-
Recent Posts
- Zola : a political reading. August 13, 2023
- Hotter than July? August 5, 2023
- Rethinking work July 30, 2023
- Educating for political literacy in an age of crisis. July 21, 2023
- Savoirs et valeurs : pratiquer et conjuguer July 21, 2023
- ‘Transformative Teaching and Learning in Further Education – Pedagogies of Hope and Social Justice’ July 18, 2023
- Dilemmas of Growth June 14, 2023
- A broader view of skills? June 7, 2023
- In praise of ‘low value’ subjects. February 27, 2023
- Frigga Haug and the mystery of learning December 6, 2022
- Debating Growth. November 29, 2022
- Code red for human survival November 8, 2022
- The politics of silence. September 4, 2022
- Posts on Corsican themes. August 10, 2022
- When Corsica welcomed thousands of Serb refugees (1916) August 9, 2022
Recent Comments
Bev on 20 questions to ask about a bo… Bev on 20 questions to ask about a bo… Parole_Luri - SITESC… on Conrad in Corsica nivekd on Zola : a political readin… Eddie Playfair on Zola : a political readin… Archives
Categories
Categories
Meta
Author Archives: Eddie Playfair
Getting the children to play nicely
Once upon a time the children used to play nicely. They had quite a lot of freedom and invented all sorts of very involved activities. They played singly, in pairs, in small and large groups. They developed constructive, co-operative, competitive and territorial … Continue reading
The problem with England’s post-16 area reviews
There is a contradiction at the heart of the government’s post-16 area reviews for England and it was clearly exposed the other day by the very civil servants tasked with implementing them. Sixth form college principals and chairs of governors … Continue reading
Posted in Education policy
Tagged Area-based Reviews, Colleges, Education, efficiency, England, marketisation, Post-16 funding, Sixth form, Sixth form college
Leave a comment
NewVIc breaks all its university progression records.
Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc) has always had high rates of university progression, both in terms of numbers and the proportion of leavers progressing. These have consistently been well above the national and London averages. We are also very proud … Continue reading
Posted in Education, NewVIc
Tagged aspiration, Education, Newham Sixth Form College, NewVIc, Russell group, Social mobility, university progression
Leave a comment
Developing Labour’s vision for education
The heady summer campaign is over and a new leader has been elected. It’s time for the party to turn its attention to policy development as well as effective opposition. Across the whole spectrum of public policy, the party needs … Continue reading
Starting to think about a National Education Service
The hysterical reaction from some quarters to the election of a new Labour leader has been quite extraordinary. In his first week in post after an overwhelming victory, Jeremy Corbyn has been portrayed as ‘the most dangerous man in Britain’ … Continue reading
Seeking refuge in poetry
I am So I have left everything But I am something. I have left everyone But I am someone. I have left there But I am here. Something, someone, here, now. September 2015 Links to poems about the refugee … Continue reading
Sharing the secrets of success
This is what I say to all new students at Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc) after welcoming them on their first day: Now you’ve enrolled and you’re about to start your first year as a sixth form student here, what … Continue reading
Posted in NewVIc, Parents, Students
Tagged aspiration, Education, learning, Newham Sixth Form College, NewVIc, Sixth form, Sixth form college, Student
Leave a comment
Diagnosis.
Doctor, I think I might have something quite serious. I must say you look fine, what are your symptoms? Well, I have this overwhelming feeling which just won’t go away. Go on… I can’t shake it off, it’s like a… … Continue reading
The post-16 retake challenge
I think it is a reasonable aspiration that 16-18 year olds who haven’t achieved a threshold standard in English and Maths should continue to study both subjects in some form as part of their programme of study post-16. If possible, students should … Continue reading
Posted in Education policy
Tagged achievement, collaboration, criterion referencing, Education, English, GCSE, marketisation, Maths, partnership, Policy Exchange, Post-16 funding, Sixth form, success
1 Comment
A parent’s guide to sixth form enrolment
Welcome to enrolment. As parents or guardians your role is vital. You can help your daughter or son to understand their options and you know them better than anyone so your insights can be really useful. So how can you … Continue reading
Posted in Education, NewVIc, Parents
Tagged Colleges, Education, enrolment, information advice and guidance, Newham Sixth Form College, NewVIc, parents, Sixth form, young people
Leave a comment
Enrolment: where aspiration meets reality
It’s a crazy way to start the year; enrolling all our students over a few days in late August before we can start teaching them. Enrolment is a major cross-college team effort which requires every member of staff to do something different … Continue reading
Russell group numbers soar in Newham
This year, more students than ever before are progressing from Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc) to Russell group universities. Once again the college has the highest number of Russell group progressors of any Newham sixth form. 90 NewVIc students have … Continue reading
Utopia as the education of our desires
London’s Roundhouse hosted an evening of utopian propositions last week, jointly programmed with Compass. Those of us there were able to experience Penny Woolcock’s extraordinary Utopia installation and listen to Owen Jones and other social justice campaigners. I was particularly struck by the contribution of … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Politics
Tagged Compass, dystopia, Marina Prentoulis, Miguel Abensour, Penny Woolcock, Ruth Levitas, Syriza, utopia, William Morris
Leave a comment
Imagining a better future is the first step
My article on the post-16 area-based reviews from this week’s Times Education Supplement. Think of all the 16-18 year olds in your area. What do you see? Talented and ambitious young people keen to improve their knowledge and skills? Students … Continue reading
What is powerful knowledge?
In Knowledge and the Future School (2014) the sociologist of education Michael Young proposes a ‘return to knowledge’ following what he regards as the ‘turn away from knowledge’ taken by some progressives including Young himself in his earlier work. This … Continue reading
Eddie Playfair 