to think that Toby Young is a complete arse?

[Rosebud05]

No, of course we can't excuse school's discrimination of anyone based on their needs, be they education, English as an additional language, behavioural.

My point was that State schools are having their resources very quickly and harshly cut which does impact on what they are/aren't able to do well at.

I'm sorry that your son's (ex?) school is/was reluctant to engage with his ASD; no I don't think that's excusable.

Just think!
Freedom from the dross that clutters timetyables!

PHSE, EYFS, child led learning, all the crap bad teachers love because it allows them to avoid dealing with things that really matter like readin, writingh, doing sums.

I have zero faith in most state education.
Kids learn in spite of how they are taught for the most part, not because of it.

Kids with issues are generally stuffed.
I never fail to be absolutely staggerd about how little teachers know about SEN. Not their fault-training colleges spend most of the time filling thier heads with dross.

SWC have you read this??

If not, I urge you to.

The problem with free schools is the affect that they have on neighbouring state schools, because of the diversion of funds.

The amount of funding that schools receive is dependent on the number of pupils who attend. Many LAs try very hard to manage supply and demand to ensure that their schools are as full as possible, and hence, attract as much funding as possible.

Free schools operate outside of this school place planning and, as long as there is a site (which was Toby's problem in Ealing) can open their schools, whether the area needs the extra places or not.

They then put together a slick prospectus and website, start spinning loads of gumpf about how they will insist on uniforms and aim for good exam results (well....duh!) and start diverting students (and funding) away from existing schools.

The real crime is that most of these free schools will actually be set up by intwrnational private education companies masquerading as academy sponsors (think E-Act and Ark) and not grass-roots parent groups at all!

Just like the NHS reforms, this is a way for the Tories to privatise the state sector.

My point was that State schools are having their resources very quickly and harshly cut which does impact on what they are/aren't able to do well at.

Evidence Rosebud?
Councils decide on cuts.If your council are cutting stuff like this, very often it's a sly political move-tugging at heartstrings of the proletariat, making them beleive greddy old Tories are slashing and burning. Councils have been frittering money on non jobs for years and none worse than Left leaning ones, intent on making us all believe these are essential services.

start spinning loads of gumpf about how they will insist on uniforms and aim for good exam results (well....duh!) and start diverting students (and funding) away from existing schools.

Well good!
If someone promises me something better than what currently on offer, what numpty wouldn't take it up. It might shame the state sector into getting off their arses.

What a lovely thread for Toby to enjoy.

Lynn Barber interview:

'Does he really, as he says on his weblog, look himself up every day on LexisNexis?

'Of course. Don't you?'

'I'd never even heard of LexisNexis!'

'Google then?'

'Hardly ever.'

'I don't believe you.'

He doesn't have to Google himself, he explains, because he subscribes to something called Google Alert that sends him an email every time his name makes a new appearance on the web'

Actually Moondog, much of the funding that schools receive is passported through their local authority. The council can't touch it, they just pass it on. The government have slashed lots of funding from the education and childrens services budgets which is having a serious affect on services for 0-19 year olds. The government has just turned off the tap and This is happening across the country.

If you want to send your child to a free school, then go for it. I hope you find that the reality lives up to the marketing.

The government have slashed lots of funding from the education and childrens services budgets which is having a serious affect on services for 0-19 year olds

How so?
And even if services have been 'slashed' who's to say they were any good anyway.

I'm with Reagan who once said that the most chilling words to hear were

'I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.'

Do you really need 'evidence' for the cuts in education that are currently being made, moondog?

Er, yes.

Probably not as chilling as ,"No, we will not help you because you don't have any health insurance.'

southeastastra - no, his post was making the very same point...namely, if anyone dares to express an opinion that veers away from the left/liberal consensus, they have abuse piled upon them.

Private schools = bad.

Single mums at home without work and kids to support = good.

Men = bad.

Higher-tax rate-payers = bad.

Ambition, drive, enthusiasm to one's position in life through one's own efforts = bad.

An ever-increasing national debt = good.

An ever-increasing client-state, whose votes have been bought, via unnecessary benefits = good.

ROFL at being in a left/liberal consensus when we are living in a Tory-led country. Would you like things to move even further to the right majordan?

Actually, don't bother answering that, I can take a pretty good guess at what your answer's going to be

smallwhitecat and moondog - absofuckinglutely.

Fiona Millar and her type loathe Toby Young because they focus a spotlight on how bleeding awful state comprehensive education is.

Do you not read/listen to the news?

If you're starting from the pov 'And even if services have been 'slashed' who's to say they were any good anyway' then I don't think our discussion has anywhere to go.

Ok, here are some of the central government funding that has been cut where I live: funding for early intervention work, Youth and Connexions funding, Social care training, Youth offending service.

On balance, none of it is probably as important as Latin...

ChristinedePizan - but every major institution is infected by left/liberal bias.

BBC - whites = bad. So let's max out on ethnic minorities, despite the fact they make up only 9% of the UK populatio n.

Church of England - gay? female? No worries, sign up here to become a bishop.

Universities - from a "deprived" background? 3 Cs at A level? No problem!

Charities Commission - Any hint of attacking GB and his cronies? - we'll investigate and get you shut down.

BBC (again) - Bush = bad; Obama = good.

Etc, etc, etc...

Overall spending has not been cut; it continues to rise.

The interest payments on our debt dwarf the defence budget, thanks to GB and co.

You're talking utter shit now majordan. Actually where I live the state comps are bloody marvellous. No, they're not in inner London because they are underfunded, oversubscribed and they have to deal with a hugely diverse population. What Toby Young is doing is no different to a faith school - getting state funds to provide resources to a limited intake of People Like Us.

They are both an absolutely inappropriate use of taxpayers' money.

Christinewhatsisface - I agree that the methods of funding and selecting pupils at state schools is a complete horlicks.

The answer?

Allow schools to select by ability (i.e. IQ - the single most important factor that determines educational outcomes, yet is perversely ignored at present...) and give every parent a voucher to the value of X amount, which they can spend on any school of their choice, including those in the private sector, to be topped up by their own money if they wish.

But you will all loathe this idea...somewhat predictably.

'Private schools = bad'
I love private education. I would still opt for it if there were good state schools in my area. The problem is there aren't, and if you don't have the money to opt out your children do not get the kind of education that should be available free for all. Private schooling should be a choice not a necessity.

'Single mums at home without work and kids to support.'
Were these children the result of immaculate conception???? What about the father's responsibility.

'Men = bad'
Er, no.

'Higher rate taxpayers = bad.'
I quite like my DH actually.

'Ambition, drive, enthusiasm to (improve) one's position in life through one's own efforts = bad.'
Of course not. But that doesn't mean that those who struggle and need help should be scorned for not 'lifting themselves out of poverty.'

'An ever increasing national debt = good'
Surely no-one, apart from those that own the debt, sees this as good.

'An ever-increasing client-state, whose votes have been bought, via unnecessary benefits = good.'
You seriously think that benefits buy votes??? Do you think those who are abuse the benefit system are lining up outside the polling station waiting for it to open? Tax cuts are much more effective at buying votes.

You can't test IQ at 4 reliably. Children are too young.