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.

Of-sted with her head

Posted on February 2, 2014 by ianchisnall

The outgoing Chair of Ofsted has some professional experience of education, which is more than can be said for any of the Ministers in the Department for Education who will appoint her successor. According to her Wikipedia entry Baroness Morgan of … Continue reading →

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Are we ready for change?

Posted on January 24, 2014 by ianchisnall

Yesterday I attended two significant meetings each with a focus on the work of local statutory services in the period 2015-2020. Although substantial cuts have been made to many of our services (Police, Local Government, Health, Fire and Rescue) to … Continue reading →

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The History Boys

Posted on January 14, 2014 by ianchisnall

This weekend two young men, both history graduates have been expressing their views about education and how to improve teaching in our Schools. Tristram Hunt who is a graduate of Trinity College Cambridge has shown his willingness, yet again to appear to … Continue reading →

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A doomed concept

Posted on December 16, 2013 by ianchisnall

Throughout yesterday one of the news threads on the radio and TV stemmed from a statement by Michael Wilshaw, Chief Inspector of Schools at OFSTED, suggesting that Grammar Schools are simply cheap public Schools whose selection is largely determined by the extent … Continue reading →

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A lack of consistency

Posted on December 11, 2013 by ianchisnall

 The tribute to Nelson Mandela in Parliament yesterday led to a number of anecdotes and memories being discussed in a place where our laws are made. Many of our legislators had met Mr Mandela, and so there was a rich resource … Continue reading →

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It may not be a mans world!

Posted on November 19, 2013 by ianchisnall

I was at a social event early in the year when International Womens Day (March 8th) was discussed. Someone asked why there was not a similar day for men, and one of those present with a sense of humour pointed out that men … Continue reading →

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Lets change what we can

Posted on November 11, 2013 by ianchisnall

This morning as we reflect on the end of the War to end all Wars where Millions of men lost their lives irrespective of their class 99 years ago, one of the key discussions on the Radio was social mobility. This was provoked … Continue reading →

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Please Sir, how well qualified are you?

Posted on October 31, 2013 by ianchisnall

The debate on teaching qualifications took a stale turn yesterday as Tristram Hunt was given a grilling by Jeremy Paxman, Paxman demanding to know if Hunt would send his children to a School where the teachers were unqualified, and Hunt … Continue reading →

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If you can’t teach, be a special adviser

Posted on October 8, 2013 by ianchisnall

According to satirist H.L. Mencken Mencken “Those who can — do. Those who can’t — teach.” this cynical phrase was extended to “Those who can’t teach – teach teachers” by person or persons unknown at a later date. There could … Continue reading →

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Earning or Learning?

Posted on October 3, 2013 by ianchisnall

Yesterdays speech by David Cameron was full of very strange hyperbole. As if he had not learnt from the disastrous politicisation of the ‘Big Society’ concept, Dave has now attempted to appropriate ‘Hope’ on behalf of his Party. At least the Big Society was … Continue reading →

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