Author: Martin Allen

Contribution to ‘The Riots One Year On’, London South Bank University Conference

Contribution to ‘The Riots One Year On, A One Day Conference’ 28th September, London South Bank University     RUNNING FROM THE RIOTS – UP A DOWN-ESCALATOR IN THE MIDDLE OF A CLASS STRUCTURE GONE PEAR-SHAPED                                                                                                        Patrick Ainley and Martin Allen Abstract This paper updates one presented to the British Sociological Association Youth Study Group in … Continue reading Contribution to ‘The Riots One Year On’, London South Bank University Conference →

A reactionary, not a ‘moderniser’

Michael Gove and 'Reforming Key Stage 4 Qualifications' Despite his polished performance in the Commons – in the absence of any real Labour opposition – Michael Gove is not ‘modernising’ the qualification system at all.  Neither do his proposals have anything to do with improving ‘international competitiveness’. On the contrary, Gove is continuing the Tory … Continue reading A reactionary, not a ‘moderniser’ →

A-level of expediency? (Soft and Hard, Vocational and Academic Part 2)

The huge media coverage of the GCSE grading scandal particularly in English, meant A-level results received less attention than usual this year. Like GCSE there were signs of things to come with a 0.4% decline in the percentage of A/A* awards; even if the total percentage grades A*-E continued to increase - by 0.2 per … Continue reading A-level of expediency? (Soft and Hard, Vocational and Academic Part 2) →

More Blue Skies

Patrick Ainley  reviews  New thinking about the future of higher education reveals only paralysis in response to the New Order being imposed on higher education  Forthcoming in next issue of  ‘POST-16 EDUCATOR’  http://www.post16educator.org.uk/ Introduction Engels – or was it Lenin? – says somewhere that the presentation of many different views on the same subject quickly … Continue reading More Blue Skies →

Exam turmoil raises bigger question’s about young people’s futures

 Martin Allen  http://maeducationgp.wordpress.com/ If the fall in the number of top A-level grades was enough to start alarm bells ringing, it is the first ever dip in GCSE performance, particularly the down grading in English, which has been greeted with dismay by teachers.  Exam boards have been the target for much of the anger, being … Continue reading Exam turmoil raises bigger question’s about young people’s futures →

Making sense of unemployment statistics

As the Olympics fade, a fall in unemployment is good news for government ministers desperate to hang onto any feel good factor – yet it’s difficult to reconcile, or believe the validity of such a claim, when economic reality appears so different. In particular, these figures cover a three month period between April and June … Continue reading Making sense of unemployment statistics →

Soundings Issue 51

                                 Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley                                  Why young people can't get the jobs they want                                   http://www.lwbooks.co.uk/journals/soundings/current.html                                              Download  original version of   soundings article                                              Download e-book -why young people....

Gove, Lord Baker and vocational learning

Since becoming education minister, Gove has largely concentrated on  reforming  the academic curriculum, introducing an English Baccalaureate made up of five traditional curriculum areas, arguing that  A-levels have  to be made harder,  trying to reintroduce O-levels and so on. Though claiming  changes have to be made to bring the British education system more in line … Continue reading Gove, Lord Baker and vocational learning →