PARENTS WHAT IS YOUR CHILDS EDUCATION MOULDING THEM TO BE? There were so many ways I could start this post, but it is best to get to the point. There is no such thing as ‘Equal opportunities’ , far from it, as a society and people we aspire for it and I believe we are so far from it, it hurts. The fingers on your hands are not all equal. We are born with varying levels of intelligence and into different nurturing, socio-economic backgrounds, parental expectations etcetera, all of which determines the opportunities we are exposed to and subsequently our success, according to the world’s definition of success. In the real world there are deliberate barriers to entry placed by the kings of industry to block new entrants, in the legal field the university you attend automatically qualifies or disqualifies you from entry into the magic circle law firms. At Nottingham University at one of the student parties I met an arrogant drunk who boasted about getting a contract without an interview in a sought after law firm because his father played golf with one of the senior partners, not an uncommon story. I was overseeing interns at an investment bank- the boss’s child. What you know matters and it will make all the difference to your children’s future. As my friend and I listened to the headline speaker at the Education seminar, Sir Greg Martin, we decided ‘we went to the wrong universities’. We were the good students, the 100% attendance and punctuality students; my friend once went into school- the only child- on a snowy day when every other child stayed away. Sir Greg Martin is a man born into a working class family and grew up in social housing. He is now the highest earning Head Teacher in the UK, and providing the same opportunity for upward mobility to the less advantaged in his boarding schools. ‘Not all university education are the same, he says. There are universities and there are universities’. Oh my friend and I have not done badly but the elite universities facilitate a greater chance of- the great- jobs. What made Sir Greg’s social mobility possible? ‘My parents understood that a good education was the way to achieve that’ Personally I believe that the education institutions can learn from the Early Years’ (Care an education for children from birth to 5 years) sector – it is big on ‘Parent partnership’. The Early years (EY) is when foundations for learning, health and behaviour throughout life are laid down. This is why the government places a big duty on providers in this sector to see parents as the primary educators and by all means to establish positive parent partnerships in children’s learning; to ignite high expectations, to cultivate the desire and focus to shape and drive their children’s attainment from the start. Ofsted (Office of standards in education) is rightly working to ensure all providers in early market achieve at least a ‘GOOD’ quality grade in their service, which all children deserve. This is my sector and I am passionate about it. •A third of children are finished by age 13 years. Parents and school structure let them down •A third leave school with no qualifications •A third leave with worthless qualifications •A grade B = 48% Schools are not failing children because of lack of money. They have the best buildings. IT and science labs money can buy. Funding is spent on worthless projects which don’t work. Sir Greg says ‘if education was a business it would be bankrupt’ •Why do our schools open for just 38 weeks a year and the school day finish at 3.30pm? It was set up for a 19th century economy, not to support 21st century economy. •These have vested interest in maintaining the status quo- strong union groups and thousands in education system with meaningless jobs will not allow the necessary change just to avoid more work. •Increasing the school day and reducing the holidays would boost education standards and stop the ‘slide back’ experienced especially by children from less advantaged backgrounds. •Michael Grove and those who call for necessary change are branded troublemakers, marginalized and categorized to the detriment of many state school children Expectation is everything. Private schools (UK we call them public schools) cultivate a belief system on their students that makes them feel they are masters of the universe, ready to run the world and they are. Although of course that again is due to deliberate barriers created by the ruling class, the old boy’s network to keep others out. Equality in the world is a farce but your aspiration will take you a long way. There are alternatives to public schools- Grammar schools which are free and perform better than private schools. Brains gets your child into a grammar school, money gets any child into public schools (hence public). FACTS There are 164 Grammar schools • Non-fee paying schools that chose children from ability • Selective entrance through test: 11 plus • Exams- Math, English, Verbal, Non-verbal • Start preparing your child at age 6, latest cut off to give your child a chance is age 8 year • Abolished in 1960-1970 but some areas kept it. There are some comprehensive schools that are backdoor grammar schools. For example Holland park comprehensive is one of the best in the UK • Most are in Beaconsfield, Bromley, Kent has 25%, Bexley has 15- 20%, then Sutton and Kingston. There are non in London • Reality is as a parent you will have to work hard to get your child or children into grammar schools- competition is fierce but you can relax once they get in. Grammar schools set your child up for success. Public schools • Fee paying that is open to children of all abilities whose parents can afford it • Facilitates entry into ‘Russell group elite’ universities and greater chance of job through ‘old boys’ network’: Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Imperial College, UCL, King’s College, London School of Economics, Nottingham universities. • Beware your choice of public school. Some will produce very pompous, unattractive individuals or reduce your child’s self esteem due to ‘my parents are way richer than yours’ complex so choose very wisely. State Boarding schools • described by those in the know as educations best kept secret • State-funded education and the provision of boarding facilities in a modern, caring environment at reasonable cost. • boarding fee at a state boarding school being around a third of the cost of fees at an independent boarding school, boarding in the state sector is affordable • Weekly boarding options especially for busy parents who want to be sure that their children are being educated in a safe and stimulating environment and where there is plenty to do in the evenings. • primarily a day school, with just 40 or so boarders, or a school which is primarily a boarding school with up to 500 boarders. • You can choose one with a strong religious ethos or opt for a school with outstanding sports facilities, or with a strong reputation for music. Federations v Academies Federations are within local authority system and Academies are stand alone system; free from government and local authority as their income is not from the secretary of state and make their own choices about their mission through an employed body. Federations. PARENTS DO 1. Visit schools at a time you choose, not on open days 2. Check the toilets and how children dress- very good indicators of how well school is being run- order, expectations and discipline 3. Ask about the grades. What does grade ‘A’ mean and number of pupils achieving grades? School league tables will say 50% achieve grades A-C’s: 50% of 2 is 1. 4. Bother the school and they will care about your child 5. Teachers give good comments on children’s work and post congratulatory cards home to unsuspecting parents to boost their confidence and self-image and then they enter the real world.... All children are different; do not try to squeeze a square peg into a round hole by forcing your creative child to become a professor. Earnings and life-satisfaction does not go hand-in-hand. Some quite well-paid jobs are populated by those with low levels of well-being - and vice versa. The professions that make others happy or well are the most satisfying careers such as clergy-vicars and priests, hairdressers, beauticians, Early years/childcare for instance, yet well-paid careers like quantity surveyors are amongst the most miserable occupation. Publicans are the most miserable (karma for serving people liquids that destroy them). It is important to ‘Know your child’ and nurture their talent rather than impose yours upon them unfairly. Boys for instance thrive in environments that have right mix; academics to use their minds, sports to release their energy and music that require long span of focused concentration- produce balanced men. In all things get the right balance. Happy parenting!
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 15:10:20 +0000
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