Don't we need a new independent standards body.

[ICantFindAGoodNickname]

I think it might be about time that politicians butted out of education.

We need an independent educational body responsible for regulating, setting standards, reviewing research on new educational techniques etc...
Experts drawn from experience of educational excellence, with no Government involvement...what are your thoughts? Has it been done before? What should such a body look like, what should their responsibilities be?

[mrz]

We had an independent review of primary education led by Robin Alexander which was totally ignored by the last government

[ICantFindAGoodNickname]

I didn't mean that - I meant that the Government relinquish all control over education policy - that it gets transferred to an independent body - independent of party politics. Not sure how it would work in practice but it would limit education being used as a political football...

[mrz]

If they won't even take on board suggestions from years of research by experts in the field they are hardly likely to relinquish control entirely are they

[pointydog]

Was that the cambridge review? Yes, I thought that was good, better than the one the govt went with.

An excellent idea, nickname.Goodness, it might even be a better idea than letting parents and others set up their own schools.

[ICantFindAGoodNickname]

No but for years Governments messed about with interest rates, using it to make themselves look good and causing the economy untold pain and then Mr Brown in a shock move saw fit to pass control over to the Bank of England it was an inspired move, one of the best things he did.
Education has for too long been the topic of people who have no idea what they are talking about to gain political favour - it's a disgrace!

[mrz]

I'm waiting to see what the new government actually mean by giving schools more control ...

[pointydog]

I think they mean, 'if you forget about depending on the govt for resources and support of any kind then we will let you do what you want as long as you agree to take the rap for sinking and we will both take applause together if you succeed.'