Mick Fletcher, member of the Policy Consortium, scrutinises the DfE impact assessment for the cut to funding for 18 year olds. Imagine a man (let’s call him Matthew) who is embarrassed at his short stature. Instead of saying he is …
Little or no sound evidence exists to support claims that brain training, and other brain-based programmes that are now used widely in schools and colleges will accelerate learning and improve performance. Even the much-vaunted Brain Gym has precious little peer-reviewed …
Will neuroscience help education sort the truth from the quackery? Read more »
Colin Forrest, Carolyn Medlin and Mike Cooper of the Policy Consortium analyse what Sir Michael Wilshaw’s Ofsted Annual Report for 2012/13 says about further education and college improvement. This is an extended version of the post ‘Setting the scene for …
Ofsted still found to be in much need of improvement Read more »
Colin Forrest, Carolyn Medlin and Mike Cooper consider the clues in Ofsted Annual Reports, past and present, as to what impact the Inspectorate has had on improvement in the sector and how well it performs according to its own criteria… …
Setting the scene for the Ofsted Annual Report – and FE improvement Read more »
Andrew Morris and Ian Nash comment on the latest PISA report As ever, the latest PISA research triggered the usual blame game among politicians. Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, said it amounted to a condemnation of more than a decade of …
Should FE staff speak truth to power? I don’t mean in the way the US Quakers who originated the phrase in 1955 meant – as an alternative to conflict – but as a critical and quite probably friendly voice that …
Ian Nash and Colin Forrest survey the real issues behind the speeches and breakout sessions at the 2013 AoC annual conference in Birmingham Leaders gathering at the Association of Colleges Annual Conference in Birmingham were more stoical than they have …
A future with more freedom than people would wish for? Read more »
By Mike Cooper [Link to StatsLife piece by David Speigelhalter added on 2/12/2013] The new PISA report (analysis and tables) on comparative international educational attainment is due out next week. Here are interesting links to two contrasting pieces of general …
Mick Fletcher and Seb Schmoller explore the mysteries of government policy on apprenticeships Some aspects of government policy on apprenticeships are baffling. The confusion may however be explained by two big problems that confront politicians dealing with education and training. …
Andrew Morris, member of the Learning and Skills Research Network and the Policy Consortium, discusses the implications of self-improvement, not improvement, for new FE body the Education and Training Framework. Leaders of colleges judged outstanding by Ofsted inspectors say it …