2009/10 - One day Heads' Conference

What Works in Schools: Academic Rigour and Accessibility - The Challenge for Subjects - 18th January 2010

A conference on how a balance can be struck between the academic rigour demanded by Higher Education, employers and teachers on the one hand, and on the other the need to provide a curriculum that is accessible to pupils of all abilities.

This event featured top practitioners and educationalists, academics and representation from subject associations and employers. The keynote speaker was Professor Michael Young, Professor of Education at the Institute of Education and author of many publications including What are schools for? (2009). The day consisted of lectures and workshops, and a plenary panel which allowed conclusions to be drawn from the views of those present.  These were that:

• In the past 20 years, there has been too much encroachment of politics into education, with schools being asked to mop up all kinds of social problems
• As a result of pressure from performance tables, traditional academic subjects like History and Modern Languages are becoming more and more the preserve of independent schools, with a potential detriment to social mobility
• The more rigorous inspection regime may have raised standards of teaching but has created an environment where all that matters is compliance with regulations
• The habit of personal reading can no longer be taken for granted - the comparative impoverishment of children’s language means that they find many forms of literature difficult to understand even at a basic level

These conclusions are contained in the report of the event published on the 24th May 2010, that is available below:

 What Works in Schools 2010 Report [7.0MB]