In seriously worrying about the future of state education in this country?

[aamia]

As a teacher, and a mum, I'm worried. Part of me thinks I'm being unreasonable worrying, as surely things will turn out ok in the end. Part of me, having read the changes that academies bring (not having to follow national curriculum, no standard pay and conditions for teachers, influence by sponsors who will presumably have their own agendas, no LEA support so if the roof springs a leak, or a sink hole appears...) is really concerned. I am considering looking for a job in private education so I can get a reduction in fees and school my children that way, something which makes me sad as I have really enjoyed working in state schools, making a difference to children who don't have much support at home, seeing them grow and achieve their goals. We were planning on buying a house in an area with good schools. Now I think maybe we should save our money and just buy a nice house somewhere less expensive, then put the extra by for schooling.

So - aibu worrying this much? Do you think it will be ok? (Hoping desperately to be told it will be...)!

[aamia]

Just to add, having read it back - I have always chosen state schools in disadvantaged areas, and enjoyed helping those in the class who don't have support at home (usually because parents are too busy working just trying to keep a roof over their heads!). I know schools in more wealthy areas are full of children with lots of support at home!

[YorkshireDeb]

YANBU to be worried. I'm a teacher too & have always been worried about the way state education is heading (when I started 12 years ago I hoped I would see things improve but they gradually get worse & worse). I think it would take a very brave government and/or minister for education to turn things around now. Definitely not prize idiot Michael Gove! Since becoming a mummy 4 months ago I have a different aspect to my view on all this & hope I can find a state school with the kind of ethos I value when the time comes. But like you, one of the most treasured parts of my job is reaching out to children who really need support & not sure I could give this up. It's definitely a tough one. X

[Bakingnovice]

I feel the same. My kids are at state primary school. But it's not very good. I feel I have to supplement a lot at home, and don't always have the time. We are also thinking of not moving house as planned to be near good secondaries (and bigger house, and family) but to use the savings for private education which I don't really approve of.

Dh went private all his life. I went to a terrible state school. We are both high achievers. He doesn't want our dc to go private. My db is a teacher and he lives his job but says he would never send his dc to state school because of all the changes and lowered standards.

[FredFredGeorge]

Standard pay and conditions do loads to harm education, it means there's no incentive for the best teachers to teach in the worst areas, because they'll have a much easier life and cannot be rewarded more for working in those. So they'll work at those with the most support, increasing the division between good and bad, and increasing the difference in house prices between those schools which people think are "good and bad". By removing the standard conditions, they can be paid more and have a reason to help those with less support.

At least if the schools in poor performing areas can pay more or offer better conditions then they attract the better teachers.

[Delalakis]

You're absolutely right to worry. I'm really concerned that we're going to see another mess like what happened with private nursing homes when big companies bought them up, asset-stripped them, and then disappeared when they had extracted all they could out of them financially. When that happens to schools there won't be any local authority safety net, because LA education departments won't have been maintained without any schools to supervise. It's a potential disaster in the making for hundreds of thousands of children.

[YorkshireDeb]

Sorry fredfredgeorge - not trying to start an argument but I strongly disagree with what you said. Some teachers choose to teach in catchment areas that are more deprived, some choose to teach in those that have more affluent families & others at private schools. This is not because the best teachers seek out schools where they can be paid more - it's to do with our beliefs & our passions. In order to decide which teachers are 'best' to pay them more, there would be even more pressure on achieving good results - driving 'good' teachers away from the deprived schools & encouraging them to teach the higher ability sets within their schools. This, IMHO, would make the situation far worse, not better. What is your perspective? Do you teach? And if so in what type of school? X

[stargirl1701]

I'm a teacher in Scotland and just as worried although we're going in completely the opposite direction with regard to educational policy.

If it wasn't for the fact we are literally experimenting on real children it would be fascinating to see what happens a decade from now. As it is, I worry. The children are at the chalk face of radical change that isn't proven.

[gordyslovesheep]

enjoy having qualified teachers - they will be replaced soon

YANBU - it is a big concern of mine

[gordyslovesheep]

oh and the best teachers are the ones who's passion for education as a force for change motivates them to work in the most deprived areas - as my Grandfather, Mother and step father did

[Chottie]

I have huge concerns too. Everything is just down to the bottom line on a balance sheet now.....

[Corygal]

No. As it is UK state education is almost the worst in Europe. It's getting worse. What else do you need to know?

[YorkshireDeb]

That depends entirely on your measuring system corygal. In what ways do you believe their education is better than ours? X

[porridgewithalmondmilk]

I don't think you are being unreasonable but I do wonder if part of the problem is that you have made life difficult for yourself (I mean that kindly, not critically) by choosing to teach in deprived area.

I am a secondary head of department in a fairly affluent school. The children aren't rich, mostly, but come from solid, working homes and most stay on to do A levels at sixth form. I cannot put into words how much easier and pleasanter my life is from my last job, which was dire!

For what it's worth, I'd personally never want to have my children in a school I taught at. :)

[Corygal]

Yorkshire - it's the OECD's measuring system, not mine.

OECD is the Europe-wide surveying organisation that monitors and predicts, among other things, Europe's institutions and economics as well world growth, the world's health, you name it.

When you hear an economic growth prediction on the news, it's either the Federal one (US) the Bank of England or the OECD - ie the one people take seriously.

[HollyBerryBush]

Ofsted frameworks scare the shit outta me. Having witnessed both a Y7 history class and a Y13 A level Bio class this week, I seriously think wikipedia would be a better alternative. (Im not entirely joking either)

I do a better job of educating my children than the system (and I make a marked distinction between the system and their teachers).

JMHO - teachers should be allowed to teach, not facilitate

soap boxy moments

[Roseformeplease]

Excellent schools here in the Highlands of Scotland but some worries, as a parent and a teacher, about our new curriculum. FWIW, however, I think parents and their input have a lot more influence than teachers do. If you are interested and supportive it will go a long way, in spite of concerns about the school.

[andtheycalleditbunnylove]

nineteen years in inner city comprehensives. will probably see the school where i work turn academy when the current head retires.

worried about changes eg to gcses/i b and wondering what will ever happen to the pupils who just aren't going to get five plus including english and maths, no matter how spiffing the teaching.

SparklyAntlersInMyDecorating - you are describing 'my' school. which is sad because it probably means what you said applies in all schools.

[Catsnotrats]

Corygal which OCED rankings are you referring to because they rank countries by at least 50 different measures. I suspect what you are referring to are PISA ratings, the most recent being 2009 (new ones should be published this year).

In these the following European countries ranked lower than the UK in reading - Portugal, Italy, Latvia, Slovenia, Greece, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Croatia, Luxemburg, Austria, Lithuania, Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Montenegro and Albania.

Hungary was ranked equally with the UK.

The UK got a point score of 494 for reading (in a range of 556-314). Other countries with marginally higher scores are Denmark (495), France and Ireland (496), Germany and Sweden (497), Liechtenstein (499) and Poland and Iceland (500). The rest (5 countries) scored in the low 500s (i.e. 501-508). The only one that was significantly higher is Finland with a score of 536.

I'm not arguing that all is hunky-dory in the UK education system and that it shouldn't be improved, but it isn't 'almost the worst in Europe'

[Redbindy]

You are right to be worried. The quality of education of kids leaving school has been a concern for years. The first place to start in remedial action is the teachers. Pay them properly, make sure they have Masters Degrees and get rid of the idiots.

[crypes]

Im wondering if Secondary schools have moved on at all since i was at School in 1980 (which was truly awful). My DD in year 7 is already saying there are subjects and teachers she dreads, even a whole day in the timetable she dreads! why? A child should want to go to school and be excited by it.

[mummysmellsofsick]

Yanbu. Both dh and I teach, I've already moved to the independent sector and dh is now considering it despite his ultra left wing views. Teaching in an academy is making his life not worth living.

[Giggle78]

I have seen a decline in all sorts of things in the last ten years of being a teacher. Partly the climate of fear based on being a good or bad results has had a negative impact on teaching. Now we (me) spoon feed students so much they don't think/have the same independent ethic that I found even five years ago. This is not good for them in the long term regarding taking responsibility for themselves.

Don't get me started on the cuts to the arts in schools....

Don't get me started on 'unqualified teachers'. It takes five years to be fully qualified.....that is not nothing. Plus the training when I did it was rigorous.

I am going on maternity leave this year but when I go back I am going to do everything I can to get an independent job so my oldest son can go to a private school. I am sure that there are just different problems but the small class sizes and facilities are swaying me.

[meditrina]

It seems illogical to make a stand against the greater independence (and freedom from LEA control) if academies/free schools by thinking (as you said in OP) of going fully private.

Are there any LEAs which are resisting academisation and still opening schools under their own control? As you say you can move, maybe those such areas are the places to head to.