Prescott back stabs Blair.

[RudolphsAuntMabel]

Hurrah for John Prescott!! (never thought I'd say that!).

Has told the telegraph that he will fight Tory Blair on the school reforms - the ones that will allow state schools to be selective - 2 tier class system.

I for one agree with John. I was lucky enough to go to a great state High School where the girls in my form were from all different backgrounds and I firmly believe that's a good thing. If you give state schools the option to be selective with the pupils they take and more control over their own finances in the way Tony wants a lot are going to take children from more prosperous back grounds so kids like I was will miss out on a fantastic education just because their parents aren't wealthy.

I love John Prescott!!

to be fair to them, they do get formal grading of all their tests and exams, so they will not faint when you mark the essay Tamum!

When we introduced it it drove the kids nuts. They don't ant to learn how to improve, you see, they just want to know that they were doing better than the kid next to them!

We also use self referencing for reports. It doesn't help you to know that ou child came 15th out of 30, what matters is that you know that your child is making progress.

We are quite down to earth in out comments btw, if the work is below the child's standard, we say so. This isn't about pussy footing round, but about shaping kids are independent learners, who should be campable of assessing their own work...useful in a degree student

No, I can see why it's a useful approach. It just seems quite a stark contrast, that's all!

and obviously if they want to, they can count up the marks and work out if they got 4/10 or whatever.
A world of a way from 'Must try harder' as a comment on school reports!

This sort of formative assessment has been shown to have the greatest effect of any stratagy on improving performance in schools, it score way better than VAKI learning style intervention or even things like CASE (cognitive acceleration through science education)

twas ever thus [rolls eyes]

Good for Prescott. Has anyone read the alternative white paper? It's very sharp. It just points out that the new Trust schools were never mentioned in the manifesto and what's the difference between them and foundation status anyway? That there will be much more bureaucracy (new School Commissioner, etc.) but less accountability and democracy and a more chaotic admissions procedure. References in the white paper to successes with charter schools in the US and Sweden are misleading because in the US many of those schools have closed within a decade and studies have shown that pupils haven't done as well there as in other state schools; and in Sweden they simply don't have faith schools or grammar schools, just one type of secular high school with just a few schools that are encouraged to have specialist subject status (the danger of this legislation is that it mixes a host of incompatible approaches up hoping for the best).

The best quote is 'Not all pupils have parents who are engaged equally or wish to be. Not all pupils have parents. Such differences in interest will privilege some schools and some pupils - indeed this is a feature of our current system. It is ironic that in a country which has the highest percentage of the working age population in work and the longest working hours in Europe those parents are then expected to get home and run the local school too.'

Estelle Morris and Fiona Millar are fab.

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The problem with the government proposals (as I see it ) is that they are too complicated and bureaucratic. Is this because they need to be this way to attract funding from the private sector?
My concerns are that much of the opposition to it it based on the idea that the comprehensive system is sacred and should be preserved and perhaps improved. The ideology of one cap fits all just doesn't work in reality. Many comps are excellent but we can't use that as an excuse to do nothing just as we can't use the many excellent grammar schools as an excuse to go back to the 11+. I don't know what the answer is!

Isn't Fiona Millar, Alastair Campbell's wife/partner?

What we really need is something radical. Something well thought out and simplified as much as possible. A new system that will appeal to pupils, parents and employers.

We need to stop trying to fix a flood with a band aid.

And what we don't need is my rhetoric!

just to digress a little - did any of you see this story about Shevington High introducing Nike sports kits at £80 a time get kids 'more interested' in gym.

Am I really that out of touch - we're now almost bribing kids to do as they're told. Is PE not compulsory now and if not, why not? Who rules the friggin' roost?

I thought that was disgraceful. That would be a real undermining of my parental values if it happened at a school my children attended. I'd love to know what's really behind this, is it really to try and get them to do more PE?

THis is farcical! What about all the families that can't afford this!

like those grammar school uniforms?

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Most of the kids who go to the school mine go to, (which is private and has a posh uniform) get kitted out in the second hand shop! I know that mine do!

Somehow I don't see such a roaring trade in second hand nike kit.

Imagine the uproar if a posh school had designer kit for those that could afford it, and 'standard' school uniform for those that couldn't! But soemhow if it is 'trendy' that makes it OK?, crapola!

But what about those parents who are attempting to teach their kids that wearing Nike isn't the be-all and end-all of self-worth? This school is deliberately undermining that effort by pandering to the bling-bling brigade.

Quite! I'm with you 100% on this.

And isn't it also buying into the mega shallow attitude that you can only be good at something if you look the part???

Buying into the shallow, style is better than substance crap that is wall to wall on tv! (sez the woamn in the mand s jeans and asdas jumper!

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MB I had all of my uniform from the school thrift shop too. Would've been too expensive otherwise. Anyway it's not just grammar schools that have uniforms is it? I've got to cough up for DS1's (almost 4) first unform in April and judging by the school price list it's not going to be cheap!

But to say kids have to have Nike gear to do PE is absolutely insane!! People can't afford it, and if any kids are as bad at sport as I was it'll get ruined pretty quick from all the falling over and getting it by hockey balls.

School I work in is a comp but we have a formal uni, with a jacket and tie. It isn't that expensice tho and they can get it in BHS and other local shops. A whole load cheaper than the kids designer stuff, I bet!

the problem I have with it (apart from all your well reasoned arguments) is that it's to get kids 'interested' in doing sports.

What happened to the health benefits message, is that secondary to how cool you look? What happened to the 'Friday afternoon, double games' on their timetable. Do kids get an 'option' whether they take part in that lesson?

well? do they? if they do they shouldn't.