School Subjects

chewmylegoff

wymondham wrote: »

I did'nt explain myself very well. I think pupils need to have a sound grasp of the basics of maths - something many still don't seem to have. The applied maths is important as you state, but it only means something to you if you understand the basics first...

To what age are you talking about in your opening post?

chewmylegoff

lostinrates wrote: »

- could it be deferring to the '' human'', e.g. why does it not simply remove the food itself? Learning to leave food is a hard job for many dogs! some dogs never acheive it and people have to put food away)

It probably doesnt have a tin opener.

ninky_2

chewmylegoff wrote: »

To what age are you talking about in your opening post?

6 months. if they're not all on baby mozart by then the nation's doomed.

Orpheo

wymondham wrote: »

With all the news on students not getting the right skills for jobs etc, what does the panel think should make up the core educational requirement that would put our children on the right path to job success?

I'd say:

English: Especially spelling!
Maths: but everyday maths, not those bizzare things you'll never come across - just addition/subtraction, that sort!
Finance: Basic finance, APR, rates, how mortgages work, best rate loans etc..
World Awareness: Different cultures etc - a mix of geography and history maybe?
PE: Real games, where people actually sweat?
IT: General IT stuff, web use etc..

add to this..!

I used to lead English in a school in a greater London borough where I frequently crossed swords with the LEA's literacy advisor. She believed that we should only assess children's spelling if it is a specific objective of a lesson and certainly not in areas of the curriculum other than literacy. Incredulous, I told her that she was wrong and that our school would continue to insist on high standards. Rising standards aside, the same 'advisor' got her knickers in a knot over the fact that I had manipulated the government's 'literacy hour' to suit the school and not implemented it exactly as prescribed. She wasn't accustomed to being disagreed with.

Another advisor observed a lesson that I taught in a Mansfield school, his criticism of the lesson was that I had too high expectations of the children, after all they were Mansfield children and not London children. The lunatics are running the asylum.

When I was training to teach, we had a lecturer who insisted that we shouldn't correct children's speech, or ask them to wash their dirty hands or faces as such things were value judgments. Moron.

chewmylegoff

Orpheo wrote: »

the LEA's literacy advisor

this indivdual sounds bizarre. had she any teaching background?

abaxas

Ok ask yourself this question.

'Which is better a double A* at combined science or 3 x Grade E at non combined'?

The answer is, neither. The double A* may have been done on 100% coursework, even completed by the teacher. When there is no 100% coursework option for non combined sciences.

Ie a grade E can be higher than an A* at GCSE.

No wonder we is fooked.

Orpheo

chewmylegoff wrote: »

this indivdual sounds bizarre. had she any teaching background?

That I can only assume. The same authority 'restructured' and replaced all the experienced, inspiring and expensive advisors with young, thrusting types who embraced the hymn sheet.

I quit full time teaching, mostly because it was impacting on my home life, but partly because as I was being rapidly promoted I found myself saying things that I didn't believe.

Orpheo

abaxas wrote: »

Ok ask yourself this question.

'Which is better a double A* at combined science or 3 x Grade E at non combined'?

The answer is, neither. The double A* may have been done on 100% coursework, even completed by the teacher. When there is no 100% coursework option for non combined sciences.

Ie a grade E can be higher than an A* at GCSE.

No wonder we is fooked.

I am not a senior school teacher, but I believe the system has changed now so that the above can't happen.

abaxas

Orpheo wrote: »

I am not a senior school teacher, but I believe the system has changed now so that the above can't happen.

Not sure about next year, but still going strong for people taking GSCE's this year.

Insane system.

silvercar

My son is doing AS English; it is the final year that coursework can account for half the final marks.