EdYou winners
The winners in SecEd’s recent research project competition have been unveiled. The first prize – a £2,500 in-school research project – has been won by Denbigh School in Milton Keynes. Second prize, a half-price research project, goes to The Crest Girls’ Academy in Neasden, London. The prize is being offered by research experts at EdYou and will be used to investigate an issue or barrier of the school’s choosing to help in raising the attainment of the hardest to reach students. The winners were selected at random from the correct answers to the competition question (EdYou was formed in 2012). Visit: www.edyou.co.uk
Evidence paper
A paper setting out how teaching can become an evidence-led profession has been published on the Department for Education website. Written by Dr Ben Goldacre, the author of Bad Science, an investigation into the misuse of science by the medical industry, the 19-page document was commissioned by education secretary Michael Gove. It states: “Evidence based practice isn’t about telling teachers what to do: in fact, quite the opposite. This is about empowering teachers, and setting a profession free from governments, ministers and civil servants who are often overly keen on sending out edicts.” Download the paper, Building Evidence into Education, at: http://bit.ly/15h9BlY
Partnership inquiry
The Education Select Committee has announced a new inquiry into school partnerships and co-operation and is calling for evidence. The inquiry by the cross-party committee will consider the differing forms of school partnerships and their advantages and disadvantages. MPs will also consider how highly performing schools can be encouraged to co-operate with others. They will also investigate the “potential tension” between partnership and co-operation, and school choice and competition, and how it can be resolved. The deadline for submissions is May 17. Visit: http://bit.ly/15h9t5W
Sir David Hart
Tributes have been paid to respected educationalist Sir David Hart, who has passed away aged 72. Sir David was the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) from 1978 to 2005. Sir David was known for his belief that a respected profession was best placed to deliver a high quality education for children. Current general secretary Russell Hobby said: “Sir David effectively created the modern NAHT as a professional, effective voice for school leaders. He became the public face of school leadership and raised the standing of the profession.” Sir David passed away in Cumbria after losing his fight against cancer.