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The DfE @GavinWilliamson @educationgovuk has released its plan for education. @MaryBoustedNEU has released hers. Here’s mine @SchoolsWeek @tes @dutaut @AnnMroz @amanda_spielman Number 1 - Ditch the National Curriculum: it is not fit for purpose
Number 1 - again - just to be clear - Ditch the National Curriculum. Instead we need a curriculum for every child. Scotland and Wales have redesigned their curricula to put equity and well-being at the heart of schools. @educationgovuk needs to catch up
Number 2 - Abandon GCSEs and SATS. If Finland can manage on one final national exam at the end of a child’s school career, it’s good enough for us. Moving away from bureaucratic and expensive accountability regimes will free up money for other priorities
Number 3 - Work in partnership with parents to agree where their child is at - and what needs to happen next. Provide support to parents about how they can best help their child to recover. Collaborate with other services as needed to ensure a joined-up approach
Number 4 - Identify all vulnerable children and ensure that they are in school full time. This to be the top priority for schools for the coming year.
Number 5 - Arrange part-time school for other children as required. Each school to develop a plan that suits their own school community. Introduce blended learning and an imaginative curriculum for all: project work at home and time for reflection and discussion in school
Number 6 - Provide all children from disadvantaged families with a tablet or laptop and internet connection to ensure all children and their parents can stay in touch with their teachers
Number 7 - Enlist businesses, third sector organisations, arts centres, universities, libraries, local people etc. to support schools. Leverage the different skills & opportunities within communities to support schools. Set up a volunteer bank. Schools can’t do this on their own
Number 8 - make use of unused community and commercial buildings and land to support the national education endeavour. Make outdoor learning an entitlement for all children - as it is in Scotland
Number 9 - Re-open Sure Start Centres across the country to ensure that parents in disadvantaged or challenging circumstances receive the support they need to give all children the best start in life. Train and pay early years staff properly for this vital work
Number 10 - Support parents financially to work part time if they can, so that they can share responsibility for their children’s education - and to facilitate home learning as needed. Such an approach will keep more people in work, albeit on a part time basis
Number 11 - Suspend inspections for a year - or for however long it takes to enable Ofsted to carry out a thorough-going review in order to build a collaborative inspection process based on school self-evaluation. Scotland’s already done this; Wales is in the process @Ofstednews
Number 12 - Involve all school partners - teachers, students, parents, governors and local people - in agreeing the best way forward for their own school community.
We have an opportunity now to build back better. Let’s not waste it.
