Education reset proposals by the Times

[CruCru]

Have any of you seen the thing in the Times about the year-long investigation on education?

I liked the idea of replacing A levels with a British Baccalaureate (so 6 subjects). I think we specialise too young in the UK - I chose my A levels when I was 15 and did okay but would have chose different ones in retrospect.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0ac9155c-ebe0-11ec-8821-d2e916a7eab3?shareToken=eedb1cd53857b885077363cf6e102ff8

I’d like to read it, but cba with the firewall.

Ah sorry, did the share token not work?

I remember saying on an old thread that there was no need for students to do lots of exams at 16. I was shouted down,

Some people didn’t even know the education leaving age had risen to 18. They thought kids could just leave at 16 and get a job.

I think the proposals are listed here:

www.fenews.co.uk/fe-voices/the-times-education-commission-report-finds-the-british-education-system-is-failing-on-every-measure/

I like the idea of slimmed down GCSEs and fewer exams in general.

I'd not have liked being forced to study more Maths and science to 18, though. However, if it was structured more like the German system where you study a couple of subjects as specialisms (and their marks count for more) and another 3 or so to a post-GCSE level, it might work well as you allow students to play to their strengths but have a wider knowledge base.

For example if you were good at science you could do Maths and Physics as "A levels" and history, French and psychology as additional subjects.

Universities might have to restructure some courses though as students would be coming in with less specialist knowledge.

I do think a foreign language should be compulsory to 18. I know people always say you can't because of kids with additional learning needs, but they all manage to learn English ok in other countries and they can't have fewer kids with learning needs than we do.

I do think a foreign language should be compulsory to 18. I know people always say you can't because of kids with additional learning needs, but they all manage to learn English ok in other countries and they can't have fewer kids with learning needs than we do.

You can only do this if you sort out language teaching in primary and do it way way better than currently.

It would be interesting to know what % in other countries continue with a language all the way to 18. My dyslexic DD2 couldn't cope at all with French the way it is currently taught. (And I'm not against MFLs, my DD1 took 2 to GCSE).

I think the proposals are interesting and much needed. As always, the devil would be in the detail.

I did the IB instead of A-levels myself, and I was very glad of that opportunity, but it certainly wouldn't suit everyone, so the British baccalaureate would need to be a bit more flexible, I think, to make it work. A broader approach would be good though.

Some of the other suggestions seem eminently sensible, especially the idea of a 15 year education strategy. A bit of longer term thinking would be helpful. There would need to be political will from all parties though to commit to the strategy and crucially to funding it properly. I don't hold out too much hope, I'm afraid.

I think the vast majority of students in non-English speaking countries tend to continue with the study of a language (most often English) until 18.

So it's basically looking at going backwards to where we were years ago? Consultant teachers aka lead practitioners, narrowing the curriculum rather than subjects pupils can manage ... I am sure revalidating a teacher every 5 years will do wonders to the shrinking profession. A perfect way for a lot of SLT who play a 'your face doesn't fit' game with lives

What they need to do is get in school and speak to teachers about what's wrong. Stop changing goalposts every couple of years and LISTEN.

Here's what I would do
Bring back a pathways scheme where less academic pupils can go and learn a trade in year 10, alongside core subjects in school, this means that post 16 they have done Level 1 courses and can continue at the same pace as their peers. We had students studying media, beauty, mechanics, IT, building etc.

Deal with attitude and behaviour. Give some power back to schools regarding detentions etc. biggest issue at the moment in low level disruption and lack of ambition

Allow schools to teach pupils what works for them - some of the stuff if so outdated.

Less exams throughout school, teach them to be free learners rather than exam machines

I’d return schools to LA control too. This would get rid of knob head senior management in academies.

@TeenPlusCat
The German Abitur expects two foreign languages for five years (usually to B2 level) with at least a pass (sufficient = 4) in both. The first is usually English, the second depends on the school. DS did Latin, DD die Russian, I (ages ago) did French and Latin. If you do not want to go on to university but into the Dual System you can stick to 1 MFL = English.

Well, they can, if the job includes a proper training/education component.

It's the participation age that's been raised, not the school leaving age. Which is why 16+ exams of some sort are still needed, unless you want some leaving school with literally nothing to show for it