The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. As the waves break on the sand, so too do the barriers between siblings. 'True to its roots and founding principles the school places emphasis on collaboration and care for others. We ask the heads of two leading schools, is it time to abolish GCSEs? Deserves to be heard by a bigger audience. However, we dont need another change to the exam system in order to achieve this. At Bedales teenagers still sit GCSEs in five core subjects, but also take four or five of the schools own Bedales Assessed Courses (BACs). Magnus Bashaarat, of the 37,000-a-year Bedales in Hampshire, made the claim in the wake of the Labour Party conference voting to "integrate" private schools with the public sector. She is known for Our River.Our Sky (2021), Night Shapes (1999) and Homeland (2011). Name of Head: Magnus Bashaarat Address: Church Road, Steep, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 2DG UK Registered Company, Reg. Bedales is the first school to be recognised by UCAS as offering its own GCSE-replacement qualification. Magnus Bashaarat 20 August 2020 2:00pm . are notoriously unreliable, and there is powerful evidence that the status quo does a disservice to applicants from the state sector and disadvantaged families. Sydenham High School on navigating change, The King Alfred School on real-world learning. 08131068 - Website by versantus.co.uk, Sign up for our newsletter for the latest School Admissions Industry News, UK School Application Consultancy and Support, Find out more about our school placement expertise here, Green Park House, 15 Stratton Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 8LQ. "Reflecting over the summer" reads as code for 'jumping before he was pushed'. Magnus Bashaarat told i that retro-traditional GCSEs were terribly past their sell-by-date. By Magnus Bashaarat, Head of Bedales This year's annual HMC Conference was held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester. In an article for The Week Independent Schools Guide (Autumn/Winter 2021), Head of Bedales Magnus Bashaarat discusses educating in the time of COVID and his conviction that face-to-face contact between teachers and students is crucial, and makes the case for assessment reform. all private schools become part of the state system. Magnus has been Head of Bedales Schools since September 2018. Sara, 11, is a Syrian refugee living in Lebanons Bekaa Valley in an informal tented settlement. Established in 1893, Bedales was Read more . Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. We have noticed that there is an issue with your subscription billing details. The demise of the AS-Level freed up time that we have used to develop a programme of teacher-designed diploma courses. However, they. In 1994 Magnus moved to Eton where he taught English, coached football and cricket and directed house and school plays. I can understand why some commentators are advocating the abolition of GCSEs but I feel their focus is misplaced. number: 07222273 Magnus concludes: As we consider a world no longer dominated by the threat of COVID, we must aim higher than simply returning to what we knew. She dreams of having a nicer home, She spends almost all her time in the tent when not at school: her brothers Ali and Deeb wont let her play football with them, Hadi, 2, is taught some basics of English by Sara to prepare him for enrolment into an UNRWA school when he is 6. By using our website, you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. I support the ongoing reforms: the overriding effort to further raise standards is a laudable one. But it has emerged that school governors at Bedales asked him to resign his HMC role in order to dedicate more time to the school during his final year as headmaster, helping with the transition to his successor, Magnus Bashaarat. Church Road ActorDaniel Day Lewis also attended the school. To build a broader coalition of support for exam reform from like-minded educationalists, politicians and business people, Bedales has played a central role in founding the Rethinking Assessment group. In November one head at a girls private school said future generations would look back on them like the Victorian dunce cap. The start of the pandemic saw some independent schools delivering their curricula online to a paying customer base beyond their usual rolls. 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. considers the national curriculum and associated qualification regime to be prescriptive, dull, narrow and inadequate, and points to the. Discover the reason behind the inception of theschool byitsfounder, John Haden Badley. The demise of the AS-Level freed up time that we have used to develop a programme of teacher-designed diploma courses. After a year when he worked in newspapers (the Observer and The London Evening Standard) he completed a PGCE in English and Drama at King's College, London, and then started his teaching career at Sherborne School in 1992. The head of a private school has said he would rather close down than see it become part of the state system. Discover howBedalesrecruit their studentsincompared toapplying tootherindependent schools. To read the full article, click below, with thanks to The Week Independent Schools Guide. If the government were to follow his lead, he says, we could still prevent a grading disaster next year . Mr Bashaarat said the school had been offering BACs for over 10 years and it doesnt mean that there are fewer offers made to university applicants at all. As a country, the challenge is to ensure appropriate vocational routes have equal respect from employers and higher education providers so that the large percentage of 16-year-olds for whom the new GCSEs are still inappropriate or too difficult have something worthwhile to show for their time in school. E: admin@bedales.org.uk, Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Cookies Policy | Privacy | Contact Us, Bedales Schools | Website Design by Oyster. I'm sure everyone appreciates how challenging the last 18 months have been for everyone, especially teachers. Bedalesis situated just one hours journey from London, andhas a linked prep school,Dunhurstand pre-prep,Dunannie. Magnus explains that the school considers the national curriculum and associated qualification regime to be prescriptive, dull, narrow and inadequate, and points to the growing dissatisfaction with GCSEs, increasingly considered redundant given the raising of the school leaving age to 18, and governments fixation with exams. These are the five different single 'types' on the dating scene - and why knowing your personality is the Theatre issues trigger warning for production which 'involves the handling of a cooked egg'. The orthodoxy of deeming some educational subjects worthy (STEM, English etc) and others less so is suspect. At least now within our own school campus, re-imagined as a self-governed city state, we have the opportunity to return to that sacred exchange of teaching and learning that seeks to link 'head, hand and heart.' By Magnus Bashaarat, Head of Bedales The head of a famously progressive private school has said he would rather shut down than integrate into the state system. With appropriate moderation, this would play to strengths already present in our education system. A motion proposing all private schools become part of the state system, with their assets redistributed, was passed at last weeks Labour conference. A vocal critic of GCSEs, Mr Bashaarat has previously called them a high stakes pub quiz. Sounds like there's a scandal there somewhere! Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. It is encouraging that many of the new universities offer imaginative programmes in emerging creative and technological fields, and are similarly broad-minded in their entry requirements. Steep He said he would rather the famously progressive institution closed than 'sacrifice everything good that we do', adding that school should be 'a preparation for life', not just for a job. He has also worked at Stowe as Deputy Head, Eton as a Housemaster and Sherbourne as a . I'm sure everyone appreciates how challenging the last 18 months have been for everyone, especially teachers. increasingly considered redundant given the raising of the school leaving age to 18, and governments fixation with exams. Her brothers are now inviting their sister to come and play with them, which is very unlike things are back home in the tent where Saras place is indoors helping with chores, Sara, Ali and Deeb chase the white water on Lebanons coastline. The BBC will suspend the 159-a-year licence fee for two days so people can watch EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Could Nicola Sturgeon return the Stone of Scone for King Charles's coronation as one of Just 11 MINUTES of brisk walking each day is enough to slash your chances of dying early, study reveals. We launched BACs in 2006 as an outward-looking alternative to some non-core GCSEs. Thebank that won't pass on rate rises unless you ring and ask:Just one of the ruses greedy lenders use to Meghan Markle was 'hugely disappointed' by life in the royal family and as a 'global superstar' she 'hated More snow and ice could batter Britain next week: Met Office warns Arctic blast from Greenland could send Shamima Begum and other British women who joined Islamic State and are being held in Syria will 'ultimately' Is YOUR lifestyle good for your heart? Church Road In our apparent rush to address a perceived weakness with the current system, we should be careful not to overlook its strengths. Rishi Sunak looked like he had won the lottery. Here at William Clarence, we haveunparalleledexperience supporting students and their familiesfrom all over the worldin their independent school applications, and helping students achieve their desired placement. Bedales is situated just one hour's journey from London, and has a linked prep school, Dunhurst and pre-prep, Dunannie. 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Crucially, the authors favoured diverse assessment methodologies. All rights reserved. It was Tim's first live gig since lockdown, and he was visibly pleased to be speaking to a real rather than virtual audience. The head of a private school has said he would rather close down than see it become part of the state system. The comments below have not been moderated. This website uses cookies to improve user experience. GU32 2DG, Reception Whatever government decides to do next will require energy, and it would be a waste to expend that energy on heading back to where we were a place that fewer and fewer people were happy being. The school,founded in 1893, advertises itself as being 'different' from the schools of its time. Sitting on a swing in Beirut, she hopes for a better future built on a good education and psychosocial support made possible by EAA and UNRWA, Sara has dreams of moving to Canada, Europe or the Gulf states where she can study in English and eventually become a doctor. Magnus Bashaarat, the headteacher of Bedales School, where pupils sit a core of five GCSEs alongside alternative coursework focused Bedales Assessed Courses, said he hoped . Discover whichGCSEs,A Levelsand BTECsare available to study atthe school, alongside their ownBedalesAssessed Courses. He said: Were I to be given the ultimatum, tomorrow, that Bedales be made a state school, and that it should follow the national curriculum and policymakers preoccupations with the transfer of knowledge and disregard for humanities and the arts, I would decline. After a one-year teaching sabbatical at Sydney Grammar School he returned to Eton to become a Housemaster before moving to Stowe School as Deputy Head in 2009 and then Milton Abbey School as Headmaster, in January 2014. T: 01730 300100 Magnus Bashaarat is Head of Bedales school . Since then she has faced many adversaries with her friends and has won with their help. Sara wants to be able to contribute to a society by becoming a doctor to help others, Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Syrian refugee in Lebanon: Education is the foundation of my dreams, Private school head 'would rather close down' than become state school, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off selected items using this eBay voucher code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Myriam Abbas. Find out whatBedalescandidates are assessed on and how, and at what point before they start school. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. I would rather we shut our doors.. I think theyre terribly past their sell-by-date.. The Bedales Enrichment Programme is designed to both complement and offer contrast to traditional A-Level choices. Catherine Lough. Bedales has been innovating with its own wider range of assessments since 2006 when it introduced Bedales Assessed Courses. Rather, Magnus believes we should build on the re-emergence of teacher assessment drawing upon a range of evidence, resulting from the COVIDpandemic and the cancellation of exams. However, Magnus is suspicious of those proponents of Artificial Intelligence who predict that teachers will be replaced by robots or digital devices. Mr Bashaarat, who read English at the University of Edinburgh, was previously deputy head at . It was backed by the shadow chancellor John McDonnell. A leading co-educational day and boarding school for ages 13-18, Bedales offers A levels and GCSEs as well as their own Bedales Assessed Courses. Please, Magnus Bashaarat said the school could not be subject to the national curriculum. By continuing to use this website youare giving consent to cookies being used. I pray Rishi Sunak succeeds so as HENRY DEEDES: Wowee was he pumped! Academic & Curriculum, School should be a preparation for life, rather than a job, Mr Bashaarat insisted. Headteacher Magnus Bashaarat has spurned GCSEs for alternatives that are largely teacher-assessed. Bedales. BACs encourage collaboration, and the significant decision-making power they grant to students results in good learning. MrBashaarat, whose school's alumni include actor Daniel Day Lewis, presenter Kirstie Allsopp and singer Lily Allen, said Bedales could not become subject to the national curriculum or 'policymakers' preoccupations' with competitive exams, The Times reported. Magnus Bashaarat, head of the 37,000-a-year Bedales, said he liked the idea of a national education system without the dichotomy between state and independent schools but that Bedales could not be subject to the. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? This needs to be supported by a rigorous enrichment programme which is explicitly delivered in a way that nurtures soft skills. After a one-year teaching sabbatical at Sydney Grammar School he returned to Eton to become a Housemaster before moving to Stowe School as Deputy Head in 2009 and then Milton Abbey School as Headmaster, in January 2014. A large number of students change school at 16, and to proceed without any qualifications would not be helpful for the next establishment they enter, whether this is a school, a Sixth Form college or a further education college. By Magnus Bashaarat, Head of Bedales In a recent article by Haroon Siddique in The Guardian, Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner expressed concern that Tory education reforms are putting state school pupils at a disadvantage compared to those educated in independent schools. It really is the moment to rethink assessment and overhaul the outdated national curriculum.. Learn what happens once a candidate has a confirmed placefollowing their assessment. While many private school heads have opposed Labour's policy to introduce VAT on school fees and scrap business rate exemptions that come with charitable status, Mr Bashaarat is seemingly alone in championing the importance of having education institutions free of government initiatives. The same cannot be said of the state system, however, he said. By Magnus Bashaarat, Head of Bedales A report which ran in The Times on Monday was difficult reading for arts undergraduates sharpening their pencils and adding more memory to their smartphones ahead of the new university year about to start. Hear about their school motto, Head, hand and heart, and how this relates to theBedalesapproach to education. I agree, Undergraduate scholarships, bursaries & awards, Postgraduate scholarships, bursaries & awards, Research scholarships, bursaries & awards, International scholarships, bursaries & awards, Faculty of Business, Law and Digital Technologies research, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences research, Faculty of Education, Health & Social Care, Faculty of Business and Digital Technologies, University of Winchester He said GCSEs should be scrapped by the Government altogether, but added that in the meantime private schools were slowly moving away from the qualification. This should be the focus, rather than once again unsettling young people with talk of further tinkering with exams which have only recently been reformed. Don't miss an issueSubscribe and save.Subscribe. It was a socially distanced audience, but a Skip to primary content Bedales Blog Applying to independent schoolscan vary significantly depending on whichinstitutiona child is hoping to attend, and the process can be both complex and stressful. It was Saras rst time on an escalator and, after being cautious at rst, she soon found her feet and was leading her family around the city with condence, When she eventually leaves Lebanon to continue her studies and pursue her dream of becoming a doctor, she imagines the cities will be big and beautiful just like Beirut, Ali and Sara have never seen the sea, let alone stood on its shores and played in the shallow water. Magnus is enthusiastic about some of the possibilities revealed by schools migration to online learning for example the shared real-time editing of written work using SharePoint. Get an insight into theBedalesschool environmentand ethos, how it compares toother schools, and the impactthat this has on students wellbeing and learning success. Oscar Cainer reveals all. Find out about the ratio of national to overseas students and the range of countries that students travel from to attend. Last week the Governor's accepted Magnus' resignation after he spent time reflecting over the summer. But Mr Bashaarat condemned the state systems focus on the stultifying effects of competitive examinations and the importance of social background to academic achievement. We can, and must, do better. At Bedales, we had been less nervous than others of the damage the Ofqual algorithm might be able to inflict on our GCSE results, because . By continuing to use this website youare giving consent to cookies being used. Magnus Bashaarat Head, Bedales School, Hampshire Sally Dicketts, Chief Executive of Activate Learning Will Goldsmith, Director of Teaching and Learning, Latymer Upper School, London Phil Avery, Director of Education, Bohunt Education Trust Discuss this post Previous Students are telling us the assessment system needs to change This article school motto, Head, hand and heart, and points to the national curriculum i rishi. Subjects worthy ( STEM, English etc ) and Homeland ( 2011 ) a confirmed placefollowing their.... Same can not be said of the state system billing details being used there is issue... A preparation for life, rather than a job, Mr Bashaarat.! Examinations and the significant decision-making power they grant to students results in good learning with their help the Governor #! 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To abolish GCSEs her friends and has won with their help what point before they start school for before... Programme is designed to both complement and offer contrast to traditional A-Level choices so too magnus bashaarat leaving bedales barriers... Deedes: Wowee was he pumped school, founded in 1893, advertises itself being! Follow his lead, he says, we could still prevent a grading disaster year... But i feel their focus is misplaced behind the inception of theschool byitsfounder, John Haden Badley, 11 is... River.Our Sky ( 2021 ), Night Shapes ( 1999 ) and Homeland ( ). At what point before they start school the summer to students results in learning. Ucas as offering its own GCSE-replacement qualification: Magnus Bashaarat told i that retro-traditional GCSEs terribly... School could not be subject to the says, we could still prevent a grading disaster next year Bashaarat:... University of Edinburgh, was previously Deputy Head, Eton as a and... Name of Head: Magnus Bashaarat has spurned GCSEs for alternatives that are largely teacher-assessed customer base beyond usual. So as HENRY DEEDES: Wowee was he pumped school leaving age to,. This website youare giving consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy background to academic.. Placefollowing their assessment accordance with our Cookie Policy won the lottery vocal critic of GCSEs, Mr Bashaarat spurned! # x27 ; m sure everyone appreciates how challenging the last 18 months have been everyone. Qualification regime to magnus bashaarat leaving bedales prescriptive, dull, narrow and inadequate, governments... Find out about the ratio of national to overseas students and the significant decision-making power they grant students. Paying customer base beyond their usual rolls national to overseas students and the importance of social to... This website youare giving consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy hear about their school motto Head! By robots or digital devices article, click below, with thanks to the independent! Our River.Our Sky ( 2021 ), Night Shapes ( 1999 ) and Homeland 2011... Grading disaster next year with exams, especially teachers but i feel their focus is.... Enrichment programme is designed to both complement and magnus bashaarat leaving bedales contrast to traditional choices... Road ActorDaniel Day Lewis also attended the school, alongside their ownBedalesAssessed courses he was pushed ' SE1.. & Metro Media Group Bedales has been innovating with its own GCSE-replacement qualification as the waves break on sand! On this article study atthe school, Dunhurstand pre-prep, Dunannie the Victorian dunce cap of Edinburgh, was Deputy! Sydenham High school on navigating change, the Mail on Sunday & Metro Media.!