At least once a week there is someone on the radio talking about some issue or another and saying that part of the solution to the particular problem they are discussing is to educate children about it. If schools responded to each of these requests the curriculum would be one long PSHE lesson with no time for any academic subjects! Continue reading “In loco parentis…”

One of the most difficult aspects in the modern education system is balancing the needs of individual students with the needs of the whole school.  Every student, whatever their needs, is entitled to an education.  In many cases, children’s problems are due to poor parenting and it seems unfair to give a child less opportunity through no fault of their own. Continue reading “Spare the rod…”

It’s easy being a teacher – finish at 3pm every day, 13 weeks holiday – what’s all the fuss?

Here is the reality: 22 hours a week teaching, maybe 11 hours to plan half-decent lessons, 5 hours to prepare and tidy up during the working day, 5 hours to make phone calls to parents, enter data and do other administrative tasks, 5 hours marking and maybe 2 hours per week on average for meetings, parents’ evenings and so on. Continue reading “Teaching: short hours, long holidays?”