skills

Tripartite Skills Debate

 Ideas, Policy  No Responses »
Sep 242012
 

I’d like to welcome “No Full Stops in Education” to our team. You will immediately spot that she is far more intelligent than I because she’s keeping her identity secret.  Very wise.  So just to say she’s in a senior position in HE, with a deeply impressive and knowledgable history in education, policy and qualifications behind her. I look forward to her posts.

 

What a summer! I was lucky to be able to watch and attend the Olympics, what a privilege! I am still reflecting on the skills and talents of the athletes; what was it that made these people not only be good enough to get to the Olympics but for some of them to actually  be the best on the day and get either a bronze, silver or gold medal  and a few more than one? This was a celebration of people that had gained skills and became the best in the world.

So what has the DfE learnt from this summer of the excellent displays of vocational and knowledge-based skills in perfect balance? Oh yes, there was some  awkwardness around school playing-field statistics and policy, and competitive sports was being debated again! For me this was an opportunity to say yes, children can benefit from a balance of academic and vocational study, both of which they will need in the work place along with personal skills.

Is the debate for this tripartite of essential skills over as we move into Autumn and the demand for academic rigour is met? Or will the placement of David Laws in the corridors of Sanctuary Building make a difference?

Briefing – Episode 42, From an HE open day

 Information, Policy  No Responses »
Mar 102012
 

We can get caught up in the educational arguments some times and clearly from today we can see that jobs and qualifications are the main thought in many peoples minds.  Learners at an HE open day will already have self selected, it’s true, but as a parent I was thinking about money rather than whether there is a job at the end of it.  I wanted to see industry standard equipment, links with industry, innovation, challenge and a great student union bar.  There were no curve-balls from parents in the session I attended, only questions on Jobs, percentages in employment and the old chestnut, contact time.

Anyone else going to an HE open day at the moment?  Please do let us know your experiences in the comments sections below and please subscribe here or over on YouTube.

Briefing – Episode 31, National curriculum r r r rethink

 Policy  2 Responses »
Dec 202011
 

The Framework for the National Curriculum was published on the first Monday of the Christmas Holidays and might not have the happy Christmas cheer teachers were hoping for.  You can find the document by clicking here. It does two things, firstly it sets out the work done so far and confirms our fears that Thomas Gradgrind has an office in the Department for Education.

“Now, what I want is, facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them. This is the principle on which I bring up my own children, and this is the principle on which I bring up these children. Stick to Facts, sir!” – Hard Times, Charles Dickens 1854

Steven Twigg has offered cross party support on the curriculum, which is deeply troubling.

On a plus side this is great news for Academies, who are in the best position to truly provide their learners with an education for the future by having nothing to do with the National Curriculum.  40% of schools are already academies, perhaps a few more will cross the floor if these suggestions become the basis of the next education act.

Let us know what you think and please do subscribe here or over on YouTube.

Briefing – Episode 27, The importance of music

 Information, Policy  No Responses »
Nov 292011
 

The Importance of Music is available from the DfE website here. It follows on from the Henley review into music education which can be found here.

If you are you a peri in a local authority music service, keep your eyes and ears open for discussion and development of your Music Education Hub (I hope someone comes up with a funkier name other wise they will be known as the “Meh”).  Post some anonymous comments if you can and let us know what goes on as these hubs emerge.

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