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Author Archives: Athene Donald
Science Education, Disadvantage and Teacher Burn-out
While we wait for the Schools White Paper and the report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, other bodies have been busy, reporting specifically on the state of science education in (predominantly) English schools. Over the last few months, both … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in careers, Combined Science, Combined Science GCSE, education, institute of physics, teacher retention
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Can the Civil Society Covenant Work?
This past week I attended what struck me as an extraordinary event. Held at the Science Museum in London, it brought together multiple ministers and Secretaries of State plus many senior representatives of the Voluntary Sector/Civil Society organisations, plus some … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in Equality, Jess Phillips, Opportunity for All, Prime Minister
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Upping the Engineering Talent Pipeline
The Government’s recently published Modern Industrial Strategy has a lot to say about skills. For instance, it commits to ‘enhance skills and increase access to talent by reforming the skills and employment support system to create a strong pipeline into … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in careers, education, Lifelong learning entitlement, Skills England, stereotyping, T Levels
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Atomic Human – or Atomic Man?
I’m not convinced by the idea of AI throwing everyone out of jobs or taking over the world, but I thought I should read up some thoughtful writing on the subject, so I turned to Neil Lawrence’s 2024 book (recently … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in AI, Equality, Katherine Blodgett, Neil Lawrence, Women in science
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Skills, What Skills?
The answer to many of today’s problems seems to lie in the magic word ‘skills’, but this word can be used to mean so many different things, depending on audience and context, that in itself it is far from sufficient … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in Alison Wolf, apprenticeships, careers, education, FE Colleges, Growth and Skills Levy
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Choosing Your Image
We all know people who seem quintessentially comfortable in their own skins, who effortlessly fit in to whatever group they want to belong to and reign supreme in their world (at least socially). But, note my use of the word … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in covering, fitting in, Science Culture, self-confidence, Simon Fanshawe
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What do ‘Skills’ Mean to You?
We frequently hear the word ‘skills’ tossed about, as in ‘there’s a skills shortage’ or ‘a skills mismatch’, but put a bunch of people in a room, and ask them to discuss skills, and – with no additional qualifying words … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in absorptive capacity, apprenticeships, careers, education, Technician Committment, technicians
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Is Ballroom Dancing like Academia?
One of my secret loves is watching each series of Strictly Come Dancing. It is a feel-good vibe we all need in these dark geopolitical days, however much I don’t care how many sequins are sewed on by hand. So, … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in demeaning, entitlement, equity, Science Culture, Shirley Ballas, Women in science
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