CURRENT RESEARCH MEDIA REACTION SENSIBLE SUMMARIES
EDUCATION AT A GLANCE
Are classroom assistants a good substitute
for trained teachers?
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and teaching assistants in the classroom. He prefers to The government insists that the overall results in
Development (OECD) reports on the educational count the number of pupils per adult rather than SATS tests are better than when Labour took power
performance of its member countries in a lengthy
pupils per teacher: “Thanks to our policies . . . we
in 1997. Spain thinks that the international
400 page document entitled “Education at a Glance”.
have seen 150,000 more adults in the classroom . . .
comparisons are “less flattering to the government.”
“The OECD international ranking places the UK 13
th
The very size of the document has allowed different
where in 1997, there were 17 pupils per adult at
in reading this year, down from 7
th
in 2000 - and 18
th
interpretations; some journalists celebrating the UK
primary level - now there are 12.”
in Maths,” concluding that, “despite increased
success and others noting with dismay that children
The Guardian’s Jessica Shepherd noted that the
spending, the UK hovers around the OECD average
in this country are set to become more disadvantaged
results were not as impressive as Lord Adonis might
for both reading and maths.”
than their counterparts across the world.
wish, quoting the report: “The UK’s primary schools
have bigger class sizes than almost every other
This data primarily reflects performance in England,
The most successful countries operate
developed country; despite ministers injecting
leading Stephen Spain to comment: “It would appear
millions of pounds to keep them low.”
the £40m being spent on SATS tests is a complete
“liberal curriculum models that
farce.” “They are not only failing to improve education
recognise the needs of the individual
She found better news for those responsible for
in England but may be driving down standards as
funding our schools with the study revealing that the
schools reduce their curriculums to teach to the tests.”
over blanket national testing”
UK invested more in pre-primary schooling (£3,500)
than every other OECD country apart from Austria,
The gap between state and private is noticeable in
Iceland and the United States. This spending has
“The OECD international ranking places
the study of class sizes. Children in the UK
made a priority of pre-primary education rather than
the UK 13th in reading this year, down
independent sector share lessons with 13 fewer
primary, “which has led to a high quality provision,”
from 7th in 2000 - and 18th in Maths”
children than their state sector peers. Whilst this has
reported the BBC News.
led to a very positive response from the independent
Whilst this was viewed as a positive finding, Stephen The OECD data shows that the most successful
sector, the government defends its position
Spain writing in the Guardian, asks if the “English countries operate “liberal curriculum models that
rigorously with the School’s Minister in England, formula of more money and more testing [is] recognise the needs of the individual over blanket
Andrew Adonis, pointing to the increased number of really working?” national testing.”
NO LET UP IN EARLY YEARS DEBATE
At the end of the Reception year, teachers will have administered by the recording of observations of opinion which believes that any kind of assessment
to complete a profile for each pupil showing their what children are doing in their every day activities, of such young children is damaging the quality the
progress on 13 nine point scales. are deeply flawed. Quoted in the Times Educational education provision for early years.
Supplement she comments: “We have grave
These targets make up the national curriculum for
concerns about the way the EYFS is proposing to
“If too much emphasis is laid on assessment,
children under five. “From the beginning of the
assess young children to find out what they can do.”
teachers begin teaching to the targets.” Sharing the
autumn term, teachers, nursery staff, childminders excitement of new experiences may then be
and anyone looking after young children in a formal coloured by the constant spectre of the “need for
setting will, by law, have to try to teach the new
Sharing the excitement of new
evidence,” says Diana Watkins, Chairman of IAPS
programme and measure to what extent their
charges have mastered the targets,” writes Sian
experiences may be coloured by
and a trained Early Years Inspector. This must be
music to the ears of Michael Morpurgo, the former
Griffiths in The Sunday Times. the constant spectre of the “need Children’s Laureate, grandfather of seven and a one
This is not the first time young children have been
for evidence”
time teacher. He is vociferous in his condemnation of
the government’s plans.
subjected to formal tests. Dr Christine Merrell of the
Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring at Durham There are others that disagree strongly with He told The Sunday Times: “Very young children
University is a firm believer that assessments, such Dr Merrell’s faith in a computer assessment, believing must have the freedom to enjoy themselves. Playing,
as the centre’s own performance indicators in that her solution is no better than the government’s. exploring and learning how to make friends should
primary schools - PIPS, are easy to administer and They complain that these types of tests are too be the centre of their world,” he told reporter Sian
are enjoyed by the children. However, she feels that narrow and too dependent on a child’s performance Griffiths, “little ones learn best when free from
the new government profiles, which must be on a single occasion. But there is a growing body of pressures, targets and tests.”
P. 4
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