Comments on: Consultants agree to ‘work for free’ on key council schools project

By: Jim Chee

Jim Chee — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:17:09 +0000

And if you want to be even more depressed, think about how over-represented care-leavers are in the NEET figures – and in fact in every measure of deprivation. one of the measures that Ofsted will be looking at when they return is the futures of care-leavers. Perhaps if elected members question the data given to them by Council Officers with a tiny bit of scepticism they would realise that in relation to education, training, employment and housing for care-leavers they are being consistently misled.

By: Susan Silverman

Susan Silverman — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:50:35 +0000

This highlights to me that the hype and profile around the Baccalaureate (which the concept of has not been entirely successful nationally) is all for the self-aggrandisement for the politicians and the Company involved.

The disaffected children and young people we see in the City, will continue to have grim future prospects …. unlike the consultants!

Why do our children not deserve a high quality, evidence based curriculum and qualifications rather than acting as a pilot project to launch a product for this Company?

By: Harris_Lamb

Harris_Lamb — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:10:35 +0000

Baccalaureate consultants working for free on Birmingham scools project: The Chamberlain Files http://t.co/rD7520lcae

By: david

david — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:32:54 +0000

Jim,

I was at a public event this week, Digital B’ham, where one session included a short Skills for B’ham presentation and in the Q&A the involvement of those who had left school was raised. It appears that the proposal does not make provision for them. Indeed one anonymous councillor present was scathing about the question being raised – which suggested to me the 13% you cite are excluded full stop.

By: Jim Chee

Jim Chee — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:53:18 +0000

Here’s another problem. Around 13% of all the NEETs in the city are young people who, when at school, had Statements of SEN. These will be mostly ex-pupils of mainstream schools who had no post-16 school options and are supposed to be monitored and supported by Connexions. The proportion of the school population in Birmingahm with Statements is around 3% so unemployment hits this group four times harder than their peers
How will this Baccalaureate help these young people who have already not succeeded in schools?

By: Susan Silverman

Susan Silverman — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:21:03 +0000

This appears to be a Pilot Project running as a Marketing ploy for the Company involved. They get a free trial run of a product that is being developed at the expense of children and young people of the City.

Will there be an opportunity for children to opt out and take GCSEs instead in these schools?

By: Gerry

Gerry — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:43:55 +0000

With potential for all the schools in Birmingham to end up as academies, what incentive is there for them to risk putting children in the direction of a baccalaureate that is, some how Birmingham orientated?

It could take years for industry and business to feel comfortable that this proposed baccalaureate is a measure of some educational standard that they require from their future workforce.

If I were a student, would I want to work for a qualification that might not have any validity in the near future?

As for plain English, giving a qualification the name of Birmingham Baccalaureate is horrible and messy.

I am not sure that we should allow local politicians to dictate educational qualifications and what should be taught as part of that qualification.

I am not sure that getting something designed free, without being able to necessarily input into the end product, is a good thing.

The education of our future generations is too precious a thing to leave to those that are not necessarily educationalists.

I feel that the motivation behind this qualification is for individuals to attempt to leave their own mark and legacy, for good or bad, on the youth of this city.

By: david

david — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:32:02 +0000

Who is paying for the costs of a launch event then @ McGregors Suite, Villa Park on the 9th May 2013 then? Details on: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/6043346813

Is it ironic that the lady heading the provider is an active Conservative Party member?.

By: paulmdale

paulmdale — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:59:28 +0000

The Chamberlain Files http://t.co/bdEVEPEVHh via @The Chamberlain Files