The Looking Glass

  Since the announcement of the cancellation of the GCSE and A Level examinations, Year 11 and 13 students have been faced with plenty of time on their hands. Having spent mine so far pursuing an online machine learning course [1] at the suggestion of Dr Hedges, I thought it might be interesting to apply the result of these endeavours back to their causation, namely in explaining a possible method for exam grade generation. Before proceeding, I’d like to point out that this is not based on any evidence other than my own thought experiment, and so should be treated as such. To begin with, what is machine learning and why does it apply to this problem? Well machine learning is the science of getting computers to perform tasks without being explicitly programmed, specifically those involving data and predictions. For example, we might train a machine learning algorithm to predict some result, e.g. banana prices, based on some input data such as supply, demand and quality. In our case...

MR G ROWE In systems theory there is a distinction drawn between complicated and complex problem. In a complicated system there are a number of interacting variables and factors which make deciding upon the optimum course of action a challenge. However, in a complicated system there are clear causes and effects which means, with expert insight, solutions can generally be found which go towards solving the problem - or at least preventing it from becoming worse. In a complex system the relationship between cause and effect is unclear, even to experts in the field, with the optimum solution only revealing itself in hindsight as the situation progresses. In a complex situation there is a very real possibility of well-meaning actions leading to negative outcomes and a deterioration in the situation. In this opinion piece I will analyse where we are with the 2019 CoronaVirus strain, the international and government responses and the extent to which we should be concerned given the currently...

MR A. BRADDICK-SOUTHGATE One of the attitudes that I came across frequently in my previous career was that 'foreigners should do what we Brits do, because that is what they would expect if we were in their country'. This interests me when it comes to education as, particularly in PRE, the consensus seems to be that a multicultural approach is the right approach. So, I decided to explore this, particularly as it relates to Part Two of Teachers; Standards and the obligation to not undermine, ‘… fundamental British values, …’ (Department for 2011: 14). I think that what was being expressed in the attitude in the paragraph above is something that is very explicit in the dominant discourse of politicians, media and parents at the school gates – are students from black and minority ethnic (BME) families, particularly those with a Muslim identity, really loyal to/ a part of British society or are they ‘other’? Amanda Keddie in her article “The politics of Britishness: multiculturalis...