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01 October 2018

On 28th September, Dr Adam Boddison, an Old Birkonian and Chief Executive for Nasen, addressed ‘The Truth About Inclusion’ to the Sixth Form. Through the use of statistics and examples from his personal experience, Dr Boddison presented the issue of inclusion and exclusion in the education system, from styles of teaching to standardised testing and its implications for those with special educational needs.

At the beginning of the talk, a question was offered to the Sixth Form, “should all schools be the same?” Does this bring about equal opportunity for all or does it harm the education of those who learn in different ways? This question was the basis for an engaging investigation into what inclusion means in education and to what degree it could and should be achieved. Dr Boddison argued that if standardised schooling can’t fully suit everyone, then how is standardised testing fair? One particularly memorable piece of insight was that examination has become more about “age than stage”.

After stressing the fact that any environment can be inclusive with the correct ethos, Dr Boddison’s discussion about whether individuals with dual and multiple exceptionality, such as Stephen Hawking, have the potential to either be brilliant or totally lack independence, resulted in the decision that inclusion of these people is paramount, not just for them, but for society.

‘The Truth About Inclusion’ was yet another thought-provoking instalment to the lecture series and, on behalf of Birkenhead School Sixth Form, I would like to thank Dr Adam Boddison for taking the time out of his schedule to talk to us about the importance of inclusion.

By Seán Carpenter – Deputy Head of School