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File this under unexpected: GW founder to open two schools as part of the UK's Government Free Schools scheme:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/games-workshop-founder-and-entrepreneur-to-open-2-free-schools

One of the founders of Games Workshop, who helped revamp the computing curriculum, is to open 2 new free schools specialising in computer science, technology and the arts, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announced today (5 February 2016) as she revealed the latest batch of this Parliament’s 500 new schools.

Drawing on his experience as a videogame entrepreneur, Ian Livingstone will open the Livingstone Academies in Tower Hamlets and Bournemouth, which will provide over 3,000 children with a rigorous education rooted in STEAM - science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. The schools, to be opened under the Aspirations Academy Trust, will use the founder’s extensive links to the creative industries to instil creative thinking and enterprise in their pupils, who will sit ‘Dragon’s Den’ style competitions and start up mock companies at the schools.

It's not really possible to discuss this without going into politics, so it can't really be discussed here.

First thing that came to mind when I read "Specialising in steam" after they mentioned they were computer science schools.


I can only assume their names are Cease and Desist. This is also probably better off in off topic I think.

Starting up mock companies is what all schools do these days.

Personally I'm not too sure about these special academies. They have been created more from the government's manic desire to get all control of everything away from local authorities and teachers (doctors in the NHS, etc.) than because any pedagogic research supports them. They don't have special parent interest or support, and their results are no better than normal schools.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
Starting up mock companies is what all schools do these days.

Personally I'm not too sure about these special academies. They have been created more from the government's manic desire to get all control of everything away from local authorities and teachers (doctors in the NHS, etc.) than because any pedagogic research supports them. They don't have special parent interest or support, and their results are no better than normal schools.

I had been a big supporter of Free Schools but they really just end up as as standard education establishments. They don't really differ from the academies and joint enterprises set up over the last decade or so.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math?

One of these is not like the others.....

While I don't have anything in particular against art, degrees in art tend to offer fewer job opportunities and pay than the other 4.

That's why I've only heard the term STEM degrees, not STEAM degrees.

I'm not keen on free schools, they don't follow the standard contracts of state schools and can make further demands on your time after school and at weekends, and don't follow similar pay scales. They can be influenced by the opinions of the private funder. As they're 'independent' the teachers don't even have to be qualified. Just because someone is enthusiastic or clever doesn't mean they can teach, but it does mean they can be paid less. It's an erosion of assured standards and undermining of the value placed on teaching qualifications.

I nearly applied for a school once until I spotted the headteacher had the title 'CEO' and I gave it a miss. I'm not working in any school with that sort of ethos.

 Kap'n Krump wrote:
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math?

One of these is not like the others.....

While I don't have anything in particular against art, degrees in art tend to offer fewer job opportunities and pay than the other 4.

That's why I've only heard the term STEM degrees, not STEAM degrees

Well, it's good you don't have anything in particular about the *ARTS* (not art), even as you obviously look down your nose at people who want to pursue something outside STEM as a career.

There are jobs and roles in society that have value other then those in STEM professions, you know. What's more, plenty of people in those roles seem to be actually happy and fulfilled, unlike many of the engineers and IT professionals I've known in well-paying but soul-crushing jobs.

 gorgon wrote:

 Kap'n Krump wrote:
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math?

One of these is not like the others.....

While I don't have anything in particular against art, degrees in art tend to offer fewer job opportunities and pay than the other 4.

That's why I've only heard the term STEM degrees, not STEAM degrees

Well, it's good you don't have anything in particular about the *ARTS* (not art), even as you obviously look down your nose at people who want to pursue something outside STEM as a career.

There are jobs and roles in society that have value other then those in STEM professions, you know. What's more, plenty of people in those roles seem to be actually happy and fulfilled, unlike many of the engineers and IT professionals I've known in well-paying but soul-crushing jobs.

Even so, this is the first time I've heard of Arts degrees being lumped in with science, technology, science and math. It's.....quite a bit of a different field of study.



.

Art only got in because it makes the brand name: "STEM. Sounds a bit flowery, add something!

I don't mind free schools or academies but the money they waste on consultants is criminal. I have never met an 'Educationalist' that I didn't want to punch.

One of the founders of Games Workshop, who helped revamp the computing curriculum, is to open 2 new free schools specialising in computer science, technology and the arts, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announced today (5 February 2016) as she revealed the latest batch of this Parliament’s 500 new schools.

Drawing on his experience as a videogame entrepreneur, Ian Livingstone will open the Livingstone Academies in Tower Hamlets and Bournemouth, which will provide over 3,000 children with a rigorous education rooted in STEAM - science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. The schools, to be opened under the Aspirations Academy Trust, will use the founder’s extensive links to the creative industries to instil creative thinking and enterprise in their pupils, who will sit ‘Dragon’s Den’ style competitions and start up mock companies at the schools.

Emphasis mine. Art(s) is fairly important in teaching creative thinking and enterprise. One might say Ian Livingstone (and cohort Steve Jackson) built an empire on the Arts.

Blech, Academies and Free Schools are hotbeds of corruption on the small scale in my experience, with the owners/funders giving contracts to board members or friends and partners because it doesn't have to be open to tender or go through normal scrutiny. They're awash with public money flowing into private pockets and pretty badly regulated, but have ideological cover from a government that is pushing the model because it believes in breaking state control in education.

They're also infested with corporatist ideas and tend to suffer horrible upper management bloat which leads to all sorts of perverse outcomes.

Worked for one before, will not ever do so again.

I've got to say, isn't, "Science Technology Engineering Arts and Maths" just um... Well, school...

Seriously though, what does that leave? Gym?

The revised IT curriculum is being slated by IT teachers.

The Free School program is an ideogically driven waste of money.

Such a shame.

Are there a decent percentage of IT teachers now that, well, are trained in IT?

Most of the cases when I was at school was. "Oh, there's no places for maths teachers left. I guess I'll have to teach IT then. Urgh, computers are a waste of time."

 Compel wrote:
Are there a decent percentage of IT teachers now that, well, are trained in IT?

Most of the cases when I was at school was. "Oh, there's no places for maths teachers left. I guess I'll have to teach IT then. Urgh, computers are a waste of time."

To be fair, most math could be taught by a computer program. Just about every math class I had till I took upper level calc was such that the teacher was little more than a talking head, we just did math problems out of the book and that was it for the most part.

I'm referring more so the other way around. When I was at school, most IT or computing teachers particularly resented being, well, IT or Computing teachers.

This was due to them wanting to teach maths instead. And they *really* disliked computers...

 n0t_u wrote:
First thing that came to mind when I read "Specialising in steam" after they mentioned they were computer science schools.


I can only assume their names are Cease and Desist. This is also probably better off in off topic I think.

Beat me to it but yeah I thought the same.

I suppose it's possible to believe not all the heads of GW have their heads up their respective ***es and aren't 100% evil (even if they're close). Now if only they could understand the key to future success for GW is video games, the internet and various other popular forms of media rather than a niche tabletop community that's probably dying in general. Let me put it this way. There's a reason 'Warhammer Fantasy' died and 'Warcraft' (the supposed thief of the warhammer fantasy IP) is getting a movie in theaters. Video games are just easier to get into and far more popular. GW needs to learn about things like this and ya know how to do business. Sell to other markets to increase your customer base instead of cracking down super hard on your IP.

 Compel wrote:
Are there a decent percentage of IT teachers now that, well, are trained in IT?

Most of the cases when I was at school was. "Oh, there's no places for maths teachers left. I guess I'll have to teach IT then. Urgh, computers are a waste of time."

Considering you're british and that is an experience in the UK I'm willing to bet Turing (creator of computers and a british man) would be rolling in his grave.

 Grey Templar wrote:

 Compel wrote:
Are there a decent percentage of IT teachers now that, well, are trained in IT?

Most of the cases when I was at school was. "Oh, there's no places for maths teachers left. I guess I'll have to teach IT then. Urgh, computers are a waste of time."

To be fair, most math could be taught by a computer program. Just about every math class I had till I took upper level calc was such that the teacher was little more than a talking head, we just did math problems out of the book and that was it for the most part.

I reckon we should try that out in a controlled trial and see which kids do better.

Take cohorts as similar as possible, one group get taught by computer (Khan Academy or something) the other group gets taught by a teacher. I'm pretty sure I know how it would come out - the smart kids would do fine with no teacher, the weaker ones would crash and burn without one.

Does this mean you can pass all your exams by turning the paper to page 400?