School Leadership UK Perspective Hanover, Germany 23 rd – 27 th September 2013

Accountability England has one of the most accountable education systems in the world Ofsted Ofsted SAT Scores, Phonics Testing SAT Scores, Phonics Testing League Tables League Tables Pupil Tracking Pupil Tracking

Divided System The UK remains one of the most socially divided countries in the world The UK remains one of the most socially divided countries in the world The accountability philosophy is driven by a Free Market Economy principles and has created an ever widening social divide The accountability philosophy is driven by a Free Market Economy principles and has created an ever widening social divide 8% of children attend private schools 8% of children attend private schools

Curriculum Development Worldwide Virtually all countries (bar the UK) have gone through major curriculum reform since 2005 Virtually all countries (bar the UK) have gone through major curriculum reform since 2005 In response to the PISA results which come out every 3 years (To tackle Numeracy and Literacy) In response to the PISA results which come out every 3 years (To tackle Numeracy and Literacy) 2007 being a seemingly key year for global Primary curriculum development 2007 being a seemingly key year for global Primary curriculum development

Primary curriculum change: directions of travel in 10 countries There has been convergence in the content in the primary curriculum There has been convergence in the content in the primary curriculum England differs in the non-statutory status it gives to PSHE, citizenship and foreign languages England differs in the non-statutory status it gives to PSHE, citizenship and foreign languages

Primary curriculum change: directions of travel in 10 countries In many countries there is a trend towards the application of knowledge through the usage of concepts of 'competences' or 'skills' End

Primary curriculum change: directions of travel in 10 countries However, in the United Kingdom areas and subjects continue to provide the basic unit of curriculum organisation and tend to form the basis of assessments. End

Primary curriculum change: directions of travel in 10 countries Whilst the curriculum in England is organised by 'subjects', other countries have ‘areas Whilst the curriculum in England is organised by 'subjects', other countries have ‘areas Norway and Slovenia - subjects Norway and Slovenia - subjects End

Dates of major reforms that have increased or decreased teacher autonomy ( ) Measures taken to increase curricular autonomy Measures taken to decrease curricular autonomy Source: Eurydice

The School has become the Pressure Point The local school has become focal point both for delivery and accountability of the curriculum Finances are devolved to schools Finances are devolved to schools LEAs are being gradually dismantled LEAs are being gradually dismantled Some schools have become academies Some schools have become academies Crisis in School Leadership recruitment Crisis in School Leadership recruitment

The Wyche Curriculum The Wyche Curriculum is innovative and not the norm for English Schools: Relating to Self Relating to Self Relating to Others Relating to Others Managing Learning Managing Learning Managing Situations Managing Situations

What is the Point of School? If the core purpose of education is to give young people a useful apprenticeship in real-life learning, then the kinds of learning they do in school has to match the kinds of learning that people do in the wider world” Guy Claxton “What’s the point of school?” p91

An infamous Quote “I would challenge the view that any learning can take place outside of a real-life or an authentic context. Learning in isolation is sterile, one dimensional and lacks the full orb of interpersonal understanding needed when dealing with real people and real situations”

Nokia Chief Executive “If we have a youngster who doesn’t know all the Mathematics and Physics that is needed to work here, we have colleagues who can easily teach these things…

Nokia Chief Executive “But if we get someone who does not know how to work with other people, how to think differently or create original ideas… there is nothing we can do. Do what you have to do to keep our school up to date” cited by Pasi Sahlberg in Finnish Lessons (2007)

The Wyche Curriculum For further details visit the school website at