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Introducing this now of all times would be very controversial. If it doesn't receive the support of schools and teachers it'll die a short death. Teachers are striking nationally within two weeks over pay, to announce this now is terrible timing. I've been in on Governing Bodies at schools in the North West this past month, the idea is sumararily dismissed everytime when brought to the table.
Schools cannot fund this nor should they be expected to bare it. This type of thinking is reactionary to school systems amongst the Asian Tiger economies, who have far stricter discipline within schools. This is maintained and mirrored by an ideological stance in both the value of education and the fruits of hard work in society. The UK harbours neither of these cultural factors.
In terms of safeguarding and childrens services, the primary focus ought to be on a reform toward better regulated Early Years care. Nurseries are crucial to setting the precedent for school life, if children can't grasp enjoyment of learning and attainment of it at that level, alongside fast declining basic language and learning skills, their progression onward is already soured. If we're going to reverse poor attitudes toward schooling, this is the age group to target, repairing the early damage that irresponsible parenting has already wrought. Teaching the merits of work in a climate of generational benefit claimants.
Education also needs to be alligned with work much earlier. A move away from perpetual schooling on to University is needed, which has grown to ridiculous proportions in the last two decades. But sadly, the small rebirth of vocational courses is already being scaled back at many secondaries, who favour the more easily assessable (in Ofsted terms) GCSE courses. These need reform to, away from dinosaur industries with a focus on maths, science and technology.
If anything we need a serious consideration of reduced hours of attendance or a more broken schoolday in the Scandinavian model. A 9-6 format is senseless in a service sector economy where creative industries and shorter terms of employment on part-time contracts are major growth areas.
This idea will never make it past the current media storm. If it does, it'll be in select Academies only.
TLDR: This isn't China, focus should be on applicable modern education, driven home early with work related skills that relate to the present and future economy, starting as early as possible.
- (Tapatalk)
Would they get good teachers still though? Because the issue I have with that idea is that some people might actually be interested in learning more complicated stuff but never get the chance because they are lumped in the lower type school where everything is basic.
I hated for example ICT at my school because it was the same for GCSE and A Levels - make a poster, use a program etc. Luckily it seems ICT is being replaced now by something a lot more hands on focusing more on how to make programs and understand how they work rather than just using them. I could have maybe learnt how to code well with a good teacher but as I never had the opportunity i'll never know (haven't got the time myself due to work).
Maths was another one I found similar to ICT, focusing on sometimes unnecessary stuff. I always thought it would have made sense to have some maths lessons looking at finances, helping people understand important things they will need when they leave. Instead they seemed to focus on things you'll never use again after you leave.
As for the school hours, I can't see this working.
From a maths point of view, finances are pretty much covered but never put together so it would probably make more sense in a PSHE lesson alongside general budgeting and taxes rather than repeating sex education and healthy eating every bloody year, though that was just my school and I imagine others were different.
I don't entirely disagree with 9am-6pm depending on what the additional time consists of. It would probably just be standard lessons which I do not see working well.
is your title wrong with 25 weeks a year?
Anyway, I'm sure this was proposed AGES ago