Unit 14 - Education Flashcards
Outline what is meant by the national curriculum.
The national curriculum lays down what is to be taught at different ages in most state schools. It is accompanied by programmes of study and attainment targets.
What are national curriculum tests(SATs)?
These tests / tasks are taken at the end of key stages – 7 and 11 to see if the pupils have reached the expected standards for their age.
In reporting secondary school GCSE results, is it sufficient just to publish them as a league table?
It could be argued that to publish the GCSE results in tables is very unjust as it includes special schools (for children with special educational needs); secondary schools catering for children from very different communities; and private schools. A better approach may be to include an interview with the head and / or chair of governors to comment on the results; to give some indication of the deprivation factors for differing schools and show how the pupils improved over the years in the schools (value added).
Outline the role of Ofsted as far as education is concerned.
Ofsted inspects and registers early-years’ providers, inspects schools, FE colleges and training providers, and local authority children’s services.
Following an Ofsted inspection a report has been published on a local community primary school in which it is said that the school has been put into special measures. What does this mean and who would you contact to follow-up the story? What is likely to happen to the school?
The school has failed its Ofsted inspection and has been deemed to be a failing school. It will be closely monitored and re-inspected within two years. As it is a community school it will get added support from the local authority. If it has failed to adequately improve, the senior staff may be removed and the government may instruct the local authority to close it down, in which case it may be reopened as an academy. Follow-up interviews must be with: the chair of governors; headteacher; parent governors; local authority executive member for children’s services; officer responsible for education; representative(s) of teacher unions.
What are Sure Start Centres?
Sure Start is designed to help all children get a sound start from birth. Originally, it was a targeted programme for deprived areas but it became universal. The services offered by each centre will differ. The programme is usually delivered through a partnership involving the local authority, education, NHS, Job Centre Plus, the voluntary sector and will include childcare; early years learning; parenting support; employment help for the parent(s).
Explain the difference between community schools, faith schools, academies and free schools. How are community schools funded?
All these schools are state (maintained) schools and the money for their running costs will have come from the government, either indirectly or directly. They can be either primary or secondary schools. Community schools comprise the majority of state schools. They were set up by the local authority which owns the land and buildings, employs the staff and oversees the running of the school. Faith schools are church schools (voluntary controlled or aided) and will have a faith ethos. Depending on the designation, a minority or a majority of the governors will be appointed by the church and the church may be responsible for the outside of the buildings. Academies and Free Schools are publicly-funded state schools but are totally independent of local and central government and have more freedom, including not being bound by the national curriculum. They receive their funds directly from central government. Academies used to be for failing schools and had to be supported by a sponsor who would bring added support for the school. Now, outstanding schools can become academies and are fast-tracked – less good schools still need a sponsor. The difference between Academies and Free Schools is that Free Schools are newly established schools setup by parents, teachers, voluntary groups etc. they operate like academies. Community schools get their funds according to a local formula from the local authority who received the money from the government’s dedicated schools grant.
What is the difference between a specialist performing arts secondary school and a special school?
A specialist performing arts secondary school will be a comprehensive school and will cover the national curriculum but will have a focus on performing arts. As such it can, should it wish, select 10% of its pupils on their aptitude for the specialism. A special school is a school for children with special educational needs.
A local Conservative MP wants to re-introduce grammar schools in your area. What does this mean? Indicate some of the issues the proposal raises and suggest FIVE local contacts you would interview to follow-up the story.
Grammar schools are selective secondary schools. There are very few areas where selection at the age of 11 remains (Bournemouth, Kent, Trafford) – everywhere else there is non selective (comprehensive) education. Issues raised may include: divisive nature; children develop at different ages; 11 is an arbitrary age; condemns pupils as failures; is contrary to Conservative policy; grammar schools helps children reach their potential; help bright children from deprived areas; get excellent results; etc. Contacts would be Conservative MP; other local politicians (Conservative who is opposed); executive member for children’s services; parent governor(s); representative(s) of teacher unions; headteacher(s).
You have been sent to an infant school to cover the launch of a competition on healthy eating. What age pupils will be attending the school?
Pupils in an infant school will be aged 4/5-7.
Do parents have to send their children to school? What is the school leaving age? What can happen to a parent of a child of school age who plays truant or is taken on holiday in term time?
Parents do not have to send their children to school but have to ensure that they receive an efficient full-time education. This can involve home tuition but the parents may have to persuade the local authority or ultimately the courts that they are providing an efficient full- time education. A parent whose child is playing truant is personally responsible and may be fined by the local authority or the school or may be prosecuted, in which case the court may issue the parent with an order, a fine, or imprisonment. For the majority of young people the school leaving age is 18 as young people must either remain in full-time education until 18 or may leave school at 16 and take an apprenticeship or work and attend part-time education up to the age of 18.
You have a story that the local authority has refused to provide free school transport for an eight year-old child who lives just under three miles from the rural school. What are the rules and who would you interview to follow-up the story? What might be an interesting angle?
The law lays down that for children over eight, free school transport must be provided if the child attends the nearest school and the school is more than three miles from home. It would appear that the local authority is acting within the rules but there could be a good story here. How was the distance measured? As it is a rural school what is the nature of the route to school – no footpath; no street lights; busy road? The local authority has to take into account “the nature of route or routes the child can reasonably be expected to take”. Excellent photo opportunities here! Interview parent(s); councillor(s) (ward and / or division depending on structure of local government); parent governor(s); officer from local authority (was the route taken into account?).
A parent has contacted you to complain that the local authority has refused to give her child a statement of special educational need? What does this mean? What concerns have the current government expressed about this?
Statements of special educational need (now called Education, Health and Care Plans) are given to young people with significant special needs (learning difficulties or disabilities; physical disabilities; sensory disabilities; emotional and behavioural problems). The statement identifies the needs and shows how the authority will meet those needs. The statement is agreed between the parent and the authority. It clearly has significant cost implications for the authority and some parents fear that authorities refuse statements to save money.
Do parents have the right to choose what state school to send their child to?
Parents do not have an absolute right to choose but do have the right to indicate a preference. They have a right of appeal to an independent appeals panel if their child is refused a place in a preferred school.
A headteacher of a Roman Catholic voluntary-aided secondary school has sent a pupil home because of the extreme haircut that he has had. The child’s father complains that his son is merely exercising his individuality and that his child’s education is being jeopardised because of stupid rules. What is the position about excluding a child? Who would you contact for quotes to follow-up the story?
The headteacher may temporarily exclude a pupil for breaking school rules. (Under certain circumstances the governors’ approval may be required.) As this is a voluntary aided school the majority of the governors will be from the foundation. Follow-ups may include; parent; headteacher; chair of governors; parent governor(s); church governors; spokesperson of teacher union(s) (headteacher union); local MP. (Government wants to give teachers more powers to discipline children so a quote from a local Conservative MP / candidate might be forthcoming).
