Tristram wants private school teachers to help state schools

[rollonthesummer]

Quote from the guardian

These will require them to provide qualified teachers in specialist subjects to state schools, share expertise to help state school students get into top universities

Why assume that private school teachers will be any help to state school teachers?!

The implication there is that we're not doing a terribly good job, but a few weeks with Mr and Mrs private school teacher and everything's sorted?!

The additional cost of smaller class sizes means that this will never be an option in the state sector. However, specialist teaching can be implemented without extra cost if the will is there.

When I was at school every second year you were in a two year class. I can't see that hsppening in the private sector!

We have a specialist games teacher at our school employed to do PPA cover. He does a good job and takes away a lesson many of us hate in the winter and he also does a better job than what we ever would because he is trained solely in that subject.

I taught for 6 years in a very good state comp and now in my 10th year at a very good indie. The teachers at my current school DO in general have a better subject knowledge than at the state. We all teach our specialisms up to Oxbridge level. Our classroom management is as good as it needs to be for our selective, very motivated intake. Our methods vary, some are very "old school" didactic but it works FOR OUR SCHOOL. Its not about better or worse, but best suited. We have a lot of pressure on us, lots of after school surgeries and clinics and societies etc but you rarely do something that doesn't directly and obviously benefit the kids. There is paperwork but it is purposeful. Our classes aren't overly small, 24 in a lower school class but small enough that you can take that extra few minutes over things. I think both sectors can learn from each other - we did an INSET task last year where we all went and spent a day in another (state) school and brought back lots of ideas which we have implemented. We offer Oxbridge prep to state school pupils. It should be a two way thing.

fairylightsintheloft I have taught classes with between 18 and 24 students (key stage 1) and it is so different to teaching a class of 30.
I had more time with individual students, groups were smaller so it was easier to 'home in' on strugglers or those requiring challenge, the classroom was quieter, marking time was less etc, etc.
I would quite happily have a class of 24. Some colleagues in other state schools have class sizes of 36-38 at key stage two. I would never be okay with my child being in a class of that size. He would be swamped by everyone in the clas, likewise with all other kids, and no teacher can spend quality time getting to know my child in the same way as another teacher with a class of less than 30.
I think smaller class sizes, mo guidance to head teachers about expectations with observations, scrutinies, marking, stop with the constant change of initiatives in, initiatives out and finally do what the school's minister said we should be doing, be nicer to teachers. If we were negative about our students in the same way the government and OFSTED are negative about us, we would have a lot of screwed up, anxious and depressed children on our hands.

I would happily swap buildings and facilities with our closest independent school. I have a dept budget of £1200 per year and teach in a small classroom. We have a lovely modern school hall for performances (I teach drama) but I have to share that with every other bugger who needs the space for assemblies/exams/meetings AND it gets hired out for external conferences. We're in a grammar area and my KS4 and KS5 results have at least equal if not better than the grammars for the last 6 years. 5 miles down the road is a school with a theatre, full time wardrobe mistress and other facilities which make me green with envy. I dare anyone to question my subject knowledge but would very happily take a share in these facilities. That's what sets independent schools apart.

The facilities question is interesting. I recently taught in a state school in South London with an amazing campus - yes campus, like something from Silicon Valley! Fab buildings, science land, swimming pool drama studios, playing fields - state of the art. However it was a terrible school, behaviour policy not implemented, terrible atmosphere, teachers scared of the girls. Complete waste.

DontgotoRoehampton - the Paris state secondary with the largest and best equipped campus is a sink school. It is deeply imbued with anti-elitist ideology and makes short work of high-performing pupils (who are lured by a selective entrance exam) and low-performing pupils (most of catchment alike). Teacher absenteeism is chronic.

Family and friends who are/ have been in teaching have pretty much said the same thing.

If the attitude of the kids/ parents is bad/ uninterested/ violent then it doesn't matter how good the facilities and teaching are, its an uphill battle. Its brilliant that a very lucky few kids get spotted and given scholarships but the rest either don't give a monkeys or just keep their heads down.

A primary near us had sparkly new facilities, beautiful outside spaces (adventure area, wildlife garden, table tennis tables etc). The kids act like wee toughies outside though - shoulder barging you as you walk past, yelling abuse, swearing - and this is with their mums there. This is a reasonably 'naice' part of London, in a half decent (ok not the guy lifted recently for IS activities) smallish council estate with good facilities.

Its this awful attitude that needs addressing but my sister saw this in the mid 1970s when she was training and I think its probably worse now (I am thinking mobile phones, cyber bullying etc).

But then, my dad was at school in the 1930s in a fairly rough part of inner city and highly valued education, worked his socks off and went to uni and got a first class degree (even taught some uni classes).

This is the final nail in the coffin for my labour vote. It's almost as bad as Gove.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying good facilities = good school. I'm just saying that if private schools are going to be made to share, I'd rather they shared the facilities than the teachers.