While I’m no big fan of the new ‘Academies’, at least they provide a lucky few with the chance to access high standards of technical and vocational education in areas of the country where more traditional academically-focused schools have cleary failed to meet local needs and aspirations. But, no, it seems these institutions too must be judged on their academic performance…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8408787.stm
“Improved life chances are however much less likely to be realised if the piece of paper academy students walk away with shows not a handful of academic subjects, but single qualifications with high values in the league tables yet low value in life.
The report said there probably were “exemplary academies with excellent curricula” but there were also those that “dazzle in the league tables” at the expense of a solid academic education.”
For ‘solid’, read ‘often stodgy and indigestible…’?
