. I woke last night with the conviction that I should draw up a basic credo, setting out some core principles derived from the experience of writing this blog. I have set aside all questions of terminology, definition and identification because they are inherently divisive and attract disproportionate attention. Let us suspend disbelief for a…Read more The Gifted Phoenix Manifesto for Gifted Education
. This post takes a closer look at Maths Hubs, exploring the nature of the model, their early history and performance to date. It reflects on their potential contribution to the education of the ‘mathematically most able’ and considers whether a similar model might support ‘most able education’. . I can offer no higher praise…Read more Will Maths Hubs Work?
. This post reviews the Sutton Trust’s Research Brief ‘Missing Talent’, setting it in the context of the Trust’s own priorities and the small canon of research on excellence gaps in the English education system. It is structured as follows: Background on what has been published and my own involvement in researching and debating these…Read more Missing Talent
. The Conservative Manifesto contained an apparent commitment to a compulsory EBacc: ‘We will require secondary school pupils to take GCSEs in English, maths, science, a language and history or geography, with Ofsted unable to award its highest ratings to schools that refuse to teach these core subjects.’ We know the commitment will be honoured…Read more Compulsory EBacc: A policy conundrum? (Updated) (Again)
. This post sets out for consideration some ideas to inform a new ‘most able learners’ policy’ for inclusion in a forthcoming schools white paper. . Background Now that we have a majority Conservative Government, attention is switching to the shape of its education policy agenda for the next five years. Parliament will be recalled…Read more Proposals for a 2015 Schools White Paper: Most able
. Thank you for taking the time and trouble to provide a considered response to my posts campaigning against the Fair Education Alliance position on the pupil premium: this one launching the campaign and this demolition of Teach First’s official policy statement of 29 April. By responding in this fashion you set a fine example to…Read more Response to Russell Hobby’s post of 8 May 2015
. This post scrutinises the arguments advanced by Teach First in defence of reallocating Pupil Premium away from disadvantaged learners with middle or high prior attainment. . Background On 29 April, Teach First responded formally to my campaign against their proposal that the Pupil Premium budget should be redistributed so that learners with low prior…Read more Fisking Teach First’s defence of its pupil premium policy
. This post is a short critical analysis of the proposal for a new National Scholarships Programme contained in the Policy Exchange Education Manifesto, published in March 2015. . Policy Exchange's proposal for National Scholarships http://t.co/crjtRnkKso (p54) It's poorly researched back-of-envelope stuff — GiftedPhoenix (@GiftedPhoenix) March 6, 2015 Policy Exchange say they plan further work…Read more The Policy Exchange National Scholarships Programme
. Today, Labour announced that it would support gifted and talented children. . International research shows we perform badly in helping the most gifted pupils. We're going to do something about it:http://t.co/ayzsiGGB6U — Tristram Hunt (@TristramHuntMP) March 3, 2015 . This short post examines what is so far in the public domain. . Is this…Read more Labour’s Commitment to Gifted Education: Can the Tories match it?
. I am rounding out this year’s blogging with my customary backwards look at the various posts I published during 2014. This is partly an exercise in self-congratulation but also flags up to readers any potentially useful posts they might have missed. . . This is my 32nd post of the year, three fewer than…Read more Gifted Phoenix 2014 Review and Retrospective
Gifted Phoenix 