Comprehensive Education - Examining the Evidence

Report of the CASE Seminar held on 1st November 1999 at Westminster Central Hall

Speakers

Click on any speaker's name for a full transcript of their address

Professor Peter Mortimore

Director of the Institute of Education. He has worked in the education field for over 30 years as a teacher, local authority officer and HMI inspector as well as university teacher and researcher. Recognised internationally as a researcher, lecturer and consultant he is an expert in school effectiveness and improvement. The Road to Improvement, a collection of published works on the theme of school improvement, was published by Swets and Zeitlinger in 1998. Currently President of the British Educational Research Association and Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of London.

Dr John Marks

Director of the Educational Research Trust and Secretary of the Education Study Group at the Centre for Policy Studies. 30 years teaching experience in universities, polytechnics and schools. Has been elected parent governor of a comprehensive school. Tutor with the Open University. Formerly a member of the Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Recent publication for the Social Market Foundation An Anatomy of Failure; Standards in English Schools for 1997.

Professor David Jesson

Degree from Manchester University, further study at Magdelene College, Cambridge. Taught at Charterhouse and then Christ Hospital School, Lincoln. Has also taught at secondary modern and comprehensive schools. For 20 years at University of Sheffield School of Education and more recently at University of York (Economics) where he is Associate Director of the Centre for Performance Evaluation and Resource Management. A practising member of the Church of England who welcomes the present Government's moves towards a more inclusive form of society's organisation.

Dr Niall McCafferty

Taught for 7 years in primary school then 33 years in secondary intermediate school, the last 10 of them as headmaster. Both schools are in the Creggan estate. Seconded from school for two years to work with "unattached" young people above school leaving age. Since retiring one of his activities is to coordinate a quarterly leaflet, Education Reform 21, designed to facilitate the establishment of non-selective education system in Northern Ireland.

Professor Tony Edwards

Emeritus Professor of Education at Newcastle University, where he headed the Education Faculty until 1996. With Professor Geoff Whitty, he has co-directed research on the Assisted Places Scheme, the City Technology College initiative, and (most recently) on the educational careers and entry into employment of young people from selective and non-selective schools. He was chair of governors at a Northumberland comprehensive school 1991-1998.

Dr Lee Elliot Major

Did his PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Sheffield. Since 1994 he has written for the publication Research Fortnight, which covers research policy in the UK and Europe, now deputy editor. Subscribers are senior managers in universities, research institutes, medical charities, government departments and industry. Since 1996 has also written about post-school education policy, particularly covering teaching and research in universities, in the Guardian's higher education weekly supplement. Access into universities has been a particular theme. This year he jointly compiled the first Guardian teaching quality rankings for university departments. Has also written articles in the Guardian, Observer, and New Statesman on education, science, and government policy issues.

David Whitbread

Retired in 1998 as Head of Education at the Local Government Association after 30 years as an Education Officer in local government, following varied experience which included teaching, research and course development. Local government experience started in 1968 with 5 years in Norfolk as Senior Assistant Education Officer responsible for Further and Higher Education. Then Hertfordshire for 11 years as Principal Assistant Education Officer with responsibility for schools (which gave direct experience of comprehensive reorganisation). In 1994 appointed Under Secretary of Education at the Association of County Councils, then ACC Education Officer in 1997. Appointed as Head of Education at LGA when the local authority associations merged to form a single organisation in 1998 and then took his planned retirement after seeing through the initial establishment of the new organisation and its part in the consultation on the education legislation of the new Government.

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Speakers
Click on any speaker's name for a full transcript of their address
Professor Peter Mortimore	Director of the Institute of Education. He has worked in the education field for over 30 years as a teacher, local authority officer and HMI inspector as well as university teacher and researcher. Recognised internationally as a researcher, lecturer and consultant he is an expert in school effectiveness and improvement. The Road to Improvement, a collection of published works on the theme of school improvement, was published by Swets and Zeitlinger in 1998. Currently President of the British Educational Research Association and Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of London.
Dr John Marks	Director of the Educational Research Trust and Secretary of the Education Study Group at the Centre for Policy Studies. 30 years teaching experience in universities, polytechnics and schools. Has been elected parent governor of a comprehensive school. Tutor with the Open University. Formerly a member of the Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Recent publication for the Social Market Foundation An Anatomy of Failure; Standards in English Schools for 1997.
Professor David Jesson	Degree from Manchester University, further study at Magdelene College, Cambridge. Taught at Charterhouse and then Christ Hospital School, Lincoln. Has also taught at secondary modern and comprehensive schools. For 20 years at University of Sheffield School of Education and more recently at University of York (Economics) where he is Associate Director of the Centre for Performance Evaluation and Resource Management. A practising member of the Church of England who welcomes the present Government's moves towards a more inclusive form of society's organisation.
Dr Niall McCafferty	Taught for 7 years in primary school then 33 years in secondary intermediate school, the last 10 of them as headmaster. Both schools are in the Creggan estate. Seconded from school for two years to work with "unattached" young people above school leaving age. Since retiring one of his activities is to coordinate a quarterly leaflet, Education Reform 21, designed to facilitate the establishment of non-selective education system in Northern Ireland.
Professor Tony Edwards	Emeritus Professor of Education at Newcastle University, where he headed the Education Faculty until 1996. With Professor Geoff Whitty, he has co-directed research on the Assisted Places Scheme, the City Technology College initiative, and (most recently) on the educational careers and entry into employment of young people from selective and non-selective schools. He was chair of governors at a Northumberland comprehensive school 1991-1998.
Dr Lee Elliot Major	Did his PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Sheffield. Since 1994 he has written for the publication Research Fortnight, which covers research policy in the UK and Europe, now deputy editor. Subscribers are senior managers in universities, research institutes, medical charities, government departments and industry. Since 1996 has also written about post-school education policy, particularly covering teaching and research in universities, in the Guardian's higher education weekly supplement. Access into universities has been a particular theme. This year he jointly compiled the first Guardian teaching quality rankings for university departments. Has also written articles in the Guardian, Observer, and New Statesman on education, science, and government policy issues.
David Whitbread	Retired in 1998 as Head of Education at the Local Government Association after 30 years as an Education Officer in local government, following varied experience which included teaching, research and course development. Local government experience started in 1968 with 5 years in Norfolk as Senior Assistant Education Officer responsible for Further and Higher Education. Then Hertfordshire for 11 years as Principal Assistant Education Officer with responsibility for schools (which gave direct experience of comprehensive reorganisation). In 1994 appointed Under Secretary of Education at the Association of County Councils, then ACC Education Officer in 1997. Appointed as Head of Education at LGA when the local authority associations merged to form a single organisation in 1998 and then took his planned retirement after seeing through the initial establishment of the new organisation and its part in the consultation on the education legislation of the new Government.
Click here to return to CASE Home Page