Independent thinking Union address: ATL
Many paths to happiness
Reforming education
tHE lAtEst national survey of young people in life. When it was suggested that perhaps specialists
indicates that one-third of them do not feel happy in many fields would do better training on the job, cries
Workforce reform is making a difference to
with life, a proportion which has increased in the last of “elitism” and “discrimination” were raised. Yet, for
12 months. Is this really surprising? many roles this is surely the best way forward and it the lives of students and school staff across
Young people today are experiencing huge pressures would seem that this has now been recognised, albeit
to be successful in all sorts of ways which were not the probably as a result of harsh economic reality.
the country, says Dr Mary Bousted
norm for earlier generations. Not only girls, but boys, Our universities are facing significant budget
too, are expected to have the right body shape, cuts – £449 million is the first reduction
the right hair style, the right clothes, lots of which takes effect this autumn. With It Is not often that I praise Ofsted, but I shall now – including subjects such as cake-making and
friends on social networks, and to aspire to applications through UCAs having break that habit because its report, Workforce reform motor mechanics, complete with a car workshop.
be a minor celebrity of some description increased by almost a quarter in school: has it made a difference? published last these subjects, taught by instructors, meant that the
while aiming high for a university place this year, UK students are, month actually answers its own question. school had something of interest for all its pupils
and a professional career. Meanwhile unsurprisingly, finding it more Ofsted judged that where schools have remodelled and the GCsE pass rate was above 70 per cent. A
the planet itself appears to be under difficult to receive offers. their workforce effectively, it made a considerable success achieved, moreover, because of workforce
threat from global warming, famine and Many do not realise that they difference to pupils’ learning. reform.
conflicts. the fact that the young are are competing for scarce places In these schools, the teaching and support staff However, there is still a long way to go in many
experiencing a sense of confusion or not only against overseas students, understood each other’s roles and the contribution schools before the benefits of workforce reform are
failure should not therefore surprise us. who may be more attractive as they they both made to raising standards of teaching and fully realised. Ofsted reported that although teachers
the latest pronouncement from lord pay up to 10 times more in tuition learning and supporting pupil welfare. Collaborative have a good working knowledge of the abilities of
Mandelson may or may not have helped. fees, but also against students from planning between teachers and support staff is the their support staff, few had a good understanding
For the past few years, everyone in secondary other EU countries who are classified as key to developing a shared understanding of what is of what their qualifications enabled them to do, and
education has been aware that the government’s “home” students. good learning. this is a particular problem with higher level teaching
aim was to ensure that half of young people If students have been persuaded to In addition, support staff with the skills and assistants. In some schools there are insufficient
went to university. Indeed, much angst bite the bullet of future debt and to sensitivity to provide high quality guidance and opportunities for the teaching and support staff
has been expressed that the proportion of apply for a degree course, it is not support are, Ofsted reports, very successful in to work together to plan methods of teaching and
graduates from less privileged backgrounds surprising if they become disheartened engaging pupils at risk of underachievement or learning and to assess pupil progress.
has not increased rapidly enough. at the thought that they may not gain a permanent exclusion. Ofsted identified four key features that enable
We have had reports on fairer access, place. Add to this the fact that graduate I concur with Ofsted’s conclusions. I have myself, members of the wider workforce to make a
additional tick boxes on UCAs forms, and unemployment has increased and that through many visits to schools throughout England difference to pupils’ learning: collaborative planning
numerous initiatives intended to “narrow many graduates are now undertaking and Wales, seen many examples of innovative and and good quality direction from teachers; involving
the gap” – although these were doubtless roles which used to be filled by those effective practice involving teachers and support staff support staff in supporting teaching and learning as
undermined by the fact that the same without degrees, and it is scant wonder working together to raise standards of achievement well as assessing and recording pupils’ progress; a
government introduced student tuition fees that young people have doubts about their for all, and in particular, the most vulnerable pupils. shared understanding by all staff of what constitutes
and presided over a sharp increase in student future prospects. I recall a comprehensive school in Birmingham, good teaching and learning; careful monitoring of
debt, matched by a reduction in the number We need a more balanced outlook. there in a deprived area, which was a haven of peace and pupil progress after intervention programmes and
and quality of graduate jobs available and the are many high profile, well paid jobs which security for its pupils. the headteacher showed me consistent evaluation of interventions for disaffected
level of salaries offered to new graduates. require specialist skills rather than a traditional proudly round her school, built in the 1950s and and/or vulnerable pupils.
However, in a recent speech at Nottingham university degree. Young people should not feel showing its age. the site was, nevertheless, spotless, And, most unusually for Ofsted, which rarely
University, lord Mandelson suggested that young “second-class citizens” if they choose to pursue and the pupils impeccably behaved. comments on pay or employment issues, the
people should consider courses or training other than such careers. At the moment they are encouraged to Four support staff patrolled the corridors and inspectors recommended that guidance is produced
the traditional three-year undergraduate degree course. aspire mainly to two quite different goals: celebrity, the playground. they knew pupils by name, and on appropriate levels of pay and conditions for the
In particular, he promoted Apprenticeships, work-based fame and wealth, as a pop star, television personality, calmly but strongly enforced the rule that no-one increasingly diverse roles introduced as a result of
training, part-time study, and two-year Foundation footballer or some such, or else to “aim higher” and was allowed out of lessons without a signed consent workforce reform. Ofsted rarely comments on pay
Degrees. Apparently, labour is now committed to a go to university and study for a degree. there are slip from a teacher. Because everyone knew that the and conditions, so it must feel very strongly that
target of three-quarters of people achieving a higher or many other paths to choose from and a broader vision rule would be enforced, it was not broken. Because support staff need to be paid appropriately for the
advanced qualification before they reach the age of 30. might help our students to find something which will everyone knew that proper standards of behaviour vital work they do in schools.
this seems eminently sensible in many ways, but allow them to succeed and feel happier. around the school would be required, these standards
unfortunately the unremitting message to our students were accepted. • Dr Mary Bousted is general secretary of the
during the past decade has been that you need a • Marion Gibbs is headmistress of the independent this school achieved remarkable GCsE pass Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Visit www.
university degree in order to achieve almost anything James Allen’s Girls’ School in London. rates with a curriculum offer second to none atl.org.uk
Overcoming barriers in mathematics – helping children move from
level 4 to level 5 is the final CD-ROM and booklet in the Overcoming
Overcoming
barriers series. These particular materials are designed to help teach
those children who can attain level 5, but may be at risk of not doing so.
barriers in The guidance addresses some key areas of mathematics that such
children often find difficult. The resources are structured around
mathematics
the strands and objectives of the Primary Framework.
Similar material to support children make good progress from level
1 to 2, level 2 to 3 and from level 3 to 4 are already available.
To access the overcoming barriers in mathematics booklets, please visit:
www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalstrategies/ad31/barriers
12 SecEd • February 25 2010
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