To not understand why Katharine Birbalsingh is so controversial

I think the timings of staff meetings would make it difficult for anyone with childcare responsibilities to work there.

Thanks, @noblegiraffe

Continued

Grade 8+ at Chemistry: 65%
Grade (8-8)+ at Double Science: 44%

Grade 8+ at Physics: 63%
Grade (8-8)+ at Double Science 46%

These increases are huge. Michaela is not following proven best practice in science teaching

Jordan Peterson is an exceptionally brilliant professor of psychology, and cultural critic.

He uses jungian theory to analyse biblical texts and culturalstories. You can look at his lectures on YouTube.

Lots of people have found his approaches have led them to change their lives in many positive ways but some people don't seem to like him. Usually not saying why like on this thread.

At least the CofE vicar in the guardian gave a reason I suppose. But I'm not sure one vicar not rating JPs theology is a good evidence of his and Katherine Birbalsings evilness?

Nothing JP has said has led to evil regimes with millions of deaths, so you'd hope he'd be less hated than Marx by educationalists. But apparently not.

If she believes these things then how does the school consistently achieve highest GCSE grades for a non-selevtive state school in UK? Because presumably approx 50% of those kids achieving do many 7s+ are girls......

She actually has low expectations for some people especially girls.

She believes girls can't do physics and maths. She also believes that some pupils simply can't achieve due to their backgrounds.

Btw I couldn't send my DD to a school were she is in charge because my DD likes music and maths. This combination isn't rare in my family.

Which "anti family" policies?

Accidentally posted, to be continued

Hi, everyone -

I must correct myself on the potential Michaela numbers for science A levels. It never occurred to me that Michaela would allow students into science A levels from Double Science, because of the data in my next paragraph. For background, Double Science covers roughly 2/3 the material from each of Biology, Chemistry, Physics. Anecdotally many teachers and schools allow it as an A level prerequisite and of course many pupils succeed.

However, in Progression from GCSE to A Level by M Carroll and T Gill (^ Cambridge Assessment, 16 Jan 2023) we have the following statistics on A level results following Triple Science (3 single science GCSEs ) vs Double Science taken by over 95% of Michaela pupils:
(Table, p10)

Grade A star/A following

Grade 8+ at Biology: 70%
Grade (8-8)+at Double Science: 49%

Grade 8+ at Chemistry:

There is a review in The Guardian from one of the former archbishops on one of Peterson's books. (If you aren't aware CofE clergy people study theology.)

Let's just say Peterson didn't do sufficient research on what he was writing about. This seems to be a general complaint about his academic work.

The starting from scratch is important from the point of view of the culture of the school, not just the way the teaching of the curriculum is taught. The approach to discipline and expectations of pupils have been in place from day 1, at Michaela and at Mercia in Sheffield so pupils and parents know what they are signing up to. Changing the culture is tough in any organisation. It's interesting that some parents push back when schools change just one thing in a Michaela direction - banning mobile phones, locking the toilets during lesson time.

One of the reasons is that girls outperform boys at every GCSE apart from maths and physics. When it comes to picking A-level options, girls have more choice as a result. Boys will be more likely to be funnelled into picking maths because that's their 'best subject'.

What's wrong with being a Marxist???

Dear God.

Maybe 90 million deaths as a result of Marxist regimes??

If these are the idiotic views of the teachers who oppose her we've got a lot more to worry about than whether all kids get the option of drama at GCSE.

PS Obviously I am aware of the statistics. I mean I would be grateful for quality sources on why girls do less FM, @Ddakji

TIA

Michaela does seem to be run like a cult.

What research? The well known statistics? I would be grateful for sources

The problem I see is that (and to be fair this is not just a Michaela issue) there seems to be little understanding that different subjects are different.
English isn’t linear in the same way that Maths learning can be and attempts to make it so have cost student numbers at A Level and beyond.
It’s the total regimentation, ideology of the leader, and anti-family policies for staff that really put me off though

Those who say that Michaela gets those amazing results because they select their intake and do fewer GCSEs are being unfair (or perhaps biased). From what I've heard about the teaching (for maths in particular), the curriculum is incredibly well thought-through. The school started from scratch which I think gave them a lot of time to make sure everything was sequenced properly, methods were standardised and followed on from what had been taught before.

The school is also set up to maximise learning time. The routines mean that far less time is lost to fannying around getting to lessons, getting equipment out, endlessly repeating instructions to kids who haven't paid attention etc etc.

I know kids would do better in my school if they had to march in silence to their next lesson instead of hanging around chatting to their mates. An unbelievable amount of learning time is lost due to lateness. However, I also know that we would not be able to implement silent corridors in my school because our parents wouldn't stand for it, they are extremely resistant to anything authoritarian.

Yes approx 30%, not 70%!

The system is set up so that a significant number of students won’t get that level. No matter what we do. The exams are not criteria referenced. There will ALWAYS be failing students under the current grading regime. Always.

But what's the point of offering a range of subjects when kids aren't passing the 5-6 core ones eg M, E, Sciences + 1 x MFL etc? Getting good passes in those are what enable kids to progress to the next stage (whatever that might be). The local state secondary around here has an approx 20-30% achieving 5 x grade 5+ GCSEs each year. That means 70% of kids coming out don't have sufficient GCSEs for them to progress but yeh they get offered a wider range of subjects but to what end?

I should have clarified, I was talking specifically about the restricted range of subjects.

A current thread on MN is about the reasons teachers give for their job being unbearable. The main ones are behaviour and parents’ demands. KB seems to have control of both of these issues. There are swathes of unhappy teachers and disruptive pupils whose lives would be transformed by working or studying at a school like Michaela.

How many GCSEs do they usually do?
I notice that for Sixth Form, you need eight 7s (and 8s in your chosen subjects).
If they are doing eight GCSEs to that level, it's quite impressive.

Would not be the school for me or my kids, I disagree with her politics (and Jordan Peterson) but so long as people have a choice not to send their kids there, then I think it's a great opportunity for families.

She's definitely controversial though, so OP, YABU.

Yes she doesn't treat her pupils as victims which is clearly unforgivable.