Friday, January 27th, 2012
An old adage but talking about the news with children at home and in the classroom boosts awareness and ability. Reading and rationalisation is extended leading to an overall improvement in educational standards in other subjects.
Discussion around the meal table can be a little terse with teenagers. Where do you start the conversation? By turning this impasse into an educational game can start the ball rolling to open a topic which the rest of the family or classroom can join in. Breaking the ice is always the difficulty but the PSHE games such as Discussion Cards and Fink cards have been developed by learning specialists to open the flow and stimulate the conversation.
In November 2011 the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released the statistics from a study of 15 years old children living in the principle industrial countries. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) revealed that children whose parents and teachers discuss the news, social and political affairs on a weekly or daily basis scored 28 points higher in reading than those who do not. Spending time together develops social skills as well as reasoning powers which is the bedrock of practically all learning.
There is a further hidden advantage to the art of debate and awareness of a subject. Not only does it give you a sporting chance in quiz shows, by participating in the discussion keys facts are retained and opinions formed.The skill of putting an argument across developed. This can be enhanced by a new educational game called Thinking Dice which presents students with question which develop a higher order of thinking by asking key questions to stimulate a structured answer.
The couch potato or child who spends hours on computer games can be transformed socially and educationally. The skills learnt early on can format the reasoning ability that can change a child’s option s for the rest of their lives. And it all begins with talking about the news.
Tags: discussion cards, educational games, Fink cards, OECD educational standards, PISA report, Thinking Dice
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Friday, January 27th, 2012
The crusade, by David Cameron and Michael Gove the educational secretary, to get Independent schools to take on the educational management of state schools is wrong. David Laws, the ex-Liberal Democrat educational spokesman claimed the core function of an independent school was to the parents who pay the school fees. Depleting this resource by transferring or allocating staff to run an academy or state schools or would be a breach of contract.
Mr Laws’ intervention is obviously heartfelt. Currently waiting in the wings seeking reappointment to the front benches in parliament, this criticism could scupper his plans. But it clearly demonstrates the fervor of his commitment to these controversial views.
Mr Cameron’s policy to convert failing state schools to become academies could wobble. David Law, a close ally of Nick Clegg and respected by many Conservatives is clearly his own man. Reappointing him to the cabinet would capture his intellect but in turn could damage the academy crusade. Pioneered by Lord Adonis, then Labour schools minister, the potential for an academy interface with leading independent schools was always part of the concept. Now it is not so certain. The schools league tables published today show the expected superior performance of independent schools st GCSE compared to the state sector. As yet the academies have yet to emerge as the solution and Independent schools have it all to loose if they take on failing state schools. But the real losers of course are the kids at the failing schools
Tags: Failing state schools, School league tables
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Friday, January 27th, 2012
Hang on to your hats Apple, Samsung and HP; children are best not to switch on their smartphones. Children should not get their hands on any hand held device until they are at least 15 years old. They should also limit playing educational games on their computer to around one hour a day. So says Barnaby Lenon the ex-head teacher (master) of Harrow school.
Key to this edict is a concern excessive use of computers can prevent children from developing social skills. Fat too many children, especially boys, suffer inadequate reading and conversational ability due to excessive time at home glued to a computer. Not only does this impair academic achievement but is a significant influence behind poor or anti-social behaviour.
There are ways to instigate the conversation though discussion cards developed to encourage children and adults to open up and voice their opinion and concerns. Ideal for PSHE lessons they can be used for the home environment.
Mr Lenon emphasised the need to also match the amount of sleep with age. A child of 11 or under needs 10 hours of sleep. Bed time became more manageable when a family develops a relationship through conversation, especially around the meal table. If you need a catalyst to start the conversation take a look at award winning Fink cards – developed for this purpose.
Whilst at Harrow school Mr Lenon introduced parenting courses. Initially he feared the idea would be seen as patronising, yet attendance doubled each year. Most teachers feel poor discipline and social skills are a key factor behind the disruptive classroom. Often irritated by the need for teachers to act as parents these parenting classes seem to have a double benefit. Parents learn how to positively influence children; their academic performance improves and the flow of information within families and the classroom advances.
The key investment is time, often a commodity most of us have in short supply. But the benefits are significant and long lasting. The ability to express oneself in debate in school, university and in adult life is a boon that cannot be replaced by a computer.
Tags: Barnaby Lenon, discussion cards
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Friday, January 20th, 2012
In an approach to gain interest in a maths educational question a teacher in the USA used a questionable approach that involves a slave in the story line. Sent out to around 100 students the homework assignment has caused ructions with the educational authorities, parents and teachers.
The maths lesson sought to emphasis a piece of history involving a slave called Frederick Douglas. The stark approach involved calculating the impact of his environment whilst completing maths questions. But it seems this novel approach has backfired, not from the maths learnt but the reference to this distasteful element in history. Frankly if the children have learnt to calculate the impact of how mankind can act abominably it may help them understand the effect of slavery and the fact it still exists even today in civilised society.
The approach may have been a touch too radical for the location in which many descendants of slavery live. Yet it is a stark reminder to our educational needs of society in which we rely on the next generation to resolve the fact slavery still exists in the modern world issue. It may have been a course approach for children to learnt of the savagery of the lesson they learnt in maths homework. More….
Tags: maths homework kicks off a storm, Slavery maths games
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Friday, January 20th, 2012
The national curriculum will make continue to make certain subjects compulsory until students reach the age of 16 years. Although expected to be reformed, lessons in history, geography and modern foreign languages are set to continue. This will come as shock for those children who historically have dropped these subjects at the age of 14 years to concentrate on their preferred options. Although this dictat will enforce these subjects from 2014, schools will be given more freedom as to how they teach art, music, design and technology and computing.
The GCSE exams course will also be extended over three years from the current two to allow a wider choice of subject to be followed. Ironically the review by the Department of Education is part of an exercise to slim down the national curriculum which it concluded had become too narrow. Design and technology, computing and citizenship should no longer be part of the curriculum but can be taught by teachers who will set the content. This sets the opportunity for these subjects to reflect contemporary developments.
Michales Gove’s later announcement advises that ICT is also to move away from a rigid curiculum and be tught on a ,ore open basis. Technology is, after all, moving at a phenomenal pace and lessons have become outdated and boring in a classroom of children operating outside of school on later technology.
Tags: Changes to the curiculum, DfE, History and geography key to lessons, Michael Gove
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Friday, January 20th, 2012
In a similar fashion to the UK; despite a staggering investment in teaching resources over the past 20 years, the USA has similarly slipped down the educational league tables. Not good for a world leader but can the USA educational authorities learn from theleague trend setters in Asia.
Certainly the curriculum and teaching methods evolving in the Far East have taken a new look at the schooling process. Although ancient cultures prevail they have assimilated an approach to learning recognised in their elevated position in the international league.
Many American schools are reviewing the statistics, best teaching and study practices that can be learnt. Key areas seek to improve maths, science and literacy scores where American children can gain the most in achievement.
Tags: USA international educational league tables
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Friday, January 20th, 2012
Educational Funds Dry Up More In Better Off Areas
The Institute of Fiscal Studies has completed some maths sums into the educational funding of schools. The review, completed in October 2011 revealed educational spending is set to fall at the fastest rate since the 1950’s.
Due to the way the educational budgets are allocated, with a bias to inner city and failing schools, the funds available for better off areas, who tend to have better schools, is commensurately reduced.
Not fair may be the reaction from affected parents, school children and schools but the recession is biting everywhere. The cuts perhaps do not consider the long term objectives. We desperately need to improve the level of our educational achievement across the board. This does not involve exam manipulation; teach to test, or being given the exam answers in advance by an examination board. Instead it requires concerted investment in the right teaching resources, the right schools and the right teachers. This will cost money. If the budget is cut reforms in school will stagnate through the lack of cash.
The quest to improve failing schools will need money. Whilst the absence of funding recognised by Sir Michael Wilshaw, the new head of Ofsted, will hinder improvement he expects school leaders to demonstrate considerable fortitude. Making a silk purse from a sow’s ear is hardly practical, despite the Department of education claiming the overall budget is increasing by £3.6 billion over the next four years.A
Tags: educational cutbacks, educational games, Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw
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Friday, January 20th, 2012
The educational ICT exhibition, the BETT show in London, was the platform to announce a shakeup in the information communication and technology (ICT) curriculum. Michael Gove stated that the current content in ICT was “demotivating and dull.” The outmoded format was to be replaced from September 2012 to allow teachers to update the content and spend more time on issues such as programming.
Although many teachers felt the changes to the ICT format was a slap in the face the educational secretary pointed out that he wanted a revival in the legacy of Alan Turing who laid the foundations of the modern computer. Programming was a key development that will instil confidence in children to develop their own programs and become the games and applications gurus of the next generation. More…
Tags: BETT ICT show, Changes to ICT curriculum
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Could it be we are about to witness a paradigm shift in educational technology as Apple announce a new main stream teaching resource.
On January 19th at the Guggenheim museum Apple will unveiled a new approach in the role of text books in the classroom. The Apple in the ” Big Apple” appears to be the core theme! (I know) And typical of any manufacturer with new product news the content is embargoed until the 19th January. But it is thought it might be a new platform to allow text book material to be held on an iPad. The content needs reconfiguring such the text books will need conversion to become an ebook, or iBook in Apple parlance. Rumour has it a mass of text book writers with bleeding finger tips are thumping the data into data banks as we speak.
School budgets will be transformed as they ditch the printed text book material and switch to downloads. Apple has presumably taken this route fuelled by the amazing success of the Amazon Kindle ebook reader. It certainly seems a good fit for the iPad except you have to own one to read the text book and therein lays the strategy of Apple. Get schools to convert to the new technology and groom your future customers to regard Apple as the prime must have equipment.
The market dominance of the iPad has been tested by competitors such as Acer and Samsung. The feedback is there isn’t a market beyond Apple for tablets. Competitors are now looking to redevelop the Netbook computer, which only six months ago was destined to be phased out. The next generation of netbook will be thinner, lighter and more powerful in order to present a real alternative to the iPad at a much reduced price. If I were a school I might be tempted to wait until this occurs before committing to an iPad fleet for the school.
Tags: Guggenheim museum, iPad text book, teaching resources
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012
The niceties of syntax have been played in a new educational onslaught in schools. Educational games are being played with schools rather than in them. Instead of being classified as “satisfactory,” schools with a poor record of educational achievement will be regarded by Ofsted as “requiring improvement.” This places around 6,000 extra schools in the sin bin spotlight.
The new broom approach is being applied by the new Ofsted supremo Sir Michael Wilshaw as one of his first reviews at Ofsted. Schools in the revised category will now be inspected every year to 18 months. As an ex Head teacher Sir Michael will hold truck with the system that he has criticised from the receiving side of Ofsted inspections. ”I make no apology for making even greater demands of an educational system which has to respond with greater urgency to increasingly difficult economic circumstances.”
The new grading system could have a sting in the tail with the schools now requiring improvement. Parents may reject such schools causing additional pressure for them to perform. The question is whether the schools affected have the capacity to respond. After all if they did they may not be in the situation in the first place. Let us hope the head teachers involved gain some help from school leaders rather and Ofsted rather than having the door slammed in their face.
Tags: educational games, new schools grading, Ofsted, Satisfactory Schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw
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Friday, January 13th, 2012
The imposition of tuition fees has hit the popularity of British universities. Compounding the downturn of 23,000 British students applying to UK universities compared to last year, European students are also reluctant to apply.
Seeing the UK academia as no longer value for money has led to a 10.7 per cent drop in students from Europe with the largest drop, at 19 per cent on last year, being from Ireland. But there is a spark from the Far East. Applications from Hong Kong are up by 31 per cent, Australia by 22 per cent and 13 per cent from Malaysia. Is this a sign of improved academic status of UK universities, a desire to absorb the research of the UK or the positive moves in exchange rates from a weakened pound sterling.
Tags: Applications drop at universites, effect of tuition fees, Uni applications from overseas students rise
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Friday, January 13th, 2012
Poor schools face the sword of Damocles; buck up or become an Academy. If this is the salvation why aren’t the majority of schools operating as academies and why is there such a fuss over the conversion? The department of education seem hell bent on switching as many schools as possible over yet the teaching resources at affected schools tend to resist the move at all costs.
Michael Gove, secretary of state for education is to brandish a new sword and forcibly remove school governors based at a failing school who resist the conversion to become an academy. Around 200 schools are in his sights. And he is not stopping there. He also intends to take on 10 local educational authorities who have a high number of failing primary schools.
The transfer of education into a quasi-commercial standing holds some merit. If bound by the need to make a “profit” through the achievements of the school the convention of religiously following the dictat of the DfE could be tempered by the mission of the individual school. How long have we heard of educational initiatives which have introduced operational chaos before being abandoned.
Maybe the reluctance of some schools reflects the nervousness of teachers to convert to the isolation of independent management. The real world operates in the face of growing competition and a primary function of our academia is to prepare children for adult life. Greater freedom for schools in this quest must be a good thing. It generates the features and benefits of the school that will attract the future client base through the brand image of the Academy.
Teaching staff must also match the task presenting the opportunity to maintain quality by weeding out poor teachers. Unfettered by over protective terms and conditions this must grant the Head teacher the ability to hire and fire staff. Maintaining the employment of a poor teacher is a dreadful slight on the children he or she is teaching.
Michael Gove may not be the most popular Educational secretary. But his proposals, providing they are part of a well thought out strategy; a first for someone in this position, could be a real winner. Breaking the mould takes a brave man. If future academies and free schools prove to be the making of our educational system, and not just a recessionary cost cutting exercise, we could see a remarkable boost to our schooling in a hugely competitive global market.
Tags: academies, Gove to take on failing schools, teaching resources
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Friday, January 13th, 2012
A population surge expected by 2015 will place a huge burden on the educational load in primary schools. Around 450,000 extra children will enter the schooling system placing intense pressure on the teaching resources especially in urban areas.
In areas of London, notably Barking, the forecast increase will result in a demand for 12 new schools. The current concern of class size will be exacerbated if these schools are not built. This latest need follows the melee caused by the postponed of the schools refurbishment programme in 2011.
The surge reflects a sustained population boom. The birth rate in 2010 was 20 per cent higher than in 2002. Shire councils also face big increases. Lancashire for example is forecasting demand to rise by 13,000, Hampshire by 11,000 and Kent is expecting to need places for more than 9,000 extra pupils.
Ironically the extra places required almost match the current 444,000 vacant places existing in our primary schools. Demographic changes or the decision of parents not to send their children to unpopular schools has created an imbalance.
Although these latest figures show that nationally there are more than 444,000 empty primary places -they are not necessarily in the places where there is the growing demand. Lord Hill the Schools minister said “The rapid rise in the birth rate in some areas is going to require a substantial increase in capacity – with implications for buildings, playgrounds and staffing.”
The primary school time bomb will take some planning and cash to provide the facilities and teaching resources required. Assuming they can get all new parents to relocate it would make a splendid use for the then vacant Olympic facilities!
Tags: Overload in Primary schools, population growth, Urban primary schools capacity
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Friday, January 13th, 2012
The teaching resources in Namibia teach children in English as the first language used in schools. In a country that has 30 languages, 14 of which are official, the use of English has been seen as an essential element of a child’s education since 1990. The decision to adopt English was a brave move in country where only eight per cent of the population speak English. But recent statistics show the level of competence in English is desperately low in 98 per cent of the teachers.
Andrew Matjila, a retired school teacher and former politician, said that the educational language policy had failed to deliver widespread competence. He said public figures, such as politicians, struggled with English. The limited language skills of teachers had effectively “poisoned thousands of children”.
Adolf de Klerk, a commentator on education, said there was a direct link between the low English language skills of teachers and their students’ exam results. To their credit around 50 per cent of 16-year-olds still managed to pass the junior secondary school certificate in 2010.
A review by the education ministry strategy to identify further training needs in 2011 meant around 23,000 teachers were tested in an English language proficiency test. The tests conducted by the University of Namibia assessed comprehension, grammar and writing skills. Outline indications show 70 per cent of secondary schools teachers cannot read and write basic English. Even the 18 per cent of teachers who scored between 75 per cent and 92 per cent made mistakes with the use of capital letters, punctuation, subject-verb agreement, singular and plural forms and articles. Some teachers even struggled to fill in the personal data required on the front of the answer sheet.
The intention to adopt English was a profound move that demonstrated remarkable foresight in view of the widespread use of English around the world. Assuming this was not merely a political move to break free of their colonial past with Namibia’s independence in 1990 this forward policy has all but collapsed. Casting generations of children to suffer the resultant fate of being taught by incompetent teachers is a terrible legacy.
Tags: Education in Namibia failing, English language teaching reources, s
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Friday, January 13th, 2012
The vital need for early years education can be summarised in a Jesuit maxim; ” Give me a child for the first seven years, and you may do what you like with him afterwards.” No mention of late developers or the essential need for a degree, the maxim sets the vital building blocks in the foundation of a sound education. In Australia a study completed in 1994 revealed what ever happens to a child before they reach primary school will have a major influence in their social and educational life. The preschool early years education has major benefits for all children irrespective of their social background. A more recent study into early years education completed by Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) scheme run by the Department of Education shows the benefit of a well structured approach to foundation level education continued to 14 years old and some of the pitfalls.
Tags: Department of Education, Early years education, EPPE
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Saturday, January 7th, 2012
The shadow educational secretary Stephen Twigg suggests that the school day should be made longer to prepare children for adult life in the workplace. He claims feedback from employers suggest concerns that a third of school leavers are poorly prepared for work.
The education conference in Leeds provided the platform to launch the “School to work” review that is to be led by Labour MP, Barry Sherman. For some years various captains of industry have complained about the low level of educational output with new employees:- Marks and Spencer School A Level Exams Loose Support From Educational Lobby. Who Would Want To Be Educated In The Present System. This latest review could hold merit in increasing the prowess and relevance of school leavers education. The longer day could also prevent teenagers joining gangs and provide respite from disruptive family life according the Stephen Twigg. Certainly the school working day is short when all the disruptions have been removed. The 196 school days a year provided in the classroom allows plenty of scope to increase the level of learning and tune students learning to be more akin to what the modern commercial world needs and expects.
There is a downside to the programme which will need addressing. Teachers, although seeming to leave work at 15:30 each day and have long holidays have a significant hidden workload. Lesson preparation, assessments and planning can absorb a further 10 hours a week. Lengthening the school day could create a workload overload unless the lessons are repeated. This may not be a bad thing for many students who may have missed the point first time round, and practice is certainly the best method of learning retention. More…
Tags: longer school hours, School to work review, Shadow secretary for education, Stephen Twigg
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Saturday, January 7th, 2012
Michael Gove’s plan to transfer failing schools to become academies has a sting it its tail. Whereas the treat was thought optional the transfer may be enforced. The Marlowe school in Ramsgate is such an example. This failing school was amongst the worst performing secondary schools in the country. When the Head teacher resigned last years it was thought a replacement was to be found. Instead the school was promptly transferred into an academy and run by one of the big academy chains.
In theory the Academies Education Trust who sponsor 14 other schools in England have been tasked with running the school for the next year. They will also be responsible for appointing new head and deputy head teachers. This activity has come as shock to many schools who claim that since the standards have been raised academy groups have been waiting in the wings ready to scoop up any ailing schools more…more..
Tags: academies, DfE assessements, failing schools, school achivement tests, teaching reources, teaching standards
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Saturday, January 7th, 2012
The secretary of state for education, Michael Gove is stamping renewed vigour into his policy to sack governors of failing schools and had them over to academies. His current target, Downhills Primary school in North London are attempting to resist being taken over by an academy sponsor after years of poor performance. Academy Groups Scooping Up Failing Schools.
The school is one of many who are in the sights of Michael Gove who wishes to remove poor performance in school. The announcement last year that over 200 primary schools will be placed into academy status remains at the forefront of his quest to improve schooling standards. Speaking at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College he said “For years hundreds of children have grown up effectively illiterate and innumerate. In one of the most disadvantaged parts of our capital city poor children have been deprived of the skills they need to succeed.”
The transfer to academy status is certainly forefront in the sights of the Educational secretary. He has the option to utilise his intervention powers within the Academies Act to push failing schools to switch to academy status. But there is opposition from concerned schools, educational authourities and the National Union of Teachers they he will need to overcome.
Tags: academies, Downhills Primary school, Michael Gove, NUT
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Friday, January 6th, 2012
A new educational course in Vietnam holds a hidden educational objective. Whilst countries like the UK are limiting the number of overseas students attending courses in the UK there are reciprocal courses now developing overseas that need additional scrutiny. The concern in the UK is the possibility that that some students may be seeking residency, legally or otherwise and use an educational course as the back door to enter the country.
A tricky situation as fees generated by the overseas student provides a substantial income to colleges and universities. If all overseas students were barred the loss of revenue and future kudos could easily pass overseas. But The Australian government are equally concerned over certain pathway courses run overseas that have links, or claimed links to Australian colleges. Not only can the qualification turn out to be bogus the college may be duped into offering a continuation of the course at the Australian college. A Trojan horse situation suddenly springs to mind. More…...
Tags: educational pathway courses Vietnam, overseas colleges
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Friday, January 6th, 2012
The educational background of headteachers is being reviewed. The Department of Education is considering removing the compulsory need for headteachers to hold National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). The new lowered standard was intended to stimulate the number of teachers applying for head teacher roles to replace the aging heads that are coming up for retirement. But many head teachers believe the current move is a retrograde step. Judging by the following comments from senior players in education the Department for Education may have underestimated the response from the teaching fraternity
Brian Lightman, general secretary of the ASCL head teachers’ union, described the move to a voluntary qualification as detrimental to raising the status of heads.
“Having a national, professional qualification for head teachers has helped to raise the profile and status of school leadership in this country and it is something we should be proud of,” said Mr Lightman.
“We regret that the government is making this qualification optional at a time when there has never been such great need for highly-trained school leaders.”
The National Association of Head Teachers said that it believes that “all head teachers should have Qualified Teacher Status”.
The move is also a contradiction of the proposals by Micheal Gove and the DfE to increase the bar for teachers and move to degree qualifications for teachers.
Tags: Head Teacher qualifications lowered
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Friday, January 6th, 2012
The ex CEO and Chairman of Intel Corp, Craig Barrett, is to join Arizona’s education council. He intends to shake things up backed by strong views on educational reforms established with his experience in Intel’s whole life learning principles. Arizonan Governor Jan Brewer said that Barrett’s comments on the state of Arizona’s education were hindering economic development efforts were harsh but his “commitment to education made him the perfect fit to lead her new educational council.” more...
Tags: Arizona teaching resources, Intel education, Intel whole life learning principles
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Friday, January 6th, 2012
After the financial disaster of 2010 when student loans were paid late leaving many students struggling to pay bills and tuition fees. Would it shock you to learn that 2011 is proving to be a repeat performance. The Students Loan Company (SLC) has revealed that around 62 per cent of its performance targets were missed. Slow service, poor communication and late payments are also topping the list of student complaints.
Apparently this is an improvement on 2010 when the SLC only failed to miss 50 per cent of its targets. Obviously a case of how you tell them. This years primary excuse is the SLC did not have sufficient trained staff. Yet the company remains optimistic. A spokesperson for SLC said: “We have seen a major turnaround of the performance over the last two years. These figures relate to last year’s performance and our 11/12 processing figures show an even better service for our student customers.”
Meanwhile we wait with bated breath. Still it’s great training for graduates in how to survive in the real world during a recession,
Tags: Late payment of 2011 loans, Student Loan Company, student loans
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Saturday, December 17th, 2011
Generally a new employee is constructively introduced to the role through a managed induction programme. But due to the shortage of teaching resources many new teachers are launched into the schooling role in the most unruly classes with little or no support.
The more experienced teachers understandably prefer to teach more receptive children. Likewise head teachers, cognisant of the need to hit targets to maintain position on the school league tables and avoid negative reports from Ofsted, need their best teaching resources to avoid wasting time on unruly classes.
As a consequence around 50 per cent of new teachers experiencing unruly classes in their early career, amongst other issues leave the job within five years. Put another way 500,000 new teachers have quit the job or moved into private schools over the last ten years. This is a massive waste of talent, time and energy in our state schools. And has a self-fulfilling prophecy. The loss of new talent means experienced staff once again have to teach the unruly element preventing such teachers from concentrating on the overall academic achievement of the school.
There is a real need to resolve the unruly classroom. Primarily a modern scenario the respect and discipline once a given in school has become a challenge in many schools. Not only does it destroy new teachers it also limits the possibility of educational success for the rest of the class. And it is getting worse. The level of new teachers quitting the role in the first six months stands at 33 per cent of the intake totaling some 38,400 teachers. Bursaries costing around £9,000 each to help train teachers mean this is a massive waste of talent and cost. Millions of pounds have been lost.
A lamb to the slaughter is possibly the best description of the role of the new teacher. Many new recruits have been attracted to the role by the recession with many candidates seeing the role as a safe employment option, some biding their time until the commercial market reappears. But there are some excellent teacher potential that far from being converted to a lifelong career are being systematically destroyed in the critical first few months. Perhaps head teachers, measured on staff retention churn rate would better review the initiation period. A salutary reminder of the waste of potential talent is the Government’s Teach First scheme. Aimed at recruiting top graduates into teaching, by the end of the requisite minimum two years in the job, of the 149 teachers recruited by the scheme, 50 per cent had left, within three years everyone had left.
Tags: Teach First scheme, Unruly classes, waste of new teaching talent
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Friday, December 16th, 2011
The educational mayhem, the result of the recent teachers strike on pension rights is set to continue. Teaching resources in schools will see on-going disruption as educational games are played with the DfE. As a result thousands of teachers are following a work to rule campaign. The NASUWT., which has 250,000 teacher members, say the protest will continue indefinitely. Classes could be without their teacher as school staff claim their 10 per cent allocation of a non-teaching time for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA). Reports to parents and running after school clubs and revision classes could suffer badly.
The first strike for years will test the resilience and management skills of head teachers. Coupled to further cuts in expenditure this could be a novel experience for the majority of heads. And has a sting in its tail. The deterioration in moral and attitude in school could cause repercussions in the exam achievement of its students. This could reflect badly in the school league tables unless this measure of academic achievement falls into disrepute and discarded for some years. The recent revelations of the exam boards revealing exam questions to teachers may have spurred such a decision anyway.
The teachers union stated it has significant support amongst teachers for these actions. We have yet to see how much support is given by the parents as they watch their children’s educational achievement decline. Something that could materially affect them for the rest of their adult lives.
Tags: Department of Education, DfE, Teachers pensions, Teachers work to rule
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Friday, December 16th, 2011
The cancelled school-rebuilding programme will hold repercussions as our teaching resources deteriorate and subsequently our educational achievement decays. The stop-start game played last year by Michael Gove led to many schools on the original programme now living with cold crumbling buildings. The scrapped multibillion-pound scheme will leave a legacy that could haunt us for a generation.
Understandably there is a need for belt tightening in the current recession but the need to protect and develop our educational standards should be sacrosanct. At a time of cutbacks the news that lack of control on MOD projects, which have overrun and cost billions of pounds, the schooling programme seems to have become the poor relation in Whitehall expenditure circles. We are also enduring the Government’s PR machine, wild with the forecast the Olympic games should not exceed its 9.2 billion pound budget. Perhaps we need to remind the Government that the original bid for the games was made on a budget of 2.5 billion pounds!
The cash now available in the coffers over the next seven years to upgrade, repair, or replace schools is minimal. Smaller schools will be built especially in the primary sector. Class sizes will subsequently increase and subjects merged or dropped in order save cash. Less popular subjects in secondary schools may also disappear unless schools merge classes on a subject basis. Not an easy or efficient solution if students are required to travel significant differences between the teaching sites. And at a time when teaching standards need to improve the Government is considering scrapping the minimum qualifications required by head teachers.
But the biggest concern to our schooling is the overall quality of teaching. Merging schools could be an answer providing there is a commensurate improvement in the quality of headteacher able to run the merged schools. There is already a recruitment problem that has precipitated an additional proposal to reduce the entry qualifications needed to become a head. The potential lower qualifications of head teachers, and a seeming inability to remove bad teachers completely from the system, rather than recycling them between schools is synonymous of the current problems to be resolved . It would take considerable nerve and fortitude to steer a way through these troubled waters. A cohesive plan is needed for the next five years. But does this coalition government have the clout to see it through to the next election. Or will we see an “all bets off” situation whilst the schooling programme is completely rewritten by a new government. Isn’t that where we came in?
Tags: Implications of the cancelled schools rebuilding prgramme
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Monday, December 5th, 2011
A surprisingly high percentage of parents have stated they want their children to be taught the truth about history not the patriotic bias that is currently used. The teaching resources for history will need to be updated along with lesson plans as over 80 per cent of parents said they wanted the negative elements of the history of Britain to presented alongside the positive ones.
Micheal Gove, Secretary of State for Education said he was changing the national curriculum to reflect history as “proper subject” and take pride where it is due but the poll of parents suggested we also need to reflect our part in some of the less encouraging elements of history. The establishment of concentration camps during the Boer war and our success in dealing with the slave trade would educate children to the fact the UK was commercially engaged in the lamentable slave trade beforehand.
The educational journal “Impact” commissioned the poll which was effected by YouGov. Micael Hand, of the Institute of Education said “Michael Gove wants to build patriotism through school history lessons, but this isn’t a justifiable aim of education. Schools must not prejudice by deliberately promoting the love of Britain.”.
Tags: history education in schools, History games, Institute of Education, Michael Gove, Michael Hand
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Monday, December 5th, 2011
The incoming chief inspector of Ofsted Sir Micheal Wilshaw has his authourity slightly pre-empted on the day he starts work. A recent educational survey completed by the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) analysed thousands of schools with weak teaching resources has precipitated a three strikes and you’re out recommendation.
The report identified schools whose academic resources were weak or inconsistent should be served with a notice to improve. Interestingly the RSA’s findings countered the statement by Prime Minister David Cameron when he stated that many failing or coasting schools were as much a problem in “prosperous shires and market towns as inner cities.” In reality, according to the RSA report, coasting schools were often the result of poor teachers using repetitive and mundane lessons. This failed to energise children, especially the brighter student, and was unsuccessful in highlighting the gaps in learning or pupil understanding.
Sir Michael Wilshaw has indicated he will instigate some of the report findings. The term “satisfactory” being replaced by advise where the school is failing. The route ahead is bound to cause some ructions and a potential welcome return to traditionalist teaching standards.
Tags: failing schools, Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw, repetitive and mundane lessons, Royal Society of Arts school report
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Sunday, December 4th, 2011
The National Tertiary Education Union announced that over 33 per cent of Australian universities are having to cut staff to compensate for a 250m Australian dollars reduction in state educational budgets. Jesse Marshall, president of the National Union of Students, said “staff cuts had become increasingly common in recent years.” The ratio of students to lecturers has been increasing over the years leading to impoverished learning potential. Already universities have been cutting costs by employing short term teaching staff.
Australia’s 39 universities are all in the same situation with Sydney and Victoria already announcing cuts in staff. Perhaps a better way would be to emulate the Chinese educational authourites decision to cut costs and match the degree range to employment opportunities. A harsh decision for the arts. More…
Tags: Australian Universities cut teaching staff
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Sunday, December 4th, 2011
We all read with dread about the growing number of young employed. Having completed decades of educational programmes to prepare students for adulthood and employment many find their qualifications do not match market demand. Exacerbated by the statistic that circa 15 per cent of graduates use their degree vocationally the mis-match of qualification to career opportunity existed long before the recessionary impact.
Planning a career in sufficient time to select A levels that are tailored to the demands of a relevant degree is an extraordinary quest. To ensure this elective educational path remains relevant is potentially beyond the wit of most. Entering the job market with little or no prospects, worse still finding your degree has not been the ideal match to market forces can be shattering.
Although China, long being the centre of the commercial universe, it too has complications in providing the ideal volume of graduates with qualifications in demand. But the Chinese government has a radical solution. The ministry of Education is to phase out degree courses that are not in commercial demand. A programme to evaluate degree courses with the potential employment rates is underway. Any with under a 60 per cent employment rate for two consecutive years is to be downsized. if the UK followed suit we would lose a massive range of academic study which may improve the employment statistics but leave us a incredibly poorer place.
Tags: Degree courses in China, Degrees offering best employment opportunities
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Saturday, December 3rd, 2011
Universities are now playing the next round of games based on government advice. The introduction of the £3,000 a year tuition fee from 2012 pushed many students to rethink their educational strategy. Granted the repayment of the fee won’t kick in until the student is earning more than £21k a year, it still presents graduates with a financial albatross around their neck.
The government states that compared to those without a degree graduates have the possibility of earning an additional 100k pounds salary during their working lives. This has yet to be proven as the playing field on which the supposition was based has definitely moved. We are in a recession, the Euro is in turmoil and the number of young people jobless has tripped over the one million mark. A new graduate may have marginally better long term job prospects but currently will join the same queue as A level or GCSE school leavers. Attempting to buy their first home or living in rented accommodation will deplete their disposable income further. No wonder many erstwhile graduates have reconsidered applying for degree courses.
The net effect is many universities are struggling to fill courses. Without the requisite attendance numbers government grants and fees to the universities are commensurately reduced. A “Catch 22”syndrome emerges but the government educational gurus have a cunning plan. Universities can subsidise students by discounting the tuition fees. The nominal £2,500 fee reduction may be attractive to many students but what is not generally known is the transfer of bursaries is offsetting the fee reduction. Originally destined to support the poorer student, the transferred funds will potentially hit them twice in the pocket. Robbing Peter to pay Paul – Educational games indeed! more…
Tags: graduate intake reduction, university burseries, University Tution fees
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