Category Archives: EDUCATION COMMITTEE EVIDENCE
Summer Born Campaign group submits Evidence to the Education Committee
In response to the Education Committee’s invitation for views on the strength of evidence for the DfE’s policy on summer born children, the Summer Born Campaign has submitted the evidence below in response to the DfE’s ‘Evidence Check’ memorandum: 1. Important relevant research … Continue reading
Important Research Papers for the Education Committee’s ‘Evidence Check’
Below a list of additional evidence submitted to the Education Committee following their invitation for views on the strength of the evidence in relation to the current policy on Summer Born Children and the effect of birth date on student achievement (my … Continue reading
Response to the DfE’s ‘Summer Born Children’ Evidence Check for the Education Committee
The DfE’s ‘Evidence Check’ memorandum can be read here, and the numbers in our response below relate to this. POLICY 1. Re: “the point at which the other children in their year group are moving up from the reception class to year one“. … Continue reading
Education Committee ‘Summer Born’ Comments by Michelle Melson
Michelle Melson has also submitted the comments below to the Education Committee’s ‘Evidence check’ forum on Summer Born Children: PART 1 – “… the point at which the other children in their year group are moving up from the reception class to year one.” … Continue reading
Education Committee ‘School Starting Age’ Comments by Michelle Melson
One of the authors of the January 2014 Summer Born report, Michelle Melson, has submitted these comments to the Education Committee’s ‘Evidence check’ forum on School Starting Age: PART 1 – DfE paragraph 2 “Parents who feel their child is not … Continue reading
Education Committee ‘Phonics’ Comments by Pauline Hull
For me, both as a parent and former teacher, one of the worse aspects of intense and excessive phonics teaching over a period of two years is that it can have an adverse effect on children who are actually progressing … Continue reading
Education Committee ‘Summer Born’ Comments by Pauline Hull
I have also submitted the comments below to the Education Committee’s ‘Evidence check’ forum on Summer Born Children: PART 1 – The main point with regards the DfE’s strength of evidence is this – it’s most relevant to the wrong questions, and … Continue reading
Education Committee ‘School Starting Age’ Comments by Pauline Hull
One of the authors of the January 2014 Summer Born report, Pauline Hull, has submitted these comments to the Education Committee’s ‘Evidence check’ forum on School Starting Age: PART 1 – Principally the Committee should be concerned that in its evidence … Continue reading
Research Doctor’s Criticises DfE in Submission to the Education Committee
Dr. David Ockwell very kindly contacted the Summer Born Campaign group and gave us permission to publish his submission: I am a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sussex and Deputy Director of Research at a £10m Economic and Social Research … Continue reading
Education Committee Wants YOUR VIEWS on Govt Summer Born Policy
With a deadline of midday December 12, 2014, the Education Committee is inviting your views, via an online forum, on the strength of the evidence in relation to the DfE’s current policy on Summer Born Children (among others). In order to identify … Continue reading
MP Graham Stuart: It’s worth examining Giving Parents the Right
In an April 2014 summer born interview, Conservative MP and current Chair of the Education Select Committee, told trainee journalist Fayrouz Shehrezade Essack, “Personally I think that giving parents the right, so that they don’t lose their positions in terms of gaining … Continue reading
Positive first meeting with Chairman of the Education Select Committee
On Tuesday 13th May 2014, summer born campaigners Michelle Melson, Pauline Hull and Stefan Richter, together with Annette Brooke MP, met with Graham Stuart, Chairman of the Education Select Committee in his Parliament office. The following is a summary of this meeting:
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
On November 21, 2013 in response to the UK’s call for views ahead of its next (fifth) periodic report to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), journalist Pauline Hull submitted the following suggested ‘additional example / supplementary evidence for … Continue reading
DfE says empowered parents should be primary decision-makers
During today’s Common’s Debate (held in Westminster Hall at 4pm), Elizabeth Truss, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, answered some of MP Annette Brooke’s concerns regarding the current problems being faced by the parents of some summer born children. … Continue reading
Important debate in Westminster today
Earlier today, Annette Brooke, the MP for Mid-Dorset and North Poole, opened a Westminster Hall debate calling for a fairer school starting age for Summer-born pupils. The full Hansard transcript of the debate can be read here, and you can also view film … Continue reading
New Q and A’s on summer born children from the DfE
Below is an extract of the Q&As contained within Advice on the admission of summer born children, a new publication this week from the Department of Education for local authorities, school admission authorities and parents. Key points School admission authorities are … Continue reading
DfE publishes new advice on the admission of summer born children
The Department for Education has today published new advice for local authorities, school admission authorities and parents of summer born children. The document Advice on the admission of summer born children can be downloaded on the DfE website page, which also provides a summary of … Continue reading
Early Day Motion tabled for Summer Born Children
Thanks to Annette Brook MP, the Early Day Motion below has been tabled this week, and signatures of support can be read here.
2013 Canadian research worth reading
A friend of mine who teaches in a Canadian primary school was shocked to learn that most 4-year-old children in England MUST start school at age 4 OR lose their Kindergarten (Reception) year of teaching. I decided to take a look at some … Continue reading
IFS report argues against flexibility without direct findings
Its new report, When You Are Born Matters: Evidence for England, makes very interesting reading, and will likely lead to vigorous debate among policy makers and education professionals. I’d like to quickly share a few things that struck me almost immediately. The authors clearly state that their findings do … Continue reading
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