Have you noticed?;Briefing;Governors

19th February 1999, 12:00am

Share

Have you noticed?;Briefing;Governors

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/have-you-noticedbriefinggovernors-4
My school has just received pound;800 from the Government’s Standards Fund to be spent in the next three months on extra coaching for Year 6 children.

Not all of them of course - what would be the point of that? Low-achievers still struggling with basic skills don’t figure in league tables.

Nor do high-fliers, ready to tackle level 5 or 6, or perhaps desperate for access to a world beyond the national curriculum. No, this money is just for those on the 34 national tests borderline.

I’m sure all parents will appreciate the need to prioritise.

Question - Is this exciting initiative:

A An intolerable extra burden for Year 6 teachers who will need to provide an extra hour a day tuition outside directed time?

B A nice little earner for one member of staff which will be bitterly resented by other teachers already working long hours of unpaid overtime?

C A desperate attempt by David Blunkett to hang on to his job by helping schools reach arbitrary and unrealistic targets?

D A genuine attempt to raise standards for all our children?

Answer on a postcard please. Marks will be given for spelling, punctuation and unquestioning gullibility.

I wonder if schools with no qualifying pupils will send the money back?

Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared