Monthly Archives: June 2010
Farewell Pencilandpapertest
In a deplorably vain attempt to attract a few more readers, I’ve put Pencilandpapertest to the sword. But, fear not, my blog is re-born as ‘Teacher Talks’ and continues along the same track of education-themed political musings over at Think … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
I agree with Nick
One hundred and fifty five words from Nick Clegg at the Yorkshire Post Question Time Event on 19th March 2010: “I would say this, look: the decisions about how we govern this country shouldn’t be decided by fear of what … Continue reading
Filed under Clegg, Lib Dems, Politics - general
Gove’s ‘Free School’ dossier is bad science
I’m a big fan of Ben Goldacre, the journalist who sniffs out ‘bad science‘ and exposes the way research is misused to justify ridiculous claims. He should take a look at Michael Gove’s dodgy dossier which sets out the case … Continue reading
Filed under Academy Schools, Free Schools, Michael Gove, Policy, Politics - general, Schools
Gove forgets to mention the ‘c’ word
I’ve been a bit unkind to Michael Gove in a previous blog (or two), but he turned up a few surprises in his first major speech since becoming Education Secretary. Addressing the National College for Leadership of School, his message … Continue reading
Filed under Funding, Michael Gove, Policy, Politics - general, Schools
Lib-Dems, damn Lib-Dems and statistics
Ok, they’ve gone and done it. The Lib-Dems have outdone Spinal Tap. If you haven’t seen the film, the guitarist has a special dial which ‘goes up to eleven’. On the newly configured scale of bare-faced political audacity, the Lib-Dems … Continue reading
Filed under Lib Dems, Politics - general
Gibb v Hattie: The Verdict
After Nick Gibb’s pounding at the hands of Professor John Hattie in Round 1 of the ‘Improving Schools Challenge’, its time for a more sober analysis of the other strands of the School Minister’s ‘vision’ for schools. In an interview … Continue reading
Filed under Conservatives, Curriculum, Nick Gibb, Policy, Schools
The ‘Improving Schools Challenge’: Nick Gibb v John Hattie – Round 1
Ladies and Gentleman – welcome to the first round of the ‘Improving Schools Challenge!’ This is no physical fight, but a battle of minds: who has the best ideas to improve schools? Lets meet our contestants: In the Blue corner: … Continue reading
Lib-Dems turn it up to eleven
The Liberal Democrats are the political equivalent of the guitarist in Spinal Tap who added an extra digit to his sound control, so he could ‘turn it up to eleven’. Rather than sound, their scale measures bare-faced political audacity and, … Continue reading
Filed under Clegg, Lib Dems, Politics - general
Only business will profit from free schools
When it comes to ‘free schools’, there seems to be a pretty significant difference of opinion between the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, and his boss, Education Secretary, Michael Gove. Between them they can’t seem to decide whether schools should be … Continue reading
Filed under Conservatives, Funding, Lib Dems, Nick Gibb, Policy, Politics - general, Schools
Should an accountant be in charge of schools?
Ministerial appointments are a mysterious process. There’s no job advertisement; no person specification; no interview panel ticking boxes and rating each candidate’s suitability; no expectant wait for a letter in the post. As a result, they can turn up some … Continue reading
Filed under Conservatives, Lib Dems, Nick Gibb, Policy, Politics - general, Schools
