Judged and found wanting
Source: http://www.tes.co.uk/2397824
This article discusses Blair's success and failure regarding the education system in the last ten years. Now, I assume I know a lot more about education than a large number of 17-year-olds, but I definately don't know about the last ten years, so I have decided to comment on the issues that have been raised in this article that I have experienced. One thing Blair did right was the funding he provided for the FE institutions. I attend City & Islington college in Islington, at a campus which is only two years old. We have great technology and a great-looking building with a touch-in-touch-out ID card barrier to enter and exit from the building. Although cosmetic changes cannot fix all the problems regarding further education, it is definately an advantage.

The article also highlights the introduction of the Education Maintenance Allowance, which is provided to poorer students. This in my case, I have to say, is a godsend. When you're a student who is living independently, have no financial support and choose to study creative A-levels, things are, no doubt, tough. But EMA has helped me pay for all my Fine Art paints and canvases, my English Literature books and my Photography exhibitions and printing fees! A definite advantage. The article goes on to talk about Blair's failure's but I say, you win some you lose some. What we do now, is demand success from Mr Brown!
 
Record numbers of pupils staying on in education
Source: http://education.guardian.co.uk/1419education/
Recent figures show that up to 90% of young people aged 16 and over are staying in some form of education ? I never would of guessed it! The number of 16 to 17-year-olds who choose not to stay in any form of education, including practical courses and training courses, has dropped by 0.03%. Though it might be a mere 0.03%, it is a huge piece of news for the educational world. There are many ongoing difficulties that leave young people refusing and rejecting education, so statistics of an improvement to this problem is shocking for me, as I am contiously reading about the problems concerning post-16 education. If such an improvement has been made, and with the new law coming in to keep young people in education untill 18, along with the new diplomas also being introduced, I think that we finally might be on the right track. This piece of information provides hope for the new changes in education, as the statistics show students choosing full-time education and a rise in training courses. Let's hope the new diplomas are successful in catering for the students who feel academic study is not for them.
 
Surprise: Ofsted calling
Source: http://www.tes.co.uk/2397337
The new inspections are shorter in length but more frequent. They are new "short notice" inspections designed to include school participation, but instead of becoming a joy for schools, or becoming an improvement, they seemed to have brought a new tidal wave of anxiety for staff in schools. Apparently headteachers have started resorting to extremes to cope with the surprise visits. In one case a teacher pulled their star pupils back from a residential trip and in another case a teacher has rearranged her mother's funeral.

A perfect opportunity to talk about my exciting work with the Edge Learner Forum and our new project called "Edge Instead". Our inspection programme is entirely for the good of the school and we come with zero stress. Our reports remain confidential and we vitally believe in helping the school to target areas for development. For the happiness of teachers we only provide teaching analysis on grouped teaching techniques, so we do not just target one teacher and feedback will be constructive. Students should be happy, as our method is to go into a school and help them to help themselves. This means we will train a few students so they will be able to join us in inspecting their own school. We plan to pilot our idea during the next scholastic term. Watch out Ofsted, Edge Instead are coming!