What is missing from the school curriculum?

This poll is closed

What is missing from the school curriculum?

Basic life skills (eg cooking) 18%

Financial skills (eg taxes, budgeting) 43%

First aid skills 9%

Personal safety skills 3%

Sign language 16%

Expanded sexual health 6%

Something else (tell us in the thread)5%

Total votes: 114

Vic Vinegar

TSR Community Staff

While it can feel like there's already a lot learn while you're at school, there's probably a few things that you wish were taught.

So what do you think is missing from the curriculum?

Maybe you think life skills should be added? Or are subjects that you can't study until A-levels that should be taught earlier on?

Let us know what you think - and why

Reply 1

hotpud

Original post by Vic Vinegar

While it can feel like there's already a lot learn while you're at school, there's probably a few things that you wish were taught.
So what do you think is missing from the curriculum?
Maybe you think life skills should be added? Or are subjects that you can't study until A-levels that should be taught earlier on?
Let us know what you think - and why

I hate stuff like this. The idea that schools should teach young people life skills such as cooking or how rent works. For me, that is the job of parents. I have taught kids about loans, tax and monies. They find it utterly dull, mainly because most 14 year olds have no need of loans and tax. However, if schools have done their job, taught you to read and add up, can you not figure it out like the rest of us? Is there not a point at which learning becomes the responsibility of the individual rather than the state?

Reply 2

Raspbearry

Original post by hotpud

Yes parents should teach their children this, but this is assuming all children have parents who are willing to do so which is something we cannot assume is the case for every child. I think it makes sense to me to have a curriculum to ensure they are taught these things, ie it should be responsibility of the school.

Children are at school 5 days a week, that is when they should be learning, not during their off hours. It amazes me schools don't have more fundamental living skill classes, when I was at secondary we had a lot on mental health and sex ed which was good but there was no financial or physical health or other topics I am sure they could do with. Of course learning is a responsibility of the individual but why not at least give them starting points and how the systems work so they actually have the knowledge to start planning life out rather than being thrown into the deep end with no idea where to start on and what different options they have for things. Things like learning financials makes sense to be teaching 16 year olds rather than 14 but there's other things they can learn.

Reply 3

iL1L

Volunteer Team

All of these!

Reply 4

UtterlyUseless69

To some extent, all of these are missing.

Life skills are taught, but some unfortunately are taught too soon or in such a way that they end up being disregarded by learners.

The problem with bringing in a lot of these new skills into the curriculum is that schools will require more resources for them and every teacher I’ve ever talked to has said their school is under-funded (though that may change under the new government), so it may prove quite challenging to introduce some of them.

Reply 5

Dandelily

Original post by Vic Vinegar

While it can feel like there's already a lot learn while you're at school, there's probably a few things that you wish were taught.
So what do you think is missing from the curriculum?
Maybe you think life skills should be added? Or are subjects that you can't study until A-levels that should be taught earlier on?
Let us know what you think - and why

The most significant thing children aren't taught is a basic grasp of politics! Most children grow up to be young adults who simply "don't care about politics" or think "it doesn't affect me" and consequently don't vote. This only reinforces the cycle as politicians will only appeal to older voting groups with a higher turnout, making young people feel further disengaged from politics. This vicous cycle is the biggest flaw in our education system

Reply 6

hotpud

Original post by Raspbearry

Yes parents should teach their children this, but this is assuming all children have parents who are willing to do so which is something we cannot assume is the case for every child. I think it makes sense to me to have a curriculum to ensure they are taught these things, ie it should be responsibility of the school.
Children are at school 5 days a week, that is when they should be learning, not during their off hours. It amazes me schools don't have more fundamental living skill classes, when I was at secondary we had a lot on mental health and sex ed which was good but there was no financial or physical health or other topics I am sure they could do with. Of course learning is a responsibility of the individual but why not at least give them starting points and how the systems work so they actually have the knowledge to start planning life out rather than being thrown into the deep end with no idea where to start on and what different options they have for things. Things like learning financials makes sense to be teaching 16 year olds rather than 14 but there's other things they can learn.

We do all of that. I have taught personal health and hygiene. I have a couple of 6th form students who despite being told explicitly, still don't seem to like wearing deodorant. We now have whole pastoral departments for dealing with mental health issues where as when I was at school, there was one teacher who dealt with the 5 or 6 "naughty" students in a school of 1800. I have taught finance to a class of the most bored students imaginable as well as what it is like to be a lesbian Muslim, the role of the Monarch in our country and more besides.

But what I actually do day in, day out is teach children how to learn. And that is the key to unlocking life. You are not interested in personal finance and mortgages if you have no money. Knowing how to find out is key. The one thing I do think we should teach our kids to do though is use Google. I can not tell you how many people post really easy to answer questions on these forums. They are seemingly unaware how to answer even the most basic of questions for themselves. Perhaps you can't teach curiosity?

I do think that the problem we have in our society is that as a whole, education is not valued. "I hated school" is passed down from generation to generation. If you expect to hate school, it is unsurprising to discover that it is easy to also hate school and so goes the spiral of missed opportunity. In reality though, for those looking for a mortgage, a lack of understanding of financial products tends not to be a barrier.

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 7

EnigmaChess

Agreed with above. I think the issue is less these things such as life skills and finances being taught, more the fact that it's inevitable that most students will simply not care. Our focus should be on the abysmal numerical literacy rates across the country.

Reply 8

Quietfemale1234

Maybe schools shouldn’t brainwash people into ideologies created to control masses of people…

Reply 9

iL1L

Volunteer Team

Original post by Quietfemale1234

Maybe schools shouldn’t brainwash people into ideologies created to control masses of people…

That's a bold statement.

Reply 10

flowersinmyhair

Volunteer Team

I've been fortunate in that my school taught all of these except sign language to some extent but I think that is an exception rather than the norm.

Reply 11

Doomotron

When I was in school I'd always hear other students say they wanted lessons on some of the topics in the poll, but when we did have those lessons nobody showed any interest. The person in charge of the curriculum can add whatever they want to it, but the kids in school will still be indifferent towards it, and probably won't listen anyway.

Reply 12

Johnny_Pheeks

I think more practical skills, such as like understanding mortgages, taxes, how to budget. These are skills we all need in life yet the only time that I’ve come across teaching surrounding them, it’s been in Core Maths (a relatively niche AQA course).

Reply 13

cherrycosmos

Original post by Vic Vinegar

While it can feel like there's already a lot learn while you're at school, there's probably a few things that you wish were taught.
So what do you think is missing from the curriculum?
Maybe you think life skills should be added? Or are subjects that you can't study until A-levels that should be taught earlier on?
Let us know what you think - and why

Defo first aid and financial skills. The others you can learn easier but I think those 2 would be more helpful in a classroom

Reply 14

jonathanemptage

I think first aid should be a thing if everyone knows what to do if some has a tumble of has a hard time attack or what ever would save literally thousands of lives and as far as I’m concerned is a vital life skill.

Reply 15

Ambitious1999

Original post by Vic Vinegar

While it can feel like there's already a lot learn while you're at school, there's probably a few things that you wish were taught.
So what do you think is missing from the curriculum?
Maybe you think life skills should be added? Or are subjects that you can't study until A-levels that should be taught earlier on?
Let us know what you think - and why

Law, what kinds of every day mistakes are criminal offences? And the life changing consequences of a criminal record. Simple things like swearing at someone is a criminal offence, having the wrong or no train ticket is a criminal offence. Teaching children that simple mistakes can leave them with life changing criminal records.
Consequences of a conviction can affect applications for insurance or mortgages. Difficulty getting jobs working with children or in finance or healthcare or becoming a police officer. Difficulty travelling to certain places like the US, Australia or the EU. Difficulty adopting children etc.

(edited 9 months ago)

Quick Reply

Latest

Trending

Articles for you

Do league tables matter? How to make sure you're choosing the right university

Try out the app

Continue on web

What is missing from the school curriculum?