Is This The Way Forward From Now On?

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Snowdrops
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Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:20 pm

Is This The Way Forward From Now On?

Post by Snowdrops »

Yet another article in the Daily Mail.

Father threatens to sue a school over academic provision.

Do you think if he wins this it will open the floodgates?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... GCSEs.html[/url]

Dailymail Article
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zee
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Post by zee »

No, I don't.

If the school is providing valid courses, it's probably tough, because no school can offer ever permutation of the ever increasing number of options.

This particular case illustrates one of the problems with the policy that all state secondary schools specialise in one or two areas of the curriculum, despite the fact that won't suit all its pupils.
Guest55
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Post by Guest55 »

Zee - most schools have gone for specialist status as a way of accessing more funding - that subject need not dominate the curriculum ...
zee
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Post by zee »

I realise that, though as they have to demonstrate particular commitment to that area every few years (is it 3?) to retain the specialism, it's bound to have some effect on the overall emphasis.

Of course once all schools are specialists (as is the aim), the relaitive financial advantage will disappear - and maybe even the absolute advantatge too!
Bewildered
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Location: Berkshire

Post by Bewildered »

Just amended to correct link, Snowdrops.

:D

BW


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KB
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Post by KB »

They can have 'specialist status' in more than one area though so really good schools don't have to put emphasis on science rather than languages (for example) but can do both :)
Is harder for smaller schools to get specialist status in some areas though - eg performing arts - as don't have numbers of pupils to fund top grade facilities.
Guest55
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Post by Guest55 »

Some of our local schools have three or four specialisms ...
tense
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Location: Herts

Post by tense »

My DD's school has just got its third. Is this unusual?
zee
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Post by zee »

I don't know if it's unusual, but it makes a mockery of the terminology (not that I blame individual schools for playing the system): how can you "specialise" in 3 large but different areas of the curriculum?
Guest55
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Post by Guest55 »

You can have other specialisms e.g. training school, leadership

A specialism does not necessarily mean that suject is a strength of the school ... some schools have used it to focus on a weak area.
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