Tweeting headteachers plan to reform education

A group of leaders who met "on Twitter have formed a pressure group to get their ideas heard by politicians base

teachers and principals could be forgiven for thinking that the worst of both worlds: the obligation to apply the latest fad Ministerial without having a real influence on policies that directly affect employment, they feel passionately. But could the explosion of social media to change all that?

The saga of GCSE results this summer has caused a torrent of online feedback and communication between teachers and principals. Now a group - mostly high school principals -. Registered through the social network Twitter to form a pressure group embryonic

See the shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg. Schools may be the opposite in terms of geography and social context, but are united in their opinion that the alternative to the current education policy is needed quickly and that work is the best hope of achieving it.

Education

writer and blogger Ian Gilbert had the idea of ??transforming online activity into something more concrete after reflection on the potential of Twitter for "social outrage" - but also its limits. "It can produce knowledge and find information," he explains. "However, you can also sit in the evening with a glass of wine and tweeting think he did his bit for society.

"I realized that we had to go further and reach people who have something to say. A major theme that comes through social media is a source of frustration with the current policy, but also work without frustration alternative. We want to hear the voices of people who know what they are doing. people who are there for the kids, for good reasons, to discuss what has and has not been good and hit some concrete alternatives. "

The group - which has not yet been named - met in the office of tutor to discuss your ideas. So what is so great about the current situation? Leaders from a mixture of charter schools and universities, which were joined by Dr. Phil Wood School of the University of Leicester in education, citing the focus on disadvantaged students and publication of data more positive developments.

But the positive risk being undermined by political interference too curricula and qualifications, an accountability system focused on a range of increasingly close examination, a permanent division between academic and professional qualifications - Work Tech Bacc attracted derision of these principals as Baccalaureate Certificates Secretary of Education in English -. and moves to a reference standard in the qualifications system that only a fixed number of pupils can achieve some degree

"We're going back to a sheep and goat is a system of stratified society in terms of achievements and potential," said Ros McMullen, director of the David Young Community Academy in Leeds.

"We must be able to measure the improvement, which requires an objective measure, which judges student achievement against a rule set in stone, not one that only allowed a certain percentage students to achieve a certain degree. Individuals should talk. "

clear several themes emerged about an alternative policy could be formed if the work was "brave" enough to establish something profoundly different "instead of dragging in the wake of the Conservatives," said said John Tomsett, a prolific blogger and principal at Huntington York.

the heart must be a politicization of the curriculum and qualifications, an independent education professionals to drive policy in this area, and a radically different approach to the assessment and accountability statements, the leaders agreed.

Proposed changes to GCSEs were described as "inadequate preparation for life in the 21st Century" which powers only that Vic Goddard, director of the Academy Passmores in Essex, described as a growing tension between "doing what is good for the school and for our children."

"What we do is not always the same as what we have to do. Want a recognition that education is more than five tests. This is the full and entire the rest comes with it. "

A new form of assessment would ensure rigor and high standards, no limits to ambition, but also other non-examination based on measures that offer the opportunity to " success at all levels' - a particular interest in special education, who fear that their children will be "removed before they start," said Dave Whittaker, Director of Special Springwell Barnsley College.
• "We need to be able to celebrate success at all levels for students with special educational needs are not left without motivation or aspiration. Would say an overview of achievements that can really show progress over time and context. not just be given to our students EBacc is a report that says "it does not matter, you do not, but please, try again at some point."

One suggestion is to move away from examinations 16 years the IB student profile. "The IB is a highly rated international rating that includes skills and competencies" argued Tomsett. "Our evaluation system must move away from pure and mixed tests in a series of evaluations of personal projects, such monographs, oral skills and exams. The fact that the work can not come as a response to Tech Bacc EBacc simply underlines the rarity of his thought. "

Another was its focus on and Ofsted judgments once instead of supporting the improvement. That is, according to the principals must be sent through the transfer of resources to local associations of school improvement and investment in the professional development of teachers, combined with an annual national liberation all performance data to schools and parents.

"I want to realize on the spot," said Goddard. "We are funded by the state with the most precious resource in the world - our children -., But do not tell me where I'm going wrong, I want people to hold me accountable to be part of the day to make me better. "

These people could be described as part of what is now called the "magic media" in social media. No celebrities or political commentators, but trust experts persuasion with years of experience who blog and Twitter, and have the power to mobilize public opinion. In other areas, companies seeking to attract these people. Regarding the school policy, politicians are Behind?
A spokesman Stephen Twigg said he would be willing to meet with the group and presented his ideas as "interesting." Some, including regional versions of Ofsted, the reform of the curriculum and assessment 14-19, already considered by examining labor policies, he said, adding that "we agree that 'there should be a limit artificial lift. "

Find best price for : --tweeting----Twigg----Ofsted----Gilbert----Stephen----GCSE--