Thursday, June 25, 2009
News in brief, June 2009
A summary of events and developments in education from June 2009.
Ofsted has announced a new framework of standards for Inspection in English schools coming into effect for all school inspections and reports from September 2009. Inspectors will spend longer observing lessons and a greater emphasis will be placed on the views of both parents and pupils. Most successful schools will receive an Inspection visit every five years, rather than the current three year interval. Schools which have been given Notice to Improve or placed in Special Measures will experience "no-notice" Inspections. To read the new criteria of the new framework click here.
Anthony Browne has been announced as the new UK Children's Laureate, taking over from Michael Rosen. To read more click here.
New regulations for Home Schooling are proposed following a review by Graham Badman for the UK government.
Education featured strongly in the achievements recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. There were names from all sectors including nursery headteachers and university chancellors. Follow this link to see the full list of all those individuals honoured for their work in education in the June honours list.
The June cabinet re-shuffle saw some changes in education positions and responsibilities. Vernon Coaker is the new Schools Secretary and Ed Balls's Deputy at the DCSF. Responsibility for Higher Education is now part of the remit of Peter Mandelson's Department although David Lammy remains as Higher Education Minister in the DIUS part of the new department. The complete new DCSF Ministerial Team with responsibilities is shown here.
The UK government has announced a programme to train 4,000 specialist teachers in teaching and learning with children with dyslexia. The announcement follows an independent report by Sir Jim Rose into provision for children with dyslexia in the UK published this month. The report concluded that children are not always receiving appropriate support. Ed Balls accepted the report's findings and announced the programme as part of the government's response.
Partnership for Schools will have responsibility for the management and delivery of all DCSF school buildings programmes from October 2009. The decision was announced by the Schools Minister, Vernon Coaker. PfS already manage the Building schools for the Future and Academies programmes but will now also be responsible for all school building programmes, including the Primary Capital Programme worth £1.6 billion.
The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust has a new Chair. Nick Stuart has had a long career in education, working in various senior roles in the DCSF. The SSAT has been co-chaired by the senior team since Sir Cyril Talyor resigned in 2007.
Danish students are set to be the first to sit formal examinations with access to the internet. The Danish government has announced that A level equivalent exams taken in schools this autumn will be conducted to allow students individual access to the internet in the exam hall. If the pilot is successful, the scheme will be rolled out nationwide. Teachers, students and parents are said to be in favour of the plan. The Chair of the Danish High School Association is quoted as saying, "this is a really good development as exams should mirror reality; when you write longer articles or reports at work you also have access to the internet."