SATsguide.co.uk Home Contact Us Site Map
Music on/off Music On/Off
Bookmark with:
Bookmark with: del.icio.us digg reddit facebook Stumbleupon
Just ask... SATsguide.co.uk
Just ask... SATsguide.co.uk
Our tel: +44 (0) 208 920 0444. Secure Online Payments!
Young pupils studying for SAT

News

Headline: Education 'in a mess' says head
Description: Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has not met the head teacher
An independent school head teacher has said the education system is "in a total mess" and Education Secretary Ruth Kelly is "a disaster."

Dr David Hempsall, head of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Blackburn, said the national curriculum was harming children's development.

He told parents and pupils exam results were "massaged" every year to make standards appear better than they were.

But the Department for Education said teaching quality had never been better.

In a speech at a school prizegiving ceremony, Dr Hempsall said government targets were artificial constructs which had no relevance to teaching professionals and did not help to raise standards.

"When they're met, ministers preen; when they're missed, it's the poor practitioners who are pilloried."

Everything was centred on the "twin altars of literacy and numeracy", he said.

As a result many pupils he interviewed at 11 years old had not been taught more creative subjects such as art and music.

"Kids are like blotting paper at this age and absorb so much, but they're having everything knocked out of them because of Sats [national curriculum tests]," he said.

"The national curriculum is a disaster," his speech continued. "While it has some effect in raising the floor, it is academically and intellectually impoverished, however much teachers flex it."

Memorable lessons were rare.

"I do believe that a Royal Commission is needed to have a look at the entire system, which is in a total mess. Some kind of holistic approach is needed."

The Independent Schools Council, of which Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School is a member, declined to comment on his views.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education and Skills said Dr Hempsall had never met the Education Secretary, Ruth Kelly.

"The A-level system is tried and tested," he said.

"We have seen improved results in recent years because standards of teaching have never been higher - all the credible evidence shows that exams have not become easier.

"It is right that there is a focus on the basics, but subjects such as design and technology, ICT, history, geography, modern foreign languages, art and design, music, PE and citizenship are all an important part of the national curriculum at primary level," he said.


Date: 21.09.2005
Email a colleague
back


http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk
Tips of the day
SATs PRACTICE. TRY SATSGUIDE.CO.UK PACKED WITH SATS TESTS, SATS PRACTICE PAPERS AND TIPS. Makes preparing for Sats easy, less frought and fun!
Students Area Login
Login:
Password:
 

Registration
Forgot your password?
Subscribe
Register for our Newsletter...


HTML Text

Time left until the start of 2011 SATs tests...
left to 11/05/2010
Links
Brain Foods - Omega Nutrition Flax seed
Do Your Children Loathe the Taste and After Taste of Fish Oil Supplements? There is a delicious alternative – Flax Seed Oil with its subtle distinctive slightly nutty taste – take it by the spoonful, drizzle over salads or take Veg Capsules. Brain Foods - Omega Nutrition Flax seed
zoom
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/
Eye Zone Massager
RELAXOLOGY Electric Eyezone Massager combines three proven therapies in one quick and easy to use gadget to relieve exam stress and tension around the eyes and temples in minutes. Eye Zone Massager
zoom
http://www.eyezonemassager.co.uk/
Which Charity? Give from your heart.
So... what do we do? We will help you make the choice of who can smile tomorrow and who has to wait We endeavour to provide you with a service that directs you to charities completely relevant to what you want to give and who you want to give it to. Please feel free to have a look around and use the features of this site. Please be aware that we are under construction so all features will be available shortly. Which Charity? Give from your heart.
zoom
http://www.whichcharity.org/
Terrasil Multi-Purpose Ointment
AIDANCE TERRASIL MAX. THREE TIMES THE STRENGTH OF TERRASIL ORIGINAL TO PROVIDE EVEN FASTER RELIEF FROM A VARIETY OF CHALLENGING SKIN PROBLEMS. 14g Jar
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/search/?search=terrasil
Happy feet
MY HAPPYFEET LADIES RAINBOW TOE ALIGNMENT SOCKS WITH ELASTANE. Gently help separate stretch and realign your toes. Turn aching feet into happy feet.
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/search/?search=happy+feet
Bio Bulb
Biobulb Full Spectrum Light Bulb 25w Bayonet - 100w Equivalent (H: 140mm). The closest you can get to natural daylight
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/search/?search=bulb
Oxyfit - Portable Oxygen Canisters
Compact Pocket Size Canisters of Oxygen. With patented inhaler. Releases oxygen one breath at a time. Oxyfit - Portable Oxygen Canisters
zoom
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/search/?search=oxyfit
Powerlung - How good is your breathing?
Powerlung Deep Breathing Exercise Lung Exerciser. It could be that the way that you breathe is stealing your energy, hampering your performance or productivity, stifling your self expression or even shortening your life! Powerlung - How good is your breathing?
zoom
http://www.power-lung.co.uk
RSS Feeds
Validation
Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!