The Guardian – Mark Enser
“What is needed instead is a culture of excellence that permeates every classroom, department and school; a focus not on simply getting the best grade, but on getting the best education and creating a lifelong passion for learning. This shift in focus matters. Research from The Equality Trust suggests that countries with low levels of educational achievement suffer from higher levels of inequality. It concludes that: “The link between educational achievement and high aspiration is a key explanation for the association between low educational achievement and inequality.” This is not to deny the importance of qualifications – there is little doubt that educational attainment improves your life chances – but simply chasing data will never lead to a culture of high aspiration from individual pupils. Inequality will remain entrenched and life chances will still be dependent on your parents’ background.”(more)