Reply to: Why all this fuss about school places?

[PRC1964]

I have 3 x private skewel =£24k @annum

I'm in the same boat, but make it 4. I just wish I could get a rebate for all the state education they aren't using.

[Troll]

I am thinking on the same line. it costs minimum £6-7 grand/annum

I have 3 x private skewel =£24k @annum

[Diestl]

I am thinking on the same line. it costs minimum £6-7 grand/annum

Could just upgrade to a better area for that.

[andy]

Shouldn't contractors be sending thie kids to private school?, Whats the average cost anyway?

I am thinking on the same line. it costs minimum £6-7 grand/annum

[threaded]

Shouldn't contractors be sending thie kids to private school?, Whats the average cost anyway?

Depends if your kids are going to be day-rats or boarders, and which school.

Also which country. Is very very much cheaper in Denmark: I know of a council gardener who sent all six (I think maybe 7) kids to a private school.

[Diestl]

Shouldn't contractors be sending thie kids to private school?, Whats the average cost anyway?

[DodgyAgent]

I agree with you DA.

I find it strange that the old system that grew up without any real central control gave us one of the highest rated education systems in the world, and then the introduction of a centrally defined, "one solution for all" comprehensive system reduced us to the present sorry state we're in - could it be, and I can scarcely believe that I'm saying it, could it be that the politicians DON'T know everything?

they actually don't know anything.

The same applies to schools for children with special needs. These places need to be able to cope with certain types of children. Everyone is F****** good at teaching bright middle class children from strong families, but the real challenges are in teaching not so bright children from disfunctional families. Mixing them together does not work except in non academic subjects including sport.

My own view is that state schools should be run by the private sector and even though they may serve different children with different abilities, wherever possible they should be linked through for example sport. This would involve sports clubs forming formal links with schools in an area sharing facilities that would always be used. The clubs would have coaches and club environments available and in turn they would have a source of sportsmen/women for the future. You could apply this to other areas such as music and workshops where kids from different schools could be brought together to share learning where appropriate.

And finally a voucher system should be used to create choice and empower the users of the services in order to keep the schools on their toes.

Amen

[hattra]

I agree with you DA.

I find it strange that the old system that grew up without any real central control gave us one of the highest rated education systems in the world, and then the introduction of a centrally defined, "one solution for all" comprehensive system reduced us to the present sorry state we're in - could it be, and I can scarcely believe that I'm saying it, could it be that the politicians DON'T know everything?

[DodgyAgent]

Weren't they called Borstals?

there is no reason why Borstals cannot be re-introduced to cope with the most disfunctional children provided that they are educated properly, and given the chance to learn music and play sport.

[hattra]

Why not build boarding schools for poor children who come from disfunctional families?

Weren't they called Borstals?

[Ennui]

Excellent idea DA.

I think it may be time for another e-petition

[John Galt]

Hear hear!

Ditto

[threaded]

I have never understood why only if a child is bright it goes to the best schools with the best facilities and smallest classes. There is no reason for this. All children should go to schools that bring the best out of them by having good sports facilities, music, high quality teachers , small classes etc. Why not build boarding schools for poor children who come from disfunctional families?

The costs would be very high but the savings in crime, welfare and all the other "patch up the problems that the state have themselves created" costs would make it worthwhile. The problem as I have always said is that there are too many vested interests that are well served by the welfare industry.

Hear hear!

[DodgyAgent]

Improving the schools where poor people live assumes that it is the schools that are the problem. Unfortunately the root reason that crap schools are crap is because ill disciplined children from families with poor parents go to them. If teaching standards decline it is only because no sane teacher wants to go there.

PS All in favour of streaming, I think teachning works best when directed at a fairly uniform standard, but 11+ was too inflexible. Not all children become motivated until later.

I have never understood why only if a child is bright it goes to the best schools with the best facilities and smallest classes. There is no reason for this. All children should go to schools that bring the best out of them by having good sports facilities, music, high quality teachers , small classes etc. Why not build boarding schools for poor children who come from disfunctional families?

The costs would be very high but the savings in crime, welfare and all the other "patch up the problems that the state have themselves created" costs would make it worthwhile. The problem as I have always said is that there are too many vested interests that are well served by the welfare industry.

[Troll]

My concern is with kids who didn't make it to the good schools, for whatever reason, but genuinely want to get their head down and learn.

And who was it that upon coming to power abolished the "assisted places scheme" designed to help those people?