News

Wednesday 15 October 2008

Distinguished Lecture - Sir Mike Tomlinson CBE - 'Vocational education should be a rounded education'

The former Chief Inspector of Schools, Sir Mike Tomlinson CBE, will be visiting Nottingham to discuss the history of education and its contributions to the development of vocational learning. As the first guest of this year’s Distinguished Lecture Series at Nottingham Trent University, Sir Mike will present a lecture entitled ‘Vocational education should be a rounded education’ on the 22 October at the University’s Clifton Campus.

Following the launch of the government’s new 14-19 Diploma, speculation over the techniques and value of vocational learning have made headline news, with experts and decision makers alike asking whether vocational learning is simply another term for training.

Sir Mike’s lecture will examine the history of education, philosophy, arts and performance, and their contribution to a rounded vocational education. It is likely to provide an element of controversy, but will attempt to explode some of the myths surrounding these developments.

Sir Mike said: “Any consideration of vocational education too often centres on the view that it is about job-specific preparation and as such is a narrow and utilitarian education. This is not my view, particularly with the introduction of the specialised Diplomas for 14 year olds.”

Sir Mike joined HM Inspectorate of Schools in 1978, was promoted to Staff Inspector for Teacher Training in 1984, and went on to become Chief Inspector (secondary) in 1989. He was named Deputy Director of Inspection for OFSTED in 1992, before becoming Chief Inspector of Schools in December 2000. He is currently Chief Advisor for London Schools (London Challenge).

This distinguished lecture will be free to attend, but limited places are available. To book a place at the event please contact Nottingham Trent University via email at events.team@ntu.ac.uk.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

This lecture has been jointly organised and sponsored by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) East Midlands, and is being delivered as a memorial for Dr Anne Bloomfield - former chairman of the RSA East Midlands Committee, Trustee and member of the RSA’s Advisory Council and Reader in Education at Nottingham Trent University.

To find out more about this event and others in the Distinguished Lecture Series, go to www.ntu.ac.uk/news/events

Press enquiries please contact: Matt Wallace, Press Officer, on telephone: +44 (0)115 848 8785, or via email: matthew.wallace@ntu.ac.uk; or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone: +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk.