14-18, a new vision for secondary education - Lord Kenneth Baker

Former Secretary of State for Education Kenneth Baker claims that secondary
education has become a five-year programme with a single, narrow aim: to prepare
pupils for high-stakes GCSE exams at 16. From 2015, all young people will be
legally required to stay in education or training until they are 18. Kenneth Baker
sees this as a historic opportunity to re-think the aims and structure of
English education. He argues that the National Curriculum should extend only to
the age of 14 and that there should be four distinct pathways from 14-18 to take
account of young people's emerging interests talents and ambitions: Liberal
Arts; Technical; Sports and Creative Arts; and Career. All pathways will provide
a broad education, but each will have a distinctive character matched to the
talents and ambitions of individual students.In 14-18 - A New Vision for Secondary Education, Kenneth Baker builds a compelling case for reform, with
contributions from a range of educationalists who draw on the history of English education, practice elsewhere in the world, and their experiences.An essential read for anyone interested in the future of secondary
education.