The government’s post-16 education and skills White Paper has finally been published, but it was a pre-released announcement about the introduction of another new vocational qualification that made headlines. The announcement that the government will be consulting over new V (Vocational Level) awards has sent alarm bells through the post-16 sector, not least because it’s … Continue reading Skills White Paper. Another new vocational qualification to hit schools and colleges soon?
Category: Curriculum policy
Review the National Curriculum, but also young people and work.
Despite its limited terms of reference, the National Curriculum Review should get rid of the worst aspects of Michael Gove’s 2010 ‘reforms’ – making the curriculum broader, less Eurocentric and more inclusive. At least an element of Creative Arts is likely to be restored, along with greater access to sport and vocational subjects. Given the … Continue reading Review the National Curriculum, but also young people and work.
Young people, BTECs, T-levels and ‘working on the buildings’
Labour has always supported T-levels as alternatives to academic qualifications, but in pre-election press releases it also committed to a ‘pause and review’ of Tory plans to defund over 140 qualifications which were considered to overlap with the Ts. This including many established BTECs and other National level 3 options. Cuts scheduled for the end … Continue reading Young people, BTECs, T-levels and ‘working on the buildings’
Sunak’s maths jolly. Does it really add up?
Rishi Sunak has announced a review of maths education in England. He’s setting up a group of advisers, including mathematicians and business representatives to examine the "core maths content" taught in schools. The advisors will also consider whether a new maths qualification is necessary. He wants all school pupils in England to study some maths … Continue reading Sunak’s maths jolly. Does it really add up?
Reforming the Curriculum (part 2)
The previous post (below) addressed 'powerful knowledge', equated with 'knowledge of the powerful', ( a ruling class, or Elite depending on how you want to characterise things). This knowledge, it was argued, appears ‘fixed,’ intrinsically superior, but is also essential in ensuring ‘legitimacy’. In other words its intrinsic qualities are used to justify a wider social … Continue reading Reforming the Curriculum (part 2)
Reforming the Curriculum
While reformers (now even many Tories) continue to emphasise education’s potential role in challenging inequalities through expanding opportunities, radical practitioners go further and argue an alternative curriculum is necessary. Here they are have been joined by left wing academics , who influenced by the writings of Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci or, in this country, by the work … Continue reading Reforming the Curriculum
What future for ‘home education’?
As the chart shows, recent years have seen an increase in the number of children being educated outside of the school system - 48,000 In 2016-17, up from about 34,000 in 2014-15. Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 provides that: “The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive … Continue reading What future for ‘home education’?
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
Important NUT research on the secondary curriculum
The NUT has just released King’s College research on the effects of government policies on the secondary curriculum. Based on a sample of 1800 secondary members and in depth school case studies, key findings show amongst other things: 74% of teachers consider the Ebacc requirements are dramatically narrowing the curriculum. 84% worry that the excessive … Continue reading Important NUT research on the secondary curriculum
Academic education for some. Vocational courses for the others. Wilshaw’s answer to ‘One size fits all’
In a widely reported speech to the think-tank Centre Forum, Ofsted chief Michael Wilshaw has slammed the ‘One-size-fits-all’ emphasis on traditional academic subjects by secondary schools, declaring that this ‘will never deliver the range of success that their youngsters need’ https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ambitions-for-education-sir-michael-wilshaw Wilshaw is not promoting a more student friendly type of learning though, far from it … Continue reading Academic education for some. Vocational courses for the others. Wilshaw’s answer to ‘One size fits all’
Education, Economy and Society 