Schools - I'm begining to believe they treat our kids like a financial transaction

[sammyjguru]

Does anyone out there have concerns about the advice being given to their child about their future careers? Both of my children are at this crucial stage and I became uncomfortable when the more academic one was being put under pressure to go into 6th form - I spoke to some of my friends and they shared this concern with their own experiences, I've delved into this more and there is a growing pattern/concern that our children may be being given advice that is in the best interests of the school and not for the student - anyone else share my concern or had a similar experience?

If it's a school sixth form, then yes, the school will be encouraging their students to move there! That shouldn't come as a shock?

I can't see how the student's career affects the school in any way really (unless it's a private school where they'd like to brag about alumni).

My experience of careers advice was actually that they were too student focused. My DS said he was interested in x, and that's all the careers advisor would talk about, whereas I'd expected him to provide more information about careers that DS might like to think about as well.

Are you suggesting that if schools, even with a 6th form, ARE treating their students as financial transactions then it shouldn't come as a shock?! - I think that would come as a shock to most parents as I'm sure they believe that a School would act in the best interests of the student - so yes, it does come as a shock - I don't believe its something that should be treated with complacency or acceptance!

Of course a school is going to encourage attending DC to go into their 6th form - why wouldn’t they?

What do you expect them to do?

Have you considered that the school genuinely believe that studying A levels is in the best interests of capable students? Surely you'd expect educators to think that education is a good thing?!

Since when have schools had the students best interests at heart - before ofstead and SATS and progress 8 etc that's for sure

If your child is academic, why wouldn't you want them to go to 6th form?

You are upset that your child has been advised to consider taking A levels? Why does that equate in your mind to viewing them as a financial transaction? That's a very unusual viewpoint.

What do you think your academic child should be recommended to do, if not 6th form?

I expect them to give IMPARTIAL careers advice that is solely in the best interests of the Student to ensure they meet the legal obligations to deliver the Gatsby Benchmarks, the Baker Clause AND September 2019 the Education Inspection Framework guidelines set out by Ofsted - a little surprised that anyone would feel so relaxed that their child may be being encouraged to follow a path that is NOT in their childs best interests and is in actual fact, LAW.

Why on earth would a parent with a child who is academically capable not want them to do A levels? I'd be concerned if a school wasn't encouraging a child to reach their potential. No idea what you mean when you talk about financial transactions.

Because 6th Form is just ONE of the many routes available to Academic Students but the ONLY one that is solely in the interests of the school!

How is advising a student to stay on and do A levels not in their best interests?
What would you prefer?

CountFosco - as per my previous message, because A Levels are amongst many options that are available to young people now and by a financial transaction I mean exactly that, a school has to fulfill its quota of 6th Formers in order to ensure funding for the following year, therefore, if they end up on a shortfall, their funding may be cut, hence, an unhealthy encouragement of 6th form is embarked upon.

Tell them to do a vocational apprenticeship then if you prefer.

Eh? Of course they will want to keep their pupils at the school as long as possible - why wouldn’t they?

A school environment is a much better learning environment for lots of kids than the casualness of college.

If DC is academic then the school will be pushing towards A levels and university or apprenticeship. Unfortunately this narrow path does appear to be the best way for many careers in the UK.

I would imagine they do want to keep said DC at the school sixth form rather than a local college. They would get money for this. However I suspect staying at school is easier for many children given the relative "freedom" and distractions of college.

What is your objection? Do you want them to discuss the future more widely?

I think the majority of you are missing the point and in fact exacerbating my concerns, I'm concerned that my child, and the children of my friends and colleagues are NOT being given IMPARTIAL careers advice which is in fact LAW. - This is clearly a wider issue beyond my children's experiences as I have already received responses questioning why on earth I wouldn't want my child to go to 6th form if they are academic, this only highlights my concern that parents as well as students are ill informed about their choices!

Why don't YOU speak to your child about the the best path for them to take. The school isn't the only source of information for the next stages of a students life and career.

Sorry, x post whilst typing. But you can have those discussions with your child surely? School can't force them to stay on.

LouReidDododo - an ill informed opinion (in my opinion) - there are an enormous amount of choices out there for students these days that cater for the varying learning styles - ALL options should be put on the table, not the option that is in the best interests of the schools financial targets.

A Levels are amongst many options that are available to young people now and by a financial transaction I mean exactly that, a school has to fulfill its quota of 6th Formers in order to ensure funding for the following year, therefore, if they end up on a shortfall, their funding may be cut, hence, an unhealthy encouragement of 6th form is embarked upon

Well it’s just with anything - use it or lose it. I hardly think the head teacher is rubbing their hands and the prospect of each child that stays is making them rich..

They will view that their school will be the best route for continued education and every time a pupil takes a place its ensuring that another pupil can take that place the following year.

However - I can guarantee, if they don’t want that child to stay on they will suggest other routes!

Knightlight - thank you for that TOP tip (sighs) - I'm VERY involved in my children's career choices and decision, however raising a concern that our schools are not acting in our children's best interest, which is a much wider concern, it is LAW - and one that is being flouted to meet financial targets

LouReidDododo - how can you GUARANTEE that? How do you KNOW that?

Well just pull them out of the school then.

Stand with a placard out side the school warning parents of this LAWBREAKING - send them all to jail for wanting to carry on teaching your children