How would you reform primary education?

[Hobbleouchouch]

I found the secondary education thread really interesting.

As a soon-to-be-primary-school-parent, I would love to know your thoughts on what would make the perfect primary school!

Thanks!

Interesting. I found as an HT that less time was spent using restorative practice well. Which also included challenging the insincere use of the "right words". However used badly I can see it would be ineffective and time consuming.

The effectiveness is I think influenced heavily by the overall quality of leadership and the school culture.

Persue each child’s interests???
Those who love art and should be nurtured have next to no time to persue this as there is no time to fit it in! Likewise drama, music, just sitting and reading for fun in a reading corner! Yes we read, but it’s mostly the structured stuff and timed in minutes, not time to get engrossed. The fun has gone out of primary education in the 17 years I have been a TA because everyone has to focus on meeting “targets” which as everyone knows ,children achieve at differing paces. And worst of all, the ‘catch up’ lessons: It’s always the same children doing the catch up sessions , who then miss out on the (possibly) more enjoyable stuff because of them. Not fair , to my mind. Every second of the day needs to be accounted for, these days…

I think, luckily, in our area, 11+ is more or less unheard of, otherwise that would cause a whole other level of anxiety. SATs are a big enough stress on their own. ( Children and Staff alike).

I loved primary school, as a kid; I would absolutely not thrive now.

The fun has gone out of primary education

This is exactly it!