Synopses & Reviews
Students are tested rather than educated, teachers bullied rather than trusted, parents cast as winners or losers in a battle for places at the best schools. Sound familiar? These contentions resemble criticism that has arisen in recent years among observers of American education, and here Peter Mortimore offers a similar, trenchant critique of schools in England.
In Education under Siege, he considers the English education system as it is and as it might be. Concluding that England has some of the best teachers in the world but one of the most muddled systems, Mortimore proposes radical changes to help all English schools become good schools. He argues that the government should outlaw selection practices; integrate private schools into the state system; and establish processes to ensure that each school has effective teachers and a fair balance of students who learn easily and those who do not. In a concluding call to action, he asks readers who share his concerns to demand that politicians alter the course of education policy.
This book will appeal to parents, teachers, and future educators, as well as anyone interested in the future of education on either side of the Atlantic.
Review
and#8220;Mortimore, a former director of the Institute of Education in London, has written a short, clear, and luminous book that is devoid of education jargon. . . . Anyone can read and understand it and come away with a much clearer idea of how our school system works.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;This is the book I wish I had been told to read at the start of my career in education.and#8221;and#160;
Review
“Lively, authoritative, and thorough”
Jon Rainford's Blog
Review
and#8220;An important book which I hope will be widely read by parents, students, teachers, and all those who care about the education of our children. (It would be good if a few politicians read it, too).and#8221;
Review
andldquo;A thoughtful book focusing on the meaning of education for English society and how it can be improved for all young people based on developments in the Nordic countries.andrdquo;
Review
“A commendable contribution . . . [Education under Siege] will hopefully inspire policymakers and politicians.” Pasi Sahlberg, Director General of the Centre for International Mobility and Coo
Review
“Peter Mortimore has analysed the English education system from ‘buildings’ to ‘Bildung,’ from ‘desirable outcomes’ to ‘democracy,’ and from ‘quality’ to ‘equality.’ He has compared English with Nordic education and thereby been able to identify new weaknesses and strengths and thoughtful and innovative ways forward.” LSE Review of Books
Review
andldquo;An expert voice to be trustedandmdash;and enjoyed. If you really want to understand what education is for and how we could create a high quality system, I urge you to read this book.andrdquo;and#160;
Review
and#8220;Lively, authoritative, and thoroughand#8221;and#160;
Review
andldquo;A commendable contribution . . . [Education under Siege] will hopefully inspire policy makers and politicians.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Peter Mortimore has analysed the English education system from andlsquo;buildingsandrsquo; to andlsquo;Bildung,andrsquo; from andlsquo;desirable outcomesandrsquo; to andlsquo;democracy,andrsquo; and from andlsquo;qualityandrsquo; to andlsquo;equality.andrsquo; He has compared English with Nordic education and thereby been able to identify new weaknesses and strengths and thoughtful and innovative ways forward.andrdquo;
Synopsis
At a time when education is considered crucial to a country's economic success, recent UK governments have insisted their reforms are the only way to make England's system world class. Yet pupils are tested rather than educated, teachers bullied rather than trusted and parents cast as winners or losers in a gamble for school places. Education under siege considers the English education system as it is and as it might be. In a highly accessible style, Peter Mortimore, an author with wide experience of the education sector, both in the UK and abroad, identifies the current system's strengths and weaknesses. He concludes that England has some of the best teachers in the world but one of the most muddled systems. Challenging the government's view that there is no alternative, he proposes radical changes to help all schools become good schools. They include a system of schools receiving a fair balance of pupils who learn easily and those who do not, ensuring a more even spread of effective teachers, as well as banning league tables, outlawing selection, opening up faith schools and integrating private schools into the state system. In the final chapter, he asks readers who share his concerns to demand that the politicians alter course. The book will appeal to parents, education students and teachers, as well as everyone interested in the future education of our children.
Synopsis
Inand#160;Education under Siege, Peter Mortimore considers the UK education system as it is and as it might be. Concluding that the United Kingdom has some of the best teachers in the world but one of the most muddled systems, Mortimore proposes radical changes to help all British schools become good schools. He argues that the government should outlaw selection practices, integrate private schools into the state system, and establish processes to ensure that each school has effective teachers and a fair balance of students who learn easily and those who do not. In a concluding call to action, he asks readers who share his concerns to demand that politicians alter the course of education policy.
About the Author
Peter Mortimore has been a teacher, researcher, and administrator in education for nearly fifty years. He was formerly professor of education at the University of Southern Denmark; director of the Institute of Education, University of London; and an education columnist for the Guardian.
Table of Contents
List of tables
List of abbreviations
About the author
Acknowledgements
Preface
1 What is education?
2 Desirable outcomes
3 Intellectual ability
4 Learning
5 Teaching
6 Schools
7 Quality control
8 Strengths
9 Ambiguities
10 Weaknesses
11 How good is the system?
12 A better system?
13 Stepsand#160; toward a better system
14 What next?
Notes
References
Index