YouGov poll shows parents like idea of free schools

The NUT commissioned a survey from YouGov about parents’ reaction to the government’s free schools policy.   They claim that it shows there is no public support for free schools, and Christine Blower, the General Secretary of the NUT, appeared on the Today programme this morning to say just that. In fact, as Toby Young has [...]

What works in Education Reform? asks Eamonn Butler

Dr Eamonn Butler has written this piece on the Adam Smith Institute website, which looks at proposals to change the system of schools, and asks, “What works in EducationReform?” He seems to like the Swedish system suggested by Michael Gove, but notes no selection is allowed, and asks why can’t the providers make a profit.   He [...]

New Schools – a popular policy and successful in other countries

The main plank of the Conservatives’ education policy is giving parents and others the chance to set up new schools, which, though funded by the state and not charging fees, are independent schools, free to set their own curriculum and manage their own admissions. It is clear from polls and public reaction that the idea [...]

Some recent education stories from press and internet

The lasting guarantee of a decent education  -  We owe our national curriculum to Matthew Arnold.   It would be folly to lose it, says David Conway in the Daily Telegraph (4-1-10) Conway, the author of ‘Liberal Education and the National Curriculum’, published by Civitas, says critics of the national curriculum  seem curiously unaware that the [...]

Cameron launches Party’s Draft Manifesto for Education

David Cameron: We need urgent action to improve our schools Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Monday, January 18 2010    Since the New Year, we have been setting out our argument for the election. We want to make this the year for change. We can’t go on like this, and we need change to get the [...]

Home education – Mark Field’s view

CES members have shown an interest in home education.   Indeed, we have home educators amongst our members.   When the big brother thought police start on about parents having a legal duty to send their children to school, they need to be reminded that, at least as the law stands now, they do not.   Their legal [...]

Douglas Carswell outlines his thoughts on a Conservative education policy

“This country has a serious problem:  a large number of people leave the education system functionally illiterate, lacking the basic skills they need to lead an ordinary contented life.”   This was how Douglas Carswell began his recent talk to the Conservative Education Society. Douglas Carswell is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Harwich, is a [...]

Guardian correspondent suggests direction of labour for teachers

This piece appeared in The Guardian today.   Its content is not surprising, bearing in mind where it was published, but the comments from readers were interesting.   There were a few socialist warriors who mainly seemed to want to insult their great enemy “the middle class”, but the great majority wrote sensibly pointing our both the [...]