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Education Uncovered | News| DfE seeks consultants for £500-a-day work to rewrite England’s national curriculum

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Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 9h

Very interesting comments under this piece now, including one stating: "If the NC [review] report does not include full exploration of, and citation of, robust critiques of current policies then people will question its independence."

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

Exclusive, I think: DfE seeks consultants for £500-a-day work to rewrite England’s national curriculum
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/dfe-see...
But would-be drafters of detailed programmes of study warned: you must not use AI.

Invitation to tender document also reveals that ministers expect much of the detailed programmes of study work on the curriculum to be completed by next summer. But the instruction to consultants is: ...

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Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

Any “consensus,” on that, if it did exist, was broken, of course, after Michael Gove and Nick Gibb came to power. But I digress…

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Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

I quote from QCA’s 2007-08 annual report in this piece, in which it set out how it managed 2ndary curr review at that time, stating: “The debate reached a broad consensus: what was needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century was a more flexible framework allowing greater personalisation.”

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Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

Pre-2010, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority oversaw the curriculum writing and review process.

The new national curriculum: made to order?

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

Piece offers a look back at previous nc reviews. This doesn’t seem first instance of such outsourcing – my 2012 Guardian piece revealed that external adviser Ruth Miskin’s name appeared in doc properties as author of draft of primary English programme of study. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

New questions are being asked about the framing of the planned primary curriculum

www.theguardian.com

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Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

One for me is what seems a hectic timescale, with this process now demonstrably considerably faster than its counterpart was under Michael Gove during the coalition years.

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Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

Ministers will stress that it is they who have the final say on national curriculum and associated content. But plenty of questions about all of this.

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

Those wanting to apply for the programme of study/exam content drafting work have until next Tuesday to apply. They will have to pledge not to rely on tools such as ChatGPT, the doc states.

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

Bulk of this work expected to be completed by next summer.

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

The invitation to tender document, seeking bids to draft national curriculum programmes of study and associated GCSE and A-level subject content, also sets out what seems brisk timetable for process.

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

This is the programme of work which will follow on from the publication of the final report of Professor Becky Francis’s curriculum and assessment review, expected next week.

Education Uncovered | News| DfE seeks consultants for £500-a-day work to rewrite England’s national curriculum

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 11h

Exclusive, I think: DfE seeks consultants for £500-a-day work to rewrite England’s national curriculum
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/dfe-see...
But would-be drafters of detailed programmes of study warned: you must not use AI.

Invitation to tender document also reveals that ministers expect much of the detailed programmes of study work on the curriculum to be completed by next summer. But the instruction to consultants is: ...

DfE removes funding for IB Diploma in state schools

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Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 1d

Strange DfE decision to cut funding for the International Baccalaureate: www.tes.com/magazine/new... Relatively cheap way of offering some extra diversity/options within the state sector?
"Our common sense reforms..." Hmm.

International Baccalaureate decries ‘deeply disheartening’ decision that it claims will affect 5,000 students but save little money

www.tes.com

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Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 2d

There's already a very interesting comment under this piece. Warning about "bottom line" of test scores being emphasised, in England's system, at "human cost," with English pupils among the unhappiest in OECD and amid concerns over staff turnover and burnout.

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 2d

The NEU also had v interesting take when q’d over whether staff stress was justifiable, given drive to improve results. Said: “If [children’s] first experience is one of seeing people being ground down, is that really what we want society to look like, for future generations?”

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 2d

National Education Union said it was concerned about “burnout,” with expectations of workload being “passed down from the top”. Gorse was approached for comment, but did not respond.

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 2d

Source said that included weekends, with 3-4 hours expected on top of checking emails.

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 2d

Gorse’s CEO, Sir John Townsley, argued, in presentation, that pay of senior leaders, in line with police superintendents, meant they had to work very hard.

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 2d

“GORSE Code” is defined in the slides as the drive to get best results from pupils, across this Leeds-based trust.

Education Uncovered | News| Warning about pressures on senior staff at Gorse Academy Trust, after leak of management presentation

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 2d

New: Warning about pressures on senior staff at Gorse Academy Trust, after leak of management presentation
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/warning...
“Leadership board meeting” saw SLT told managers need to “work very hard” in pursuit of “GORSE Code”.

Slides say Leeds-based chain has "routine expectation" that senior leaders are "working very hard". "Success does not come from cutting corners regarding the implementation of GORSE Code," slides warn...

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Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 5d

That talk was only about academies/multi-academy trusts, and their management and classroom spend vs that of LA schools, so no I didn't mention him.