How would you reform Secondary education

[CurlewKate]

If you had a free hand? I would get rid of all state selective and faith schools and introduce a new admissions system based on ballots and fair banding. And I would introduce an extensive school transport network. That would be my starting point. I haven't yet worked out the details for children who genuinely can't access mainstream education, but I do think that most can with proper support. Which will, of course, be in place. This needs more thought and input from experts once My Glorious Reign comes into effect.
I would also have rigorous and regular inspections. Free school meals for all. BTecs or some similar system will be given the same weight and value as GCSEs and A Levels.

I would prioritise the individual well-being of every child over achievement. I believe achievement is supported by health and happiness, not the other way round.
I would pour resources into teachers and counsellors and mentors, all trained to be child-centred. I would make it an absolute right for every child to have their concerns, dreams, hopes, fears listened to.

Increase funding to allow more flexibility of timetabling.
Allow lower ability kids to do Functional Skills maths and english, only do the GCSE if pass them first.

Possibly allow subjects to be studied without the stress of exams at the end.

I’d have core subjects as maths, English language, personal health and finance, business and economics, computing and AI, and science. Choose four or five from the rest including one from history or geography, and a language.

Additional staff to handle all the crap that teachers shouldn't be dealing with, so that they can actually teach.

I would get rid of GCSEs altogether, instead leaving exams at age 18. There would be a wider choice of what those exams looked like, some vocational, possibly functional skills etc…

Agree with much of what @CurlewKate said but I would completely change the inspection regime to make it far more supportive of schools. I've seen Ofsted throw a bomb into a school and then run off leaving devastation behind and I wouldn't wish that on any human being. Children are of course important but so are staff....

In Scotland you get a place at your local catchment school (or catchment catholic school). Its pretty simple.

If you don't want to go to your local school you can make a placing request for another. You get a space if there is one

School buses are provided for children who live more than 2 miles away (primary) or 3 miles away (secondary). But all children also have a free bus pass so can travel on any bus anyway.

We also have poverty proofed sensible school uniforms and parents decide what age children can walk to and from school.

What would I change:

• the attainment gap between children from poor socio-economic backgrounds and those from wealthier backgrounds is shockingly large and growing every year. The Scottish Government talk about it all the bloody time but do nothing to address it.
• make outdoor education part of the curriculum and a right for every child to have a residential in either P7 or S1
• bring back a proper exam appeal system
• smaller class sizes across the board and tutorial support in secondary schools

I’d make more schools that are focused on children with ASD or ADHD. Create environments which are more suited to the ND child and can allow them to thrive and succeed.

I’d cap classroom sizes to a max of 20.

School would be open 8-6 with lessons 9-4 and the additional time to be optional for wraparound care/clubs.

At Yr 9 pupils could choose to go down a regular route with option subjects such as History, Music and Art or pick up a vocational qualification such as plastering, hairdressing, bricklaying etc. This would be alongside a core of English, Maths and Science.

Teachers would be paid very well and be given time everyday for planning and marking.

Mental health would be addressed with each school having at least one counsellor and welfare team.

I would also introduce a life skills class where pupils learn skills they should (but may not be) taught at home such as how mortgages work, the type of debt you do and don’t want, how to budget, how to plan a healthy menu etc.

I would also change the inspection process. I would assign an inspector or team to a school and have them work alongside them collaboratively, so that they actually see what the school is like and understand the context. They would visit the school much more frequently, but not grade them. However, any issues would be pointed out and would be expected to be dealt with.

I also think some students would be better off with the option to study fewer academic subjects and really get to grips with them, perhaps taking some vocational qualifications alongside them. I know this happens to an extent but the very weakest students are still sometimes overloaded with content. The science GCSE curriculum for example could be skimmed down with the option for a single GCSE to be studies alongside maths and English. I would make these the only compulsory GCSE subjects. Students would be guided towards a more traditional academic pathway, or the more vocational route, but there could be flexibility here.

I would retain uniforms but make them more like pe kits in style. Warmer in winter, cooler in summer and lending itself to schools building some kind of physical activity into every day. I say this as someone who always hated pe and still hates exercise! However, I think it would be really good for our collective health, both physical and mental.

I also really like what my school does, which is having a later finish on a Monday and an earlier finish on a Friday. There are then loads of extracurricular activities on offer on a Friday for those who need or want to stay in school, all of which are free. I think this provides an excellent opportunity for children who wouldn't otherwise have access to lots of clubs outside of school.

I would scrap the existing A level and ucas system and make the education broader and apply with grades in hand. Also bring back some sort of continuous assessment rather than have two years of work then one exam. Tomorrow is results day and the stress is too much for many young people. Its one of the most stressful times of their life and it shouldn't be.

I would scrap uniforms, make sport and exercise far more inclusive and part of the curriculum and if money was no object I'd add cookery classes with ingredients supplied by the school.

-More support for students with SEN
-Smaller class sizes
-More vocational qualifications
-Flexibility in number of GCSEs/more value on functional skills courses

100% this - having been educated in a different country this whole system where you don’t know for sure where you are going until 2 weeks before is bonkers and unnecessarily stressful.

I would also scrap GCSEs and replace with a streamlined English and Maths assessment that evaluates core skills and is pass/fail. So much of the uk system seems intent on achieving some sort of rank order hierarchy of achievement which doesn’t really reflect the diversity we should be aspiring for in our future workforce.

Totally agree! The hierarchy thing is ridiculous.

All students would cook every day, ideally in a way which contributes to their lunch or snacks. Lunch is good quality and eaten calmly in an appropriate dining room.

Students would have more autonomy, both over their choice of subjects and their projects within the subjects.

There would be more trips, talks workshops etc.

Tutoring programmes would be complely overhauled with a dedicated pastoral team.

Students are taught about appropriate phone use and phones are integrated into lessons rather than also carrying around a calculator (for example).

This goes for all state schools, not just secondary.

All schools would be non-denominational and there would not be religious education at school. This should be a personal choice for parents and pupils outside of mainstream, state education. This would help get rid of the current system where church funded schools get more money or who have parents who are more engaged etc. All children would go to their nearest state school, as the quality of education would be the same.

All pupils would cover the following mandatory topics throughout their education in age appropriate ways:
Critical thinking
Personal and household financial planning
Nutrition and health, proper practical instruction in cooking, meal prep and personal exercise and a basic understanding of the body and how to keep it healthy and when to seek medical advice
Sex education and family planning
Basic DIY, household, car and bike maintenance
Basic gardening and grow your own vegetables from pots to plots
Class size would be maximum of 20

Better additional needs provision with more support in each school, without the horrendous IEP, ECHP, statement, and desperate begging of the local authority process that goes on at the moment, resulting in help that is too late and needs a lawyer or a full-time campaigner to access and retain.

As we have a desperate shortage of skilled workers, I would be looking at gearing education towards encouraging those pathways, promoting good quality apprenticeships as the next step after education.

Bring back the modular AS/A2 system!!

I would get rid off private schools
I'd get rid off any religion in school
I'd make class sizes smaller
I'd make sure lunch was simple Mediterranean style
I'd have stricter discipline

Scrap compulsory GCSEs as they stand. Revisit the concept of 14-19 pathways.

Why get rid of private schools?

At the end of year 9, students can either stay on at their current school and take an academic grammar route or leave and go to technical college to learn a trade/practical course with a maths/English element.

Because there shouldn't be a two tier education system.

Pay teachers more
Bring back the cane

I would also have rigorous and regular inspections

Depending on what this looks like-it could drive any remaining teachers away for good.

Inspections can absolutely destroy schools and staff and I see very little evidence to suggest that they have raised standards.

I'd replace the national curriculum with the international baccalaureate curriculum.
Have classes that are split by learning style rather than attainment.