State education system, is it broken?

[minimathsmouse]

I believe the wheels have fallen off the state education system. You might not agree but I have read so many posts here from parents who have had and are still having huge problems with their child's school. Many people seem to have worries about standards of teaching, clashes of ideology and problems with making up the deficit with tutors and home study. Horrendous SEN provission, huge class sizes, lack of provision for able pupils, the list goes on. It is truely depressing to think so many children are not receiving the education they deserve.

How many people believe the whole system has failed? Are falling standards only due to poor teaching or wider problems that are not being addressed within the system?

Early 1990s. Class of 46 reception children. 1ta for the whole school. Teachers had to buy pencils for the class. 4 surrounding schools in special measures.

How easily we all forget how bad it was under last conservative government. Will it be different this time- I hope so.

Is it broken- no actually it's bl&&dy good.

There are some excellent state schools around. My dd's previous primary was excellent and I know of a number of excellent secondaries.

From 4pm would be great with me, it would be your job then not mine!

Simba....where I live our year one has more than 46...it has 64....split into two groups and strugglig to learn in tiny spaces (classrooms) just feet from one another.

OPen plan and dsorganised...teachers spending half their time changing the pants of those kids who aren't toilet trained...we need to be more flexible...so that the kids who are not eady emotionally at 4 or 5 do not HAVE to attend then.

I still reckon that children are not ready for formalised education before the age of 6 or 7.

I do believe that your first impression and experiences at school are lasting ones - I can still recall the fear and tears I shed when I was called into my first classroom.

I just don't buy the argument that somehow a just 4 August baby and a 5 yo September baby will be equally receptive to a standardised lesson. I look at my son (just shy of 4) and comparing him to my daughter (when she was this age) I can't believe the disparity!

Surely, by giving parents the right to decide when and how and how much in the formative years will give the children the confidence and skills necessary to be able to grow up (in their own time) and become better, abler students ...

I think Rabbitstew makes some very valid points especially about the purpose of education and the fact that a clear consensus should be agreed. In terms of individualised learning I wouldn?t agree that this stems from parents expectations. The focus on differentiation within teaching came about because of the need for better provision for children with SEN. It came about because of the Lapp evaluation in the 80?s, although parental obsession with individual targets and progress is a natural extension of their greater involvement and overall responsibility to ensure their child has an efficient education.

I agree that the starting point needs to be, what is a good education? Does the state system at present provide that education and what can be done to ensure that in future it will?

With 64 it will not only have I adult.

46 with I teacher- no ta.

But I think Waterloo that those are the exceptions...not the rule. If you're lucky enough to have encountered state schools like this then that's great...but for most it's not the case.

Too be fair 4 year olds do not have to attend, you just loose your place if they don't which pissed me off no end.
I do think the fact that children used to start at 5 is the reason there were less accidents in our day rather than disposable nappies which my parents blame for everything in that department

Simba...not 1 adult no...but nonetheless hardly ideal or excellent. It was like a zoo...I visited three times in the hope that I had caught tem at a bad time but each visit the class was in disarray and the noise was awful. Not to mntion the tales of bullying...5 year olds getitng pushed over repeatedly by older kids...when they were going to the toilet.

I would not have left a dog there...a year after I first went and DD was at private school...I went back in the hope that the new head had managed to change things but f anything it was worse.

ShanahansRevenge - how can you possibly say that for most it is not the case? Surely you only have a very limited geographical experience?

Mamatomony...yes...it's the place losing that is wrong...

Rabbit...no....I don't actually, I have lived in various areas and have made quite a study of schools and of parents expectations and satisfaction.

A lot of damage has been done.

I reckon we could cut down the NC and focus on the three Rs, sport and art.

All morning, academics, all afternoon, sport or art or singing.

No homework, just reading if the parents can help.

No relying on parents to teach to read and times tables.

Lots of ten out of ten tests but no big tests, no end of year tests, just ten sums every day, ten spellings every day.

Children are heard reading twice a week at school and no saying oh there isn't the time. Make the time. Find the staff. Ask the dinner ladies and the head, I don't care. Parents reading rota. But DON'T rely on reading and maths at home. Only in school.

No mroe fancy dress lessons. No more half term projects.

ShanahansRevenge - I don't think various areas counts as the vast majority of the country. I too have lived in various areas and volunteered in various schools. I don't presume to base my opinion on state education in general on my experiences of those schools, though.

Shanahan that sounds like my dd's school so it certainly counts for my area.

Appletrees, I like your school, can I enrol my DCs, maybe you should investigate Free Schools.

I wouldn't want my dd at appletrees school, she is a bright girl who needs half term projects so she can fly. She also adores homework.

Appletrees - what of those children who had taught themselves to read and do their times tables before they started school? And those who detest art and singing and are no good at sport?

I haven't volunteered in any schools Rabbitstew.

Appetrees put my name down for your schoo too please! I

I'm sure most 7 year olds don't want a sleep but i know a fair few that could do with a good run around every 45 mins - an hour rather than being made to feel bad because they don't want to sit still on a carpet discussing their feelings.

ShanahansRevenge - as a matter of interest, how have you studied schools and parents' expectations?

Mamatomany, "I'm sure most 7 year olds don't want a sleep but i know a fair few that could do with a good run around every 45 mins - an hour rather than being made to feel bad because they don't want to sit still on a carpet discussing their feelings."

Especially boys, should children start school and progress through school as and when they are ready rather than by chronological age?

You wouldn't know it by the state of my posts on here rabbitstew but I'm a writer. I have researched many aspects of education for various media.

Here's an interesting article (not written by me)

www.telegraph.co.uk/education/leaguetables/6702560/Primary-school-league-tables-2009-more-schools-failing.html