Educators are split over the government's proposed Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, with some saying the move will improve fairness and accountability and others warning it could limit innovation in academy schools.
Opinion 1
Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher of Michaela School in Wembley, north London, called it "absolutely appalling".
"I'm just really concerned because, at the moment, school leaders have the freedom to do various things that are right for their intake," she told Sky News.
"This bill will take those freedoms away."
Ms Birbalsingh, also known as 'Britain's strictest headteacher', added: "We got unlucky because we could have had Wes Streeting as education secretary, which would have been fine. Unfortunately, we got her [Bridget Phillipson].
"She [Ms Phillipson] is so arrogant. She's just marched in there and gone, 'I know what I'm doing, I'll just do what I want'."
Opinion 2
The founder of Oasis Academies, Steve Chalke, told Sky News: "We're excited about the changes because we feel that education has been in a very, very poor place for the last decade or more.
"Schools have been stripped of resources and there have been giant problems about the recruitment and retention of teachers.
"We feel that this important bill is beginning to address all of those issues."...
He added: "We at Oasis are excited about all of this, but that doesn't mean we don't have questions.
Hmm - one opinion sounds like the hard-nosed voice of experience, one sounds more... well more like jelly.
Opinion 1
Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher of Michaela School in Wembley, north London, called it "absolutely appalling".
"I'm just really concerned because, at the moment, school leaders have the freedom to do various things that are right for their intake," she told Sky News.
"This bill will take those freedoms away."
Ms Birbalsingh, also known as 'Britain's strictest headteacher', added: "We got unlucky because we could have had Wes Streeting as education secretary, which would have been fine. Unfortunately, we got her [Bridget Phillipson].
"She [Ms Phillipson] is so arrogant. She's just marched in there and gone, 'I know what I'm doing, I'll just do what I want'."
Opinion 2
The founder of Oasis Academies, Steve Chalke, told Sky News: "We're excited about the changes because we feel that education has been in a very, very poor place for the last decade or more.
"Schools have been stripped of resources and there have been giant problems about the recruitment and retention of teachers.
"We feel that this important bill is beginning to address all of those issues."...
He added: "We at Oasis are excited about all of this, but that doesn't mean we don't have questions.
9 comments:
"Academies", from what I've seen are secondly educational and primarily businesses for the benefit of "managers". A PE teacher told me "those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach, teach PE." I would add to that "those who can't teach PE look for promotion".
An addendum to The Jannie's truism. Those who cannot teach become " educationalists. " And Bridget must be a failed educationalist.
I disagree with the statement about PE teachers. The ones that I have known, men and women have been enthusiastic and inspiring, encouraging each pupil to find what he/she is good at, usually also what they must enjoy, and then get better. They have also been the teachers most willing to work / play outside of school hours.
Headmasters seem to be selected on the same basis as police Chief Super Head Constables.
I wonder why Mr Chalk (real name?) has problems retaining teachers? But I imagine that his staff room atmospheres are toxic.
I've quickly googled this Bill, and I have to say I'm underwhelmed. Ensuring teachers are qualified (well, quite!), school breakfasts, uniforms, home schooling. It is the usual Labour attempt to increase the reach of the state, but it looks more like Phillipson thought that a Bill with her name on it would enhance a later shot at the top job.
Jannie - I don't know much about the management side of schools, but they seem to have a lot more of it than in my day.
Doonhamer - Bridget seems to be a career socialist, joined Labour at fifteen and like so many others she doesn't seem to have anywhere near enough outside world experience to be an MP, let alone a Minister.
Sam - "the usual Labour attempt to increase the reach of the state"
The criticisms I've seen are just that, plus a strong suspicion that it will turn out to be more targets, more rigid standardisation.
"I don't know much about the management side of schools, but they seem to have a lot more of it than in my day."
In my primary school the Head taught a full load and did his Heading after we went home. During the day the fort was held by his secretary and the jannie.
There must have been a deputy head but I never heard of her.
Including the infant years there were about 600 of us.
For those who don't know, you can tell those in schools who see themselves as on the way up - the suits and ties are a giveaway. Most teachers dress smart but casual while teaching: the suits parade about being important.
dearieme - I don't recall much about our primary school head. Our secondary school head taught, but not much, he seemed to run the school without much assistance apart from secretarial.
Jannie - that reminds me of a story about a senior manager I once knew. It was said that on his first day at the lab as a new starter, he turned up in a suit - for laboratory bench work.
I had a pal who was a Chemistry student. He wore suits a lot because his father wouldn't give him cash as his "parental contribution" but bought him suits instead. Mad!
dearieme - it was mad, even shoes have to be inexpensive.
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