GCSE overhaul in England made final by Ofqual

[Strokes]

A child's ability to read and write is almost entirely the responsibility of the parents.

If someone is only learning how to read when they first go to school then there is something seriously, seriously wrong with how they were brought up and I make no apologies for saying that. We cannot blame the education system for things that they should not be held responsible for, if there is a child out there who is unable to read then that is the fault of the individual who brought them up not that of the teacher.

Too right, I'm teaching my son to read now and he is three, Christ its hard though, if anyone has any tips it would be greatly appreciated.

[Jon the Hat]

You don't need to teach kids to read before they start school, you just need them to want to read, and that means reading to them.

Too right, I'm teaching my son to read now and he is three, Christ its hard though, if anyone has any tips it would be greatly appreciated.

Jolly phonics.

[Foxhateram]

So better they can copy off the internet?

To state that coursework is just copying off the internet is false and misled.

 

Judging someone on one exam where all sorts of factors can play a part on given days is ridiculous! Further more children who don't perform in this scenario are stitched up.

 

Knowledge in a work place is only useful in a practical scenario. Hence why coursework came into effect. I could be as smart as Carol bloody vordamon passing exams but that doesn't make me a good mechanic does it? Crazy decision in a list of terrible decisions by Gove.

[Vlad the Fox]

Too right, I'm teaching my son to read now and he is three, Christ its hard though, if anyone has any tips it would be greatly appreciated.

Just read plenty to him. Point out the words and make it fun, no pressure if he doesn't want to do it just read. They're children, they develop differently. My eldest is a fantastic reader ahead of his age group, my middle one struggles, my youngest at two,I read books with one word on each page, she remembers the word and starting sound helped by a picture and is pleased as punch when she gets to the end of the book thinking she can read. It's about getting them to enjoy a book whatever way they're happy with.

[sdb]

I maintain the opinion that no one has ever done a worse job in the history of man kind than what Gove is doing to state education. He's taken being shit to a new level. 

[Foxhateram]

I maintain the opinion that no one has ever done a worse job in the history of man kind than what Gove is doing to state education. He's taken being shit to a new level.

Here here! The bloke is from a grammar school frame of thinking and has no concept of the real world. Adding to that he has no qualifications in education what so ever, he has a history degree which is irrelevant. For someone with such little knowledge and understanding to be put in charge of one of the most important sectors for this countries future is radical and damn right blind!

Something needs to be done and quick, otherwise this idiot will scupper the already limited chances of a whole generation.

[Stadt]

Apparently Gove has changed the poetry being studied to the Romantic era just because it's his personal favourite

[Rincewind]

Here here! The bloke is from a grammar school frame of thinking and has no concept of the real world. Adding to that he has no qualifications in education what so ever, he has a history degree which is irrelevant. For someone with such little knowledge and understanding to be put in charge of one of the most important sectors for this countries future is radical and damn right blind!

Something needs to be done and quick, otherwise this idiot will scupper the already limited chances of a whole generation.

I would say that is true of a lot of MP's and even those left of centre. It is a sad reflection of modern day politics when ministers like IDS and Gove have little connection with the ordinary working man. They have their comfort zone and do not step out of it.

[MooseBreath]

Gove is more of an ordinary working man than almost all other high up politicians, and as a man who actually works, is far more of an ordinary working man than you are, ken.

What is a sad reflection on society is the way the teachers union attacks Gove at every opportunity because they're in bed with the Labour party. Nothing like completely disregarding kids' education in favour of political posturing in the hope of being rewarded with a bit more cash.

[ADK]

That works both ways Moose. I see an awful lot of right wingers hating on teachers because it is seen as a liberal or left wing profession. If the majority of teachers are against Gove then the union ought to be against Gove too, that is what a union does, it represents it's members.

[MooseBreath]

That works both ways Moose. I see an awful lot of right wingers hating on teachers because it is seen as a liberal or left wing profession. If the majority of teachers are against Gove then the union ought to be against Gove too, that is what a union does, it represents it's members.

Maybe the teachers are against Gove because they've been fed endless anti-Gove propaganda by the union? Wouldn't want to suggest teachers aren't capable of making their own minds up but when you're part of a union that constantly does everything it can to discredit someone it's bound to influence you to some degree.

[Webbo]

I maintain the opinion that no one has ever done a worse job in the history of man kind than what Gove is doing to state education. He's taken being shit to a new level. 

Did you not see that survey that said that kids today are worse at reading, writing and grammar than their parents? We're the only country in the Western world where standards have gone backwards and we spend more on education than most of our competitors. How anyone can defend the so called experts who have got us to this state or criticize Gove for trying to change things is beyond me.

[leicsmac]

Did you not see that survey that said that kids today are worse at reading, writing and grammar than their parents? We're the only country in the Western world where standards have gone backwards and we spend more on education than most of our competitors. How anyone can defend the so called experts who have got us to this state or criticize Gove for trying to change things is beyond me.

 

Because he's changing the wrong things, in the wrong way.

[Webbo]

Because he's changing the wrong things, in the wrong way.

Says who? The brilliant experts who have lowered standards?

[leicsmac]

Says who? The brilliant experts who have lowered standards?

 

Say the people actually involved in the profession, who have experience in the profession and have actually taught. 

 

Most pertinently, the idea of making assessment more exam-based is utterly ludicrous. Make them tougher, by all means, but using a method of assessment that has little bearing on real life as the only gauge of how well you know a subject is ridiculous. 

 

And emphasis on the arts/classics/history? Yes, let's stay stuck in the past, rather than actually trying to encourage more kids to get involved with STEM disciplines to take us into the future. Mind you, you can't just blame Gove for that one - it's a societal problem. 

 

Edit: If he really wants to change the system for the better, he should be offering more options to those who aren't gifted academically, rather than pursuing this one-size-fits-all competitive Asian-style system that offers zero flexibility.

[Guest MattP]

Here here! The bloke is from a grammar school frame of thinking and has no concept of the real world. Adding to that he has no qualifications in education what so ever, he has a history degree which is irrelevant. For someone with such little knowledge and understanding to be put in charge of one of the most important sectors for this countries future is radical and damn right blind!

Something needs to be done and quick, otherwise this idiot will scupper the already limited chances of a whole generation.

What utter bollocks this is. Have you been reading the tripe the Mirror and the Guardian throw out?

Take a look at Goves upbringing, it's more working class than 90% of people.

He had to crawl out of an adopted Labour family out of Aberdeen to achieve something, he deserves huge respect for that.

[Webbo]

Say the people actually involved in the profession, who have experience in the profession and have actually taught. 

 

Most pertinently, the idea of making assessment more exam-based is utterly ludicrous. Make them tougher, by all means, but using a method of assessment that has little bearing on real life as the only gauge of how well you know a subject is ridiculous. 

 

And emphasis on the arts/classics/history? Yes, let's stay stuck in the past, rather than actually trying to encourage more kids to get involved with STEM disciplines to take us into the future. Mind you, you can't just blame Gove for that one - it's a societal problem. 

 

Edit: If he really wants to change the system for the better, he should be offering more options to those who aren't gifted academically, rather than pursuing this one-size-fits-all competitive Asian-style system that offers zero flexibility.

If the experts know what they're talking about why have standards and attainment gone backwards?

[Guest MattP]

Say the people actually involved in the profession, who have experience in the profession and have actually /quote]

Most comments I've read on this seem like they favour his changes, from the actual examiners and head of schools rather than teaching assistants and Len McCluskey.

[The God Emperor]

I think the problem with education is the same as most things. the standards depend heavily on which bureaucrat you put in charge of it.

[leicsmac]

Say the people actually involved in the profession, who have experience in the profession and have actually /quote]

Most comments I've read on this seem like they favour his changes, from the actual examiners and head of schools rather than teaching assistants and Len McCluskey.

 

I think most of them don't have a problem with the renaming and all that malarkey (and the examiners just set exams, after all  ), but they are saying that too many changes both in the past and now does no one any good. And as I said above, I think the wrong things are being changed, as do others - but that's just opinion.

 

How does being able to answer exam questions in a one-off test as an only assessment prepare you for the working world?

 

If the experts know what they're talking about why have standards and attainment gone backwards?

 

Because they don't actually have control of the system and are subject to the whims of whichever politician is in power?

 

Look, I don't disagree with the need for changes, but Gove is backing the wrong horse here.

[Webbo]

 

 

 

Because they don't actually have control of the system and are subject to the whims of whichever politician is in power?

 

Look, I don't disagree with the need for changes, but Gove is backing the wrong horse here.

Only history will tell. He'd struggle to do worse than his predecessors though.

[Guest MattP]

How does being able to answer exam questions in a one-off test as an only assessment prepare you for the working world?

.

It doesn't.

But then again very little in school does. It took me a few years after leaving to realise just how pointless secondary school was. Completely irrelevant and a brainwashing exercise on a complex social engineering project.

[leicsmac]

It doesn't.

But then again very little in school does. It took me a few years after leaving to realise just how pointless secondary school was. Completely irrelevant and a brainwashing exercise on a complex social engineering project.

 

That's a near-Empty level conspiracy theory there, Matt. 

[sdb]

Here here! The bloke is from a grammar school frame of thinking and has no concept of the real world. Adding to that he has no qualifications in education what so ever, he has a history degree which is irrelevant. For someone with such little knowledge and understanding to be put in charge of one of the most important sectors for this countries future is radical and damn right blind!

Something needs to be done and quick, otherwise this idiot will scupper the already limited chances of a whole generation.

 

Absolutely

 

I would say that is true of a lot of MP's and even those left of centre. It is a sad reflection of modern day politics when ministers like IDS and Gove have little connection with the ordinary working man. They have their comfort zone and do not step out of it.

 

Agreed, but at least most of the others don't take a machete to whatever they're assigned! 

[sdb]

Gove is more of an ordinary working man than almost all other high up politicians, and as a man who actually works, is far more of an ordinary working man than you are, ken.

What is a sad reflection on society is the way the teachers union attacks Gove at every opportunity because they're in bed with the Labour party. Nothing like completely disregarding kids' education in favour of political posturing in the hope of being rewarded with a bit more cash.

 

That's not the issue and this is such a clearly biased viewpoint. THose who know the education system know that he is seriously fecking up everything.