28 Jun

Posted at 09:27h in Uncategorized

Self Managed Learning (SML) has been extensively researched for its impact on young people. This approach allows learners to take control of their education, setting their own goals and determining the best methods to achieve them. For a comprehensive overview of the research and findings on Self Managed Learning, please download the PDF linked below. A summary of research on Self Managed Learning ...

28 Jun

Posted at 08:33h in Uncategorized

This is a common question when parents visit SML College. One basis for this assumption is that somehow schools provide a rich, broad, child-centred curriculum that prepares them well for their careers and future life. Nothing could be further from the truth as the National Curriculum is narrow and unbalanced. It emphasises academic learning and undermines the chance for young people to learn practical skills. Every survey of employers has confirmed this view. We have students who have been sent by a local secondary school to pursue their learning with us. In one example, the individual student decided that they wanted...

13 Mar

Posted at 08:38h in Uncategorized

Letter to The Guardian Your report (’Children are being failed’: why more English parents are home educating, 13 March) is clearly correct that schooling is failing an increasing number of children and their parents. However pure home schooling is not the only alternative. The law says that children must be educated and that there are two equally valid options – school or ‘otherwise’. Part of ‘otherwise’ are small part time learning communities that are growing rapidly to provide the social and other support that your report identifies as could be missing in a mainly home-based approach. Our learning community, for 9-17 year...

28 Oct

Posted at 09:08h in Uncategorized

There are a number of reasons why it is difficult to get adults to treat the views of young people seriously. And because of this syndrome we have problems in convincing many adults to accept a truly personalised education that responds to what the young person wants and needs. The Fallacy One error is what I have labelled the Caterpillar to Butterfly Fallacy. To explain that I have to say a little about caterpillars and butterflies first. When I was younger I would sometimes find myself in fusty museums. Some of these would have glass fronted cases containing displays of butterflies all neatly...

28 Aug

Posted at 08:40h in Uncategorized

I would guess that no one ever said on their deathbed: “I wish I had got better grades at GCSE”. In fact, research on deathbed regrets suggests that people in different parts of the world show similar responses. A top regret, for instance, is around relationships - and people feeling that they may have neglected friends and loved ones or may have allowed work to dominate their lives. Others regret the kind of career they have had and feel that they have not fulfilled themselves through their work life. There is a link here to Freud’s comment that “love and work...

21 Jul

Posted at 08:55h in Uncategorized

Tens of thousands of young people will get worse results in their exams this summer due to factors beyond their control. The reasons for the award of GCSEs or A Levels (or other qualifications) are not simply down to those factors that are commonly cited - for example intelligence and hard work. Here is some uncomfortable research evidence for those who hold such simplistic views. The Department for Education’s own research shows that at least 10,000 summer born (May to August) children will have gained worse results at GCSE this year than autumn born (September to December) children just because of their...