Why the McKinsey reports will not improve school systems

El desarrollo profesional y la colaboración docente: Un análisis situado en el contexto español de las tensiones y fracturas entre la teoría y la práctica

“…En este sentido, un argumento que se aduce y reitera es que ambos factores son claves en la calidad de los sistemas escolares y la educación. Sin ponerlo radicalmente en cuestión, no han dejado de hacerse oír voces (Biesta, 2015;Coffield, 2012;Labaree, 2008) que critican tanto los criterios de calidad que se toman en consideración como las estrategias que sugieren y reclaman de los países más rezagados. A fin de cuentas, se impone así un patrón hegemónico de calidad dejando de lado la historia, los contextos sociales, políticos y económicos de los sistemas educativos nacionales y locales y, asimismo, simplificando interesadamente la complejidad de los factores, intereses y poderes involucrados en los cambios educativos.…”

Education policy-making and time

“…For Shahjahan "the OECD has become a major player in global higher education policy formation" and "has acquired a brand identity and asserts 'soft power' among its member nations" (Shahjahan, 2013, p. 2). A similar analysis could be extended to many non-State policy organisations, as evidenced by Colwell's analysis of the 2007 and 2010 McKinsey Reports (Coffield, 2012).…”

“…It is found in the continual repetition of the phrase "raising the quality of teaching in our schools" (Rudd & Gillard, 2008, p. 19). It emerges in a fascinating gloss on the McKinsey report, which has been widely criticised for problems of method and analysis (Coffield, 2012). The McKinsey found, unsurprisingly, "that the quality of an education system simply cannot exceed the quality of its teachers" (Rudd & Gillard, 2008, p. 21).…”

What difference do teachers make? A consideration of the wider outcomes of schooling

“…They conclude that the quality of instruction in education is paramount, and therefore that the preparation of teachers is a key determinant of education quality. This McKinsey report, and others following, has been highly influential, and the research 'finding' about the importance of 'good teachers' is now reflected in some important policy documents, including those of the European Commission and the OECD (Coffield 2012). …”