Department Education Studies

Level Undergraduate Level 1

Module leader Mark Pulsford

Credit value 15

Module duration 10 weeks

Assessment 100% coursework

Study location University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introduction

What are the contemporary issues and entrenched concerns in education today? What are the narratives dominating educational debates at this stage of the 21st century? What forms of educational practice and policy can be seen to be increasing social justice and which perpetuate injustices? What does 'inclusion' really mean? What should be taught in our schools? Launching into the big questions, expect a module full of debate!

Principle Module Aims and Outcomes

• To introduce students to key debates in contemporary education, including: educational ideologies; policy frameworks; academies and free schools; inclusion; religion; curriculum; assessment.
• To comprehend and articulate the key debates within contemporary educational theory and practice.
• To be able to distinguish between different ideological and political orientations as expressed in policy and practice in education.
• To be able to debate and articulate a view on how contemporary education should develop in future.

Syllabus

• This module concerns understanding and debating contemporary trends within education and the social values they reflect. It will encourage students to become familiar with the dominant areas of debate, controversy and innovation that can be seen to characterise contemporary education discourse.
• The module will approach the topic of education through many contrasting perspectives. It will encourage students to critically appraise the social, cultural and political factors that affect students, teaching professionals, parents and other key stakeholders as they negotiate and participate in the contemporary education 'offer'.
• Practical approaches and philosophical perspectives will be introduced and debated as students consider how factors such as inclusion, equality, diversity, community, religion, attainment, quality, excellence, economic growth and political instability interact within the contemporary education marketplace.
• Students will be encouraged to identify particular areas of debate and controversy that interest them and to investigate the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities within contemporary education policy and practice.

Study Time

Type	Required
Lectures	10 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Seminars	10 sessions of 2 hours (13%)
Private study	90 hours (60%)
Assessment	30 hours (20%)
Total	150 hours

Assessment

	Weighting	Study time
Policy Briefing Paper	100%	30 hours
Throughout the module, students will work on a formative group project to devise their own school, taking the weekly module themes as impetus for each stage of development. Students then choose one of the issues they engaged with as part of this ongoing project (e.g., the weekly module topics) and write a briefing paper for policy makers in their fictional school's city/region.