Category Archives: Education

The Blair Government invested heavily in early years education and the Cameron Government began well by promising to retain childrens centres. That has become one more piece of this Governments hyperbole at best. The truth was that Blairs reforms did not go far enough and now the ground is being moved from under our childrens feet. No stone should be left unturned as we protect the future of our next generation.

A poor structure and weak appointments

Posted on January 4, 2018 by ianchisnall

As the issues around the Office for Students (OfS) continue to be explored in the press, particularly with regard to the appointment of Toby Young, the inadequacy of the structure developed by the DfE is starting to emerge. As I … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Parliament and Democracy, Youth Issues | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A bad starter for ’18

Posted on January 2, 2018 by ianchisnall

The need to assemble an effective group of people to regulate Universities and other Higher Education bodies is clear. As Justine Greening stated in the announcement that was published a minute into the New Year as the new body came into … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Parliament and Democracy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The DfE needs an informed EY specialist

Posted on December 31, 2017 by ianchisnall

According to this article ‘The government has pledged to plough £50m into bolstering early years provision in disadvantaged areas of the country, as part of an action plan intended to improve social mobility.’ Sadly this strategy is deeply flawed. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Parliament and Democracy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Youth Employment and Apprenticeships

Posted on December 10, 2017 by ianchisnall

On Wednesday Parliament debated a topic that is vital to all of us, that of youth employment. The debate was convened by Gillian Keegan who is the recently elected MP for Chichester and who believes she is the only MP … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Parliament and Democracy, Youth Issues | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lets have a level playing field

Posted on December 2, 2017 by ianchisnall

At the end of the Summer period in Parliament back in July 2016 following the nation changing referendum along with the resignation of David Cameron and the appointment of Theresa May as his successor, a report emerged from Parliament that … Continue reading →

Posted in Charities, Education, Parliament and Democracy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“We’re introducing” means very little!

Posted on November 30, 2017 by ianchisnall

In last weeks budget Philip Hammond made the following statement We’re introducing T-levels. And today I provide a further £20m to support FE colleges to prepare for them. Whilst this was hardly a detailed statement, it did indicate a sense of immediacy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Parliament and Democracy, Youth Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Government department in chaos

Posted on November 29, 2017 by ianchisnall

Anne Milton is the MP for Guildford and Minister for Women and Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills State in the Department for Education. On Monday the preview of an interview with her was published to question why the outcome … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Parliament and Democracy, Youth Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will bribing Schools add up?

Posted on November 23, 2017 by ianchisnall

The decision by Philip Hammond to offer a £600 Bribe to Schools that manage to persuade their students who have passed Maths at GCSE to then go onto Maths A Level is deeply worrying. Society is crying out for better … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Parliament and Democracy, Youth Issues | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A new political manifesto

Posted on November 4, 2017 by ianchisnall

In the House of Lords on Thursday, there was a debate which focused on a document which was published on 6th September by a Conservative MP, Fiona Bruce and Conservative Lord, Michael Farmer entitled ‘A manifesto to strengthen families’ and … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Parliament and Democracy, Youth Issues | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A lack of necessary data?

Posted on October 31, 2017 by ianchisnall

A few days ago in Parliament Chris Ruane MP asked a question which elicited an interesting response from the Minister for Schools, Nick Gibb. The question was “To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children have been taught music … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Parliament and Democracy, Police & Crime Commissioner | Tagged , | Leave a comment