Tuesday, January 27, 2009

What kind of person have they chosen to conduct this *independent review* then?

Graham Badman

Graham Badman CBE MA has more than 40 years of experience in education, including being a teacher, Headteacher, inspector and chief education officer.

Graham began his career in education as a Secondary Science Teacher later becoming Head of a Science Department. From 1971-1985 he worked first as Deputy Headteacher and then as Headteacher in Cornwall.

In 1985 he joined Oxfordshire LEA as a Schools' Adviser where he remained before taking up the post of Chief Adviser to Avon County Council in 1988. He became Director of Education in 1991 and in 1994 he took over responsibility for the reorganisation of local government in Avon, following the retirement of the Chief Executive.

In May 1996 he re-joined Oxfordshire LEA, this time as Chief Education Officer. In July 1997 he was appointed as a Specialist Adviser to the Education and Employment Parliamentary Select Committee.

Graham became Strategic Director for KCC Education and Libraries on 1 January 2002. He became Managing Director, Children, Families and Education Directorate with effect from 1 April 2006, with additional responsibilities for child health services from September 2007.

- Kent County Council

So, no experience of home education whatsoever. With that kind of a résumé, how is he not going to 'review' our situation through school-oriented eyes?

For the review to have been truly independent, we'd surely have had some say in this appointment.

Is there anything to stop us carrying out our own *independent review*? At least we'd have something with which to counter his report.

13 Comments:

Blogger Riaz said...

There appears to be some unwritten rule in British government to ensure that a task or project is assigned to a person who knows zilch about it.

7:08 pm, January 27, 2009  
Blogger Gill said...

LOL. Well, he probably doesn't know zilch about any of it. When he was 'Managing Director for Children, Families and Education' at Kent County Council, his borough's compliance with those five outcomes was Ofsted-assessed. (That's quite an interesting document, actually, from our point of view.)

So I think he'll be very well-versed in ECM-speak. He's just not likely to know anything about home education, more's the pity - unless he has actually experienced it and not included it on his résumé.

8:01 pm, January 27, 2009  
Blogger Riaz said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

9:46 pm, January 27, 2009  
Blogger Gill said...

That looks good, Riaz, though I'm not affiliating myself with all of your politics!

6:54 am, January 28, 2009  
Blogger Gill said...

There is more discussion about this post over there.

8:45 am, January 28, 2009  
Blogger Riaz said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

11:10 am, January 28, 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It doesn't surprise me they have chosen someone who appears to have a a lot of high level envolvement in 'school' education.
Perhaps he can learn a little about home education???
I have to say this whole new consultation thing is creepy.

1:14 pm, January 28, 2009  
Blogger Gill said...

Thanks, Riaz.

Mum6kids, I quite agree!

1:58 am, January 29, 2009  
Blogger Elaine said...

He wrote the LA questions one of which is along the lines of
Do the children study 20hrs per week
If he were anything but a puppet he would know
A. LA's have to provide 5hrs per term time week min home tutoring for children unable to attend school due to illness etc
B. There are 52 weeks in a year and only 39? of them are term time weeks

9:36 am, January 30, 2009  
Blogger Gill said...

Yep - good point.

I am glad I decided to save my responses for the last minute!

9:39 am, January 30, 2009  
Blogger Gill said...

Just to say that I've deleted the comments here which link to a certain political website, because I don't wish to be associated with its policies.

11:52 am, January 30, 2009  
Blogger Riaz said...

Would prefer it if I ceased posting comments here?

5:56 pm, January 30, 2009  
Blogger Gill said...

I think so Riaz, yes. I will certainly have to keep deleting any links that you might post here.

4:39 am, January 31, 2009  

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