David Cameron....................Clueless Tory Boy...........

I know, very silly of me... nt

 

IIRC, she isn't elected either...

 

It's based on things I've read Jay, it's not an opinion based on chatting to a mate or a teacher, try some of these articles.

http://www.journalisted.com/article?id=1760870

 

2001 - scroll down to the league table at the bottom; http://www.siteselection.com/ssinsider/snapshot/sf011210.htm

2007 - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1571445/World-rankings-for-reading-maths-and-science.html

The Labour Government are basing the 'improvements' on year on year numbers with regards to GCSE passes, they're ignoring the fact that many of the GSCE are considered 'soft' and basic education has always been measured on reading, writing, maths etc. The ongoing improvement at number of GCSE passes has been going on for 60 years, it's a political trick and nothing else.

 

David Cameron......Clueless Tory Boy....Next Prime Minister.

Looks like I've missed all the fun!

 

Here's another article: They're all saying the same thing. When I remembered reading about it, I thought it was European tables, not the world, but to be fair it was 2 years ago that I'd read it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2007/dec/04/schools.uk2

I wait with baited breath for the 2009 figures, the research as far as I'm aware is independent and not set up by any political parties in this Country.

 

So to conclude, I'm basing my opinion on fact.

 

Boris Johnson Future Prime Minister nt

 

Fact?

Laughing my arse off.

 

RE: Fact?

Just read a few of the articles you've pointed me at and quite a few are complimentary to the UK despite the headlines. For example:

• The UK has one of the best completion rates in tertiary education of all the OECD countries. Some 80% finish their qualifications - well above the OECD average of 69%. This places the UK in the top three countries, alongside Denmark and the Russian Federation.

• The UK has grown its share of GDP spent on education between 1995 to 2005 from 5.2% to 6.2%. It is now above the OECD average of 5.8%.


As for the main point in the articles you have pointed me to I don't see any comparison at all between education in the UK now compared to what it was like under the conservatives. Seems to me a lot of other countries have improved their education, but that doesn't mean we haven't.

I think teachers on the ground doing the work will have a lot more insight in to how education works, you know what with them doing the educating, rather than someone simply linking to some sensationalist articles on the web. You can dismiss it as 'chatting' if you want, but when it comes to education I'll take the word of a teacher rather than someone who has no professional link with education and just likes to post the 'facts'.

 

Of course Jay, I know nobody in education.

 

So those league tables have no insight into education across the world?

 

David Cameron = Tory Blair nt

 

I never said you didn't know anyone in education

I said you're not a teacher, which you're not. Our lass is and has been for 12 years. Everyday she speaks to other teachers, heads, deputies, governors, local education officials, government education officials. You don't. In fact, when was the last time you were in a school? I'll take her word on this subject over yours any day.

Yet, you try to patronise her by saying she is just 'chatting' and you know the facts when all you've done is pull up some articles on the web. It's a joke mate.

 

Yes, they do

But they don't compare the UK under Labour compared to the Conservatives. Say we've improved 6% (on whatever figures these league tables are actually measuring) but the countries below us have improved 8% and 9% we'd still have improved yet we'd have dropped down the international league table. It would still be better than it was under the conservatives.

 

Also, how the **** can you dismiss the point I was showing you after you'd questioned what I based my opinion (that we'd dropped significantly down league tables) as a sensationalist source, and then use the same company to quote things back at me. 'OECD'

My opinion is this, how can we claim education as improved substantially under labour when we've been slipping down world standings since they came to power? And I based it on the basic standard educational measures that people generally use (reading, writing, maths etc) The only reason I linked to newspaper articles is because they made me aware of it 2 years ago. Believe it or not I don't subscribe to OECD and didn't want to pay £18 for the report, which is why it's not published on their site.

I'm not slagging of teachers, I just don't believe that our education system is brilliant and I dispute that it's improved.

 

I take exception to that Jay, I didn't patronise your missus. You had a go at a fact I was pointing out and patronised me with 'what do you base your opinion on', my response was directed to you. I presented exactly what I base my opinion on and you'd rather no accept it, that's fine, but don't tell me I was having a go at someone indirectly.

5 of my closest mates are teachers on the Isle of Wight, they do a phenominal job under very restrictive target/budget driven limitations.

Also, if we're near the top of the league in regards to investment per head based on GDP and yet aren't keeping pace with countries who are investing less, then basic business sense shows that our education system is inefficient.

 

I didn't patronise you

I asked you a question. You, for some unknown reason which you seem to do when I post anything these days, took it the wrong way and got angry.

Read my initial post again without any implied subtext (that's in your head, it isn't really there) and then read your answer about a teacher I know "chatting".

 

RE: David Cameron = Tory Blair................if only that were true nt

 

Agreed

My wife's a deputy head, my mum and dad have both recently retired after 30 odd years of teaching, and my sister is a 6th from lecturer and they all say the same thing (although admittedly the wife is only 27 so only taught under Labour)