B. For Discussion

Richard Pring, March 2013 Introduction: political context We are witnessing the most radical changes in the system of education and training since the establishment, in 1944, of secondary education for all within a maintained system of education. These changes affect deeply the provision of 14-18 education and training. Two aspects require clarification. First, the ‘maintained [...]

Denise Hevey is Professor in Early Years at the University of Northampton. This is her statement, to which she seeks signatories, in response to the EY Teacher proposal in the Government’s policy document “More Great Childcare”. Professor Hevey focuses on the impression the proposal creates that the new Early Years Teachers without QTS are still [...]

Professor Cathy Nutbrown is Head of The School of Education at the University of Sheffield. In October 2011 she was asked by the then Children’s Minister Sarah Teather to conduct an independent review on early education and childcare qualifications. Professor Nutbrown delivered her report, under the title Foundations for Quality in June 2012. Click here [...]

TIM BRIGHOUSE and BOB MOON Comparisons between professions are fraught with danger. And comparisons between teachers and other professions are especially problematic. Should teachers be compared with doctors or nurses, with barristers or solicitors, architects or engineers? Teaching has always had a rather ambiguous position in the social order. Uncertainty about status extends to the [...]

Bethan Marshall and Margaret Brown On September 17th 2012, Michael Gove announced further details of the proposed changes to the examination system at age 16. These modified significantly his earlier (June 21st) statement requiring a return to an O-level type of examination, apparently in order to obtain the agreement of his Liberal Democrat coalition partners. [...]

Roger Brown, Carole Leathwood and Helen Carasso INTRODUCTION This paper provides a series of briefing notes on a number of current higher education policy issues. It is widely recognised that the higher education sector has a vital role to play in the economic, social and cultural life of the country, but it is one that [...]

Robin Alexander, University of Cambridge, responds to the Secretary of State’s National Curriculum proposals for England. This paper was submitted to the Department for Education by NVG member Robin Alexander via the Cambridge Primary Review, which he directs. It responds to the ‘pre-consultation’ proposals for the national curriculum at Key Stages 1 and 2 which [...]

Stephen Twigg MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on the report by The New Visions for Education Group, said: “This report shows that the Government’s education structure is not fit for purpose. Michael Gove has overseen a huge programme of centralisation, with the majority of secondary schools now accountable to politicians and bureaucrats in Whitehall. [...]

John Elliott, NVG Aims, Curriculum and Assessment sub-group. This paper by John Elliot is intended to be read alongside Eric Bolton’s paper A 21st Century National Curriculum Framework. Click here for Eric Bolton’s paper. Introduction International comparisons of educational attainment, notably TIMMS and PISA, have shown that Asian countries – Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Singapore, [...]