Derby Professor Plays Major Role In Mayoral Education Enquiry
19 October 2012
Professor Dennis Hayes
One of the ideas of the report, the creation of a 'London Curriculum', will no doubt get a lot of attention, and like many ideas we put forward can be applied elsewhere. I see a 'Derby Curriculum' on the horizon!
”A Derby Professor who was a part of an education enquiry led by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, sat alongside the Mayor today (October 19) at Pimlico Academy, as he unveiled his ambitious plans to drive up standards in education of London's children and young people.
The Mayor set out his plans to secure new sites for more free schools to be set up in the capital, the establishment of a new fund to boost excellence in teaching, and the creation of a new 'London Curriculum' aimed at inspiring young Londoners to develop deeper learning in their fields of study.
Professor Dennis Hayes, Head of the Centre for Educational Research at the University of Derby, was one of eight members of the Education Inquiry which explored the critical challenges facing London's primary and secondary schools.
The Mayor launched the publication of the Education Inquiry's final report today at Pimlico Academy as it has recently secured the go ahead for a new primary free school to be built. He will now work with partners, including schools and teachers, parent groups, the boroughs and the Department for Education to take forward twelve recommendations outlined in the report.
Professor Hayes, who lectures on Derby's BA (Hons) Education Studies degree said: "One of the reasons I was appointed to the Education Inquiry was my work as the co-ordinator of the Institute of Ideas' Education Forum since 2004. The Education Forum is a unique network of teachers, academics, educationalists, writers, journalists and voluntary workers from across the London region who meet regularly to discuss education issues.
"I am particularly pleased with recommendation three of the report, which will bring subject-based teachers together in seminars and conferences at City Hall to debate and discuss education.
"This may seem minor but it is a real priority if the Mayor is to sustain the drive to make London a golden city in terms of education. It was one of the strengths of the panel that as well as gathering evidence and engaging with stakeholders we spent considerable time debating and discussing between ourselves."
As well as taking part in the general work of the Inquiry, Dennis sat on the sub-panel looking at 'Preparing Young Londoners for Life and Work in a Global City' and the role of business, colleges and universities in this.
He added: "The key task is to inspire children and young people with a love of knowledge. Going beyond the report, one way of doing this would be to attach a 'Professor' to every secondary school. Not a marketing or access person, but an academic who loves their subject and has worked on cutting edge research. If we want to improve standards in schools there is no technical fix. We have to develop the love of traditional subjects.
"It may not be obvious but one of the original philosophical ideas in the report is not to concentrate on solving particular problems - although these, such as a shortage of school classrooms and buildings, are dealt with - but a belief that by raising academic standards for all many of these 'problems' will disappear.
"Children want to learn and know about the world through subjects and that is what education is for. Too much time has been spent in filling schools with pseudo subjects and content that wrongly tries to solve social problems. The message of the report is: 'back to education'.
"One of the ideas of the report, the creation of a 'London Curriculum', will no doubt get a lot of attention, and like many ideas we put forward can be applied elsewhere. I see a 'Derby Curriculum' on the horizon! But a warning is necessary. This is not a time wasting 'project' but a content-led 'curriculum' initiative that will really stretch young people academically."
Although the work of the panel that produced the report is now over Dennis has been invited to continue to offer his expertise to achieve the goals of the report.
Education Secretary, Michael Gove said: "I know the Mayor is incredibly ambitious for London's children and wants to ensure all schools reach the high standards set by the best. I look forward to working with him to provide greater challenge and rigour, improve performance and generate innovative practice, and to seeing what lessons London can teach the country as a whole."
The Panel was chaired by Dr Tony Sewell CEO of Generating Genius and working alongside Professor Hayes will be: Mr Anthony Morrell Little, the Head Master of Eton College; Ms Erica Pienaar, Executive Head Teacher of Leathersellers' Federation of Schools; Mr Greg Martin, Executive Head of Durand Academy, Ms Joan Deslandes Head Teacher of Kingsford Community School; Ms Laraine Smith OBE Principal and Chief Executive at Uxbridge College; Frankie Sulke, Director of Children's Services at London Borough of Lewisham ALDCS; Mr Robert McCulloch-Graham, Director of Children's Services, London Borough of Barnet, ALDCS; Ms Barbara Harrison, International Education Consultant.
