Catherine Harvey - 26 Oct 2010

Unqualified Teachers for Free Schools

Of course in-depth knowledge of the subject taught is very important. However, this ALONE does NOT make someone able to teach, able to transfer their knowledge to young people. Teaching is a skill, a talent. The learning and understanding of pedagogy and its application in class is as important as is subject knowledge. When recruiting students-teachers, providers of PGCE courses ensure that applicants' subject knowledge is relevant and of high level. From experience I can tell Rachel Wolf that teaching training soon reveals who will succeed in becoming an inspiring and engaging teacher. Suggesting that free schools may be able to recruit unqualified teachers shows how little Rachel Wolf knows about teaching and education as a whole. Who will pay the cost? children. Let's not put our children's education at risk.

Iftikhar Ahmad - 29 Oct 2010

Free Our Schools

Free Our Schools
Almost all children now believe they go to school to pass exams. The idea that they may be there for an education is irrelevant. State schools have become exam factories, interested only in A to C Grades. They do not educate children. Exam results do not reflect a candidate’s innate ability. Employers have moaned for years that too many employees cannot read or write properly. According to a survey, school-leavers and even graduates lack basic literacy and numeracy skills. More and more companies are having to provide remedial training to new staff, who can’t write clear instructions, do simple maths, or solve problems. Both graduates and school-leavers were also criticised for their sloppy time-keeping, ignorance of basic customer service and lack of self-discipline.

Bilingual Muslims children have a right, as much as any other faith group, to be taught their culture, languages and faith alongside a mainstream curriculum. More faith schools will be opened under sweeping reforms of the education system in England.