In the UK there have been massive changes to the education system. I’m hoping to highlight the biggest issues that are not helping the next generation to succeed.
Grading
The biggest change has been that the grading system is now on a 1-9 scale instead of A-F. This makes it harder to achieve the higher grades and put you at risk of failing even if you were getting C’s in the old system. From feedback from students people were saying this put pressure on us to work harder for those top grades.
Government Input
When I chose my subjects this year I was informed that food tech would be not running and that because I am better behaved than other students I would have to take a language and most of the creative subjects were offered to the poorly behaved students. The school didn’t want to force students into taking a language but instead had been putting pressure on the school to get kids to take academic subjects over creative subjects.
This is not going to help exam stress or lessen the amount of kids being diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Many students who haven’t started the course yet are so unhappy about the lack of creative subjects on offer.
Personally I try hard in most of my subjects but I have never been very academic. I have always had a love for writing and drawing so by forcing me to take manly academic classes is not the way for me to do well and make your school look good.
Teaching Methods
Many school’s expect that all students to learn the same way and will be able to learn a topic quickly. Everyone’s brain works differently and different teaching methods help some but not others. Schools need to focus on trying new ways of teaching students.
Mental Health
As a school you should make sure students physical and mental health is at a level where they can work. Many times I have seen students with a bad knee or a hurt foot not coming to school and resting at home. However students will tell a member of staff that they feel anxious or are having a really rough day and have been sent back to there classes because they didn’t have a physical injury or “proof”. This is so stupid that physical health is valued over mental health.
School Time
As a teenager your body likes to stay awake late and wake up late. In school you are expected to be there between 8-9am depending on where you go. This has shown that 80% of students are sleep deprived while at school. Starting school a little later has been unforced in some private schools across the UK and most of the results have been very positive.
Uniform
Uniform is often the worst thing. A lot of girls in my year are slut shamed for too short skirts. I am not saying non-uniform would resolve this problem but policing girls on there uniforms because something is to short or they show to much skin is ridiculous it isn’t affecting your learning so why should it matter.
Our education system is not the worst and we don’t have to pay for our education. But somethings need to change. School is a place you come to learn, not to police our bodies or to make us work when we could do with a day off to refocus our selves. School is a stepping stone to become an adult and by enforcing these things you are making it seem right.
