What's wrong with our schools? - In summary

[lovelearning]

This list is compiled from the thread What's wrong with our schools?

I would appreciate your input

Opinions, suggestions and corrections, please

Some schools lack funding for the basics e.g. building maintenance and stationary

Schools need more teachers and support staff, smaller class sizes and funding for ongoing teacher training

Children should start formal education later

Abolish league tables

Opt out of GERM

Schools should encourage a love of learning

Schools should focus less on exams and more on real life skills

Schools should offer a range of subjects, including humanities and vocational subjects

Vocational education should be encouraged; schools should work with employers to get young people into apprenticeships

Society needs to place a higher value on academic achievement

Teachers need to teach, rather than spending time on paperwork, targets, analysis, statistics etc

Schools need more funding for children with additional needs

Schools need to listen to the parents of children with additional needs

No child should be forced into home education

The full cost of home education should be borne by the State, including financial provision for parents

Bullying remains a problem in schools

Discipline is a widespread problem, not helped by parents

Effective sanctions need to be made available to schools and teachers

[lljkk]

I don't agree with most of that list.
Why not start a thread "What is fantastic about our state schools?"
I have quite a bit I could add to that thread.

[lovelearning]

I don't agree with most of that list.

lljkk, that's why I've posted

I want to hear contrary opinions, too

[Enidblyton1]

What is your opinion?
You need to give one or you'll be accused of being a lazy journalist

[lljkk]

Do you think, @Enidblyton1? Gosh, why would some slimeball journo do that?

[Enidblyton1]

[noblegiraffe]

Can't see anywhere on the list 'education is a political football which leads to short term visions and politicians only interested in making changes to make their mark before the next election'
This sort of bollocks is why teachers aren't allowed to get on and teach, they're always playing catch up with the latest changes imposed by a minister who will most likely be in the job for under 2 years. It's why Gove rushed through in a ridiculous timescale the biggest reform to our exam system in decades leading to an almighty mess, teachers flat out trying to minimise the fall-out, kids who don't know what they're going to achieve in the summer, nor what they need to achieve.
It's why we're now faced with fucking grammar schools. The whim of a politician who knows jack shit about education but who thinks they know best (Theresa May in this case).

Take education out of the hands of fucking politicians. Please.

[2cats2many]

I don't think you can generalise in this way about all schools. There's a wide variety out there and all parents will bring their own unique perspective when deciding what they like and don't like about a school.

I really don't see the point of compiling such a list.

[noblegiraffe]

And if it's a journalist, I'm quite happy for my views to get a wider audience

[oklumberjack]

I don't agree with a lot of that list either. Schools differ vastly.

I agree with PP that my main desire would be to take education out of the hands of politicians. Hopefully this would lead to teachers being able to 'breathe' whilst they teach.

[OddBoots]

Let those who are experts in education with the years of research and experience behind them decide our educational systems, not parents, media or politician. Everyone else needs to step back and give them time to fix the mess we have now.

[lovelearning]

What is your opinion?

Enidblyton

I think we need to change the way we view teachers and teaching in this country

In Japan, teachers are held in high regard: The same should be true in the UK

It would encourage more people into the profession, as well as making teachers' lives easier

Respected by children and parents, there would be fewer disciplinary problems in schools

I also think a "parents' curriculum" might help: Parents have a duty to support school disciplinary procedure etc

[titchy]

Lack of full stops is what's wrong with education.

[lljkk]

What sort of additional discipline would you like, @lovelearning?

Do you want to bring back smacking?

What about more direct punishments on parents of misbehaving children, would you like parents named in the news media or given fines? How much should the fines be?

Would you like to see more children get criminal records for their misbehaviour in school?

Do you think punishing children & parents would make them have a better relationship with the school or teachers?

[HPFA]

I've just read this book and thought it was great:

www.amazon.co.uk/Cleverlands-Secrets-Success-Education-Superpowers/dp/1783522739?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Basically the author has visited five countries all near the top of the PISA lists. Whilst the countries visited are very different she is able to draw some principles together at the end of the book. What struck me most though was that all these countries assumed that the vast majority of children can learn - the idea that some children have to be "rescued" from their peers doesn't seem to exist.

The best thing the government could do immediately would be to institute a later school starting age.

[lovelearning]

Do you think punishing children & parents would make them have a better relationship with the school or teachers?

I believe that educating parents is the key

Parents need to understand how firm discipline will benefit their child's education and future

Without parental support, any disciplinary policy is bound to fail

[noblegiraffe]

Basically the author has visited five countries all near the top of the PISA lists. Whilst the countries visited are very different she is able to draw some principles together at the end of the book.

I just read an article which mentions this sort of approach being problematic. It said that if you only look at the most successful companies, you won't be able to identify what makes a company successful, as there may be many failing companies that also do those things. The things the successful companies seem to have in common may not be the reason for their success.

I've not read the book, but does it deal with this by checking if countries at the bottom of PISA don't do these things?

[mrz]

How about
Schools aren't free childcare and politicians should stop referring to it as such!

[mrz]

Or all children are entitled to qualified teachers

[PhilODox]

Are you a teacher, lovelearning? Shame you used the wrong form of stationary.
What is GERM? Why would people opt out?

[Lilmisskittykat]

I think respect for teachers and authority is the main thing missing from schools. That's from both parents and children/pupils.

[mrz]

"What is GERM" assume Global Educational Reform Movement?

[Stilitzvert]

The main thing I disagree with is a later starting age, I simply could not imagine my children going to school any later. Nursery, reception and the start of year 1 are play based. There are children who might not be ready but I'm yet to meet more than 1 or 2 who aren't. A decent school is very gentle in the early years

[PhilODox]

Where are they based then? What's wrong with reform?

[lovelearning]

Are you a teacher, lovelearning?

If I were a teacher, I wouldn't be asking the question

Shame you used the wrong form of stationary.

oops

What is GERM?

The Global Education Reform Movement

www.teachers.org.uk/edufacts/germ

Looks like the NUT website is down