BESA are urgently calling on teachers and educators to visit the just-released online survey at http://commission.eduresearch.org.uk/ to add their voice to the BESA Policy Commission into the changing face of education.  The deadline for submissions by teachers and educators is 30 June 2008, however, if you would like to add the information to your website it would be greatly appreciated. BESA would like as many teachers and educators as possible to have the opportunity to get their opinions across to the Commission. Read the rest of this entry »

Mental Health – Supporting Young Minds

With 10% of all children in schools reported to be suffering from mental health problems at any one time, how can schools address this significant but often hidden issue? We look at a range of strategies to help. Watch online

PEN comment: we hope it looks into the mental health issues generated by schools and schooling!

This conference will explore the ways in which childhood and youth are represented as life course categories and how in changing cultural and historical contexts these categories are beginning to be questioned and often re-presented. This process of reflection and review can be seen taking place in a variety of different ways, which are addressed by the conference strands in relation to theory, methodology, discorses and  policy

There are still a few places left for those wishing to attend this conference.

For full details please see web page: http://www.cscy.group.shef.ac.uk/conferences/index.htm

From Edutopia news http://www.edutopia.org/edutopianews.html

 Charter School Takes An Organic Approach To Learning
The Learning Gate Community School opens its first modular classroom building, hoping to achieve a Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design designation. Only three schools in the nation have received the platinum distinction, and none have modular buildings. — Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida)

The Conference combines critical reflection by leading international experts in children’s rights, drawing on experience from before the adoption of the UNCRC, with examination of specific issues by those active in research and practice in Wales and elsewhere. The programme ranges over conceptual themes to research, policy and practical application and will be of interest to practitioners, policy advisers, academics and any person interested in children’s rights.

Further details about the programme, registration, travel and accommodation arrangements are available from Trish Rees, School of Law, Swansea University, tel. 00 44 (0) 1792 513511 and from the Conference website: http://www.rightsofthechildswansea.com/index.html

IALA news - latest May 15 blog entries http://www.learningalternatives.net/. Some fascinating items include:

• Baccalaureate Degree at Community Colleges!
• - In a stunning development, the Community College Baccalaureate Association fosters the conferring of a traditionally earned four year degree from community colleges, which traditionally offer a two year degree…
• Early College High Schools Grow Dramatically
• - One of the newest stars in the education constellation is combining secondary education with college and it has taken off dramatically. In just one major program this year, 159 schools in 24 states operate with an expected 100,000 students served at 250 sites within the next few years…
• Parents Favor More Choices in Schools
• - A national opinion poll conducted in March, 2008 of 800 registered voters found that 81% of parents support having more public school options for their children…

There is so much creative thought and practical energy in Shikshantar  http://www.swaraj.org/shikshantar/ Its really worth exploring the resources of their website and challenging some of our own accepted wisdoms. A good starting point is the ‘Resisting the Culture of Schooling Series’  - dedicated to highlighting various ways in which people are creatively struggling against dehumanizing and exploitative Education and Development/Globalization. http://www.swaraj.org/shikshantar/resisting.html

From Eduptopia news http://www.edutopia.org/edutopianews.html for this link to a video of Sir Ken Robinson talking in April in San Franscisco. http://www.edutopia.org/sir-ken-robinson-creativity-video

From the Alite newsletter http://www.alite.co.uk/

Jane Rolph, Headteacher of Chapel Break Infant School. Jane reported on Outstanding Education, Learning and Care Providers’ Conference
following her school’s highly successful Ofsted report. The following were sited as being common features within many of the schools;

• ‘Hands on’ heads - Headteachers involved with the curriculum & students
  Keeping the vision simple
  Praise
  Sometimes saying No to new initiatives
  Individual learning programmes & personalisation
  Informal talk - having a cuppa and cake in the staffroom, Headteachers who listen to their staff, have faith in their staff
  Creative curriculum, use of thinking skills and experiential learning - throw out the worksheets!
  Enrichment with a focus on ‘The Arts’ involving galleries, museums, theatres, libraries, within the curriculum and as extra curricular activities.
  Designing your own exciting curriculum - being brave in taking risks, teachers who are open minded about trying new ideas
  High focus on basic skills, learning in small chunks, and rewarding small steps
  High expectations
  Pupils taking responsibility, such as school councils, peer counselling and management teams
  Promoting a can-do ethos and high self esteem
  Engaging parents and working with the wider community

PEN comment: what would non mainstream settings identify? Responses gratefully recieved.

You’ve all heard of the UK Building Schools for the Future  (BSF)- focussed on secondary sector. The Primary Capital Programme is also now coming to wider attention. The Primary Capital Programme (PCP) aims  to develop and implement plans to deliver 21st century schools at the heart of communities. Over the next 15 years, PCP will look to rebuild or improve at least half of all primary schools.
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinanceandbuilding/Primary_Capital_Programme/

PEN Comment - another expensive exercise being purused while we still haven’t got a clear view of education and learning in the mainstream. The usual defaults will undoubtedly apply - more of the same in glossy buildings.

A toolkit aimed at helping schools become more sustainable has been designed by NCSL. Whether you’re just getting started or have done a lot of work in this area, the toolkit helps you review your current position and plan for a more sustainable future. It has been developed with school leaders and includes case studies, interactive resources and practical tips. http://www.ncsl.org.uk/sustainableschools/sustainableschools-toolkit.cfm?CFID=21050651&CFTOKEN=13208652

PEN Comment: sadly it doesn’t contain such important sustainability questions as whether schools should be invitational!

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to recieve QTS in the UK have a look a the new online guidance recently published: revised qualified teacher status standards and requirements for initial teacher training
Guidance to accompany the revised standards for qualified teacher status and requirements for initial teacher training is available. http://www.tda.gov.uk/about/newsletter/may2008/qualityandstandards.aspx

The National Charter Schools Conference will be June 22-25, 2008 in New Orleans.

The Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO) will hold its 5th annual conference June 26-29, 2008 in Troy, NY.

The International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) will hold its annual conference August 11-18, 2008 in Vancouver, Canada.

The California Consortium for Independent Study will hold its fall conference Oct. 27-29, 2008 in Monterey, CA.

The Washington Association for Learning Alternatives will hold its fall conference Nov.13-15, 2008 in Pasco, WA.

The Community Day School Network (California) will hold its annual conference Jan. 11-13, 2009 in Fresno, CA.

The Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs will hold its annual conference Feb. 18-20, 2009 in Rochester, MN.

The California Consortium for Independent Study will hold its fall conference March 2-4, 2009 in Sacramento, CA

The 31st annual Connecticut State Alternative Education conference will be March 25, 2009 in New Britain, CT.

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Political Battleground: Failing Schools and Academies, 11am - 1pm, 4 July 2008

The government has announced new proposals for failing secondary schools. The Conservative party has indicated that failing secondary schools should be outside of Local Authorities. Further expansion of school academies seems to be on the cards.

This event will examine the government’s proposals for failing secondary schools - including a new model for trust schools - the case for expanding academies and the impact on the funding for the 14-19 phase.

Tricia Hartley, Chief Executive of the Campaign for Learning will summarise the government’s proposals for failing schools. Sam Freedman from Policy Exchange will consider the case for expanding academies and Mark Corney, Policy Adviser to the Campaign will look at the implications for funding and managing the 14-19 phase.
To book a place at the briefing please click here or alternatively visit www.campaignforlearning.org.uk and follow links for events. This event costs £99 plus VAT.

Government Use of School League Tables Completely Unjustified

Research news from Significance (http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1740-9705&site=1), the magazine of the Royal Statistical Society

Parents and teachers should not rely on school league tables to judge how good, or bad, a school is, according to research published today.

Since the early 1990s school league tables have been published in the UK, leading parents to start searching for the ‘best’ school for their child. Whilst no longer published in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, their use has continued in England.

The first league tables used raw data from exam results and they have now graduated to a ranking system using ‘contextual value-added points’ which take into account factors such as prior achievements of pupils, lack of spoken English at home and even eligibility for free school meals.

Statisticians from the University of Bristol looked at the GCSE scores of secondary schools in England, and compared the ‘value added’ scores with simple GCSE averages and show that these can differ substantially.

Professor Harvey Goldstein, lead author of the study, from the Centre for Multilevel Modelling at the University of Bristol said, “By publishing both sets of data, schools can pick and choose which version they use and parents need to be aware of what they are looking at.”

The key finding of their research, however, is that when it comes to choosing a school, what matters is the future performance when those about to start secondary school will take their GCSE exams – some 6 years later. When these ‘predictions’ are taken into account it turns out that less than 5% of schools could be significantly separated from the average or from each other.

“The general use of league tables, whether for schools, police forces or hospitals, rests on shaky scientific foundations and the current evidence suggests that they cannot safely be used for the purposes put forward by the government in terms of institutional choice or accountability,” added Goldstein. “From the results of our study it is clear that the government should take note of the evidence and cease the production and present use of school league tables.”

Goldstein H, Leckie G. School League Tables: What can they really tell us? Significance 2008: Volume 5, Issue 2, 67-69. DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-9713.2008.00289.x

Professor Harvey Goldstein is based at the Centre for Multilevel Modelling, Graduate School of Education at the University of Bristol

Leading educational publisher, PDC Education Ltd, has launched www.free-eds.co.uk, an on-line one-stop-shop listing free, inspirational teaching resources covering the complete national curriculum for primary and secondary school teachers.

 PEN comment: this might be a useful addition to resources for learners in all and any settings. Its free and worth a look.

Read the whole press release Read the rest of this entry »

You’d of thought by now that the government might of got the message that league tables don’t improve education. However proposals  are now underway to to produce tables detailing the school origin of every university entrant. (Martin Beckford, the Telegraph on May 28th)   

 Middle class and women do best at University - Telegraph 27th May.

Andy Bloxham writes about this study and quotes Simon Howard co-founder of the  of the Recruiters Guide to Courses and Campuses (RGCC):

‘Young people are encouraged to view university as a passport to getting a good job, but with the majority of of graduate employers expecting a 2:1 as a minimum entry requirement, decent jobs are being restricted to graduates who are typically white, middle class and usually female’

‘Full Time HE Students - Funding Higher Fees’, on 5 June, 2pm - 4pm, London

The funding of full time HE students will be a key political issue in the run up to the general elections. Dr Bahram Bekhradnia, Director of the High Education Policy Institute will be setting out the options for funding higher fees for full time HE students as set out in the recent HEPI report. Nigel Brown of Nigel Brown Associates and Mark Corney, Policy adviser to the Campaign will act as respondents. Read the rest of this entry »

Contents include:

1) Heads Up for School Starters
2) News from the AERO Office
3) Home Education @ AERO Conference 2008
4) Mary Leue to Speak for First Time at AERO Conference

Visit: http://www.edrev.org/fre.html

The Anne Frank Trust UK is the partner organization of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. We work throughout the UK to perpetuate the message of Anne Frank, and we encourage all schools to mark Anne Frank’s birthday each year in order to raise pupil’s awareness of the significance of her life and times. Read the rest of this entry »