Policy updates and briefings

The following briefings on relevant education policies are arranged in date order with the most recent first

See also Education policy consultations (live) and consultations archive.

DCSF: 'The Children's Plan - Building Better Futures' - December 2007


This 10-year plan has been published at: www.dcsf.gov.uk. The plan includes a number of important announcements and is worth looking at. DEA will be making a response, please email helen.young@dea.org.uk with comments by the end of December. There are particular opportunities in:

Para 3.83-4 on the Primary Curriculum, "we have announced a root and branch review of the primary curriculum to ensure continuity with the other phases. It will begin in spring 2008 and report back to the Secretary of State by March 2009 so that agreed changes to the curriculum can be implemented in September 2011... The Government has appointed Sir Jim Rose, former Deputy Chief Inspector of Schools, member of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority’s Board, and author of the 2006 report into the teaching of early reading, to lead an independent Review of the Primary Curriculum. He will be closely supported by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority who will take the leading role in providing the evidence required for the review, and who will manage the associated consultations."

Para 3.96-3.100 on 'A cohesive society' includes understanding diversity, identity, social justice, human rights, community cohesion and global interdependence and says young people should "feel part of a community, at a local, national and international level."

Para 4.23: "We will fund supply cover so early years workers can take part in continuing professional development."

Para 4.24 is about teacher professional development and making teaching a masters-level profession.

Para 6.38: "We have therefore established a new Youth Task Force as a streamlined driver for improved delivery. It will publish an action plan in the spring setting out how it will improve delivery on young people’s issues, working with local areas and regional partners to provide support and build improvement capacity."

Annex B links the plan to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

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New education select committee chairmen announced - November 2007


Following the split of DfES into two departments in June, the Education and Skills Select Committee has split for the new parliamentary session.

Barry Sheerman (chair of the previous committee) has been elected chairman of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, while Phil Willis has been elected chairman of the Innovation, Universities and Skills Select Committee. Mr Willis is a former secondary school head and was the Liberal Democrat education spokesman in a previous parliament.

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Government changes in diploma plans - October 2007


DCSF has announced plans for additional 14 to 19 diplomas in science, languages and the humanities. Many have seen this as a u-turn after the Government's decision not to adopt Tomlinson's recommendations. This interesting announcement raises many questions including around the role of business in education and the status of GCSEs and A levels. As Steve Sinnott, NUT general secretary, commented: “If the invidious academic/vocational divide is to be bridged then the Government must commit itself to a staged incorporation of existing qualifications into the diplomas”.

DEA welcomes members' thoughts on this development.

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Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) - October 2007


Gordon Brown's cabinet reflects the importance that he places on DFID and DCSF, two of the key departments for DEA's agenda. The Comprehensive Spending Review (the government's spending plans for the next three years) reinforce this impression:

For DFID, the CSR will deliver an annual average growth rate over the CSR07 period of 11 per cent a year in real terms. DFID’s total budget will rise from £5.4 billion to £7.9 billion a year by 2010-11.

For DCSF, in addition to funding for modernising primary school buildings, there will be "an additional £250m to help ensure that all children at school are ready to learn and able to benefit from truly personalised services and support" Details of how this will be spent will be announced in DCSF's forthcoming Children’s Plan, which "will ensure that every child has the chance to make the most of their talents and fulfil their potential, and deliver genuine opportunity for every child with the best possible start in life and all the support they need to be happy, healthy and successful."

You can feed into the Children's Plan through Time to Talk. Go to www.dfes.gov.uk/timetotalk/airyourviews.cfm by 19 October 2007.

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National Council on Excellence in Education


This new council is chaired by Gordon Brown and Ed Balls. DCSF says “Leaders from business, the university and voluntary sectors, alongside school Heads will discuss how they can support schools in transforming expectations for the education system and deliver the Government’s aspiration for a world-class education system”.

The DEA will be considering how best to work with the NCEE.

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New Secondary Curriculum Published


The new programmes of study are now available at: www.qca.org.uk/curriculum.

The supporting materials including those on the global dimension will be published on 1 September 2007. The new curriculum aims are for “successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens”.

As Ken Boston, the Chief Executive of QCA, said at the launch, “The new programmes of study have been designed to give teachers a less prescriptive, more flexible framework for teaching, creating more scope to tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of each individual student”. The new curriculum has the potential to act as a framework for great improvements in the experiences of pupils.

The DEA has worked closely with QCA over the last year and welcomes the changes, particularly those that have strengthened the global dimension.

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Continuing Professional Development Around the New Secondary Curriculum


There will be support available to schools through the QCA and its partner agencies, see: www.qca.org.uk/qca_11721.aspx.

The DEA is investigating how DEA members can get involved. If you are involved, please share your experiences with the network through the e-noticeboard.

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Community Cohesion


The DCSF has now published their ‘Guidance on the duty to promote community cohesion’ at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/Communitycohesion.

The DEA has some concerns about the detail of the guidance (see our response to the draft - PDF file). However, teachers’ lack of confidence in implementing this statutory duty from September means there is an important role for DEA members.

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Professional Standards for Teachers


The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) have now published the revised professional standards for:
Q – qualified teacher status
C – core standards for mainscale teachers who have successfully completed their induction
P – post-threshold teachers on the upper pay scale
E – excellent teachers
A – advanced skills teachers (ASTs).

You can find them at: www.tda.gov.uk/teachers/professionalstandards.aspx.

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New Ministerial Teams - July 07


The DEA has congratulated the new Secretaries of State in DCSF, DFID and DEFRA and looks forward to working with them over the next year on policy issues and our manifesto development. Of particular note:

  • The minister at DFID who will have responsibility for development education and awareness is Shahid Malik. He has a wide portfolio including South, Central and East Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The DEA will be arranging to meet with him soon.

  • Ed Balls, DCSF, wrote an article in the TES (www.tes.co.uk/search/story/?story_id=2409975) in which he stated, "Young people also need to be aware of the world around them ... allow young people to start to explore how key global issues affect them and question the implications for their own lifestyle choices".

  • John Denham, DIUS, was an early campaigner on the debt crisis and spearheaded Profits out of Poverty. He was associated with DECs before the foundation of DEA.

  • Hilary Benn, DEFRA, is supportive of the work of the DEA from his time at DFID.

For full details of the Ministerial Team at the Department for International Development, visit:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/sos-ministers.asp.

The responsibilities of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) have been split between two new Departments: the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).

For full details of the Ministerial Team at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and their responsibilities, visit:
www.dcsf.gov.uk/aboutus/whoswho/ministers.shtml.

For full details of the Ministerial Team at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and their responsibilities, visit:
www.dius.gov.uk/pressreleases/press.htm.

 

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DfES International Strategy - June 07


DfES published this strategy in 2004. Find out more about the strategy from the TeacherNet website.. It states: "We live in one world. What we do affects others, and what others do affects us, as never before. To recognise that we are all members of a world community and that we all have responsibilities to each other is not romantic rhetoric, but modern economic and social reality." and has 3 goals:

  • Goal 1: Equipping our children, young people and adults for life in a global society and work in a global economy
  • Goal 2: Engaging with our international partners to achieve their goals and ours
  • Goal 3: Maximising the contribution of our education and training sector and university research to overseas trade and inward investment

The DEA responded to this strategy in March 2005 and has continued to engage with the government to promote the global dimension aspects of the plan. Download a copy of the DEA response (PDF, 264 KB).

DfES produced a second action plan based on the strategy in June 2007, see www.globalgateway.org/Default.aspx?page=624. This plan describes the DEA on p7.

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Sustainable Schools – April 07


The DfES has published their "Sustainable Schools for Pupils, Communities and the Environment: An Action Plan for the DfES" at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools.

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Early Years Foundation Stage – April 07


This has been published by DfES and is at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/EYFS.

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Priority Review: Exclusion of Black Pupils “Getting it. Getting it right” – April 07


This report is now available at: www.standards.dcfs.gov.uk/ethnicminorities/.

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Language Review – April 07


The final report of Lord Dearing's review is now available at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/subjects/
languages/languagesreview

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Education and Skills Select Committee – Citizenship Education – April 07


The report of this enquiry is now at: www.parliament.uk/edskills/.

DEA provided written evidence.

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Teaching and Learning in 2020 – Jan 07


The report of this review, 2020 Vision has now been published. The review was chaired by Christine Gilbert, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools.

The report presents a vision for personalising teaching and learning for children and young people aged 5-16 and makes recommendations for the delivery of that vision.

Download 2020 Vision from: www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearningin2020/.

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Diversity and Citizenship Curriculum Review – Jan 07


The DEA gave evidence to this DfES commissioned review led by Sir Keith Ajegbo. The report has now been published, it reflects a global dimension and includes some members’ work.

The impact of the report can be seen in the draft Programmes of Study (see QCA curriculum review), particularly Citizenship which includes a strand on ‘Identities and Diversity: Living together in the UK’.

The report provides an important argument for the work of development education organisations.

To read the report, search for “Diversity and Citizenship” at: http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk.

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DfES Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto – Dec 06


This is now available at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/
resourcematerials/outsideclassroom/

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Every Child Matters


This is a very important agenda for DEA members. In June 2006 the DEA held a seminar on Every Child Matters and the Global Dimension.

For more updates about Evey Child Matters, visit: www.everychildmatters.gov.uk.

The DEA will be following up on this agenda. If you are a DEA member and would like to find out more, please contact Helen Young, email: helen.young@dea.org.uk.

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Launch of Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages


The three progressive strands of teaching and learning - oracy, literacy and intercultural understanding - are set out in terms of learning objectives and suggested learning opportunities for each year. Opportunities to develop knowledge about language (KAL) and language learning strategies (LLS) are made explicit and underpin the three core strands.

Further information at:
www.standards.dcfs.gov.uk/primary/publications/languages/framework/

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Ofsted - self-evaluation


The Ofsted self-evaluation form provides opportunities for schools to demonstrate work they are doing around the global dimension in all of its sections. The sections are as follows:

  • Characteristics of your school
  • Views of learners, parents/carers and other stakeholders and how do you know?
  • Achievement and standards
  • Personal development and well-being
  • The quality of provision
  • Leadership and management
  • Overall effectiveness and efficiency.

Further information at:
www.ofsted.gov.uk/schools/sef.cfm

If anyone has done any work around this or had any feedback from schools, please contact Helen Young, email: helen.young@dea.org.uk so this information can be shared.

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Education White Paper: Higher Standards, Better Schools for All


Published on 25 October 2005, this White Paper focuses on Every Child Matters, parents, specialist schools and academies and introduces Trust Schools.

'Local Authorities will change from being a direct provider to a more strategic commissioning role.'

'More money is now going direct to schools.'

It can be downloaded from:
www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/schoolswhitepaper/

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New remit and name for Teacher Training Agency


On 1 September 2005 the TTA became the Training and Development Agency for schools (TDA). Its expanded remit includes Continuing Professional Development. A ‘Review of Professional Standards and the Development of a Career Framework’ is taking place throughout the autumn. Please contact Helen Young at the DEA, tel: 020 7812 1282 to discuss this further.

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Extended Schools


'Extended schools provide a range of services and activities, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of children, their families and the wider community.'

See the prospectus and further information at:
www.teachernet.gov.uk/extendedschools/.

If you have ideas for working with extended schools on the global dimension, please send them to Helen Young at the DEA, email: helen.young@dea.org.uk so they can be shared with the wider DEA membership.

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Enterprise Education


From September 2005 funding of £60 million a year supports a new focus on enterprise education in English secondary schools. All Key Stage 4 students should do five days of ‘enterprise activity’ such as: business and/or community projects and investigations; mini-enterprises (business, social or community); simulations; work and/or community placements; enterprise days and events.

Further information at:
www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/14to19/ks4/enterpriseeducation/

Find out about DEA members' work in Social Enterprise (PDF file, 40 KB).

If you are doing or planning to do any work in this area, please contact Helen Young at the DEA, email: helen.young@dea.org.uk.

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Learning and Skills Council (LSC) strategy for sustainable development


The DEA responded to the draft of this in March 2005. Download a copy of the DEA response (PDF file, 148 KB).

Find out more about the LSC's strategy from their website.

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14-19 Education and Skills White Paper


This was published in February 2005 to a generally disappointed reception in the educational community. It is the government's response to Sir Mike Tomlinson's final report, which the DEA fed into through the consultation process following a members' seminar.

Despite using a lot of Tomlinson's vocabulary it does not take on the full meaning of his report. But it will have a major impact on the direction of our education system over the next 10 years.

Read further details about the content of the report and its relevance to Development Education (PDF file, 76 KB).

To read the White Paper and associated documents visit:
www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/

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Primary Strategy Learning Networks


Where local schools have funding to work in networks for Continuing Professional Development, this can provide a way for DEA members to reach primary schools.

Further information at:
www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/primary/wholeschool/learning_networks/

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Working with School Governors - briefing sheet


This DEA briefing sheet outlines the benefits of working with school governors and explains through examples why governors should encourage their schools to develop a global dimension.

Download Working with School Governors Briefing Sheet (PDF file, 92 KB).

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