ATL on Government’s education plans

“We support the Government’s aim to drive up teaching standards and help all children get a good education.  We look forward to getting involved in consultations about the planned changes and hope the Government really does want to hear from teachers, heads and education experts and will take account of their views.”

National Teaching Service

“Some areas of the country find it hard to attract and retain excellent teachers and school leaders, so we welcome the Government’s commitment to find ways to support schools in those areas and look forward to the results of the pilot National Teaching Service.  Parachuting in teachers and leaders who have done outstanding work in other schools is not the solution, but struggling schools could benefit from help to find ways to address their problems.”

Primary assessment:

“We support the Government’s commitments to help schools enable more children to achieve expected standards of English and maths at primary school.  But continual testing is not the answer, and nor is changing the goalposts every time a minister speaks.  Primary schools are already under immense pressure from having to introduce an untried baseline assessment scheme this year alongside a new primary curriculum, and new tests at the end of Key Stage 2.  Yet more changes to testing will not improve children’s English or maths.”

EBacc

“We look forward to taking part in the consultation about the compulsory EBacc.  We hope Nicky Morgan recognises the importance of vocational subjects too.  Last week Michael Wilshaw said it was unacceptable only 5% of 16-year-olds go into apprenticeships, and schools should be preparing pupils for the world of work.  But if Nicky Morgan insists that 90% of pupils sit (and pass) five GCSEs in the core academic subjects, this leaves little room for vocational subjects.”