To promote or not to promote fundamental British values? Teachers' standards, diversity and teacher education

In this article we seek to problematize the presence of the requirement within the teachers’ standards (DfE, 2012), that they ‘should not undermine fundamental British values’ in the context of initial teacher education in England. The inclusion of this statement within the teachers’ code of conduct has made its way from the counter-terrorism strategy, Prevent and raises questions about Britishness, values and the relationship between the state and the profession more generally. We argue that the inclusion of the phrase within a statutory document that regulates the profession is de facto a politicization of the profession by the state thereby instilling the expectation that teachers are state instruments of surveillance. The absence of any wider debate around the inclusion of the statement is also problematic as is the lack of training for pre-service and inservice teachers since it means this concept of fundamental British values is unchallenged and its insidious racialising implications are unrecognised by most teachers

Implications of devolutions for England

Papers presented to the IBIS conference “Renovation or Revolution? New territorial politics in Ireland and the United Kingdom”, University College, Dublin, 3 April 2002.Territory and politics in Ireland and Great Britain after devolution- This paper focuses primarily on the experience of devolution in the United Kingdom. Reflecting on a number of theories that have been posited as explanations of the current realty of British territorial politics, the author draws on Schopenhauer’s fable of the porcupines in order to reconcile the twin characteristics of renovation and revolution. The paper points to the political need to achieve a sense of cohesion, in order to secure the existence of a British identity in the face of challenges such as nationalism and the European Union. The paper concludes with the paradox of the Northern Irish situation in the broader context of British-Irish relations.Implications of devolutions for England- This paper outlines devolutionary moves within England and Cornwall, and the implications of the government white paper. The eight regional development agencies with their associated regional chambers are briefly described, as is the weak challenge so far posed by elected mayors. The presentation suggests that such a quasi-federal England could fit well into a broadened British-Irish Council.Not applicableau, ti, ke, ab -AL 8/7/201

Unique paths to devolution : Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

Includes bibliographical references (pages 33-36)