Judy Kirsh is the current Chair of the National Association for Teaching English and Community Languages to Adults (NATECLA). Here is Judy’s assessment of the current situation in ESOL funding following the most recent government u-turn on funding: Action for ESOL was formed at the beginning of 2011 to fight the funding cuts announced in
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Those of us over a certain age remember the day in 1997 when Tony Blair famously (or should that be infamously) stated that his new government’s main priorities were “education, education, education”. How times have changed. For schools that have participated in the recent YPLA Open Book project it might seem that their priorities are
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In this article, Peter Harrison, an Educational Consultant asks whether conventional approaches to improving standards of teaching and learning are effective and sustainable, particularly during times of financial constraint: Outstanding teaching and learning Ofsted recently published its consultation on the Common Inspection Framework 2012 for further education and skills providers. It includes the statements “We
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In this article Wendy Forrest considers some of the challenges facing FE in what can only be termed as turbulent times: Further Education has always laid claim – rightly – to its place as the most nimble and flexible part of the education system. Colleges respond swiftly to new learning needs, whether thrown up by
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The consultation on the Ofsted proposals due to come into effect from January 2012 closed at the end of May; at the same time as some schools are being engaged in pilot inspections under the new regime. It will be interesting to see how comments made will affect the final document as a variety of
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Kenny Frederick is the Head Teacher of George Green’s School on the Isle of Dogs in Tower Hamlets. Her school has successfully introduced the International Baccalaureate and she is hugely concerned about how the new post 16 funding mechanisms will impact on her innovative curriculum. Mr Jim Fitzpatrick MP House of Parliament Westminster London
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All learning providers know they need to prepare young people for the world beyond formal education and in order to do this they must offer a distinct and exciting curriculum. In fact, so much does the government want us to think ‘outside the box’ they believe that Academies and Free Schools do not need to
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As Sue Rimmer, Principal of South Thames College, points out – the cuts to tutorial entitlements in colleges from 114 to 30 funded hours a year may have a significant impact on young people at risk of social exclusion. In the context of local authority budget cuts and reduced local services for young people, what
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As with Academies, establishing Studios Schools across the country has been inherited by this government from its predecessor. Unlike academies, the initial concept has not been changed or diluted and is well regarded by government and its key advisors. Michael Gove has described them as “a vital new option for parents and young people that
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