“Kenneth Baker is a force of nature and this book graphically describes his odyssey in changing the face of education” - Anthony Seldon, Headmaster, Wellington College, UK
It would be hard to describe Kenneth Baker's new book any better than Anthony Seldon does above.We are delighed to be publishing 14-18 - A New Vision for Secondary Education by Kenneth Baker in January 2013. As former Secretary of State for Education and Home
Secretary, as well as current chairman of the Edge Foundation and the Baker
Dearing Educational Trust, there is no one better placed to look at the future of secondary education.
In this book Kenneth claims that secondary education has become a five-year programme with a single, narrow aim: to prepare pupils for high-stakes GCSE exams at 16. He argues that the National Curriculum should extend only to the age of 14 and that there should be four distinct pathways from 14-18 to take account of young people's emerging interests talents and ambitions: Liberal Arts; Technical; Sports and Creative Arts; and Career. All pathways will provide a broad education, but each will have a distinctive character matched to the talents and ambitions of individual students.
In 14-18 - A New Vision for 14-18 Education, Kenneth Baker builds a compelling case for reform, with contributions from a range of educationalists including David Harbourne, Nigel Wyatt, Mike Tomlinson, Alan Smithers, Robert B. Schwartz, Andrew Halls with David Brandon-Bravo.
We can't wait to publish it. We're also delighted to have received these outstanding endorsements already for the book:
“This brings the much welcome blast of rationality into the education debate and undercuts almost everything being said by politicians. It is full of serious, sensible proposals for ways of making education better for everyone.” - Michael Rosen, author and broadcaster, UK
“This is a hugely important book on education and skills policy. Kenneth Baker sets out a vision and a blueprint for 14-18 education, with technical education at its heart as it should be. It ought to be required reading for school and college leaders and policy-makers.” - Lord Andrew Adonis
“Policy makers and educators should read and learn from this book. Lord Baker has, with the help of a galaxy of writers, assembled a compelling argument for a new pattern of schooling. He persuades the reader that 14 is the right age for young people to make a choice of either academic or technical education, with both routes holding equal rigour and status. This indeed is one of the most important books on education for a decade and more.” - Baroness Perry of Southwark
We will be posting up more blog posts about this, including digital previews, as we approach publication date. Keep an eye on our twitter to find out when!
Jenny Tighe
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