Presentation used with colleagues on the Wirral in late June 2011

1. The E-BaccIntroduction National Update 1

2. Alan ParkinsonSSAT Consultant National Update 2 a.parkinson@gmail.com Twitter: @GeoBlogs

3. IntroductionsWhat is your school story National Update 3

4. The English Baccalaureate Building participation and performance in the Humanities National Curriculum review and the 2010 White Paper The Importance of Teaching

5. Tim OatesChair of Curriculum ReviewAims"embody for all children in England their cultural and scientific inheritance, enhance their understanding of the world around them and introduce them to the best that has been thought and written". National Update 5

6. Busy times for education Pension changes & industrial action International comparisons (PISA) Scrapping of modular GCSEs New OFSTED framework Social media & new technologies Examination system – errors “more accountability measures..” Changes in Initial Teacher Education Free schools and Academies Changes in testing for PGCE entrants National Update 6

7. Differences of opinion... National Update 7

8. The EBacc: the English Baccalaureate for age 16 National Update 8 The rationale: the government believes that students should study a broad(er) range of subjects to age 16 The EBacc is not a new qualification– will recognise achievement in a core of academic subjects in rigorous GCSEs or iGCSEs: English, maths, sciences, a language and a humanities.

9. “not a new qualification...” National Update 9

10. Alison Wolf“Our preoccupation with education as an engine of growth has not only narrowed the way we think about social policy. It has narrowed – dismally and progressively – our vision of education itself.” National Update 10

11. Nick Gibb- concerned about children in schools in disadvantaged areas being dissuaded from doing Ebacc subjects.... National Update 11

12. “we intend to mark students achievements through a certificate…” – will they receive one ?Which English will count?English:GCSE in English, GCSE in English Language GCSE in Double Award in EnglishCambridge i-Cert in 1st language EnglishCIE legacy iGCSE in English- 1st language 12 National Update

13. Which Maths will count? Maths: GCSE in Maths GCSE in Additional Mats Achievement A*-C in one of Applications of Maths or Methods in Maths Cambridge iCert in Maths and CIE legacy iGCSE in Maths 13 National Update

14. Which Sciences will count? A*-C in 2 of biology, chemistry and physics, or 2 CIE iGCSEs in these subjects A*-C in Science or Additional Science GCSE A*-A* -CC in Science GCSE double award National Update 14

15. Which languages will count? GCSEs modern foreign languages including Welsh and Welsh as a second language Latin, Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Cambridge International Cert in French, Greek and Hindi as 2nd language CIE legacy iGCSE in French, Greek and Hindi as a 2nd language National Update

16. Humanities subjects: GCSEs History Ancient history Geography Cambridge International Certificate in History Cambridge International Certificate in Geography CIE legacy iGCSE in history and geography National Update 16

17. Will the definition of the EBacc change in 2011? “We will review the precise definition of the EBacc for the 2011 tables, but would not expect to remove any of the qualifications identified for the 2010 tables...” 17 National Update

18. it is a government initiative to encourage schools in England to promote specific academic subjects to 16 and another tool for measuring performance National Update 18

19. The Importance of TeachingSchools White Paper 2010 a refocus on ‘traditional subject knowledge’ Giving teachers ‘the opportunity to deepen their subject knowledge and renew the passion that brought them into the classroom’. National Update 19

20. OFSTED Christine Gilbert May 2011 SSAT event National Update 20

22. How competently pupils read and write and their progress

23. How competent pupils are in mathematics and their progress

24. How well gaps are narrowing between the performance of different groups

25. Standards attained, including those in reading, writing and mathematics

27. “core knowledge” debate...HirschWhat is the important core knowledge in your subject ? National Update 23

28. Education select committeeEbacc just one “among many more” accountability measures National Update 24

29. Subject Associations Winners and losers ? Support and guidance ? Consultation Evidence to Select Committee Joint GCSE ? National Update 25

30. Awarding bodies... National Update 26

31. The story from your school Anger? Resignation? Challenge? Support / validation ? Challenges/issues Advice/current practice National Update

32. Discussion questions Are you staffed to teach the Ebacc – has that created challenges for you ? 28 National Update

33. Discussion questions How will the EBacc change your options for GCSE students? 29 National Update D&T ? Art ? Drama ? Music?

34. Discussion questions What impact will the EBacc have on your KS3 curriculum? 30 National Update

35. Discussion questions What impact will the EBacc have on other aspects of teaching and learning at your school? 31 National Update