The answer to the question might seem rather obvious, to enable pupils to read & write. I have no disagreement with that. However, the choice about what children read and who decides is value-laden. This challenge was laid bare to us when we started looking at developing a literary canon across the small cross phase multi academy trust, which I led until my retirement in December 2019. What fifty books should all children, who attended the academies in the trust, read between the ages of 4 to 14?
Continue readingIt was a two week period like no other. In the absence of students actually sitting any examinations, grades were calculated by an algorithm, determined by schools (centres) and after much upheaval young people received the higher of the two grades. Privately entered candidates are still in limbo, vocational qualifications have yet to be confirmed and further and higher education have been left to sort out a complex admissions process. However, there are reasons to be cheerful.
Continue readingImagine you’re from a family that eternally struggles to make ends meet. It’s been the same for generations; your family is trapped in deep, long term poverty. You’ve just received another Ofsted report from the school – the one you attended and your children attend – it requires improvement or has been dismissed yet again as inadequate.
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