Michael Gove Pledges 10-Hour School Days

[SpuffMonkey]

If he wants the state schools to be more like private schools - I say the bottom performing quartile of kids in the state sector should be transferred to the private sector and the top performing quartile of the private school kids to the state sector and then we'd see how the league tables looked ;-)

 

More seriously - I've just read "The Blunders Of Our Governments" (interesting book by the way) and Gove's proposals (and I realise he was mostly grandstanding to his own party...but...) closely follow the stages that are outlined in the book for creating a big blunder - namely he surrounds himself with "Yes" men, doesn't like to hear or take on board any opposing ideas, likes to get swiftly from an idea to actuality without thinking much about the practicalities and doesn't expect to be in the same job for much longer to take the blame or pick up the pieces when it all goes tits up...

 

Just a thought...

[Garacesh]

he surrounds himself with "Yes" men, doesn't like to hear or take on board any opposing ideas, likes to get swiftly from an idea to actuality without thinking much about the practicalities and doesn't expect to be in the same job for much longer to take the blame or pick up the pieces when it all goes tits up...

See also: Moron

[nikaso]

I know some of the stuff Gove comes out with is a bit much but I can't help feel sometimes people dismiss what he says out of hand because he is Gove and/or a Tory. Education (and State education particularly) has always been left leaning so there will be a natural antipathy to the Tories but it doesn't mean it's all rubbish.

 

A working parent might think a ten hour school day is magnificent, imagine a parent who works 8 hours a day, when you include a commute it's more like 9 hours. This would mean no childcare costs which would save an awful lot of money?

[Hokalus]

I know some of the stuff Gove comes out with is a bit much but I can't help feel sometimes people dismiss what he says out of hand because he is Gove and/or a Tory. Education (and State education particularly) has always been left leaning so there will be a natural antipathy to the Tories but it doesn't mean it's all rubbish.

 

A working parent might think a ten hour school day is magnificent, imagine a parent who works 8 hours a day, when you include a commute it's more like 9 hours. This would mean no childcare costs which would save an awful lot of money?

 

I agree that things like homework clubs etc may be a good idea for schools to implement, but these things don't come for free and he's already said there ain't going to be any budget increase. Who's going to pay for teaching for these hours, additional support staff hours, catering (you can't expect the kids not to eat until after 6pm)? Also, is another school going to open even longer so that the staff at this school don't have to pay for childcare?

Edited February 4, 2014 by Hokalus

[nikaso]

I agree that things like homework clubs etc may be a good idea for schools to implement, but these things don't come for free and he's already said there ain't going to be any budget increase. Who's going to pay for teaching for these hours, additional support staff hours, catering (you can't expect the kids not to eat until after 6pm)? Also, is another school going to open even longer so that the staff at this school don't have to pay for childcare?

 

I agree that there will need to be extra money somewhere but I think there would be a net benefit to the economy, possibly even some new opportunities for school staff?

[Bruce123]

Michael Gove Pledges 10-Hour School Days

 

 

 

 

runs for cover....

 

It's just a PR stunt... designed to distract the the media / public from the bad PR created by the unedifying sacking (or not renewing the contract) of the Chairwoman of OFSTED, and just prior to that the suggestion by OFSTED that the Eduction Dept. was briefing against them. On Sunday the spin was about bringing back disciplin in the classroom and students doing lines etc.

 

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/education-26003722

 

I'm amazed the media get taken in. I guess it's their professional obligation to report and analyse statements from the Government / Ministers no matter what they think is behind them.

 

Bruce.

[robjduk]

sounds a good plan to me. I doubt the teacher union would be happy but with public support for teachers at a bit of a low, now could be the time to rock the boat.

[Trapper]

Hmmm would it require massive costs - really?

 

PLANT

 

Most schools are open until gone 6pm most days anyway - boilers are still firing which would be the single largest energy expenditure.

 

Teaching Staff Costs

 

Teaching Staff do not work 9-5 they work a set number of days a year. Drop the holidays down from 12 weeks to 6 and there's your extra teaching hours per day.

 

Support Staff Costs

 

Would in the grand scheme of teaching staff costs be minimal. Let's be honest your standard 1000 pupil comp would spend a good 85% of it's budget on staff and barely 20% of that would be on support staff. On average you can get (excluding management support) 2 or 3 support members of staff for one UPS teacher - let alone before you start adding TLRs in.

 

Is this is a good idea in my opinion? No.

 

Are there a major obstructions to to adoption? No - especially after Boris persuades Dave to toughen up the striking rules.

[localzuk]

Hmmm would it require massive costs - really?

 

PLANT

 

Most schools are open until gone 6pm most days anyway - boilers are still firing which would be the single largest energy expenditure.

 

Not here they're not. Boilers go off at the end of the school day at latest.

 

Teaching Staff Costs

 

Teaching Staff do not work 9-5 they work a set number of days a year. Drop the holidays down from 12 weeks to 6 and there's your extra teaching hours per day.

 

So when would they do their preparation, marking, meetings etc...? You've just said you'd expect them to do an extra 6 weeks work. Would you do more work for no more pay?

 

Support Staff Costs

 

Would in the grand scheme of teaching staff costs be minimal. Let's be honest your standard 1000 pupil comp would spend a good 85% of it's budget on staff and barely 20% of that would be on support staff. On average you can get (excluding management support) 2 or 3 support members of staff for one UPS teacher - let alone before you start adding TLRs in.

 

Money doesn't just appear from nowhere. Extra support staff hours mean less for resources and maintenance. Less for CPD.

 

Is this is a good idea in my opinion? No.

 

Are there a major obstructions to to adoption? No - especially after Boris persuades Dave to toughen up the striking rules.

 

I think it'll be harder than you think. Teachers are a grumpy bunch, and if the strike rules change they will react accordingly.

[speckytecky]

Has there ever been a more detested and interfering Secretary of State for Education - why do these silly people never learn the lesson history of education clearly provides - keep your election promises, stop tinkering and let the teachers teach with consistent standards and goals. Mind if they binned maternity leave and cover teaching that would sure help as well. It's hugely disruptive for students to suffer from poorly disciplined lessons given by supply teachers. My word for Michael Gove M.P.

 

"Listen"

Edited February 5, 2014 by speckytecky
iPad inserted spelling mistakes!

[localzuk]

An improved government:- rnment.

[SpuffMonkey]

Talk of the devil...

 

[CAM]

This is why the DfE is in fantasy land right now, he looks like Harry Potter.

[Gibbo]

It's just a PR stunt... designed to distract the the media / public from the bad PR created by the unedifying sacking (or not renewing the contract) of the Chairwoman of OFSTED,

 

But its not a sacking, no matter how much Labour cries that it is.

 

It was interesting to see the list (it took some finding) of how many Labour people run other departments and have done for years.

 

Teachers and Unions don't like Ofsted. But its run by a Labour woman. Now she's going, I imagine "DOES NOT COMPUTE" going through their heads and they're struggling to work out who to side with!

[difinity]

The main difference between private schools and non private is discipline and the kids are pushed much harder. 30-45 minutes of home work for each of the two subjects each night with three at the weekend.

[SpuffMonkey]

The main difference between private schools and non private is discipline and the kids are pushed much harder. 30-45 minutes of home work for each of the two subjects each night with three at the weekend.

 

My son gets at least this at his state school

[witch]

My son gets at least this at his state school

 

Both the schools I work in, and my governor school, have a robust discipline policy and a homework policy that certainly provides this sort of level of homework from year 6 upwards.

The main differences between private and state schools are:

Class sizes- much easier to stay in contact with each student if there are only 15 in a class.

Committed and probably intelligent parents who care deeply about education (yes, I know many private schools offer scholarships but as a proportion of the intake that is only a few)

[difinity]

I never saw class sizes of 15, and both parents and teachers were told on induction day "There are a queue of parents wanting their kids here, mess about and you are gone" There was absolutely a massive difference in student behaviour in classes. Maybe it's the times, this was 20 years ago.