Entry 12 - Jane Davidson - Changes within Education in the recent decade

“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. But with vision and action you can change the world” – Jane Davidson (2001)

Minister for Education in Wales for 7 years, Davidson (2012)  discussed the changes within education over the past years. She stated that Margaret Thatcher introduced the  National Curriculum in the mid 1980’s.  . It ensured that everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received the same Education (excluding Private Schools). This led to controversy between teachers as their creativity were restricted. The National Curriculum allows standardisation which enables assessment to take place. Assessments lead to school leagues which parents can access and judge which school to send their child to. Key Education Statistics Wales 2009 states that the curriculum focuses largely upon inclusion actively and developing each child’s: Personal, Social and Physical wellbeing. During Secondary School, pupils take GCSE’s when they are 16 – 18.

Davidson stated that when children were 11 they are split into specific groups depending on ability. You were either categorised into doing OCR’s or GSC’s. She explained that if you were under the CSC ‘category you were less likely to go onto higher education. In 1991 SAT tests were advocated for 7 year olds. The benefit of this meant the education system ensured that all children across the board experienced a likewise education.

1997 brought a new labour government. Tony Blair in his famous public speech announced ‘"Education, Education, and Education".  

He recognised the restrictions of the National Curriculum and advocated change.  With the introduction of the Welsh National Assembly, Education  in Wales differed from that of England. (Whereas in the past it was the same)

Davidson briefly mentioned her introduction of the Foundation Phase which is very much underway presently. Davidson directed us towards the Learning Country, a document she assisted in 2001.

Entry 11 - Graham Allan - Education for Sustainable Development

Graham Allan came in to give us some insight on Education for sustainable developement. Kofi Annan, (2001) head of the United Nations says ‘"Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that seems abstract – sustainable development - and turn it into a reality for all the world's people". Allan emphasised the importance of this man regarding the topic as Annan is the head of the UN and a lost of ESD comes from this group. There are over 300 definitions of Sustainable Development so coming to terms with what it actually means is in fact relative. Allan also used, "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Brundtland, 1987.
Regarding Education, The most impotance word is for sustainable development, as opposed to education about sustainable development. If about was used
In contrast, 'education for sustainable development', like 'citizenship', is a whole approach towards the curriculum rather than being seperate. With a clear overlap with the 'citizenship' curriculum, it requires reflection on what to teach in order to;
• Establish the childs ability to think for themselves
• encourage reflection, debate, and expression of oppinions
• Nurturing ones learning that is of relevance to the learner's life experience
Further Research
United Nations (1987) state that sustainable developement is a pattern of development in which resource is used to meet human needs now and in the future. Lotz-Sisitka (2010) in a recent journal lookes at ESD in relation to retention. Retention is paramount for sustainablity because it prevents ‘de-growth’ almost like an insurance policy. One way the UN has tried to apply retention is by keeping children of the world within education. This journal also qualifies the UN are using the concept of retention to improve teaching quality learning. In ‘‘The ESD literature
seems more interested in how education can assist in transmitting messages about
sustainable development than in the sustainability of national educational
ambitions’’ King believes that ESD literature is more focused on assisting messages about sustainable developement rather than sustaining national educational ambitions (in Education for Developement, 2010, pg.3)
As mentioned in the latter there are an intense amount of definitions on the concept. Bottery (2011, p. 3) states in a recent journal that there is a lot of disagreement regarding a definition of ESD. Also he mentions the Brundland Report United Nations Commission on Environment and Development which defined it as a sustainability that 'meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs'

Entry 10 - What is Education? ESTYN.

Dr. Russell Grigg is the head of the South West Wales Centre of Teacher Education. Grigg (2012) came in to talk about Estyn and his involvement working with Estyn. Estyn inspects quality and standards in education and training providers within Wales. 

Estyn (2010) covers;

·         Primary schools

·         Secondary schools

·         Special schools

·         Local authority education services for children and young people

·         Teacher education and training

·         Work-based learning

·         Careers companies

·         Offender learning

Estyn (2010) are funded by, the National Assembly for Wales under Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 1998.

There are two different types of report. Annual and Thematic. According to an article from Estyn  (2010) ;

Thematic Reports - Each year, the Education Minister asks the Chief Inspector for advice on a range of themes in relation to education and training to help inform policy development and to monitor progress.
Annual Reports - Annual Reports provide an overview of standards and performance of schools, and other education and training providers in Wales.
Regular inspections in schools makes sure that children are being taught the right way, and will ensure they are working to the best of their ability.

A recent report

A recent report from Estyn, Education (2011)  suggests that the quality of education  in Wales has improved  slowly since 2004.  On the other hand, in over 30 per cent of schools “standards were not as good as they should be”.  Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales ‘Anne Keane’, said it was a “good time to take stock”.  The report focuses heavily on training in Wales also the provision of Education. Also it states areas of where provision can be established and improved.

Entry 9 - What is Education? - PISA

Ken Jones (2012) came in today to discuss;

- PISA(Programme for International Students),
- SEF (School Effectiveness Framework) and,
- PLC (Professional Learning Communities). 

 

Firstly, PISA is an international study which went underway sometime in 2000. PISA was introduced to evaluate the effectiveness of the education sectors in the countries around the world (that took part. This would give lower ranked countries and aim and incentive to improve. Then these countries are ranked against each other. He talked about the scores from 2006 and 2010 and mentioned a few things that need to be improved on to make the education in UK better. Wales is ranked surprisingly low. Layton Andrews aims to higher the rank of Wales in the future.
SEF provide education systems that are first class which allows children to reach their full potential.
PLC is capable of promoting and sustaining the learning of all professionals in the school community, they aim to improve learning.

Jones (2012) talked about the Welsh educational system as a whole; and briefly about about the mister for education, Layton Andrews.(Layton Andrews aims to higher the rank of 9Wales regarding PISA in the future) the differences between England and Wales; such as the language barriers that can be faced in Wales.