Here's a fine article by the BBC about standards in science and maths teaching:
Science and maths exams should be more demanding and more experts should be involved in teaching the subjects, an independent report has said. The Science and Learning Expert Group (1) says improving science and maths has been a high priority in recent years.
But it calls for more demanding GCSEs and A-levels, regulation of private exam boards and greater use of flexible pay to attract specialist teachers. The government says many of the issues raised are being addressed... (2)
Royal Society (3) vice-president Professor John Pethica said he was "delighted" by the recommendation that expert groups should advise on the development of the curriculum and qualifications. "We believe that by involving those with real experience and understanding of teaching, a more holistic and effective science and mathematics education system will result," he said.
Sylvia McNamara, from the QCDA (4), the body responsible for the development of the curriculum and qualifications in England, said the report made a "valuable contribution" to the debate around the critical role of science and maths. "This summer A-level students will sit the new style exams, which demand a more broader understanding and will better prepare young people for higher education and employment," she said, "Input from teachers and lecturers, awarding bodies, subject specialists and the royal societies all played a vital role in the recent revisions to maths and science GCSEs, as well as the new Science Diploma for 2011."
A spokeswoman (5) for Ofqual, England's exams watchdog (6) said it worked to maintain standards...
1) That's a quango set up by the DCSF.
2) Well they would say that, wouldn't they?
3) Outed as fakecharity e.g. here.
4) Quango.
5) Aren't you supposed to say 'spokesperson'? Naughty, naughty BBC! Actually, seeing as 'chairman' or 'chairwoman' has been shortened to 'chair', why not refer to her as a 'spokes'?
6) Quango.
To sum up, that article is more or less fact free and is just different quangos batting soundbites back and forth.
Once I dipt into the future
6 hours ago
7 comments:
There's really not much hope when the "spokesperson" from the QCDA, the "body responsible for the development of the curriculum and qualifications" says things like "which demand a more broader understanding"...
Yup, Pogo, and then that "spoke" thrusts a quite unnecessary Americanism into the same sentence: "a more broader understanding and will better prepare....".
P, D, well spotted.
Careless me: I missed the "more broader".
I think this was down to distraction about whether "deeper" might be better.
Best regards
Most useful - I'm doing one on education and this does show the quangoization of anything they touch.
"Aren't you supposed to say 'spokesperson'?"
I thought that "spokesperson" and "chairperson" were for generic use. When you knew the sex of the spokes or chair person, you used the appropriate term. Am I behind the times?
JH, I hope it's useful.
B, nope, you have to say 'Chair' nowadays.
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