rom a prospective Parliamentary candidate:

“As usual, you employ very powerful and cogent arguments, and I think the Paper will make many candidates think who may not have previously spent much time reflecting on the validity (or otherwise) of their pre-conceived ideas about education policy.”

From an Australian research organisation:

“I think your Paper is beautifully eloquent and captures in a brief space important core issues which need examining if we are to move forward.  It lifts my heart to hear your words about utilitarian focus in schooling policy, the opportunity of adolescence.  Rest assured the design faults in English education are found here as well.

From the Headmaster of an English public school:

“Your Paper really grabs my attention and, like those quoted, I find myself agreeing with so much of it and am frustrated that successive politicians seem not to be tackling these huge issues.  I’m always amazed that politicians rarely stop to assess historical and anachronistic aspects of our education system such as transferring at eleven, structure of the school year etc.  My own recent doctorate researched the effectiveness of junior schools, particularly those linked to senior schools, and looked at all the issues of transfer.  I won’t ramble on but I did want you to be aware of what a terrific read I found your Briefing Paper to be.”

While another has written:

“I do share with you your view about education.  It is dispiriting that boys and girls and schools are judged by results, which can become a source of depression and anxiety in the young, and something that we continually battle with.

However, our education demands a significant change at national level in order to return our teaching and learning (both in and away from the classroom) back to what it really should be.”

A Local Authority Officer wrote:

The Briefing Paper was just stunning!  I so agree with the contents – it so closely mirrors my own thoughts about the way we manage (or otherwise) the education of our most important resource.  However it only added to my determination to, in some way, make a difference to the future of our young people.  As a facilitator of learning I find myself already faced with those adults who appear to have difficulty in being curious and inquisitive and who need a great deal of encouragement to permit themselves to ”know beyond”.  However I guess the obvious must not be so obvious or more would practise it!

Read the Briefing Paper

This article is tagged: briefing paper.