LGfL Schools Conference 2014Supporting the New Curriculum

Education, innovation and technologySir Michael Barber

Sir Michael BarberLondon Schools ConferenceLondon, 28 April 2014

Education, Innovation and Technology

• National Curriculum• National assessment• National inspection• National teacher education• Published results• Devolved budgets• New school models

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We’ve seen the future and it smirks:

Baker’s reforms and after

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Combining pressure and support

ProgressDemoralisation

ComplacencyNeglect

Pres

sure

Support HighLow

Low

HIgh

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Nine characteristics of great education systems

Standards and Accountability

Globally-benchmarked

standards

Good, transparent data and

accountability

Every child on the agenda always in order to challenge

inequality

Human Capital

Recruit great people and train them well

Continuous improvement of

pedagogical skills and knowledge

Great leadership at school level

Structure and Organisation

Effective, enabling central department

and agencies

Capacity to manage change and engage

communities at every level

Operational responsibility and

significant budgets devolved to school level

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Three paradigms of reform

Quasi-markets

Devolution and transparency

Commandand control

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Community engagement and mobilization

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Informed professionalism

Informed prescription

1990s

Uninformed prescription

1980s

Informed professional judgement

2000s?

Uninformed professional judgement

1970s

Central Government

Professional autonomy

Evidence baseHighLow

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GREAT

Committing

GOOD

Staying

Grumbling

ADEQUATE

Exiting

AWFUL

You can mandate adequacy … greatness has to be unleashed

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•1) BELIEFS•Belief in the potential of all to achieve high standards

2) CURRICULUMEmphasis on deeper understanding of disciplines and fewer, more important ideas

3) PERSONALISATIONShift in focus from improvement of schools to progress of individuals 10

4) ACCESSLearning any time, anywhere

5) PEDAGOGYTeacher as “activator” informed by video, real-time data and assessment

6) PROFESSIONALISMTeaching as a true profession, with a distinctive, granular knowledge base

The opportunity of the 21st Century

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The Future: from the student’s perspective

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+SYSTEMIC INNOVATIONWHOLE SYSTEM REFORM

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•@michaelbarber9

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