Aibu to think education at the moment is a race to the bottom?

[Bridgetjoneski]

I get there is a staffing crisis but I feel the bar has been set so low that if bright kids don't have clued in parents & guardians who have an insight into what's going on they will slip through the cracks.. My y7 has no homework more often than she does.. When she does it's literally 10 minutes..
Her school is a very mixed demographic & it seems they want all kids to tick all boxes, not stretching or expanding the curriculum.. It just feels it's a race to the bottom. And some parents very much seem to see school as a baby sitting service..

I really wouldn’t include the amount of homework given as part of your judgement of the school. It’s what happens during the day of teaching that matters.

Absolutely. My secondary was absolutely appalling, everyone knew it and they tried to close it down. At least half of wvery lesson was behaviour management and most teachers were not specislists in their area. I did get a full scholarship to private selective school but refused to go and my parents rightly or wrongly didn't force me. My brother got a full scholarship and did attend.
I got all A and A* through teaching myself from the revision books. My brother got a mix of B's and C's, I would say he was naturally brighter than me, but didn't commit to revision like I did.

So a bright child who had a good attitude to learning will get excellent GCSE's whatever school they are at. A levels are a big jump and fo require better teaching though.

@Oblomov24
Someone has a Northern Chip!
Honestly, why do you feel the need to state that you are in the North? The post is not about compass points but decisions people make and sacrifices people do make so that they can be happy with the choice they made for their children.
Because- it is always a choice! And- if then you prioritise other things such as living close to family and not having to commute much, good for you!
This is what I was trying to say to OP. Fundamentally, she made a choice, whether she realises and accepts it or not.
When you own that choice, rather than moaning about it.. you make the best of it and provide also what you can to educate your children and broaden the curriculum.
It is not just the school's job.
And plenty of parents from some of the top schools in the country do realise this and do this.. they are not sat back bemoaning a lack of homework 🤣

Sorry @Oblomov24 🤣
I'm finding it hard to catch up whilst at work- I think my message is intended for @Probablygreen

I don’t have a northern chip and I’m not moaning 🤣 I’m quite happy with where I am! I don’t know where in my posts I gave you the impression that I am anything else.
It’s relevant that I am in the north because we don’t have grammar schools, that’s all! And we have a good deal fewer independent schools. I don’t personally think that’s a problem, but the choice here is basically state or state, so suggesting that if you’re not preparing your child for the 11+ or applying for bursaries you mustn’t care about your child’s education is laughable when that option isn’t available to everyone.
Again, I couldn’t care less - my kids go to a great primary and will go to a great secondary, and have engaged parents, so they will do well.
But do you not see the problem when you’re suggesting that people move to get into grammar or independent, and if you don’t do this you mustn’t care about education, when actually we should be looking at bringing the bad schools up to standard so that doesn’t have to happen?

What about people who have to prioritise putting food on the table or dealing with their disability or the breakdown of their marriage? Or a million other reasons why people can't research and then move close to a great school.

You are right to say that some parents have a choice. These parents will make their choice and their kids will do well.
My concern is that schools are failing the other kids, the ones who want to do well but don't have support - and don't have a choice.

Schools and teachers are in an impossible position. The comprehensive ethos, push for inclusion of all in one classroom and lack of resources means that as long as everyone achieves a 4, it’s a win. It is surely a socialist ideal - everyone gets the same outcome regardless of ability.

Nicely, There's a lot we cant control. Being born into a loving family counts for a lot. MN 'I took you to stately homes threads' for the damage that abusive childhoods have. My ds's get brownie points for having invested parents. Most Mn'ers are invested, else we wouldn't be here! Some of us (not me!) are born with all the blessings. Ds1 was at school with many many children who had it all : lovely, good looking, incredibly intelligent, sporty, girlfriend, rich parents, the lot. Many really good schools get struggling dc to Oxbridge.

This is exactly what Progress 8 exists to combat. All Year 7 have a baseline and they have to individually achieve against this baseline which is set on prior achievement

Progress 8 is listed in the league tables and used by OFSTED.

Schools have to push high achieversand it’s nonsense say 4s are all they are after. Every child’sgrade counts under this measure

Just to make a general point which I know won't be popular, but hey...

Of course education policy needs to cater for all children and aim to meet their diverse needs, but inclusivity at all costs is a disaster for the country as a whole. We need to ensure that able students get what they need and are able to reach their potential. This was what the grammar schools did, and yes, I know there is another side to that coin.

Otherwise, where parents can afford it, these children will go to independent schools. Parents of able children should be able to entrust them to the state system and I think it's an absolute priority to regain the confidence of parents. Schools need to do their best to eliminate classroom disruption - that's the problem, not so much the fact that children of possibly lesser ability will be in the classroom too.

I'm sorry to sound so hard-line, but I've worked in schools where ideology trumped every other objective. It was far more important to be seen to be totally inclusive than to do what was best for individual children. I could give many examples!

And if I'm coming over as a nasty educational reactionary, I'm really not - but I am a pragmatist, not an ideologue. I used to hate the 'Gifted and Talented' initiative, actually, which I thought was totally wrong-headed approach to meeting the needs of able students. I thought that was appallingly elitist! You don't label children in that way at school, for a start, and secondly, extra opportunities for enrichment should be open to every child who wants to participate, not some chosen elite. If a child with learning difficulties wants to join the Shakespeare theatre trip, then they should be encouraged - it wouldn't harm the potential Oxbridge contingent's experience of it!