Failing primary schools told ‘become academies’ (From Basildon Recorder)

I think we all have seen how much schools now concentrate on getting the figures to look good, even if it means encouraging one or two sharp practices. However, is it not true that the best of our teachers percolate into schools where the results are generally good anyway, and the poor standards of education generally reflect the poorer standard of living imposed by Governments such as the one we now have, Where supporting the already privileged is what they truly believe to be important. In which case moves such as this one are primarily designed to better the lot of the Nation's money hungry rich. Any form of privatisation results in a larger cash share-out for the honey-pot that is the stock market.

Quote: "Mr Coulson said it was the only way County Hall believes schools in the borough can achieve rapid and sustained improvement".
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Because making schools acadamies merely moves the goal posts making it easier to achieve satisfactory standards. It really is all a big con.
The best way to achieve better standards is, firstly, to improve teaching. There is a growing number of NQTs, and university graduates going into teaching, who haven't the first clue how to teach, let alone understand the subject they are teaching.
Secondly, quite often, the SLT prioritise the management methods which make themselves look good rather than benefiting the school as a whole.

emcee wrote:
Quote: "Mr Coulson said it was the only way County Hall believes schools in the borough can achieve rapid and sustained improvement".
-
Because making schools acadamies merely moves the goal posts making it easier to achieve satisfactory standards. It really is all a big con.
The best way to achieve better standards is, firstly, to improve teaching. There is a growing number of NQTs, and university graduates going into teaching, who haven't the first clue how to teach, let alone understand the subject they are teaching.
Secondly, quite often, the SLT prioritise the management methods which make themselves look good rather than benefiting the school as a whole.

Excuse the spelling :o). I must have gone to an acadEmy.

Strange that we can leave comments on this story but not on the
"...Ros Ferdinand, headteacher at Porters Grange Primary School..."

Who is alleged to have fiddled exam results. As if she's the first to do that...allegedly !

As far as becoming an academy, what difference would it really make ? Apart from making it sound more up market.

Rather like calling school children "students".

The fact that so many of our schools are failing their pupils and need to be renamed academies does not improve the teaching.

There is a huge problem in all of our schools at the moment - its called children who do not want to be there and no-one can make them learn if they dont want to.

Back to basics with discipline with the teaching as teachers hands are tied and they have to follow the current trends of R,R and Rithmatic.

There is a huge problem in all of our schools at the moment - its called children who do not want to be there and no-one can make them learn if they dont want to.

you've hit the nail right on the head there.

The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:

There is a huge problem in all of our schools at the moment - its called children who do not want to be there and no-one can make them learn if they dont want to.

you've hit the nail right on the head there.

I went to school what, must have been close to a thousand-years ago (I failed at "Rithmatic") and, if my memory serves, I did not want to be there. This was true with around 40 of the 45 pupils in my class. However, there were rules in place then, overseen by teachers who let it be known that you were there to learn, and learn was what you would do. They commanded respect and had tools, such as a size 13 PE slipper or a 36" blackboard rule to ensure you understood that. I firmly believe that the new think of treating mild corporal punishment as "Savage" or whatever, took away everything required to ensure that 99% of pupils finished school with the basic understanding of "Mutual Respect", so lacking in today's society.

Last Poster wrote:

The Cater Wood Creeper wrote:

There is a huge problem in all of our schools at the moment - its called children who do not want to be there and no-one can make them learn if they dont want to.

you've hit the nail right on the head there.

I went to school what, must have been close to a thousand-years ago (I failed at "Rithmatic") and, if my memory serves, I did not want to be there. This was true with around 40 of the 45 pupils in my class. However, there were rules in place then, overseen by teachers who let it be known that you were there to learn, and learn was what you would do. They commanded respect and had tools, such as a size 13 PE slipper or a 36" blackboard rule to ensure you understood that. I firmly believe that the new think of treating mild corporal punishment as "Savage" or whatever, took away everything required to ensure that 99% of pupils finished school with the basic understanding of "Mutual Respect", so lacking in today's society.

you absolutely nailed it

some of the teachers are not fit to teach, some of the kids dont want to be taught, too much paperwork after hours for the staff, and too many distractions i.e. phones i pods ds's and others, and no RESPECT, in my day we had to stand if the head came into the class, you got a whack if playing up, and one when you got home by your folks if you told them, this is a downward spiral of many schools today and in the uk schools generally, theres no hope if they show east enders shameless and the like, the kids think this is normal family life today, i bet i get slagged for saying about the whack, but here lies the real reason as said earlier, RESPECT, there is none in some cases by both parties

Typical we cant post on Ros Ferdinand, headteacher at Porters Grange Primary School, in Lancaster Gardens, Southend, has been placed on indefinite gardening leave. They interviewed someone who did not want to be named & said she is respected! ha ha that's a million miles from the truth. All the parents I have spoken to dislike her & can't wait to see the back of her.

soul man wrote:
some of the teachers are not fit to teach, some of the kids dont want to be taught, too much paperwork after hours for the staff, and too many distractions i.e. phones i pods ds's and others, and no RESPECT, in my day we had to stand if the head came into the class, you got a whack if playing up, and one when you got home by your folks if you told them, this is a downward spiral of many schools today and in the uk schools generally, theres no hope if they show east enders shameless and the like, the kids think this is normal family life today, i bet i get slagged for saying about the whack, but here lies the real reason as said earlier, RESPECT, there is none in some cases by both parties

Why would you get told off? What you are saying is what every person who can remember the difference is saying. Trouble is, the "system" is run by people who know everything about nothing and will never listen to the group of people who have been right since before man learned how to stand upright....... They were called "Our forefathers" This world will level out again but, sadly, the price our youngsters will have to pay will be far too high!

Last Poster wrote:

soul man wrote:
some of the teachers are not fit to teach, some of the kids dont want to be taught, too much paperwork after hours for the staff, and too many distractions i.e. phones i pods ds's and others, and no RESPECT, in my day we had to stand if the head came into the class, you got a whack if playing up, and one when you got home by your folks if you told them, this is a downward spiral of many schools today and in the uk schools generally, theres no hope if they show east enders shameless and the like, the kids think this is normal family life today, i bet i get slagged for saying about the whack, but here lies the real reason as said earlier, RESPECT, there is none in some cases by both parties

Why would you get told off? What you are saying is what every person who can remember the difference is saying. Trouble is, the "system" is run by people who know everything about nothing and will never listen to the group of people who have been right since before man learned how to stand upright....... They were called "Our forefathers" This world will level out again but, sadly, the price our youngsters will have to pay will be far too high!

your probably right about the price paid by the youngsters, and my being ''told off'' was meant by saying getting whacked i.e the cane or whatever, the downward spiral began when this rule was stopped, there are as you say the system, and yes, its systematic failure by those who think they know whats good of others because it suits ''their'' ideas, i had first hand experience of this with my own kids some 15 yrs ago, by someone who was more interested in his own persona than the kids at the school, he was forced off the school by ofsted one day in front of all the staff

As I parent I feel very frustrated that the system is failing our teachers and kids as they're not interested in what the real world hold, but only their dream worlds.

Ofsted is not geared to look at data taking real life into account, and our kids suffer as there is unpresidented pressure then on teachers to perform and we all know that nobody in whatever position you are can function to your full potential when under these stress levels some of our schools are to change to fit a mould that is not suitable for a modern day society.

Secondly to the system failing is that there is no basic moral / standards in our schools anymore. No RESPECT & No DISCIPLINE.

Sponsored academies don't always succeed. Take a look at the Witham academies run by the Academies Enterprise Trust and sponsored by Greensward Academy. After 5 years of being run by this trust, these two academies are still at the bottom of the Braintree District results league tables, and very low on the Essex tables. That is even despite using 'equivalent' GCSE courses to try and boost their results.

Greensward Academy, despite being rated as 'outstanding' overall, is only rated as 'Good' for their teaching and learning. Surely only schools/academies rated 'outstanding' for teaching and learning should be allowed to sponsor other schools. County and local councillors do not appear to hold the Academies Enterprise Trust to account for their failure in Witham. Once handed over both county and local councillors appear to wash their hands of these schools or are they to in awe of this Trust (and others like it) to criticize. Beware Basildon .....