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Francis Gilbert: Should schools be forced to become #academies? Watch this detailed and informed debate at #EICE…

With the news today that George Osborne is thinking of cutting back the free schools programme, this debate was quite timely. Myself and a number of other experts/campaigners came together at the Education Innovation conference and discussed the complexities of this issue. For those in the know, it was a good debate, with Russell Hobby producing the best part (about ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "Alan - you're correct that there is so much more to academy conversion than has been discussed in the comments. Here are some links to threads which address some of your concerns: Re privatization agenda: There have been several reports from ......"

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Francis Gilbert: Teachers go on strike to protest against hundreds of teaching jobs being cut — my vodcast

On Wednesday, because my son's school was closed due to strike-action, he and I went down to Weavers' Fields, and took some "amateur" footage of teachers protesting against the cuts to education services in Tower Hamlets. Kevin Courtney, a NUT representative, spoke particularly eloquently; I've filmed his key points here. As has been noted before, Tower Hamlets has to cut ... read more and comment →

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Georgina Emmanuel: We MUST fight for an equal chance for all children in the current economic climate of severe cuts to education

Our school, like most schools, is facing very severe cuts to our budget. The head is battling to keep all teachers in their jobs by trying to avoid replacing some of the staff as they leave. Like all schools, the head has a legal commitment to staffing all mainstream classes. There is also a legal requirement to pay for extra support ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Georgina Emmanuel: "Thanks so much for sharing my concerns. By the way, I think the pupil premium works out at round 47p a day??..."

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Roopal Gordon: Sarah Teather is wrong to say Children’s Centres will get enough funding

Yesterday, in Nursery World magazine, Sarah Teather wrote this:  “We have ensured there is enough money in the system through the new Early Intervention Grant (EIG) to retain the network of children's centres”.This article “Early intervention grant is cut by 11%”explains how the EIG represents a cut in funding. “Funding for intervention programmes in England, such as teenage pregnancy and youth ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Roopal Gordon: "I agree, Francis. The removal of the requirement for all full daycare settings to be led by an Early Years Professional (a graduate level Early Years qualification) is also worrying...."

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Gordon Robb: If it ain’t ba-roque, it don’t need fixing!

The current propaganda being pedaled by the government, and backed by the media, is a cover to strip back Labour's investment in public services over the last 12 years. It's not about debt, it's about an agenda to bring about conservative ideals and the small minded attitudes of the blue rinse brigade. Academy schools =non-state run education. Council cuts=promotion of private tendering of ... read more and comment →

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Francis Gilbert: Local Schools Network Predictions for 2011

The cuts will really kick in. There will be job losses in most Local Authorities, with many LA education departments essentially disappearing. In most schools, class sizes will go up and there will be significant job losses over time. The vast majority of extra-curricular activities will be axed. Poorer children will be disproportionately affected because their parents won't be able ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Fiona Millar: "The perverse incentives in the league tables mean that many schools actively use covert selection select to improve their test and exams results.. One head of a highly selective 'comprehensive' faith school in West London explained to me that ......"

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Francis Gilbert: Why are “free” schools getting so much money when most schools are seeing their budgets cut?

The news that schools will not see a rise in spending in real terms in the coming four years is very troubling for parents and teachers like me. The government had said that spending would rise by 0.1% and it had been touted that the pupil premium for our poorest children would be £2500. It turns out that budgets will ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Francis Gilbert: "Yes, thanks for this Ellen. I think that children with SEN really need these activities EVEN more than "mainstream" pupils because these activities really give so much context to the learning that goes on in schools without requiring the outcomes ......"

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Francis Gilbert: Education white paper: an assault on schools

This article was first published on The Guardian's Comment Is Free website This week's education white paper will seriously undermine standards of teaching in our schools On the surface the new education white paper, due to be published next week but widely leaked in the press today, appears to be all about promoting good teachers. Having a good degree and two decades ... read more and comment →

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