September 2010
Contents
Speaker's Corner - Emma Jackson on School Choice
What have Lifelong Learning Networks learned? The LLN Research Forum
Call for Papers - NADP Spring Conference
Sample of FACE 2010 workshops now online
Catch up with the BBC School Season
What else is in the News? Other sources of education news online
Your network needs you!
Don't forget to renew your membership this year, or take the plunge and join FACE if you are not a member. As someone commented at the annual conference this year
"It has never been more important to me to be a FACE member. Being involved in a network such as FACE and to be in touch through the website, monthly newsletter and events with what is going on through fellow members is to me as an access practitioner really valuable in these increasingly difficult times for our work."
A different perspective was offered at the most recent Executive meeting for why FACE membership is so important.
"FACE members, their institutions and most important the learners that they work with are looking at unprecedented cuts in resources and provision. FACE will have a vital role to play putting the case for seeing access, widening participation and lifelong learning as inseperable to the emerging government agenda for social mobilty.These are not only core to the success of universities in ensuring that no learners get left behind but also to the future needs of, for example, the professions as the Milburn report indicated."
So in their different ways both these views illustrate not only the value of being a FACE member but also the value to other members of your membership!
Speakers' Corner - School Choice
As a member-oriented organisation FACE would like to invite individual colleagues to have their say on any issue of concern in UK education policy and practice. This is a purely personal point of view and should not be thought to represent any institution, organisation, or official body. To have your say, email James.Tate@uwe.ac.uk
This month's speaker is Emma Jackson of the University of Worcester, who wishes to discuss whether the school choice offered to children and parents is really a genuine choice.
In this month’s Speaker’s Corner, I wanted to highlight the BBC2 School Season, and particularly a television series I watched with great interest ‘The Big School Lottery’. The three part series was aired between 7th -15th September in the UK and followed eight families from Birmingham’s Education Authority, through the application process for a secondary school place. In Birmingham, parents complete an application form stating six school ‘choices’ for their child. However, this rang alarm bells with me; do the parents actually have a choice?
Throughout the series the Head of Admissions and Appeals, Julie Newbold, frequently acknowledged that parents had a ‘choice’. However, the parents did not see it in this way. This word ‘choice’ is an inaccurate representation of the process as each application form is matched to a set criteria, with children with a disability or looked after children placed first, followed then by whether a sibling attends the school selected and then finally the distance from the child’s house to the school. For parents this ‘choice’ of secondary school was crucial, and some would go to various lengths to ensure their child did not go to a ‘rubbish’ school.
Now to me this is not about ‘choice’, this is about parent’s knowledge of the system and preparing their children to get the school they want. This was especially relevant to the families who wanted their child to attend one of Birmingham’s nine grammar schools. However, this is only possible for parents who know the system, have access to materials and the money to provide for the extra tutoring required.
The series then followed the parents through to the day where acceptance letters were received and it was disheartening to watch some of the children’s disappointment; highlighting that this process is not about ‘choice’ and at the end of the day it is the child who has to contend with the offer they have been given. Following this, it was reported in the film that Birmingham Education Authority received 800 appeals from parents saying they did not understand the form, etc., and pleading to get their child into the school they wanted.
I think this programme highlighted that even from the start of a child’s education, this notion of ‘choice’ is implausible and it is all about who has the best resources and knowledge. I was, therefore, wondering what other FACE members think about this issue, and how this relates to the agenda of widening participation ensuring that all have access to good quality education.
Emma Jackson
University of Worcester
e.jackson@worc.ac.uk
Go to a TV Blog written by Julie Newbold about her participation in this BBC programme. The blog also has a number of comments from members of the public.
Remember, all FACE members are invited to raise issues of concern in Speakers Corner if there is anything that YOU particularly want to draw to the attention of colleagues.
What have Lifelong Learning Networks learned?
An opportunity to access and contribute LLN research
The LLN Research Forum was established to share the various research which LLNs are undertaking and have engaged in over the last four years. Colleagues are invited to visit our website at http://www.llnstaffordshireshropshire.org. Thanks to funding from the National LLN Director’s group and FACE, we have been able to commission a research project which has sought to synthesize the research that has been carried out across the LLNs. The aims of the forum are to:
-
Act as a focal point for the collection, dissemination and discussion of research being undertaken by LLNs
-
Seek ways of promoting joint research projects between LLNs including work across sectors
-
Act as a forum to encourage the publication or presentation of research by LLNs
-
Develop the capacity and capability of LLNs to undertake research either individually or collectively
-
Provide a research base that can begin to inform national policy in areas relevant to the LLN agenda
-
Create and maintain links with other agencies that share an interest in the LLN research agenda
-
Support the quality of research across the network of LLNs
The project will also be producing a publication which will include a synopsis of the research and examples of a variety of research projects. Details of completed, current, and planned research projects are posted on the LLN national website in a searchable database at http://www.lifelonglearningnetworks.org.uk/research-evaluation/projects
Research is loosely interpreted to include pure research, information and data gathering and development projects. Taken together, these individual pieces of research represent an impressive body of work, and form a significant part of what LLNs are delivering.
This project is being lead by Jenny Shaw (fideltaconsulting@hotmail.com) and Jan Wise (jan.wise@electrostatics.net). For more information, please e-mail them. The research group meet regularly and would be pleased to welcome new members. Please contact Amelia Rout for more information: a.c.rout@staffs.ac.uk, 01785 353817.
Call for Papers - NADP Spring Conference
The National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP) Spring Conference 2011 will be on the theme of "Supporting Students with Physical and Sensory Impairments". The conference planning group are currently inviting proposals for presentations for this conference which will be held in both London (Friday 25th March 2011) and Liverpool (Friday 1st April 2011). Speakers will be expected to attend both events.
Submission Guidelines: Proposals to cover interest to both HE and FE, should be submitted to the NADP Administration Office using the Speakers Information Form available on their website. The deadline for submission is Friday 15th October 2010.
If you require any further information, please contact Beverley Fraser at the NADP Administration Office on 01604 497933 or admin@nadp-uk.org
FACE 2010 Workshops online
A selection of workshop presentations from this year's conference and a slideshow of photographs have now been put online on the FACE website.
http://www.f-a-c-e.org.uk/conference2010.html
Catch up with the BBC School Season
BBC Two is currently broadcasting a major season on education, focusing on UK schools and the tough choices parents have to make. The web pages for this series are at the School Season.
Included in the season, broadcaster John Humphrys has positive things to say about Aimhigher in his documentary Unequal Opportunities available on BBC iPlayer until 26th September. See also his commentary What's wrong with our schools?
What else is in the News?
For the latest UK Education headlines and stories go to the FACE News Feeds page where you'll find the online news feeds of several of the sources listed below gathered together on one page for easy access.
The Department of Education news page http://www.education.gov.uk/news
The Guardian http://education.guardian.co.uk
The Independent http://news.independent.co.uk/education
The BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/default.stm
The Times Higher Education http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk
This is the September 2010 eBulletin from FACE (the Forum for Access and Continuing Education), offered to practitioners, policy-makers, researchers and others with an interest in access, widening participation and lifelong learning. The eBulletin is sent to colleagues in the sector, members and non-members alike. If you would prefer not to receive it, please contact James.Tate@uwe.ac.uk and your details will be removed from the circulation list.
If you wish to respond to anything in this eBulletin or contribute to the October 2010 issue, please email Jim at James.Tate@uwe.ac.uk