Does Your Child Go To A Proper School Or An Academy?

DecentLivingWage

Academies dont have to have to have proper qualified teachers and I wondered how many of us actually know that when we walk up to the school gate in September and see a shiny new sign outside? Will they be hiring cheap assistants and sulky 'apprentice' teens from off the dole queue who don't even want to be there , let alone give our kids the top class attention theyve been getting up til now?

At least when times are hard and we're all struggling to make ends meet (well most of us, not the millionaire coalition obvs) we used to think, 'well - I can do better for my child so he/she gets the best education for a better life and career and that's where my hard earned taxes are going so I dont mind grafting for my family.


But not now, apparently there's going to be a two layer education system - proper schools for rich families and 'academies' for the rest of us. Just might be worth asking on 4th September!

WillowCat

Well it brings them into line with private schools.

As far as I'm aware it's only the teaching qualification which will be optional - which in most cases is the PGCE, a one year post graduate qualification. The teachers will still be degree qualified in the subject they are teaching.

I did a few weeks school experience last year to see if I wanted to train as a teacher. I must admit that I came to the conclusion that the PGCE would train to deal with all the paperwork, administration and politics, but as far as the actual teaching is concerned, some people can, and some can't, and no amount of training would turn the can'ts into the can's, but it would probably !!!! the can's off big time!

HappyMJ

DecentLivingWage wrote: »

Academies dont have to have to have proper qualified teachers and I wondered how many of us actually know that when we walk up to the school gate in September and see a shiny new sign outside? Will they be hiring cheap assistants and sulky 'apprentice' teens from off the dole queue who don't even want to be there , let alone give our kids the top class attention theyve been getting up til now?

At least when times are hard and we're all struggling to make ends meet (well most of us, not the millionaire coalition obvs) we used to think, 'well - I can do better for my child so he/she gets the best education for a better life and career and that's where my hard earned taxes are going so I dont mind grafting for my family.


But not now, apparently there's going to be a two layer education system - proper schools for rich families and 'academies' for the rest of us. Just might be worth asking on 4th September!

Acadamies are paid on results so they will still be employing the best they can afford. They will avoid the sulky apprectice teens who don't want to be there.

martinthebandit

WillowCat wrote: »

Well it brings them into line with private schools.

........ and they don't seem to be doing too bad at educating kids.


But keep jerking those knees, its good exercise.

Oh And Just Out Of Interest Which Sort Of School Did You Come From?

ViolaLass

WillowCat wrote: »

Well it brings them into line with private schools.

As far as I'm aware it's only the teaching qualification which will be optional - which in most cases is the PGCE, a one year post graduate qualification. The teachers will still be degree qualified in the subject they are teaching.

Teachers don't currently have to have a degree in the subject they teach, they just have to have a degree.

WillowCat wrote: »

I did a few weeks school experience last year to see if I wanted to train as a teacher. I must admit that I came to the conclusion that the PGCE would train to deal with all the paperwork, administration and politics, but as far as the actual teaching is concerned, some people can, and some can't, and no amount of training would turn the can'ts into the can's, but it would probably !!!! the can's off big time!

I disagree completely. I have just completed a PGCE - it has taught me how to plan a lesson (not just the paperwork but what aspects need to be thought about and how to make the lesson as effective as possible), got me up to date on the latest thinking on how children learn best and given me many different approaches for dealing with discipline. The school I am with tell me they think I'm going to be a very good teacher but there is no way, IMO, that I would be where I am now without the knowledge and experience imparted by the PGCE.

It may be true that some can and some can't, but that doesn't mean that we don't still need to learn.

Desperado99

DecentLivingWage wrote: »

Academies dont have to have to have proper qualified teachers and I wondered how many of us actually know that when we walk up to the school gate in September and see a shiny new sign outside? Will they be hiring cheap assistants and sulky 'apprentice' teens from off the dole queue who don't even want to be there , let alone give our kids the top class attention theyve been getting up til now?

At least when times are hard and we're all struggling to make ends meet (well most of us, not the millionaire coalition obvs) we used to think, 'well - I can do better for my child so he/she gets the best education for a better life and career and that's where my hard earned taxes are going so I dont mind grafting for my family.


But not now, apparently there's going to be a two layer education system - proper schools for rich families and 'academies' for the rest of us. Just might be worth asking on 4th September!

I think it'll be more of a three maybe four layered education system. Public/Selective/Academies/Non-Selective - I put non selective last as where we are some academies are being rather selective even though they're not supposed to be. Pupils in the catchment area with SEN's are being refused places and are being taxied 25 miles to the schools that will take them.

Mr Gove is doing a fine job of destroying our education system

DecentLivingWage

I agree with ViolaLass - good for you! Tax payers don't stinge on their taxes so why should the govt stinge on kids teachers?

I want my child taught by the best there is! He deserves it cos he tries so hard! Degree trained teachers are top class and I won't accept anything less for him...... questions will be asked come parent's eve!

PS Don't think i can post the link, but all the information you need was in the Guardian at the weekend - maybe someone else could post it? Thxxxxx

jenhug

my daughters school has recently changed to an academy and the improvement has been dramatic. I am very glad they changed, and as she is SEN they no longer have to go through local authority red tape to get the support she needs, so its much quicker and easier to access extra support.

thegirlintheattic

ViolaLass wrote: »

Teachers don't currently have to have a degree in the subject they teach, they just have to have a degree.

Not quite true. To train as a secondary teacher you must have a degree with 50% of it in your chosen subject. After you have QTS you can then teach any subject, although most schools make sure only degree qualified teachers teacher KS4/5.

Whilst academies have been great for our education system, I am very concerned about this change Gove made on Friday (burying it with the Olympic news). As far as I can see their are no safeguards to make sure it is used to bring in highly experienced individuals in their field (as intended), rather than to save money. There has also been no word from the government about these teachers needed a degree, a good level of English and maths, or being trained on the job. I can see a situation where people with little or no qualifications are brought in on very low pay, with students being essentially babysat and taught solely through the textbook. This is not good for the next generation!

desperado - not all academies are selective. The academy I work in has an excellent reputation for SEN and so takes on a high percentage of SEN students without being selective at all.

WillowCat - The PGCE actually very rarely deals with paperwork or politics; it is very hands on. I wouldn't judge any PGCE course on a short time visiting schools. Teaching can be taught in my opinion, although some people are naturally better than others at it. The PGCE teaches you how to think through lessons to make sure they are planned well, meeting the students needs and helping them to progress. It also teaches you the more 'interpersonal' aspects of dealing with young people; this is the bit that some people are naturally better at than others.

ViolaLass

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Not quite true. To train as a secondary teacher you must have a degree with 50% of it in your chosen subject.

That might be the ideal but it's not a requirement. I've been training to teach maths; my degree and masters were in music. I have A-level maths, no more. It's probably true that in subjects with more competition, you won't get onto the course without a related degree but it's still not a legal requirement.

I agree with the rest of your post though.

DecentLivingWage

Thanks for the Heads Up about this - I will also ask at Parent's Evening what qualifications the SEN teacher has - there is a new one coming!

Chioldren who struggle hard need More experienced help - not less experienced !