Do We Need the Cambridge Pre-U?

The Guardian on Saturday April 12 carried an article by Polly Curtis, their Education Editor, entitled “Elite rival to A-levels wins backing from exams body”.

Paxo Stuffs Brain Gym

The ludicrous “Brain Gym” got the Paxman treatment on “Newsnight”.

Teaching Children to be Useless

By that I mean the continued message given to pupils that they have no responsibility for looking after themselves, that if they screw up there will always be someone to bail them out.

More Joined Up Thinking

I thought that we were supposed to be trying to get more school students interested in science? I must have got that wrong because that’s not what the Government’s policies will achieve.

Beware of Your Phone Charger!

I’m sure people think I’m getting a little obsessive about the Twenty First Century Science syllabus. If you do then this post will confirm your thoughts because I’m returning to it. In my defence I should point out that it is such a wonderful source of dubious science.

And Today’s Daft Idea…

…is from Dylan Williams of the Institute of Education for his idea that, according to today’s Metro, “Millions of pounds could be saved on educational spending if a ‘traffic light system’ showing pupils’ understanding was used”.

Dispatches: The Children Left Behind

In last the Dispatches programme of 11 February, former headteacher James Wetz made a case for the proposistion that secondary schools are too larfe and that this is the reason why they are failing many children.

Coming Soon, the McA-Level

Today’s media oulets all seem to be carrying the story that McDonalds is going to be offering A-level equivalent courses. See here, for example.

Is There a Higher Education Policy?

Does the Government actually have a coherent policy on Higher Education, or is my perception - that the “policy” is in fact a random series of poorly thought out initiatives - correct?

Education System to Blame for Rail Chaos?

In Saturday’s Guardian, Julian Glover concluded an item on the recent problems on the railways by writing:-

“…that points to the real reason for the mayhem: there are not enough engineers in Britain. The education system, as much as the rail industry, should take the blame for that.”