EDUCATION NEWS
Charting the future for girls will save the world
Following a year in the life of a headteacher, a school, its pupils and parents, Clarissa Farr’s new book paints a picture of what education is all about. Fiona Murchie discovered an insightful and entertaining read for a global audience, whether you are an aspiring school head in the UK, an admissions manager in a world-class international school in SE Asia, an expatriate parent or an HR director responsible for UK domestic moves and a global workforce.
A
n expert in education and leadership, Clarissa Farr was High Mistress of St Paul’s Girls’ School
for 11 years. In her new book, The Making of Her, she provides insights not only about how to bring out the best in girls to flourish in the modern competitive world, but also about building the rootedness and the grounded sense of self confidence and community that is instantly recognisable in so many of the best schools across the private, international and State sector. Taking the reader on a tour of
the life of a school, Ms Farr offers a valuable perspective as a school head, daughter and mother, and shares her reflection on educating and preparing girls – and indeed all students – for adult life.
ADDRESSING THE GENDER BALANCE Ms Farr delves into the topic of marginalising or stereotypical
attitudes to women and girls. She explains, “Girls schools are important because they anticipate what we hope and believe will be the future for women: breathing the clear blue air of their capability without a thought to limitation born of gender. So while the society in to which young people emerge remains as unequal in its attitudes and opportunities as it still – sadly, shockingly – is, there will continue to be a role for girls’ schools to concentrate on developing resilient, clever, capable young women to take on the pressure and change it.” As Ms Farr points out, we
now hear constantly about the importance of STEM subjects – particularly for girls. She reflects that in all-girls’ schools, the teaching is to such a high standard and the girls are doing so well in them there is no sense that these subjects are really the preserve of boys. In all schools for the first time in 2019, girls overtook boys’ achievements in Maths A Level results. ➲
£7.1 billion to state schools
CASH INJECTION FOR STATE SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND
On 4 September, Chancellor Sajid Javid announced the government’s spending plans – with billions of pounds earmarked for the UK education sector over the next three years.
I
t may have been a year late, but Chancellor Sajid Javid’s spending review has promised a “decade of renewal”, with a focus on “the people’s priorities” after nine years of
austerity. On 4 September, the chancellor revealed his plans to increase spending by 4.1 per cent – or £13.8 billion – next year, with frontline services such as the NHS, police, defence and education departments, as well as Brexit, being prioritised. While many of the departmental budgets
have only been set for one year – rather than the usual three – due to Brexit concerns, Javid has announced a three-year budget for education that will see spending rise to £2.6 billion in 2020- 21, £4.8 billion in 2021-22 and £7.1 billion in 2022-23. Also, there will be a minimum level of spending of £4,000 per pupil in primary schools and £5,000 in secondary schools – a rise of £200 per secondary pupil. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), the increase in government funding is estimated to almost restore “real-terms per pupil funding to the level it was at in 2009/10”.
SPENDING REVIEW BREAKDOWN: SEND, FE, EARLY YEARS AND TEACHER PENSIONS As part of the spending review, the government has allocated an extra £700 million to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND); £66 million for early- years provision; and £400 million to support further and vocational education. A portion of the budget has been ring-fenced to increase teacher starting salaries to £30,000 by 2022/23 to ease recruitment and retention pressures. For HR and global mobility professionals who
are planning domestic relocations and inbound international assignments to the UK in the next three years, this commitment to investing in schools in England can only be seen as a positive move, giving them greater confidence in the future performance of State schools and a wider pool of prospective institutions to choose from.
To read the full analysis of the government’s spending review, visit
bit.ly/state-school- 7-billion-cash-injection
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 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
