Blog
July 2015
THE P4C PROGRAMME MERITS FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
According to research recently undertaken at Durham University, the introduction of philosophy and its concomitant reasoning and thinking skills, will enhance pupils' ability at the core subjects of Reading, Writing and Maths.Philosophy has been taught to pupils at Years 4 and 5, and the programme has been studied by the Educational Endowment Foundation.
The Reading and Maths' scores improved by an average of two months over a year.
For disadvantaged children who take free school meals, Writing skills have also shown an improvement.
The average improvement in Reading is evaluated at 4 months for this group, Maths is 3 months and Writing by two months.
Lead researcher in the EEF Project Professor Stephen Gorard has said: 'Our results suggest that these philosophy sessions can have a positive impact on pupils' Maths, Reading and (to a lesser extent) Writing'.
STUDENT MAINTENANCE GRANTS / HIGHER TUITION FEES
A DOUBLE WAMMY will effect c.half a million students in G.B. from 2017. The Chancellor has announced the scrapping of grants which could be worth up to £3,387 to students from this date. At the same time, universities classed as offering 'high quality' education will be free to charge higher fees for their courses.
July 2014
Have you been made aware of the importance of new developments in Online education? MOOC's are courses which are generally offered free of charge to subscribers on websites such as Future Learn (UK) and I-versity (Europe).
Some learners can sample introductory videos and downloadable materials as well as taking part in forums
which explore ideas.
January 2014
Did you know that researchers at Lancaster University have established a clear link between Wordsworth's poetry and good business acumen?
A professor in the Business Studies' Department has organised trips to see the integration of Positive Thinking and Reflection, as demonstrated by the integation of 'spots of time' theory to Wordworth's poetry, when rambling and doing outward bound activities in the Lake District.
The full article can be read in August's Times Higher Education Magazine (2012).
You may also be interested in: TES Lesson Plans
September 2013
REFLECTION
The following poem was written to illustrate how we can find new insights in the world of nature and in human relationships:
'What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stop and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep
or cows:
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night...'
And so the poem continues in a pleasant reverie, reflecting on the beauty of life and nature.
July 2013
KEY STAGE 4: REFORM OR REVOLUTION?
Recent announcements regarding the revision of the curriculum and the introduction of the EBacc disguise the inevitable changes which will be necessary in the raising of the school leaving age (ROSLA). Whilst it has taken many years to reach the new requirements that in 2014 students will be required to stay on at school past the age of 16. Of course we have to develop new strategies to accommodate the range of abilities and attitudes which this development will necessitate, what is required is that the new curriculum will lead to "worthwhile qualifications which will promote further learning" (paraphrased from Jon Coles in tes comment). FE may have some good precedents for schools! This is because vocational courses can sit alongside academic!
June 2013
Did you know from findings in schools across the country that SCIENCE FOR GIRLS is once more becoming an issue?
BBC Breakfast recently reported that whilst numbers of female students studying Biology and Chemistry have remained at approximately 50% of class sizes, less than 20% are currently studying Physics at AS and A Level. This would exclude the majority of UK students from advancing their studies in the research fields of Engineering, Aero and Nautical studies as well as other prime fields, unless of course you happen to be male!
