State System

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Adrian Elliott: Compass Education Meeting 18 October

I attended the meeting organised by Compass this week on education. Stephen Twigg, Margaret Tulloch,Ken Spours, Becky Francis, Lisa Nandy MP and Sir Alastair MacDonald were the main speakers. Whilst there was a good deal of consensus on some key points (if pretty obvious ones) such as the need for a high quality,well-supported teaching force I felt that some issues might ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Rebecca Hanson: "Thanks for sharing the insight Adrian. If you're looking for reassurance that you are entirely sane and they are bonkers, please accept this virtual bucketload I am sending you now. Rebecca :-)..."

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Janet Downs: Inclusion is the key to successful school systems, says OECD

What affects pupil outcomes?    The major paper, “Education at a Glance 2011”, from the globally-respected Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), found that the factors which encouraged high pupil achievement included “positive teacher-student relations, high expectations for students’ success, and a safe school environment.”  OECD is clear: these qualities are “more easily achieved in inclusive school systems.” What, then, is an ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "Jim C - please read the TES article above re Andreas Schleicher. Then the following about his being honoured in Germany. http://www.oecd.org/document/17/0,3746,en_2649_39263238_2507025_1_1_1_1,00.html And there's this from the Goethe Institute: http://www.goethe.de/wis/fut/dos/gdw/sla/en2528036.htm A potted biography at the World Bank (Mr Gove doesn't seem to get ......"

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Fran Russell: Steiner schools should be part of the main stream system to enable access to all.

I am a single parent committed to state education. Never believing for one moment I would send my children to an independent school I found myself attracted to the local Steiner school. My twins had been premature and tiny I felt the early testing in our local schools would be too much for them. Now aged 10 I think ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by MarkH: "Ah, another Steiner thread. It seems that upon reading Steiner's theories of child development (never mind the more esoteric stuff), as taught in Steiner teaching training courses, you either recoil in horror (as I did) or wonder what all the ......"

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Henry Stewart: Local Schools Serve All in Their Community

Friday's Evening Standard told the shocking story of an 11 year old girl who was rejected from Harris City Academy in Crysal Palace because she presented a "health and safety risk". This was despite the school claiming to be an "inclusive school with disabled access ramps and wheelchair facilities". Academies can be excellent local schools and some fully cater for those with ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Fiona Millar: "I think there were even more worrying aspects of this story. The head teacher told the parents in a letter that the child would suffer low self-esteem because her'academic ability is quite low' and Harris is a 'high pressure, high ......"

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Nigel Ford: I sent my kids to the local comp despite having indifferent exam results

I'm a Conservative voter and a great believer in state education which isn't a contradiction in terms. I was educated in the private sector and educated at prep and public school as a boarder although I would have preferred to have been educated at the local grammar school (there were no comprehensives back in the early 70s) but my father thought ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Francis Gilbert: "This is a very important story for everyone to take note of: supporting your local school is definitely not about being left-wing or right-wing for that matter. It is simply about supporting your local community. It is worrying how the ......"

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Linda Thornton: Forty years of working well.

Having spent forty years in education as a teacher, headteacher, adviser, senior education officer and now an early years consultant I am firmly committed to supporting state schools. read more and comment →

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Trish Chester: Academy Status – Short sighted and selfish

Power hungry Head teachers and money hungry governors make a lethal combination when it comes to state schools. I am hoping for solidarity from supporters of the state system who wish to improve it for all pupils instead of dismantling it for the benefit of a few. Academy status (as many coalition proposals) look good at a glance but frightening on close ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Francis Gilbert: "I think the worrying thing about Academy Status is that ultimately it will lead to much less scrutiny and accountability for these schools. I think our focus should be driving up standards in all schools, focusing upon giving every child ......"

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Simon Bernstein: Let’s shift the debate to fundamental values like ‘fairness for all’

So long as there is 'choice' in education, and schools are subjected to market forces, the system will remain unfair and some schools will be deemed 'failures'. Only when local children attend their local school will this begin to change. To enable such change ultimately requires the abolition of private, grammar, academy and free schools, as well as the creation of ... read more and comment →

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Elaine Hendry: There are great local schools out there – let’s celebrate them!

I don't have children, but I work in the world of education, and am a primary school governor (of a school in a deprived part of Hackney). My work brings me into contact with people who are running great schools - far better than the selective convent that I went to 40 years ago - but their stories aren't ... read more and comment →

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Thomas Eagle: Going to a local school played an important part in helping me gain a sense of independence and responsibility

I went to a local state primary school (Victoria School, in Berkamsted, Herts) which was, fortunately, very close to where we lived. The fact it was so local played an important part in helping me gain a sense of independence and responsibility as a child: my sister and I were allowed to walk to school on our own, and it's ... read more and comment →

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