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Why education should be like the Bank of England

Posted By Doug Belshaw On 25th July 2007 @ 15:08 In News | Comments Disabled

WARNING! This website is no longer actively maintained. It is an archive of 2 years work by Doug Belshaw who now blogs at [1] dougbelshaw.com... [2] News

Many thanks to Nick Dennis for making me aware of this. And yes, I’m going to suggest again that he set up his own blog… ;-) I’ve often found it strange that whilst the government is willing to put decisions about interest rises, etc. into the hands of experts, they’re unwilling to do the same with education. Now, with [3] this article in the Guardian, it seems like there’s more than just me crying in the wilderness…

Having a politicized education system is not in the best interests of student learning; it leads to short-termism, posturing and conflation with other issues to do with society. Instead, argues Jim O’Neill (head of global economic research at [4] Goldman Sachs and chairman of [5] Shine, an educational trust) there should be an educational equivalent of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC). A non-partisan education policy committee (EPC) could take a long-term view and ensure continuity without the problems associated with popular politics.

O’Neill argues the remit of the EPC should be:

  1. To measure, monitor and report on all aspects of educational performance.
  2. To raise dramatically the quality and independence of the Department for Children, Schools and Families own research into the needs of our children now and in the future.
  3. To publish policy papers on a regular basis on the scope, objectives and goals of primary, secondary and tertiary education.
  4. For primary education, to make recommendations about the appropriate class size, the subjects taught and the qualifications needed by the teaching staff.
  5. For secondary education, to comment on the structure of the system, including comprehensive and grammar schools, the need for specialist sixth-form colleges, the suitability of the curriculum, the size of classes, the relevant exam system, and appropriate teaching qualifications.
  6. To investigate some aspects of tertiary education, especially on important matters related to the optimal number of students that might aim for university, as well as the breadth and depth of degrees offered.
  7. To hold the government accountable for its educational policy and performance.
  8. To give structured insights into the roles played by teachers and how they could be more effective.
  9. To research and publish on best practice in the private and publicly funded sectors.

(O’Neill makes 12 points altogether in [6] the article - in more detail than I have given here)

It’s scandalous, really, that in 2007 we have a system whereby the education system we compel virtually all young people to enter is subject to the ’slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ - i.e. political expediency. I for one support O’Neill’s suggestion and hope that the idea gains some traction! :D

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Comments Disabled To "Why education should be like the Bank of England"

#1 Comment By Richard Smart On 25th July 2007 @ 21:56

Can't help but agree with you here.  I think it is important that there is political oversight, which a body like the MPC would provide.  Currently 4 members of the MPC are appointed by the chancellor, so it would not be completely devoid of political influence, but it would certainly provide more continuity than the current model.
 Regardless of this it seems to me that problems will remain with education while the science of learning still remains fuzzy.  Until we can agree on how individuals learn then it is impossible for us to present a tenable position to maintain without falling foul of fashion… I have only been in the profession for 8 years, but I have already seen the rise and fall of a number of tests in England and the growth of inclusion in the USA.  It seems to me that while politicization accentuates the following of fashion, it is not its root cause.
 Richard
 PS Bring on Nick Dennis' blog!

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[3] this article in the Guardian: http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2132886,00.html
[4] Goldman Sachs: http://www2.goldmansachs.com/
[5] Shine: http://www.shinetrust.org.uk/site/
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