Theblacksheep Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 BBC News - For-profit firms 'should run failing schools' A former conservative party policy chief, banned from providing (lobbied) advice to the education dept for 2 years is now starting up his PR campaign (more questionable lobbying) for failing schools to be run by for-profit business. Cameron aide broke rules by joining lobbying firm - UK Politics - UK - The Independent
X-13 Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 I'm just putting this out there, but if they're trying to make a profit, wouldn't they then put more effort into it? Better results/behaviour -> Company looks good -> get more business -> Make more money
broc Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 I'm just putting this out there, but if they're trying to make a profit, wouldn't they then put more effort into it? Better results/behaviour -> Company looks good -> get more business -> Make more money You mean like the private sector Exam boards do? 1
X-13 Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 You mean like the private sector Exam boards do? Erm... maybe? [i don't know, I'm making this up as I go along] The exam boards don't directly compete [iIRC] if they did, they'd have to up their game. I may be wrong, but the exam boards can't be compared due to different marking schemes and question difficulty. All anyone pays attention to is what grades people got, with higher marks being seen as being better. Comparing schools would be easier. What resources are available, staff pay scales, exam marks, things like behaviour could also come into it.
localzuk Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 Erm... maybe? [i don't know, I'm making this up as I go along] The exam boards don't directly compete [iIRC] if they did, they'd have to up their game. I may be wrong, but the exam boards can't be compared due to different marking schemes and question difficulty. All anyone pays attention to is what grades people got, with higher marks being seen as being better. Comparing schools would be easier. What resources are available, staff pay scales, exam marks, things like behaviour could also come into it. The exam boards *do* directly compete - that's where their problem came in. Ie. they made their exams easier to get more schools to sign up to theirs. Private companies running schools makes little sense to me, however sponsorship by private companies makes sense - from a 'economies of scale' point of view. 2
CAM Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 Currently we have private schools but they are not for-profit, so any excess in the pot goes back into investment in the school. State schools don't even have that excess pot and are mostly funded by the government with Voluntary Aided schools having some external income (such as from a Diocese). In all cases, the above schools answer to the governors who can be kicked out themselves for failing to run the school properly and providing the kids with a bad education. When you add in profit from an external copany, such as a large business, then you replace governors with a board of directors who in turn answer to shareholders. Money that would otherwise be re-invested into the school goes towards external people with more care for a stock price instead of children's education. The kit that would have been bought with overflow in the pot is not purchased as the money has left the school. There is also conflict of interest. Let's say a tech company wants new skills ina certain discipline using their technology, what will the kid's focus be on? What use is a person who has education in limited fields of expertise or bespoke software packages according to one company's needs instead of a proper general education? And if a student's needs don't meet the company's visions, what happens then? 1
X-13 Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 Let's say a tech company wants new skills in a certain discipline using their technology, what will the kid's focus be on? What use is a person who has education in limited fields of expertise or bespoke software packages according to one company's needs instead of a proper general education? And if a student's needs don't meet the company's visions, what happens then? Sounds like what RM are doing to school IT.
Theblacksheep Posted October 17, 2012 Author Posted October 17, 2012 Can anyone imagine a school run by Capita? or McDonalds, Facebook... I feel sick.
Oaktech Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 McDonalds... At least there would be some chance of good vocational training and career progression. But very little ethics.
X-13 Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 McDonalds... At least there would be some chance of good vocational training and career progression. But very little ethics. and tasty, tasty mechanically reclaimed chicken. 1
sted Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 I'm just putting this out there, but if they're trying to make a profit, wouldn't they then put more effort into it? Better results/behaviour -> Company looks good -> get more business -> Make more money i suspect it depends on the exact goalposts. If the only criteria is gcse c+ grades but the kids trash the place so it looks like beiruit. Depending on exactly what the company is paid to do that could be seen as a good outcome
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