Comments:
8
These surveys are capable of
giving us early insight into the
state of education in a way that the
time-lagged, retrospective census
data collected by government
cannot. The removal of levels, new
SATS, GCSE and A-level reforms
have combined to create ballooning
workloads for teachers. Whilst some
of this work is transitory, it may still
cause a spike in early retirements
and teacher wastage more generally.
When we set this against rising pupil
rolls and an improving economy,
the concern is that government
has created a short-term crisis in
teacher retention at exactly the time
when recruitment to the profession
is particularly hard."
In terms of assessment, the issue is
not the increase in standards, (we
all want pupils to do well), it is the way the
standards have been implemented and
introduced – unrealistic at best. Children
have been left to manage increased
expectations with literally months to
respond. Teachers are left with the
task of unpicking (changing overnight)
heightened expectations that leave them
torn between needing to teach to the test
and creating meaningful, real, learning
experiences that inspire pupils.”
David Sammels
Headteacher, Mayflower Community Academy
Dr Rebecca Allen
Director, Education Datalab
State of Education Survey 2016 | www.thekeysupport.com
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