Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Credit Crunch, Recession and Downturn 'boosts teacher numbers'
There has been a huge increase in the number of people interested in becoming teachers since the start of the so-called credit crunch.
England's Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) has reported a 40% increase in recruitment enquiries to its website since last December.
And the latest figures show the TDA topped its recruitment target by 2%. A spokesman said there was no doubt that the increased interest in teaching was down to tougher economic times.
The TDA has made a conscious decision to target anxious City workers who may fear for their jobs as a result of the downturn, visiting Canary Wharf and the City in October with the hope of tempting finance workers back into the classroom. And it is planning to run further recruitment events over the next few weeks in England's financial heartlands in London and Birmingham.
Job security
The agency has been offering itself as a more reliable alternative to working in the financial sector. The TDA said the share of trainees entering initial teacher training who are over 25 also rose in England since last year, by an eighth from 41.5% to 46.7%.
This may in part reflect the TDA's growing emphasis on the re-training of potential teachers from other industries. And the number of those eligible to teach maths increased by 25% over the same period.
Earlier this year, TDA chief executive Graham Holley: "These are worrying and unstable times for everyone, and it may be that people are looking toward teaching as a secure as well as rewarding career."
Teaching has traditionally been a more popular career choice during recession - providing security when private sector jobs become more vulnerable.
14-19 Education reform - New Diplomas
Why do we need change?
- For economic reasons; the
- For social justice reasons; a learners background should not determine success
- To serve each individuals needs, inclusions, personalisation, whatever the learners abilities are, they deserve a certain level of education.
The strategies that are being adopted.
- A new progressive qualification structure
- A learner moves on when he or she is ready to move on
- Emphasis on new learning, new knowledge and inclusion
- Keep learners in education longer
- Diplomas across a range of areas
- Literacy, Numeracy and ICT Functional skills introduced.
- Entry Level 1 – Different abilities
- Level 1(Foundation) D-G @ GCSE
- Level 2(Higher) A*-C @ GCSE
- Level 3(Advanced) A-levels
- Level 4 Foundation degree
- Level 5 Honors degree
Structure of the diploma
- Principal learning – This will develop knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to the broad economic sector, connecting subject area to every day life
- Generic learning – This will ensure that all diplomas contain a common generic set of skills which are relevant to successful learning and employment
- Additional and specialist learning – This will enable learners to tailor their learning according to their aspirations and interests.
- 50% of each diploma will be applied
Teachers rejoice - no more SATS
THE big news on the education front is the announcement that Year 9 SATs are to be abandoned immediately. This has led to much rejoicing in schools throughout the country, for both pupils and teachers.
The major reason for the decision seems to have been the complete shambles made last year in the marking and general administration of the SATs papers. Thousands of students had their results delayed until well after the summer holidays.
When papers were returned to school, countless errors were found in the actual marking, and on appeal many schools had the results amended or overturned.
The markers themselves spoke of receiving very inadequate training and support. The company running the SATs has now been sacked, and rather than find a replacement, the Government decided that the exams, rather like the Home Office, were "not fit for purpose".
Actually, the exams themselves have proved controversial for some considerable time.
Certainly in English, there have long been concerns that the exam questions themselves were too rigid and obscure, giving wild swings in results from year to year. My own school has seen Key Stage 3 English results go up or down by around 20 per cent from one year to the next.
There was also considerable debate about whether the SATs tested a wide application of skills and understanding, rather than just factual information. It became apparent that many schools were promoting teaching for the test rather than a wider and deeper understanding of issues and concepts.
However, I want to mention just two notes of caution amongst the general euphoria. Firstly, remember that testing remains popular and important with parents who want clear information on progress being made in school. The Key Stage 2 tests are being retained so that parents can make a judgement about how well their primary school is doing.
Also, on the grounds that the fastest thing through a vacuum is a bandwagon, we need to be careful to see what replaces SATs. There is the option to continue to take the SATs papers but mark them in your own school. Will this be a step forward or back? I leave you to judge.
