“well, i know someone who got 3 5's in their sats and 3 of their friends did aswell.”

“Well Darren, you have not used the correct spelling - should be their, not there. What would you blame for your inability to use the correct homophone?”

“Could it be the teachers are not very good at there job or will a teacher blame the Goverment or lack of funding?”

“Schools are far too concerned about achieving good SATs and getting a good place on the league tables, rather than on providing a well-rounded education.”

“Pat - you have hit the nail on the head there! The National Curriculum does not allow time for children to revisit concepts that they have not fully understood. If they are taken out of the classroom for 'catch up' work, then they are missing out on the next new thing to learn. Some children really don't stand a chance and they just get further and further behind. I have been working in schools for 15 years and the situation is just getting worse.”

“My grand daughter goes to school in Gloucester, Last year the class she was in started on Greek history - the class was asked what they would like to learn more about Greek History. My grand daughter wrote down she would like to learn more about the Iliad. The teacher said she had not heard about the Iliad and did not know what it was!
When I went to school the teachers new their subjects or have read up on it prior to attemting to teach/present a subject.

Walter (Pennsylvania)”

“Time to ask what has all this money Labour spent done to improve standards?

How many would stand a chance at the 11+ these days?”

“Time. I think that is what is missing in the current classroom. Time to think and absorb and understand for the children. Time for someone to support (sit with, read and listen to) each child well - teacher, assistant, mum, dad, sibling, grandparent what ever. Too much rush to have everything now and not enough attention to the detail of getting the learning technique and the thirist for knowledge into all the children.”

“Without wanting to sound old, i feel that ther has been gtoo much progressive thinking over the years and it is the adoption of trendy ideas, quickly abandoned for the next big thing, that has contributed to a lack of formal, structured learning in our classrooms today. There is no doubt that the schools of yesteryear could be restrictive in teaching methods, but couple this with the variety of methods today and the slant seems to have moved from teaching, to presenting in a manner moulded to the pupils learning style. This presents the problems of fractured, disfunctional teaching, where some pupils develop well and others are left confused and marginalised. Rows of pupils lined up in class with a teacher at the head of the class, facing ALL the pupils have been replaced with group tables, no clear teachers desks etc. Pupils rely on additional assistance from leaning support assistants, who years ago would have been the very people applying to universities to learn to teach. Where has there future development gone? We are all too aware of the style of teaching now presented, and the emphasis on only teaching curriculum that will enhance the SATs results. Testing? Let the teacher teach, traditionally, methodically, and openly, with the autonomy to develop teaching plans that have relevance to both history, modern society and above all, manners and responsibility. Don't get me wrong, i love the idea behind Phonic learning, the one good thing to come out of 30 years of teaching styles. But lets not forget the John and Jane books, and the contribution of proper assemblies, R.E...yes, even religious education had a role! If we are to create a truly talented, well rounded and knowledgeable class for tomorrows generation, then we have to acknowledge the good of the past, and instead of metting these teaching methods being destined for the bin of yesteryear, we should be tipping it out and searching for them like we would look through bags of rubbish for that single, precious heirloom. Contrary to popular belief, the children of tommorrow won't all be CHAV's, no hopers and drop outs. Man, woman and child are all born equal and should be offered equal opportunities. This starts in the home, yes, but schools used to be proud of their own values in nurturing, developing and establishing values in its pupils. So yes, SAT testing might be good for government and OFSTED, but does nothing for society or familiy, nor does it value those teaching our children in any way at all. Teachers themselves are not to blame. No, those fresh from university and into our primaries carry only the values of a dictatorial government, not the values of our forefathers. Teachers, pull those tables apart! Get the rows together, facing you and the blackboard. Yes, blackboard! Chalk and all! Fancy whiteboards and power point may be visual i agree, but do they let you teach? I think we underestimate the hunger of our children to learn too. We all remember a favorite teacher, one that truly inspired us to move forward, whatever our aims in life. I have recently wrote a book about my own school years, and no, i was no child prodigy. In fact, i grew up on a sink estate and went through the care system. But you know what? I WAS inspired by my teachers, even those with the teaching methods so easily dismissed in todays SAT's orientated school rooms. School was my salvation where i learned of the arts, of literature, of our history and sciences.... and yes, i had huge behavioural problems, which nowadays would entitle me to a learning support assistant and counselling etc - but that would not have helped me one iota. Neither would SAT's, vocational training, staggered exams....no.... what i needed was structure, traditional learning, discipline and inspiring teachers. I would be interested in the opinions of others on this matter as i'm sure i speak for so many, rather than the few. SAT's? Another good idea, gone badly wrong. Education is the cornerston”