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UK primary education described as divisive
14/07/09
Primary education in the UK is feared to becoming highly divisive and not offering fair opportunities to children.
More pupils are clamouring for the few acclaimed good schools in towns and cities with parents having a struggle with the post code selection into schools.
A private education head Peter Tait, at Sherborne School in Dorset, is concerned that “some parents now find private schools as the alternative instead of an alternative.”
“To actually pay twice for education, there must be a certain amount of urgency; the feeling must be that it’s worthwhile.” He said.
The League Tables dependant on the Sats have often been blamed for the current state of education as Suzanne Lane, of a Wiltshire primary school expressly put it, “you cannot let children sit those exams without preparation because there is such high stakes for them and the school.”
As a result schools are not able be broad on subjects and becoming mostly concerned with performing for the league tables hence the pressure on admissions for schools with good reputation. A situation Deborah Mabbitt, teacher at the Chichester College says:
“I really doubt the benefits of half the school year being geared to government assessment, I find it very demoralising.”
Darren Northcott, national executive of the NASUWT says “government needs to take a look at systems in other countries to help in reforms.”
School Report Card not Convincing Enough-Unions and Heads
07/07/09
Government’s 21st century white paper on education proposing School Report Cards for continued assessment of primary schools is set for a test of acceptance.
Schools secretary Ed Balls is convinced the new school report card will provide the full picture of what parents need including “how the school is improving standards, helping those falling behind to catch up, encouraging the most able and will also report on discipline, attendance, sports and healthy eating.”
But Ed Balls’ position that “if parents newspapers and websites are to make fair, clear and easy comparison of schools, our School Report Card will need to include a single overall grade,” is being challenged.
NASUWT national executive, Darren Northcott said “we think if you want to introduce that as a way of holding schools to account then you need to do that in a way to look to replace the currently flawed and totally unacceptable school accountability regime.”
The Head teacher of St Bartholomew’s Primary School, Suzanne Lane, was “glad government is exploring new areas to improve primary education but we must wait to find out the details of the proposal.”
NUT Secretary for Bournemouth, David Morgan though welcoming of the idea said “these are some activities run by the schools but as far as the assessments are concerned we’ll have to look at it carefully to see what they propose.”
NUT Plans More Pressure To Force Abolishing of Sats
30/06/09
Government is to come under more union pressure in efforts to intensify ongoing campaign to end Sats tests for 11 year olds.
The NUT says it will from September this year be embarking on an intensive campaign targeted at teachers and parents whose support it will need if planned boycotts for next year’s tests should succeed.
David Morgan NUT Secretary in Bournemouth revealed the union is poised this time to gain higher votes from members during a new ballot to undertake the boycott after failing to secure the necessary votes the last time.
He says there is optimism now due to greater awareness.
“Now that we’ve got the NHAT on board it might be more successful and I think a lot more people are geared towards it.”
Deliberating on government’s plans to dismantle the top down imposed strategies for teaching literacy and numeracy in primary schools to be announced this week by Schools Secretary Ed Balls, he said schools will welcome the chance to do it on their own without centralisation imposed.
“We’ll welcome a less interference but one will view it with some sort of wait and see what the proposals are.” He said.
Tory Sats Proposal Raises Scepticism Among Teaching Unions.
23/06/09
The Conservatives plan to scrap Sats at year six and extend it to the beginning of year seven has raised more questions than it intended to answer.
Teaching unions already have split opinions over whether the proposal would be for the better.
The National Association for Headteachers welcomed the move calling it a piece of “innovative thinking” and that it would meet one of their objectives that children in year six should experience their best year.
But the move has attracted more scepticism from the National union of Teachers and the Association for school and college leaders. They are concerned that the plans will leave secondary school with too much workload and therefore wanted to see more details
Another group NASUWT has launched the strongest criticism calling the move the "worst of all worlds". Chris Keates, the union's general secretary, said:
"A significant flaw in the Conservative's proposal is that the evaluation of the performance of primary schools will be in the hands of secondary schools.
"What confidence could anyone, including parents, have in such a system?"
Vernon Coaker, the new schools minister, attacked Mr Gove's idea calling it "half baked" and warned that it would lead to a "huge step backwards for school accountability".
However, the Conservatives themselves have admitted it’s just an idea, and the party says it is looking forward to consulting all interested parties and having a "mature debate" on the subject.