What a Conservative Government will mean for schools

[noblegiraffe]

www.tes.co.uk/news/school-news/breaking-news/seven-things-a-conservative-government-will-mean-schools

Tighter budgets, higher stakes testing, more testing, more free schools, reformed Ofsted, new legislation, compulsory EBacc.

Anyone think they will still be teaching in 5 years time?

I'm also wondering what will happen to Pupil Premium, that was a Lib Dem policy. There has already been a news story in the DM from a grammar school head bemoaning that his school gets hardly any money because it all gets given to disadvantaged schools.

Our primary is rationing pencils and pens and copier paper. Ain't gonna be pretty. My school is up to the rafters with disadvantage; we can tell the grammar head that it doesn't seem to pay particularly well.

Anyone think they will still be teaching in 5 years time?

I'm not a teacher, but for the sake of our children and the future of our country. I really hope that most of you will stick it out. However, I wouldn't blame any of you if you felt that you couldn't.

I'm very worried about what will happen. It's depressing to think what the Tories might have planned.

It would be a disaster if Pupil Premium was removed. It's been the only good reform in 10 years.

I think it's a real worry that nobody will want to be a Head if it's so easy to be cut in favour of new leadership. SLT cut for coasting?? What if you have just achieved the best you are ever going to get out of the type of cohort you have?

It's all terrifying.

I really think that if they put Gove back in on Monday we should all walk out until they remove him again.

Given how depressed my staffroom was on Friday morning, I don't think people would need much convincing.

I had a good cry yesterday. The outcome of the election has really upset me.

When I started teaching ten years ago I loved it. Five years ago it all changed. My health has gone down the drains. But I still love it, for the kids. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't put up with the other shit anymore. But whether I can hold it together for another five years? Time will tell...

It will definitely have a huge impact on me personally as I'm HoD of an Ebacc subject (languages...) and I don't dare to even imagine trying to keep every single pupil on until GCSE. I know Maths, English and Science do it, but it's another language for the love of God! I fear for my department and the kids that really don't like the subject being forced taking it. :(

I'm not sure the pupil premium is always used as it should be. Ds received extra tuition in primary school funded by the pupil premium. We were very grateful for it but we have never been in receipt of any benefits. Are the schools supposed to keep it for the children on FSM or are they free to spend it how they wish?

People premium should be used for the Ever6, but in practice it usually goes into the general budget. This is risky, because auditors ought to be checking that it is spent according to the rules.

Schools have to publically account for how they spend their Pupil Premium, so I not sure how it can just go into the general budget.

' Our primary is rationing pencils and pens and copier paper'

But schools were doing that 20 years ago too. One pencil a half term, and two reams of paper. Likewise, we reused all sorts of offcuts of materials and raided scrap banks. It's not a new thing.

There going to be more stories like the head in Doncaster who has this week been banned for amending SATS papers.
Requires improvement - improve results or we'll force you to become an academy.
Good - stop coasting, improve results or we'll replace your leadership.
Outstanding -better keep getting those results each year or Ofsted will be in.
The freeze on school budgets will mean heads will find it difficult to move teachers up the pay scale, do expect more challenging targets for performance management.
The result of this, poor kids being taught to pass tests.
I'm not worried about me (I've got my exit planned) it's my DC I feel sorry for.

I teach a non Ebacc subject- music. I'm doomed