Cambridge primary review
Diane Hofkins examines the final report of the Cambridge review and outlines the full range of the report that seeks to inform thinking for the future.

No consensus on home education
Our children’s service’s editor, Chris Waterman, takes a critical look at the proposals in Graham Badman’s Review of Elective Home Education and cautions for the need to establish good relationships between local authorities and home educators.

Does staff development make a difference?
Sara Bubb and Professor Peter Earley, of the Institute of Education University of London, outline the findings of a study investigating how staff development leads to improved outcomes for both pupils and staff.

Lifelong learning – lifeboat or baggage
In the first of two articles on the final report of the two-year NIACE inquiry into the future of lifelong learning, George Low wonders whether the Government’s response will be to regard lifelong learning as a lifeboat or unwanted baggage.

Education for an ageing population
In the second article on the NIACE report Ian Nash examines funding and access to lifelong learning.

World teachers’ day
Roger White, CEO of ASDAN, a skills-based awarding body, argues for the need to give students the skills to become well-rounded and effective students and future employees.

Quality, choice and aspiration
Our children’s services editor, Chris Waterman, reports on a document outlining the Government's information, advice and guidance strategy.

Higher Ground
John Izbicki reports from around Britain’s universities.

A manifesto is born
Suzy Rigg, Policy and Communications Manager at the National Literacy Trust, writes about the launch of the Trust’s Manifesto for literacy in September.

Catch up literacy for children in care
Wayne Holmes, Head of Communications at Catch Up, details the results of two pilot studies for an intervention designed to specifically support children in care who struggle to learn to read.

Bureaucracy and accountability
Warwick Mansell argues that there is a fine line between greater accountability and greater bureaucracy in education and children’s services.

The rise of social networking sites
Our Wales editor, Professor Ken Reid, on the need for educational policy makers to start thinking seriously about the implications of social networking sites.

Engaging hard to reach teens with NHS Teen LifeCheck
Stella Howe, Lead Teacher at the Sheffield Key Stage 3 Inclusion Service, writes about a free questionnaire offering lifestyle advice to 12 to 15-year-olds.

Children’s Health

Media Watch

General

Events
We report on NFER’s second annual practical research for education conference, the major party conferences and the National Children and Adult Services conference in Harrogate.

Conference round-up

Opinion
Professor Colin Richards praises the Cambridge review of primary education and John Izbicki looks at research from NFER on summer-born children.

Reference

Document Review
We review Learning Lessons from Serious Case Reviews: year 2: Ofsted’s Second Year of Evaluating Serious Case Reviews: a progress report from Ofsted and Appointment of the Children’s Commissioner for England from the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee.

Document Digest

Reports Digest

Research

Research Notes

News from the IOE
In the first of his new regular columns for Education Journal, Professor Geoff Whitty, Director of the Institute of Education University of London, writes about the work of the Holocaust Education Development Programme, a study into the impact of support staff in schools, and the Institute’s new MA in Psychosocial Studies and Education.

Disadvantages for summer-born children
We report on research from NFER which found that summer-born children do less well in attainment tests, are more frequently identified as having special educational needs and are more frequently referred to psychiatric services.

Poor man’s guide to the recession
George Low writes about the findings of the Inquiry into Lifelong Learning.

Moderation and standards maintenance in school-based summative assessment
Irenka Suto and Hannah Shiell of Cambridge Assessment present the results of a small-scale study of school-based assessment processes, which aimed to discover professionals’ perceptions and concerns about the assessment process.

Research reports

Young people’s views on diplomas
We report on research from the University of Reading which found that many teenagers either still know nothing about the diplomas or think they are a less attractive option than A-levels.

Research Digest

Parliament

Row over the appointment of a children commissioner for England
We report on the furore surrounding the pre-appointment hearing on the post of Children Commissioner for England.

Curbing smoking among children
We report on debates in the Westminster and Scottish parliaments on health Bills, part of which seek to restrict the promotion of cigarettes to children.

Child protection in Scotland
A debate on child protection in the Scottish Parliament.

FE colleges central to economic recovery
A debate on further education in the Scottish Parliament.

School Governors in Wales are effective
A debate on a Welsh Assembly committee report concerning school governors.

Homophobic bullying in Wales
A debate on tackling homophobic bullying in Welsh schools.

Parliamentary Questions

Phoenix