Birmingham CASE: follow the link (above) what we think about…
The New Birmingham Education Partnership
The BirminghamBaccalaureate
The LA Co-op Partnership.
The new Birmingham Education Partnership
Here is an opportunity – perhaps the opportunity – for which the delivery of education in Birmingham has long waited.
At present it is a green shoot, pushing its cotyledons up into the light. It represents potential at this point in time; nothing more.
I hope that with time it will gather strength by sending out adventitious roots to tap into the fertile, nutrient rich soils represented by the experience-base of governors, parents, ward forums, local community, local business, educational staff and their representatives. This is a bold move by these headteachers – far more so than the lead shown by the local authority for many years. Extending the range of participants may also seem a bold step – but it is through the ramifying network of democratic channels that this seedling can grow into a robust and sound entity.
Bore’s call for a citizen army of volunteers
Hmmm, Albert: where does education figure in all this? Ah, yes – that has been handed over to a group with an axe to grind: an education partnership set up by head teachers, if I understand correctly. Would have been a good opportunity to involve council tax payers, parents, ward forums, school governors and education unions. I might have this all wrong, in which case – please correct me.
At Tuesday’s Council meeting Sir Albert issued his call for the citizens of Birmingham to come forward and to volunteer to run local public services that otherwise will be closed as a result of future budget cuts.
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Remploy update – segregation or unemployment?
I guess there are parallels with the closing of the long stay psychiatric hospitals, the dispersal of the institutionalised patients across an unprepared collection of local authority social services, community mental health teams and charitable operations. That the outcomes were an equally mixed bag is a fact of history. There is an argument that the reasonable adjustments the Equalities Act might call for to allow the ex-Remploy employees to integrate into another, non-specialist workplace might make re-employment a possibility. However, the same argument might leave the existing workforce disenchanted at what might appear to be ‘positive discrimination’ – divisive and counter-productive to all parties.
The other view might be, as with the ex-asylum patients, it affects relatively few people – so who cares, given time the problem will go away on its own.
That says some dismal things about our society and the value it places on the needs of minorities.
The WEA works on the principle that equality, diversity and inclusion are better for everyone and I blogged in August 2012 on The Paralympics, ATOS and Remploy. The blog is here.
At the time I wrote that:
The Government’s rationale for the factory closures is that disabled people shouldn’t be segregated at work.
The test will be what happens to the workers who lose their jobs and whether suitable alternatives really are available in integrated workplaces.
The last three Remploy factories in Blackburn, Sheffield and Neath closed on 31 October ending 60 years of specialist employment for people with a disability. The final closures put 150 more people out of work and marked the end of a decline since the late 1980s when Remploy employed more than 10,000, mostly disabled, people across 94 sites.
Statistics are available now to show what’s happened so far to ex-employees. A feature on page 5, Issue 1352, of Private Eye reports…
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Verse for Samhain 2013.
Mandrake, oak leaves, sage and straw
Turnips, apples, nuts and gourds;
Black cat, candle, jack-o-lantern.
Eight great sabbats have passed
Thirteen moons risen and set
The wheel full-turned since last
By the light from a candle
I combed my hair and looked
For my love in the mirror.
Mandrake, oak leaves, sage and straw
Allspice, catnip, belladonna; The veil
‘Twixt quick and dead is thin
At Samhain’s third and final harvest.
Neither summer, neither winter, time
Of passing one to other;
Set a place at table for
Your loved ones who have gone,
Set a place at table for
Your loved ones yet to come.
Mandrake, oak leaves, sage and straw
Mulled wine, mint and broom;
What’s dead is dead and gone.
Love them, and remember, with affection;
Then cherish life and living on.
Ben A Harvey
Samhain, 2013.
‘The Champions’ to save UK Education System.
A majority Liberal Democrat government would enlist the services of the fictional ’60s Geneva-based Nemesis organisation to save the UK education system from total meltdown at the hands of the ruthless megalomaniac known only as ‘Pob’ (in under an hour including commercial breaks.)
Craig Sterling, Sharron Macready and Richard Barrett would be among the first wave of ‘Superhuman Heads’ to combat the evil forces of the shadowy Enemies of Promise, it is rumoured (or rumored in the US.)
Nemesis spokesperson Tremayne speculated; “The general plan would be to crash plane-loads of teachers in the Tibetan Himalayas and leave them to find their way home. This seems to have done the trick for Craig, Sharron and Richard.”
Mr Clegg said; “I think that free schools should follow the national curriculum and employ qualified teachers” to his reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Family Learning Works – invest now or pay later?
As always a comprehensive, comprehensible resource, with useful links out. Thanks, Ann.
‘Family Learning Works’ was launched last Friday. The report makes recommendations and proposes actions based on 12 months of detailed research and analysis by the NIACE-led Independent Inquiry into Family Learning chaired by Baroness Valerie Howarth.
The report offers some affordable hope and practical solutions in the wake of the OECD’s recent PIAAC Report on levels of adult literacy and numeracy and the Parliamentary debate on these issues on 10 October. The PIAAC statistics and last week’s ‘State of the Nation 2013’ report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission suggest grim prospects for too many adults – especially those furthest from decent employment and for their dependent children. These reports show why we need to act now to reduce the knock-on effects on our society, economy and future public spending to deal with the consequences of poor literacy, numeracy and confidence.
Young people who leave school with low levels of skills are not just be ill-prepared for employment but will be poorly equipped to provide…
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Mr Gove’s Brilliant Idea!
More from paulbernalUK on the life and times of Mr Gove… put down ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’ stick the diaries of Thatcher, Alan Clarke, Edwina Currie, Crossman, Crossland, Bevin, Bevan, Benn, Healey, Hattersley, Boothroyd, George Thomas and Uncle Tom Cobleigh back on the shelf. Place ‘Mein Kampf’ (Mein Kampf?) back in the outhouse.
Read this instead!
Mr Gove didn’t like teachers.
Mr Gove had never liked teachers, not since he had been a child himself. His teachers hadn’t liked him. His teachers had always thought they knew more than him. But they hadn’t.
Of course they hadn’t. No-one knew more than Mr Gove. No-one understood things like Mr Gove. Certainly not the teachers.
That was one of the reasons Mr Gove had been so happy when Mr Cameron made him Secretary of State for Education – though of course Mr Gove would have been a far better Prime Minister than Mr Cameron. Because as Secretary of State for Education, Mr Gove could tell the teachers what to do. That would be wonderful, thought Mr Gove.
And it was wonderful. Mr Gove enjoyed telling the teachers what to do.
But it wasn’t quite as wonderful as Mr Gove had hoped. The teachers still wouldn’t always obey him…
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Young People Respond to the Strike by Teachers in London, UK.
It is my pleasure, and privilege, to share the following link with you.
Islington Community Theatre – 17 October 2013
It is a different response to the strike by teachers in London which took place on 17 October 2013CE.
Please watch, please comment, please share.
Gogwit – The Gogwit.
Photos/reports from the day – you won’t find these in the Tory press
This is a fantastic set of photos/articles from the London demonstration, which I think really captures the spirit of this and all the other demonstrations.
http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/34667/Teachers+strike+against+attacks+on+education
http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/news/16732-teachers-give-gove-a-lesson-in-solidarity
Gogwit's Blog 