Free school head without any teaching qualifications plans to ignore curriculum

[mrz]

m.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/mar/10/free-school-head-no-qualification

[Feenie]

What Blissx said.

[AScorpionPitForMimes]

Blissx has it in one. Gove has been slating state education in the UK from the word go, not because he gives a damn but because it's his route to serious power. He is doing untold damage for his own personal gain. And so many people are falling for it.

[ipadquietly]

How did Ms Briggs become a deputy director of Civitas and educational advisor to the government, having left UCL in 2009 with an MA in early 20th century literature?
Where did she rack up her experience to advise about the curriculum and educational policy, to such a considerable extent that she can influence the future of state education? Her dates of entry to uni suggest that she went straight from A levels to BA and directly from BA to MA.

I can't find any information about her school-life anywhere, or her family background.

Who IS she?

[mrz]

yes who is she ... Mr Gove decided to ignore the advice of the educational experts leading the curriculum review and go with the opinion of someone still working towards their teaching qualification (SCITT ) www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18410526
She did edit one of Hirsch's books ...does that qualify her to lead educational reform?

[lesmisfan]

Bisjo, I have been surprised by just how much of the national curriculum private schools do follow both my DC's school and many of the top independents their friends attend.

[ipadquietly]

Never mind, I see that she did some Saturday morning tuition on 'THE SUN School Scheme' run by 'think-tank Civitas under its Supplementary Schools Project, with the New Model School Company' back in 2009.

Run that past me again...... who was running what for whom?

[mrz]

That's OK then she's highly qualified

[piprabbit]

How strange - she seems to have left university and instantly become a Deputy Director at Civitas.

Funny how some people seem to land on their feet.

[BonfireOfKleenex]

It just stinks.

As does the fact that the 'free school' system gives free rein to those wishing to promote discriminatory religious agendas.

"Faith organisations have an advantage over parent groups in setting up free schools as they often have access to property, such as a church hall, and can swiftly mobilise community resources."

www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jul/13/third-new-free-schools-religious

[Roseformeplease]

So don't send your child there?

[mrz]

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2180931/The-Sun-school-scheme-aids-pupils.html

[BonfireOfKleenex]

"So don't send your child there? "

There's only so much money available for state-funded schools. If your local school chooses to discriminate against you because you are of the 'wrong' religion, then you will be disadvantaged - by having to schlep to a school that's further away, not of your choosing, etc.

[BonfireOfKleenex]

I can see where this is going too - the government will be falling over themselves to let the likes of Evangelical organisations help to fund state schools, as long as they have wads of cash.

Scientologist funded schools might be a step too far - but perhaps not, nothing would surprise me with Gove.

[mrz]

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/03/free-schools-are-disaster

[MiniTheMinx]

I guess deskilling teachers is necessary on the road to privatisation. The case is being made that teaching is not a skilled job for highly qualified candidates, therefore they can be paid less. Just another way of making education a viable investment for private capital.

It stinks.

[ipadquietly]

I agree Mini
Also worrying is the status of our new education minister:

www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/01/18/educ-j18.html?view=print

[mrz]

London?s Pimlico Academy is one pioneering school that has introduced a ?Hirsch-style? curriculum in its new primary school. Two young women are leading this experiment: Anneliese Briggs and Daisy Christodoulou. Pimlico Academy of course is supported by venture capitalist Lord Nash, recently appointed an education minister to replace Lord Hill.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Pardon me if I sound ignorant, but isn't this just what every government does.
Isn't all the education our dcs receive based on constant changes, have they ever been more than guinea pigs?
Tbh I don't think it is much different in the private sector, they still follow the NC but are allowed more leeway, can elaborate, but loosley follow the same.
I'm not suggesting there is a golden answer but don't understand how teachers and parents are surprised about this.

[MiniTheMinx]

Venture capitalist......says it all really. This is all about the needs of the corporate class.

Teaching unions, educationalists and those on the left have always been accused of wanting to dumb down education. Interesting when you consider that most teachers are in favour of equipping children with the skills to learn and be resourceful self starters. I don't know much about Hirsch but it would seem that this method is about making subscribed (even limited) knowledge the goal rather than equipping children to think. I would argue that Gove et al want to dumb down working class kids because free thinkers are troublesome and upset the status quo.

Off to read all the links now.

[ipadquietly]

I think it's worrying that all companies involved seem to be connected in some way, and have their fingers in so many pies. There is no real interest in education/the NHS/the penal system - all our public services seem to be falling into the hands of murky businessmen.

John Nash, the venture capitalist, education minister and academy sponsor, is also the chairman of Care UK, and 'gave £21,000 to fund Andrew Lansley?s personal office in November'.
Mr Nash, a private equity tycoon, also manages several other businesses providing services to the NHS and stands to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Conservative policies to increase the use of private health providers.'

[breatheslowly]

Is there the option of not sending your DC to this school. For example, if the others in the area are oversubscribed, can you be "allocated" this school without putting it down as one of your preferences?

It is one thing for a school to opt out of the national curriculum, but another for your child to be opted out too.

[Blissx]

I feel like banging my head against a brick wall. This isn't about not following the National Curriculum or some government making small policy changes. This is about unqualified people being in charge of the NC in the first place, unqualified people educating our children with the view to privitising schools, money being diverted from your primary school to spend on undersubscribed political whims and good teachers leaving in droves to be replaced by friends in high places. These are big changes and not many people are even aware let alone care.Blimey, I'm sounding like a right harpy! Realise everyone has a right to their opinion, I just wish more parents were informed. Off to bed methinks!

[CecilyP]

breathslowly, it is a very densely populated part of London, so I am sure there will be other options available, even for those who don't get any of their choices. OTOH, many other local schools are faith schools, so this may be the only non-denominational option for some families.

[MiniTheMinx]

ipadquietly I even wonder if this front of class "knowledge" teaching method is about saving money. I was in primary in the 70's, all teaching was front of class, pointing at the board, prescriptive and knowledge based. Only one teacher....no teaching assistant required. The less able children literally sank. If teaching becomes about power points and pointing then sure, I guess almost anyone could do that ! I'm sure there will be some like Murdoch offering their "expert" IT solutions too so they get a cut when it's all privatised.

Blissx well said, parents and indeed all working people need to wake up. 70 years to win our rights.......we are sleep walking towards a society where profit comes before health and education, before people even.