Choice In Education

Eleven years old and considered not clever enough to take the eleven plus. Branded a "Non achiever", Educational Staff not interested enough to find out why, or whether one could have excelled, in anything. No choice was given here.

At my Comprehensive school, excluding the Art and Athletics, the teaching staff were indifferent. So I left, with not even a hope.
That was in the mid 60s and no choices here.

(picture - Brunnel Academy, Bristol)

Into the 90s, Back into Education at Soundwell College. The teaching staff were tremendous giving so much support, enabling oneself to find how far one could really go with their own ambitions.

But alas let down once again by Bristol UWE (University West of England) finding the “special support” room was constantly locked. Thus a choice, taken away.

So has the Education system changed? And if so is it for the better?

Today there are more increasing demands for pupil reports, performances grids. OFSTED keeping a close eye on things, plus peer examining peer. So the Education system has changed.

But could there be a danger of too many evaluations being carried out?

And has the changes made been far too frequently, to the extent that many institutions are ‘punch drunk’ from a constant litany of renewed or ‘new’ initiatives.

Hasn’t Government gone too far?

Isn’t there a danger of over boiling the Teachers, and Lecturers, with too much statistical paper/administration work, and not enough emphasis, on the classroom teaching?

To conclude, I leave you with this; Parents, as well as Teachers have a responsibility to encourage and inspire, creating enthusiasm within the child to do well, even if this is regardless of grades.

Is this what the Wolf report is all about? Are we now going to enable choice within the system instead of fixing on dead-end vocationalism? Or is it yet another version of meddling and work making?