Wellington takes on the MYP
Dr Anthony Seldon of Wellington is giving GCSEs the boot and moving to the Internatioal Bacclaureate Organisation's Middle Years Programme, or MYP. Hurrah.
The first five years of secondary school have become much less exciting and interesting than they should be, constrained by the need to put eveyone though boring, unchallenging, tickbox GCSEs at age 16. At least in a well-run school like Wellington, the change to MYP - much more freedom, undoubted quality - should be a delight for staff and pupils.
At last independent schools are getting back to doing things in new and better ways, after years of toeing the government line. This, much more than charity, is what should define them.
The first five years of secondary school have become much less exciting and interesting than they should be, constrained by the need to put eveyone though boring, unchallenging, tickbox GCSEs at age 16. At least in a well-run school like Wellington, the change to MYP - much more freedom, undoubted quality - should be a delight for staff and pupils.
At last independent schools are getting back to doing things in new and better ways, after years of toeing the government line. This, much more than charity, is what should define them.
posted by Ralph Lucas at 5:44 pm
3 Comments:
Hello Lord Lucas,
I was just wondering what you think of home education?
Hello Lord Lucas,
I agree that the IGCSE will intrigue and challenge pupils much more than the GCSE.
To change the subject, I wondered what is your opinion of the Home Education 'review' undertaken by Graham Badman and eight other people, only one of which has had any experience (as far as can be determined) with home education?
Danae
http://www.threedegreesoffreedom.blogspot.com
I commented the other day when I asked what you thought about home education, Lord Lucas.
I fear that Education Otherwise has very little support from most home educators. In fact, some of us believe that certain Education Otherwise volunteers are seeking to be appointed as 'monitors' of home education. It is all very sad. But, fundamental to the whole business of a 'review', is the desire of the LAs to monitor and regulate home education even more than they are allowed to already. This monitoring - by anyone - will make it impossible for children to follow the autonomous or child-led path in their education. The child-led path has been found to be one of the most effective forms of education (Rothermel, and others). Monitoring education is unnecessary. It is merely a form of control. As you rightly say, parents not the state are responsible for educating their children. The whole safeguarding issue should not be conflated with the education issue. If LAs, or indeed anyone, are seriously concerned about a child, then they should consult the social services. Home education is an educational choice. It has been represented in the media as a 'possible' cover for abuse of various kinds. It is a matter of deep worry that these derogatory comments and outright lies were placed in the public domain about home educators. It does nothing to sustain my once-held belief that government 'works for us' that our children's right to be educated in safety, peace and in their own interests is being threatened now.
I imagine you won't post my comment but I hope you will, at least, consider what I say.
Respectfully,
Diane
http://www.threedegreesoffreedom.blogspot.com
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