Gove’s lack of interest in the environment in which children learn – from axing the Building Schools for the Future programme to halting the spread of free school meals – shows how little he cares about respecting children and showing they’re valued, or about the external forces which can affect their learning. Now we hear that teachers will not be accepted if they have only third class degrees, though ex-soldiers will be encouraged to take to the classroom. These policies owe more to Tom Brown’s Schooldays than creating the environment in which children can prepare for the complexities of modern life, and enjoy the experience of learning.
Last week, Gove invited heads of some of the new academies to a reception, which was attended by the head of one of the local grammar schools in my constituency. Selection at age 11 continues in Trafford, and though only 30% of children make it into the grammar schools, the local Tories, like Gove, are vociferous defenders of this system of privilege. Now Gove’s academies and free schools programmes will create a two-tier system of schools right across the country. And his argument that the pupil premium will even up the prospects of the poorest simply doesn’t stand up, as it’s become clear that poorer areas will lose out as money moves to better-off communities.
Gove gets away with all this rubbish by claiming that Labour failed to tackle educational disadvantage. That’s simply not true: investment in the early years, a focus on improvement in reading and maths, and the significant increase in the proportion of children achieving 5 or more GCSEs at A*- C represent real achievements. But it’s true that we failed to make enough improvement in the attainment of the most disadvantaged. We must use our policy review to build on the best of what we achieved to create schools that prepare every child for the complexities of real life, and that have high aspirations to improve the attainment of every pupil, whatever their socio-economic background.
Tragically, Gove’s reforms will send that backwards for some of the poorest kids.
I am no defender of Gove and his spiteful destruction of the hopes for new schools – he could have delayed the implementation but to cancel them was petty. I have no doubt that Cameron would pull down every school and hospital built by Labour if he could. However on the importance of maths and science Gove is right. Every other country recognises this but we have handicapped at least three generations with the idea that if you can’t do it, it doesn’t matter because media studies is just as good. Poppy cock. Core subject like maths, science, english, foreign languages, history and geography on which all other subjects depend and which all children should have the chance – no the right – to be taught. They should be the basis of education for all, not just the elite, so that they can pull themselves out of poverty and disadvantage. There have been enormous strides in primary education over the past 10 years but this has not been reflected in secondary level outcomes in these key subjects. That is not a reflection on the teaching staff or materials – which are excellent and this is where Gove is wrong – but on the exam structure with tiered GCSEs, a hang-over from Keith Joseph that needs removing. But what’s this snide remark about ex-soldiers in the class room? I don’t agree with the third class degree issue either but that is another thing entirely. Employing ex-military people seems an excellent idea to me and rather better and meaningful career for them than working in security firms. It may ruffle a few feathers in the staff room but suitable candidates will have had excellent training, high technical and sporting abilities and know how to get things done. I have no doubt that they would quickly earn the respect of the pupils. They are also mainly men who would be a welcome addition to an increasingly female-dominated profession which is one reason for the continued under-performance of boys. It seems a very good way to reward people who have served their country, whatever their – or your – politics, and enable them to pass their knowledge onto the next generation. So less kneejerk reaction to everything Dave and the Toffettes do please and more rational
Mr. Gove complains that we are falling behing other countries in the quality of our education. How many of these countries insist upon a traditional curriculum of the nature suggested by Mr. Gove. Most are focussing upon areas of study better suited to ne wtechnologies and the future – not returning to the curriculum of a Victorian era.
New world new education!, I was shocked to find my grandson school does not give any education now on computers, the school said that basic computer technologies would be better suited to college
….”aspects of school and teaching have unconscious roots. Where anxiety about the process,for teachers and children,is high then there is the risk that unconscious defensive processes may occur resulting in institutionalized phenomena.These take the form of cultural attitudes and common practices which may not necessarily enhance the work and in some cases may actively interfere” Prof.Bob Hinshelwood