Segregation

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Melissa Benn: Mixed messages from Sweden

An interesting insight into developments in Swedish education when I participated yesterday in a seminar on Swedish free schools and their continuing impact on Britain's education, hosted by the Swedish embassy. As LSN readers will recall, Michael Gove made much of the success of Sweden’s free schools prior to the 2010 election; as Rachel Wolf, CEO of the New Schools ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Campbell Live Reflections « The Daily Blog: "[...] Also something to consider is “other evidence on free schools indicates growing social and ethnic segregation, and intensifying issues regarding admissions”  Source  [...]..."

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Sophie Rodger: Free Schools: In Search of Some Clarity

Despite some costly and embarrassing setbacks that threatened to cast a dark shadow over the start of the new academic year, Michael Gove may breathe a sigh of relief as 55 of his new free schools have completed their first full fortnight of the new school term. But the anxious wait is far from over: with his announcement in July that ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Lucia H Silva-Clark: "Free schools, private initiatives with the public funding whilst the funding for the established state schools are not getting...This is not right!..."

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Janet Downs: The new Sutton Trust scheme will reinforce existing segregation in schools

"Despite its unquestionable commitment to breaking down the educational barriers faced by disadvantaged children,  the Sutton Trust has got it wrong this time," says Fiona Millar in the Guardian.  Read her report here. read more and comment →

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Latest comment by andy: "Guest You are of course entitled to your opinion. Speaking of slurs you may wish to reflect on the fact that I did not drag a whole list of things across here from TES, that was done by others who joined the ......"

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Janet Downs: Evidence linking market systems with efficiency in education is “fragmented” and “inconclusive

The evidence that market mechanisms in education have a positive effect on outcomes is “fragmented and often inconclusive”. So says a major review of empirical research on markets in education. The reviewers found that the scope of much research had been limited. It focused only on test scores in reading and maths and neglected other subjects or other kinds of achievement. ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Rebecca Hanson: "There is substantial and significant evidence of the benefits of free market practices in education in countries where education does not have complete coverage or a responsibility for the most vulnerable. The theory and evidence regarding free market practices in countries ......"

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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 →

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Allan Beavis: Using aspiration to enable segregation is at the heart of the government’s schools policy

I have spent the best part of the day wondering why I get so angry when I read statements, as I did yesterday, that supporting local schools, opposing free schools and academies, pleading for inclusive, non-selective schools and favouring the teaching of a wide and varied academic, citizenship and vocational curriculum means you are “against” aspiration. Such accusations are intended ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Allan Beavis: "Laura, I agree with you that governments need to tackle the problems facing schools by listening to parents and teaching professionals and I hope you would agree with me that the current government haven’t done nearly enough of this but ......"

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Francis Gilbert: The hidden implications of the Green Paper: less funding for Special Needs and increased segregation?

The Green Paper on Special Needs contains some important ideas. Let's look at some: Important quotes from the paper. The Green Paper suggests, the government will: "give parents a real choice of school, either a mainstream or special school. We will remove the bias towards inclusion and propose to strengthen parental choice by improving the range and diversity of schools from which parents can choose, ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Lucy Knight-Ballard: "Strong inclusion, weak inclusion, out right segregation. I haven't had chance to read the paper yet and I don't know which approach it leans toward, but I would expect it to take into account the hugely diverse range of pupil ......"

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Kevin Partington: Funding the wrong values

The New Schools Network website presents a totally misleading picture of the state system. This enables Michael Gove to abandon the schools that really need investment, choosing to gift £500,000 of public money to one of his former advisers to set up “free” schools - without even asking for other organisations to tender for the work. The Local Schools website offers ... read more and comment →

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Jeanne Rathbone: All schools should be inclusive as part of our preparation for life.

I am an ex-school governor,believer in genuine community cohesion, parent, secularist and humanist celebrant. I believe that genuine education would be inclusive of all, without segregation based on wealth, class, academic ability etc but especially not divided along the supernatural beliefs of parents! The middle classes will always try to reproduce grammar schools/ two tiered schools based on academic exam ... read more and comment →

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