www.sec-ed.com
Secondaries urged to back SATs boycott
by Chris Parr
Secondary schools are being urged to rally behind their primary colleagues as they prepare for a potential boycott of this year’s key stage 2 SATs. A ballot of the senior primary
leaders within their memberships by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) found that 64 per cent of those who responded were in favour of boy- cotting the tests, and a decision on the next step in the campaign was due to be taken this week as SecEd went to press. Speaking to SecEd on Monday
(April 19), NUT general secretary Christine Blower said it was “in the interest of all teachers” to show support – whatever the two unions decide to do next. She said: “We were very pleased
when Ed Balls (education secretary) got rid of key stage 3 SATs, and the
reason why we want secondaries to support any boycott is that teachers are now trusted at key stage 1 and key stage 3, but not at key stage 2. It is about making all teachers feel trusted. “Also key for secondary teach-
ers is the debate about how the SAT results actually work during transi- tion. The vast majority of secondary schools carry out their own internal tests on new year 7s, and do not rely on SAT results anyway.” Mick Brookes, general secretary
of the NAHT, added: “It is absolute- ly in the interest of secondary staff, because it is vital that students come into year 7 feeling fit and ready. The SATs distort the curriculum in year 6, which is a real problem.” Turnout in the ballot was around
50 per cent for the NAHT, with 61.3 per cent supporting a boycott. At the NUT, 34 per cent voted, with three-quarters in favour of action. Both unions’ executives will be meeting this week to take decisions
on any action to boycott SATs in 2010. If the boycott goes ahead, action
would start on Tuesday, May 4, with SATs scheduled to take place in schools from May 10 to 13. Vernon Coaker, the schools min-
ister, said the results suggested that “most heads and deputy heads do not support industrial action to dis- rupt this year’s tests”. He continued: “Heads and
teachers don’t just have a statu- tory duty to make sure tests go ahead, but a professional respon- sibility to their pupils and their parents. A boycott of this year’s tests would not be in children’s best interests.” Michael Gove, the Conservative
education spokesman, said: “It’s important that parents, pupils and teachers have accurate information about how well children are doing which is why we support proper tests externally marked at the end of primary school.”
Strong business links ‘should be compulsory’
Strong relationships between schools and employers should be made compulsory, according to the former chief of the Confederation of British Industry. Lord Digby Jones, a former min-
ister of state for trade, told SecEd he would like all 14-year-olds to be given the opportunity to spend part of their school week working – par- ticularly if they were not intending to go on to university. He said: “I’d like to see a statuto-
ry engagement between employers and schools for 14-year-olds, where non-academically minded students can go a few times a week – particu- larly if they are messing about in les- sons, bored out of their skin. Then, at age 16, they are already in the mood and already understand what it is like in the world of work.” Lord Jones also launched an
attack on the examination outcomes at GCSE level, although he insisted it was not the fault of teachers.
Teachers wanted for African rugby tour
An intrepid teacher from a Cheltenham school is looking for five like-minded individuals to become part of his “pride”, and join him on a 15,000-mile journey to teach rugby to underprivileged children across Africa. Richard Bennett, a teacher at
Dean Close School, is assembling an elite team of would-be coaches to accompany him on his mission, which will also see schools in 10 African states given the opportu- nity to develop links with British schools. The six-month expedition, which
will depart in January 2011, is aim- ing to provide African schools and their teachers with coaching guides and development programmes. Schools in the UK can get
involved by following the team’s progress through Africa, and becom- ing “support schools” – forming longer-term relationships with their African peers. Mr Bennett told SecEd: “While
in Africa, the team will base them- selves near each school or commu- nity for a week and provide daily rugby-coaching sessions, games and tournaments to boys and girls aged 10 to 15, before moving on to the next destination. “All the African schools will be
SecEd • April 22 2010
He continued: “It is a disgrace
that after 11 years of a full-time, comprehensive education system – something that countries in the developing world would love to have – just under half of the chil- dren who take GCSEs will not get an A* to C in English and maths. “It is not the teachers’ fault
– they are on the right page. It’s the parents’ fault, and society as a whole, that are saying education doesn’t matter.”
He added: “It must be soul-
destroying for teaches to say good- bye to pupils at half past three, knowing that they are going to an environment with no books, and no encouragement.” Lord Jones was speaking at the
launch of a new IT apprenticeship, to be run by Microsoft. The apprenticeship, which hopes
to attract 3,000 young people, is part of the computer company’s “Britain Works” campaign, which
is aiming to get 500,000 people into work by 2012. Lord Jones said: “The pilot
of the apprenticeship in the West Midlands has been very success- ful, and Microsoft has now put £5 million in to be spent nationally by 2012. We hope to attract 3,000 young people on to this particular apprenticeship.” For more information, visit
www.microsoft.com/uk/britain works
Inclusive education system demanded for SEN pupils
All political parties should back an inclusive education system in order to prevent the segregation of young disabled people, an SEN campaign group has claimed.
According to the Alliance for
On the ball: Tour will bring rugby to African youngsters
given the opportunity to develop long-standing links with British schools, aimed at mutually benefit- ing the partnered schools involved in the programme.” Mr Bennett is now looking for
schools who wish to get involved, and is also inviting teachers to apply to become a member of his team. Applications for team member-
ship must be in by May 17. Those making it onto the shortlist must be able to attend an assessment day on Friday, June 4, at Gloucester Rugby Club. For more information, visit
www.rugbyinafrica.org or contact
richard@rugbyinafrica.org
Inclusive Education (ALLFIE), a national network of individu- als including headteachers and parents, disabled and non-disa- bled learners alike should all be welcome in mainstream schools. The organisation claims that
the issue of excluding disabled students from non-specialist schools has been “ignored”, and wants to give everybody the right to “participate fully in student life”. Tara Flood, chief execu-
tive officer of ALLFIE, said: “Inclusive education creates a society that values all equally. Not only does it benefit disabled students, but all students, because they learn the strength of diversity and equality, lose their fear of dif- ference, and develop empathy for others.” A 2006 Ofsted report on inclu- sion stated that well resourced
mainstream schools are “particu- larly successful in achieving high outcomes for (disabled) pupils aca- demically, socially and personally”. Despite this, statistics from a 2009
Cabinet Office White Paper show that more than a quarter of young disabled people are not included in mainstream education or training. However, Lorraine Peterson,
chief of the special needs organi- sation Nasen, claims that young people with SEN and disabilities “should be able to make considered choices about the most appropriate place for them to access educa-
ALLFIE’s demands
• All disabled learners have the legal and human right to attend mainstream courses in mainstream education settings.
• All disabled learners have the legal right to individualised support.
• Education buildings to be made accessible to all disabled learners.
• All mainstream course curricula are accessible to and inclusive of disabled learners.
• All education assessments and accreditations are inclusive. • Disability equality training is compulsory for all education professionals and staff.
tion”. She added that this may not always be within mainstream schools. She said: “In some instances
where a young person needs very specialist educational provision, resources and individualised care then a special school/specialist provision may be the most appro- priate setting. “In principle, we support
ALLFIE’s manifesto and would not disagree with the legal and human rights issues for disabled learners. However, choice is also a human right.”
NEWS
In brief
ICT prize winners
The winners have been drawn in SecEd’s latest ICT giveaway. The competition offered two teachers the chance to win a one- year licence for the Classroom Monitor online interactive reporting and management tool worth £1,000 each. The winners were Joanne Harris, head of Hemdean House School near Reading, and Mr A Tsang, a technician from Ellesmere Port Catholic High School in Cheshire. The second competition to win a TeamBoard Total Mobile stand, projector and TeamBoard worth more than £3,500 was won by Moses Arendse, director of learning for key stage 3, at The John Loughborough School in north London. Look out for more SecEd giveaways in the future.
Science and arts
A festival of science and arts will be held at the Southbank Centre, London, in celebration of the Royal Society’s 350th anniversary. From June 25 to July 4, visitors can experience science-related arts events, including music, dance, comedy, discussion, film, literature and art. At the festival’s core is the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition, where the UK’s leading scientists will explain their work through interactive exhibits. Visit: http:// royalsociety.org
NSPCC resource
The NSPCC has launched a new online self-assessment and development resource to support schools in bettering the wellbeing of children.
Improving Safeguarding in
Schools provides a step-by-step guide to help schools to meet safeguarding standards. The guide covers areas such as pupil behaviour, child protection and promoting emotional health and is closely aligned with the NSPCC’s Safeguarding in Education Service, which is set to launch later this year. The service will enable education professionals to fulfil safeguarding responsibilities. Visit: www.nspcc.org.uk/isis
Dance training
Young people across North West England are being given the chance to develop their skills in dance. A scheme, implemented by Northwest Dance, brings together The Lowry in Manchester, the Centre for Advanced Training, and Youth Dance England, to encourage 12 to 16-year-olds to take out- of-school professional training. Training includes contemporary technique, ballet, urban or street dance, as well as classes in nutrition and injury awareness. Entry is through audition to teenagers of all abilities. Visit: www.northwestdance.org.uk
Making waves
Teenagers across Europe are joining together using an online social network to discuss and share their political ideas. The Radiowaves project, funded by the British Council’s Youth in Action programme, is aiming to use the web to unite European teenagers and encourage them to explore European identity, democracy and different cultures. The site offers a safe platform for youngsters to exchange videos, podcasts and blogs. Visit: www. radiowaves.co.uk
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