Easy to tell it's half term

Not that much intersting in the papers this week, the TES is thinner than my hair, the only thing that i read that was of interest was the way in which the Sats tests cancellation was hitting Touring Theatre Groups who were delivering Shakespeare workshops.

Dropping these tests may have a bigger impact on teaching and learning than we think......

Possible conflict between colleges and schools?

The TES reported this week (Joseph Lee page 3 of FEFocus) that Colleges are calling for the power to take over the Diploma for 14 year olds and recruit them directly.

Good thing or bad thing?  My view is that short term it would be really bad as Colleges have pretty much failed to either recruit or direct students to Diploma courses - only 1500 students on level 1 for example.  So why give a college more power to direct students away from diplomas?

Long term however, it has to be a very good thing.  there's no doubt there would a significant number of 14 year olds who would benefit from a college environment and do better than at school. 

I just think that to get into a position of "power" you have to show significant levels of support in the first place.

KS3 tests - impact

Well, there isn't really a surprise to this announcement but it is very big news. 

Does it impact 14-19?

Well it should impact it positively as no longer will 14 year olds be taught to a test, especially a test which can have some really major impact on where studnets go next.

Maybe we'll actually see Schools now bring forward some other things to take the pressure off year 11 and provide studnets with an earlier target.  I'm thinking about Functional Skills here and maybe things like INGOTS?

Probably, it provides much more opportunity for much broader and much better teaching and learning.

As bad as that!

Reports that only 11,000 students have started Diplomas are, I guess, depressingly real.

our feedback from customers and potential customers is that students numbers are low.  In one case we were told that only 1 students had enrolled on an engineering course so they had been transferred to BTEC.

In the long term - is this bad?

Not necessarily so as it gives everyone a btter chance to get it right first time, but it does require a large enough population to move forward..

If I was to suggest where publicity could have been improved I would start with the comment from DCFS/QCA that Diplomas were a gold standard qualification for everyone.  They aren't, they are right for some and if we'd started there, we may not be in a position where we are trying to defend low take up.

Confirmation of things we already sort of knew.

Taken from the TES

The Public Accounts committee have said:

• Diplomas will cost more than GCSE or A levels but the final cost is unknown.
  
• Many teachers are still in the dark about how the new qualifications are being funded.
  
• Half of all schools and colleges had no idea whetehr their teachers were ready and equipped to teach the course.
  
• The Government had not yet convinced employers, universities and parents of the Diplomas credibility.
  

Ho hum - just another day in thew ever chaging world of Functional Skills and Diplomas.

Another Great north run done

Nothing to do with functional skills or diplomas or education.

But I have just completed my 10th GNR in a row - and in a time of 2:14 - not bad for an old guy!

Click on the link to donate a pound or two to the great North Air Ambulance.