50 Things – Bishop Henderson
11/01/2019
Activity Passport for Parents
13/01/2019
Red Tape
The title of this post was part of the headline in a recent TES article by Michael Tidd. I guess the sub editor wanted to grab the reader’s attention.
Read the whole article here. What’s YOUR view? Let us know at the bottom of this page.
The start of the actual article began as follows:
How does the DfE manage to take something joyful like climbing a tree and turn it into red tape, asks Michael Tidd in the TES.
What a lovely treat it was to have the education secretary’s latest brainwave shared with us between Christmas and the new year. Just as we were all feeling guilty for scoffing yet another turkey sandwich along with the last of the mince pies while watching Christmas TV, the Department for Education reminded us that we all ought to be getting more active and broadening our horizons. It launched the activity passport.
In many ways, as teachers, we ought to have been pleased to see the department talking about something other than exam results, and yet somehow it manages to get things so wrong. For a start, yet again publishing things in the holidays – clearly showing that the announcement was far more about positive press attention that about anything for schools’ benefits.
Then there’s the fact that it’s just other people’s work dressed up with a DfE logo. I suppose, at least, a school got some credit, although it’s noticeable that no mention of it is made on the finished product.
Read more here Follow Michael on Twitter at @MichaelT1979
What do you think? Is this a blunder by Damian Hinds?
Is this a sign that the DfE is changing direction, or is it just more of the same from the DfE?
