ESW CEO Matthew Shanks Speaks Out at Labour Party Conference
Matthew Shanks, the CEO of Education South West, (ESW) a trust that runs fourteen schools across Devon including Kevicc, was in Liverpool this week to attend the Labour Party Conference.
Mr Shanks currently chairs the Department for Education Secondary Headteacher Reference Group which advises on the potential impact of policies on education. In addition, the whole ESW senior team is highly engaged with the topical educational issues of the day and invested in working collaboratively to help address them.
Mr. Shanks was invited to Liverpool by the Education Policy Institute, with which ESW works closely, to participate in panel discussions alongside Labour politicians, education experts, and fellow school leaders.
He took part in one event with the former Schools Minister, Lord Jim Knight, and Parentkind, a UK charity representing the voice of parents and Parent Teacher Associations, about how to change the experience of schools so children enjoy learning again. Research from Parentkind found that half of parents feel that the current curriculum and assessment system means children are less likely to enjoy school.Mr Shanks talked about the importance of valuing the talents of every individual child and of making schools places where all children are inspired and challenged to be successful so they can leave school equipped with qualifications and confidence, able to contribute to society. He emphasised that success and achievement for individuals comes in many forms.
The event looked at how parents, schools and policy makers can help children to enjoy school again and the panel discussed why some children are disengaged with school and what can be done about it.
Mr Shanks was also part of a panel with Schools Minister, Catherine McKinnell, MP, which considered the classroom of tomorrow. They discussed the recently released report chaired by former Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, which highlights amongst other things, the high number of examinations children take and the content of the curriculum.
Mr Shanks raised the fact that the current assessment system puts barriers in the way for children getting the necessary qualifications to be considered successful at school, as well as incentivising practice which does not always support children. He welcomed the curriculum and assessment review chaired by Professor Becky Francis.
Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said:
“It was illuminating to be up in Liverpool this week speaking to key decision makers and other school leaders about their thoughts on education in this country. I enjoyed taking part in panel events with other people who clearly care very deeply about young people and there was a real positive energy around what we can do by working together across the sector to create a world class education system in which children thrive personally and academically.
“While the work Education South West does means that our day-to-day focus is on educating children in Devon, we care deeply about ensuring that schools up and down the country are the very best they can be. At the same time, it’s great to speak up for the South West as we know historically the region has felt overlooked by central government.”
One way to allow children to enjoy school more would be to ban exams, which, as most of us know, are good for those who can do exams and useless for those of us who can’t.Proving you can do exams does not prove anything to a prospective employer. I failed all my school exams but ended up with a first class honours degree and a Masters Distinction and a PGCE. But can I do exams? No. So are exams a good method of assessing academic ability? No. Common sense really……