Nick Bennett Lecture

Guest lecturer: Nick Bennett: Principal of Gower College

Education policy and Further Education

            Further education is not merely to acquire the skills in order to obtain employment. Further education is at the heart of community regeneration. Education is a progression into citizenship and independence. . Claxton agrees, stating “It is education’s core responsibility to prepare young people for the future” (2008, p.184) To be a citizen is to be an active part of a society, a community or relationship, and equally contribute to it. Citizenship is something that cannot be taught, but rather learnt through the education system, Pupils through a range of experiences, throughout their school lives grow into citizens. Matheson, notes that:

“education had the power to shape collections of the individual into communities and to determine the nature of those communities. In other words, education has a major socialising function.” (2008, p.9)

  Education images our society, and it is individual citizens that shape that society. Education builds character and generates moral development in society and in schools, it helps individuals realise and fulfil  their potential

Reference List

Claxton, G. (2008). What's the point of school? : rediscovering the heart of education . Oxford: Oneworld Publications.

Matheson, D. (2008). An introduction to the study of education. London: Fulton Press.