NEWS
Effective deployment key to
workforce reforms – Ofsted
by James Everest
its authors stressed that there are tracking of support for young peo- Ofsted report mirrored headteach- general secretary of the National greatest needs, such as those with
still lessons to be learnt. ple as they move from primary to ers’ instinctive feelings about work- Union of Teachers, responded criti- SEN.”
Ofsted chief inspector, Christine secondary school, and from key force reform. cally to the report. The National Agreement for
The latest Ofsted report into Gilbert, said: “The effectiveness of stage 3 to 4. He told us: “The different sorts She said: “The Ofsted report workforce reform was signed in
workforce reform has found that the workforce reforms put in place In addition, inspectors said that of support staff in my school make only paints a partial picture. The January 2003 with the aim of free-
the wider schools workforce in 2003 depends on all school staff “very few” of the schools visited a superb difference and answer all government’s own commissioned ing up teachers’ time and driving up
helps young people learn if staff being valued and treated as profes- were monitoring how the extra that the government is hoping to research has shown that workforce standards. It includes provision for
are “effectively deployed, well sionals. Good headteachers see the teacher time freed up by work- guarantee in the forthcoming edu- reform has had little impact on limiting the extent to which teach-
managed and properly trained”. learning and development of all force reform was being used. And cation Bill. teachers’ workload and a possible ers cover other lessons, ensuring a
The report Workforce Reform in members of the school’s staff as only three schools knew about “Ask any teacher and they would negative effect on standards. satisfactory work/life balance, and
Schools: Has it made a difference?, important. the Training and Development say that virtually everything in wel- “I am not surprised that Ofsted reducing the number of administra-
examined how 30 schools are mak- “Staff are most effective when Agency for School’s career devel- fare reform has been a good thing, could only identify six schools tive tasks carried out by teachers.
ing use of their wider school work- they have good training, when their opment framework for the wider although it is a shame that since the which followed the intentions of This is the fifth Ofsted report
force, including teaching assistants, skills are carefully deployed, and workforce. National Agreement, teachers have workforce reform. into the effectiveness of workplace
administrative staff and librarians. when they are held accountable Speaking to SecEd, John been asked to do more and their “The reforms blur the roles of reform.
Although the report conclud- for their contribution to pupils’ Morgan, president of the Association hours haven’t come down as much support staff, leading to confusion The full report can be down-
ed that schools are now using the learning.” of School and College Leaders, as they should have.” and their inappropriate deployment, loaded from the Ofsted website at
wider workforce more effectively, The report called for greater said that he was pleased that the However, Christine Blower, particularly for children with the www.ofsted.gov.uk
Debate rages over
Conservative plans
Teachers and education profes- Hutchings, professor of educa-
sionals have locked horns over tion at the Institute for Policy
Conservative plans to deter gradu- Studies in Education at London
ates with third-class degrees from Metropolitan University, told del-
entering the teaching profession. egates that it may not be feasible
Speaking at an Westminster to raise the threshold of minimum
Forum on Education event, held qualifications. She added: “The
in central London on Wednesday, fact is teaching will never be an
January 20, Mike Welsh, vice-presi- elite profession because we need a
dent of the National Association of lot of them.”
Head Teachers, rejected claims that Prof Hutchings also expressed
there was a link between high aca- concern about what she identified
demic results and good teachers. as an “attitude” within Teach First
“I have been in teaching for 23 which created a division between
years and haven’t seen that there Teach First teachers and others.
is a correlation,” he said, claiming Commenting on what academic Science in action: Students at Warwick School, who won a
that a range of other skills were entry requirements new teachers Royal Society grant in 2005, put their money to good use
required to be an effective class- should meet, James Westhead,
room teacher. director of external relations at
However, another contributor to Teach First, said: “It is important
the forum suggested that minimum to remember that the key ingredi-
qualifications for trainee teachers ent in great teaching is not just top
Grants awarded to bring science to life
should be raised to a B grade in academic scores.
GCSE English and maths and a 2:2 “We need to ensure teachers in Schools across the UK have tors, explorers, researchers and exciting science and engineering Claire Broxton, deputy head of
degree. UK schools are highly motivated, received grants worth a total of innovators of the future”. can be”. science at the school, said: “Our
Shaun Sutton, a Teach First have high expectations for their £70,000, aimed at bringing science Schools applied for the grants He added: “We were very project will bring to life what pupils
teacher at Longford Community pupils, and are highly trained to be and engineering to life in the by sending their ideas on how the impressed by the quality of appli- learn about in the classroom and
School in west London, said that experts in teaching practice and in classroom. money would be used. cations and the ideas presented to help them to understand key sci-
evidence suggested “those with their subjects. The Royal Society Partnership Winning ideas included the us by schools up and down the entific and engineering principles
higher GCSEs and degrees make “We therefore support a mixed Grants, which are worth up to £3,000 development of a sustainable country. We are looking forward in a way that is exciting and invig-
more effective teachers”. economy in teacher training which each, have been given to 34 schools farming plot, and a “Crime Scene to seeing the results of each project orating. By allowing our pupils to
Mr Sutton’s claims were sup- provides all those who possess the as part of a scheme aimed at help- Investigation mission”, which will over the coming months.” discover these subjects outside of
ported by Anna Fazerlackey, head right attributes with the opportunity ing scientists and teachers establish see students undertake scientific Bury St Edmund’s County the set confines of the curriculum,
of education at the Policy Exchange and support to enter the classroom more exciting projects for students. analysis to identify “criminals”. Upper School in Suffolk is among we can help them to realise how
think-tank. She said: “Such a rise and make maximum impact on The funding offers schools the Professor John Pethica, vice- the beneficiaries. thrilling science can be and how
(in entry requirements) would also learning.” chance to meet and work with sci- president of the Royal Society, said Its Survival of the Fittest: Robots vital engineering is to our lives.”
contribute towards raising the status For more on the forums, visit entists and engineers from lead- he hoped the projects would help at War project will see pupils design Applications for the next round of
of the profession.” www.westminsterforumprojects. ing universities, and “inspire more to get students learning outside the and build robots using the principles funding are open until March 5. Visit
Meanwhile, Professor Merryn co.uk/educationforum/ young people to become the inven- classroom, and show them “how of evolution and natural selection. www.royalsociety.org/education
Council rocked by catchment ruling
NHS to sponsor academy
Consultations have begun over The academy is set to open
plans to open the first ever NHS- in September, with the Stockton
The head of education at Scotland’s Lord Uist ruled in Mr Bowie’s Parents, politicians and legal fig- service in the country. Councils sponsored academy. College Consortium (including
highest-performing council was favour after a two-day hearing at ures criticised East Renfrewshire’s are challenged on their inter- NHS Stockton-on-Tees is set Stockton Sixth Form College and
under pressure to resign after the Court of Session in Edinburgh, head of education, John Wilson, in pretation of certain issues, as to become lead sponsor of the Stockton Riverside College) and
his plan to exclude hundreds of saying East Renfrewshire’s policy, the wake of the ruling. in this case, and that is part and new 1,050-pupil North Stockton Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
homes from the catchment area which has been in place for almost Danny Stuart, a spokesman for parcel of normal business and Academy, which is earmarked being co-sponsors.
of an oversubscribed school was 15 years, was “wrong”. campaign group Right 4 St Ninian’s, due process of law. It is absurd to replace Blakeston School A statement from NHS
ruled unlawful. Part of the Catholic school’s said: “This judgement shows Mr to suggest that he would have Community Sports College and Stockton-on-Tees said: “Despite
Last week, Robert Bowie, a catchment lies within Glasgow, but Wilson’s actions were unlawful and to resign.” The Norton School Humanities the significant progress made by
father of two, won a challenge pupils from certain primaries have he should seriously consider his The Catholic Church has College. both Blakeston School and The
against East Renfrewshire, whose been allowed to attend under a long- position.” offered to help broker a long- While still to be approved by Norton School, the local authority
entry criteria for St Ninian’s High standing deal. East Renfrewshire Paul McBride, a senior QC and term solution to the row. Michael government, the plans would see believes that an academy,
in Giffnock have long been dis- has always said this only covered advisor to the Scottish Conservative McGrath, director of the Scottish the academy adopt a science spe- which draws on the experience,
puted because they hinge on indi- specific older streets, rather than Party on justice, echoed that Catholic Education Service, cialism and NHS Stockton-on-Tees knowledge and investment of
vidual streets rather than a whole the whole area, so that inhabitants sentiment. said: “It is a very complex issue is looking to invest £500,000. the combined sponsors, would
area. of new developments had no auto- However, an East Renfrewshire and a solution has to be found. If given the green light, it would bring even higher levels of
Mr Bowie, who lives on a new matic right of entry. spokesman said Mr Wilson had Rather than proceeding in an be the first time that a primary care achievement.”
estate in the disputed area, took Lord Uist’s written judgement inherited the policy from his pred- atmosphere of scaremongering, trust has been the lead sponsor of The plans also include a new
legal action in the hope that his also demanded a stop to a consulta- ecessor and his role should not be it would be far better for all an academy. academy building that is set to open
daughter, Blaire, 11, could start tion exercise to change the catch- under threat. parties to enter into genuine dis- The consultation runs until on a nearby site in September 2013
at St Ninian’s when she leaves ment area, in which the council has He said: “Mr Wilson heads cussion before a consultation is February 26 and will include meet- and which is part of Stockton’s
primary this summer. been engaged since October. up the top-performing education drawn up.” ings with existing school staff and £180 million Building Schools for
local parents. the Future programme.
4 SecEd • January 28 2010
04 news.indd 4 26/1/10 09:41:10
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16