Stories + Views: Love of learning

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Melissa Benn: Selective judgements

Today, the Sutton Trust publishes a report on the issue of ‘selective comprehensives’ which is getting a lot of publicity, including a spirited, but somewhat partial, debate on the Today programme, which led to the usual suggestion of increased ballotting and random allocation in order to enable more poor children access to 'good schools.' The report looks at ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Roger Titcombe: "Sorry Melissa and Helen Jarvis - It is not a minor point. I should have been more careful...."

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Janet Downs: Middlemarch – should it be read just to impress or for enjoyment?

When Middlemarch was filmed in Stamford, the local book shop filled its window with copies of the book. Many people bought it. A local dentist (whose surgery was turned into a Middlemarch dress shop) told me he hadn't found any of his patients* who'd actually finished it. Shortly afterwards I read that a well-known journalist (sorry, can't remember the name) ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by agov: "You should Janet. It's wonderful. It's on my list of thing to re-read soon-ish...."

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Janet Downs: How can the bird that is born for joy Sit in a cage and sing?

“How can the bird that is born for joy/Sit in a cage and sing?” These words from William Blake’s poem The Schoolboy were spoken by today’s guest on Desert Island Discs, David Almond. Almond, ex-teacher, award-winning author and Guest Artistic Director for the Telegraph Bath Festival of Children’s Literature 2013 , said learning can be stifled by an over-prescriptive curriculum and an ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "Leonard - fair point. Merriam-Webster defines "pundit" as: "1 a learned man (sic) : teacher or a person who gives opinions in an authoritative manner usually through the mass media" http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pundit I was using it in its first sense...."

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Julia Cushion: My state school has given me a lot more than just 11 A*s

Firstly, I apologise for the self-congratulatory title but I really am here to talk about how brilliant my school is! I am a 16 year old girl, at the start of my AS Levels. I have been going to a comprehensive school in Caerphilly, South Wales for the entirety of my secondary education, and am staying there to do my A-levels. ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by 3arn0wl: "You do credit to your school, your family and above all, to yourself. I wish you and your sister every success...."

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Janet Downs: If it can’t be externally assessed, it’s play, Gove’s message to teachers

The London Festival of Education (17 November 2012) kicked off with education secretary Michael Gove in conversation with journalist David Aaronovitch. A questioner asked Mr Gove what he thought about assessment. His reply was that if education wasn’t externally assessed it was play. The audience groaned. I heard teachers repeating this remark as I walked around the Festival. “Gove says if ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "Post script: Chris Husbands, Director of the Institute of Education and Professor of Education, explains why we need a full-scale, politically neutral review of accountability and examinations on the IoE blog (link below). He comments on the pressure on ......"

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Fiona Millar: The DFE consultation on KS4 reform – deeply flawed but we must respond

The DFE consultation on KS4 reform - abolition of the GCSE and what will replace it - is a slight document . Nineteen pages to be precise, on what will undoubtedly be a major upheaval to our secondary schools. It is important that people think about what this document is proposing and respond, not only by answering the very limited questions ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Rebecca Hanson: "Indeed. But most parents don't know that...."

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Allan Beavis: The Case for Cultural Learning

The Cultural Learning Alliance is a collective voice working to ensure that all children and young people have meaningful acces to culture. It members range from large arts organisations, individuals, schools and teachers. One of its members, Darren Henley, Chairman of the Music Manifesto Partnership Advocacy Group and Managing Director of Classic FM, was commissioned by Secretary of State for ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "Guest - your link goes to a joke website which finished in 2001, over a decade ago. You must have had to do a deep trawl of the web to find it. Perhaps you could explain the point you ......"

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Henry Stewart: Is Michael Gove Killing Creative Britain?

"The Effects of the English Baccalaureate", a report produced this month by the Department for Education confirms that the ebacc has led directly to a reduction in provision for creative subjects. 27% of schools have withdrawn at least one subject as a result of the ebacc. Of these schools:: Drama and Performing Arts have been withdrawn in 23% Art has been withdrawn ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by The new Ofqual report suggests league tables are corrupting teachers | talesbehindtheclassroomdoor: "[...] Instead of involving teachers in a constructive dialogue about all of this, the government has chosen to be very antagonistic, blaming teachers all along the way. As Pasi Sahlberg, an expert on the Finnish system, points out we have a GERM, ......"

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emma kay: An outstanding education in Islington

Our school, Highbury Grove, is in one of the four most deprived boroughs in London, in terms of education and family income levels, with 44% child poverty (in London only Tower Hamlets has a higher percentage, figures from HMRC 2009). Islington has been known in recent decades for its poorly performing secondaries, which are traditionally shunned by its most affluent ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Melissa Benn: "Emma - Your post is incredibly inspiring. The breadth of activities and learning offered by the school, its refusal to expect anything but the best from its inner city intake and the individual stories that you give are all ......"

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Janet Downs: The May Dancing

For the first time in living memory, well, seven years, the Year Six maypole dancers tangled up the ribbons. They had skipped round the pole weaving an intricate pattern of colours – all they had to do was to reverse the moves. But one of them, maybe more, dived when they should have ducked and the threads became entwined. There ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "andy - sorry, didn't mean to sound pedantic but there are commentators who mistakingly believe that EBacc = 5 GCSEs A*-C, not realising that Science requires a double award (2 GCSEs) or two separate sciences. Parents may be misled ......"

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