Trusts, Academies, admissions lotteries, proliferating faith schools, citizenship lessons, personalized learning, value-adding … With two distinguished academics, Libby discusses two ambitions of the recent Education Bill - more independence for schools and more power for parents.
LORD SUTHERLAND
Stewart Sutherland – Lord Sutherland of Houndwood - was Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England from 1992 to 1994; founder of OFSTED, he is an elected Fellow of the British Academy and is currently Provost at Gresham College and President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
HeÌýis giving a lecture this week at Gresham College about two key issues in education: faith schools and funding.
PROFESSOR ANNE WEST
Libby Purves is joined by Professor Anne West from the London School of Economics who, along with a colleague, has today published research (commissioned by Research and Information on State Education) which looks at 15 parent campaigns, run before the Education Bill.
FAMILY SCHOOL
For some parents it’s not enough to campaign for the closing or opening of schools. Unhappy with the education on offer for their children, they chose to either home school their children or even create their own school … one innovative group of parents have decided to do just that in Clapham, South London. The Family School, as it’s called, will abandon the National Curriculum in favour of a more flexible approach to learning. Parent participation will be a must. Although this new eco-school is not yet built, the founding members and their children are already meeting weekly on the site.
Our reporter, Melissa Viney, went along to find out more.
LISTENER FEEDBACK
In response to our item last week on PE and School Sport, we hear from Alan Cross, who was a PE Teacher for 27 years, 15 of those as Head of Department, at a comprehensive school in Birmingham.
Last week Beverley Hughes, Minister for children, Young people and families, told us about the government’s plans for a new parenting academy. Anna Firth describes how she has helped to set up a community based group for parents.
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