Agenda 2019

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/feb/01/primary-school-maths-grammar-nicky-morgan-education#comment-47016794 Primary school pupils face new maths and grammar tests under Tories   Why is this latest "set of punitive policies" labeled as a new initiative from the Conservatives? Teaching children multiplication tables and how to read by the age of 11 is not new, neither is it unique. Some years ago, more in fact that I care to remember, I attended the Ruby Street Primary School in London. The classroom of 1B, my first year class under Miss Cox, had posters around the walls with "Times Tables" on each of the posters ranging from 2 to 12, which had to be learned. Every child in the class (classes usually had 48 or more children at that time) had to learn by heart each of the tables and then had the daunting challenge of standing in front of Miss Cox, (and the assembled class) and reciting 2x2=4 and so on through to 12x12=144. Not all at t...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/jul/01/michael-gove-school-summer-holiday The traditional six-week summer holiday could be axed after all state schools were given new powers to set their own term dates Michael Gove  Secretary of State for Education More lunacy from an inept minister in a disastrous government. School holidays spread over months around the country will create chaos and confusion for parents and businesses across the board. The only beneficiaries would perhaps, be the travel agents and on line booking agents, who could offer "cheap deals" all year round. Couple this with the other lunatic proposal announced at the same time, that this government plan what is, in effect, the creation of a two tier education system by the privatisation academies and free schools, as a prelude to complete private ownership of our education system. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/may/17/primary-schools-supersize Number of primary schools with more than 1,000 pupils has risen by 60% in past three year     It wasn't so long ago that we were being told that there were too many primary school "places" and that some should be closed and the teachers made redundant. This "wave" of children will soon be seeking secondary education places and then university places. Some people have been critical for years of the lunacy of successive government closing schools of all levels , with the preposterous logic there were too many places for the existing demand and that advances in new technology and efficiency savings would ensure a higher standard of education. (Everyone knew of course that it was all about the government saving money as is usually the motive). The chickens now seem to be coming home to roost. Big is usually not better.