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GCSE exams ‘should be taken at 14’ GCSEs should be taken at the age of 14 – after which pupils could specialise in academic or vocational courses, says a report for an education charity. The Sutton Trust calls for a fundamental restructuring of upper secondary education in England. Click here to view the rest of the article online. |
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One-in-10 trainee teachers ‘has poor degrees’ More than one-in-10 of those on postgraduate secondary school courses last year had a third-class degree or worse, it was disclosed. This comes despite a Conservative pledge to block funding for any trainees failing to gain at least a 2:2 in a move designed to turn teaching into a “brazenly elitist” profession. Click here to view the rest of the article online. |
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Grammar schools more diverse than comprehensives, says Sutton Trust Grammar schools are more socially diverse than leading comprehensives, it is claimed today. A report by the Sutton Trust charity, which aims to tackle educational inequality, found that 91 of the 100 most socially elite state schools in England were comprehensives. Click here to view the rest of the article online. |
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School science lessons ‘lack rigour’ The very brightest pupils are losing out as schools are forced to focus on “science for all” at the expense of excellence, it is claimed. Professor Alan Smithers and Dr Pamela Robinson, from Buckingham University, said a number of leading countries including the United States, Japan, Korea, Singapore and the Netherlands had specialist science schools for the most talented pupils. Click here to view the rest of the article online. |
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Trainee teachers ‘lack A-levels’ Trainee teachers in key subjects such as maths and science are often poorly qualified and have not passed two A-levels, education researchers say. The University of Buckingham’s Good Teacher Training Guide 2009 found a link between low entry qualifications and failure to find a teaching job. Click here to view the rest of the article online. |
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The Big Question: Is the success of specialist schools an illusion resulting from extra funding? Why are we asking this now? Because new research published yesterday by Professor Alan Smithers and Dr Pamela Robinson, from the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, cast doubts on claims that the Government’s specialist schools programme has been responsible for driving up standards in state schools. Click here to view the rest of the article online. |
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Autonomy ‘key to schools success’ Independent schools get better results than state schools because they have the freedom to tailor teaching to the needs of their pupils, researchers say. A University of Buckingham report found social background and ability were not the only factors behind higher grades in private schools. Click here to view the rest of the article online. |
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Teacher training courses take on ‘risky students’ Universities with teacher training courses are taking on “risky” students in shortage subjects to fill their quotas, researchers claimed today. Science and maths subjects attract fewer teacher trainees with first and 2:1 degrees who are more likely to drop out or not get jobs in the classroom, according to the Good Teacher Training Guide 2008 published today. Click here to view the rest of the article online. |
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Physics lessons in crisis as teachers leaving outstrip new recruits by more than a quarter Physics teaching is under threat because of a growing lack of qualified staff. Almost a quarter of secondary schools in England no longer have any specialist physics teachers, with the proportion rising to half in inner-city areas. Click here to view the rest of the article online. |
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Diplomas ‘could spell disaster’ “Plans for an all-embracing system of Diplomas could spell disaster for England’s education system, a report by a leading academic has warned. Professor Alan Smithers said the new Diplomas could undermine educational standards and fail to prepare teenagers for university or work.” Click here to view the rest of the article online. |
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