Hard to engage kids

Yet another report this week highlighting the difference in achievement between those who have a hard start in life and those who don't.

Looked after children and those who move around a lot do so much more badly at school.  I've mentioned this before but there should be no reason why this is the case, but it is.

I do believe the tightly structured curriculum and the focus on teaching to the test means these groups of children suffer when it comes to exams.  

Lets just hope that the more practical curriculum that will come about with functional skills and, at least for these groups, the introduction of the Foundation Learning Tier will help them.  It's really about time we move away from focusing the majority of the best resources on the borderline and started to address the issues of learning rather than passing exams.   

Consistency is needed

The Government looks to be in trouble and that means there is likely to be some change.  It's a real shame because during this period of economic uncertainty, the role of education is of primary importance in providing not only a home for young people who can't find an alternative but opportunity for all those who find themselves out of a job.

Now really isn't the time to change Education Ministers again.  A new minister will want new top priority policies and will only have maybe 9 months to have an impact before parliament breaks up for the election.  In a company it wouldn't happen, it shouldn't in politics.  Education is more important than that!

The Magic Bullet?

I've been reading about magic bullets this week.  

• Feed kids the right food to make their brain work.
  
• Re-educate the way they think
  
• Keep repeating year 6 until they can read and write
  
• Have more assessments (and indeed other reports suggest less assessments).
  
• Introduce new performance tables, or do away with all performance tables.
  

Bottom line is there is no magic bullet but I do have a little story that I hope is both relevant and shows that things can change.  I have a good friend who fosters.  Their last charge was a teenager who was "off the rails", but just under a year later that very same person attends classes regularly, is succeeding in education, treats others with respect, and has a future.  

I wish I could say how or why they managed to make progress, but I can't, I suspect they can't can't say either.  Perhaps it's just the whole package together that's the basis of a magic bullet?

  

£300K a year job in DCFS?

There's a tender out at the moment  from Chief Adviser for School Standards.

Two experts contracting for up to 220 days to provide advice on English and Maths at primary.

Contract value is £600,000

Correct me if I'm wrong, does that mean two full time  jobs for 1 year that DCFS is willing to paya salary of £300,000?

If you're interested the email of the person managing the tender is hackman.ps@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk 

Good luck!

Foundation Learning Tier

I work across both schools and colleges and one of the things which I never really noticed is suddenly becoming much more apparent.

The Foundation Learning tier - I've been doing some research into this and I've really noticed that whilst it's something which is pretty well understood in colleges but i it's often a very new concept in schools.

Now the FLT is likely to have a very big impact on schools particularly with those hard to engage learners and it looks to me like there is a big hurdle waiting to be crossed out there.  Why mention this now - well i think it's only just starting to be talked about.

I shall keep an eye on it all.

 

Diploma promotional Materilas

I just picked up that every schools is about to receive a Diploma campaign pack  in the week commencing 1 June 2009. 

This pack will contain the following: an A4 folder; an A3 poster; 1 x  leaflet for each of the 14 Diploma lines of learning, Year 10 students, Year 12 students, employers and parents; 1 x  Advanced Diploma leaflet for each of the first 10 Diploma lines of learning; and a Marketing Toolkit CD-Rom.

Can't wait - wish they'd asked me to get involved though!

PM's speech

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19209

The link above is the Prime Minister's 5 May speech about education.  I will be honest and say that although I skim read it, i really didn't spot anything new, in the main it was all about confirmation of what was already announced.

A little follow on is that the PM was talking about a national challenge for primary schools, this morning on GM.TV Carole Vordermann was on talking about failing maths teaching in primary schools - coincidence?