Quote Originally Posted by bigmarco View Post
Interesting article Ded and I have to say that you cannot help but notice that standards have dropped over the years.
I do think that Government has a part to play here with the lowering of standards. It's probably an age thing but every part of the education system seems to have deteriorated over the years. In my day O levels were an achievement but when I see what goes in to getting a modern day GCSE it's a joke. If your course work is up to scratch over the course of the year then you are virtually guaranteed a pass.
Teaching in my view has to be made more attractive and then you will attract a much better class of teacher. The brightest now go straight into the private sector to make their fortunes and who can blame them.
Perhaps a return of the Grammar school might also see an improvement of standards.
A mate of mine runs the Lab Technicians and is a staff governor at a large Comprehensive in an affluent part of Berkshire you would cringe at some of the stories he tells. Science teachers saying "you can't expect us to know the curriculum", blatant abuse of public money and disregard for best value when it comes to spending, fiddling of coursework (60% of most GCSE scores), bizarre recruitment policies (if only one person applies they'll get the job however unqualified they are).

They are overpaid, over holidayed and under qualified and according to my man hate Michael Gove with a passion as they're in fear of what he is uncovering and may do to them. Private schools take the cream and a lot of the rest would be unemployable in any other job.