English Baccalaureate Certificates - a camel by any other name

Today's announcement by England's education secretary, Michael Gove, of a new qualification to replace the GCSE has all the hallmarks of a hastily cobbled together compromise designed to try and overcome two diametrically opposed views about what the exam system should be about. At the one end there is the Govian view of an elitist system designed around the brightest kids. At the other there is the producer interest - strongly represented in Lib Dem ranks - backing a one size fits all system designed give those the bottom end academically something to show for their years of compulsory schooling.

So it is no surprise that the email that arrived at Living on Words towers from the Rt Hon David Laws MP - is full of warm words and glib cliches - in an effort to paper over the obvious cracks in the design.

Here is some of its ever so slightly contradictory content:

"Our proposals will restore rigour to the exam system, allow us to compete on the international stage, and end years of grade inflation under Labour.

Liberal Democrats will never accept a return to an unfair, two-tier system that divides children into winners and losers at a young age.

That’s why Nick negotiated with the Conservatives over the summer to ensure that the exam system will be more rigorous, but will also have Liberal Democrat ideas of fairness and social mobility at its heart. Our new qualification will:

• Be designed for the same children who currently sit GCSEs – whatever their ability level;
• Stretch those at the top while ending the cap on aspiration that means some children sit exam papers which don’t allow them to achieve more than a grade C;
• Reward children for their individual aptitude and ability – unlike the O-Level there will be no cap on top grades;
• Include new provision for the very small number of children, including those with special educational needs, who don’t sit GCSEs at the moment.

....the first teaching for these new exams, which we propose calling English Baccalaureate Certificates, will begin in 2015.

By working together in coalition Liberal Democrats have been able to secure a new qualification fit for the future, that will benefit all students and not just the privileged few."

The idea that you can design something that 'restores rigour', 'stretch those at the top', 'reward individual ability' and at the same time design something 'for ...children whatever their ability level' and has 'no cap on top grades' or 'aspiration' sounds far fetched (or indeed exactly like the now clearly unlamented ...er GCSE).

Friday favourite 76

With the controversy over an american amateur video that has led to a deliberate over reaction from organised Islamic militants and the sad (and unacceptable death) of the US ambassador to Libya - this week's favourite concentrates on religious intolerance.

So here is NTNOCN with the General Synod's life of Mohammed Christ:

Time for a (Lib Dem) presidential election...

It's that time again - when nominations are sought for the post of Lib Dem party president - the most important elected post in the 'voluntary' party.

The elections for the job have, sadly, usually ended up being won by a 'professional' Parliamentarian - sometimes as a stepping stone to the leadership.

The current incumbent - Tim Farron - is widely respected and the expectation is he will be returned unopposed.  But he shouldn't and Gareth Epps makes the strong case for both an election and the return of a non-Parliamentarian to the job.

Justice at last for Hillsborough families?

Today's long awaited release of the Hillsborough files and apology from David Cameron is hopefully the beginning of the end of a long road for the families of the 96 fans who died.   It is clear the police and emergency services engaged in a process of backside covering - including influencing the inquests.

It is hard to see anything other than criminal charges for those involved.

Nick Clegg first demanded the release of the documents over a year ago and I pondered later that their release may have only happened as a result of the more open style of government resulting from coalition - making it easier for the public to influence political leaders.

If so, let's hope it continues with a more open attitude by public officials across government in future - whoever is in power.

Congratulations Andy Murray!

It was worth the wait...

Rail news exposes Branson's bluster

Rail News has published a well researched comparison of the two leading bids for west coast rail services. 

It makes it clear that much of the bearded one's publicity about his loss is bluster and hyperbole...

Friday favourite 75

Just finished reading 'the Complaints' - the first non-Rebus Rankin crime novel.  It features a dodgy cop called Billy Giles.  So by some very circuitous logic today's Friday favourite is Tribe of Toffs 'John Kettley is a weatherman' which features the only reference (that I know of) to 'Billy Giles' in pop music...

 

The song - something of a novelty in its day - actually stands up quite well.

Laws' return is old politics

The return of David Laws to ministerial office is a bad move by Nick Clegg and the Lib Dem leadership.  It is a triumph of hope over political reality and demonstrates (sadly once again) the naive political judgement of Clegg.

Here's just some of the images posted on the web over the last few days on the issue:

Whatever the merits of Laws (and his reasons for not telling the truth about his expenses) - he is severely damaged goods.  His return to government is just another reminder that the Lib Dems say one thing in opposition and do the opposite in government. 

It also demostrates that all the hopes that were invested in Clegg in the spring of 2010 that he was a new kind of politician with a new way of doing things were simply wishful thinking.

It's not as if Laws undoubted talents couldn't have been used in an unpaid way - as DPM Clegg surely has powers to appoint almost anyone he wants as an unpaid 'enforcer'.  There has been no explanation of why he had to come back on to the ministerial payrole to do the job - or what his job actually involves outside of the Education ministry.

If this is Clegg's answer to the increasing number of open critics within the party then he is in more trouble than he and his team cares to admit. 

Reshuffle reflections

With the dust settled on the cabinet reshuffle it is clear that the 'refreshed' cabinet makes two policy changes more likely.  Firstly, the Tories are in the process of u-turning on a third Heathrow runway and the moving of Justine Greening makes this much easier.  The sacking of Lib Dem Nick Harvey - leaving defence a Tory only department - will surely mean stopping a replacement for trident becomes almost impossible.

What these two policy issues show, however, is a fundamental failing in the way the coalition operates.  In normal circumstances the Lib Dems would surely be campaigning on these issues and using the opportunity of motions in the Commons to flush out supporters of both propositions - on Tory and Labour benches.

But the coaltion agreement doesn't allow the party to do so - it is for House of Commons business purposes effectively a single party. 

In council chambers up and down the country where two or more parties share administration normal competitive politics isn't put on hold between coalition partners.  Council meetings are used to expose weaknesses in opponents stances and promote distinctive positions of individual parties. 

A similar change in the rules of engagement for the coalition parties is now desperately needed - moving a few indentikit politicians between portfolios doesn't address the need for a more flexible working arrangement between the Lib Dems and the Tories.

Interesting US presidential election fact of the day...

The last time the Republicans won the presidency without a Bush or a Nixon on the ticket was 1928.