Post-16 Educator Issue 1 to current

Post-16 Educator 1 (January-February 2001)
Colin Waugh: Caroline Benn
News update: October-December 2000
Philippe Harari: Performance related pay in Sixth Form Colleges
Sue Taylor: The LSC: a way forward or just a way to cut costs?
Peter Murry: LSCs: wave of apathy sweeps London!
Pat Brady and Geraldine Thorpe: 'Universities UK': the mess in higher education
Jon Duveen: Separate development
Martin Allen: Key Skills and Curriculum 2000: one bad version replaced by another?
Colin Waugh: Materials - questionnaire on the police
Activists win recognition for union at WMC after 140 years
 
Post-16 Educator 2 (March-April 2001)
News update: January-March 2001
For Oaklands staff and students: 'the best is yet to come'
Pay docking at Sheffield Hallam
Barnet
Redbridge
Working Men's
Uxbridge
South Thames
London NATFHE Rank & File: Asylum seekers
Colin Waugh: Materials - reading: vegetarianism
Pat Ainley: The second coming of old new vocationalism
Martin Allen: VCSEs
Peter Murry: 'If you use this computer . . . '
Jon Duveen/Philippe Harari: Comprehensive education post-16
Colin Waugh: The meaning of 'reprofessionalisation'
 
Post-16 Educator 3 (May-June 2001)
News update: March-April 2001
Dave Gibson: Barnsley College: a cautionary tale
Fightback starts against Ealing meltdown
WMC: members take action
Waltham Forest lecturers fight downsizing
Left unity: your views needed
South Thames strikes imminent as A-levels axed
Glenn Rikowski: Schools: building for business
Martin Allen: The Green Paper: diversity or division at Key Stage Four?
Philippe Harari: NUT conference 2001: implications for Sixth Form Colleges
Colin Waugh: Materials - reading: the supernatural
Stuart Waiton: Scared of the kids?
Colin Waugh: Key Skills: why we should argue for a general education model
 
Post-16 Educator 4 (July-August 2001)
Pat ainley: Post-election changes
News update: April-June 2001
CONEL staff fight deportations
Pat Brady/Geraldine Thorpe: The case against LGU and UNL merger
Ian Duckett: A valid model for Key Skills: are we any closer?
General Studies Workshop: A Basis for Choice (1979): what we said
Pat Ainley: Beyond the academic-vocational divide
 
Post-16 Educator 5 (September-October 2001)
News update: July-August 2001
Teresa Murray: What will the changes to Key Skills mean?
Colin Waugh: Materials - sex equality then and now: students' questions
Colin Waugh: Problem-solving as a central Key Skill: towards a model
 
Post-16 Educator 6 (November-December 2001)
Carole Regan: What can the GTC do for me?
News update: September-October 2001
Pat Ainley: HE redefined
Kat Fletcher: Student grants for all!
Geraldine Thorpe/Pat Brady: LGU merger condemned
Peter Murry: One step forward and two steps back or both (whilst Wales recedes into the Celtic twilight)
Paul Russell: What happened in the September FEC meeting?
Martin Allen: Back to the future
Philippe Harari: The war in Afghanistan
Colin Waugh: Materials - family tree
Dennis Hayes: Mill not Milton: why we must defend freedom of speech
 
Post-16 Educator 7 (January-February 2002)
Pat Ainley: Letter
News update: October-December 2001
Andrew Murray: Cricklade: the origins of the scandal
The Cricklade victimisations: 1998-2001
Paul Hampton: Review - education not for sale
Steve Lobb: Mosaic as a community activity
Colin Waugh: Materials - questionnaire: assisted suicide
Berni Cunnane: Media studies in a 'new' university: an adult returner's perspective
Colin Waugh: Key Skills: what does 'complex' mean?
 
Post-16 Educator 8 (March-April 2002)
News update: January-February 2002
Urgent: support the Southampton strikers
Andrew Murray: Cricklade: the scandal breaks
Philippe Harari: You don't fatten a pig by weighing it
Pat Ainley: Materials - teacher education students talk about their course
Peter Murry: What do they think they're doing? Slogans on college websites
James Avis: Really useful knowledge? Evidence-informed practice, research for the real world
 
Post-16 Educator 9 (May-June 2002)
Colin Waugh: Consultation: suggested approach to replacing Key Skills
News update: March-April 2002
Andrew Murray: Cricklade: the lessons to be learnt
Peter Murry: Career opportunities
Jan Pollock: Single faith schools and educational institutions: a contradiction in terms
Paul Russell: Job evaluation - the new diversion
Colin Waugh: Materials - questionnaire: drugs
Berni Cunnane: Review - Black Hawk Down
 
Post-16 Educator 10 (July-August 2002)
News update: April-June 2002
Liz Lawrence: Mainstreaming equality within a union
Colin Waugh: Materials - editing: under-age drinking
Ian Duckett: 14-19 curricula now
Jane Mace et al: Letter
 
Post-16 Educator 11 (September-October 2002)
News update: July-August 2002
Peter Murry: Useful idiots
Andrew Price: For a left challenge in the general secretary election
'Marking them down' - a reflection on assessment
Pat Ainley: Update on HE changes
Gareth Parry: HE in the colleges: the policy-research gap at its widest?
Colin Waugh: Communication as a Key Skill: what is it for?
 
Post-16 Educator 12 (November-December 2002)
News update: September-October 2002
Jan Pollock: London weighting and national action
Colin Waugh: A-level grades: why we need democratisation
Philippe Harari: See the world for what it is - then change it
Colin Waugh: Materials - reasoning exercise
Berni Cunnane: Mike Leigh's All or Nothing
 
Post-16 Educator 13 (January-February 2003)
News update: October-December 2002
Jan Pollock: Taking the P (PP or FI)
Peter Murry: Frogs don't have trades unions to look after them
Pat Ainley: The holy trinity
Philippe Harari: Countering racism
Colin Waugh: Why we should support the Spours/Hodgson 'baccalaureat'
 
Post-16 Educator 14 (March-April 2003)
News update: December 2002-February 2003
Philippe Harari: New pay structure for Sixth Form Colleges
Bob Brecher: Campaign launched against degradation of HE
Jon Duveen: 14-19: opportunity and excellence but what has happened to class?
Philippe Harari: Materials - thinking about violence
Colin Waugh: 'Why children should work' (1993)
 
Post-16 Educator 15 (May-June 2003)
News update: March-April 2003
Peter Murry: Will Paul 'awkward squad' Mackney now be calling for a campaign of civil obedience?
Jan Pollock: Politics and the teaching unions
Philippe Harari: The politics of deadlines
Philippe Harari: Materials - what causes violence?
Berni Cunnane: Review - In this World
Colin Waugh: Review - Ken Jones' Education in Britain
 
Post-16 Educator 16 (July-August 2003)
News update: April-June 2003
Ken Glanfield: An English baccalaureate at 14+: an FE lecturer's view
Jan Pollock: Excellent international policy, but a mystery tour on FE pay . . .
Peter Murry: A very 'trans' conference?
Colin Waugh: Workers who can win against New Labour's FHE agenda
Philippe Harari: Citizenship
Philippe Harari: Materials - what causes war? 

Post-16 Educator 33 (May-June 2006) 

The White Paper and the business takeover of FE - Glenn Rikowski looks at the far reaching implications of the March 2006 White Paper. 

Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances. Education is not for Sale! - a call for national conference to organise the left in the new union, with commentary from Jan Pollock and Colin Waugh. 

The Invisible Men - Gina Wisker extends the discussion in PSE 32, and considers what's required to "rescue and enable Britain's somewhat disaffected male youth". 

Prison(er) Education - a personal reflection on the nature and extent of education and training in prisons, by Maggie Reeves.

 

Post-16 Educator 34 (July-August 2006)

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Will Cinderella get to the ball? Rania Hafiz takes a further look at the potential impact of the FE White Paper.

SOLIDARITY Reports on disputes around the country.

School or College? Martin Allen comments on the role of FE colleges in meeting the needs of 14-16 year olds.

UCU Left Reports on the launch, conference and a prospective steering group membership list.

UCU Sell-out A critical overview of the recent interim HE pay settlement, by Mike Cole.

HE Pay: A Negotiator's View Liz Lawrence analyses the process and consequence of the HE pay dispute.

Conflict over the future of Greek HE Dionyssios Gouvias provides an insight of union activity in the Greek HE sector, and the emerging propsect of privatised education.

Fame! A class-based pictographic exercise by Philippe Harari designed to challenge the (possibly) romanticised notion of fame.

 

Post-16 Educator Issue 35 September-October 2006 

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Editorial Colin Waugh pays tribute to activist Malcolm Lee, who died on 25th July 2006. 

Tony Benn speaks at the PSE 100th Issue Celebration

Paying for it: initial teacher training in the post-compulsory sector Robin Simmons and Ron Thompson consider the developing crisis in financial support for in-service initial teacher training.

How we might encourage students to become their own "proofreaders" An in-class accessible exercise complete with worksheets and explanatory text, by Colin Waugh.

Comment: Capitalist decline as the context of change in eduction Pat Brady presents a critique of the UCUleft.

Deprofessionalisation: is resistance futile? A discussion paper appraising the notion of professionalism and the extent to which the post-16 sector has become deprofessionalised, by Richard Lawton.

 

Post-16 Educator Issue 36 November-December 2006 

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Towards a Manifesto for FE Sean Vernell's UCU(FE) London Region draft discussion paper.

A Very Hot Summer: a Beirut Diary Mariam Labban's account of life in Lebanon's capital during the July War.

Israeli Boycott: Say 'Yes' to 'No More' Don Carroll and Rania Hafez present a personal case for a UCU boycott of Israeli universities.

Comment: Evidence not Theories Geoff Petty considers the role of consultants in education.

Signing on in the Summer A first-hand account of the difficulties confronting temporarily employed lecturers, by Reshad Suffee.

Why we should make PSE into an organisation as well as a magazine Colin Waugh presents a personal view and discussion item proposing a PSE organisation.

 

Post-16 Educator Issue 37 January-February 2007 

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Unfinished business on HE pay Roger Kline (UCU General Secretary Candidate) provides a 'Frequently Asked Questions' on the 2006 HE dispute.

UCU General Secretary Election Statement Peter Jones sets out his his bid for the upcoming UCU election. Visit Peter's blogsite here.

RNIB Redhill: Closure Fightback News summary of the threatened closure by Lynne Chamberlain.  

UCULeft 25/11/06: a personal view Colin Waugh sets out his opinion of the past, present and future of UCULeft.

Solidarity: Colin Waugh provides an Oaklands (College) Update, and a Doncaster Free Press article recounts recent attempts to 'reconcile' Doncaster College's financial issues. From the HE sector, Camila Bassi reports on the UCU HE Conference in November 2006.

Materials: The "Veil Debate' Philippe Harari sets out a series of views and questions on the matter of niqabs, hijabs and burkas.

14-19: Diploma Debacle? Following the 2005 White Paper and Implementation Plan, Martin Allen looks at the state of play in 14-19 education.

Teacher Education: Far Reaching Changes for 14-19 Education Cliff Jones reports on the Standing Committee for the Education and Training of Teachers (SCETT) meeting convned to discuss the Education and Inspection Bill.

Boycott: Summer of Violence Gina Wisker picks up the Israeli boycott discussion.

Deabte: Should PSE become an organisation? Patrick Ainley's reply to Colin Waugh's suggestion in PSE 37.

 

Post-16 Educator (Issue 38 March-April 2007) 

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

The RAE affects us all Colin Waugh looks at the H.E. Research Assessment Exercise controversy.

Review: Alex Callinicos, Universities in a Neoliberal World Patrick Ainley
reviews this timely analysis of the future of Higher Education.

Education Make You Fick, Innit? So why have more of it? Patrick Ainley and Martin Allen on plans to raise the school leaving age to 18 in 2013. Colin Waugh provides an alternative view in Reply: resist ROSLA2!

Being economical with the truth Robin Simmons offers critical reflections on FE, skills and the economy. 

Materials: Big Brother Bullying

Philippe Harari provides a topical lesson outline based on the recent Celebrity Big Brother furore.

A space for professional development? Kevin Orr argues that practitioners can take control of the 30 hours for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

History Keith Flett introduces his new book Chartism after 1848: the working class and the politics of radical education, and Colin Waugh presents his review of Flett's work. 

 

Post-16 Educator (Issue 39 May-June 2007) 

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

NUT Conference 2007 Philippe Harari reports on proceedings at this year's conference.

Recent UCU results: an ABC of rebuilding trades unionism Jan Pollock analyses the issues surrounding the leadership election.

The evolution of adult education: towards emotional intelligence Ursula Eddington examines elements of the changes in adult education, and argues( that aspects of 'emotional intelligence' underpin successful learning and teaching.

Materials: CND Nuclear Education Pack 2007 Philippe Harari considers the usefulness and application of an example of CND's teaching materials.

Review: Limitations of Education Make you Fick, Innit? Colin Waugh reviews the new book by Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley.

Review: Training to Teach in the Learning and Skiils Sector Rania Hafez reviews Liz Keely-Brown's book.

Comment: Dave Armstrong's  Reply to Ioan Morgan reprinted from the FE News website, on the role of the AoC.

 

Post-16 Educator (Issue 40 July-August 2007)

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Pay Dave Armstrong takes a look at Principals' pay over the last few years, and reveals a marked and increasing disparity as their salaries outstrip those of 'lesser' colleagues at an increasing rate.

Black TUC Conference Reshad Suffee reports on the Conference held in Bristol between 20th and 22nd April 2007.

Emotional intelligence: a response Alan Moss responds to Ursula Eddington's PSE 39 article.

Why Emotional Intelligence is like a lump of wood with a six inch nail stuck through one end of it A further take on E.I. by Peter Murry.

Review: Anthony Weston (2000) A Rulebook for Arguments Philip Harari reviews Weston's exploration of argument.

Review: Blake, slavery and the radical mind Dave Welsh reviews the Tate Britain exhibition, and assesses its suitablity for students.

Review: Sheila Cohen (2006) Ramparts of Resistance Colin Waugh reviews Cohen's book - an analysis of the loss and reclaiming of workers' power. 

Solidarity: reports on the disputes at Harlow (Tertiary) College (to support click here) and London Metropolitan University (to support click here).

 

Post-16 Educator (Issue 41 September-October 2007)

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Still paying for it: FHE teacher training update Robin Simmons and Ron Thompson provide an update on their earlier work examining the developing crisis in In-Service initial teacher training.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender TUC Conference 2007 Reshad Suffee reports on the Conference held in London between 28th and 29th June 2007.

Materials: One approach towards restoring 'liberal studies' Colin Waugh offers some practical insights that could inform teaching.

Solidarity: Doncaster situation worsens after inspection by Colin Waugh.

Discussion - Ramparts: a response Sheila Cohen responds to the review of her book (Ramparts of Resistance: Why workers lost their power and how to get it back) in PSE 40. 

Review: Summer reading Cliff Jones shares his experience of some education-related books published in 2007.

Review: Live Working or Die Fighting Dave Welsh reviews Paul Mason's book, and adds to recent PSE debate on trade unionism and workers' power.

 

Post-16 Educator (Issue 42 Nov-Dec 2007)

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

A Campaign for Critical Education Bob Brecher's proposed final piece for the THES, and a marker for the Campaign for Critical Education, due to launch in January 2008.

The Harlow Dispute 56 hour working week, cut salary scales, holidays and more: background to the dispute, an Activist's Perspective, and Robin Simmons sets the Harlow dispute in a wider context.

Materials: Demonstrating Bourdieu's cultural capital concept to A-level or 1st degree sociology students Patrick Ainley explains how the concept of cultural capital can be demonstrated in an accessible way.

Qualifications: Desperate Diplomacy Martin Allen analyses New Labour's recent adjunct to A-levels - subject-based diplomas.

Know your Boycott A BRICUP (British Committee for the Universities of Palestine) spokesperson gives their view of events since UCU conference voted to discuss boycotting Israeli universities. 

Discussion: One way to improve HE Colin Waugh explores the notion that  'instrumental enrichment' could pave the way to radical and required change in higher education.

Policy: Can there be a 'Green' post-16 education policy. And is this it? Peter Murry considers current Green Party education and education-related policy.

 

Post-16 Educator Issue 43 January-February 2008

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Arguments for and against a raised leaving age The PSE editorial board set out their views.

Climate change TU conference Peter Murry makes a case for the for the Campaign Against Climate Change Trades Union Conference to be held at ULU London, on February 8th 2008.

Classroom Behaviour Philippe Harari discusses a motion to the forthcoming NUT conference on the issue of student behaviour in F/HE, and opens an invitation to readers to inform this debate.

Whither FE? Economism, instrumentalism and class James Avis evaluates the place of FE in light of recent developments on post-compulsory education, and the impact on social class and justice.

Review: Lords' apprenticeship report Michaela Brockman reviews Apprenticeships: A Key Route to Skill (2007), the report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs.

Review: A bad idea that won't go away  Stephen Murdoch's 'popular history of the intelligence test, The Brilliant Idea that Failed (2007), is reviewed by Sherry Hallmond.

Review: Whose degree is it anyway? How and Where Universities are Failing Our Students (2007) Patrick Ainley's review of Robert Naylor's book.

 

Issue 44 March-April 2008

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Qualifications Martin Allen takes a look at the 'Burgerlaureate', the Cambridge Pre-U qualification, and Functional Skills.

ELQ cuts Jeremy Landor considers the impact of the recently announced  ELQ (equal or lower qualification) budget cuts.

The Future of HE Patrick Ainley summarises the contributions of speakers and discussion at the Society for Research into Higher Education forum, held in London on 23/1/08. Also, Colin Waugh's (PSE Editor) address at the forum: What HE can learn from FE.

OFFA - the watchdog that did not bark Ian McNay evaluates the promises of wider access that accompanied HE fees and fee increases, and the role of the Office for Fair Access (OFFA).

Materials: 15,000 hours Philippe Harari sets out and explains his lesson plan, allowing students to reflect of their 15,000 hours in education and relate their experiences of education and teachers. 

Review: Perhaps Jonathon has been writing to the wrong people ...  Peter Murry reviews Porritt's Capitalism as if the World Mattered (2007).

 

Issue 45 May-June 2008

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Education, professionalism, solidarity Philippe Harari reports on the 2008 NUT conference. Also, the text of the specialist diploma motion passed overwhelmingly by NUT conference.

What is happening to poor old FE in this new landscape? Margaret Andrews details some of her research findings related to current influences on work, and changes over the last two years.

Let the teachers teach? Lawrence Nixon, Maggie Gregson and Trish Spedding summarise some of the key tthemes from their  reviewfor the (then) DfeS of practitioners' experiences during the implemetation of national post-16 education policy at the local level.

Deprofessionalisation: resistance is increasingly futile! Richard Lawton takes up the argument.

Review: Kim Moody on US unions - and the implications for UCU activists Dave Welsh takes an applied look at Moody's 'US Labor in Trouble and Transition' (2007).

 

Issue 46 July-August 2008

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Harlow College one year on: the silent conflict As the headlines subside, this Solidarity piece highlights the continuing problems at Harlow College.

Second Life - first experience Cheryl Reynolds provides an analysis of Second Life, a 3D virtual world designed to enable the creation of a llearning environment to inspire and engage learners.

Materials: How tolerant are you? Philippe Harari presents an exercise to explore notions of tolerance.

The problem with the three rs: results, retention and the redefined learner Richard Lawton looks at some of the pitfalls involved in the drive to measure teachers' work.

Where does Functional Skills come from, and how can we overcome it? Colin Waugh examines the basis of functional skills, and sets out a series of action points that can produce a better outcome.

 

Issue 47 September-October 2008

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Tributes to Gerard Kelly PSE celebrates the life of the first openly gay past president of NATFHE.

New NUT training for SFC reps a success Mike Pratt reports on the recent sixth form college training event at Stoke Rochford.

Action nears in Nottingham Trent de-recognition struggle Chronicle of events from Nottingham Trent University UCU.

Materials: The welfare state Philippe Harari sets out an in-class exercise designed to encourage students to understand and discuss welfarism.

Smart Objectives Alan Wheatley analyses the use and abuse of SMART objectives in education.

The Plebs League Colin Waugh presents an updated account of the background of the Plebs League to mark the centenary of its founding.

Rank and file Trades unionism: a case study Linking social and industrial struggles, Dave Welsh looks at the workplace unionism of women tube workers during the 1918 dispute

 

Issue 48 November-December 2008

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Silver surfer or grand old Duke? The launch of CALL Peter Murry reports on the inaugural meeting of the Campaigning Alliance for Lifelong Learning held at UCU HQ on 30/9/08.

Knife crime, moral panics and social solidarity J.J. Caspell comments on the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance and the awarding body's recent decision to remove Carole Anne Duffy's poem 'Education for Leisure' from the GCSE English syllabus.

The boycott: letter from Ramallah  Following from Opinion contributions covering the proposed academic boycott of Israeli academics and universities, a reprint of Bir Zeit University lecturer Emilia Rappocciolo's letter.

Desperate diplomacy Patrick Ainley and Martin Allen introduce their new publication - A New 14+: Vocational Diplomas and the Future of Schools, Colleges and Universities

'Renewing' England's FE colleges: building for the future or victims of fashion? Robin Simmons considers the impact of capital investment in further education.

Trade union education: some thoughts from the past The first of a series of three interviews by Linda Clarke and Michael Gold with Geoffrey Stuttard, reflecting on his 40+ years employed in trade union education. This article explores the distinction between the liberal education of trade unionists and trade union education itself.

 

Issue 49 January-February 2009

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Solidarity: Salford unions fight sackings Joint response from campus unions.

Bernard Crick Cliff Jones offers his spur-of-the-moment reflections on political education advocate Bernard Crick, who died just before Christmas.

Materials: Freedom of speech and information  Philippe Harari suggests an approach to discussing issues with students.

Modernism and reality in education Ron Thompson argues that current educational change is underpinned by modernist discourse and a totalitarean form of modernism. 

Trade union education: some thoughts from the past (2) The second of a series of three interviews by Linda Clarke and Michael Gold with Geoffrey Stuttard, reflecting on his 40+ years employed in trade union education. In this article the development of courses for trade unionists is considered, as the 'middle-classish' (as he termed it) nature of the WEA came under scrutiny.

Review: Hodgson and Spours  Colin Waugh reviews Education and Training 14-19. Curriculum, Qualifications and Organisation (Sage Publications Ltd, 2008).

 

Issue 50 March-April 2009

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

General education in 14-19 diplomas: the precedents Colin Waugh considers the forms of general education, and puts forward a set of requirements the diploma system might be extected to fulfill.

How academies are failing BME and working class communities Justin Baidoo-Hackman examines notions of exclusion and discrimination within the academy system.

100 years on from the Ruskin strike . . . Colin Waugh, author of the new PSE pamphlet 'Plebs: the lost legacy of independent working class education' (details above), summarises the events that led to the Ruskin College students' strike of 1909, and the foundation of the Plebs League and Central Labour College.

Materials: Darwinism Philippe Harari takes a look at the theory of evolution, and sets out an approach tto discussion with students.

Trade union education: some thoughts from the past (3) The third and final interview by Linda Clarke and Michael Gold with Geoffrey Stuttard, reflecting on his 40+ years employed in trade union education. In this article  Geoffrey considers the problems of dealing with controversial issues, international aspects of his work, and the question of social mobility.

Issue 51 May-June 2009

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

'Renewing' England's FE colleges: an update Robin Simmons considers reasons behind the wayward capital programme and record levels of spending.

NUT Conference 2009 Philipe Harari reports on this year's conference in Cardiff.

Health and social care programmes: are they comprehensive enough? Dariusz Tereszkowski-Kaminski explores the emphases within health and social care courses.

Education for sustainable development Patrick Ainley reports on the launch of the pamphlet Education for Sustainable Development: a Philosophical Assessment by Randall Curren.

General education in 14-19 diplomas: the prospects Colin Waugh takes another look at the diploma qualification, and sets out some analysis and comment.

Trade union education: some thoughts from the past (4) The fourth article in a series based on interviews by Linda Clarke and Michael Gold with Geoffrey Stuttard, reflecting on his 40+ years employed in trade union education. In this article Geoffrey sums up by examining the activities and outlets that he used in his work, notably seminars, books, radio and television.

 

Issue 52 July-August 2009

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

New LSC CEO's funding model Text of George Arkless's letter to the TES FE Focus.

What was NATFHE Rank and File? PSE met with grassroots activists in the former National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education Jan Pollock and Dave Welsh to recount  the nature and drive of NATFHE Rank and File.

Review: Working as Learning Colin Waugh reviews 'Improving Working as Learning' (Felstead et al, Routledge, 2009).

Discussion: A guide to alienation in further education teaching Kevin Orr considers contextual and personal notions of alienation for FE teachers.

Materials: Sex and society Philippe Harari sets out ideas for a student discussion on attitudes towards sex, highlighting the differences that can exist between individuals and cultures.

Solidarity: SOAS occupied in support of victimised cleaners An account of the recent occupation, and discussion of some of the wider implications.

Issue 53 September-October 2009

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

2009 school leavers' prospects Extract from 'The Prospects of this Year's School Leavers', also available here.

Report of the Sage Inquiry into Further Education, 2014 Political satirical essay, set in the not too distant future.

Learning for Democracy Ten proposals about community-based education, developed in Scotland in 2007 by the Learning for Democracy Group.

Materials: Who Rules? Philippe Harari provides ideas and materials for a session on the UK's rulers and Parliament.

Podcasts: Critical Pedagogy Themes including the WEA, popular education and indigenous pedagogy, also available here.

Poplar and what it means for us now Colin Waugh reviews Janine Booth's 2009 book: Guilty and Proud of it! Poplar's Rebel Councillors and Guardians London: Merlin Press.

Poem: So Farewell Then DIUS PSE's poet in residence until next time, Cliff Jones, presents his Magnum Opus.

Issue 54 November-December 2009

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Skills for what kind of life? John Arnett considers Skills for Life, and notions of literacy and numeracy.

Why we need Freire now Tim Herrick’s account of the work of Paulo Freire, and the questions and tools for educators concerned with power, justice and ethically-responsible learning and teaching.

Materials: Good and Bad Was it right to invite the BNP to Question Time? Philippe Harari provides a series of worksheets with explanatory notes to explain issues of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’.

J’accuse . . . UCU An (anonymous) UCU activist presents a series of provocative points relating to the role and effectiveness of UCU.

The Nuffield review: for Bruner, against Tawney? Colin Waugh suggests an approach to the Nuffield review of 14-19 Education and training.

Issue 55 January-February 2010

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Debate: Gearing up PSE An open invitation to contributors, subscribers and readers to take part in the debate about the future of PSE. Please send comments via the details on the Contacts tab, above, or click here.

There must be a better way: designing and refining post-14 provision Geoff Stanton’s notes for a talk given at London University Institute of Education in November 2009, as part of the Lifelong Learning Seminar Series.

What future for UK higher education? Reprint of a lecture given by Roger Brown at Thames Valley University in October 2009.

Campus unions, students defy attack on HE in California Reprinted from Labor Notes, and account of the opposition to the recent 32% rise in fees.

Issue 56 March-April 2010

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Rediscovering independent working class education Colin Waugh discusses some idea behind the 27th March meeting (please see ‘Event’ below).

The Macfarlane Report thirty years on Robin Simmons examines the effects of a key government decision not to back tertiary colleges.

Responsible recruiting Tim Kearns looks at the role of information, advice and guidance in the Sixth Form interview.

Obituary Colin Waugh pays tribute to Jane Andrews, union and political fighter in the 1970s and 80s, Labour Party activist, and educator.

Latest Post-16 Educator Issue 57 May-June 2010

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Seeking perfection with prosecution? An account by a teacher in FE of teaching observation policy and practice.

The first time as tragedy, the second time as farce Analysis of the changes that have taken place in FE, and similarities with recent events in HE.

Supporting visiting tutors and agency staff! Rebecca Galbraith reports on the UCU ‘Stamp out casualisation’ conference.

Independent working-class education: which way forward? A statement by Sheila Cohen in the light of discussion  at a meeting at Ruskin College in Oxford on 27th March 2010.

Higher than what? Patrick Ainley considers the prospects ahead as those in Higher Education reposition and reappraise.

Sean Vernell on young people Colin Waugh reviews ‘Don’t Get Young in the Third Millennium! Capitalism and the Demonising of the Young Working Class’ (2010).

ESOL: a political history Alice Robson reviews a century of English for Speakers of Other Languages, and considers the political and social context of provision.

Issue 58 July-August 2010

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

A new ‘landscape’ in Greek public education Dionyssios Gouvias examines the impact of the recent austerity measures on Greek education, and opportunities for challenging proposed reforms.

Report on NUT National Conference 2010 A summary of some of the key issues, including workload, mental health, SATs, OFSTED and Academies. By Philippe Harari.

Obituary: Jim Fyrth Richard Clarke recalls the life of a distinguished historian and adult educator, with a special interest in trade union and labour history.

Materials: Grown-up bullying Philippe Harari provides some suggestions and materials about bullying.

Review: Lost generation? New Strategies for Youth and Education (2010, Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley) by Colin Waugh.

Solidarity: Westminster UCU Sean Wallis (UCU London Region HE Secretary) calls for action in support of staff at the University of Westminster.

Post-16 Educator Issue 59 September-October 2010

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Independent Working Class Education: which way forward? Sheila Cohen looks at different ways to build a programme of IWCE..

Education and the reserve army of labour Patrick Ainley discusses the use of ‘remaining space’ in education to overcome the effects of ‘modernisation’, and achieve a practical means to student understanding of context.

Trevor Griffiths on General Studies An occasional piece on the history of the struggle for valid education within FHE. This issue: Ken Swallow’s 1982 interview with the playwright and one-time General Studies lecturer Trevor Griffiths (see this issue’s cover).

Review - Organising for critical pedagogy: FE then and HE now Colin Waugh discusses the January 2010 publication ‘Why Critical Pedagogy and Popular Education Matter Today’.

Post-16 Educator Issue 60 November-December 2010

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

The end of the public university in England James Vernon (University of California, Berkley) assesses the likely impact of the Browne Review.

Boycott of lesson observations sustained into a second year Updated version of branch officer Pete Green’s document circulated at UCU annual conference in May 2010.

New activism or old politics? Patrick Ainley reports from the Society for Research into HE event ‘New Activism or Old Politics? Sounding Student reaction to HE’s Crisis’, held at Aston University on 30th September.

Materials: Neo-liberalism Economic neo-liberal or Cameronite? Philippe Harari’s lesson guide to finding out.

Developing the Diploma Curriculum Ian Duckett considers what employers and others can contribute to the development and delivery of Diplomas.

Obituary: Ted Breen Keith Frost’s eulogy to the former Tottenham College NATFHE branch secretary, who died in September, aged 69.

Issue 61 January-February 2011

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Ten reasons why I am a thug  Joyce Canaan writes in response to the Met Police Superintendent's notion that ‘demonstrators’ are ‘thugs’.

Creative militancy, militant creativity and the new student movement Sarah Amsler considers the practical significance of critical theory, and student action leading to the hope of a new education, and a new politics.

Education is never neutral Philippe Harari discusses the idea of teacher neutrality, which has become more urgent than ever with the struggle over EMAs, cuts and fees.

‘Of our elaborate plans, the end’ Patrick Ainley and Martin Allen consider the Browne Review and the Coalition's proposals for FE and HE.

Review Colin Waugh reviews Paula Allman’s Critical Education Against Global Capitalism: Karl Marx and Revolutionary Critical Education (Volume 3, in International Issues in Education series, Sense Publishers 2010).

Tressell’s vision lives on As the centenary of Robert Tressell’s death approaches, Dave Harker, author of Tressell: the real story of the Ragged Trousered Philanthropist (Zed Books, 2003) explains some of the background to this influential novel.

Issue 62 March-April 2011

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Act now for ESOL!  Rebecca Galbraith considers the impact of cuts on ESOL provision, the people affected, and a plan of action.

OFSTED - weapon of mass demoralisation Jenny Sutton’s UCU branch leaflet reprinted - a precis of the subtle and not so subtle impact of inspection.

Teacher Neutrality Philippe Harari adds the point of political speakers in schools and colleges to his earlier piece (PSE 61, Education is never neutral).

Review Patrick Ainley reviews Gillian Evans’ The University of Oxford: A New History  and The University of Cambridge: A New History (both Tauris, 2010).

Rebuilding IWCE: 1. William Morris Colin Waugh sets out an extract of Morris’ ‘How we live and how we might live’ 1884 lecture, accompanied by a series of questions and debating points, as part of the process to rebuild the tradition of an independent working class education.

The history of workers’ education Shedding light on the past to illuminate the future, Richard Ross considers whether crumbs, condescension or control might characterise workers’ education today.

Anti-cuts UCU Member’s Letter A reprint of the letter Bill Roffee sent to his local UCU branch members, summarising the reasons for, and importance of, demonstrating against the cuts on 29 January 2011.

Latest Post-16 Educator - Issue 63 May-June 2011

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Sixth form colleges under attack  Philippe Harari considers the attack on three fronts: pensions, pay and funding.

The Guardian and Harlow College UCU members report on being forced from their jobs.

What now for adult education? Lessons from Derbyshire’s miners Harry Barnes’s Chesterfield May Day brochure article, also available here.

Sheffield IWCE meeting discusses Tressell Colin Waugh reports on the illuminating account given by Dave Harker at a recent Independent Working Class Education meeting.

Rebuilding IWCE: 2. James Connelly Colin Waugh presents an excerpt from Connolly’s Socialism Made Easy, and suggests ways in which it might inform political education today. Second in the rebuilding IWCE series.

Two-brains speak with forked tongue Patrick Ainley looks at developments in higher education.

Issue 64 July-August 2011

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

ESOL after 2000: Skills for Life  Melanie Cooke considers the impact of the Skills for Life initiative on ESOL provision.

A Freirean pedagogy for the ESOL classroom  Alice Robson applies the ideas of Paulo Freire to ESOL theory and practice.

What is the future for ESOL?  Jennie Turner provides a critical reflection on Government thinking and funding, and the impact it may have on ESOL.

EMA: A Welsh Perspective The English education maintenance allowance will be scrapped from September 2011. Amanda Thomas analyses the situation in Wales.

Two-brains not so daft after all? Patrick Ainley looks at a recent collection of articles about H.E.

Issue 65 September-December 2011

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Oakum picking in the twenty-first century  Robin Simmons discusses some of the findings from research exploring the lives of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). .

The digital divides  Philip Sainty examines a variety of digital media as an aid to ‘problem posing’ in education.

Review: Making Socialists. Mary Bridges Adams and the fight for knowledge and power 1855-1939 (2010)  Colin Waugh reviews Jane Martin’s book about socialist and education activist Mary Bridges Adams.

Assessment report: AEB ‘O’ Level English Language (Mature Students) (1970) A reprint of an article by Vincent Whitcombe, originally published in 1970 in the journal Liberal Education.

Review: Capital Realism, is there no alternative? (2010) Patrick Ainley reviews Mark Fisher’s analysis of FE, as a site for students captured between the disciplinary institution of compulsory education, and their soon-to-be new status as consumers of services.

Paulo Freire’s thought: towards a critical perspective Colin Waugh suggests some discussion questions which could be used by a Freire reading group to investigate a key passage in Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

Issue 66 January-March 2012 Download

News Update - the latest facts and figures, news and events from the post-16 sector.

Two manifestos, two ways forward in the fight against fees Patrick Ainley reviews John Holmwood’s A Manifesto for the Public University (2011) and Michael Bailey and Des Freedman’s The Assault on Universities - A Manifesto for Resistance (2011).

The undermining of ESOL James Simpson considers recent missives from the Skills Funding Agency, and the consequences for ESOL.

The ESOL Manifesto - a PSE statement to encourage discussion.

Review: NEETs Rob Smith reviews Simmons and Thompson’s recent work looking at those ‘not in education, employment or training’:  NEET - Young People and Training for Work: learning on the margins (2011).

Henry Morris (1889-1961): an appreciation Steve Bond commemorates the 50th anniversary of Morris’s death.

Education for socialism Paula Allman and John Wallis’s 1989 document, reprinted in tribute to Paula, who died on November 2nd 2011.

Outrage and really useful knowledge  John Grayson discusses anti-deportation campaigning in South Yorkshire.

The politics of education Harry Barnes argues for, amongst other things, the need to keep the question ‘why?’ within education and life.

Issue 67 April-June 2012

Campaign to defend sixth form colleges Philippe Harari reviews the impact of cuts on SFCs, and considers the future of the networked union organisation set up to challenge the changes.

Solidarity - Richmond College: strike action success A Branch Officer report. (Note - please send in reports for publication by 30/6/2012)

Solidarity UCU FE Committee and UCU London region Motions The text of some recent motions covering cuts, workloads, FE loans, and teaching observations.

Radical Education Tim Herrick reviews Michael Fielding and Peter Moss’ book Radical Education and the Common School (2011, London and New York: Routledge).

Functional Skills as another missed opportunity Progressive and developments? Or bureaucratic and stifling? Ian Duckett initiates a discussion amongst readers.

Education for technology A reprint of Philip Crick’s 1971 article.

The case for rebuilding working-class education  An extract from Colin Waugh’s RMT Charles Watkins Memorial Lecture on 7th September 2011.

Defining IWCE Based on Colin Waugh’s talk given at the Independent Working Class Education meeting at Northern College on 12th November 2011.

Organising for Socialism: Mary Bridges Adams and IWCE Article based on a talk and book (Mary Bridges Adams and the Fight for Knowledge and Power, 1855-1939) by Jane Martin at the IWCE meeting in London in February 2012.

Issue 68 July-September 2012 Download

ESOL - Mobilise against citizenship changes! Mel Cooke and James Simpson make the case for free and accessible ESOL classes.

Raising the participation age to 18: 100 years on . . . Robin Simmons investigates the history of RPA policy initiatives.

Professional learning partnerships: principles and issues Cliff Jones examines the language and meaning behind Coalition reforms.

Towards a new basis for local democracy? Patrick Ainley reviews Peter Latham’s book The State and Local Government (Manifesto Press, Croydon 2011, 500pp, £14.95).

The Luddites and the politics of 21st century technology David King examines the original and contemporary meanings of ‘Luddite’, and the need to take control of technology.

The Vestas Library and Utopia Workshop Robin Sivapalan’s Facebook contribution to the Utopia Reading group in the Isle of Wight following the announcement by the Vestas company that they are suspending plans to open a plant in Sheerness.

An approach to teaching ‘industrial history’ The text of a talk given by Colin Waugh at the Working Class Movement Library in Salford 0n 21 May 2011, followed by three examples of teaching/learning materials as discussed in the talk.

Issue 69 October to December 2012

Key dispute at Barnfield

A UCU concept of professionalism

The lost ECM agenda

The great exam rigging scandal

Doing HE in FE

Welcome to the panopticon

New thinking reveals only paralysis

Sustaining Alternative Universities

Opposing the crisis in HE

Should we be trying to build ‘popular universities’?

How can we take this project forward?

FHE professionalism and the IWCE tradition

New website seeks practitioners’ insights

How the PCC works

Issue 70 January to March 2013

Great confusion hides great reversal Patrick Ainley and Martin Allen argue that few are facing up to the enormity of the changes the Coalition is inflicting upon English education.

Reclaiming our professionalism Rob Peutrell reflects on the humiliation of the Institute of Learning.

The struggles around ESOL provision by Alice Robson.

Review Cliff Jones reviews Nurit Peled-Elhanan’s ‘Palestine in Israeli School Books. Ideology and Propaganda in Education’ (2012).

Changing Technology Philip Santy continues the ‘PSE Luddite’ debate.

Highlander celebrates 30 years Steve Bond reflects on Highlander Research and Education Centre’s history.

Can we rebuild the Plebs League tradition? A summary by Joyce Canaan of the meeting at Northern College on 24th November 2012, followed by two documents written by people who took part.

Issue 71 April to June 2013

ESOL defence struggle continues – ESOL campaigners’ factsheet

Review: Towards or away from ‘social control’? Colin Waugh reviews Ainley and Allen’s ‘The Great Reversal. Young People, Education and Employment in a Declining Economy’ (2013).

The Shaftesbury EEEP Project Ian Duckett describes a programme devised for the Shaftesbury Young People charity, which works with 18-25 year olds in or leaving care.

The WEA: a discussion essay Greg Coyne looks at the possibility of developing a radical, action learning-oriented educational approach in the Workers’ Educational Association to deal with old challenges in new times.

The Plebs League in the North East Rob Turnbull explains the background to his forthcoming book, ‘Their Swords Shall Not Rust’.

Noah Ablett 1833-1935: an agitator to the end Rob Turnbull recalls the life and times of one of the defining figures of the British left in the first half of the twentieth century.

Gramsci’s balance sheet of IWCE Transcript of a talk given by Colin Waugh at the IWCE Network meeting held at Northern College, near Barnsley, on 24 November 2012.

Issue 72, July - September 2013

Robbins remembered and dismembered – Patrick Ainley reflects on the 1963 Robbins Report.

Solidarity: Lambeth College redundancies struggle 97 posts affected. Messages of support to Mandy Brown - mbrown@lambeth.ac.uk

A young people’s charter: preparing to meet the challenges of the future Ken Curran contributes to a discussion of a Youth Charter within the Sheffield School of Democratic Socialism.

Interview: Tom Sharpe A reprint of Robin Scott Beveridge’s 1981  interview.

Materials: Introductory writing stimulus questions by Colin Waugh.

The need for socialist education today Article based on Stan Newen’s talk at a meeting of the Independent Working-Class Education (IWCE) Network in June 2013.

Education, social control and The Great Reversal Robin Simmons discusses the context of education in the light of recent PSE articles.

The fight for the future of FHE Text based on a speech given by Colin Waugh at a meeting of the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, at Birmingham University in December 2012.

Issue 73, October - December 2013

Open letter to parents and students – from the professors/employees of the National Technical University of Athens Assembly. Also, Dionysios Gouvias: Unity needed in savage attack on (Greece’s) public education.

Co-operative alternative model for academies Ian Duckett presents an alternative to the trend towards academies.

Whose integration? Dermot Bryers, Melanie Cooke and Becky Winstanley discuss their English for Action project.

Society has to change education, but how? Reviewing Michael Apple’s new book, Patrick Ainley revisits some of the discussions on education and social control in PSEs 71 and 72.

Putting the learner first Stephen Lambert argues that FE colleges and school sixth forms need to raise their game and help working-class students achieve higher A-level grades.

Critique of the City and Guilds course in Communication Skills (1977) A paper originally presented in 1977, Colin Waugh’s response to an Inner London Education Authority document presented by ILEA’s Inder Gera.

An alternative provider As school exclusions rise, Ian Duckett looks at alternative education provision.

Utopia Workshop Robin Sivapalan presents proposals for three new courses: Know Our Rights, English for Action, and Free Education.

Issue 74, January - March 2014

One Nation Labour and Vocational Education and Training – James Avis examines the Labour Party's review of policies, with a focus on vocational education and training.

A manifesto for a democratic education system in England Originally circulated in October 2013, by Frank Coffield and Bill Williamson.

Graham Usher Martin Francis commemorates the work of the journalist and former FE lecturer..

Learning to be a model citizen Stephen Lambert makes the case for Citizenship Studies for post-16 and adult students.

A logical approach to discussion of social class Patrick Ainley offers a lesson outline.

Towards an IWCE Network manifesto A provisional document produced by the Independent Working-Class Education Network. Comments to iwceducation@yahoo.co.uk welcome.

Sheila Cohen on TGWU Branch 1/1107: an inspiring story Colin Waugh review’s Cohen’s 2013 book: Notoriously Militant. The Story of a Union Branch. The study follows the largest single union branch at the Ford Dagenham plant.

Government by traffic wardens Cliff Jones reviews Brown and Jacobs’ The Private Abuse of the Public Interest. Market Myths and Policy Muddles.

Bourne’s side of the story Former ILEA inspector Eric Bourne’s autobiography, A European Life, reviewed by Colin Waugh.

Issue 75, April - June 2014

The future of general education in vocational FHE courses: draft position paper – PSE readers’ comments on a document written jointly in March 2014 by David Crabtree and Colin Waugh.

Gang culture Newcastle city councillor and lecturer Stephen Lambert looks at some of the issues..

UK youth unemployment: find a NEET solution Drawing on research coordinated at Huddersfield University by Robin Simmons, Stephen Lambert argues for radical solutions.

Raymond Williams and the creativity of division by Stephen Woodhams.

Marx as educator Patrick Ainley’s review of Robin Small’s ‘The Revolutionary as Educator’ (2014).

Miko Peled Cliff Jones review’s Peled’s ‘The General’s Son. Journey of an Israeli in Palestine’.

Beyond the coalition Colin Waugh reviews Patrick Ainley and Martin Allen (eds): Education Beyond the Coalition. Reclaiming the Agenda’ (2013). The book is available as a free download here: www.radicaledbks.com

Course report: ethics with clinical teacher students (1969) A reprint from our predecessor publication Liberal Education of 16th July 1969, an article by R.I. Redfern, than at Ipswich City College.

Instructive weaknesses of Liberal and General Studies Colin Waugh takes a critical look at this occasionally marginalised aspect of some curricula, and asks ‘What was this for?’.

Issue 76, July - September 2014

Another great training robbery or a real alternative for young people? Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley investigate the state of apprenticeships at the start of the 21st century.

‘Dolls are for girls and lego is for boys!’ Stephen Lambert looks at how sexist toys contribute to the gender gap in education and the workplace.

The myth of inter-generational worklessness Stephen Lambert challenges government scaremongering.

Using Jenga to teach accounts Rachel Ndukwe examines creative methods of teaching accounting and business.

Culture, tradition and values in education Eddie Playfair discusses ‘really useful’ knowledge and skills as a route to self-realisation. Download

Joining the priesthood? Vocational media education Roy Stafford, writing in 1991, discusses how communication should be taught and learnt.

Media Matters in general education Roy Stafford’s 2014 perspective on the ‘priesthood’ article above, and a reply to some of Colin Waugh’s comments made at the time.

‘Really useful’ knowledge? Richard Clarke tells the story of the London Mechanics’ Institution and the struggle for working class education.

The movement for working-class self-education Colin Waugh’s article, based on his talk at a conference on New Unionism, held in London on 18 February 2012.

Issue 77, October to December 2014

Why can’t we make it like the Germans? Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley investigate the state of apprenticeships at the start of the 21st century, in the second part of their article in issue 76.

Saving Newcastle’s forgotten generation Stephen Lambert makes the case for Newcastle’s excluded communities to receive targeted resources.

Why boys trail further behind girls at GCSE Stephen Lambert examines a change in gendered patterns of achievement.

Girls on top: is the future becoming female? Focusing on the North East, Stephen Lambert explores the notion of a shift in opportunities for women in education and employment.

‘I can see the broken eggs, but where’s the omelette? Kevin Donovan finds an antidote to the occasionally depressing state of FE, in his review of Coffield at al’s ‘Beyond Bulimic Learning: Improving teaching in further education’ (2014).

Memory in the classroom David Crabtree offers some thoughts for practitioners on memory, cognition and learning.

Lessons of the ‘Plebs’ strike? Based on a talk given by Colin Waugh to a meeting of the IWCE on 4 February 2014.

Tribute: Lauri Say Viv Fraser recalls the charismatic and highly regarded GS lecturer.

IWCEN manifesto: readers’ input welcomed! The Independent Working Class Education Network (IWCEN), set up following interest in PSE’s occasional publication ‘Plebs: The Lost Legacy of Independent Working-Class Education’, is compiling a manifesto. Comments are welcome via their website: http://iwceducation.co.uk

Issue 78, January to March 2015

UCU Charter A reprint of the University and College Union FE and Adult  Education Charter. Over 3.5 million people take part in further and adult education each year.

Towards valid general education Our own 10 point list for readers’ comments.

The roots and stunted growth of general education in vocational FHE courses Colin Waugh examines GE, from its past through to an uncertain future..

Working with the digital natives Roy Stafford makes the case for the right of students to a form of media education that integrates digital literacy with critical analysis.

Co-operation and education Sarah Amsler reviews Tom Woodkin’s (ed.) Co-operation, Learning and Co-operative Values: Contemporary Issues in Education (Routledge 2014).

Plebs: learning how to win Keith Venables discusses the network to promote independent working class education, http://iwceducation.co.uk

Towards an IWCE Network Manifesto Further contributions from Frances Thorp and John Halstead.

Mental health: challenging the stigma and ending discrimination Stephen Lambert highlights the issues.

IWCEN manifesto: readers’ input welcomed! The Independent Working Class Education Network (IWCEN), set up following interest in PSE’s occasional publication ‘Plebs: The Lost Legacy of Independent Working-Class Education’, is compiling a manifesto. Comments are welcome via their website: http://iwceducation.co.uk

Issue 80, July to September 2015

FE teachers, broken funding and dissent Rob Smith examines the state of FE and dissent within.

Why class still influences educational achievement The role of socio-economic status in schools, by Stephen Lambert .

Is there a ‘ruling class’? Perhaps not, suggests Stephen Lambert.

Reviews: UK FE and US community colleges Patrick Ainley reviews ‘The Coming of Age for FE? Reflections on the past and the future role of further education colleges in England’ (Ann Hodgson (ed.) 2015), and’John Dewey and the Future of Community College Education’ (Clifford P. Harbour, 2015).

Review: Blair: what lies behind the mask? Cliff Jones reviews Francis Beckett, David Hencke and Nick Kochan’s ‘Blair Inc.: The Man Behind the Mask (2015).

Dialogue on disruption Merv Lebor and Sandra Rennie discuss disruptive behaviour in the classroom.

Obituary: George Clarke 1924-2015: NULC organiser and TU educator Richard Ross celebrates the life of one of the last organisers for the National Council of Labour Colleges, and recalss an interview in 2012 ‘The Union Makes Us Strong’ (transcript at www.unionhistory.info)

Why rebuild IWCE? Colin Waugh introduces a section of a new PSE pamphlet ‘Class-Struggle Adult Education for the 21st Century. Why we need it and how we can move towards it’. For copies of the pamphlet email Colin at colin.waugh@btinternet.com, and for details of the IWCEN, visit www.iwceducation.co.uk, or email iwceducation@yahoo.co.uk.

Event: Beyond the Neoliberal University: Critical Pedagogy and Activism - Coventry University, Friday 18th September 2015. The event seeks to address the notion that education has become profit oriented, by bringing together activists, academics and trade unionists who are engaged practically with the consequences of the way our universities are changing.

Issue 81, October to December 2015

Tutor Voices: we present their bill of rights for professional educators in FE and skills. More information on Tutor Voices in this TES article. Download

Dancing Princesses Carlene Cornish reviews the key text behind the Tutor Voices initiative. Download

Defend Citizenship Stephen Lambert sets out the case for citizenship education in the post-16 curriculum. Download

Review: Patrick Ainley reviews ‘Coming Up Short: Working-class Adulthood in an Age of Uncertainty’ (Jennifer M. Silva 2015). Download

On practising what you preach David Ridley and Ana Ines Salvi discuss a radically democratic approach to conference workshops Download

The neo-liberalisation of higher education: a transcript of a speech given by Gurnam Singh at the Joint Campus Unions Protest Picnic at Aston University on 2nd July 2015. Download

Women who shaped ‘Marxism’ An article based on a talk given by Colin Waugh at the Independent Working-Class Education Network seminar on ‘Women Making History’, held at Unite House, London on 19th September 2015. Download

Why rebuild IWCE? Colin Waugh introduces a section of a new PSE pamphlet ‘Class-Struggle Adult Education for the 21st Century. Why we need it and how we can move towards it’. For copies of the pamphlet email Colin at colin.waugh@btinternet.com, and for details of the IWCEN, visit www.iwceducation.co.uk, or email iwceducation@yahoo.co.uk. Download

IWCEN manifesto: readers’ input welcomed! The Independent Working Class Education Network (IWCEN), set up following interest in PSE’s occasional publication ‘Plebs: The Lost Legacy of Independent Working-Class Education’, is compiling a manifesto. Comments are welcome via their website: http://iwceducation.co.uk

Issue 82, January to March 2016 (Cover)

The refugees issue: between ‘Fortress Europe’ and solidarity Comment from the Antiracist Observatory of the Aegean. Download

LGBT and ESOL Laila El-Metoui presents some ideas and materials. Download

Educating, training and the elasticity of youth Robin Simmons examines the transition from education to work, and the extent to which education could embed class-based inequality. Download

Providers fail to meet needs Stephen Lambert takes a look at a recent report by Newcastle City Council’s Skills and Training Security Group. Download

Resilience and the social work curriculumTom Considine sets out the case for social cooperation and collegiate support as part of the development of social work curriculums. Download

Review: Social Class Patrick Ainley reviews Erik Olin Wright’s ‘Understanding Class’ (2015), and Mike Savage’s ‘Social Class in the 21st Century’ (2015). Download

Review: Flippin’ eck! An urgent call for a democratic approach to education Joel Petrie reviews Jelmer Evers and Rene Kneyber’s (eds.) ‘Flip the System: Changing Education from the Ground Up’ (2016). Download

Locating post-16 professionalism: public spaces as dissenting spaces Carol Azumah Dennis examines public professional spaces, and finds defiance and dissent. Download

Lecturers’ self-organisation then and now Summary of a talk given by Colin Waugh to the Tutor Voices conference held at Northern College on 26th September 2015. Download

Issue 83, April to June 2016: 150th Issue of PSE and General Educator

Save our Colleges! Philippe Harari reflects on recent campaigns and industrial action in the face of cuts in the college sector. Download

Who runs our colleges? Stephen Lambert emphasises the need to make FE accountable again.  Download

Reviews: Patrick Ainley reviews James Avis’s ‘Social Justice, transformation and Knowledge: Policy, workplace learning and skills’ (2016), and Mike Cooley’s ‘Architect or Bee? The Human Price of Technology’ (2016). Download

The emancipated classroom David Ridley describes a Rancierean pedagogy, whereby students are motivated to teach themselves. Download

What’s happened to the ‘liberal’ in education? Tom Bailey and Keith Sellars take a critical look at notions and manifestations of education. Download

All in a Day’s Work Dave Welsh, editor of the recently published 260-page, large format, illustrated book, which is both an oral history and a guide to TU activity, describes the project behind it. Copies are available from davidwelsh83@btinternet.com  Download

William Morris and ‘making socialists’ Notes from a talk (‘William Morris: revolutionary socialist or utopian dreamer?’) given by Colin Waugh to  a meeting of Wakefield Socialist History Group in February 2016 at the Red Shed, Wakefield. Download

Issue 84, July to September 2016

Lifelong learning to end at Leicester? Sue Wheeler reflects on the recent Leicester University decision to close its adult education department, the Vaughan Centre for Lifelong Learning. Download

Prevent Stephen Lambert provides an examination of ‘extremist activities’, including a UCU 2016 conference motion, and a report of an Action for ESOL meeting in June 2016. Download

Michael Gove’s unfinished agenda for education Patrick Ainley revisits one of the 2010-14 Education Secretary’s earlier pronouncements. Download

Review Robin Simmons reviews Patrick Ainley’s ‘Betraying a Generation: how education is failing young people’ (2016). Download

The University of Utopia Mike Neary and Joss Winn present an account based on their recent research and practice of cooperative higher education. Details of their work can be found here. Download

Ada Salter An extract of a talk by Graham Taylor, based on his book ‘Ada Salter: Pioneer of Ethical Socialism’ (2016). The full text is available here. Download

From Chartism to labourism Notes from a talk  given by Colin Waugh at Independent Working-Class Education Network meetings in February and June 2016. Download

Issue 85, October to December 2016

Some dilemmas of Prevent A London ESOL Teacher contributes to the discussion begun in PSE 84, and raises issues for ESOL activists seeking involvement in the campaign against Prevent. The editors welcome further views on this topic. Download

Labour needs a programme of political education James McAsh presents an answer to Owen’s blog-question: how can the mass membership of Corbyn’s Labour translate into votes? Download

A report, a plan, a White paper and the return of secondary moderns Patrick Ainley  looks at the May government’s education policies. Download

Rediscovering the ‘new vocationalism’ Stephen Lambert discusses the need to refocus on improving and elevating the status of vocational education and training for post-16 year olds. Download

Education and training needs of the over-50s Stephen Lambert highlights the significant minority that remain economically inactive and excluded from the labour market. Download

Learning from the children? Lydia Meryll presents two case studies examining intergenerational learning about climate change, and generating positive solutions with young people. Download

Collegiate teaching and learning: a case study Louise Speare investigates practice at Leyton Sixth Form College. Download

Review: Globalised H.E. and digitised professions Patrick Ainley reviews Philip G. Altbach’s ‘Global Perspectives on Higher Education’ (2016) and Richard and Daniel Susskind’s ‘The Future of the professions, How technology will transform the work of human experts’ (2015). Download

Review: Cliff Jones reviews Miriam David’s ‘A Feminist Manifesto for Education’ (2016). Download

Issue 86, January to March 2017

Towards one union for education? Howard Stevenson looks at the likely NUT/ATL merger, including its possible implications for NASUWT and UCU. (download)

Baronesses battle Patrick Ainley investigates current debate about the future of tertiary education. (download)

British values: the case for Stephen Lambert makes the case for ‘Fundamental British Values’ (FBVs) and a Citizenship Diploma. Readers’ views welcome. (download)

Whatever happened to teacher training colleges? Robin Simmons looks back at colleges of education and what they became. (download)

Still a new trade unionism in the making? David Ridley (Branch Secretary, Coventry University UCU) draws some lessons from the recent conference marking the 40th anniversary of the Lucas Plan. (download)

Anti-working class snake oil? Jane Lethbridge considers some of the arguments put forward by those advocating a universal basic income. (download)

Review: Cliff Jones reviews Louise Regan and Tom Unterrainer’s (eds) ‘Standing Up For Education’, Spokesman Books, 2016. (download)

Review: What it’s like to be an H.E. student now Patrick Ainley reviews two recent and contrasting studies: Bruce Macfarlane’s ‘Freedom to Learn. The threat to academic freedom and why it needs to be reclaimed’ (2017); and Lorenza Antonucci’s ‘Student Lives in Crisis. Deepening inequality in times of austerity’ (2016). (download)

Review: Colin Waugh reviews ‘The Great Labour Unrest’ (2016). (download)

Social production controlled by social foresight an article version of a talk given by Colin Waugh at Independent Working-Class Education Network (IWCEN) meetings in 2016. (download)

Prevent: a comment from Becky Winstanley, calling for more discussion and less silencing. (download)

Issue 87, April to June 2017

T-levels get the go-ahead Martin Allen looks at the new ‘college based’ technical education pathway: T-levels. Originally appeared at https://education-economy-society.com (download)

21st century apprenticeships: a real alternative or something else? Stephen Lambert looks at the evidence. (download)

Tertiary education is in a mess: how to deal with it? G. R. Evans makes the case for some urgent action. (download)

Building a new education system Sol Gamsu considers the nature of an alternative, emancipatory, system of education. (download)

Technology and the human future Jane Lethbridge reviews Sheila Jasanoff’s ‘The Ethics of Invention: Technology & the Human Future’ (2016). (download)

Orthodoxy and the will to autonomy Beatrix E. Groves sets out a critique of the orthodox, leading to liberation. (download)

Do we need a new social history movement? Dave Welsh looks at building a new social history perspective situated within a broader socialist education movement. (download)

The IWW and the Plebs League Fabian Tompsett examines links between the Industrial Workers of the World and the Plebs League. (download)

‘A third organ’? Antonio Gramsci’s conception of workers’ education. An article based on a talk given by Colin Waugh on 3/12/16 to the Wakefield Socialist History Group. (download)

Notes on contributors:

Martin Allen’s blog is https://education-economy- society.com. Stephen Lambert is a Newcastle City Councillor, writing here in a personal capacity. G. R. Evans is Professor Emeritus of Medieval Theology and Intellectual History, University of Cambridge. Sol Gamsu’s article was initially published in https://theclarionmag.wordpress.com. Jane Lethbridge is at Greenwich University. For details of Bea Groves, please see p.15. Dave Welsh can be contacted at dave@britainatworklondon.com.

Issue 88, July to September 2017

Growth is OK but what about quality? Text of a new edition of the Coventry UCU pamphlet detailing issues at stake at Coventry University. Download

‘You can’t get there from here’ Carlene Cornish details her research into marginalisation and the gatekeeping function of GCSEs. Download

Towards the socially critical educator Cliff Jones looks at three modes of masters degree on offer for educators. Download

Liberal and General Studies Project progress report Colin Waugh reports on the progress of the Liberal and General Studies project. Download

Who stole the Town Hall? Patrick Ainley reviews a new book which shows how austerity has inflicted cuts on local authorities, encouraging them to outsource and downsize so that disasters like Grenfell Tower are not only inevitable but systemic. Download

Grey power or youth-quake? Stephen Lambert considers whether the old lost the general election for Corbyn or the young for May. Download

Guy Standing’s case for a basic income Jane Lethbridge reviews Guy Standing’s most recent book advocating a universal basic income. Download

Proletcult: IWCE and the Russian Revolution In a follow-up to his PSE 87 article, Fabian Tompsett discusses the contributions by Alexander Bogdanov and by Cedar and Eden Paul to the theoretical side of the Independent Working-Class Education movement. Download

Notes on contributors:

Carlene Cornish can be contacted on ccornia@essex.ac.uk. Cliff Jones lives in Sefton, Merseyside. Patrick Ainley was formerly at Greenwich University. Stephen Lambert is a Newcastle City Councillor, writing here in a personal capacity. Jane Lethbridge is at Greenwich University.

Issue 89, October to December 2017

Issue 90, January to March 2018

Issue 91, April to June 2018

Issue 92, July to September 2018

Issue 93, October to December 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issue 94, January to March 2019

Issue 95, April to June 2019

Issue 96, July to September 2019

Issue 97, October to December 2019

Issue 98, January to March 2020

Inclusion politics reshaped Carlene Cornish reviews Ed  ation and Working-Class Youth, edited by Robin Simmons and John Smyth.PSE 98 Cornish only.pdf

The case for 'British values' Stephen Lambert argues for embedding 'British values' in school, college and prison education.PSE 98 Lambert only.pdf

Life for university lecturers now Lisa Taylor looks at the recent study by Alpesh Maisuria and Svenja Helmes.PSE 98 Taylor only.pdf

Some women who led workers' struggles Article version of a talk given by Colin Waugh at the Working-Class Movement Library in Salford on 7 September 2019.PSE 98 Waugh only.pdf

Issue 99, April to June 2020

Stephen Lambert looks at the attempt to revive the Free Schools initiative.

Ian Duckett argues for reform along the lines of the 2004 Tomlinson proposals.

Donal Carroll proposes an approach to critical thinking about the media presentation of political issues.

Howard Stevenson discusses organisation within his branch during the USS and 'four fights' actions.

Article version of a talk given by Gurnam Singh at a Coventry University UCU Teach Out Event on 27/1/20.

Sharon Clancy looks at lessons from the history of the 1919 Adult Education Report and from the 2019 report marking its centenary.

Jane Lethbridge reviews Jon Nixon's recent study.

The RED Learning Cooperative details the services they offer.

Cliff Jones reviews John Bercow's autobiography.

James Avis looks at the changing situation of ‘middle-class’ workers. (For reasons of space it was regretfully decided to omit this article from the print version of PSE 99)

Issue 100, July to September 2020

Martin Allen argues that, losing out most from the financial crash of 2008 and being referrred to as a 'Lost Generation', today's youth, whether they are students or looking for employment, will constitute a 'Covid Generation'.

David Nicholls looks at the challenge for vocational qualifications.

Emma Bell describes a model developed in the Centre for Maths Excellence at Grimsby Institute.

David Kear discusses possibilities latent in the BTEC Digital Media programme.

In an article originally published on the UCUleft website, Bob Jeffery details how UCU members at Sheffield Hallam University took on the attempted imposition of excessive workloads and defended the post-92 National Contract.

Sean Wallis introduces the Convention for H.E. statement.

David Ridley criticises the Convention for H.E.'s standpoint.

Steve Brown and Joel Petrie review a crucial study of ESOL provision.

Karamat Iqbal explains his relationship with lifelong learning.

Ian Duckett sets out the background, structure and aims of the Labour Party-affiliated organisation.

Stephen Lambert emphasises the necessity to counter the growth of violent far right movements.

Issue 101, October to December 2020

Stephen Lambert considers whether Britain is returning to the great depression of the 1930s.

Robin Simmons argues that the devil is not only in the detail of the Government's £2bn scheme but in the big picture too.

Think-piece by Jane Lethbridge and Patrick Ainley aimed at staff and students at a mainstream university, proposing Green policy solutions.

David Ridley looks at the political economy of online H.E.

Cliff Jones encourages small groups to make critical sense of articles and papers.

Steve Bond and Catherine Burke pay tribute to their much respected former colleague.

Obituary by Patrick Ainley of this major thinker.

Edd Mustill describes the recent series of sessions organised by Sheffield Heeley Labour Party.

Article version of a talk given by Colin Waugh at a joint Independent Working-Class Education Network/Ella Baker School meeting in Brmingham on 7th March 2020.

Issue 102, January to March 2021

Contents

Student resistance grows but real alternatives still needed for the Covid generation

'Finished at 55': standing up for the North's older workers

Whose College of the Future?

PSE: from general education to general intellect

Freire for today

Interview: the Dancing Princesses project

The crisis in care

Review: anti-Nazi Germans

Why Unionlearn matters