Quango cuts: full list of bodies under review

bendix

carolt wrote: »

Just read the article here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/8021739/Quango-cuts-177-bodies-to-be-scrapped-under-coalition-plans.html

and am absolutely hocked they'd consider getting rid of the British Council - would be absolute madness. Undoubtedly, the BC brings in many, many times its own cost through tourism, business etc it brings to the UK. I've taught abroad, and the BC has a huge presence esp in far-flung places, encouraging foreigners to come here and spend their dosh.

Ridiculous short-termism, to save a few quid now but causing huge longer-term losses.

So far you've only focused on saving every quango you've talked about.

Are there any you are prepared to let go?

bendix

carolt wrote: »

Re the first point - you are wrong - my MIL used to live on the river (permanently), and I know others who live on canals. Given high London house prices, it's far more common than you would think. Permanent moorings are very sought-after.

.

There may be more 'than we think' living on waterways, but at a guess I would be very surprised if the total represents more than 0.0005% of the total population at a stretch.

amcluesent

> encouraging foreigners to come here <

Noooooo! There should be "We're full! Clear off!" sign hung in every BC office and UK Embassy

Radiantsoul

mbga9pgf wrote: »

If you think ofsted is about teaching standards, you are wrong.

They are more about enforcing
"Diversity"
"Education Plans"
"Health and Safety Paperwork"

very little of the ofsted visit focuses on actual teaching standards. If teachers were allowed to actually TEACH, as opposed to getting pecked to death with triv, perhaps we wouldnt have seen a fall in educational standards during the dark days of New Labour intervention.

Actually Ofsted focuses on assessing schools ability to assess their own staff. There is no focus on health or safety, and diversity is more about community.

ILW

Radiantsoul wrote: »

Actually Ofsted focuses on assessing schools ability to assess their own staff. There is no focus on health or safety, and diversity is more about community.

Worth every penny then:(

bendix

Radiantsoul wrote: »

Actually Ofsted focuses on assessing schools ability to assess their own staff. There is no focus on health or safety, and diversity is more about community.

Let me get this right. There is a quango with a large budget whose role it is to assess schools' ability to assess their staff?

Did I read that right?

If so . . what a worthy outfit. Triple their budget. No. That's too mean. Set up a new quango to assess Ofsted's ability to assess schools' ability to assess their staff.

Radiantsoul

bendix wrote: »

Let me get this right. There is a quango with a large budget whose role it is to assess schools' ability to assess their staff?

Did I read that right?

If so . . what a worthy outfit. Triple their budget. No. That's too mean. Set up a new quango to assess Ofsted's ability to assess schools' ability to assess their staff.

You read it right.
How else could you do it? That is how external auditors work in larger private sector organisations, they are checking that a companies tests actually work rather than testing everything themselves.

Of course they also look at a schools management and strategy, but no inspection could examine every teacher and anyway all would raise their game for an assessment. But you can tell if a schools own assessment program is about right and set the correct benchmarks.

bendix

Radiantsoul wrote: »

You read it right.
How else could you do it? That is how external auditors work in larger private sector organisations, they are checking that a companies tests actually work rather than testing everything themselves.

Of course they also look at a schools management and strategy, but no inspection could examine every teacher and anyway all would raise their game for an assessment. But you can tell if a schools own assessment program is about right and set the correct benchmarks.

Huh? Why does a school need a strategy?

Here's a strategy for schools. Teach kids to read, write and do basic maths. Teach them manners. Introduce them to books. Teach them diction and grammar. Add in some curiosity and a worldview. If you like, make them do exercise now and again. Stop their products from being inarticulate little thugs with pants around their knees, sugar in their veins and ear phones around their necks.

How does that sound?

Radiantsoul

bendix wrote: »

How does that sound?

Victorian?

Really2

I haven't drank it since I was a child so it won't affect me.