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Original poster

Jamie's Dream School

447 replies

londonone · 02/03/2011 21:15

20 in a class
No curriculum
TV Cameras

And they still piss around! Maybe people will start to get a real idea about how perhaps some of the students are in fact not vitims but the architects of their own downfall!

OP posts:
CaveMum · 02/03/2011 21:58

At least he is talking about it and hasn't just buggered off. The problem is he will be used to teaching Uni students who want to listen.

Wook · 02/03/2011 22:00

Starkey is a knob, but I loved what he was trying to say about brains and minds- so true.

Petalouda · 02/03/2011 22:01

You're right CaveMum, what the headteacher's just said is right too - which is why teachers are trained the way they are.

The prevailing attitude in the UK is that any monkey can teach, and that teachers are morons. I'm impressed that this is actually showing that teachers do deserve some respect.

Starkey was frightened, and intimidated by those teenagers. I'm not half as intelligent as him, but I've had great training that would mean I could deal with a group far worse than that. He hasn't even had any physical violence yet!

ilythia · 02/03/2011 22:02

Starkey is a twat.

I get more respect off the same sort of kids as a PGCE. Earnt, not deserved.

got2bequackers · 02/03/2011 22:02

You know what i would love to have a go at teaching some of these kids. I just know there is no way i could cope with 30 to 35 of them at once. Hats off to all of you that do. Inc my fab younger sil

Original poster
londonone · 02/03/2011 22:02

Another - There are so many different reasons behind the behaviours there is no simple answer. Small groups, diversified curriculum and realistic expectations will go some way with some students with others the problems from outside school are so great that they may never engage in education until later on in life. However for many others they have simply been able to get away with soi much for so long that they don't see boundaries as applying to them as with some of the students on the program.

Fucking useless headteacher though.

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wonderstuff · 02/03/2011 22:02

That was interesting. That constant battle to find ways to engage them enough to stop them talking for 2 minutes is very familiar.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 02/03/2011 22:02

he's meant to be an intelligent man though, it shouldn't be beyond his imagination to guess that teenagers who have failed their GCSEs are going to be different from students who have chosen to be there....

happybubblebrain · 02/03/2011 22:02

Sethstark - I think Jamie is one of those people who started his career by being in the right place at the right time and his success is really down to luck. You can't teach that in school. Sure, I know he's done some 'hard work' since, realising just what the rewards are, but he's had a pretty easy ride really.

Someone who has made a great success of their life because of their education would be a better host and role model for this show. I don't see many of those in the media.

Anyway, it's not my idea of a dream school by any stretch.

Wook · 02/03/2011 22:04

Londonone for the first time in history I agree with you- I am really not warming to the head.

Petalouda · 02/03/2011 22:05

Happy not your idea of a dream school?

I agree - and I've got a new appreciation for what our school is doing on a daily basis.

I think we'd find that most of our state schools and teachers are far more inspirational than this.

I'll be feeling very proud of my colleagues tomorrow.

Original poster
londonone · 02/03/2011 22:05

But that is part of the problem the idea that he (starkey) should be expected to change, adapt and jump through hoops in order to entertain and engage the students, rather than the expectation being that they should modify and adapt their behaviour. To achieve success he will need to adapt his behaviour but that is no guarantee of success.

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CaveMum · 02/03/2011 22:05

Starkey may just be blinkered, rather than daft or ignorant. He is passionate about his subject and expects others to feel the same way. It is probably a shock to him that someone is not interested in history.

Steery · 02/03/2011 22:07

Ilthia - I agree that respect has to be earned. For me those teenagers did nothing to earn my respect!

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 02/03/2011 22:08

seriously Happybubblebrain?
I agree he wouldn't have had the tv career without having been in the right place at the right time, but where Jamie really got lucky was in coming from a background that taught him the value of work from an early age - from what I have read he has always been a workaholic. I don't buy that he just started to work hard later in life.
no-one becomes a chef in a top restaurant without the ability to work super-hard where necessary and take direction and criticism from people in charge of them (even if the people in charge are arseholes).
that's why it's so interesting watching his reaction to these kids IMO.

Original poster
londonone · 02/03/2011 22:08

I see fabulous teachers every day of the week working in the most god awful conditions. The shit that teachers are expected to put up with, because some SLT are so scared of laying down the law, is unbelievable.

OP posts:
Original poster
londonone · 02/03/2011 22:10

cavemum - I don't think it's the lack of interest so much as the lack of the most basic manners and social skills that he objected to.

wook - do you have another name?

OP posts:
Spatz · 02/03/2011 22:11

I would love to see them have a real teacher to inspire them not just specialists who have no idea how to engage children.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 02/03/2011 22:12

CaveMum - good point; clearly it never crossed his mind anyone would find 'real artefacts from 1500 years ago' boring!

Wook · 02/03/2011 22:12

London no, just seen you on other threads but I certainly agree re SLT with no balls whatsoever

foundwanting · 02/03/2011 22:13

SLT? TLA explanation please. Grin

CaveMum · 02/03/2011 22:13

I think they should have involved the teacher that they used in the other Channel 4 show, the one were they sent the children to a 1950s style boarding school complete with Matron.

I can't for the life of me think of his name, I think it was Simon-something. I thought he was very good.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 02/03/2011 22:14

there was also that reality documentary with disaffected teenagers and a prizewinning teacher, I think he was Phil something.
can't for the life of me remember what the outcome was though....

edam · 02/03/2011 22:14

happy, I think you are unfair. Jamie Oliver was working in the River Cafe when he was 'spotted'. That's a professional kitchen. Working in a restaurant is very far from easy - intense, stressful, extremely long hours and a boss who expects your attention NOW and won't be afraid to dress you down immediately and in front of everyone else if you screw up.

got2bequackers · 02/03/2011 22:15

I believe some people have the capability of inspiring anyone given the right circunstances and oportunity ~ eg see Robert Winston!