Here are the 10 most interesting things I’ve learned from over 10 years working in education policy. Number 3 is contentious! …
- Education is a unique area of policy, because we all experience it throughout different stages of our lives and from difference perspectives, both directly and as a parents.
- Knowledge is just as important as skills. Most people would say skills are the most important thing with the ‘you can google it’ response, but, as an example, try doing data analysis without knowing anything about statistics! Skills are built on knowledge.
- Memorising things is NOT a waste of time – our working memory is small and should be reserved for problem solving, not figuring out what 6 x 8 is. Being able to recall useful information is still a vital thing to be able to do as an adult.
- Roughly 3 in 10 pupils don’t pass Maths and English GCSEs – these are important indicators of numeracy and literacy, which are crucial for anything you want to do in life really, including vocational work.
- There are many barriers for young people along the way – 75% of economically advantaged high-achievers went to university by 21 versus 57% of disadvantaged high-achievers in the same cohort.
- The gap between ‘good’ and ‘poor’ schools is a lot smaller than you think once you control for intake. A school with 60% FSM and low grades might actually be a ‘better’ school than once where 90% get straight As. You need proper contextual value added statistics to compare which schools make the most progress for pupils.
- Schools are NOT the most important predictor of children’s attainment, hence should not be the main lever for improving grades. The most important things are at the individual and family level (playing, reading, home learning environment, good parenting, poverty etc.) and especially the development of children aged 5.
- Where you live has less influence on your educational outcomes than the family you are born into, this is why there is more variation within areas than between them. Although local areas with stronger cross-class mixing seem to be quite effective in improving social mobility.
- Genetics play an important role in educational attainment. Plenty of evidence shows that genetics influences an individual’s disposition towards learning activities, reading etc. However, the gene-environment interactions (epigenetics) are so important that it doesn’t even make sense to view genes in isolation.
- The most important predictors of your future earnings are cognitive ability / educational attainment, certain personality traits (extraversion, consciousness and emotional stability) and socio-economic background (economic, social cultural capital).
Any you would add? Any you disagree with?
Share your thoughts in the comments…
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