Summary of Education News March 2008

Shrinking parental choice…

The Chief Schools Adjudicator, Philip Hunter, apparently believes that state school catchment areas should be scrapped, in order to give children from poor backgrounds more chance of getting into the best schools. According to widespread reports, about one in five families failed to get children into their preferred schools and Schools Minister Jim Knight is urging unhappy parents to appeal against decisions.

According to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), some faith schools are flouting admissions laws by charging 'admission fees'. Meanwhile the conservative children's spokesman has pledged to ban the system of awarding school places by lottery, which is being used in several local authorities. One report suggests that the system has resulted in fewer pupils getting into their first choice school. As a result, independent schools in areas where lotteries are in place are experiencing a rise in applications; in one case, up 43%.

For many parents the choices are running out – at least as far as the state sector is concerned. Fortunately, there are ways in which the cost of an independent education can be managed tax-efficiently. For a simple overview of how much you might save, please click here.

Behaviour in state schools …

News that the Association of Chief Police Officers wants primary school children to be put on the national DNA database if their behaviour suggests they will become criminals gives an indication of just how concerned society is becoming about the standard of behaviour in some schools. The root causes of this apparent deterioration in standards can be ascribed to a number of parenting and other factors, few of which are likely to apply to anyone reading this article.

However, it does give rise for deep concern to parents of children about to enter – or already in – the state education system.

The ethos of many independent schools is to encourage students to fulfil and assert themselves in positive, rather than destructive ways. Perhaps the nature of state education – and the stronger influence of politicians in decisions about how schools operate – makes it more difficult for them to react so positively to the challenges of modern behaviour.

Educational standards…

Recent research suggest that millions of children are being let down by the current literacy strategy because it ignores those falling furthest behind. While adequate expertise is readily available in the independent sector, state schools appear to be missing out on spotting and dealing with the issue.

Key Stage 3 Achievement and Attainment tables published during March indicates that more than a third of secondary school pupils fail to master the basics after three years.

An independent education is clearly becoming a requirement for parents wanting their children to get the best schooling.

Subjects and examinations…

New plans have been outlined for an extended version of the new diploma qualifications, which are designed to stretch the most able students. “Extended” Diplomas will be equivalent to four and a half A-levels and will start in 2011.

Meanwhile, classic European authors are to be axed from modern language A-levels; something that will, no doubt, be seen as more evidence of “dumbing down”.

One of the benefits of an independent education is that it is possible to choose a school offering the education mix that matches the requirements of different students, rather than grouping everyone in the country together.

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