The quality of school education - the UK experience

Published on Tuesday, 06 December 2011 02:48

On 27/28 October 2011 an international seminar "European research on the quality of school education - the UK experience and lessons for Polish educational institutions" was held in Warsaw. The seminar, organized by IBE, was a part of its "Research and education policy" series. The special guest was Dr Michael Maddison, member of the British Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), Specialist Adviser for History. The seminar gathered 40 participants from leading Polish educational institutions (Centre for Education Development, Center for Citizenship Education, Warsaw Centre for Social and Educational Innovation and Training, Superintendent's Office in Warsaw).

Michael Maddison presented Ofsted organizational structure, its current activities and their social resonance. Based on the report on the quality of historical education in Britain, "History for all", he also discussed Ofsted research methodologies. During his presentation and afterwards, Mr Maddison responded to numerous questions of the participants.

On the second day Michael Maddison took part in a long debate with memebers of IBE History Section. The focus of the debate was British and Polish core curricula, research methodologies used in measuring the quality of history teaching and future/challenges facing this area of ​​education.

Michael Maddison

Conference materials (zip file, 2.2 MB)

• Geography - Learning to make a world of difference
  This report draws from visits to 91 primary and 90 secondary schools (including one special school) in England between 2007 and 2010. It evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of geography in these schools and assesses the challenges faced by the subject today. Geography was flourishing in a minority of the schools visited and was under pressure in the rest. The report describes the value of learning geography and what needs to be done to reverse its decline. It builds on the 2008 Ofsted report, Geography in schools: changing practice.
• Geography Survey Visits
  Generic grade descriptors and supplementary subject-specific guidance for inspectors on making judgements during visits to schools.
• History Survey Visits
  Generic grade descriptors and supplementary subject-specific guidance for inspectors on making judgements during visits to schools
• History for all  (History in English schools 2007/10)
  This report evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of history in primary and secondary schools. It is based principally on evidence from inspections of history between April 2007 and March 2010 in 166 maintained schools in England. Part A focuses on the key inspection findings in the context of rising standards since the previous report in 2007. Part B discusses some of the key issues facing history teachers and describes the essential components of effective learning in history. Both parts of the report give examples of good practice. This report builds on Ofsted’s 2007 report, History in the balance.
• Science Survey Visits
  Generic grade descriptors and supplementary subject-specific guidance for inspectors on making judgements during visits to schools
• School inspections
  A guide for parents and carers
• Successful science
  The report evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of science in primary and secondary schools and colleges inspected between June 2007 and March 2010. There has been an improving trend in the provision of science education over the period of the report, especially in secondary schools, but there are areas that need further improvement, especially in primary schools. In schools that showed clear improvement in science subjects, more practical science lessons and the development of the skills of scientific enquiry were key factors in promoting pupils’ engagement, learning and progress. This report identifies outstanding teaching and describes how to move from satisfactory to good or outstanding practice.
• The evaluation schedule for schools
  The evaluation schedule provides outline guidance and grade descriptors for the judgements that inspectors will report on when inspecting schools under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 from September 2009.
• The framework for school inspection
  The framework for school inspection shows how the general principles and processes are applied to inspections of maintained schools and several other types of school in England. It sets out the statutory basis for inspection and summarises the main features of school inspections carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 from September 2009.