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This page covers the latest literacy news from the
secondary sector in the last four weeks. To search for more
in-depth information or news and initiatives by subject area
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The Times has reported on Ofsted’s advice to schools trying to engage white boys from deprived backgrounds. The education regulator published recommendations for action-packed stories about danger or sport to inspire the group in lessons. Further advice included active involvement in lessons, rigorous monitoring and listening to pupils’ views.
“In the most successful literacy activities, teachers took care to choose texts that interested the boys,” Ofsted said. “These tended to focus on action-packed narratives which emphasised sporting prowess, courageous activities in the face of danger and situations where characters had to overcome challenges.”
Read the full article at www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article4381045.ece
(The Times, 23 July 2008)
The BBC has reported on an Ipsos Mori poll commissioned by education charity DEA that found one in five children had not discussed problems or news stories from around the world. Of the nearly 2,000 children surveyed, 50% said it was important to have people of different backgrounds living in the same country.
Schools took on a new duty to promote community cohesion under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 earlier this year. However, the results have led to calls for better global literacy. DEA chief executive, Hetan Shah, said: "An education system that leaves English children globally illiterate without a basic understanding of world events or problems and intolerant towards those from different backgrounds is one that sets children up to fail."
Ipsos Mori questioned 1,955 pupils aged from 11 to 16 in 82 schools in England in January for the survey.
Read the full article at www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7488417.stm
(BBC, 4 July 2008)
70 senior teachers were at the Prince's Teaching Institute science and geography summer school. The Press Association has reported on comments from the conference director, Bernice McCabe, head of the independent North London Collegiate School, on education policy, saying an emphasis on "functionality" in education could lead to "cultural and intellectual impoverishment".
Also present at the conference were Lord Adonis and Schools Secretary Ed Balls. Following the conference, Lord Adonis stated that “Our education policy is working. Standards have risen."
Read the full articles at www.ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5imx0iin-VQnKk_T7haZJT_1aYrHw
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/education/2224098/Education-policy-%27leaving-children-intellectually-impoverished%27.html
(Telegraph, Press Association 2 July 2008)
The Guardian reported a “shake-up” of GCSE English following the release of draft syllabuses by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) last week. QCA proposes offering a new GCSE in “English", alongside English literature and English language
The new course will focus on learning through "real-life contexts" and students will be assessed on skills in writing, speaking, reading and listening. Exams have been described as a “practical alternative” and pupils could pass without studying classic novels, plays or poetry.
Dr Ken Boston, the QCA's chief executive, said: "The proposed revisions ensure that the functional skills of English, mathematics and ICT will be fully covered by the GCSE in these subjects in the future.”
Read the article at www.education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2287926,00.html
(Guardian Education, 30 June)
The Telegraph has highlighted recommendations from a new report, which argues that social networking sites Facebook and Bebo should be used in the classroom to boost pupils' literacy skills. "The popularity of social networking websites should be exploited by teachers to develop children's ability to communicate and improve their technological skills, it was claimed."
It quotes the report by Childnet, an internet safety organisation: [it was] "clear that young people regard social networking services as just another part of their social and often school-related activities".
Read the article at www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2188708/Facebook-and-Bebo-can-help-literacy.html
(Telegraph, 24 June 2008)
The Telegraph has reported on a Government report which suggests that working class boys may be becoming the education ‘underclass’ in England. According to the report, just over one-in-20 white boys from poor homes goes on to university.
Read the full article at www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2151025/White-working-class-boys-becoming-an-underclass.html
(Telegraph, 19 June 2008)
The Guardian has reported on experts' warnings that teachers are afraid to tailor teaching to pupils' needs because of the national curriculum. Teaching union leaders said teachers were fearful of straying from the national curriculum and in many cases were no longer able to design lessons themselves.
Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2284871,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8
(13 June 2008)
The Daily Mail has covered plans announced by schools minister, Lord Adonis, to increase the number of 'all-through' academies to prevent pupil performance dipping in between primary and secondary schools.
Education experts have frequently warned that the transition between primary and secondary schools is crucial for children and many struggle to cope with the change. The plans would mirror the private sector where many of the large public and independent schools have small preparatory departments attached for children aged five to 11. Pupils would be given specialist lessons in English and Maths as soon as they start school to help them prepare for secondary school as early on as possible.
Read the full article at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1025376/Government-wants-increase-number-18-academies.html?ITO=1490
(Daily Mail, 10 June 2008)
The Guardian has covered suggestions by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) that schools can raise standards, improve behaviour and reduce exclusion rates through changing staff structures and ways of working.
Research for SSAT by the Institute of Education, London, published today, finds that restructuring to link pastoral and academic support, making use of data and involving teaching assistants in teaching and learning are "powerful levers in raising achievement".
Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/newschools/story/0,,2284662,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8
(Guardian, 10 June 2008)
The Independent has reported that state schools in Britain offer pupils a better chance of improving their test performance than those in the independent sector, according to an international study.
Test results for 14-year-olds in English, maths and science show the gap between the state and independent sectors is wider than anywhere else in the world. However, the gap is wiped out when results are adjusted to take into account the social background of pupils and compared with what could be expected from them when they first arrived at their school.
Read the full article at www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/state-schools-are-best-for-progress-842779.html
(Independent, 10 June 2008)
The Times has covered claims by James Stansfield at Newcastle University that Scotland's education system is failing pupils. Stanfield likened the Scottish system to the emperor without any clothes.
Read the full article at www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article4107856.ece
(The Times, 11 June 2008)
The Independent has revealed that local authorities with a selective system have the largest number of secondary schools failing to reach basic targets. Kent, Birmingham and Lincolnshire had the highest numbers of failing schools – where fewer than 30% of pupils obtain five or more A* to C grade GCSE passes including maths and English.
Read the full article at www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/the-cost-of-grammars-selective-councils-have-most-failing-schools-844223.html
(Independent, 11 June 2008)
The Guardian has reported that schools are being thrown into turmoil by government threats to turn them into academies. Schools reacted after Ed Balls announced the School Improvement Strategy which states that local authorities have 50 days to come up with individual plans to improve results, through tailored support for headteachers, by removing struggling schools' governing bodies, or partnering them with a good local school.
Read the full article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2284762,00.html
(Guardian, 11 June 2008)
The BBC has reported on research from the University of Bristol which suggests that school league tables are of little use in telling how good or bad a school will be. The problem, according to University of Bristol statisticians, is that they do not predict future performance.
Read the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7431883.stm
(BBC, 6 June 2008)
An analysis on the above topic by Mike Baker is available on the BBC website.
Read the article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7417579.stm
(BBC, June 2008)
The DCSF has announced new funding, of £81 million, to prepare teachers to deliver the new diploma. The multi-million pound package for 2008-09 follows funding to train those who will be delivering the diploma this September. It will ensure teachers and leaders in secondary schools and colleges are fully trained to teach the qualification as it continues to be rolled out to more secondary schools and colleges.
Diplomas are being offered for the first time this September in a small group of schools and colleges but will eventually be available across the country. Higher level Diplomas will be worth up to three and a half A Levels.
Read the press release at www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2008_0106
(DCSF, 6 June 2008)
The Independent has reported that pupils from the poorest homes are more likely to be taught by staff untrained in the subject they are teaching, according to government figures. The statistics show that nationally nearly four out of 10 teachers have to teach subjects for which they are not trained and children at schools in the most deprived areas of England are far less likely to be taught by someone well-qualified than those at more privileged institutions.
Read the full article at www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/pupils-from-poor-homes-far-more-likely-to-be-taught-by-unqualified-teachers-839598.html
(Independent, 4 June 2008)
The BBC has reported that Imperial College London is trying out an entrance test for subjects other than medicine, which has one already. Speaking at the Independent Schools Council's annual conference in London, Rector Sir Richard Sykes said "grade inflation" had "destroyed" the role of A-levels in selecting undergraduates.
Read the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7434463.stm
(BBC, 4 June 2008)
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