England

Partners situated in England

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England in a nutshell

(mainly sourced from: [http://])

Source: original picture on https://www.

The population of England is 51 million.

The capital city is London - also the capital of the United Kingdom.

For more details on England see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England

Education in England

(mainly sourced from: [2] and [3])

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Source: origial jpg on: [1]

Since it is considerably larger in population than the others combined it is common for observers to equate England with the United Kingdomn. In the realm of education, this is a mistake - one has to analyse the constituent home nations.

Schools in England

(mainly sourced from: [4], [5] and [6])

There are three levels of school education: primary, secondary and tertiary.

Pre-school in England is relatively unregulated, and is not compulsory. The first exposure many children have to learn with others outside of traditional parenting is day care or a local government run playgroup. This type of activity is not generally considered schooling. Pre-school education is separate from primary school.

Pre-schools are usually run by local councils, community groups or private organizations. Pre-school is offered to three- to five-year-olds. The year before a child is due to attend primary school is the main year for pre-school education. This year is far more commonly attended, and usually takes the form of a few hours of activity five days a week.

Most children in England start school during the Academic Year that they are going to be five. Primary school is from year 1 to year 6 (11 years old), with the emphasis on developing English language and literacy skills, numeracy and basic mathematics as well as health and creative activities. There are no formal examination requirements and students progress to secondary education at the completion of primary schooling. National Curriculum assessments are a series of formative assessments, colloquially known as SATs, used to measure the attainment of children attending maintained schools in England. They comprise a mixture of teacher-led and test-based assessment depending on the age of the pupils.

The tests were introduced for 7-year-olds for the academic year ending July 1991, and for 11-year-olds in the academic year ending July 1995. Similar tests were introduced for 14-year-olds for the academic year ending July 1998 but were scrapped at the end of the academic year ending July 2009.

The assessments are completed at the end of each Key Stage and record attainment in terms of National Curriculum attainment levels, numbered between 1 and 8.

Secondary education is from year 7 (11 years old) to year 11 (16 years old). Core subjects are taught for the first two years and a selection of electives are introduced thereafter, culminating in GCSEs. Pupils may leave secondary schools at this time or continue to study for A levels. Students generally need at least 5 A*-C GCSE Grades, including English and Mathematics as a prerequiste to start A-levels.

A-levels are part of the tertiary Further Education process. A-levels can also be studied by students in Years 12 and 13 in a Sixth Form institution, as an optional part of secondary school. This is an integrated part of a Secondary Education institution in many areas of the country, while others have separate Sixth Form Colleges - this is normally done as a direct continuation of the secondary education process and hence most students study for the qualification from ages 16 to 18. The term Sixth Form has been retained as a vestige of the old system and is used as a collective term for years 12 and 13. The first five years of English secondary schooling were previously known as forms. Pupils started their first year of secondary school in the first form or first year, and this was the year in which pupils would normally become 12 years of age. Pupils would move up a form each year before entering the fifth form in the year in which they would have their sixteenth birthday. Those who stayed on at school to study for A-levels moved up into the sixth form, which was divided into the Lower Sixth and the Upper Sixth.

Sixth form education is not compulsory in England and Wales; however, university entrance normally requires at least 3 A-level qualifications, and perhaps one AS-level. Students usually select four subjects from the GCSEs they have just taken, for one "AS" year, the AS exams being taken at the end of lower sixth. Three subjects are then carried into the A2 year (the dropped AS being "cashed in" as a qualification) and further exams are taken at the end of that year. The marks attained in both sets of exams are converted into UCAS points, which must meet the offer made by the student's chosen university.

There are two categories of schools: State Schools and Independent or Private Schools (confusingly known as 'public' schools). Most of the older private institutions predate the availability of general compulsory public education in the 19th century and were "public" in the sense of an "initial public offering": anyone who can afford the tuition and meets the institutional requirements may attend, rather than the normal sense of being public, i.e. state run, institutions.

School is compulsory between the ages of five and sixteen, with, in recent years, over three quarters of students staying on until they are eighteen. State schools educate more than 90% of English pupils, with 7% in independent schools, rising to more than 18% of 16+ pupils.

State schools are free, while independent ‘public’ schools charge fees. Regardless of whether a school is government or independent, they are required to adhere to the same curriculum frameworks. Most school students, be they in state or independent school, usually wear uniforms, although there are varying expectations and some schools do not require uniforms.

Primary education

Nick

Secondary education

Nick

Further and higher education

(mainly sourced from: [7])

Giles

Universities in England

Giles

Further Education & Sixth Form Colleges in England

Giles

Education reform

Schools: Governance & Management

Nick

14-19 and University Technical Colleges

Giles

Administration and finance

(mainly sourced from: [8] and [9])

Schools

Nick

Colleges

Giles

Training Providers

Giles

Quality assurance

(mainly sourced from: [10] and [11])

Schools

Nick

Colleges and Training Providers

Giles

ICT in education initiatives

Virtual initiatives in schools

Nick

Virtual initiatives in colleges and training providers

Both

MoLeNET

The Mobile Learning Network (MoLeNET) initiative funded and supported 104 projects involving approximately 40,000 learners and over 7,000 staff, in the 3 years 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10

MoLeNET was a unique collaborative approach to introducing and supporting mobile learning in education and training via supported shared cost mobile learning projects. The LSN MoLeNET Support and Evaluation programme provided technical and pedagogic advice and support, materials development, continuing professional development, mentoring, facilitation of peer-to-peer support, networking and resource sharing, research and evaluation.

LSN are continuing to provide services which support institutions, organisations and practitioners to introduce and embed mobile learning into their teaching and learning delivery

MoLeNET was the biggest mobile learning programme in the UK and probably the world. Collaboration at national level involved participating institutions and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) sharing the cost of mobile learning projects, with the LSN providing support and evaluation. The programme included technical and pedagogic advice and support, materials development, continuing professional development, mentoring, facilitating peer-to-peer support, networking and resource sharing, research and evaluation. National online support included MoLeTV (www.moletv.org.uk) and MoLeSHARE (http://www.moleshare.org.uk)

MoLeNET used a broad definition of mobile learning: “The exploitation of ubiquitous handheld technologies, together with wireless and mobile phone networks, to facilitate, support, enhance and extend the reach of teaching and learning.” The attraction of mobile learning is that it can take place in any location, at any time, including classroom, workplace, home, community locations and in transit. Mobile devices include mobile phones, smartphones, PDAs, MP3/ MP4 players (e.g. iPODs), handheld gaming devices (e.g. Sony PSP, Nintendo DS), Ultramobile PCs (UMPCs), mini notebooks or netbooks (e.g. Asus EEE), handheld GPS, video cameras, voting devices, etc. Mobile learning also involves connectivity via wireless networks, mobile phone networks and linking to institutional systems.

The first phase of MoLeNET began in 2007. The second phase included 30 new projects. The programme completed its third and final phase last year. http://www.molenet.org.uk/

The Sheffield College MoLeNET project

The Sheffield College joined the MoLeNET programme in Phase 2, a £300,000 bid targeting Sheffield City College, using the acronym ‘MATTS’ (M-learning – A Tool for Transformation in Sheffield). The partnership bid led by the college for MoLeNET3 was awarded £237,500 as part of the national £2.5m MoLeNET3 allocation in 2009/10. Phase 3 targeted the college centres at Hillsborough and Norton. Partners were the Sheffield Diploma Consortium and six local secondary schools: All Saints School, Chaucer Business and Enterprise College, The City School, Myers Grove School, Stocksbridge High School and Wisewood Sports and Community College. The Project Manager was Dave Pickersgill, reporting to a steering group and a project implementation group, consisting of college and school managers, critical friends and consultancy from Sero Consulting Ltd.

Throughout the MATTS project there were various face-to-face events which enabled staff to meet and talk about what they are doing. However, because of the demands on staff time it was appreciated that not everyone was able to attend all the events. For this reason a well-used Moodle was set up to support a MoLeNET Community of Practice. http://vle.sheffcol.ac.uk/moodle/course/view.php?id=854

In a related initiative, Sheffield College was one of eight colleges receiving £40,000 capital funding to set up a MoLeNET Academy. The Academy was a centre of excellence for mobile learning CPD and helped to support three micro projects at Franklin College (Grimsby), Hartlepool College and John Leggott College (Scunthorpe).

Case Studies of micro projects:

Case Study 1: Using Qwizdom voting devices with Carpentry and Joinery students. Aims: to further engage level 2 Carpentry and Joinery students.

Addressing the challenge: • Learners took part in quizzes to check if learning had taken place by using the hand held voting devices to submit answers to prepared questions. The responses were recorded and their progress fed back to them in the form of a game (racing cars). This created healthy competition as well as requiring the students to meet their learning objectives. • Each learner’s progress was monitored against learning objectives set by the teacher and the results tracked in the game. • Students enjoyed using Qwizdom.

Impact on teaching and learning: • Students using Qwizdom got better results • Students were more engaged with their learning when Qwizdom was being used. • Students were more active and contributed more towards the lesson. • The tutor facilitated the lesson but the session soon became more student-led.

Learner’s reaction: • One student suggested that they could create the content for future Qwizdom sessions. • Students are requesting the use of Qwizdom for future lessons

John: “Qwizdom has helped me to remember important bits of information.”

Sam: “I enjoyed using Qwizdom because it makes learning fun.”

Teacher’s reaction: (referring to an Ofsted observation during the March 2010 inspection of the Sheffield College)

"The inspector fed back to colleagues and other departments that if they would like to see active learning taking place they should go and see one of my lessons as the inspector was impressed at how the students were involved in the session. This has increased competition within the group to achieve, in a fun and productive way. I have been assessing my learners with this resource and I love it and so do my learners. One particular group recently took their Gola on line end exam where they achieved 5 distinctions, 5 merits and 1 pass out of 11 learners. This was their first attempt at the test and these are results that I am extremely proud of." Michael Cook, Carpentry and Joinery, Sheffield City College.

Lessons learned: • Setting up initial power point presentations to use with Qwizdom can be time-consuming. Better to add to an existing power point presentation. • Develop uses as a team of teachers rather than alone!

Next steps: • Develop more lessons with Qwizdom software. • Use reports created in Qwizdom to track student’s progress.

Links: http://goo.gl/TCSNu Qwizdom Education: http://education.qwizdom.co.uk/index.php

Case Study 2: Using iPod Nanos at All Saints Catholic High School Sheffield

Overview Year 7, top set: As part of two schemes of work, 'Debating and Presentation' and 'The Merchant of Venice', students used the voice memo function on iPod Nanos to record themselves practising presentations, speeches and audio guides. They worked with a learning partner to listen back to this work, identifying strengths and setting targets. The targets were then reflected upon and discussed before students created final, 'neat' copies of the speeches. This work could then be marked in the teacher's own time, maximising the drafting time available in lessons for students. The devices were also taken on a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon for students to record details, which they developed and expanded back in class.

Impact on teaching and learning • Improved speaking and listening grades by an average of one sub-level per student; • Increased understanding of students' own speaking habits and strengths. Planning lessons with the iPod Nanos gave students time to work on their speeches and as they were able to listen back to them, they were keen to create a 'perfect' recording. Students took ownership of their own work and understood speaking and listening grades more clearly. Crucially, they were much more engaged in speaking and listening work using the Ipod Nanos than with previous tasks, where they wanted to "just get up and do it"; using the iPod Nanos helped them understand the importance of drafting and practising. Significantly, students could identify the improvements they had made between the first and final recordings.

Next steps Continue using with top set year seven next year and trial a similar project with another class for their speaking and listening assessments to encourage similar engagement, independence and pride in their work. Ten of the current group help run a lunchtime news group; the iPod Nanos can be used in a similar way to improve their news broadcasts.

Case Study 3: Using PSPs in a Mencap competition A group of LLD learners who attend Norton College wished to enter the ‘MENCAP Snap! 2010 photo and film competition.’ The 2010 theme was, ‘to tell us what you like doing to be active.’ The ‘School Sports Partnership – SEN Athletics MLD 2010’ event at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield was a good venue for image-gathering as the learners would be entering many of the events. Some twenty schools and colleges from across the region took part in this day (18th May 2010). Student Adam Cowlishaw was subsequently one of the 100 winners in the photography competition: http://goo.gl/RenRs Aims: (i) a structured opportunity to use the camera function of the Sony PSP (ii) the opportunity to enter a national competition and (iii) opportunities to increase their self-awareness and esteem.

Addressing the challenge: PSP devices (with GoCameras) were first introduced in the classroom. On event day, learners were encouraged to record events, using both still and video digital imaging. After the event, images were studied and appropriate entries made to the Mencap competition Outcomes and reactions: Learners quickly became adept at using the PSP GoCamera function Learners enjoyed seeing results immediately and were able to act on results Speech and language improved significantly Impact on teaching and learning: The PSPs have made a great impact on teaching and learning within the department. The students were quick to respond to requests when using the equipment and they enjoyed inventing new ways of using them to learn. They helped spark new ideas and students have gained in confidence and self-esteem. eg using eye contact when talking to someone. Memory recall has also improved.

Learners’ reaction: Learners can connect with this technology immediately; whatever their learning difficulty they need very little demonstrating on how to use it. The technology has been key to opening doors which were previously locked with some students. They may not have the ability to write a diary of events but they can record it! It brings their ideas to life and they respond with great enthusiasm. This in turn encourages speech and language therapy. "I like using the PSP in lessons because I don’t like writing, my writing and spelling isn’t very good. I don’t feel embarrassed using the PSP and I like being able to see my pictures so I can see how good they are." (Chris Wells, age 18) "It’s magic I like using the PSP for taking pictures and videos better than playing games on it. My memory isn’t very good and when I look back at my videos I remember things better." (Danielle Barson, age 17)

Teacher’s reaction: Some teachers some were worried they wouldn’t be able to demonstrate the PSP and help the students use the device effectively enough to get the desired results. They soon realised the students needed very little tuition on how to use the device. The students enjoyed teaching the teachers! Staff then enjoyed encouraging the students to be more creative with their ideas. "I wasn’t surprised at the increase in learner engagement: even though our students have learning difficulties they grasp new ideas quickly. What did surprise me was the knock on effect of using the PSP’s video function. Students responded to questions on video more readily than in Q & A sessions in the classroom. It sparked positive reaction and students who are normally very quiet and unresponsive to many activities ‘woke up’ and took notice. These were the students who produced the best video and picture results." (Jeanette Bell, Lecturer Additional Support)

Managers’ reactions: "A programme of staff training is planned around the use of the new technology being offered to Additional Support. The team is keen to explore ways in which the new technology can be used to enhance our curriculum area. I am excited at the prospect of staff using other technologies which may become available. It’s about time we used resources which allow our students and teachers to be more creative. The results have been very encouraging so far." (Paul Blakeney, Additional Support Manager) What Worked The PSP created opportunities for an expanded learning environment, from classroom to offsite learning to home. It instantly engaged learners who would normally take a long time to grasp new concepts. Instant assessment made a huge difference: improvements and alterations could be made there and then thus allowing the student to feel less frustrated.

Next steps: Wi-fi access is planned for parts of the Norton building which will allow increased use of other PSP functions Student-led sessions will extend the boundaries of using mobile technology in offsite sessions. Links: http://goo.gl/E9y12 English Institute of Sports Sheffield: http://www.eis-sheffield.co.uk/ Mencap Snap! 2010: http://www.mencap.org.uk/page.asp?id=3704

Case Study 4: PSPs at City School English and Media class, Y9 Using PSPs to identify the key aspects of film trailers, explore camera angles and analyse film for purpose. Also to increase student engagement, increase independence in learning and to personalise learning. Each student had their own PSP, working independently, identifying key features of a documentary film trailer. Each student had their own task to do. The PSPs helped the teacher to avoid having to play the same video over and over again to the whole class on the whiteboard. Each student could watch the film as many times as they needed to. T: “We’re probably getting twice as much work done…The PSP has saved our lives.” Students concentrated very effectively on the task. Mobile devices provide variety, an alternative mode of delivery and a solution to the difficulty of differentiated learning in a class. Resources used: PSPs, headphones, trailer video which each student can pause when they need to, rewind, etc. The task was to answer specific questions analysing the trailer, such as: ‘Speed – does the film speed up or slow down?’ ‘Use of Captions’ ‘Describe the music and any changes you hear’; ‘The last image you see’; ‘use of voice over – what is said.’ ‘How many scene changes can you count?’ Sound effects – can you identify any sounds?’ The teacher (Martin Greenhough, Faculty Head – Communications) used the PSP to develop independent work. The device enables differentiation in how students respond to task, from level 4 to level 7. Each student can work at their particular level, rather than having to fit in with the pace or depth of rest of class. Link: http://goo.gl/2w7Jr

Case Study 5: Using Mobile Technology in a Learning Resource Centre

Aims: The Learning Resource Centres at both Hillsborough and Norton Colleges wished to increase use of the LRC by (i) attracting hard-to-reach learners and (ii) enhancing the service available to learners.

Addressing the challenge: A wide variety of devices were introduced: • A lunchtime Nintendo ‘games club’ • Graphics tablets loaned to students • Dell mini-9 notebook pcs used to supplement desktop devices • IiPods loaned out to students for exam revision • E-readers

Learning Assistant Melinda Green believes; "students are already really enjoying using these devices, so we're excited about trying out some other ideas to ensure we're utilising them as effectively as possible. After that, our next challenge is to develop a QR-code treasure hunt ready for Induction in September."

Next steps: • A wider selection of Nintendo games will be obtained using other funding sources • Learners will be encouraged to suggest suitable games. • Wi-fi access is planned for the LRC at Norton from September 2010 (other centres already have this) Link: http://goo.gl/YA6zX

Findings of Sheffield College project

The Sheffield MoLeNET Camel process used a radically different approach to traditional CPD: buy the kit first, distribute it to teachers willing to experiment with it, then share successes and failures with other staff (combined with a buffet to encourage informal networking and guest speakers to give further ideas on how the kit might be used).

A perennial problem for staff development is: which comes first – the kit or the training?

It is easy for institutions to waste money on staff training where teachers are introduced to innovative practices which turn out to be impossible to implement in classrooms because they lack the necessary equipment. This waste of money is, however, invisible, so the practice tends to continue without a proper examination of its effectiveness. Any waste of money is much more visible using the MoLeNET model, if kit is bought but then not used. But precisely because it is so visible, there is a much stronger incentive to do something with it and kick-start the process of staff development.

‘Show and tell’ events to share experiences were successful because staff felt completely free to be open and honest about shortcomings as well as triumphs. This too is unusual in most project reviews, where implementers feel an obligation to highlight successes and minimise or brush under the carpet any failures. This openness in turn encouraged other teachers to have a go, feeling less in awe of ‘experts’ or innovators who might decry their faltering steps or limited ambitions. The model also neutralised the common conservative response that an innovation might work in the trainer’s subject area, but ‘couldn’t work in my class.’ Nobody is told, ‘This is what you should try and do’. At most the advice is: ‘This is one way you might try, but you will probably find a better way yourself.’

This devolution of the source of innovation from trainer to teacher can also be carried further, when students come up with their own ideas of how to use new devices which the teacher had not thought of. Such a collaborative approach to innovation seems much more likely to win hearts and minds than any new approach imposed by managers.

The project has proved the learning value of mobile devices. Both teachers and learners have embraced the potential of the technology with great enthusiasm. This potential would have remained hidden without the injection of funds and impetus provided by the project. However it is doubtful that the college can afford to provide new devices for students on the same scale year on year. Fortunately, this scale of provision is not necessary, since students own a large number of mobile devices themselves – devices that they would prefer to use, since they’re familiar with their operation. The project has proved cost-effective in having a significant impact on the culture of the college, encouraging institutional acceptance that mobile learning can and will be highly effective and that the network therefore needs to be accessible by wi-fi to both college and learner-owned devices. It is hoped that this culture change will help the college to make the most of the potential offered by mobile technologies and maintain its reputation for innovation in learning technology.

References

Both

• [12]
• [13]
• [http://www.pisa.oecd.org/pages/

Relevant websites

Both

• European Commission
• [14]
• [15]
• [16]
• [17]
• [18]
• [19]
• [20]
• [21]
• [22]
• [23]