What's wrong with our schools? - In summary

[lovelearning]

This list is compiled from the thread What's wrong with our schools?

I would appreciate your input

Opinions, suggestions and corrections, please

Some schools lack funding for the basics e.g. building maintenance and stationary

Schools need more teachers and support staff, smaller class sizes and funding for ongoing teacher training

Children should start formal education later

Abolish league tables

Opt out of GERM

Schools should encourage a love of learning

Schools should focus less on exams and more on real life skills

Schools should offer a range of subjects, including humanities and vocational subjects

Vocational education should be encouraged; schools should work with employers to get young people into apprenticeships

Society needs to place a higher value on academic achievement

Teachers need to teach, rather than spending time on paperwork, targets, analysis, statistics etc

Schools need more funding for children with additional needs

Schools need to listen to the parents of children with additional needs

No child should be forced into home education

The full cost of home education should be borne by the State, including financial provision for parents

Bullying remains a problem in schools

Discipline is a widespread problem, not helped by parents

Effective sanctions need to be made available to schools and teachers

*they're not spending that time...

There are so much variety in attitudes to education, I don't think any one solution would suit all. Rather, it should enable variety rather than trying to shove everyone into the same educational box.

So for example, children who are far ahead should be able to opt for computer learning in the class, so they can go at their own rate.

There should be the option for flexi schooling, particularly in primary.

Children who have gone through home schooling should have the right to sit GCSEs or A levels for free if their parents cannot afford the exam costs.

Hi Sarah,

"researching" another article are we ?

In Japan, teachers are held in high regard: The same should be true in the UK

But that's quite problematic in reality. I wouldnt hold the Japanese education system up as a beacon. It's ok if you fit a certain mould, but if you don't....

Tbh, most national education systems have some draw backs and most independent schools which achieve a lot couldn't do so at scale or outside a narrow demographic.

The problem for all education systems (and most social and cultural structures overall) is that putting in place infrastructure and processes to address wide ranging needs is incredibly expensive and takes a long time. It's very difficult to make it fit for purpose in a very rapidly changing and increasingly global employment environment.

I feel the UK beats itself up a bit too much tbh.

All parents, regardless of circumstances, want what's best for their children

Not necessarily- and that's true across social classes, or at least they may want it in an abstract way (like if they could magic personal and educational scuccess for their kids they'd be happy) but not enough to actually put in the effort/ make sacrifices to parent effectively. Schools can't do it all.