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Education Journal No.102 (2007-2) |
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Could do better Our Wales editor, Ken Reid, on the Welsh Chief Inspector’s annual report on education and training in Wales for 2005/06, which sets out an agenda for change and policy implementation. Children’s Health This month’s health column covers the link between television viewing and poor children’s health; the genetic causes of autism; the link between stress and spots; the dangers of an early start date for formal learning; the increase in the number of young diabetes sufferers; and the science of puberty. Media Watch Is Joseph Goebbels alive and well and living in Wapping? We track a number of claims critical of state education in general and comprehensives in particular, made by some Fleet Street columnists, that turn out not to be true. That does not stop the same falsehoods being repeated again and again, as the recent Tory row over grammar schools has shown. Local Elections Results and analysis of the May elections in English metropolitan district and unitary councils, and Scottish unitary councils. The Conservative Party and the SNP were the main winners. Labour declined, but not by as much as they might have feared. The Lib Dems stalled. The Greens made a modest advance from a modest position. The BNP and UKIP got nowhere. Higher Ground John Izbicki casts an eye over recent events in higher education. This month he looks at the number of colleges declaring independence, universities sharing buildings with retail businesses, a pioneering degree designed for nursery nurses, classroom assistants and learning mentors, lectures on healthy living and a ray of hope for Rett Syndrome sufferers. General section Conferences We report on the Education Alliance conference at the London University Institute of Education, and Alan Johnson’s speeches at the various teacher union conferences about the changes planned for the 14 to 19 curriculum and the new diplomas. Born to Be Great A four-page supplement reviewing Born to be Great, the NUT charter on promoting the achievement of black Caribbean boys. Some historical truths about selection Cutting through the hyperbole surrounding the recent grammar school furore, we confront the historical fact that Labour in office have usually been less supportive of comprehensive education than their rhetoric in opposition would suggest, while the Conservatives, who have closed more grammar schools than Labour, have been more supportive in power than their rhetoric in opposition would suggest. Opinion John Izbicki asks whether universities really are as poor as they wish us to believe, and explains the debt British higher education owes to Sir Thomas Gresham. A good local school for every child? Tony Mitchell on what needs to be done within the comprehensive system to make sure that the country has an equally good comprehensive school for all. Fun Page Two days in the life of a school admissions team. Reference section Document Reviews The documents reviewed this month are Staying in Education and Training Post 16 from the DfES; and Improving Scottish Education ICT and How Good is our School, third edition from HMIE. Document Digest Documents covered this month include those from the Audit Commission, the Department for Education and Skills, the Department of Health, the Equal Opportunities Commission, Estyn, the Institute for Public Policy Research, the National Audit Office, the National Union of Teachers, Ofsted, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, the Scottish Executive, the Education and Skills Select Committee, and the School Teachers’ Review Body. Reports Digest Reports from local authorities produced by EMIE at NFER, include those covering policy and procedures in respect of children missing education or at risk of missing education in Bedfordshire; improving outcomes for Black African and Black Caribbean children and young people in Brent; the Raising Achievement Plan 2006-2007 for Devon; guidance for school managers and governors on creating and maintaining a School Emergency Plan in Northamptonshire; and guidance prepared by the Wakefield Area Child Protection Committee setting out the procedures to be followed in undertaking a serious case review. Research section Research Digest Research Notes Our research editor, Michael Marshall, looks at research into the numerous ‘philosophy for children’ programmes and their viability in an already overcrowded curriculum. Clearing the ground for share headship Ron Glatter and Janet A Harvey examine the effectiveness of various models of shared headship. Short research reports The need to test new teaching techniques rigorously, the financial benefits for young people taking part in government-funded apprenticeships; and GCSE dropouts returning to college or school. Scottish Early Years and Childcare Workforce We report on responses to the Scottish Executive consultation National Review of the Early Years and Childcare Workforce. Parliament section Children, that UNICEF report and the House of Lords Our parliamentary editor, Nick Kent, reports on a debate in the House of Lords on the UNICEF report, Child Poverty in Perspective: an Overview of Child Well-being in Rich Countries. Parliamentary Questions We report on the answer to a parliamentary question on the number of young people not in employment, education or training. Phoenix The appointment of new education ministers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and a memorial event to celebrate the life of Anne Jarvis. |