If Michael Gove gets his way, more teenagers will fail their GCSEs and A-levels. Gove intends to make exam questions harder which will mean pass rates will fall after increasing every year for a decade. At GCSE level, coursework will be phased out and more emphasis placed on written tests. Modularisation will be ended and … Continue reading ‘Education is like trying to run up a down escalator’
Author: Martin Allen
Regeneration e-book now available
Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley 'Overqualified and underemployed' : young people, education and the economy http://www.lwbooks.co.uk/ebooks/Regeneration.html Regeneration focuses on the question of intergenerational justice. Defining the world's young people as those born after 1979 - a hugely symbolic moment in the history of globalisation - it reflects on the massive growth in generational protest … Continue reading Regeneration e-book now available
Labour market prospects – no comfort for the young.
Figures for the final quarter of 2011 show unemployment up by 48 000 at 8.4% or 2.67 million – with significant increases in female joblessness being the result of local government cutbacks. Of course, ONS statistics are just one (narrow) measurement of labour market activity. Using broader indications –including those taking part-time or temporary work because … Continue reading Labour market prospects – no comfort for the young.
Gove, vocational qualifications and league tables
Michael Gove’s decision to limit how vocational qualifications are included in school league tables is consistent with recommendations in the Wolf report. Wolf proposed restricting vocational learning to no more than 20% of a key stage 4 student’s curriculum, but her proposals brought her into conflict with the still influential Lord (Kenneth) Baker - the … Continue reading Gove, vocational qualifications and league tables
Turning the Tables?
The publication of the 2011 league tables sees a substantial increase in the amount of data on school performance – in particular, figures for ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high performers.’ This year’s tables also include more statistics for the English Baccalaureate – with many inner city multi-cultural schools finding that despite continuing to improve their … Continue reading Turning the Tables?
Latest unemployment figures speak for themselves
Latest ONS figures for the period Sept to Nov 2011 show: 1.04 million - 22.3% of ‘economically active’ 16-24 year olds are unemployed - up by 53 000. 829 000 - 20.8% of ‘economically active' 18-24 year olds are unemployed - up by 44.000. 729 000 unemployed 16-24 year olds ‘not in full-time education’ - … Continue reading Latest unemployment figures speak for themselves
Curriculum Wars ?– Gove goes again!
In a widely reported speech, Michael Gove tried to project his ‘moderniser’ credentials to an audience of ‘techies’at the recent BETT show. Describing ICT lessons as being ‘off-putting’ ‘demotivating’ and ‘dull’ Gove is removing ICT’s status as a core National Curriculum subject – it will, like technology and citizenship, now just be part of the … Continue reading Curriculum Wars ?– Gove goes again!
Curriculum Wars? A brief comment on new National Curriculum proposals
Though published just before Christmas, it’s still rather alarming that the ‘expert’ report on the National Curriculum passed almost unnoticed. Michael Gove has announced no changes will begin until 2014 so as to ‘allow for further debate with everyone interested in creating a genuinely world-class education system’. Having said this though, the report’s proposals … Continue reading Curriculum Wars? A brief comment on new National Curriculum proposals
All NEETs now? A comment on the Coalition’s ‘Building Engagement, Building Futures’.
Stung by alarming rates of youth unemployment, the number of NEETs and still on the back foot over last summer’s riots; the Coalition government has published a ‘strategy’ document aimed at increasing participation rates of 16-24 year olds in education, training and employment. Building Engagement, Building Futures contains few surprises. It reiterates government rhetoric that … Continue reading All NEETs now? A comment on the Coalition’s ‘Building Engagement, Building Futures’.
Two Manifestos for the fight against fees
Book reviews for Post-16 Educator by Patrick Ainley 'A Manifesto for the Public University’ John Holmwood (ed.) (2011) London Bloomsbury ‘The Assault on Universities, A Manifesto for Resistance' Michael Bailey and Des Freedman (eds) (2011) London, Pluto Where are we? As Andrew McGettigan asked on his Critical Education blog at the end of 2011, noting ' the government’s strategy … Continue reading Two Manifestos for the fight against fees
