| Topic: | Britain dropped down the PISA rankings during New Labour’s period in office. | |
| Posted by: | David Giles | |
| Date/Time: | 22/02/12 13:54:00 |
| Well said Michael. That is certainly true. But the way forward is not more "bog standard comprehensives" but new types of solutions such as academies, free schools and more grammar and technical schools and apprenticeships. My view that the OECD Report's recommendation are not particularly new, profound or surprising does not mean I agree with the recommendations. We have been hearing similar "recommendations" from the doctrinairre Left-wing educational establishment for the past 40 or 50 years. I agree that early tracking or streaming is a mistake. We all know that children develop at different stages. But clever and gifted children must not be held back by those less gifted or those with non-academic talents. Similarily, less gifted children must not be intimidated by those who find academic study easier, exciting and rewarding. That is why all political parties now agree with steeaming at the later stages. Many independent schools obtain very good results even though they have mixed ability intakes and classes. So do many state schools, particularly faith schools such as those patronosed by Tony and Cherie Blair. Parental and indeed student choice is a good thing. We gave one of our daughter's the choice to change schools after her GCSE's; she changed schools and went on to achieve significantly better A levels than she would have in her previous schools. . |