Schools fail children for money - by Mr Chips

Teaching. One of the many tasks ‘teachers’ face in modern education. Unfortunately many are overwhelmed with other responsibilities that in the long term are of detriment to their students learning. We see schools where some members of leadership teams spend greater amounts of time in meetings than in the classroom. One major issue I have faced recently is the budgetary requirements of a school as part of a PFI (Private Finance Initiative) scheme. This school, faced with an existing deficit, is now trying to come to terms with extra costs. Their solution? The introduction of ‘enrichment’ classes at VI form level. These include courses such as Critical Thinking and Science in the Media. These courses are attached to monetary carrots, based on the number of students who take up the courses. The school are therefore considering making one of these enrichment subjects mandatory for the new VI form intake. The downside of this financial surge is the pressure it places on both staff and students. In order to retain enough free periods each week in order to prepare lessons and mark work, teachers are being asked to reduce the teaching hours for upper (and potentially lower) VI form classes, so that these enrichment sessions can be squeezed in. I ask quite who these classes are intended to ‘enrich’? Apart from averting a financial crisis at a school already producing very good results I simply do not understand the reasoning behind these courses. Students, who are under more and more pressure each year with regards to the grades they need to get onto the degree courses they will require to follow many career paths are now faced with less teaching in courses they need pedagogic support in, and are instead asked to have multiple sessions each week in courses which they are not interested in, and unfortunately are not recognized by many universities. I also worry that many other schools and colleges nationwide are faced with these tough decisions, and unfortunately are not recognized by many universities. I also worry that many other schools and colleges nationwide are faced with these tough decisions, and unfortunately in order to save their establishments from financial ruin, they have to make decisions which do have a negative effect on students. Every year, from May to August, students nationwide are patronized on the news, being told their exams are easier than ever, by people in suits who cannot even run an education system and have no place in any position of authority. I resent this as I see how hard students work, and the pressure is simply unbearable for young adults, who feel the pressure of their whole future career and life being placed on a few exams. What is the solution? I find it hard to believe that both local and central government require schools to eliminate deficits within 7 years. Quite why a school needs to run a profit is beyond my comprehension, as it is not required of hospitals, the police and other public services. Why not allow schools leeway on debt? Most importantly, why not remove the caveat of these so called ‘enrichment’ lessons from the pot of gold that has been made available to schools, and use this money to help support students’ wellbeing and education in the run up to exams which have so much pressure around them? I may not be a politician, but I don’t feel it is required for me to have a qualification in ‘Critical Thinking’ to use common sense!