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. →

The Curriculum Great Reversal

Kingston University Seminar (01.05.13) Martin Allen Michael Gove’s National Curriculum proposals have been out for consultation and have received a fair share of attention. While there has been particular controversy over proposals for history and English, this short paper provides an ‘overview’ –a more general critique of the underlying principles behind the Gove curriculum. To … Continue reading The Curriculum Great Reversal →

National Curriculum: principles and practices

Martin Allen National Curriculum proposals in various subjects are now out for consultation. While it is important that teachers, trade unions and subject associations respond to these, it’s also important to develop a more general critique of the underlying principles behind them. The new National Curriculum represents a reactionary step back –part of a more … Continue reading National Curriculum: principles and practices →

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 →

English questions

Valerie Coultas examines another aspect of Gove's curriculum offensive Education Minister, Michael Gove, believes that educational policy has been in thrall to progressives and who believe that ‘children should be left to discover at their own pace to follow their own hearts'. Gove has a rigid rather than a rigorous approach and that he is opposed … Continue reading English questions →

Raising standards? Nothing of the sort!

Michael Gove’s ‘leaked’ plans for reinventing GCE ‘O’ levels (and ‘CSE’ alternatives for those students not able to pass them) should not be any real surprise; coming in the same week as his proposals for restoring traditional A-levels – and abolishing AS levels and course work – have been unveiled by Ofqual (www.ofqual.gov.uk/news-and-announcements/130-news-and-announcements-press-releases/914-ofqual-launches-a-level-consultation) and where … Continue reading Raising standards? Nothing of the sort! →