Education Endowment Fund

Avatar Image

Janet Downs: “Robotically following the results of one trial…can be a very dangerous thing,” says author of “Bad Science”

“Robotically following the results of one trial can be just as foolish as ignoring the evidence and a little bit of knowledge can be a very dangerous thing,” said Dr Ben Goldacre, author of Bad Science and Bad Pharma, on the Radio 4 programme Bad Evidence. The programme voiced concern that vast databases of evidence from randomised control trials (RCT) could ... read more and comment →

2 comments

Latest comment by Janet Downs: ""Bad Evidence" is Radio 4's Podcast of the Week and is available for 7 days from Friday 4 January. http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/r4choice..."

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Janet Downs: Baker’s bonkers idea would leave 11-13 year-olds with no school

“Turn ‘worst 100’ schools in the county” into university technical colleges (UTCs), says Lord Baker according to the TES.  The lowest-performing schools should be shut down immediately, “Pupils sent away, teachers sent away,” Lord Baker told Attain, the magazine of the Independent Association of Prep Schools.  “Give us the buildings and we would have another 100 [UTCs]”. UTCs are the pet ... read more and comment →

One comment

Latest comment by Rebecca Hanson: "The implications of UTCs are substantial. It's blindingly obvious they will bring issues which will need to be resolved, so an active feedback loop in the pilot stage is essential. This government needs to learn what one of ......"

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Janet Downs: “The highest performing education systems across OECD countries are those that combine quality with equity,” says OECD

“Improving equity and reducing school failure pays off,” says the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Completing secondary education is good for the individual and good for countries. In its latest major report the OECD stressed that investment in education is crucial – from the early stages right through to the end of upper secondary education. Education should not be ... read more and comment →

No comments

Be the first to comment!

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Janet Downs: What makes a successful school? Harvard research identifies 5 factors

There are five factors found in successful schools, according to a recent Harvard report. These are: frequent teacher feedback, data driven instruction, high-dosage tutoring, increased instructional time, and a focus on academic achievement. The researchers found that a school’s underlying philosophy mattered less than these five factors. The more successful schools gave pointers to pupils more frequently, used assessment to plan ... read more and comment →

2 comments

Latest comment by Rosie Fergusson: "Another successful factor is manipulation of the catchment area so outstandingly demonstrated by Bristol Free School For Nobs current admissions consultation. Link http://www.bristolfreeschool.org.uk/consultation.php The school has defined a catchment area avoiding the undesirable area and taking in the more salubrious ......"

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Janet Downs: Adjusted criteria for pupils in disadvantaged schools would help social mobility, says AQA. But proposals slated in media

Nearly one in four universities and colleges failed to meet their own targets to recruit more disadvantaged students last year,  reported the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) this week.  The examination board, AQA, thinks it might have the answer. AQA published a discussion paper suggesting A level results of pupils in disadvantaged schools (measured by, for example, deprivation indices or free ... read more and comment →

One comment

Latest comment by JimC: ""AQA has made it clear that its paper is for discussion, but sensible debate about the proposal has been drowned by shouts of “discrimination” and “social engineering”. " Well it is discrimination and social engineering isn't it...."

Comment + Debate