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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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The GCSE system is all changing fading GCSES bringing in a new system for choices starting this year and will be complete next few years its all mind blowing and raising the profile of the Baccalaureate and B tecs into the classroom. Have had parents evening tonight and another in a fortnight. Is this a good idea and what are your thoughts on the education reform. |
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Education reform rarely focuses on bettering things for children, just at ways the schools can look like they are performing better, thats all schools are about now, getting better positions in league tables to attract more 'business' |
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We have had the Welsh Bac for a few years now. Think its worth 2 or 3 GCSE's. Takes the pressure off the whole huge exam at the end of the 2 years.
My daughter is year 10, and actually has an exam in the morning. It's module 1 of the 3 sciences. Once its over she then can relax a little about it. I do think years ago when the whole grade rested on 1 exam at the end of the 2 years, there was a real pressure for kids, including me, as thats the way it was done back then.
Plus some kids are more creative than others and all kids learn in a different way. Be it through listening, or seeing examples or by reading it through themselves, and schools do need to be highly aware of the fact and play to the kids strengths
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Education reform was fecked when they got rid of o levels to please daily mail reading parents whose kids failed to get any.
Tthe only real reform in this country that would do any good would be for people to value vocational subjects as highly as they do the academic, then we could have a system where academic children were taught in a way that valued their strengths and non academic taught to theirs.
We are currently suffering under a system where instead of getting training that works people are encouraged to go to university to get a pointless degree from somewhere that any future employer will dismiss.
The IB was taken by many of my friends, it does encourage a broader study in 6th form , but doesnt challenge the fundamental problems. |
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Two of my (bright) nieces started on the IB - it totally failed them on various levels.
Fortunately, they have come through that: one to be a qualified accountant, the other is a chemical/metals trader.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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GCSE's now are mostly controlled assessments, so parents can't do their kids projects for them which i agree with, then smaller exams, spaced out, better than what i did at O level, having said that, the Teachers at my daughters school keep saying "if you fail these exams you will fail at life" so not true. I'll be glad when June is here and it's all over |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Whilst I agree that vocational and academic should be encouraged equally I do not agree that employers dismiss degrees.
A degree shows that you can apply yourself and complete, whatever the area, it shows skill and tenacity.
As for the possiblity Bac system. I am against any system that groups up exams as it limits choice. We need more choice and flexibility not less. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"GCSE's now are mostly controlled assessments, so parents can't do their kids projects for them which i agree with, then smaller exams, spaced out, better than what i did at O level, having said that, the Teachers at my daughters school keep saying "if you fail these exams you will fail at life" so not true. I'll be glad when June is here and it's all over "
most surprised at the "if you fail" attitude. Modern teaching should take the positive "if you succeed this will help" approach. Lack of staff training and PD methinks. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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This evening with parents evening to be honest the teachers did not have a clue going around for three hours and I was more confused than before. We have the pathway meeting in a fortnight and then my daughter has a week to choose her options. I found this out not from school but from going online. Ad the break down of subjects etc. It is mind blowing. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I am pretty certain that learners are supposed to have a one to one review with their tutor about all this. Find out if your daughter has had one and if not, ask for one. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I am pretty certain that learners are supposed to have a one to one review with their tutor about all this. Find out if your daughter has had one and if not, ask for one."
That was what tonight was about open parents evening going around each teacher and discussing her options and predicted grades etc. Just a lot to digest and sink in. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I am pretty certain that learners are supposed to have a one to one review with their tutor about all this. Find out if your daughter has had one and if not, ask for one.
That was what tonight was about open parents evening going around each teacher and discussing her options and predicted grades etc. Just a lot to digest and sink in."
Probs more for you than her. Ask her. Find her passion, if she follows that she will have made the right choice. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I am pretty certain that learners are supposed to have a one to one review with their tutor about all this. Find out if your daughter has had one and if not, ask for one.
That was what tonight was about open parents evening going around each teacher and discussing her options and predicted grades etc. Just a lot to digest and sink in.
Probs more for you than her. Ask her. Find her passion, if she follows that she will have made the right choice."
Think we are going for the baccalaureate + options and health and social studies when she does AS levels or don the road of creative media studies. At the moment she is graded at a 6a on all her subjects working towards a 7 which is expected A to A* |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I am pretty certain that learners are supposed to have a one to one review with their tutor about all this. Find out if your daughter has had one and if not, ask for one.
That was what tonight was about open parents evening going around each teacher and discussing her options and predicted grades etc. Just a lot to digest and sink in.
Probs more for you than her. Ask her. Find her passion, if she follows that she will have made the right choice.
Think we are going for the baccalaureate + options and health and social studies when she does AS levels or don the road of creative media studies. At the moment she is graded at a 6a on all her subjects working towards a 7 which is expected A to A*"
Wishing her all the best, deciding is key. x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Give it 10 years and employers might understand what the fuck the qualification means."
That's pretty much the point isn't it. The qualifications are only any use to get either into higher education or to persuade an employer to take you on. Employers like O levels, A levels and degrees anything else has as much appeal as a late night salmonella burger to a sober man.  |
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"Whilst I agree that vocational and academic should be encouraged equally I do not agree that employers dismiss degrees.
A degree shows that you can apply yourself and complete, whatever the area, it shows skill and tenacity.
As for the possiblity Bac system. I am against any system that groups up exams as it limits choice. We need more choice and flexibility not less."
They dont dismiss degrees , just those from places they dont think are worth the paper they are written on.
i have made clear to my eldest if he wants to do a traditional academic degree outside of the Russel group he is wasting his time. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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A couple of thoughts on this
a) a degree in engineering, maths or science is never going to be dismissed, the ones that often are are subjects like media studies, sports science etc. I know lots of people with English degrees who work in warehouses.
b) that having been said, a first in most subjects will always open doors.
c) vocational courses chould be taught at school for those who's path does not lie down the academic route and should be as highly valued.
d) I realy thing that in order to achieve this we ought bring back educational selection (ie grammar schools). From my personal experience many young people are held back by a few disruptive influences in the class room who don't allow teachers to teach by disrupting the classroom environment. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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The experiment with the comprehensive structure should be ended and a return to the 11 plus system
This will enable the academically talented to thrive and enable the less able to follow vocational training if they wish - the system of school inspection should stop secondary moderns from becoming second class
Such a system would mirror the german school model one which provides the economy with a well educated workforce |
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By *athnBobCouple
over a year ago
sandwell |
Back to the old system. Top 10% get an A, next 20% get a B etc rather than everyone who gets over 90% gets an A etc
Non of this shit then about exams getting easier. Hard exam or easy exam the top 10% will still get an A and employer will know what he/she is getting.
Oh and kids should be allowed to fail... failure is a lesson in life |
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"Back to the old system. Top 10% get an A, next 20% get a B etc rather than everyone who gets over 90% gets an A etc
Non of this shit then about exams getting easier. Hard exam or easy exam the top 10% will still get an A and employer will know what he/she is getting.
Oh and kids should be allowed to fail... failure is a lesson in life"
You have to grade on a curve to maintain consistency |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Back to the old system. Top 10% get an A, next 20% get a B etc rather than everyone who gets over 90% gets an A etc
Non of this shit then about exams getting easier. Hard exam or easy exam the top 10% will still get an A and employer will know what he/she is getting.
Oh and kids should be allowed to fail... failure is a lesson in life
You have to grade on a curve to maintain consistency"
I don't think that Exams are getting easier, but equally I don't think that teaching has become better. The recent scandal with the Education boards (both the Secondary school Exam boards and the Welsh University) show significant failings in out qualification systems.
Teachers do not teach a subject and do not give a broad background of information, they teach to exams and so it's no wonder more pupils get the maximum grades.
I think it's a terrible shame as young people do not get a broad grounding in any of the subjects that they learn and employers can't trust the qualification that people gain..... |
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By *UNCHBOXMan
over a year ago
folkestone |
The new head of OFSTED has said rubbish teachers must be got rid of quickly, and schools must be given no notice of inspections.
Ive never understood why schools are given notice of inspections. By not giving them notice, the school then have to have high standards all the time, not just manipulate things just for the visit |
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"The experiment with the comprehensive structure should be ended and a return to the 11 plus system
This will enable the academically talented to thrive and enable the less able to follow vocational training if they wish - the system of school inspection should stop secondary moderns from becoming second class
Such a system would mirror the german school model one which provides the economy with a well educated workforce "
Why wait until kids are 11 years of age to separate and compartmentalise them for life.
Woulnd't it just be easier to do a brain scan at birth and get rid of defective ones that present any dangerous signs like thought , choice , late development?
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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To answer a few points people have made on here...
1. OFSTED have to give 2 days notice to the school as the inspections these days are short ones of around 2 days, so the school needs time to get together all the literature the inspectors want, this can take up to 2 days to prepare. The notice period is more for the inspectors than the school as most schools know roughly when its due as its every 3-4 years and is usually after national results are released to the public domain
2. Failing teachers need support at first not hitting with a big stick! Anyone else in any normal job would get written warnings if they don't do their job properly and then support to improve so why should teachers be any different?
3. Teachers are expected to be perfect in every way, never swear, be fully prepared and up to date, know everything about every pupil they teach, what level they are at, what is stopping them from moving on, to make them progress even if the pupil doesn't want to and even when the parents arn't bothered! The job is VERY difficult and yeah you can go on about the holidays they get but they usually spend that time preparing, catching up on the crazy amount of marking they have to do and trying to get well as most come down with illness due to stress reducing immunity and working with lots of sick children and adults
4. The educational reforms.... GCSEs are getting harder, BTECs are being reduced in value for the school league tables and are also becoming harder and will have to include some exams. Everything is happening at once rather than being staggered, make up your own minds about how successful this will be.
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