Truancy: Causes and Effects

A report has been published on the causes a
nd effects of truancy from schools in selected areas of England. The report, commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills, looked at schools in seven Local Education Authorities.

The report revealed that, during the 12 months of the study on absenteeism:

• over 25% of elementary school children were absent from school without their parents’ knowledge
• boys were more likely to truant at elementary school, while girls were more likely to be absent in middle/high school (particularly in all-white schools)
• students cited the following reasons: bullying; boredom; avoiding tests; dislike of a teacher
• parents and schools were likely to blame each other for the problem

The report concluded that truancy is more widespread than previously believed and emphasized that early intervention to break the cycle of absence and underachievement is crucial.

To read more about “Absence from School: A study of its causes and effects in seven LEAs” by the SCRE Centre, University of Glasgow, please click here: www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR424.pdf

(Source: NGfL Scotland Bulletin 3/16/03)

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Government Support for Muslim School

The Islamic Academy in Leicester, established for twenty years, will soon be able to accept students whose fees are paid for by the Government. There are many private Islamic schools in Britain but this will be the first one to receive state funding. Forty percent of the teachers at the Islamic Academy are from a non-Muslim background.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Head of the Anglican Church, recently spoke out in support of faith schools, including those set up by Muslims. The Archbishop believes that ignoring religious differences, and the important role religion plays for many, will lead to further fragmentation in society. (Northern cities in England, with large Muslim populations, witnessed shocking race riots last summer.) Opponents to faith schools raise concerns that students taught there will find it difficult to adapt to life in mainstream Britain.

There are currently 48 independently-funded faith schools and one state-funded Muslim college for girls in Bradford.

(Sources: BBC News/Education; 2/6/02; 6/30/03; 9/11/03)

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Promoting Creativity in the Classroom

In England, the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) has published two reports that suggest students are benefiting from increasingly creative teaching. “Improving city schools - how the arts can help” considered how Arts teaching improved attainment in low-achieving schools. “Expecting the unexpected - Developing creativity in primary and secondary schools” reports on the identification of good practice in the promotion of creativity.

There is concern among headteachers that test scores have reached a plateau for three years in a row. They blame what they see as a narrow curriculum that focuses on the basics leaving little room for creativity. They say students are bored.

In May, the Education and Skills Secretary for England launched “Excellence and Enjoyment: A strategy for primary education”. He emphasized the need to build on the success of the literacy and numeracy strategies through excellent teaching within a stimulating and creative environment.

To read the Ofsted reports, please click here: www.ofsted.gov.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&id=1479
To read more on the strategy for primary schools, please click here: www.teachernet.gov.uk/educationoverview/briefing/currentstrategy/primarydocument/

(Source: National Grid for Learning Scotland Bulletin; August 03)

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Teaching Citizenship: One Year Report

One year after Citizenship became a statutory subject in the National Curriculum in England, the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) has published a report on schools’ planning and implementation.

Based on a survey of 25 schools in England, Ofsted concludes that more needs to be done to incorporate Citizenship into the curriculum. Although there was wide support for the value of making Citizenship a statutory subject in the curriculum, the quality of teaching varies. Schools that performed best treated Citizenship as a new subject rather than incorporating it into existing programs. Ofsted noted some schools who confused Citizenship with the school’s existing mission and ethos.

Citizenship, as a subject, is made up of three inter-related strands: ‘knowledge and understanding about being informed citizens’, ‘enquiry and communication’, and ‘participation and responsible action’.

Ofsted reported that some schools were showing excellent beginnings and that it was early days for a major curriculum initiative. However, it made a number of recommendations on how schools could improve. To read more, please click on Ofsted’s press releases for July at: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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US – England School Links

In June, Education and Skills Secretary Charles Clarke and Secretary Rod Paige announced an expansion of partnerships between schools in England and the USA. The goal of building on existing links and establishing new ones will be achieved through:

• More Internet links
• Additional teacher and student exchanges
• More joint curriculum projects

To read more about the proposed partnerships, click here: www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2003_0120

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Scottish Education - background

Anyone wishing detailed information on Scottish education can find a useful summary published by the Scottish Executive. It covers topics such as responsibilities, management, and organization, from pre-school to tertiary education, vocational and lifelong learning.

To read a condensed version of the information, please go to the “National Dossier on Education and Training in Scotland: Summary 2003”: www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/education/eats-00.asp

(Source: National Grid for Learning Scotland Bulletin 3/16/03)

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Wales Given Responsibility for Student Support and Fees

The Welsh assembly is to be given responsibility for its student funding, bringing it into line with the devolved powers in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This means Wales could reject the controversial top-up fees proposed by the Government for higher education students in England. Wales could also reject other parts of the Higher Education strategy laid out by the Government such as the Office of Fair Access. Wales recently re-introduced grants for disadvantaged students.

A committee will look into the issue of top-up fees in Wales and the assembly ministers have confirmed that no action will be taken on raising student fees until 2006 at the earliest.

For more information

www.learning.wales.gov.uk - National Assembly for Wales (Learning Wales)
www.dfes.gov.uk/highereducation/hestrategy – the Government’s document “The Future of Higher Education” in England

(Source: EducationGuardian.co.uk, 7/17/03)

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Widening Access: University Plans Specialist School on Campus

Brunel University, in Windsor, is planning to open a school on its campus for gifted 14-19 year old students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The proposed school, Brunel University Academy, would accommodate 300 students and specialize in teaching math. The school would recruit particularly in London focusing on talented students who have social or economic disadvantages. The aim of the school is to widen access to those with no family background of higher education while maintaining high standards.

The Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University, Professor Steven Schwartz, who chairs the committee reviewing admissions to higher education, believes that the varied quality of secondary schooling is to blame for the perceived inequality in university admissions. He has the task of writing guidelines for admissions to be used by the Office of Fair Access to ensure wider participation in higher education.

(Source: EducationGuardian.co.uk; 9/2/03)

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National Skills Strategy White Paper

A National Skills Strategy White Paper was launched by the Government in July, setting out the UK’s skills challenge and how it will be met. The Strategy aims to strengthen the UK's position as one of the world's leading economies by ensuring that employers have the skills to support the success of their business, and that employees have the necessary skills to be both employable and personally fulfilled.

To access a copy of the document, please click here: www.dfes.gov.uk/skillsstrategy/skills.html

A Briefing Paper has been prepared by the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA). It offers a thorough analysis of the key themes and proposals that run across the Government’s document, giving detailed references to the original document. To download it, click here: www.lsda.org.uk/home.asp

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E-Learning Strategy

In July the Government published its vision for making sure that all learners in England, from early years to lifelong learning, have access to the latest technology to revolutionize their learning. This is a long-term strategy aimed at ensuring that education leaders, teachers, learners and commercial suppliers can contribute to, and take advantage of, e-learning opportunities

To view a copy of the consultation document 'Towards a Unified e-Learning Strategy', please click here: www.dfes.gov.uk/elearningstrategy/strategy.stm

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International Education Week
November 10-14, 2003

The UK’s first International Education Week, designated by the Department for Education and Skills, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of internationalism in the curriculum and educational projects, partnerships, visits, exchanges etc. with other countries. The focus this year will be very much on international activities in schools but those involved in other levels of education are welcome to join in.

Further information on events throughout the week will be available at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/iew

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Success and diversity: research and the post-16 strategy

Seventh annual conference of the learning and skills research network (LSRN)
9-11 December 2003
University of Warwick, Coventry

This national event will bring together researchers, practitioners, managers and policy-makers from all parts of the learning and skills sector. It offers an opportunity to meet others involved in research and its implementation at all levels and explore current issues in post-16 research, policy and practice.

For more information, click here: www.lsda.org.uk/research/lsrn2003/index.asp

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‘The Education Technology Show BETT’, is the annual UK showcase for educational information, communication and technology (ICT) products and services.

Britain is a world leader in this field, and has much experience to share, covering the development of national strategies, the nature of learning, the changing role of teachers in an IT world, a dynamic new interactive content industry, experience of community and industry partnerships, and a range of international partnerships in educational ICT.

Held annually in January at Olympia, London, the event attracts some 22,000 visitors (including 1,300 from over 60 countries) and over 300 stands. A major feature of BETT is the extensive parallel seminar program.

BETT is suitable for head teachers and senior management, policy makers and teaching practitioners in primary, secondary, further and special education establishments.

For more information on BETT, please click here: www.bettshow.co.uk

The British Council in London is running a Study Tour to complement the BETT event. For more on this, please contact me at: alison.corbett@us.britishcouncil.org Please note that expressions of interest to join the 2004 program are required to reach our London colleagues by e-mail, fax or mail by 17th October 2003.

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British Council UK Seminars:

Vocational Education
19-23 January, 2004

This event considers the part played by vocational educational training in preparing people for the world of work. It looks at the quality standards and occupational standards needed to deliver what employers want.

For more information contact: Ian Wilde; yellowteam.seminars@britishcouncil.org

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School Leadership
29 February - 5 March 2004

This seminar builds on the hugely successful leadership event run in 2002, and focuses on identifying best practice and its application to different contexts.

For more information contact Mark Hopkins; redteam.seminars@britishcouncil.org

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Now you can browse through archived issues and search by topic on the British Council USA’s Education Policy section.

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If there are any topics you would like to see covered in future editions of the Update, please contact: alison.corbett@us.britishcouncil.org, Education Research Officer, The British Council USA

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Additional Contacts

andy.mackay@us.britishcouncil.org, Director, The British Council USA
judith.grant@worldnet.att.net , Consultant to the British Embassy

British Embassy website; www.britainUSA.com

To add or remove a name from the distribution list, please email alison.corbett@us.britishcouncil.org

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