NEWS FOCUS
www.sec-ed.com
IN OCTOBER last year, I had the
SecEd: On Your Side
opportunity to interview Andrew
Hall – a man of vast business
experience who had just been
appointed CEO of the Qualifications
Betting on a score
and Curriculum Development
Agency (QCDA).
He told me he was “looking to
draw at the polls
take the organisation forward, and
Which
making sure that we fulfil our remit
to provide advice on the national
curriculum, make sure we really
HAVING WRITTEN around
look at how policy is practically
140 editorials since taking over
Pete delivered, and feed that back to make
as editor of SecEd more than
Henshaw
sure that the decisions we make to
way
move forward are practical”.
four years ago, I always hope
Editor We can only assume that Mr
that readers find the opinions I
SecEd
Hall fulfilled his aims in double-
voice here resonate with their
quick time. Earlier this month,
own and that our voice is always one of support for this, the
he announced he was leaving the
QCDA to take up a new position as
now?
best of professions.
chief of the exam board AQA.
As such, and with a General Election on the horizon,
Press coverage of Mr Hall’s
I must admit to feeling a certain obligation to take a resignation focused on the fact and many do move on. There
side. SecEd has long campaigned for what we, and our
that the Conservative Party plans The Qualifications and Curriculum are two I can think of that are
editorial panel (the real experts) believe is right and just.
to abolish the quango if it comes
Development Agency lost its second
going back into schools from our
to power at the next election. curriculum group, they are going
In this column, we have never faltered from chastising,
Unsurprisingly, many suggested
lambasting, or criticising the political powers that govern
chief executive in little over a year earlier
back into the system. We’ve learned
that the Tory plans and Mr Hall’s from them, and hopefully they’ll
our education system, as well as the plans of the political
decision were not entirely separate.
this month, and the Conservatives have
take what they’ve learned with us
rivals who hope to govern us after polling day this year.
Just 13 months previously, the back into the school.
So surely SecEd should be taking a side?
QCDA had accepted the resignation pledged to abolish the quango altogether if they “I wouldn’t mind spending my
of Dr Ken Boston, its former chief,
Having considered previous comments in this column win the election. Chris Parr talks to Mick Walker,
last year or two going back into a
following a string of delays during school, and finish off teaching. Not
on many education policies of this government and also the the delivery of the 2009 SATS
proposals as outlined thus far by the opposition parties, I
the QCDA’s director of education
as head, or deputy, just to teach
results. in a secondary classroom. There’s
have found positive and negative opinions given against
Last week I met with Mick nothing better than the feeling when
all three.
Walker – the QCDA’s director of in their work to dwell on the recent and challenging, worthwhile, and a class goes well.” SecEd
education. I asked him whether changes. engages learners. I don’t think it
I have slammed Labour for initiatives such as National
the impending election, and the He continued: “What I do when matters which government is in
Challenge, for its continuing obsession with league tables; departure of two CEOs in relatively I go back to the office is the same – what persuasion or what hue –
What next for the QCDA?
but praised them for championing workforce reform and for
quick succession, had dampened as before Andrew resigned. In the they’ve all got that same interest in
their Diplomas programme.
the mood within the organisation. fullness of time, as when anyone terms of the young people.”
Andrew Hall will remain at the
He said: “Andrew Hall’s leaves an organisation and moves Mr Walker’s life in education
QCDA as chief executive until
The Conservatives’ attitude to tackling false accusations
departure means we have a lot of on, their place will be filled again, has taken in just about every role it April, allowing him to see out
is commendable, but the seeming snobbery against
stuff to do. We still have to roll and that will happen in due course.” is possible to imagine.
the current financial year and
vocational education, including the Diploma, is saddening. out Diplomas, Functional Skills, Mr Walker feels that, despite the A secondary teacher for 18 years
support the legal separation
The Liberals want to cut class sizes, a crucial goal for
national tests – all important jobs Conservative Party’s plans, there in the north east of England, he
education, but their Sponsor Managed Schools leave me
that need to be done. will be plenty of candidates for the went on to work as advisory teacher
from Ofqual, which takes place
“As with all organisations, staff job – although he ruled himself out at local authority level, officer
on April 1. The current chairman,
feeling nervous about private sector control of education.
come and go. Andrew did a fantastic on the grounds that he enjoys his for technology at the National Christopher Trinick, will then
So, I have thought long and hard and while not wanting job. He brought in new skills, new current role too much.
Curriculum Council, and chief
lead the organisation, working
to sit on the fence, I have come to a rather odd conclusion.
ways of working, looked at the way “I don’t think it will be tricky examiner for an awarding body.
alongside Lin Hinnigan, the chief
I would love to see come May 6 (the odds-on favourite
the organisation operates, and took us to find someone to step into the However, it is in the classroom
for polling day) a hung parliament. All indicators point to
through our relocation to Coventry. role. It’s a fabulous job, and a great that he sees his career ending –
operating officer. Arrangements
He has done a fabulous job.” opportunity. I’m only interested something he has in common with a
for appointing a permanent
the biggest chance in recent decades of a score draw after
According to Mr Walker, in doing the work that we are number of other QCDA employees. chief executive will be
the votes are counted. the atmosphere in the office is there to deliver, which is making “We have some incredibly
announced “in due course”.
Not only is the swing that the Conservatives require to
unchanged; people are far too busy a curriculum which is relevant talented people here (at the QCDA),
achieve a majority a massive task, the sounds coming from
the Liberal Democrat camp seem to signal much more
willingness to consider a coalition government.
IN RESPONSE…
So it is not beyond the realms of possibility that we shall
find ourselves with:
All letters have been edited and with children of measured high Dear sir, members of society. Schools are
• A Labour/Lib Dem coalition with Gordon Brown still at
are in reference to the article ability nonetheless add more value So; the egalitarian Professor there to inspire and to develop
Report Cards and league tables to age 16 and 18 than might be (Gorard) believes that our school young people to be useful
the helm.
are ‘fatally flawed’, SecEd 242, expected across the CEM sample, system is so uniform that it members of society.
• A Conservative/Lib Dem coalition with David Cameron
March 11, 2010. even given the high base from makes no difference (in terms of I agree that all schools should
at the helm. which they start. attainment) to which secondary be judged independently on
And perhaps if this were to happen, the splitting of the
Dear sir Prof Gorard may be right that school you send your child? their individual merit and not on
cabinet may well see Messrs Balls and Gove moved on to
Professor Gorard is right that the “average” pupil in a selective Sorry, but all the intellectually a one-size-fits-all basis. Local
league tables and the daft notion school is easier to teach. Others rigorous social science circumstance must be reflected.
other roles and David Laws being given the top education
of a Report Card are based on may claim it’s rather obvious that methodology in the world won’t Education is the most
job? A sensible speculation?
flawed figures and should be children of similar ability in the convince me of that one. I use the legislative part of society with
Wherever you fall in your opinion of the education ignored. Both raw-figures, league
same class can progress more evidence before me; the evidence more rules and regulations
policies of the main parties, surely having two political
tables, and those based on CVA – easily at a pace that suits them. of real children and parents and being passed on it that any other
parties debating and discussing joint education policy could
an amazingly unreliable measure There is too much proof here real results and destinations. element of government work.
– are grossly misleading. of value genuinely added simply But the professor does believe This is ridiculous, as staff have
only be good for education?
So far, so good. But the leap to be swept away by Prof Gorard’s that “soft” factors such as social become so influenced by change
Could it put paid to the Tories’ bizarre plans for technical Prof Gorard’s argument takes next dismissive statement that all cohesion, civic participation and that they have had little chance to
schools – plans that could see the vocational/academic
is as dodgy as the CVA tables and schools are the same. Here he aspirations are something affected see the long-term effects of any
divide driven even wider in our society? Could it put paid
should be ignored. He claims that descends into what looks like a by which school you attended. single imitative.
to Labour’s plans for single-grade School Report Cards,
there is no evidence that schools dislike of variety and diversity of And just how did you measure Behind all this is the warning
add anything. Mr Gorard states: school types and an argument for these things before deciding that of even greater change. No
which will worsen the unfair judgements that parents and
“We have no reason, in terms sameness and dull uniformity. schooling was important? Sorry, wonder the stress levels are so
society make of our schools? of attainment, for dangerously Where neither he nor any but for me this last part destroys high in the profession. This is
I just feel that for too long, politicians have used and
clustering pupils in schools by politician is willing to go is into a any possible credibility of the first. not fair on students who need
abused the education system to win cheap headlines and
ability, religion, ethnicity or recognition that academic selection I think that children would have stability in their lives, which is
social class.” just might have some answers been better served by the professor often only provided by the school
votes from parents; they often do not really recognise the
But he’s wrong. Many after all. It certainly works in those staying in the secondary school they attend.
challenges, and pay lip service to vital issues – asbestos
schools use smaller-scale, more schools which embrace it. system rather than drifting into the I agree strongly that the
management and workload, for example – being more reliable ways of measuring Sensible schools in that ivory towers of academic research. recognition of other skills
concerned as they are to be seen by voting parents as
value-added. fraternity don’t claim to have After all, who will take note of other than learning is of high
being tough on so-called “failing” schools, which are often
Independent and selective universal answers: sadly, it is such research? There is little recent significance. There should
schools often favour CEM (of those who refuse to recognise evidence that policy-makers take recognition of this, but not
anything but.
Durham University), who operate a successful model when they the blindest bit of notice. legislation. Schools and
I also think that I cannot outweigh the positives of one
analysis between age 11 and see it who lurch from one bright communities should be free
party with the positives of another, and that perhaps if two 16 by MidYis and GCSE to A new idea to another, and place
Mike Griffiths, headteacher, to reflect their own needs and
parties were in control jointly, we might see a new and
level by ALIS. Inter-subject and their faith in demonstrably Northampton School for Boys identities in how they focus and
refreshing approach to education that could ultimately result
inter-school comparison based flawed accountability systems, deliver their services. Indeed,
on CEM’s sample of several while ignoring at least one very Dear sir, supporting the local community
in better decisions and policies for the profession. Or maybe
hundred schools provide very significant elephant in the room Schools work really hard to while looking to the wider
I am way off the mark – we shall see. SecEd useful material for internal and sticking to their opinionated improve the lot of all children, community is vital for a school.
analysis by schools and objective dogmas. irrespective of their social mix and Enhancing life chances for all
• Pete Henshaw is the editor of SecEd and Delivering
measures for use by inspectors. pre-conceptions. our students is our business.
Diplomas. Email him on editor@sec-ed.co.uk or visit
It tends to demonstrate Dr Bernard Trafford, Education is about aspiration,
that many selective state and headteacher, Royal Grammar living the dream and raising Mike Stewart, headteacher,
www.sec-ed.com or www.deliveringdiplomas.com
independent schools which start School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne people’s skillsets to be productive Westlands School, Torbay
6 SecEd • March 18 2010
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