Catherine Wallace The Chief Inspector of Schools, Michael Wilshaw, has hit the headlines again, this time with the suggestion that schools should be able to fine parents if they don’t read to their children. There are many reasons why this…
Monthly Archives: June 2014
London’s 300 languages are a boon for all the capital’s children
Tagged with: bilingualism, Catherine Wallace, EAL, London schools, migrant children
Posted in Teaching, learning, curriculum & assessment
Posted in Teaching, learning, curriculum & assessment
TALIS: A complex and realistic picture of teachers and teaching around the world
Chris Husbands What do we really know about teaching and teachers in England’s schools? What is teaching in England really like by comparison with other jurisdictions? Too often, discussions about teacher effectiveness, teacher appraisal, professional development and job satisfaction appear…
TAs: only a research-policy-practice trialogue will lead to evidence-based policy-making
Rob Webster The economists are at it again! This time last year, the Reform think tank outlined cost-saving measures that, it claimed, could be made without damaging pupils’ education. Chief among them was cutting the number of teaching assistants (TAs)…
British values: democracy and respect must also apply to the way curriculum is built
Chris Husbands Denis Healey tells the story. On the eve of South Yemen’s independence, its last British governor hosted a party attended by Healey, who was then minister for defence. Over drinks, as the flag was about to be lowered, the…
Birmingham’s ‘Trojan Horse’ saga: partnership and trust are what are needed now
Chris Husbands The inspection report is glowing: “This is an outstanding school… Teaching is outstanding overall… The curriculum is outstanding… Students behave exceptionally well in lessons…” In 2013, 75% of all its pupils attained five GCSEs grades A*-C including English…
