[comradejrew]

The system that we've got just needs a bit of tinkering, not overhauling. GCSE's need to go, because they're a hell of a lot worse than A-Levels for just regurgitating what the mark scheme wants - adopt a system more like the IB, where it's a 50/50 split based on your final exam in the subject and how you perform in class over the two year course. Then afterwards, people should be encouraged to pursue vocational qualifications, or if they're academically inclined, take A-Levels and go off to University.

The only problem is there's a lot of snobbery - we forget that this country needs plumbers, mechanics, joiners and hairdressers just as much as we need lawyers, doctors, dentists and stockbrokers.

[D4rth]

(Original post by JUSTE33)
Most math and Science degrees today are taken by the masses in small hope of getting anywhere with them. They are not for them and it is this idea we have that these subjects carry more weight than others. Why are you taking them ? either your parents want you to go into medicine which ' isn't for you ' Dentistry and medicine is saturated with students who shouldn't be there.

Keep filling peoples mouths with mercury fillings.

what the hell are you rambling on about, I've never heard anyone talk such utter nonsense.
"Most math and Science degrees today are taken by the masses in small hope of getting anywhere with them"
Yes because maths and science is useless? So you don't want any computers, cars, buildings, materials, fuel... The list goes on and on.
"Dentistry and medicine is saturated with students who shouldn't be there."
Care to explain? Yes some people might do it for the money or because their parents suggested it but I don't see how it is saturated with people who shouldn't be there.

"Keep filling peoples mouths with mercury fillings"
Are you being serious? This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard, mercury is not used in fillings, maybe if you did science or payed any attention in class you would know how toxic mercury is.

Also your grammar is terrible and I think you should have listened to your English teacher a lot more.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[rosee92]

(Original post by Herr)
Hire better teachers, majority of those currently aren't fit for the purpose.

Better classroom facilities, too little emphasis is placed on practical experiments and sciences. Also it appears the curriculum isn't being delivered in a way that captures the excitement of students nor are they being delivered in such a way that inspires learning and thinking.

Better outdoor / sport facilities, doesn't have to be in the school but at least students should have access to it for FREE. Basically after school activities are just plain crap in the state comps.

I think all students should be sent to school hungry and preferably by bus only, when they get to school, first lesson should be in the canteen with a good full English breakfast with a fat content less than 5% and a glass of juice. Then they should be made to exercise and play outdoors.

Something should be done to address the post-code lottery so national standards for every school and if the teachers or heads aren't performing then they should be given a P45 or made to be toilet cleaners.

Finally I think there needs to be a sense of belonging, the schools should be made to be as part of the community it resides in and as such cleanliness and beautification of it should be a participatory activity by all students, teachers and staff as well as parents.

Excuse me, but this was my after school activity, at a state school:

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeiZyQ-7ZDk
Granted a bit of an exception but had to add that.

*ahem* personally I think the problem is that the class sizes are too big. How can a teacher do a science experiment involving bunsen burners etc when with 30 odd students there isn't a) enough equipment or b) enough time for the teacher to give attention to all so they actually learn the science behind it? Science is just one example, but even at a pretty decent state school, most of the class time in some lessons was the teacher telling off some of the students. This happened in French, German, RE, IT, Design, Art, Music and Science... The problem was that they were bored due to lack of motivation from a teacher who had to balance stupidly large classes, they were teenagers anyway so testing the boundaries and the teachers couldn't even be too harsh or face being told off by parents for upsetting their little precious.

[cambio wechsel]

(Original post by gemnomnom)
Private schools have admissions tests too.

This is true, but what the taking of them determines is the 'which' not the 'whether' of private education. You'll never meet parents who complain that "we wanted to have Timmy privately educated but couldn't persuade anyone to take our hundred grand".

[Bobifier]

(Original post by Antifascist)
The state of education in 1970 could not possibly be worse than it is today.
It has to tell you something when 70% of the top jobs are concentrated on the 7% who went to private schools before university.

No it doesn't - a single statistic tells you absolutely nothing except exactly what it says. If you know nothing about something and learn a single statistic, you still know nothing. The most important thing to know about statistics is that it has to NOT tell you something when you learn one.