EDUCATION IN BRITAIN TODAY

EDUCATION IN BRITAIN TODAY

A few years ago, I wrote an article entitled - “Trust the Teachers.”
It was full of positive proposals to reform our Educational System. No one took any notice. So, the problems rolled on.

Here are some quotes from Teachers TODAY -

" My family is suffering because I am so tired in the evenings. "

" The bureaucratic pressures are overwhelming me. "

" I used to love Teaching. Now I dread it. "

" I spend all my free time writing notes and reports."

" I am so stressed out at the end of the day. Nobody cares anymore. "

" I must leave Teaching, my health is suffering. "

" I am so depressed. "

These quotes are not minority quotes. They are majority quotes. That is why so many Teachers are leaving the Profession. What a waste !

How can we allow this situation in the Teaching profession to continue ?

I have not changed my views over the years. So, here is a Summary of my recommendations for the future. I believe in Decentralisation of Monitoring and Assessments, not Civil Service dogmatism and interference in the Teaching Profession.

1-Trust the Teachers. By this, I mean, give Teachers more freedom to teach and make sure they are not bogged down by bureaucratic Paperwork.

2-School assessments should be carried out by...

3-Parent Governors
The Head Teacher
Ofsted

4-Education Civil Servants should stay out of the School Performance statistics.

5-Teachers must be freed from writing up Class Teaching Programmes and Class Teaching Contents notes.

6-School League Tables should be abolished.

7- The 2 Years of Advanced Level studies should count as Y1 for a Degree, thereby making it only 2 further years to obtain a Degree. This will reduce Student loans by one third.

8- A 3 year Apprenticeship Level Diploma should be refined and relaunched.

9-A One year Part Time Diploma in Caring Skills should be introduced to improve Caring for the Elderly.

10-Academies should be abolished.
Replaced by Local Authorities Primary Schools and managed by Local Authorities. Parents should be appointed to Local Authority Education Boards.

11- All schools should be designated Secondary Schools.
The top 60% of Pupils over Primary School performances will qualify automatically for the old Grammar Schools ( now designated Wycombe Secondary School for example ) and 40% for old Comprehensive / Secondary Modern ). School to be designated Wycombe Secondary School, with same logo as the past Grammar School.The % rates will differ due to Local Area Demographics.

12-Thereafter, no more 11 Plus or 12 Plus examinations.

13- No more Sats Tests. Children and Teachers are free to concentrate on Holistic Development of Children. Pressure off the continuous pressure of Working towards examination results. In futures children will Develop full capability skills.
Emotional Intelligence is just as important in the real World as IQ in the Intelligence dominated World !

14-Private Education should remain. It helps reduce demands on the Public Purse. Parents must have freedom of choice.

15- Income Tax should be increased to Basic 22% and 42%.
This must be Ring Fenced 1% for Education Budget and 1% for NHS Budget. The two most key priorities to help future generations and those in the Community who need help in sickness.

16- Salaries for Head Teachers should not exceed £100,000 per anum It is ludicrous that some Head Teachers earn £200,000 Plus. Stop this glutinous greed.

17- For routine assistant work in a School, Non Degree Parents can be employed.

18- Free bus travel should continue for Pupils living more than 1 mile from the School.

19- Faith Schools should be abolished.
Schools are classified as...

Primary
Secondary.

20- Teachers must be free to use their own Teaching Skills within Broad Outlines in the Curriculum. They must to be changed from Rigid Demands and Dogma.

Conclusion ......FREE THE TEACHER....FREE THE PUPILS....
REMOVE DOGMA....CIVIL SERVANTS- LEAVE THE TEACHERS ALONE!

Or else,

1- Teacher depressions will continue at record levels.

2-Difficult to recruit Teachers.

3- Pupils emotionally disturbed as examinations and tests emerge.

4- Parents remain distressed if their children fail examinations.

5- A divided Society... Grammar Schools v Public Schools v Comprehensive School

TIME FOR REALISTIC CHANGE.