Education
For some of us, social mobility seems like a pipe dream
If you believed everything screamed at you by the tabloids you could be forgiven for thinking that anyone claiming benefits is a lazy, scrounging so-and-so. Spare a thought then, for those struggling to fight their way out of the system against the odds and the stereotypes. In a week that saw David Cameron and George Osborne called “two arrogant posh boys” by one of their own MPs, it is safe to say the class war still rages on in 21st Century Britain.
By Heather Clark | Notebook, Opinion | Thursday, 26 April 2012 at 12:59 pm
Gov doesn’t support reading, rappers do
Literacy rates in England have stalled; the country has not seen any improvements since 2005, according to Ofsted’s chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw. Teaching unions, however, argue that there have been big improvements over the past two decades. A national reading competition was announced by the government in February in an effort to encourage children, between the [...]
By Omar Shahid | Arts, Music, Opinion | Thursday, 19 April 2012 at 11:34 am
What is left of A-levels? Exams that prepare poorer students neither for work nor academia
As a student who didn’t have the luxury of going to a fantastic state school, I can only welcome the fact that Michael Gove has decided to offer kids in a similar situation the opportunity to have an academic education. That is, an academic education that children from a private school have been able to [...]
By Thomas Byrne | Notebook | Friday, 13 April 2012 at 1:12 pm
Why did Kony 2012 take us all by surprise?
As we watch ‘part two’ of Jason Russell’s explosive film campaign to expose the heinous crimes committed by the Ugandan guerrilla leader, a question still springs to mind: Why did we not know sooner?
By Rosie Welch | Notebook | Friday, 13 April 2012 at 4:00 am
Hey unis, leave our exams alone
As a student from a middling state school approaching the end of my time in higher education, I think A-level examinations set by university lecturers could be seriously damaging for both the aspirations and the achievements of those at less successful schools.
By Helen Crane | Notebook | Friday, 6 April 2012 at 1:47 pm
Cut the pressure and let children enjoy reading
Thousands of children each year leave primary school with little more than basic literacy skills. Dr Cathy Taylor, principal at the Sirius Academy in Hull, spoke out last week after finding almost one in ten pupils joining her school at 11 had a reading age of five.
By Rhiannon Bury | Arts, Notebook, Opinion | Friday, 30 March 2012 at 8:45 am
The Carnegie Medal: Prizes to get children reading
The Carnegie shortlist is announced today, and could be the perfect opportunity to get children reading and making recommendations of their own.
By Susan Elkin | Arts | Tuesday, 27 March 2012 at 12:01 am
‘My flatmate had to remove her degree from her CV to get a job’
For the four female graduates in residence, each morning starts with a trip to work. But while two head off to offices, two saunter to the bus stop to go to low-level jobs in the service industry – one in hospitality, and one in retail.
By Rhiannon Bury | Notebook | Thursday, 8 March 2012 at 12:30 pm
Two cheers for the Henley report
The underlying and valid concern is that the cultural experience of children and young people is alarmingly hit and miss. Far too many never see live theatre, hear/make music or visit museums, galleries or places of historical interest. Henley’s brief was to make some concrete, preferably inexpensive, suggestions for ways of making cultural education an entitlement for all children.
By Susan Elkin | Arts, Notebook, Opinion | Tuesday, 6 March 2012 at 12:24 pm
The snobbery towards vocational study won’t get students anywhere
A lack of proper careers advice has led to a generation of young people being unaware of what they need to study in order to reach their desired careers. Recent statistics suggest that 79% of 16-18 year olds still plan to go to university, despite a huge number of them being unaware of the alternative routes into the world of work.
By Martin Dunne | Notebook, Opinion | Thursday, 1 March 2012 at 12:49 pm
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