barmy schools plan

**King Henry V** · 10-11-2005, 17:23

Damn it, I say bring back grammar schools and sencondary moderns, and those going to grammar should be the only ones allowed to get into proper universities, not glorified polytechnics such as Bournemouth and Luton.

**BDC** · 10-11-2005, 17:36

Originally Posted by King Henry V

Damn it, I say bring back grammar schools and sencondary moderns, and those going to grammar should be the only ones allowed to get into proper universities, not glorified polytechnics such as Bournemouth and Luton.

Perhaps a system with an academic route and a more practical route wouldn't be too bad an idea. I don't see why just because you were sent to the wrong one you should be barred from university if it turns out you're a genius.

**Duke Malcolm** · 10-11-2005, 17:38

But don't they send you to them based on one's academic skills?

**BDC** · 10-11-2005, 19:03

Originally Posted by King Malcolm

But don't they send you to them based on one's academic skills?

Yes, but I don't think you're ever going to be able 2 tell exactly how everything turns out at 11...

I agree with you there, there should be schools where pupils can learn practical subjects (metallurgy, plombing, electric engineering, building etc.) and then go on to apprenticeships. Would help a great deal with the skills shortage.

And stop people wasting years doing GCSEs they get no credit for because they fail.

**RabidGibbon** · 10-11-2005, 21:19

Posted by BDC

And stop people wasting years doing GCSEs they get no credit for because they fail.

Amen. My sister teaches in a inner city secondary school, and she says theirs nothing more annoying than the disruptive kids in the lower forms, who know theyre going to fail, know their not learning anything their going to use in later life and so spend all their time messing about.

**ah_dut** · 10-11-2005, 21:40

Ahh, schools and labour, a combination I could argue abot for the rest of eternity. Anyways, suffice to say I don't go to a sink school. But I still fail to see how this barmy plan could possibly work.

On the note of doing GCSEs and not getting credit, you have to really try to fail there. There are all kinds of joke subjects to help you reach for 5Cs targets, as well as NVQ general science, which offends me (iirc 4 GCSE passes, I take triple science and can only get 3...ok, they could all be A*s but still, only 3 as opposed to 4.) Then there's subjects like general studies, photocopying (honest) and media studies to pass the time pointlessly. And one that really gets me...a double award GCSE for life and work skills (and I wonder what the bugging heck they teach there...jack all)

BKSas usual smacks the nail on the head better then I could in less words. The best schools are ridiculously oversubscribed, the worst schools...they're worse then prison by a mile. So I mean, seriously, all these silyl initiatives evidently don't work. How about something revolutionary, trying to get some real results that don't come from fiddling. It might be a long hard slog and there ain't no magic bullets. But it's sure as heck better thne what we have now

**Craterus** · 10-11-2005, 21:57

Originally Posted by ah_dut

(iirc 4 GCSE passes, I take triple science and can only get 3...ok, they could all be A*s but still, only 3 as opposed to 4.)

The GNVQ's are basically equivalent to 4 C's, IIRC. I'd rather have 3 A's over 4 C's anyday.

Do you honestly think employers are going to value GNVQ science higher grade passes over good separate (triple, same thing) science grades?

**Papewaio** · 10-11-2005, 22:00

Originally Posted by King Malcolm

But don't they send you to them based on one's academic skills?

Actually some of my best Physics profs were tradesmen first and then academics later in life.

Academic skills are not to different from sports skill. You might be the star athlete at primary school and the fatso beside you can only hit air, turn 25 and you can barely do a pushup while your fate mate is now a star winger...

Up the pay and standards of teachers. Make parents get more involved. The kids who do the best have a very high correlation with the parents who are involved the most. So maybe a few more report cards on parents and teachers are needed.

**King Henry V** · 10-11-2005, 18:22

Originally Posted by BDC

Perhaps a system with an academic route and a more practical route wouldn't be too bad an idea. I don't see why just because you were sent to the wrong one you should be barred from university if it turns out you're a genius.

I agree with you there, there should be schools where pupils can learn practical subjects (metallurgy, plombing, electric engineering, building etc.) and then go on to apprenticeships. Would help a great deal with the skills shortage.