View from the rear window
As Summer winds its way relentlessly onwards towards the Autumn Solstice and all is silent in the corridors of power, the view from the rear window of life and society in general is more than interesting. Attention from the panic scares of Swine Flu has switched to The Ashes and the alternating successes of both combatants. The Press in particular have filled their pages with a wide variety of “filler” articles. This is beach reading material. Obviously stories that sell newspapers are heavily biased towards the political. Parliament is on holiday. This is the longest break they have had yet, not reconvening until October. But as bat hits willow and the crowds roar their approval. The Ashes have been regained…
Little snippets of educational news filter out almost unnoticed. Could it be that the latest SATs results show little improvement, according to a previous Chief Inspector? He says that it is scandalous that 40% of boys leave primary school with standards below the expected level in reading? Or could it be the other gem which shows that it is possible to attain an “E” grade in GCSE’s in certain subjects without even sitting the exam?
Meanwhile, at a slight tangent, QCA becomes QCDA and loses its autonomy by falling into the remit of DCSF. Now that the Rose Curriculum Review has been completed does this mean that the continuing debate over SATs dominating the delivery of the curriculum is done and dusted? Therefore all curriculum matters are dealt with by DCSF? The view from the rear window becomes altogether more fascinating as QCA moves from Piccadilly to Birmingham, pro tem, until its new offices are ready in the Warwick area. This alone provides another facet of disturbance as relocation does not appeal to existing personnel and new faces are sought. This is the ideal opportunity to seek staff of a completely different mould who will meet any new prescriptions from DCSF.
On that theme, there is another article in this issue of NPH News on the topic of curriculum driven teaching, reflecting all that was good in Excellence and Enjoyment. It seems obvious that with the constant drumming of the testing agenda, focus has been taken off the basic fundamentals of pedagogy and the needs of the pupil. Our whole purpose is still driven by those early Victorian thoughts on providing a malleable workforce and the testing that accompanies it.
The Twenty-first Century has totally different needs. Society and its demographics are a new species to consider. Just look at the recent upheavals in the banking world and the knock on effects throughout society. Unemployment rises, dissatisfaction rises in proportion and society at large feels totally under threat. 40,000 would be students cannot gain entry to University. What of the newly graduated students seeking work in a shrinking economy? The need to prepare students in a totally different way for life is of paramount importance, yet here we are still plodding along this Victorian style pathway.
So what do the politicians do? They insist on testing because it gives them a so called yardstick which can be handed down to parents as proof of the success of their system. This does this or future generations no favours. If anything it disenfranchise them. At this juncture it would be as well to look at how secondary schools have adapted to meeting these testing demands. In order to achieve the basic government requirement of 5 GCSEs by offering students a tailored group of options which includes many non academic subjects. Success means much for the schools but often students are clutching worthless certificates.
So what new aspects will we be facing in the Staff room this Autumn? Do keep contact with our website on www.primaryheads.org.uk
Do add your comments and thoughts.
