Raising academic standards by lowering funding scope ...

Many reading this are blessed with the ignorance of not needing to know how English funding works for post 16 education. To say that the theory of relativity sometimes seems simple and that everyone has agreed on this for a long time, gives an indication of the nightmare it has become.

Coming this September is another change. Like we have had a few in our time.

So, what is new, the funding is no longer qualification lead, instead student lead. The pro for this is that there is the same base funding per student per college, irrespective of the qualification. So A level students cost the same as vocational, resolving at least a lifetime of disparity in favour of the more academic qualifications.

The con, for many colleges, is that some named qualifications used to attract more funding, so now the temptation is to teach within the hours available per learner and the hours only. Because now the design of the funding allows for multiple qualifications to be taught in the funding window. A college can easily aim for a lower effort qualification and top this up with other less risky certificates.

Now; if you are aware of the ministerial desire to raise standards and academic rigour of qualifications. You may see the sudden dichotomy in having a funding model that could encourage dumbing down and Michael Mouse qualifications.

So rigour up, funding scope down ... yay.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Wikipedia editors never walk alone: Hillsborough changes can be traced ... from @ConversationUK

Highlights and lowlights of 2014, a golden year for cybercrime from @ConversationUK

If airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi, they should invest in an extra black box for security ...