School without computers rated Outstanding

[Nixon77]

Nottingham school without computers or a head teacher rated 'outstanding' by inspectors | Nottingham Post

 

"Also we don't have or use computers at all because screen time is not good for children.

 

"We want them to have neat handwriting over using computer keys.

 

"We are more concerned with developing human relationships and interaction.

 

"We are not educating children to fit into society but to be human and when a child leaves they are in just as good a place academically if not better than others in mainstream schools."

 

The school follows the Steiner Waldorf curriculum which includes main lessons in measuring, weighing, farming and house building as well as handwork sessions in knitting, dyeing, sewing, embroidery and clothes making.

 

 

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Edited March 1, 2016 by Nixon77

[elsiegee40]

And when these kids get to secondary school?

[andyturpie]

If kids are engaged then they will learn in any environment. I think this should be applauded tbh.

[DJ-1701]

Nottingham school without computers or a head teacher rated 'outstanding' by inspectors | Nottingham Post

 

"Also we don't have or use computers at all because screen time is not good for children.

 

"We want them to have neat handwriting over using computer keys.

 

"We are more concerned with developing human relationships and interaction.

 

"We are not educating children to fit into society but to be human and when a child leaves they are in just as good a place academically if not better than others in mainstream schools."

 

The school follows the Steiner Waldorf curriculum which includes main lessons in measuring, weighing, farming and house building as well as handwork sessions in knitting, dyeing, sewing, embroidery and clothes making.

 

You sure this is correct? Sounds more like Out-Standing in a Field to me...

[Nixon77]

And when these kids get to secondary school?

 

They will learn the normal stuff. I think its a good idea to ensure children learn how to speak to each other etc, small children should not use iPads etc.

[DJ-1701]

I would have thought this would put the children on an uneven stepping with the rest of primary children myself. Surely education should encompass a multiple range of activities and knowledge, while their push for more interpersonal skills is to be commended, technology is becoming more and more integrated with the majority of jobs in this country. As for iPads, I think they can be quiet an educational tool when used correctly.

[mrbios]

There are outstanding schools with computers, there are outstanding schools without computers.

 

Computers aren't the issue or the solution, they're a tool, and it matters entirely on how you use a tool as to how good the end product is.

 

Unfortunately when it comes to computers, much like any tool, there's a lot of 'wrong' ways to use them, which can degrade the outcome rather than improve it.

[synaesthesia]

I would LOVE to see more schools taking more of that approach. Not entirely computer free, but certainly getting the kids more hands on with life stuff!

[witch]

"and when a child leaves they are in just as good a place academically if not better than others in mainstream schools."

 

Whilst I applaud the sentiment to some extent, I just can't believe this statement. The children may know things that others don't, but if they are going into a mainstream school they will be very behind in certain subjects.

There are certainly schools that overuse computers but surely there is a middle ground.

Also, given the breadth of the normal curriculum, if they are learning farming, building, dyeing etc, what else are they missing?

[mavhc]

"The school follows the Steiner Waldorf curriculum which includes main lessons in measuring, weighing, farming and house building as well as handwork sessions in knitting, dyeing, sewing, embroidery and clothes making."

 

Perfect education for the post apocalypish future

[DalekSec]

"The school follows the Steiner Waldorf curriculum which includes main lessons in measuring, weighing, farming and house building as well as handwork sessions in knitting, dyeing, sewing, embroidery and clothes making."

 

Perfect education for the post apocalypish future

 

I heard they make a good salad!

[NB9457]

I definitely agree that teachers should be less dependant on computers and that we should still have whiteboards and things as well as an IWB.

 

It just bugs me when teachers come in screaming they can't do their lesson because the computer is playing up 'again' (they always forgot to tell you the first time) and then rant and rave, even thought the issue is solved within often 30 minutes, apparently it took them 30 minutes at dinner to open that powerpoint because they forgot whey the saved it.

 

/rant

[3s-gtech]

I heard they make a good salad!

 

I thought they just heckled the Muppets?

[korifugi]

I heard they make a good salad!

 

Stay on topic there - I don't think the mods'll lettuce¹ turn this into another puns thread.

 

 

 

I'm personally not too sure about being a step behind on computer use though - yes, they are a tool but what about e-safety and netiquette? Computers are so integrated into modern life that they now ARE a part of society. Also, I'm sure it's quite hard to get a decent celery² without being able to use one well.

 

¹Sorry, had to

²Yes, I'm a terrible human being

[PotNoodleTech]

Interesting article. Personally I think that in primary school they should be learning literacy, numeracy, reading, respect, tolerance and patience. That's about it. Ipads have nothing really to do with any of that so I can see how this school has achieved outstanding status with not one ipad.

 

For me - they can learn computers in secondary/uni. Frankly, the equipment and probably software they use in primary won't exist by the time their 21 anyway so you could argue you are not really preparing them for anything particularly useful. Mind you as mentioned, teaching them netiquette and safety online is a life skill nowadays so that shouldn't be ignored.

 

Not really sure how useful "house building" etc will be to the majority of pupils though?

Edited March 2, 2016 by PotNoodleTech

[GuyJD]

And when these kids get to secondary school?

 

They adapt well apparently

"The children moving into more traditional British systems later in their educational journey come with a greater capacity to think and they have a strong sense of personal discipline.

 

"Some adaptation is required to the separate elements of the formal curriculum, but they all seem well grounded and have sound values as a result of the Steiner ethos and teaching from their early years and junior education."

 

Personally having 4 kids myself I can see that my youngest is more of a practical learner, he doesn't cope well in a traditional classroom environment and really doesn't get a handle on things unless he's doing something practical to learn it. I like the idea of this and I think that for children that find the mainstream learning environment challenging this is a great alternative.

[synaesthesia]

It's a good basis for teaching logic, basic physics, common sense.

[Duranis]

I'm feeling slightly conflicted about this as in principle I mostly agree that proper hands on learning and more practical life skills are lacking in a lot of schools. This school seems to have gone too far the other way though. Technology is everywhere now and will be even more so when these kids go out into the real world looking for work. I don't see how putting them years behind the rest on something important is useful.

 

My 10 year old really loves tech and will most likely end up working in the industry when he is older as it is something he really enjoys. If he went to this school he might not have had that opportunity to find that passion. However on the other hand their could be a lot of kids in more "mainstream" schools that would love to be doing farming work or something more hands on and they are also missing out on that chance to find their passion.

 

My sons school had 1 morning a week of "forest school" were the kids work out in the woods doing physical work, learning how to make fires, cook and make shelters, etc. The kids love it and I would love things like this to be part of the mainstream curriculum.

 

Short version:

In an ideal world most schools would find a better balance between practical/life skills learning and "curriculum" learning. In reality most schools are too worried about ticking the boxes for ofsted to try anything that might effect that.