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Original poster

Is Rishi Sunak utterly thick?

400 replies

noblegiraffe · 17/04/2023 21:07

Today he actually went ahead and announced his plans for everyone studying maths till 18.

And all everyone commenting on this on the news or social media has been saying today is "but this is mad because there aren't enough maths teachers to teach the qualifications we already have".

And teachers including maths teachers, are going on strike again next week because the government refuses to pay them properly. The government also failed to meet its maths teacher trainee recruitment target last year and will again this year.

This announcement just gives everyone the wonderful opportunity to point these governmental failings again and again.

Why the fuck would anyone with any political sense announce a policy that cannot happen and gives everyone the opportunity to point out that it can't happen because the government are shit?

Just why?

OP posts:
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10
Havanananana · 17/04/2023 21:16

Because the point of this, and similar announcements, is to give the illusion that the government is actually "doing something" and to distract from all of the other areas where they are failing. Fill the front pages with nonsense like this and there is no space for anything else.

Johnson, as a former newspaper columnist, knew the value of this, so he made daft and unworkable announcements almost daily. Today's headlines are tomorrow's fish and chip wrappers, the promises soon forgotten and the debate moves on to the next topic. And if it keeps the opposition off the front pages, all the better.

Soonthen · 17/04/2023 21:16

It just doesn’t add up

Socialdistancechampion · 17/04/2023 21:18

But not everyone is going to be taking further maths A levels are they. Many will be resitting their GCSE to get their level 4/5 to stay on their college course, so the education level of the teachers will be variable too. You won't need a burst of maths teachers to teach every sixth former.

Makewayforsummer · 17/04/2023 21:18

I heard his reply to a question asked by a journalist on this. It was something on the lines of using technology. So whack them in front of Oak Academy.

Ersorrywhatnow · 17/04/2023 21:18

Dunno, the little maths geek wants revenge??? Unfortunately he hasn't the self-awareness to realise that ironically the numbers won't work on this.

It's another soundbite that sounds good but means nothing

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 17/04/2023 21:19

It's not distracting from the failing areas though, it's bringing them up and making people more aware of them than they might be!

Pretty much everything I have read about it has said 'there's a shortage of maths teachers so it won't happen'. Gillian Keegan has been on the radio being asked about it and she's basically being challenged about the dreadful recruitment and retention to which she has very few answers.

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Choccyeggs20 · 17/04/2023 21:20

It doesn’t even sound good though does it?! I don’t think kids studying maths until 18 benefits the country in an age where everyone has a calculator on their phone.

Boomboom22 · 17/04/2023 21:20

Buy in some maths apps, online certificate, boom. Tory donors can start work on the shitty apps now, no need to use proper ones that already exist etc.

calimali · 17/04/2023 21:21

Much like his announcement on free childcare - all hot air. There are not enough childcare places, and he knows it. There are not enough maths teachers - ahgain he will be fully aware of this.

But just saying it will please and con a lot of people.

Boomboom22 · 17/04/2023 21:21

She gave me the rage on the radio this morning. She actually is thick.

Socialdistancechampion · 17/04/2023 21:21

I was made to take "functional skills" at college (despite having a C grade GCSE) and I'm pretty sure my teacher for that wasn't a maths teacher. I would suspect it's an extension of this project

Lisbeth50 · 17/04/2023 21:21

If people are saying they don't like Maths and can't do it, sticking them in front of some technology isn't going to help.

Mischance · 17/04/2023 21:22

He should butt out - his job is to properly fund teacher training, schools, teacher CPD - and then let the professionals get on with their jobs.

Is he so stupid as to announce this without realising it will point up the government's failings in education? I doubt it - he has his reasons, none of which will be honourable.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 17/04/2023 21:22

Socialdistancechampion · 17/04/2023 21:18

But not everyone is going to be taking further maths A levels are they. Many will be resitting their GCSE to get their level 4/5 to stay on their college course, so the education level of the teachers will be variable too. You won't need a burst of maths teachers to teach every sixth former.

We don't have enough maths teachers to teach the maths we are already teaching. Schools try to prioritise giving maths teachers to GCSE classes (although this can't always happen) and so kids at KS3 are often taught by non maths teachers. If we do get any more maths teachers, they'll be needed to fill gaps not add extra courses.

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AutieAdult · 17/04/2023 21:25

I completely agree @noblegiraffe which begs the question if they are prepared to deal with this flak and looking stupid what are they trying to hide that would be worse publicity?

calimali · 17/04/2023 21:25

Well, to be fair, I doubt there is any shortage of Maths teachers -or indeed any teachers - in Winchester College. Rishi will not give a rat's ass about the dire maths 'teaching' many state educated students are having to put up with.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 17/04/2023 21:25

Boomboom22 · 17/04/2023 21:20

Buy in some maths apps, online certificate, boom. Tory donors can start work on the shitty apps now, no need to use proper ones that already exist etc.

Funnily enough, one of the experts on the advisory channel just happens to run an extremely expensive maths site.

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Socialdistancechampion · 17/04/2023 21:25

I don't see a problem with it. We have science teachers who can help, as well as technology. For functional skills you don't need a hands on teacher, if it's done in the same way as distance learning I don't see how this couldn't work

Lulu1919 · 17/04/2023 21:25

Soonthen · 17/04/2023 21:16

It just doesn’t add up

It's going to divide the country

MrsHamlet · 17/04/2023 21:25

We already have GCSE classes sitting maths this year without a maths teacher.
We already have KS3 maths classes without a maths teacher.
We simply cannot staff compulsory maths of any kind to 18.

He's a twit.

MrsHamlet · 17/04/2023 21:26

Socialdistancechampion · 17/04/2023 21:25

I don't see a problem with it. We have science teachers who can help, as well as technology. For functional skills you don't need a hands on teacher, if it's done in the same way as distance learning I don't see how this couldn't work

Where are the spare science teachers coming from?

BluebellBlueballs · 17/04/2023 21:26

Soonthen · 17/04/2023 21:16

It just doesn’t add up

Boom boom

jgw1 · 17/04/2023 21:26

Mischance · 17/04/2023 21:22

He should butt out - his job is to properly fund teacher training, schools, teacher CPD - and then let the professionals get on with their jobs.

Is he so stupid as to announce this without realising it will point up the government's failings in education? I doubt it - he has his reasons, none of which will be honourable.

Well the reason the announcement (repeat announcement) is today is

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65301099

Is Sunak thick or does he just think we are?

At least he knows what a woman is hey?

Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak investigated over declaration of interest

The prime minister faces a declaration of interest inquiry over a childcare firm his wife has shares in.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65301099

WaitingfortheTardis · 17/04/2023 21:27

Maths is important, but to force it as mandatory until 18 is absolute nonsense and shows, again, how out of touch the man is with reality and how little he understands that every child is different.

calimali · 17/04/2023 21:27

Wow - all those spare Physics teachers out there....... Do you have ANY idea how difficult it is to staff STEM subjects?