I want to talk about our education system

You may or may not have noticed that we loved learning in primary school, but as we near our GCSE's or A Levels, you may or not have noticed that this is no longer the case.

My personal and prime example is my interest in literature. Only a year ago I loved reading and analysing poems, novels, plays among other things, but now I can't stand it. English Literature has sucked the joy out of a subject that I once enjoyed and many others have as well. This is, of course, true for other subjects for all students. You may have loved science in primary school where you used to go onto the playground and look at the different species of birds, or investigating whether or not air has weight, but now you regret choosing triple science at GCSE and would do anything to drop if it wasn't too late. The hypothetical examples are endless, given that, is there something wrong with out education system? Personally, I think yes.

The modern education system has a 'one size fits all' approach, we shove students into a building, categorise them into groups based on academic ability, and expect all of them to honour and repeat the same, monotone regimen for 13 years, from primary school to sixth form, with little to no regard for their well-being or happiness. We need to understand that everyone is different, I'm not saying make a separate education system for every pupil, I'm jut saying maybe our 500 year old education system is the reason why attendance is so low, why grades are so low, today. What is the point in working students for an entire year only for them to lose motivation by the end and just completely give up on their exams?

I don't have a solution for this, I only wanted to state my opinion, which is the belief that I should allow myself to enjoy a subject and learning without being subject to standardised testing, which does nothing but prove the power of my memory and essay-writing skills, rather than my knowledge and enthusiasm of the subject. What's your opinion?

You may or may not have noticed that we loved learning in primary school, but as we near our GCSE's or A Levels, you may or not have noticed that this is no longer the case.

My personal and prime example is my interest in literature. Only a year ago I loved reading and analysing poems, novels, plays among other things, but now I can't stand it. English Literature has sucked the joy out of a subject that I once enjoyed and many others have as well. This is, of course, true for other subjects for all students. You may have loved science in primary school where you used to go onto the playground and look at the different species of birds, or investigating whether or not air has weight, but now you regret choosing triple science at GCSE and would do anything to drop if it wasn't too late. The hypothetical examples are endless, given that, is there something wrong with out education system? Personally, I think yes.

The modern education system has a 'one size fits all' approach, we shove students into a building, categorise them into groups based on academic ability, and expect all of them to honour and repeat the same, monotone regimen for 13 years, from primary school to sixth form, with little to no regard for their well-being or happiness. We need to understand that everyone is different, I'm not saying make a separate education system for every pupil, I'm jut saying maybe our 500 year old education system is the reason why attendance is so low, why grades are so low, today. What is the point in working students for an entire year only for them to lose motivation by the end and just completely give up on their exams?

I don't have a solution for this, I only wanted to state my opinion, which is the belief that I should allow myself to enjoy a subject and learning without being subject to standardised testing, which does nothing but prove the power of my memory and essay-writing skills, rather than my knowledge and enthusiasm of the subject. What's your opinion?

Its perspective, i really enjoyed school but view it largely as a waste of time up until 6 form with very little academic benefits, but lots of social ones. That being said i probably wouldn't have many of the friends i have to this day without school.
I think we need more 'streams' split kids up on academic ability earlier. As for top students at gcse are not pushed and have a pretty easy ride to top grades, middle ability kids grades are determined by how much they can push themselves and how good there teachers are, low intellectual abilities either have to struggle to get C's or take foundation course which teach them nothing but enable them to go study at college.
More pragmatic approaches should be considered with more streams for different students. I also think math is too easy and higher level content should be taught at younger ages while 'kids brains are sponges'.

You may or may not have noticed that we loved learning in primary school, but as we near our GCSE's or A Levels, you may or not have noticed that this is no longer the case.

My personal and prime example is my interest in literature. Only a year ago I loved reading and analysing poems, novels, plays among other things, but now I can't stand it. English Literature has sucked the joy out of a subject that I once enjoyed and many others have as well. This is, of course, true for other subjects for all students. You may have loved science in primary school where you used to go onto the playground and look at the different species of birds, or investigating whether or not air has weight, but now you regret choosing triple science at GCSE and would do anything to drop if it wasn't too late. The hypothetical examples are endless, given that, is there something wrong with out education system? Personally, I think yes.

The modern education system has a 'one size fits all' approach, we shove students into a building, categorise them into groups based on academic ability, and expect all of them to honour and repeat the same, monotone regimen for 13 years, from primary school to sixth form, with little to no regard for their well-being or happiness. We need to understand that everyone is different, I'm not saying make a separate education system for every pupil, I'm jut saying maybe our 500 year old education system is the reason why attendance is so low, why grades are so low, today. What is the point in working students for an entire year only for them to lose motivation by the end and just completely give up on their exams?

I don't have a solution for this, I only wanted to state my opinion, which is the belief that I should allow myself to enjoy a subject and learning without being subject to standardised testing, which does nothing but prove the power of my memory and essay-writing skills, rather than my knowledge and enthusiasm of the subject. What's your opinion?

People can complain all about the educational system but there really is no alternative as of yet. If there was an alternative that allowed for students to achieve better grades and better attendance (despite it being good already) it would have been implemented years ago.

And of course you liked primary education more than secondary, because it was easier and you didn't actually do any work that really mattered. GCSE's and A-Levels are the stepping stones to your future- of course they are going to cause more stress and perhaps make you dislike a subject you previously enjoyed. You need to know information and be tested on it for the purpose of your future. If we weren't then people would just take subjects that would give them a good pay despite not being good at it.

I agree that the amount of stress that is applied to students is extreme- and as a student myself I feel totally unequipped to make my future life decisions now. I don't think the educational system has to change- I believe those who help it function, such as teachers, should be better paid and trained to deal with students who need support and guidance.

My mother was the opposite. She enjoyed her O Level subjects in KS4 but found primary school to be tedious and boring with a narrow curriculum. Back in the 1970s primary schools generally didn't teach science apart from a bit of nature study; history and geography was more limited and less interesting than after 1990ish; there were no computers; lots of time was spent (wasted?) on activities of dubious educational value; in KS2 there was no end of writing, more writing, getting your handwriting criticised, and pen pushing mattered to teachers far more than intelligence did. She couldn't possibly understand how any kids could really enjoy primary school back then.

I absolutely agree, there is no alternative. But I think we can also agree that an alternative must be found. Our education system is outdated, and it is suitable to some students, and it is not as effective as it was in the 20th century and it does not prepare us for real-life. But with your point about primary school, that is part of the problem isn't it? Most of the things we learn in primary school are useless. I'm not saying lets teach primary school children how to manage their finances, but we need to bridge the gap between primary school and secondary school more effectively to ensure that the fallout of such a drastic change is limited. Secondary and primary education systems are completely different from each other, and for good reason, but the support system must be equally as good to support those who struggle with school and to limit stress. Essentially, we need to prepare students at secondary school for the pressures of exams, or simply stop testing based on memory

The same applies to primary schools today. Topics of little educational value are taught most of the time and is mostly a waste of 6 years. It is to make learning more enjoyable, but that doesn't work if you're not learning anything in the first place. Primary school children need to be taught more useful information as well as being prepared for secondary school

I agree with the latter, harder subjects should be taught earlier, as this would reduce the effects of a sudden change from year 9 to GCSE.

We absolutely need to start teaching languages from a young age as well, from primary school, it would hugely benefit the student if they learn another language.

I absolutely agree, there is no alternative. But I think we can also agree that an alternative must be found. Our education system is outdated, and it is suitable to some students, and it is not as effective as it was in the 20th century and it does not prepare us for real-life.

I'm not saying lets teach primary school children how to manage their finances, but we need to bridge the gap between primary school and secondary school more effectively to ensure that the fallout of such a drastic change is limited. Secondary and primary education systems are completely different from each other, and for good reason, but the support system must be equally as good to support those who struggle with school and to limit stress.

The same applies to primary schools today. Topics of little educational value are taught most of the time and is mostly a waste of 6 years. It is to make learning more enjoyable, but that doesn't work if you're not learning anything in the first place. Primary school children need to be taught more useful information as well as being prepared for secondary school

By 'attendance', I meant as in the amount of students attending or not attending school whether if it is by choice or whether the school has decided to expel them. The latter is what I was trying to emphasise, expulsion rates have increased, most of the time for good reason, but I believe that we should not give up on those who were expelled and simply ignore the fact that they are no longer in full-time education, some schools send those who were expelled to another school or pupil referral, but this is not effective anymore.

My point about the education system was mainly argued against testing. The subjects alone are interesting, and testing is important, but we have recently been moving towards a system that tests based on memory rather than academic skill, which is a mistake and is not even effective. It can be argued that the tests challenge students and encourage them to try harder, and I agree with that in some way, but there is a problem when most of the things you have learned in 6 years have been forgotten as soon as soon as you finish your GCSE's.

Can you elaborate on this one? Which topics of little educational value are being taught? What useful information should primary schools be teaching?