Monday, March 01, 2010
News in brief, February 2010
A summary of the education news from the last month.
The DCSF have announced the formation of a new group to oversee the development of careers guidance in England. The Careers Provision Taskforce will be chaired by Dame Ruth Silver. Information, Advice and Guidance provided by careers professionals in schools will be reviewed and monitored by the group as well as focusing on the recruitment and retention of the best careers professionals to create “a new careers workforce fit for the 21st century.” The Institute of Careers Guidance also published a research report this month concluding that careers education in England was “patchy and inconsistent”. Visit the ICG website for more information.
The BBC has reported success with its project to teach English through mobile phones. Janala has been running in Bangladesh since November 2009 and since then 1million lessons have been downloaded. The project works by users calling a mobile number and then accessing a series of lessons, games and simulations to support the learning of English. There is a cost to access (average of 4 pence) but also a free website to accompany the project. There are 50 million mobile phone owners in Bangladesh and a poorer rate of English speakers than many other Asian countries – the project using mobile phones to reach less wealthy people aims to help bridge this gap. “The growth of mobile is clearly creating an opportunity to provide access to education in a way simply not possible before." Sara Chamberlain, Head of Interactive of the BBC World Service Trust. To visit the Janala site click here.
New non-statutory guidance on the teaching of Religious education in schools in England has been published by the DCSF. The guidance is intended to provide support for designing curriculum and lesson schemes as well as for roles within the development of religious education, including teachers, school leaders and local authorities. View the guidance here.
The DCSF has announced that all schools delivering the Primary Curriculum in England will be given an extra non-contact day in the academic year 2010/11 to support the reformed primary curriculum coming into effect in 2011/2012.
Rob Rees MBE has been announced as the new Chair of the School Food Trust’s Board, taking over from Prue Leith. As a chef, Rob won many accolades and he now runs a successful food tour and cookery training business, The Cotswold Chef. In addition, Rob is Director of a successful consultancy company and is the Chief Executive of the Wiggly Worm charity, which uses food projects to help and rehabilitate vulnerable and disadvantaged people. Rob was a founder member of the School Food Trust Board in 2005
As The National Strategies to improve literacy and numeracy come to an end in Primary Schools in the UK, Ofsted has published an evaluation of their impact on teaching and learning. The report concludes that the strategies did improve numeracy and literacy but that there were too many initiatives in two short a time, especially in the last four years of the schemes, with not enough time given to review their success before new initiatives were introduced. From next year, when the national strategies come to an end, there will be greater devolution of funding and responsibility for improvement to schools. To read the Ofsted review in full click here.
The new Scottish Curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence is currently due to be introduced in all schools in August but Education Secretary, Mike Russell informed the Scottish parliament this month that implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence could be delayed following evidence that secondary schools may need longer to prepare for the new curriculum. A further announcement is expected following a review of views, evidence and submissions from teaching unions. For More information on Curriculum for Excellence, visit the website.
Professor Chris Brink, Vice-Chancellor of Newcastle University has been appointed as the first Higher Education Mentoring Champion for England. The new role has been established to lead the campaign to encourage more students, staff and graduates to become mentors to young people considering higher education as an option. Part of the Information, guidance and Advice Strategy published in October 2009 (Quality, Assurance and Guidance ) was to appoint a champion from the HE sector to lead the drive for more mentors to young people. Patricia Bacon, Tim Pearson and Mark Rogers have been appointed to Becta's Governing Board. Becta is the UK government body responsible for ensuring technology is used to its best in the British education system.
Patricia Bacon, Tim Pearson and Mark Rogers have been appointed to Becta's Governing Board. Becta is the UK government body responsible for ensuring technology is used at its best in the British education system.