Category: Education

Fears of a digital divide in schools

Fears of a digital divide in schools

Press Release: An education expert and former government adviser has warned of a possible ‘digital divide’ developing in schools if exams become entirely computer based. Dr Stephen Curran was reacting to an exam board’s decision to phase out the traditional exam paper. It could lead to all papers being taken in front of a keyboard…

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Dunce’s cap for Phillipson

Dunce’s cap for Phillipson

One of the few successes of the last Conservative administration was in education. We rose up the international PISA rankings because of the introduction of a new curriculum and a return to more proven, traditional methods. Now Labour is in power it is already planning to undo this success. To sum up, it wants all…

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My message to the Education Secretary after the General Election: ‘Build on’ rather than ‘tear down’

My message to the Education Secretary after the General Election: ‘Build on’ rather than ‘tear down’

Whoever wins the General Election will have a huge inbox. There will be decisions to make on all manner of things including health, defence and the economy. There is one thing, however, that they shouldn’t tinker with too much – at least in England. That is education. Since the new national curriculum was introduced in…

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Video violence can harm school children

Video violence can harm school children

An education expert and former government adviser has blasted a video that has been shown to primary school children. The short, animated CGI 3D film made available by ‘teachers resource’ company The Literacy Shed depicts a frightening, post-apocalyptic world with violent scenes. Dr Stephen Curran said the 8min 30sec film called ‘Ruin’ was inappropriate for…

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School’s out, for ever?

School’s out, for ever?

I have just returned in mid-September from a week-long foreign holiday, and I was surprised to see so many English families with children. According to a recent report from consultancy Public First there has been a ‘seismic shift’ in parents’ attitudes to school attendance. My anecdotal evidence supports the report’s findings that absenteeism is growing,…

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