1 November 2007
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, answered your questions for over an hour in a live webchat.
Questions included the proposals for Diplomas to replace A levels, funding primary schools, excellence in education, extended schools and literacy.
Read the full transcript
Moderator says: Good afternoon and welcome to today’s webchat with Ed Balls. He’s just arrived so we should be starting in a few minutes.
Ed says: Hi. This is Ed Balls. I’m the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. And I’m sitting in the Web control room here on the 1st Floor of the Cabinet Office in Whitehall - and I am ready to answer your questions, or at least as many as I can in the next hour…
David Hall-Bowie: I think the new diplomas are a great idea. They’ll really come to life if lots of businesses get involved because they’ll show students the relevance of what they’re learning in the classroom. What’s the best way to connect more businesses - especially small businesses - with schools?
Ed replies: I’ve been looking at our new Diplomas very closely over the last few months, David, and I think you are right -they have a really good balance of theory and practical skills. The reason is that employers have been very closely involved in drawing them up - and when I met a group of big employers in the IT industry they told me that doing a Diploma will really give young people a head start for a career in computers and business. I think these Diplomas are the best chance we have ever had to really get businesses and schools working together.
Jaime Snell-Mendoza: I am very disappointed about the introduction of diplomas which sound like a mix of vocational and academic education. Are they, and if so why dilute the impact of academic A-levels with vocational courses?
Ed replies: Jaime - Diplomas are not going to dilute A Levels, they will be introduced alongside A Levels over the next six years. The question will be whether employers and universities encourage young people schools and parents to opt for diplomas. Interestingly, they admissions tutor at Cambridge University said last week that in his opinion the maths for engineering component of the new engineering diploma will be a better preparation for doing engineering at Cambridge than maths A Level. And many employers are saying they want a mix of vocational and academic education, including the basics, for all young people they employ, including those who go to university. But with these diplomas the proof of the pudding will be in the eating when they start next September.
Cathy Porter: As a teacher involved in curriculum planning I would be genuinely grateful if you could provide some advice on how we can introduce new diplomas and yet still maintain curriculum time (and results) in KS4 for core subjects and other option choices? Many thanks.
Ed replies: The new diplomas for 14-16 year olds include space for core subjects which should leave curriculum time for sport, music or other choices. If you want to email me with more detail of your concerns, I will get back to you - email me at: dcsf.ministers@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
nikmiller: Will there be a move to include A-levels and GCSE as components of the new diplomas, so that we can fnally stop polarising the two qualifications and allow students to benefit from the benefits of both? 1,596 schools in 124 countries offer the IB.
Ed replies: Yes, this will be possible - but as you know we are also now working up stand alone Diplomas in Science, Humanities and Modern Languages.
stuart: can you explain how the funding for local primary schools and how much each school gets per pupil?
Ed replies: Well Stuart, it is based on a formula which takes into account things like the location of the school cost pressures, deprivation and things like that. But we also ensure a mimimum per people uplift for each area called the minimum funding guarantee.
Arthur Parker: How do I measure the value for money in my school?
Ed replies: One way is to look at the school’s exam results - but paying special attention to the value added scores which show how much progress pupils are making.
Tim Coates: Dear Secretary of State,
How vital do you think it is that children receive adequate financial education across their school years? And how would this be provided?
Ed replies: Really important - we need all young people to learn about things like mortgages, pensions and savings. I think the Child Trust Fund, which every 5 year old in school now has, will over the next decade be a really powerful way for teachers to talk to young people about money matters in a way which will make sense to them.
Helen Thompson: I note that you recently visited my Daughters school. Is Newlands Primary to be rebuilt or are we to see more Portakabins to arrive. For the first time since joining the school 3 years ago Katharine is in one of these temporary classrooms and her uniform is damp and to be laundered every day.
Ed replies: Helen, I really enjoyed my visit - it is a really impressive and friendly school. And I agree that the Portakabins are well past their sell by date. It is for Leeds City Council to decide the priority for new capital investment in local schools, and not for me, but Newlands must be high up on the list. I hope Katharine is doing well - does she enjoy the school lunches? They looked good to me!
Lawrence DeSouza: Hi, my name is Lawrence DeSouza and I am Deputy Head Boy and Leader of the School Council at Salvatorian College. We believe pupil voice in our school is a vital component of our success therefore do you think school councils should be provided with sufficient budgets to operate effectively and successfully?
Ed replies: You are right, Lawrence, and the best schools involve pupils in everything from their anti-bullying policy to their school menus. I think every school should be encouraging and supporting school councils.
Steve Parker: Dear Ed,
What’s the Government going to do to persuade disengaged young people to stay in and strive to achieve in education? Why is it only now that people are starting to talk about why cultural factors like high aspirations and expectations while there’s been so much focus on educational structures over the last decade?
Thanks,
Steve
Ed replies: I think you are right Steve. To get to a world class education system we have to get rid of the view that excellence and achievement can only be for some - and that means raising the aspirations of every young person in every school. It is a big culture change but it’s got to be done.
Jill Stevens: With a recognised shortage of highly qualified science and technology professionals in the UK, how does the government intend to inspire children to pursue an interest in such subjects and achieve excellence in them? And, how will efforts in these areas be balanced with the requirement to encourage young people into trades such as plumbing and building?
Ed replies: The number of young people taking at least one science GCSE has gone up from 87% ten years ago to 92% today. But we need to do more including getting more 16 to 18 year olds studying science. I think you need to have a basic grasp of science whether you want to be a doctor, a teacher or a plumber.
Glynis Lee: Does the secretary of State for Children, Schhols and Families realise that children spend only 6 months of the year in schools, and during the other 6 months (holidays, weekends, after school) there is hardly any free Play provision left within the capital where children can play safely, and under supervison?
Ed replies: Glynis, children actually only spend 14% of their time in school - so you are right, having places to play and for young people to go out of school hours is really important. I hope we can do more to improve play provision - and it needs to be safe and available for all children.
Wendy Fisher: How does the Secretary of State think that childcare providers in the private and voluntary sectors can support the roll out of Children’s Centres and the Government’s longer term child poverty abolition plans?
Ed replies: In my constituency in Yorkshire, child care providers in the private and voluntary sectors are playing a big role in providing extended schools, helping run Children’s Centres as well as supporting local families. They are high quality and do a great job.
Eileen at Accipio: Just for your information - we are application sharing this webchat in one our classrooms - we have 20 Year 11 students watching the contributions… LIVE
Ed replies: Hi Eileen and year 11! What is your school called? Is your teacher good at working with new techologies?
C King: Is the Minister a governor himself?
Ed replies: No, at our children’s school I am just an ordinary parent.
Ian Henty: Hello,
Do you believe that parental involvement within the home environment aids reading delevlopment in children?
If so, how?
regards,
I Henty.
Ed replies: Definitely. I spent a year in our local primary school reading with year 4 pupils for an hour every Monday morning. And there is no doubt that those children whose parents or brothers and sisters were reading with them after school made faster progress. It only needs 10 minutes a day - between brushing teeth and turning out the bedside light. Next year is the National Year of Reading (new window) and we are working with schools, libraries and TV companies to get more parents reading regularly.
John Mellor: Given that the ability to read, and the enthusiasm for books and reading, are so vital to learning, culture and economic prosperity, will you with responsibilities for Families, be encouraging local authorities to invest more in public libraries, particularly during 2008 The National Year of Reading?
Ed replies: I love libraries- and they have changed so much since the days when you had to be quiet. In my constituency our local libraries are at the hub of the local community and I do hope all local authorities are backing their libraries.
Andrew Wilson: Hello Ed
My two sons attend a special school in Bradford.In the last 3 years our Education Authority has decided to reduce the number of Special schools and although we are told that there will be enough places in the schools that replace them. How does this ensure that there will be enough in the future.
Andrew Wilson
Ed replies: I want you to be able to make the right choice for your sons. Planning provision of special schools is the responsibility of local government. It is their job to make sure that all parents can make the right choice for their children.
Rob: The Max Rayne School in Jerusalem, where Jewish and Arab Israelis are educated alongside each other, has recently featured in the British media.
Educating children from different backgrounds alongside each other in the same classes is an essential part of building a civil society.
How do you defend the UK government’s rejection of this approach? I am thinking specifically of the stance regarding ‘faith’ schools.
Ed replies: All schools now have to actively promote community cohesion, including faith schools, which at secondary level tend on average to be more diverse than the average school.
Helen Eustace: Hello, could you please tell me what the current government policy is regarding whether children in primary schools should be taught in mixed or similar ability groups? Thank you.
Ed replies: Helen, it is really a matter for primary school heads to judge. In primary schools it is really important that the brightest children are stretched and those at risk of falling behind get extra help. But whether this is done in separate classes or in a mixed ability class will depend on the individual circumstances of the school.
alison reynalds: why are local schools closing when education is important and the children will end up in larger classes eg in one school there would be 4 different classes in year 4.why close schools which are doing great but only looking at closing due to numbers and money?
Ed replies: Local authorities have to plan on the basis of what is really happening to the number of children in their area. But surely we should be supporting the best schools to get bigger not smaller?
Jesus Jiminez: Dear Mr Balls, Building Schools for the Future is helping to transform my son’s school. I dont know where you have found the money from but thank you so much. If I have one issue it is whether there is enough consultation with the teachers and pupils about what they want. Is this something you are looking at because I think the youngsters themselves can be a wonderful resource to make this programme the best possible success. I hope you can take a little constructive criticism and feedback.
Ed replies: I am looking at this, because consulting young people should always be a big part of planning to build a big school.
Ivan Corea: Parents and carers of children with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome have been speaking out over the suffering they have to face as a result of the difficulty in accessing public services. They are calling for you to support a national strategy on autism and a 10 year plan of action. Children with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome deserve a world class education too.How will you support them?
Ed replies: I visited TreeHouse school in North London (new window) which specialises in support for children with autism. I know how important special support is for parents. I will make sure I have a meeting with my experts to see what more we can do.
laura wiffen: my name is laura wiffen and i am doing a GCSE in health and social care, for my coursework i have to write about your job so just wondering, what do you do? what does your job involve??
Ed replies: Email me some detailed questions, Laura, and I will send you a longer reply. But in my job I do many things from speaking at the House of Commons, working out the national schools budget, setting the standards for healthy school lunches and answering questions on the internet. But the best part of my job is visiting schools themselves and talking to teachers and pupils. I have been privileged to attend lots of school assemblies and hear some great singing. It is a great job.
Ed says: I am told we have run out of time. Sorry I could not answer every question but we got through quite a few. You can always email me at dcsf.ministers@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk - thanks for your patience!
Moderator says: Thanks for questions. Keep checking pm.gov.uk for more webchats with Government ministers.
About Ed
Ed’s responsibilities include raising standards in schools, combatting child poverty, providing access to quality childcare for all and re-engaging disaffected young people. An important part of his remit is to help create more opportunities for children and young people and to help them make a positive contribution to society and the economy.
Ed Balls was elected Labour MP for the Normanton constituency on May 5th 2005. From 1997, he was in public service as Economic Adviser to Gordon Brown MP and Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury. He became Economic Secretary to the Treasury in 2006.
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