EDUCATION UPDATE
Libby Purves is joined by education expert, Mike Baker, who discusses the reshuffling of Lord Adonis out of his post as schools minister in England.
MATHEMATICS
The recent Ofsted report Mathematics –Understanding the Score - is a study based on evidence from inspections of mathematics between April 2005 and December 2007 in 192 maintained schools in England. Teaching was found to be good or better in just over half of the lessons surveyed. However, although there’s been a steady improvement in test and examination results, the report found the emphasis on routine exercises and “teaching to the test” style that’s common in many schools, leaves pupils ill-equipped for further study because they lack understanding of the subject.
Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Kent have just launched a joint course which offers a shorter route to a teaching qualification in mathematics. The three year programme will lead to a BSc (Hons) degree in Mathematics with a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Qualified Teacher Status.
Libby Purves speaks to Tony Gardiner, Reader in Maths and Maths Education at the University of Birmingham; and to Dr. John Moss, Dean of Education at Canterbury Christ Church University.
LIVING BOOKS
The idea of the “living library” originated in Scandinavia. “Readers” come to the library to borrow real people in the same way that they would normally borrow books. They can then take them away to a corner for a fifteen minute chat in the course of which they can ask all the questions, and hear real live answers. The idea is being used in the UK as part of a campaign run by mental health charity Rethink, along with youth volunteering campaign Agents4Change, which aims to tackle stigmas, stereotypes and prejudices.
Reporter, Caroline Swinburne went to Norwich City College to browse their Living Library in the company of CSV Agents for Change volunteer Rosanna Wyn-Williams.
INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY CURRICULUM
Bransgore Primary School, in its idyllic setting on the edge of the New Forest, is not a place you’d expect to find infants debating the state of international politics and the developing world. But for the past year they’ve been following the International Primary Curriculum – IPC - which offers an integrated approach across subjects and gives pupils the chance to share ideas and projects with schools elsewhere in the world following the same curriculum. The result….a whole new thinking outside the box.
Reporter, Sara Parker went along to listen in on some of the lessons and talk to pupils and teachers, parents and the head, Peter Pretlove, and in the studio Libby Purves talks to Theresa Forbes, the director of the International Primary Curriculum.
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