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Janet Downs: Are GCSEs becoming irrelevant?

“It seems to me both inhumane and idiotic to consume four years of adolescence preparing for and sitting public examinations. When I try to explain this peculiarly British idiosyncrasy to my overseas clients, they look at me in frank astonishment. If Michael Gove wants to borrow from abroad, he might consider adopting a policy – widespread elsewhere – of a ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "The Institute for Fiscal Studies points out that England is out-of-step with most other countries. Let's hope Mr Gove actually reads the international evidence instead of just saying he does. "England is actually rather unusual in having a high stakes ......"

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Janet Downs: Gove drops requirement for employers to train 16-19 year olds

Most young people stay in some sort of education and training until 18 and this was set to become compulsory. However, Mr Gove has quietly dropped the requirement for employers to train any 16-19 year-olds they take on because he believes the rule deters employers from hiring young people. Obviously the Secretary of State believes the responsibility to train young people ... read more and comment →

16 comments

Latest comment by Ricky Tarr: "British businesses spend less than their overseas counterparts on training Indeed so. And one of the main reasons for that is: they don't need to, the Government pays for it. Gove’s relaxation of the rules governing the access to training by young ......"

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Francis Gilbert: Our poor GCSE students — victims of the whims of ignorant politicians

GCSE results are out today and it's already clear that the results have been subject to political interference; clearly, our Education Secretary has a keen desire to see more students fail their exams. Students that would have got C and even B grades last year are now being awarded D grades. How and why has this happened? No doubt Gove and ... read more and comment →

93 comments

Latest comment by Rebecca Hanson: "Thanks for this Janet, So the Sykes review was yet another case of Gove picking some of his most extreme supporters to write a review and then ignoring what they say?..."

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Janet Downs: G4S Olympic fiasco prompts ministerial rethink about private sector involvement in massive projects

There were many heroes in London’s Olympic Games: the athletes, the volunteers, the organisers and the backroom workers. Among these were the police and military who stepped in at the last moment to provide security when the private firm contracted to do this failed to do so. Defence minister, Philip Hammond, told the Independent that the G4S fiasco had demonstrated that ... read more and comment →

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Henry Stewart: How Stoke Newington School Outperforms Wellington College

The media often quotes headline exam results to show the supposed superiority of private schools. However a fair comparison is only possible if the intakes are similar. Within the state sector comparisons can be made with value added figures, but these aren't available for private schools. It is interesting then to compare a school from each sector. Wellington College is a ... read more and comment →

10 comments

Latest comment by Janet Downs: "Cognita schools - you are correct that school intake affects school performance. This was confirmed by a report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies last year: http://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2011/08/school-intake-governs-academic-achievement-says-ifs-report/ Unfortunately, the English state system is always being compared with the private sector to ......"

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Henry Stewart: State Sector Continues to Close the Gap with the Private Sector

The release of A level results show once again that the gap has narrowed between the state and private sectors. For the last decade at least the proportion of the highest grades coming from state schools has been gradually increasing. The percentage of state school A levels achieving an A or A* grade had risen from 22.2% in 2009 to 22.6% in ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Leonard James: "I take the point that the majority of students at grammar/selective school are likely to be high ability. I'm really having trouble describing my objections here - I think I'd be more convinced by the state does better at university ......"

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Janet Downs: Protect play areas of future Olympians – 38 degrees petition

From 38 degrees: “It’s just emerged that over a million children could lose the fields where they play.  The Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has quietly relaxed the rules protecting school playing fields. Many people are worried that this could open the door for them to be sold off to developers.” “Without playing fields it’s hard to imagine the children of today - ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "Mr Gove has form when it comes to ignoring evidence despite his oft-repeated mantra that his policies are underpinned by evidence. Within months of his coming to power morale at the DfE had fallen - much of this crisis ......"

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Meraud: Another worthy petition!

Save London's sports field.  Sign petition here.     read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Rebecca Hanson: "Done...."

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Janet Downs: Downhills: judicial review update

Downhills school has been refused permission for a judicial review.  A BBC report says the judge had cited a letter from Gove saying that the Secretary of State "believed firmly" that Downhills would improve once it had converted.  The judge also said that Downhills' past performance had been "egregious".  It appears, then, that the judge ignored the September 2011 Ofsted ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Marigold Doyle: "For those who don't know, the Harris Federation went back on their word about consulting about any name change to the school and have renamed Downhills School 'Harris Primary Academy Philip Lane'. Seems like an attempt to rub out ......"

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Janet Downs: Join campaign to “Inspire a generation”

Inserted by Janet Downs on behalf of an 11-year-old who had difficulties uploaded the story. “I have been inspired this year after the Olympics to get more involved in sports and to achieve my dream of being an Olympic athlete. The motto of 2012 is “Inspire a generation”. Young people like me have ambition to achieve in sports but sometimes we are ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Rebecca Hanson: "While free club membership would be lovely, the truth is that primary school children need the support and encouragement of an adult to motivate them and to help them get to out of school activities. In school and after ......"

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