The value of pupils succeeding in school to the country’s economy
Pupils doing well in school across the country add an estimated £1.3 billion to the economy. This result came to light according to a research conducted by the Department for Education supported by the Institute for Fiscal studies; the outcome of the studies highlighted the value of educational performance to the national economy. The findings also indicated that pupils obtaining 5 A* to C grade GCSEs including maths and English adds an estimated £60,000 to an individual’s life time productivity. The improved result has also seen the number of pupils leaving school with 5 A* to C GCSEs risen from 44% to 47.8%, the percentage increase in the above stated results alone add £1.297 billion to the country’s economy with more than 21,600 more pupils fulfilling their potential. The contribution of improved educational outcomes to the economy cannot be over emphasised, the boost in the number of pupils getting good GCSEs has contributed in no measure to this positive outcome.
Completing basic education and continuing to secondary school does not only benefit young people themselves, but is also a valuable part of the government’s long term economic plan. Pupils from poorer background doing well in school and staying on to acquire the needed skills and qualifications help in no small measure in bridging the gap in the social divide. The encouraging result emanating from the research referred to above is the fact that a large proportion of the increased performance is among disadvantaged pupils. The proportion of pupils from these background obtaining good results has increased from 27.5% to 32.9% since 2010. This percentage increase represents an additional 7,150 pupils lifted from the state of hopelessness to an economic advantage of an estimated substantial economic benefit of £430 million.
The way forward...
The main aim of the government is to ensure that pupils are receiving the best form of education that will help them compete with the best in the world. The plan to achieve this aim will therefore include the following:
vFailing schools to be giving the needed boost by pairing them up with excellent sponsor groups that have the capacity of improving the lot of schools.
vQuality and value of exams to be improved through raising standards and tough exams.
vBehaviour and attendance of pupils to be given a top priority to allow teachers to concentrate on teaching.
vAttract more talented candidates to the teaching profession.
Funding to help instil character in pupils announced
The government has released millions of pounds in funding through former armed services projects with the sole aim of helping schools instil character in pupils with greater emphasis of improving the lives of children from disadvantaged background. The Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announcing the measures to help mould the character of pupils across the country also unveiled a new award called the ‘Character Awards’ which seeks to reward schools that develop and build character, grits and resilience in their pupils. To start the programme off, eight projects have been earmarked to receive an amount of £5 million to work with schools tapping into the experience and expertise of the armed forces through ex-service men/ women to help build leadership, self confidence, respect and self determination in pupils that will place them in a good stead for life in modern Britain.
The long term goal of the programme according the Education Secretary, is to turn pupils in Britain into a ‘can do’ individuals with the requisite skills and attitude in facing the challenges set before them as they progresses through life. More importantly, pupils coming from challenging background will benefit immensely from former armed forces personnel through their aspirations and determination gained during their time with the forces. Delivery providers have recorded ample examples of the benefit the programme is having on pupils that have had the opportunity in participating. These improvements has manifested itself in classrooms and beyond through pupils self confidence, respect for fellow pupils and school authorities and interpersonal skills.
Facts and figures
vOver 4.8 million has been awarded in 8 grants to use military ethos in schools to improve education attainment of the most disengaged pupils.
vKSA Education and Training awarded £412,000 to engage young people in physical activities, team building and work related learning.
vSkill force which also provides outdoor activities for children has been given £400,000 to provide series of outdoor challenges for children as well as helping with literacy and numeracy.
vRange of activities including volunteering, learning from mistakes, trying out new activities and establishing high aspirations designed to help pupils to do well in schools as well as beyond lunched.
v An award to encourage pupils to aspire to high aims in life through dedication and hard work following the ethos of the military.
vLife changing programmes with the propensity to impact positively on young persons, as they learn to take responsibility for their actions, communicate better with their peers and engage more effectively with their education.
The case for promoting British Values in Schools
The government has signalled its intention of embedding the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect for one another at an early age in schools. To achieve this goal, the department for education has published guidance on how to promote British values in schools with the aim of ensuring that our children leave school with a sense of belonging, national identity and pride of facing life in modern Britain. The said guidance also encourages both independent and state – maintained schools understand their responsibilities in actively promoting British values in schools and help to improve the spiritual, moral and cultural development of pupils.
Schools were given the freedom in the past to fashion out their own ways of teaching and encouraging pupils to learn and respect the aforementioned values, however, the published guidance specifically instruct schools to have a clear strategy on British values and how to achieve them. Ofsted and the independent inspectorates have also been mandated to include learning and teaching of British values into their routine check in schools. The overriding aim of this guidance according to the department is to ensure that pupils across the country become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of one’s background.
Greetings from China with mathematics.
Elite Chinese maths teachers are in the country to spend time with primary schools to share their teaching skills and methods. The teachers are drawn from Shanghai’s top schools in mathematics, and they are here on invitation by the Department for Education. The main aim of the visit as well as the programme is to establish maths as a core skill at a young age to give pupils a sound footing in education and life in general. The teachers numbering 29 will spend 3 weeks in selected primary schools and will be working in partnership with a local maths hub. The visit forms part of a pioneering maths exchange programme that had already seen a Minister of state for education and her entourage visiting China early this year.
Maths has always been touted as a key subject for the better development of children in any profession they decide to pursue. The statistics on maths education and performance of pupils in the country compared to China leads much to be desired. It is therefore not surprising that the government has formed a strong partnership with China’s educational authorities to improve the teaching and learning of this important subject. The visiting teachers are expected to impart and share the methods and skills that have helped Chinese schools to consistently top international performance tables in mathematics. The department for education is expecting an additional 34 primary maths teachers in early 2015 to augment the foundation that would have been laid by their predecessors.
Benefits of the exchange programme at a glance
This venture seems very laudable, however, the big question that needed asking is whether pupils in this country will be able to adapt to the dedication and discipline needed to master the subject to compete at the top of world ranking in mathematics.
£22 million additional funding for disadvantaged primary school pupils announced.
The government has provided an additional funding of £22 million to help disadvantaged primary school pupils in the country to close the gap in learning with their peers. This was announced by the Schools Minister David Laws on Tuesday November 11. The Minister also used the occasion in his press release titled ‘raising the achievement of disadvantaged children’, to officially announce the increased pupil premium funding for primary schools for the academic year 2015 to 2016 to £2.545 billion. Primary schools are to receive £1,320.00 for pupils that have been registered for free school meals in the last six years – ‘Ever 6 FSM pupils’. There are strong indications on the ground to support the assertion that raising the attainment of pupils by the end of primary school goes a long way in helping them perform well in their GCSEs, placing them on a sound footing for a successful career path.
The pupil premium was instituted to ensure that every child in the country is giving the opportunity to reach their full potential irrespective of their background. In effect, the scheme is to bridge the gap between the disadvantaged children in society and their peers in schools and to build a fairer society with opportunity for everyone. The funding will also help teachers with the needed resources to give all pupils the best possible start at school. The introduction of the premium has seen a tremendous improvement in performance of pupils from disadvantaged background. According to statistics from the Department for Education, the expected level in both reading and maths at the end of primary has risen from 62.2% in 2011 to 69.3% in 2013, with the gap of attainment narrowing from 18.5% in 2011 to 14.8% in 2011.
Other areas for consideration
EducationEducationA look at charging policy for schools
Education provided during school hours including the supply of any study materials such as books and instruments cannot be charged for, however, there are other activities and facilities that parents are called upon to contribute. The Department for Education in ensuring fairness and uniformity in charges that schools and local authorities can levy has published charging guidelines for all concerned to be used as a yardstick. The Education Act 1996 sets out the legal backing for charging for school activities in schools maintained by local authorities in England. Schools and local authorities can charge for the following:
Parents on low income and in receipts of income support, Child Tax Credit, guarantee element of State Pension Credit and employment support allowance are to be made aware of the support available to them when they are asked to contribute towards school visits. Before any charges can be levied on parents, the governing body of the school or the local authority concerned should draw up a charging policy. The Key areas addressed by the guidelines are, education, voluntary contribution, music tuition, transport, residential visits and non residential visits.
Education
Funding provided to help eradicate female genital mutilation and forced marriage on the girl child.
October 11 is a day set aside to mark the International Day of the Girl Child. This year’s celebration saw the Minister for Women emphasising the government’s desire to prevent the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage in the country with a funding of £330,000.00. The Prime Minister also announced in July, the government’s determination in galvanising international support and efforts to combat this menace that seeks to put breaks on the education of the girl child. Research indicates that about 125 million women worldwide are living with the consequences of female genital mutilation. The UK is the biggest international donor to efforts to tackling FGM investing over £35 million over 5 years. The practice is a criminal offence in the country and the government has made it clear that political and cultural sensitivity should not get in the way of stopping this canker. The maximum sentence of carrying out FGM or helping it to take place is 14 years in prison.
The way forward
Sport Premium for Schools sees more Children Benefiting from Sports
Sport Premium was introduced by the government in 2013 to help fund sports in schools across the country. £150 million was earmarked for the programme with the view of encouraging pupils in the country to actively participate in physical activities. The main rationale for the programme is to improve primary school sports provision. A new research has shown that the funding is bearing positive fruits in schools across the country, as nine out of ten primary schools have improved the quality of PE lessons since the introduction of the programme in 2013. The fund is giving directly to head teachers to support PE and sporting activities for pupils, with recruitment of sports specialists and PE teachers as a main driving force for promoting quality of sports lessons as well as after school sports clubs.
The ability of sports to instil discipline, self confidence and competence cannot be overemphasised. Competitive sports also help children to learn team work, builds good character and help in producing sound mind which is needed for a child’s academic life.
What the Fund has achieved since its inception
üMore opportunities for pupils to participate in inter – school competitions and after school clubs.
üBetter sports equipment purchased for many schools.
üNew and unusual sports as diverse as fencing, climbing and Danish long-ball introduced to encourage more pupils to participate in sports.
üSport teaching for children with special educational needs improved.
üSkills of teachers enhanced to offer quality sports lessons and coaching to pupils.
Sports Premium in Figures
A research conducted by the Department for education has shown vast improvement in the provision of sports since the fund was introduced last year. The summary below gives a snapshot of some of the findings from the research.
üThe fund has enabled one third of schools across the country to reduce the cost of after school clubs and over a fifth of those sampled made some after school clubs completely free.
ü96% of schools reported improvements in pupils’ physical fitness with 93% reporting improvements in pupils’ behaviour.
ü83% saw an increase in participation in after school sporting activities.
ü91% of schools reported an increase in the quality of PE teaching.
A look at charging policy for schools
Education provided during school hours including the supply of any study materials such as books and instruments cannot be charged for, however, there are other activities and facilities that parents are called upon to contribute. The Department for Education in ensuring fairness and uniformity in charges that schools and local authorities can levy has published charging guidelines for all concerned to be used as a yardstick. The Education Act 1996 sets out the legal backing for charging for school activities in schools maintained by local authorities in England. Schools and local authorities can charge for the following:
Parents on low income and in receipts of income support, Child Tax Credit, guarantee element of State Pension Credit and employment support allowance are to be made aware of the support available to them when they are asked to contribute towards school visits. Before any charges can be levied on parents, the governing body of the school or the local authority concerned should draw up a charging policy. The Key areas addressed by the guidelines are, education, voluntary contribution, music tuition, transport, residential visits and non residential visits.
New Curriculum takes off in schools across the country
The new curriculum forms part of the government’s plan for education and long-term economic objective. The main aim of the plan is to raise standards for children between the ages of 5 to 16, with greater emphasis on pupils from poorer background. Key subjects such as English, maths, computing and science will be a focal point for more attention to provide a broader and balanced education to help pupils develop their inner talents from their early years in schools. The new curriculum is a painstaking study and research embodying the best from the world’s most successful education systems with inputs from Singapore, Hong Kong, Finland Massachusetts and other best practices from schools across England.
The new curriculum at a glance.......
English
Main focus to be on children’s ability to read fluently and widely after completing primary education.
Seminal world literature to be taught in schools. There should be no descriptive list of writers beyond Shakespeare, who will have a key place at the heart of English curriculum.
Pupils aged 11 – 14 to study at least 2 of Shakespeare’s plays.
Pupils will learn to use dashes, brackets, semi-colons and colons correctly.
Maths
Five year olds introduced to fractions for the first time, giving them a solid foundation in maths at an early age.
Pupils should be taught times tables to 12 by the age of 9.
More emphasis to be placed on mathematical modelling and problem-solving.
Science
Evolution to be taught in primary schools for the first time.
Scientific knowledge to be enhanced through increased practical work and more mathematical underpinning.
Non science topics to be removed
Abstracts and vague statements on understanding the nature and methods of science removed from the new curriculum.
3 disciplines of physics, chemistry and biology to be studied in a much greater depth by pupils in secondary schools.
Computing
Greater focus on practical experience of programming.
Pupils to be taught coding and the use of programming languages with the view of helping them to solve computer problems.
5 year olds to learn how to write,create and test computer programmes.
The government is to recruit one hundred talented school leaders to help transform struggling schools across the country. This initiative was announced by the Schools Minister David Laws, as part of the government’s policy on improving the quality of teaching and leadership in schools in the country. The main aim of the leadership drive is to match the best and brightest school leaders in the country with schools that are facing some of the toughest challenges mostly in deprived rural communities and those in coastal areas that struggles to attract the needed leaders.
The department for Education has requested the Future Leaders Trust (TFLT) to run the programme on its behalf. The TFLT is currently inviting prospective applicants to be drawn from top performing heads of schools or outstanding aspiring heads who are interested in moving to affected communities to assist in raising achievement as well as attainment gap between pupils from poorer backgrounds and their peers to apply for the programme. Applicants will go through a rigorous recruitment process, with selected applicant receiving help in relocating to areas that their expertise will be of immense help.
Main aim of the Programme
A package of professional support and development will be provided to successful applicants, including a coaching and mentoring programme, dedicated training, expert peer support, and funding to deliver sustainable long-term improvements for their school.
The School Reform Minister Nick Gibb has indicated that the recently released GCSE result has shown a marked improvement in standards after policy change and also allowing pupils to sit the exams at the right time. According to figures released by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), the number of pupils aged 15 or under that sat for the exams was down by 40% compared to the previous year. The overall number of 15 year olds or under that sat the exams fell by the following:
The results indicated that 19% of 15 year olds had A* or As (up 5 percentage points) and 68% getting A* to C grades (up 10 percentage points). It has also been reported by the JCQ, that there was a four-fold increase in the number of pupils that sat for the newly introduced computer science GCSE; this has been partly attributable to the fact that industry Experts such as the British Computer Society has backed the new module as the future of the computer industry.
The proportion of girls achieving A* to C was 73.1% compared to 64.3% for boys. Science saw a sharp increase in entries for 16 year olds and was up by 16,000 pupils compared to the previous year. The overall A* to C pass rate for the exams has risen from 68.1% in 2013 to 68.8 in 2014. The School Reform Minister has emphasised that pupils and parents can now embrace the exams systems confidently as in his words, the subjects being examined are those that are most valued by employers, colleges, universities and will also help pupils to succeed in life.
All adopted school children from care are to receive funding worth £1,900 each towards their education. This announcement is a step in the right direction as previously, only children adopted from care since 30 December 2005 qualified for funding. The additional funding forms part of government’s initiative to help bridge the attainment gap between adopted children from care and non adopted children. It is envisaged that the funding will help improve levels of reading, writing and maths at key stage 2. The £20 million fund is to care for an additional 10,000 pupils from the care system, helping them cope and thrive at school and also give them the needed foundation in life. As part of initiatives to make adoption less complicated than it is today, selected councils and voluntary organisations have been given the go ahead to search the national adoption Register from September 2014, to learn more about children waiting to be adopted learning about their hobbies, likes and dislikes through videos and pictures with the view of finding them a loving and caring home.
Points to consider
vThe number of children on the adoption register as at June 2014 was 1,345 compared to 747 adoptive families.
vApril 2014 saw for the first time pupil premium paid to children adopted from care under the adoption and Children Act 2002.
vStatistics from adoption parents in 2003 indicated that less than half of adopted children reached the expected levels of maths, reading and writing at key stage 2, compared to non –adopted children.
vThe pupil premium funding for adopted school children will help schools provide tailored support in the form of catch-up sessions for pupils to improve their reading and maths skills. Teachers and other staff involved in educating and caring for adopted children will also receive specialist training to help them offer the best support to concerned pupils.
Moving Forward
vCouncils required by law to tell would be adopters all the assistance and support available to them including pupil premium, access to priority schools admission for their children and fee free 15 hours early years education for two year olds.
vBarriers to successful adoption such as ethnicity to be removed, making sure that councils and adoption agencies give preference to factors such as people’s ability to provide a stable home and tender loving care to children.
Discipline plays an important role in creating conducive environment for both teaching and learning in schools. The latest figures published by the department for education on behaviour in classrooms across England has revealed that thousands fewer pupils have been excluded from schools since 2010. This encouraging development has been partly attributable to new powers given to heads of schools by the government to enforce discipline in schools. Further evidence from the department on pupils’ behaviour since the said powers have seen disrupting behaviour nabbed in the bud before it becomes an exclusion offence. Tackling poor behaviour at an early stage of a child’s development is a sure way of reducing entrenched bad attitude in pupils as they progress through the educational system.
Measures in place to tackle poor behaviour in schools
The minister for education Nick Gibb has announced an additional funding of £18 million towards music education in the country. The additional funding will bring government’s investments for music education since 2012 to around £390 million. In 2012, 123 music hubs were set up by the government to help offer support to pupils in learning musical instruments. The first year of the music hubs, saw nearly half a million children learning a musical instrument for the first time. The scheme has offered an unravelled support and opportunity to disadvantaged pupils to have access to musical instruments and to receive lessons in music. According to a data published by the Arts Council of England, the year 2012/13 saw nearly 80,000 disadvantaged pupils and 30,000 special needs children participating in instrumental ensembles and choirs.
‘Music to the ears of the little ones’....
Children of all background are influenced by the environment within which they are raised and educated. It is therefore no secrete to point out that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are far less likely to get good GSCE results. The latest Attainment Statistics published in January 2014 indicated that in 2013, 37.9% of pupils who qualified for the free school meals got 5 GCSEs’ including English and Mathematics at A* to C, compared with 64.6% of pupils who do not qualify. The Secretary for Education, Michael Gove has indicated that it is unacceptable for success of children to be determined by their social circumstances. The government has promised ending child poverty by 2020 and also promised to raise the attainment for all disadvantaged pupils by closing the gap between them and their peers.
In England, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an independent charity that works to help raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils in primary and secondary schools. The EEF is administered by the Sutton Trust and funded by a £135 million government grant. The charity has catered for over 300,000 disadvantaged pupils since its inception in 2012.
Policy initiatives to help disadvantaged pupils
£1.8 billion channelled through pupil premium funding to schools in the financial year 2013 to 2014. Schools required to publish online how they are using the pupil premium and its impact on disadvantaged children. v£50 million made available for summer schools programme throughout the country since 2012. v£136 million invested through EEF to help raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. Holding schools to account for the achievement of disadvantaged pupils through Ofsted inspections and performance tables. Promoting effective practice through teaching and learning produced by EEF.
Ensuring schools making unsatisfactory progress seek expert help by undertaking a pupil premium
Government is to fund the biggest transformation of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in over 30 years. Councils as a result of this initiative are to receive £45 million of new funding to help support SEND children throughout the country. Under the new funding, young people and parents are to have a greater say over their personalised care and assistance they receive. A new code of practice published by the government gives practical advice and guidance to councils, schools and hospitals to ensure they are providing the best possible help to all children with SEND. The published code of practice has received an overwhelming majority of respondents positive about the new guidance and reporting that it is significantly clearer and accessible. Majority of parents sampled and piloted on the new scheme feel empowered and happier with the services they are receiving.
An overview
Scheme to start in September 2014 with the overall aim of making sure that councils across the country are supporting families with SEND and providing all the required needed assistance that will help them succeed as they navigate their ways through the journey of upgrading themselves for the future.
The reforms have already been subjected to a trial with over two thousands parents in the country. The results from these trials have been encouraging with parents indicating that the reforms have offered them a greater and more control over how and where they can access support.
The way forward
Greater co-operation between councils and health services ensuring services for young people with SEND are jointly planned and commissioned. A new legal right introduced for children and young people with an education, health and care plan to express a preference for state academies, free schools etc. Councils to publish a ‘local offer’ detailing the support available to all disabled children and young people and their families in the area, as well as those with special educational needs. Offer freedom of choice to children and parents with education, health and care plans the offer of personal budget – putting families firmly in charge.
Learning disability assessments to be replaced with a new better to understand and appreciate ‘birth – to – 25’ education, health and care plan – setting out in one place all the support families will receive.
The Education Funding Agency (EFA) was set up by the government to provide funding and support to all state-provided education in the country. The institution caters for 8 million children aged 3 to 16, and 1.6 million young people aged 16 to 19. The Agency’s priorities among others include, increasing the number of high quality schools, introduce fair funding and reform the school curriculum. Schools are also required to follow their funding agreement ensuring that funds provided by the state for the education of children are properly used and accounted for. The EFA regional framework became operational from 8 July 2014 providing educational establishments, local authorities, diocese and academies with individual school projects both new and refurbishment, with capacity to deliver elemental works. Employing over 730 staff, the agencies main centres are based in London, Coventry, Darlington, Manchester, Nottingham and Bristol.
The work of the EFA is supported by an advisory group of independent and knowledgeable persons who have distinguished themselves in various fields. The purpose of the advisory group is to:
Main Priorities of the EFA
Improve the conditions of existing school buildings. Support the creation of new places for pupils and learners. Funding and monitoring schools and academies throughout the country. Building maintenance programmes for schools and academies. Carry out IT investment plan for schools. Intervene quickly when schools are failing to deliver set standards and laid down rules and regulations. Support local authorities with the new commissioning and funding system for high needs pupils.
The Schools Minister David Laws has announced that 160,000 school children are set to benefit from the Talented Primary School Programme. Named ‘Teaching Leaders Primary’, the scheme aims at helping children in challenging primary schools with specialist trained teachers to hone the leadership skills of pupils at an early stage of their development and to give them all the needed encouragement to succeed in life. The funding will cover 5 to 11 year olds from disadvantaged background over the next four years. Developing primary school leaders for the future is seen by the government as a sure way of building confidence in pupils and giving them the needed aspiration to meet challenges that awaits them in the near future. The Scheme will see teachers working in challenging schools and with the potential to become outstanding leaders, put through a rigorous 2-year training programme which develops their skills and helps them get the most from pupils.
Highlights of the Scheme
The programme will commence in August 2014.
Benefits of the Scheme
Primary teachers with the potential to be outstanding heads will get the support they need to become the best school leaders of tomorrow.
Part of the government’s drive to deliver the best schools and skills for young people so the next generation can succeed.
The diverse nature of the school system will enable ‘middle leaders’ play a vital role in supporting disadvantaged pupils and closing the attainment gap between them and their peers.
The scheme will help middle leaders in the primary phase to address the achievement gap earlier in a child’s education.
The government has reiterated its continued effort in improving school estate in the country with a fund of £2 billion towards the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP). The Minister of state for schools, David Laws in announcing further funding for the programme mentioned that the next phase will cover a five year period from 2015 – 2021. The main aim of the new phase is to undertake major rebuilding and refurbishment of schools and colleges in the very worst conditions in the country. The second phase of the programme is not intended to replace those wider efforts to support local authorities, diocese and multi academy trusts etc in addressing the need of their estates. It will rather run alongside these in order to address individual projects that are of such significant scale that it would be difficult to pay for them through regular maintenance allocation.
Conditions of the programme
How to submit an expression of Interest
The Department for Education has launched a consultation on new plans to provide parents with easier to understand information about their child’s school. The aim of the consultation is to publish essential information on a school website in a consistent way showing how their children’s schools are performing in a series of key performance measures. The consultation was launched on 6 June and will come into effect from 2016. Schools are currently required to publish information on performance; however, there seem to be inconsistencies from school to school making it difficult and time consuming for parents to find out information that they need for the progress of their pupils. Clear reporting on performance is a hall mark of high performing education jurisdictions with an added benefit of providing key information to parents that will aid in informed choices about the future of their children.
Proposals
Rationale for Proposal
The Department for Education has published a new career guidance that will offer pupils inspiration and mentored schemes by employers and business leaders encouraging pupils to pursue ambitious careers. The main focus of the new guidance is to ensure that schools provide pupils with experience of the world of work to give them the confidence and the required skills needed to fulfil their potentials. This new initiative was announced by the Skills and Enterprise Minister, Matthew Hancock, who reiterated the importance of mentoring and the need to combine practical education at the basic level of the country’s educational system. The announcement comes as part of a broader shift towards more rigorous careers guidance, as outlined in the government’s inspiration vision statement, published in September 2013.
Strategic Intent of the career Guidance for schools
What’s in store for Pupils
Real motivation in building confidence and aspiration.
School Funding under the spotlight
The disagreement over the funding of basic education in the country has brought about a sharp division in the coalition government. The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has openly criticised the Education Secretary Michael Gove accusing the latter of channelling £400 million from the basic need budget meant for the provision of extra school places into the free school budget. The spat became embarrassing for the government as the Prime Minister tried during his appearance on the Andrew Marr’s show to defend the government’s budgeted £5 billion for the current parliament with the view of expanding the number of school places in the country. In defence of his education secretary, the Prime Minister indicated that free schools are needed in areas where there is high demand for places. However, Mr Clegg thinks the education Secretary is over ‘zealot’ about the success of his flagship free school initiative and that is impacting seriously on parents desire to get suitable school places for their children.
Free School Funding Report
Juggling the Funding of Local Authority control Schools with Free Schools.
Standards for Head teachers updated for the first time in a decade.
The Department for Education has drawn up a review programme designed to address the growing diversity of the school system. The review is to critically examine the current standard that is used by governing bodies in the head teacher recruitment and performance assessment. Furthermore, the review will consider the changing nature of school leadership such as executive heads or those in charge of multiple schools under academy trusts. The review is to be conducted by respectable group of professionals that will include head teachers, chair of governors and middle leaders. Dame Dana Ross-Wawrzynski, executive head teacher of Altrincham Grammar School for Girls and CEO of the Bright Futures Educational Trust will chair the review.
Schools Minister, David Laws has also reiterated that there is a strong link between school leadership, quality of teaching and outcomes for pupils. The diverse nature and the growing trend in worldwide educational systems call for new standards which consider the many different types of school leaders to steer the affairs of schools across the country. The review process will enable head teachers a flexible opportunity to review and set their own professional standards. This process has been described by the experts as the most significant steps towards self-regulatory system within the educational system.
Things to consider.....
Focus for head teachers........
The committee will report to the Secretary of State for Education with the review as well as the revised standards in summer, with the aim of publishing the final product by the end of the year.
The Secretary for Education has reiterated the need for implementing a long term educational plan for schools rooted in evidence driven by moral purpose. The said educational system according to the Secretary of State is to place more emphasis on vocational education, literacy and numeracy. Delivering a speech at the British Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Gove stressed the importance of giving every child a chance to flourish. He also acknowledges the segregated nature of the current educational system, indicating that thousands of children – mostly from poorer backgrounds were receiving an inadequate education to the detriment of society at large. The basis for the reforms is to give power to those at the frontline of education delivery in the country to ensure greater accountability and excellent standard performance for all children.
Changes so far......
Looking Ahead....
Leading Maths teachers in primary and secondary schools to be sent to China on an exchange programme to improve delivery and performance.
The Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss has recently announced new measures that seek to increase childcare options across the country with the main aim of helping hard working families to save money and time on child care cost. Childminders play a pivotal role in the lives of hardworking families, however, the last ten years has seen a reduction in the number childminders in the country. This has come about as a result of unnecessary bureaucracy in their recruitment and training. The good news for parents is that figures released last month indicated a fall in cost of after school provision services by childminders, falling for the first time in 12 years from £72.79 to £64.75. This reduction in cost to parents represents a potential savings of £420 per year.
Main Themes of the Policy
Other Matters to be consulted on......
The Education Secretary Mr. Michael Gove has announced a new look GCSE exams that will commence from 2015/16 with stronger emphasis on maths skills and final end-of-course exams. The main aim of the overhaul to the said exams is to fashion out an education system that can compete with the best in the world. England has performed poorly in maths and science education in recent years according to the World Economic Competitive rankings in quality of maths and science education. The need to place the country’s educational system on sound footing to match the best in the world has called for drastic changes to how schools approach the teaching of maths skills which is deemed important in other subjects such as economics, physics chemistry and geography. According to the Mr Gove, "the changes will make the exams qualifications more ambitious, with greater stretch for the most able; will prepare young people better for the demands of employment and further study”. However, educational experts have wondered, whether hastily carrying out such a large scale overhaul can stand the test of time. The first teaching of the new syllabus for GCSE starts form September 2015. This will starts with maths, English language and English literature.
GCSE changes from September 2016
GCSE Exams Tit Bits
Concerns
The government has announced that all infant in state-funded schools in England will be entitled to free school meal from September 2014. The package of measures for the feeding programme announced by the Education Minister Mr. David Laws on March 6, 2014, will ensure that schools that are eligible for the programme are given the needed facilities and funding to provide meals to all infants under their care. As part of the funding, £3,000.00 will be made available to each small school to improve kitchen facilities as well as £2.30 per child per day towards feeding. The government has so far made available £1 billion towards this programme ensuring that no infant does learn on an empty stomach.
Other details of the Programme
A look at the benefits of the Programme
As part of the government drive to attract high calibre candidates to the teaching profession, early years’ apprenticeship bursary has been increased to £3000 from £1500. The scheme offers a high quality route to becoming an early years’ educator, the modern equivalent of the highly respected nursery nurse diploma. According to the Department of Education’s press release in late 2013, the first 200 successful applicants to the bursary will receive the new award of £300. Bridging the gap between the performance of children from wealthier and poorer background leads the way in ensuring that all pupils receive the same level of basic skills through highly qualified teachers that will deliver the same sets of standards.
What the scheme is all about...
The Importance of Early Child Education
Highly skilled nursery educators will play a pivotal role in ensuring that good quality education is made accessible to all children to have a good start with their peers wherever they find themselves.
The World Economic Forum’s Competitiveness Ranking in quality of maths and science education last year ranked UK 50th out 148 countries. In an effort to improve the teaching and studying of mathematics in the country, the Ministry of Education has sent a high powered delegation led by the Education Minister, Elizabeth Truss to the City of Shanghai in China. The minister and her delegation visited 3 schools (primary and secondary) as well as teacher training colleges to get a feel of maths classes and teaching in that country. A recent analysis by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicated that, ‘children of manual workers in Shanghai do better at maths than the children of highly paid professionals in UK’. Maths has always been touted as a key subject for the future development of children in whatever profession they decide to pursue in life.
The Maths Story so far...
The way forward
The importance of maths cannot be overemphasised to the development of children in this country. The government has introduce the following measures to ensure that the United Kingdom could matchup with the rest of the best when it comes to maths education.
Providing £11 million for new maths hubs - the money will allow the development of a national network of around 30 maths hubs.
Britain’s hosting of the Olympic and the Paralympics games have increased greater awareness and desire for sports participation by school children in the country. The government introduced the Dedicated Primary PE and Sport Premium in March, 2013 with a view of tapping into the euphoria that engulfed the country after the games and to rekindle the sense of raising the fitness level of all children. To reiterate the importance of the scheme, the Prime Minister has recently highlighted the Primary and sport Premium and a fund for primary schools to improve outdoor spaces for PE and sports activities. The fund has been described by the government as an equivalent of 2 days a week sporting activity with a specialist for every pupil.
Benefits from the Fund
Out Door Activities
To improve the use of outdoor spaces, the government has announced further funding of £18 million starting from February 2014 to improve outdoor spaces for PE and sporting activities. This lottery funded scheme is to be administered by Sport England and will prioritise schools with limited outside space and a strong commitment to PE and sport. Each identified school is to receive £30,000 each with the view of helping them improve their sporting provision with particular reference to better equipment and facilities.
Other Matters
New £500,000 Fund To Train Teachers In Software Coding: Thursday, 13th February 2014
NEW £500,000 FUND TO TRAIN TEACHERS IN SOFTWARE CODING
Technology has been an integral part of the educational system for a long time; however, the area of software coding has not been given the needed attention that it requires in preparing future generation to compete with the outside world. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Education Secretary have announced a new fund of £500,000.00 to fund the training of teachers for software coding. The main aim of the initiative announced on February 4, 2014, is to inspire the next generation of tech entrepreneurs and also to encourage school pupils to not only use the ever increasing technology, but to be partakers of its engineering.
What is happening now in Schools
Points to Consider
The government has announced an initiative to fund more than 1,800 independent supporters to help parents with the new special educational needs process. The scheme was announced by the Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson in January, 2014 with the view of recruiting and training a pool of independent SEN supporters from independent voluntary, community and private organisations. The government has liaised with the Council for Disabled Children (CDC) to ensure that the scheme gets off to a good start and also help with the recruitment and training.
The way Forward!
The Children and Families Bill
The bill is currently going through Parliament, when approved, it will offer a significant improvements to the supports available for children with SEN. Notable among the provisions with the aim of helping families with SEN children are:
Funding from government towards the provision of 15 hours free childcare has been announced by the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg. Councils in the country are to receive £755 million towards the provision of free childcare for the most disadvantaged 2 year olds from September this year. The funding will see this year’s award doubling the number of eligible children from 130,000 to over 260,000. To make the fund accessible, an online guideline has been lunched with the view of allowing parents and carers to see how many children in their catchment area do qualify for the award.
KEY ISSUES RAISED
RATIONALE
Over one million more children to receive a free school meal from September 2014.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has announced that an estimated 1.55 million school children across the country will benefit from a free school meal from September 2014. The policy statement titled, ‘Giving all children a healthy start in life’ seeks to give every child in reception years 1 and 2 a free meal, saving parents who currently pay for a school lunch over £400 a year per pupil. The funding is to be administered through local authorities for maintained schools, based on the number of pupils they have.
Key Features
Benefits of Free school meal to pupils
According to a detailed analysis conducted by the Ministry for Education, there is enough evidence to show that performance of pupils improve if healthy meal is eaten at lunch time. The following are the summary of the benefits:
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