Tag Archives: Social cohesion

10 things which could improve education

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Eddie Playfair

I’d like to offer the following tentative 10 point charter to improve education at all levels as an initial contribution to the debate about the future of education in England. 1. Build a comprehensive system rooted in equality: We should … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Education policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Market autonomy or democratic autonomy?

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Eddie Playfair

With French presidential and parliamentary elections due in April , May and June next year, politicians on all sides agree that education should be a high priority and they are trying out a range of policies for education reform. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Education policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Educational inequality in Europe

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Eddie Playfair

What are the patterns of educational inequality in Europe? To help answer this question, The Social Atlas of Europe (Policy Press, 2014) by Danny Dorling, Dimitris Ballas and Benjamin Hennig provides a fascinating visual overview of inequalities across our continent … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The social origins of human thinking.

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Eddie Playfair

What is thinking? Where does human thought come from? How did it evolve? These are important questions for us if we want to understand what makes humans different from other living things and to make the most of our abilities both as … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Philosophy, Science, Teaching and learning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

France: “teachers need to resist”

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

Following the terrorist outrages of November 13th , French sociologist Francois Dubet reflected on the Café Pedagogique website on the impact of such atrocities on the work of schools and on the role of schools in the aftermath of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Russell group numbers soar in Newham

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

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 →

Posted in Education, NewVIc | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Teachers create wealth too!

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

It’s become a commonplace to say that wealth has to be created before it can be spent and the received wisdom in mainstream political discourse is that the private sector does the wealth creating which then allows the public sector … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

London: a global learning city

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

Next May, London will elect a new mayor and Greater London Authority (GLA). The mayor has no statutory education powers but the fact that they are directly elected by the people of London gives them a legitimacy and convening power … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Speaking up for 16-19 year olds

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

SFCA Summer Conference 2015 Our Sixth Form College Association conference is always a great opportunity to meet old friends, make new friends, share our fears and frustrations, hopes and joys, find comfort and support from colleagues across the country. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Education policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Many colleges in one

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

A science college, an engineering technical college, a media technical college, a music industry college and several super-selective A-level providers offering a narrow range of subjects to high-achieving students. These are just some of the new sixth forms which have … Continue reading →

Posted in Education policy, NewVIc | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Roberto Unger on school as the ‘voice of the future’

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

In his excellent book ‘The Left Alternative’ the Brazilian philosopher and politician Roberto Unger proposes a new way for progressives to think about the future and start creating the good society. Unger suggests we should not give up on the central promise … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Education policy, Philosophy, Politics, Reviews, Teaching and learning | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Education policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Education policy | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Education policy, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Colleges and violent extremism

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

I work in a large inner city sixth form college with 2,600 students in London’s 3rd most socio-economically deprived borough where unemployment, poverty and homelessness are more common than average. Another way of describing the college is that it is also … Continue reading →

Posted in Education policy, NewVIc | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments