A proper assessment of the number of ‘zero hours’ contracts. After the ONS upgraded its estimate to 250 000 the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development now puts the figure at 1 million. Sufficiently high enough to make newspaper front pages, it raises a further question; particularly with today's Guardian ( 06/07/13) reporting 90% of the … Continue reading Employment without work
Is the economy ‘on the mend’?
As the UK economy records 0.6% growth for quarter 2 and the service sector reaches its pre-recession peak should Labour critics now be on the defensive? Or, with workers experiencing the longest fall in real wages for over a hundred years are Osborne and friends living in fantasy land? For some alternative analysis see: (http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/07/how-osborne-disguised-truth-about-living-standards) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/25/economy-osbornes-moment-editorial) … Continue reading Is the economy ‘on the mend’?
Labour and youth unemployment
Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary was quick to respond to recent Youth Contract statistics which show just 4,690 wage incentive payments have been made since the scheme began. (www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2373637/Nick-Cleggs-plan-jobs-160-000-young-people-far-helped-just-4-600.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490) (www.politicshome.com/uk/article/82422/labour_youth_contract_has_utterly_failed_byrne.html) Survey’s also continue to indicate that many employers don’t know much about it , or are not interested in taking on young … Continue reading Labour and youth unemployment
Curriculum campaigns must go on.
Martin Allen Michael Gove’s new National Curriculum requirements might have been finalised, but the debate about what young people should learn and how; must continue. If there is an area where Gove is both weak and wobbly, then it continues to be on the curriculum, where he has made a series of retreats, if not … Continue reading Curriculum campaigns must go on.
Robbins Remembered and Dismembered
'Young people who succeed in education today find ascent difficult because most mobility is downwards' http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/archives/34278 Patrick Ainley argues that widening participation has not led to fair and equal access to higher education or outcomes in the labour market as systemic inequalities have deepened between institutions and subjects. System-wide reform is therefore necessary as well as … Continue reading Robbins Remembered and Dismembered
Education, Economy and Society 