News
Future of the Teaching Profession Seminar
Thu, 02 Feb This unique event, held at the Moller Centre in Churchill College on 16 and 17 February, has been planned by Leadership for Learning: the Cambridge Network (LfL) together with Education International (EI), the global federation of teacher organisations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (OECD/CERI) and Open Society Foundations (OSF). An invitation only event, the delegates include a range of academics and policy makers from across the world. The purpose of the seminar is to explore research and policy in relation to teacher quality and the development of the teaching profession. It will not only inform the future of teacher policy generally but also contribute to events such as the forthcoming 2012 Summit on the Future of the Teaching Profession and the OECD's 2013 Teaching and Learning International Study.
Sponsored by Open Society Foundations. Further information from: Ruth Sapsed, 01223 767689 rs683@cam.ac.uk www.educ.cam.ac.uk/centres/lfl/
Twitter link - https://twitter.com/#!/LfLCambridge
Developmental Psychology & Early Childhood Education: New Book
Thu, 19 Jan 'David Whitebread introduces us to a rich array of recent research into early child development, showing how children master the ability to regulate their own learning when adults respect and value their play. His writing models the balance of emotional warmth and cognitive challenge which best supports self regulated learning'
Rod Parker-Rees, Associate Professor in Early Childhood Studies, University of Plymouth
Prestigous Book Prize for Education, Asylum and the 'Non-Citizen' child
Mon, 16 Jan Education, Asylum and the 'Non-Citizen' Child: the politics of compassion and belonging published by Palgrave MacMillan in 2010 was awarded the second book prize for 2011 by the Society for Educational Studies. The authors of this book Halleli Pinson, Madeleine Arnot, and Mano Candappa worked together over a period of 10 years to assess the impact of government immigration policy on the education system in the UK. Madeleine Arnot and Halleli Pinson (initially a Ph.D student and then a postdoctoral fellow in the Faculty) set up the Research Consortium on the Education of Refugee and Asylum-seeking Children with the General Teaching Council, the NUT and the Refugee Council. Their project was pump primed by the Faculty and the GTC. Mano Candappa from University of London Institute of Education and Madeleine researched the ways in which the inclusive ethos of schools was used by teachers to help support such children and educate 'citizen' children to consider refugee issues. The findings from both these projects are reported in the book.
The book has been described as a true 'eye-opener', based on compelling empirical evidence about the moral integrity of schools, teachers and pupils. A 'bold, sophisticated and impressive book' that 'challenges everyone in education to live up to their inclusive rhetoric' (Professor David Gillborn). Madeleine Arnot said: We are honoured to receive such a prestigious award since it recognises the importance of this rarely researched area of education and the extraordinary work that teachers and school do to support asylum-seeking and refugee children in what is a hostile immigration environment for many such children and their families.
The theme of immigration and migration is the focus of the Faculty's collaboration with colleagues in Anglia Ruskin University. The two institutions are hosting an international conference for the British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE) on Education, Mobility and Migration: people, ideas and resources from 8-12th September 2012 at Churchill College, Cambridge.
TES Award: Outstanding Teaching Resource
Thu, 12 Jan An 'outstanding teaching resource' award has been won by Andrew Jackson, a Faculty Secondary Science PGCE alumni, now teaching in one of our partner schools - Hitchin Girls School, UK. This award is issued by the Times Educational Supplement and is a British national award that celebrates the best in teaching within the UK. Andrew introduced his Astronomy Master class 'backdrop' submission online at Prezi.
The Framework of the National Curriculum
Tue, 20 Dec For the past year Professor Mary James, along with Tim Oates (of Cambridge Assessment), Professor Andrew Pollard, and Professor Dylan Wiliam have been working as the Expert Panel, alongside a team at HM Government Department of Education, to advise on the review of the National Curriculum.
On 19th December 2011 the Expert Panel report, 'The Framework of the National Curriculum', was published together with reports on the international evidence and the Call for Evidence.
As a direct consequence of their work, the Secretary of State, Michael Gove MP, has acknowledged that 'The recommendations made by the review's Expert Panel set out the scale of the challenge we face, and raise fundamental questions about educational practice in this country.' In order to 'allow for more radical reform of both curriculum and qualifications' he has decided to delay the introduction of a new National Curriculum until 2014.
The Ministerial Statement can be found at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00201092/written-ministerial-statement-on-the-national-curriculum-review
The full Report of the Expert Panel can be found at:
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DFE-00135-2011
A brief one page summary from Andrew Pollard and Mary James is at:
http://www.tlrp.org/sh/ncrpage.html
Selected Works of John MacBeath
Mon, 19 Dec Series: World Library of Educationalists
John MacBeath has spent the last 30 years researching, thinking and writing about some of the key and enduring issues in education. In this book John MacBeath brings together over 19 of his most influential writings in one place, including chapters from his best-selling books and articles from leading journals. These are complemented by short news reports which give a flavour of the impact or controversy they aroused.
Through this book, readers can followed the themes and strands that John MacBeath has written about for over three decades and clearly see his important contribution to the field of education.
View the Book
Over 100 teachers at Faculty Conference
Wed, 07 Dec On Saturday November 19th, over 100 teachers at the Researching Practice MEd Conference had the pleasure of hearing Professor Lesley Saunders (see photo) giving a thoughtful and thought-provoking keynote on 'Research and Professionalism'. This Saturday conference (one of five over the year in this blended learning MEd) also offered a series of workshops, including one on Writing Your Thesis, led by Christine Counsell, and one on using SPSS, led by Joan Whitehead. Others included Holly Linklater on Ethnography, Liz Duignan on research design, Rupert Higham on interviews and coding, Yi Feng on Quantitative Research Approaches and Sue Brindley on using Professional Research Diaries. The day was very well received, and one teacher commented that, despite a three hour journey, he had found the day so stimulating that he had left the Conference with more energy than he had arrived with!
Prestigious Book Prize for Cambridge Primary Review
Wed, 16 Nov Children, their World, their Education, the final report of the Cambridge Primary Review, has received First Prize in the 2011 Book Awards of the Society for Educational Studies (SES). The book’s editor and lead author is Professor Robin Alexander, and of its 14 contributing authors, five others – Julia Flutter, Linda Hargreaves, David Harrison, Ruth Kershner and John MacBeath – are or have been Faculty of Education members.
Published by Routledge, the book brings together a massive body of evidence on the condition and future of English primary education. Following a defensive response from the previous government, many of the Review's key policy recommendations have been taken up by the present government and its advisers. Funded since its inception by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the Review now has a national network of regional centres, schools and teachers building on its work.
Robin Alexander said: ‘The Cambridge Primary Review is delighted and honoured to receive this award. Along with the book's royalties, the SES prize money will be used to support some of the country's most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised children. Their education remains top of our list of priorities as we continue to work with teachers and policymakers to take forward the Review's evidence and proposals.
Download the press release
Radio 4's Thinking Allowed
Tue, 15 Nov Radio 4's Thinking Allowed featured Diane Reay debating her new book 'White Middle Class Identities and Urban Schooling' with Melissa Benn. To listen to their discussion, visit www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016x23b.
The Supportive School published
Tue, 18 Oct There is a widespread perception across the developed world that the social and emotional wellbeing of young people has been in decline in recent years and that various problem behaviours are on the rise. Because children spend so much of their time in educational institutions, schools are assumed to be part of the problem.
In the Supportive School, John Gray, Maurice Galton, Colleen McLaughlin, Barbie Clarke and Jennifer Symonds bring together for the first time the results of over 300 research studies, both from the UK and further afield. They identify key factors related to schooling which impact upon young people's development and affect their wellbeing; document how schools handle young people, particularly at the point of transition from primary to secondary; and place the UK's much-criticised performance on wellbeing issues in an international context.
The research was funded by the Nuffield Foundation as part of its Changing Adolescence Research programme.
Honorary doctorate for services to education
Mon, 10 Oct Mary Jane Drummond, former Faculty of Education lecturer in early years and Deputy Head of Faculty, was awarded an honorary doctorate for her services to education, particularly early years education, at Anglia Ruskin University on Wednesday the 5th of October. She is the author of major texts such as Working with Children, Making Assessment Work, Learning without Limits and Positive Alternatives to Exclusion and was cited as being 'an original and challenging thinker' with a considerable international, national and local reputation.
Book Launch: The International Handbook of Leadership for Learning
Thu, 06 Oct Book Launch: The International Handbook of Leadership for Learning Edited by Tony Townsend and John MacBeath The International Handbook of Leadership for Learning brings together chapters by distinguished authors from thirty-one countries in nine different regions of the world. The handbook contains nine sections that provide regional overviews; a consideration of theoretical and contextual aspects; system and policy approaches that promote leadership for learning with a focus on educating school leaders for learning and the role of the leader in supporting learning. It also considers the challenge of educating current leaders for this new perspective, and how leaders themselves can develop leadership for learning in others and in their organisations, especially in diverse contexts and situations.
Further Information.
Faculty student wins the 2011 British Educational Research Association Dissertation Award
Mon, 19 Sep Dr Jin He obtained the PhD in the Faculty in 2010 for her thesis entitled "The Social Construction of Ideas about English: Case Studies in a Southwest Chinese Town". As her superviser, Dr E.M. Esch received the BERA award in Dr He's name at a ceremony in London on the 8th September.
Fantastic Mr. Dahl
Thu, 08 Sep To mark Roald Dahl Day on September 13th and the 50th anniversary of James And The Giant Peach, Professor Maria Nikolajeva explains why he remains such an important figure for young readers. Read the full article . Maria Nikolajeva: Profile Page.
The Student Voice Handbook: Bridging the Academic/Practitioner Divide
Wed, 07 Sep Bethan Morgan , Joanne Waterhouse, Ros McLellan, Colleen McLaughlin and Susan Kiragu, along with practitioner colleagues, have contributed four chapters to a new publication: The Student Voice Handbook: Bridging the Academic/Practitioner Divide edited by Gerry Czerniawski and Warren Kidd (University of East London). The text offers diverse perspectives with contributions from internationally acclaimed researchers, academics, classroom practitioners and learners across a variety of ages and educational sectors both at local and international levels. The book is published by Emerald. The book will be launched on Wednesday 7th September at the BERA conference at the Institute of Education, London.
The Science of the Art of Psychotherapy
Mon, 05 Sep The Faculty's Cambridge Forum for Children's Emotional Well-being workshop on 8th October 2011 is to be presented by Dr Allan Schore from the clinical faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioural Sciences, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Over the last two decades Dr Schore has documented the remarkable advances that have been made in our understanding of early human development. See details.