Downe House Academic Conference – June 2023
We were delighted to attend the Downe House Academic Conference a few weeks ago.
The two key speakers were Nick Gibb, Schools Minister and Katherine Birbalsingh, Founder of Michaela Community School. We hosted a breakout session with Mariella Ardron, Headteacher at Chelsea Academy about developing pupil leadership through effective character education in schools.
We share some of the key learnings of the day below:
Nick Gibb, Schools Minister
Gibb criticised the 2007 curriculum for promoting generic competencies over subject knowledge. He argued that the emphasis on "look and say" reading methods left many students struggling to read. Gibb also highlighted the fatalistic sense of low expectations in lower-income families. He believed that raising the standards of teaching and content was essential, which led to the development of initiatives like the Early Career Framework programme.
Gibb acknowledged the influence of Andrew Adonis, who played a vital role in bringing about educational changes. For example, English and Maths were included as part of the English Baccalaureate (EBAC). Prior to the reforms introduced by Michael Gove, Gibb felt that the curriculum was too broad, leading to a high rate of student absenteeism. He emphasised the importance of core subjects like English, maths, and sciences.
Gibb mentioned initiatives such as the Phonics Screening Test in 2012, which aimed to identify children who struggled with reading. He also highlighted the improvement in science education and the target of 90% proficiency in foreign languages by 2027.
Gibb acknowledged the persistent disadvantage gap in education, which was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, he remained committed to the goal of achieving 90% reading standards by 2030. He mentioned that the proportion of schools rated as good or outstanding had increased from 68% to 88% by 2023. He praised schools like King Solomon and Michaela for setting high standards and serving as models for others, including the Mercia School.
As for updates, Gibb mentioned the government's efforts to support educational recovery during the pandemic.
£5 billion of funding and initiatives like the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) with £1.5 billion allocated for tutoring courses.
Endowment of the Educational Endowment Fund with £150 million of government funding.
England has climbed to 4th place in reading internationally, attributing it to a focus on phonics and moving away from the "reading wars" of 2007.
Gibb addressed concerns about unhappiness among UK children, attributing it partly to the impact of modern technology.
Katherine Birbalsingh, founder of Michaela Community School
Michaela is known for its consistent teaching approach across schools, with all classrooms designed to minimise distractions. Birbalsingh emphasised the importance of teachers in improving student outcomes, stating that without their efforts, students would perform worse. She also emphasised the value of memorising poetry, engaging in practice, and drills, as they contribute to academic success and do not hinder creativity. Birbalsingh argued against trendy schools that prioritise technology, like iPads and computers, over knowledge.
Birbalsingh criticised private schools for their emphasis on personalised, progressive learning styles. She reflected that parents often choose private schools based on superficial factors like facilities and grounds, rather than the quality of teaching. She argued that private schools do not need to teach well because the parents make up the difference.
Birbalsingh expressed her disillusionment with the initial slogan of Michaela, which compared the school to private schools without the fees. She also expressed her concerns about smartphones and iPads for kids, considering them potentially harmful.
Call to Action
In her call to action, Birbalsingh urged state schools to dare to copy what successful state schools like Michaela are doing. She defended traditional teaching methods and values, urging educators to resist the pressure to modernise. Birbalsingh emphasised the responsibility of the private sector to set the tone for the public sector and encouraged them to take their role seriously. She stressed the importance of consistency in raising expectations, setting high demands, and embedding a culture of behavior. Her suggestions included getting rid of phones in meetings.
On Character Education
Both Nick Gibb and Katherine Birbalsingh acknowledged the importance of character in education but emphasised different aspects. Birbalsingh believed that creativity is not character, while leadership and responsibility are. They agreed that character education requires consistency in values and implementation and should permeate through everything educators do.