Lots of excellent ideas for education`s future, from Benn`s "abolition of national tests in years 2 and 6", and a "less prescriptive national curriculum" (Clarion call loud enough to rally even the weariest, 04/09/18) to "abolishing the VAT exemption on private school fees" as suggested by Robert Verkaik (What else should be in a national Education Service, 04/09/18), but no-one had an answer to the obvious question. There is a teaching recruitment problem, and teachers are leaving the profession in droves, so who actually is going to deliver the new curriculum?
Quite clearly, the job has to be more attractive, with much more money paid to the classroom teachers, and the workload seriously reduced. That means smaller classes, more teaching assistants and more support for welfare and behavioural issues; the recent furore over exclusions highlighted problems that have blighted state schools for years. Marking has to be reduced, with parents having to accept that not all work can be assessed and commented upon. Reports have to be decreased in size, with more reliance on effort and attainment grades, and only underachievement requiring detailed comment.
As Peter Wilby implies, state interference has been resented by teachers in the past because it has added to workload, and therefore stress levels; legislation decreasing those levels is essential!
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