Why We Know the Science of Learning Works - a case study from England 2010-23.
Former Minister of State for Schools, United Kingdom
Nick’s talk describes the problems with England’s state schools prior to 2010 and the reforms that the Conservative Governments between 2010 and 2023 introduced to improve academic standards. Reform was based on the Science of Learning: phonics in the teaching of reading; a coherent structured approach to teaching maths; a knowledge-rich curriculum; direct teacher-led instruction; and a “warm-strict” behaviour policy in schools. Sir Nick Gibb was the Schools Minister for 10 years during that period and, together with the Education Secretary Michael Gove, was key to designing and implementing those reforms. The result has been England’s rise in the international league tables of education systems. It has risen from 27th in maths in PISA in 2009 to 11th; and to fourth in the world in the reading ability of its 9-year-olds (PIRLS).