Thursday, June 11, 2009

The review report

Links to download pdfs of Graham Badman's review report and a letter from Ed Balls to Graham Badman setting out the government's intentions regarding his recommendations can be found on this dcsf page.

It seems that we are to be registered annually, and that this registration will be conditional on our plans being accepted and on our children being able to demonstrate that they've made sufficient 'progress and attainment' in accordance with the approved plan:

Recommendation 7

That parents be required to allow the child through exhibition or other means to demonstrate both attainment and progress in accord with the statement of intent lodged at the time of registration.


Mr Badman has this to say about autonomous learning, on page 36:

10.1 Inevitably during the course of an inquiry, matters arise that require answers, yet either no answer is easily forthcoming, or in searching for it, one becomes aware that the evidence does not exist. In particular I am concerned by two issues. First, what constitutes ‘autonomous’ learning. Could it be, as many home educating parents have argued, it defies definition but provides the ultimate opportunity for children to develop at their own rate and expands their talents and aptitudes thought the pursuit of personal interest. Or, does it present a more serious concern for a quality of education that lacks pace, rigour and direction. I come to no conclusion but believe further research into the efficacy of autonomous learning is essential.

Well, as autonomous learning (although it taught my older children something about the appropriate use of question marks in punctuation) usually defies the kind of planning that will be essential if we are to comply with the other recommendations, further research into its efficacy will not be necessary, because it will be rendered almost impossible for us to deliver.

But no doubt we will persevere.

12 Comments:

Blogger Gill said...

And here is the consultation document that they had all ready for us.

12:45 pm, June 11, 2009  
Blogger R said...

as if by magic! :(

1:14 pm, June 11, 2009  
Anonymous Jax said...

In the letter it does say that the review was given to the government on 1st June. Which will be why we've been getting the hints about registration for the past few days from ppl who knew that it was in there.

2:21 pm, June 11, 2009  
Blogger Ron Tomlinson said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

5:49 pm, June 11, 2009  
Blogger Ron Tomlinson said...

>I come to no conclusion but believe further research into the efficacy of autonomous learning is essential


Yet his recommendations would effectively outlaw autonomous education. So how could such 'research' be carried out?

5:51 pm, June 11, 2009  
Blogger Ian Appleby said...

Badman's simply and completely ignored anything that anyone said to him about AHE, and dismissed peer-reviewed research to boot. All because, apparently, it did not agree with his pre-conceived ideas. Hmm, wouldn't score well in an academic setting, would he? Oh, and, of course, there was no-one with the first clue about AHE on his panel to set him right, was there?

Also, the bit in Balls' reply about re-assessing the definition of suitability and efficiency as regards education does not bode at all well for us.

Fair took the shine off the day, this has... :(

7:15 pm, June 11, 2009  
Anonymous suzyg said...

My 'favourite' bit was about how the UK is currently out of line with Europe. He points out that home education has been outlawed in Germany since the 1930s, but doesn't appear to notice that this rather supports the point that a number of home educators have been making.

Sue

8:16 pm, June 11, 2009  
Anonymous ivan said...

As an ex-teacher - qualified in the 50s, went into industry in late 60s - I taught my children to read and write long before they went to school, then had to teach them after work because they weren't learning anything at school - that went down like a lead balloon at the school. Because of work, I finished up having to send them to a private school.

As things stand with the present government they are more interested in brainwashing any individuality out of the children - you can easily control an ignorant population but not an educated one.

8:27 pm, June 11, 2009  
Blogger G said...

Luckily I have managed to find a school (small and private) near us for eldest which is non curriculum led. There are options to take GCSE's but the kids are not pushed into it (thankfully). The fees? £500 a term plus 40 hrs time contribution per term where possible.
Subjects?
English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
Latin
German
Sciences
Humanities
Art
Gardening
Car Maintainence
Pottery
Cookery
Jewellery Making
Textiles
Woodwork
Music
Rock band
Strategic Board Games


Eldest is begging to go, she thinks she has just found heaven.

9:03 pm, June 11, 2009  
Anonymous Peter said...

Hi Gill, great article - at the present time my wife is so upset at the results of the review and I am, quite frankly, angry at the farce of a review that is going to impact on so many lives.

I call it a farce in that the consultation is ready (when normal review cycles take a long time).
Makes me wonder how many responses they actually read from parents.

A real sad day - at least for the education of our children. :(

11:45 pm, June 11, 2009  
Blogger Elaine said...

They are trying to break down the last refuge of the family ALL families!, the right to privacy . Blogdial puts it in a nutshell

'Recommendation seven will apply to ALL homes; the local authority will have the right of access to your home, and the right to speak to your child without you being there.''
http://irdial.com/blogdial/?p=1821

12:40 am, June 12, 2009  
Blogger Irdial said...

GIna, enjoy that school while you can. What the government is going to go after next are all schools that do not conform to the national curriculum.

That means all Stiener schools and schools like St James (who teach Vedic maths and who do not allow computers until the senior school) are going to be made to change or be shut down.

Ofsted will be given new powers to close schools that they inspect but find are not educating to a 'suitable standard'. This is the next logical step in the rush to total conformity; "why should the children of the rich be able to opt out of the national curriculum" will be the argument.

1:44 pm, June 15, 2009  

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