AIBU to feel that those that are academically challenged are sometimes forgotten about?

[tittytittyhanghang]

Is it just me that thinks that not all children can be academically clever, going from school to uni to (hopefully) job. I don't mean that some kids are thick, but academics is maybe not their forte iyswim? These kids seem to be forgotten about. I know where i live apprenticeships are like hens teeth. When i was school leaver age if you didn't go to uni or college, then mostly you went and got a job (not likely in current climate) or did an apprenticeship (e.g. joiner/brickie or in a office).

No, I get that Kitty but I don't think you can possibly argue only a small percentage of teenagers do A Levels. I know you can do an access course instead to A Levels but I think A Levels are the commonest route. And of course, plenty of people do A Levels and don't go further.

I couldn't easily find stats either, but it can't be that small a percentage.

'Having said that, I will also include those who attended secondary modern schools. Teaching then was different and those pupils could also spell, punctuate and construct a sentence.'

bulldog, that's not true. There are people who went to secondary moderns and came out functionally illiterate - they end up in remedical adult literacy classes quite often.

A lot of jobs that used not to require much literacy (or numeracy) now do, and it's a problem for some people who've got by without much literacy for years and are now out of a job in their 50s or 60s with little chance to retrain.

I think people need to stop thinking that vocational course are 2nd rate courses.

And that the A level and Uni route is the best route.

courses*

I agree, usual.

Who has said that Usual?

Key skills are also taught alongside vocational courses at FE colleges.

It would help if some employers took Vocational qualifications a bit more seriously as well.

I was talking about in general, not on this thread.

Sorry op but its the c student who just gets on with their work which is seldom catered for

The swat who always has their hand up takes up alot of the teachers time never letting the less abled to get a word in edgeways or answer a question

The child who sruggles commands alot of the teachers time either by needing questions to be gone over, or through playing up due to frustration

But the avarage child is expected to get on with things because the two other groups command so much time

The college my DD goes to they have to do a practical subject for GCSE, something to do with the way it is funded.

Usual oh, I mostly agree then. Although a diploma in glass blowing might limit a person's options when they leave.

there seems to be quite a bit of effort to get students a c grade as A-C pass rate matters, obviously some will get A* but there is no incentive to get a C student upto a B ( when there is no hope of A) I think the average student is treated the worst in schools,

also I think it is bad that the 1-2 badly behaved disruptive childrens rights to an education tops the right of the other 20-25 children in class rights to an education. ( ie they can't be excluded but if 25 other people suffer poorer results because of it that's fine) secondary school teachers should not be crowd control people

Pretty horrible to refer to a child as a 'swot'. If one child isn't letting the others get a word in edgeways, it's the teacher's job to get them to be a bit quieter or call on the others.

I hate the idea that children who're eager or bright must be 'swots' ... I thought that attitude had died a death, it's really nasty.

YABU. Its the opposite. A couple of years ago I decided to do a Maths qualification. It was so difficult to find a college that actually wanted to run it, as they were chock full of floristry, cookery, art and design, etc. courses. As for some of the students - they were totally nursemaided by the lecturers, due to poor study and personal motivational skills, yet still failed. I can only imagine what some children at schools must be like now.

I have lost count of how many students who come to FE at 16 cannot do basic Maths. I have to go right back to primary school stuff with them quite routinely. In terms of literacy in their assignment they will routinely write in text speak! And then they say I want to be a nurse and I say well the universities require you to have a good standard of Maths and will test you each year of your degree and you must achieve 100% and they look shocked because they never quite fully appreciate that messing about at school has consequences. There is something of a culture amongst some younger people that they can become anything they want to even if they have been badly behaved, and messed around at school. I have 16 year old girls say 'what is the starting salary for a nurse' I tell them and they say 'is that all?' and I say well what did you expect? Oh 30 grand at least!

I agree with LRD about the 'swot' reference.
I also thought that was a word from the past.
Some kids are academic and are just naturals. My ds is one of them and I'm very proud.