EXTENDED SCHOOLS On the eve of a conference entitled Extended Schools and Children Centres, the Path to 2010 at the Barbican Centre in London, Libby Purves finds out what extended services in and around schools actually means for the teaching profession, parents and children and how realistic is the government’s goal for all schools to be offering extended services by 2010. With her to discuss these matters is Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers and Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, a national charity for children who are helping the government to roll out their extended schools programme.
Reporter Sara Parker, visited the after school club of Barnes Cray Primary School in Bexley, which is run by a charity called Schoolfriend.
ADULT LEARNING In the last series we looked at adult learning - who needs it, who should pay, and whether it’s fair of government to concentrate its efforts on the under-25s... David Blunkett said in 1997 that. Lifelong Learning “as well as securing our economic future, helps make ours a civilised society, develops the spiritual side of our lives and promotes active citizenship.'
However, in the last eight years the focus has become ever narrower: on certificates, and on getting basic skills and employability for those who haven’t somehow got these things at school.
So in an occasional series, we thought we would try to meet – and question – those who champion further education for pleasure, and whose lives have been enriched by life-long learning. Libby Purves speaks to Marlene Crilley who left school at 15, but, in the 10 years after retirement, has learnt drama, dancing, Spanish and Art at the Mary Ward Centre - in London.
Listener Feedback about Lawrence House Space and Science Astronomy Centre.
CONCERNED CITIZENS AND FUTURE LEADERS Much of what we deal with on this programme focuses on changing fashions and policies in education … But what of the young people on the receiving end? How different are they from previous generations? What do they expect the world to look like in 25 years? And what are their hopes and fears for the future? Two fascinating studies have been published recently - The Future Leaders Survey 2006-2007 that looks at the hopes, fears and expectation of over 54,000 young people aged 17-21 attending or applying for further education, conducted by UCAS and Forum for the Future. And at the other end of the age spectrum – a survey of primary school children.
Libby Purves discusses the surveys with Cathie Holden, Associate Professor of Education at Exeter University conducted the primary school survey; and Anthony McLaren, Chief Executive of UCAS.
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