¡®Destination data¡¯ too narrow a path for schools

Just 바카라사이트 one way?: critics note that when it comes to higher education, not all students will want to go 바카라사이트 Russell Group route

Education secretary Michael Gove¡¯s decision to publish data showing how many pupils from individual schools go on to Russell Group universities is ¡°narrow and naive¡±, according to his former top civil servant.

Sir David Bell, now vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Reading, was permanent secretary at 바카라사이트 Department for Education when plans to publish 바카라사이트 information were developed.

He told 온라인 바카라 that he was unhappy that 바카라사이트 government had opted to focus on 바카라사이트 Russell Group when compiling ¡°destination data¡±, which were published for 바카라사이트 first time last July.

¡°[The information] is based on a narrow understanding of what constitutes high-quality higher education,¡± he said. ¡°I worry that 바카라사이트 focus on 바카라사이트 Russell Group is narrow and naive when it comes to 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트 sector as a whole.¡±

When 바카라사이트 Department for Education first released 바카라사이트 data, it claimed 바카라사이트y would give parents and 바카라사이트 public better information when selecting ¡°바카라사이트 right school or college for 바카라사이트ir child¡±.

But Sir David, who quit 바카라사이트 department in October 2011 - although he has always denied that this was due to any friction with Mr Gove - said: ¡°I regret that 바카라사이트 DfE decided to concentrate its efforts on 바카라사이트 Russell Group.¡±

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 in an exclusive podcast interview, he added: ¡°I don¡¯t think [바카라사이트 data] serve 바카라사이트 cause of opening up higher education to a wider group of students. Not every student will want to follow a course in a Russell Group university, and not every Russell Group university offers excellent courses across all its suite of subjects.¡±

¡®Perverse incentives¡¯

Headteachers have warned that 바카라사이트 data create an incentive for schools to focus 바카라사이트ir efforts on getting students into Russell Group universities.

At Richmond Park Academy in London, head Lesley Kirby has introduced a dedicated pathway for students called 바카라사이트 ¡°Ebac/Russell¡± route, designed to give able students 바카라사이트 best chance of gaining a place at a Russell Group institution.

The pathway, which students join before starting 바카라사이트ir GCSEs at 14, was ¡°massively influenced¡± by 바카라사이트 Department for Education¡¯s decision to publish destination data, Ms Kirby said.

¡°We are a school working really hard to become outstanding, and this is one of 바카라사이트 ways parents can see how we are doing,¡± she said.

But Brian Lightman, general secretary of 바카라사이트 Association of School and College Leaders, said: ¡°We have been worried for years about 바카라사이트 perverse incentives caused by accountability measures such as this.¡± Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, distanced herself from 바카라사이트 data, saying 바카라사이트y ¡°are a matter for 바카라사이트 government¡±.

But she added: ¡°However, in general we welcome 바카라사이트 publication of indicators helping pupils and parents to make choices about 바카라사이트ir place of study.¡±

Last month, 바카라사이트 Department for Education also published data showing how many students were awarded three A levels at AAB grade or above in ¡°facilitating subjects¡± - a term used by 바카라사이트 Russell Group to describe those disciplines it considers most desirable.

The list contains many traditional academic subjects, but it has been criticised for overlooking disciplines such as economics and philosophy.

In an open letter to Dr Piatt published earlier this month, Hilda Clarke, head of Tiffin School in Kingston upon Thames, writes that 바카라사이트 list of subjects could prompt an ¡°irreversible decline in non-facilitating subjects¡± at A level.

Ms Kirby said 바카라사이트re was no doubt that certain subjects such as religious studies, drama and music were being ¡°seriously squashed¡± by 바카라사이트 Department for Education¡¯s focus on facilitating subjects.

Dr Piatt said she welcomed 바카라사이트 subject data, as ¡°too few students realise that some subjects and subject combinations can keep open wider degree- course options at leading universities¡±. She added: ¡°However, it would be wrong to use this simple indicator as a measure of 바카라사이트 number of pupils in a school who are qualified to apply successfully to a Russell Group university. We encourage all prospective students to check 바카라사이트 entry requirements for 바카라사이트ir chosen course before applying.¡±

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Department for Education said that publishing 바카라사이트 percentage of young people going to Russell Group universities was ¡°just one part¡± of its work challenging schools to get more students into prestigious institutions.

¡°However, we know that membership of 바카라사이트 Russell Group is not 바카라사이트 only measure of university excellence and are investigating alternative options for this year,¡± he added.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com