My son returned to school to-day following the summer break. Like many other children he skipped through the school gates with a sense of forbearing, optimism and excitement. The latter two due to catching up with his friends, learning new “stuff” (as he described it this evening) but the former due to a degree of uncertainty: who will he be sat next to; who will be in his learning group; will the new children be friendly and all the other world-weary insecurities of a 7-year-old!
Behind the pressing reassurance of my son lies an educational landscape that is changing. The Academies route is now clearly established and pursued by many. Free Schools are the latest “sexy” creation. There has been mixed reviews of this new “monster” with a battle between those who argue it will raise standards and provide flexibility while others contest that they will be elitist, not in an Etonian type way, but in a pushy middle class two working parents look after my children type way. Is this meeting the needs of modern society or excluding the lower classes who may not need or see the need for such flexibility?
It could be a topic for a social science dissertation!
What fails to be reported, though, is news of the not so sexy schools, who plough on with the support of the local authority. Some of these schools perform heroically, either by producing fantastic results or by battling on in very testing conditions. For example, there are a number of local schools in my area who consistently deliver excellent Ofsted results.
The LA continue to provide support and guidance to these schools. Individual public sector workers demonstrating a real committment to the cause of the schools and buy in to the vision and implementation of betterment plans. Public sector bashing can be seen as fair game by many with (it is argued) their ludicrously large pensions, un-business like flexi time working hours, un-pressurised environment and the such like. This may be the case but there remains some stoic and conscientious civil servants doing the right thing by our schools and our children.
Head teachers and their staff equally deserve praise for enabling the other, less exciting educational model to fly!!!
