Action 1.18: Research and the National Literacy Strategy
Beard, R. (2000) Research and the National Literacy Strategy. In Solar, J., Fletcher-Campbell, F. & Reid, G. (2009) Understanding Difficulties in Literacy Development: Issues and Concepts. London, Sage.
Retrospective justification for research drawn upon by NLS
Concern over literacy standards
- Moral panic in press
- Political pressure, 1997 was an election year when Labour came to power
International/national comparisons impact on initiatives
- Competitive - England had 'long tail' but needs to be considered against cultural and linguistic biases
- Slavin (1997) working in US influenced NLS - but he adds in early intervention
School Effectiveness Research
- Measured by progress cf intake
- Structured teaching and whole class teaching to maximise teacher attention - effective learning time
Structured and whole class teaching superior to individualised teaching?
With huge classes and few qualified teaching assistants then it has to be structured and whole class but I would not agree it was superior.
Accumulated Inspection Evidence - importance in future policies
I tend to think that political considerations and moral panic in the press are more likely to influence future policies than the more impartial evidence of the accumulation of inspection evidence. I would not agree that the inspections are completely apolitical as the government directs the inspection criteria.
