Category Archives: Education

The case for sixth form colleges

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

From ‘What’s next for education?’ (New Visions Group, 2015) By any objective standard, England’s 93 sixth form colleges are among this country’s great educational success stories. They offer more opportunities, higher standards and a broader experience for students aged 16-19 … Continue reading →

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The multilingual citizen in a multicultural society

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

I want to speak about the experience of being bilingual and bicultural and its educational benefits. I am not an expert or an academic and I have no research findings to share. I have worked in diverse communities for over … Continue reading →

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Citoyens multilingues, société multiculturelle

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

Quelques réflexions sur le vécu bilingue et biculturel et ses avantages éducatifs. Je ne suis ni expert ni chercheur et je ne vous propose pas de résultats d’une recherche scientifique. J’enseigne depuis 30 ans dans des communautés diverses et je … Continue reading →

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Unlimited potential (part 2)

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

Unlimited potential (part 2) Part 2 of my chapter from The ins and outs of selective secondary schools (Civitas, March 2015) 5. Selection at 16 and beyond There is a strong case for extending the comprehensive ideal beyond 16, even … Continue reading →

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Unlimited potential (part 1)

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

Unlimited potential (part 1) Part 1 of my chapter from The ins and outs of selective secondary schools (Civitas, March 2015) Summary: In this brief chapter I have tried to make a moral, philosophical, political and pragmatic case against educational … Continue reading →

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Market madness #7: What markets do to us

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

The creeping marketization of education has many aspects, each of which changes the way we see ourselves and the way we relate to others. Commodification: If education is seen as a commodity; something which can be consumed and traded, then schools, … Continue reading →

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5 vocational myths to avoid

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

A checklist for politicians who want to talk about vocational education and apprenticeships during the election campaign: Myth 1. The vocational route is a practical alternative to university Many students on advanced vocational courses progress to university and these courses are … Continue reading →

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Bacc on the agenda

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

If England is to have a post-16 education system fit for an advanced modern democracy we need to move towards a single national baccalaureate capable of meeting the aspirations of all young people and founded on shared values and a … Continue reading →

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Valuing student research

Posted on March 8, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

The continuing growth of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in England’s sixth forms is a sign that students, teachers, universities and employers value what it offers. However, less than 10% of advanced level sixth formers have the opportunity to achieve … Continue reading →

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Time for a new Great Education Reform Act

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

27 years ago, Kenneth Baker’s 1988 Education Reform Act changed the direction of travel of English education. It introduced an element of school choice and Local Management of Schools, established more autonomous City Technology Colleges and Grant Maintained Schools as … Continue reading →

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Your college interview

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

How should you approach your sixth form college interview and get the most from the experience? Following my previous posts How to choose a sixth form and How to make a strong college application, here is some advice about getting … Continue reading →

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Education 2020: market or system?

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

What will education in England be like in 2020? As the 2015 general election approaches, what are the possible futures for education in England? An election is a democratic moment where we are offered a choice of futures and we … Continue reading →

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Resisting selection

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

Thanks to the prime minister, it seems that educational selection is back on the agenda again. The grammar school issue in Kent and elsewhere is one aspect of the debate but it’s worth remembering that the segregation of learners by ‘aptitude’, ‘potential’, test … Continue reading →

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Investing in 16-19 education

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

Labour’s promise to maintain education spending from nursery to 19 year olds and increase it at least by inflation is very welcome. No such protection is on offer from the Conservatives who are promising ‘flat cash’ for pre-16’s and apparently … Continue reading →

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Re-imagining the university

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

A celebration of Birkbeck’s latest innovation in higher education in London. Anish Kapoor’s amazing Orbit here in East London’s Olympic quarter calls to mind previous sculptural structures built on a monumental scale. Together with Gustave Eiffel’s tower in Paris and … Continue reading →

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