Public schools brace for a stern examination over soaring fees | News crumb | EducationGuardian.co.uk

Public schools brace for a stern examination over soaring fees

And so it begins...Last Sunday's Observer describes a scheme by the Scottish Charity Regulator to examine the public benefit provided by charities North of the Border.

This comes at a difficult time for independent schools. South of the border there is similar uncertainty following new legislation last month that will mean all UK charities (which include over 80 per cent of the country's 2,500 private schools) must now prove they provide sufficient benefit to the public to warrant the tax breaks they enjoy. For the schools, the breaks amount to about £100m year, mainly through rates relief.

It will be High School of Dundee that stands as the institution that will test out Scottish legislation on charitable status. But before we start to worry unduly, it appears that there will be some division between the regions. Perhaps devolution will have proved a benefit to some...

Unlike the Scottish legislation, the recently passed Charities Act 2006 in England and Wales makes no mention of fees; in fact, it leaves the term 'public benefit' undefined...according to some lawyers this means that all private schools need do is show they save the Exchequer money (which they do - about £2bn a year by educating over 600,000 pupils) and provide a service above that offered by the state (such as smaller class sizes or extra facilities).

With Schools like St. Paul's, Winchester & Eton laying foundations for the future where "widening access" will be a reality, then, of course, the future management of Independent Schools encourages us to look at this concept in an even broader sense.

With the advent of Every Child Matters in the Maintained Sector, we are certainly well placed to jump what Lord Sudbury calls "an extraordinarily low hurdle". But then, legislation in England does not include a review of fees when considering the public benefit of Independent Schools.

Why is all this ICT stuff so important?

The FordLog » Blog Archive » Gareth Davies on Phil Beadle

I think I've found a key quote that will allow us to understand precisely why web 2.0 initiatives are just so important.

To not be engaged in the forms of communication that this technology
affords means, as an English teacher, you are unable to inform and educate
students on how to become a constructive member of today’s society.

It comes from Gareth Davies, one of many educators who understand the relevancy of ICT in education today. What he writes, especially in this article is something that ought to allows to address the pedagogic implications in greater earnest.

Pupil Health & Safety

TeacherNet: Pupil Health & Safety

Just a reflection on the way last week started...

In the 12 years that I have been teaching PE and games no one has ever been seriously hurt until, that is, last Monday. What makes me laugh is that with all the angst & worry over health and safety in school sports, particulary rugby, the only child ever to damage themselves in one of my sessions is a 6 year old who was actually standing still at the time!

There we were, me and my Monday afternoon Year 1 football class. Running up and down, a few at a time, dribbling the ball. Then, from just over my right shoulder I hear a child crying. Turning round I saw X, who was waiting their turn, lying on the floor in what looked like a lot of pain.

Now as I mentioned above, I 've never encountered a serious injury. Also I've seen a lot of whinging kids who just had a bang. But there was a different quality to this little person's reaction. I could just sense it. So, I called for the nurse and she came running and dealt with the situation before the other 19 five and six year-olds ran amok!

Sure enough there was a broken arm. The child had simply over balanced while fiddling with the ball and fallen over. A freak accident.

So, the next time anyone tries to tell me how dangerous rugby is for young children...

BBC NEWS | Business | At-a-glance: The Stern Review

What price responsibility? Is this what we educate for? To promote a sustainable future? To engender a responsible attitude?

The Stern Review

The importance of literacy & numeracy is clear when placed in the context of the future with which our children have to contend. They have to be able to read & critically analyse reports & data presented to them & make up their own minds as to the role that they want to play in ensuring a sustainable future.

Parents 'want safer school trips'

Here's one to watch. If school management has any challenges, this is one of the biggest...

BBC NEWS | Education | Parents 'want safer school trips'

Four steps to being chucked on the scrapheap

EducationGuardian.co.uk - Four steps to being chucked on the scrapheap

As always - a little sense on our chaotic world & another opportunity to post on the occasional theme of: "Why the Independent Sector is best!"

Reading through the article by Phillip Beadle, above, is once again proof that established & experienced teachers (regardless of the sector in which they work) know how to create learning experiences for their pupils.

Some teachers believe that the four-part lesson plan is a move to
standardise to such an extent that anyone can deliver a lesson. It seeks to
take the element of professional judgment out of teaching, so that it is no
longer a graduate job, and lessons can be delivered by teaching
assistants.

He goes on to support the valuable work that teaching assistants do. However it highlights the essential freedoms that exisit in the indeepndent sector and how our colleagues in Maintained schools are continually harangued to conform to a model that many know to be unworkable, ineffective and uninspiring for both teacher and learner.

His message - To teach as you are inspired. Communicate with the pupils in a way that delivers your objectives so that they can be remembered and used!

Planet Under Pressure

BBC NEWS Science/Nature Introduction: Planet Under Pressure

So...turn off electrical items at the wall

Please Don't Tell The Head of Music!

BBC NEWS | Health | Music training boosts the brain

Well this will really prove a point! Scientifically proven: Music education improves brain function.

I certain it does. But then I listen to the year 3 music carousel & its my brain function that needs boosting!

School fee inflation 'slows down'

BBC NEWS | Business | School fee inflation 'slows down'

So what does it mean? Maybe the post-millenium building programme has ceased and we are not hiking our fees to pay for them! Perhaps we are keen not to turn off the new generations of parents somewhat apprehensive to take the plunge into Independent Education. The article ends with the quote:

"Despite the growing relative expense of sending a child to a private school, this has become a more popular option for parents.

In 2005/06 they accounted for 6.7% of all school places, up from 6.2% five years ago."

If fees cease to rise so rapidly we maybe seeing a rise in the numbers in Independent school places.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Are private schools thriving?

Very wel worth a read...

BBC NEWS | Education | Are private schools thriving?

The answer, according to Mike Baker, is yes, however...

"Some leading members of the independent sector are now warning against complacency."

In our increasingly pluralistic world the Independent education represents choice and accountability. Thus ensuring security for parents as they invest both financially and emotionally in their children's future. Away from the homogeneity and bureaucracy, foisted upon our colleagues in the maintained, surely Independent schools' survival is based on the opportunity to embrace new trends in Teaching and Learning whilst retaining the values which are being eroded.

Independent school 'will reopen'

BBC NEWS | England | Southern Counties | Independent school 'will reopen'

Has anyone been following this?

Trying Something Out

View this clip on Vimeo

Brown sets private schools target

I meant to put this up on the blog a week ago but you know how it is...

BBC NEWS | Education | Brown sets private schools target

This is a return to a theme that I have run throughout this weblog: the attempt to close the percieved gap between state a private schools.

On the one hand there is the gap in funding to consider. Independent schools are meant to be "richer" than our colleagues in the state sector. Perhaps true, but I am certain you can name schools whose budgets are as tight as the village primary school at which I am a governor. However, state schools aren't working with many of the business-related pressures under which independent schools operate.

On the other hand is the claim that funding makes independent schools "better". Again I know educators, working in state schools, whose passion, creativity and desire to effect change in pupils lives is greater than I could ever hope to emulate. Yet we are told that more money would make better schools. What will make better schools, be they state or independent, is the freedom to teach creatively and allow pupils to learn in a way that is engaging and challenging.

Throw all the money you like at schools, school improvement will only occur with independent thinking not independent funding

4x4 or against?

One to take note of! Where do you stand?

BBC NEWS | Magazine | 4x4 or against?

Spending on books dwarfed by ICT

BBC NEWS | Education | Spending on books dwarfed by ICT

We are living in an age of technological development which, at present, is often lead by our pupils. As schools we fall behind what the children themselves are able to achieve with ICT. Therefore schools get caught up spending money on shiny new toys to entertain their pupils. In my experience this does not work.

Pupils need access to ICT, absolutely, however far more important is the opportunity to utilse the communication possibilities in ICT! They therefore need to know how and why communication works and this includes books! Without the love of reading children will not be able to express themselves creatively and all the technology in the world is not going to help.

University Idol

Reading through this article, BBC NEWS | Education | 'Talent search' plan under attack, I can't help but think that primary schools are yet again being asked to put their pupils in the spotlight. As primary/early secondary educators our natural inclination, I believe, is to allow children to flourish free from the pressures that we all know they will be under further along in the academic and professional careers.

The General Secretary of the Association of School & College Leaders, John Dunford:

"Key stage 2 tests should not be used for this purpose [to register children with the National Academy for Gifted & talented Youth]. These are tests for attainment, not potential.

"That is why most secondary schools re-test children on entry at 11 - to establish their potential."

He said it would put yet more pressure on children whose test results were already used to grade their achievement, diagnose their learning problems, pay their teachers and put their schools into league tables.

In our sector we know that children are placed under far more pressure than their peers in maintained schools. So as school leaders we are charged with ensuring a breadth of exprience to offset this. Our children are growing up fast enough without further pressure to perform bing place on their young shoulders.

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools special reports | Slap on wrist for private schools in fees cartel

Thought you may want the update, in case you missed it:

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools special reports | Slap on wrist for private schools in fees cartel

'Men cleverer than women' claim

BBC NEWS | Education | 'Men cleverer than women' claim

Claim? Some people (not me) would say this was an undisputed fact!!

Worth reading, actually, especially when considered in relation to theories such as Howard Gardener's Mutiple Intelligences. Naturally, we are all different, with varied skills and aptitudes. Who can tell what "cleverness" is?

Music 'as vital as the three Rs'

BBC NEWS | Education | Music 'as vital as the three Rs'

Breadth & balance in the curriculum?

In my experience, of all the colleagues that have to continually "fight their corner", even in the independent sector, its the music teachers that seem to to do battle the most. So here, at last, is some support for them.

Its also a timely reminder that "adding value" to our children's education is something that, as school leaders, we have to keep uppermost in our minds.