[Politics] The Labour Government

[Is it PotG?]

Are you seriously hand wringing over the affordability of a private prep school?

Where will it end - hopefully equality of education and opportunity for all would be nice.

Well that's what's on the table, we'll soon see.

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

Are you seriously hand wringing over the affordability of a private prep school?

Where will it end - hopefully equality of education and opportunity for all would be nice.

The opportunity in life is there if you have the dedication and the skill and drive and a bit of luck.

There is no such thing in equality in education as the neuro diverse are not supported in the same way. I look forward in seeing how labour intend to support them in schools, differently to the Tories.

 

[Bold Seagull]

The opportunity in life is there if you have the dedication and the skill and drive and a bit of luck.

There is no such thing in equality in education as the neuro diverse are not supported in the same way. I look forward in seeing how labour intend to support them in schools, differently to the Tories.

Depends where you get your info. from you normal sources you’ll just get the same picture you have for everything else. 6 weeks after an election you’ve already made your mind up, your posts tell everyone on the board as much.

Perhaps volunteer for a board of governor role at a school? A really worthwhile voluntary undertaking and your experience as someone who is neurodiverse would be invaluable to a school through their governance.

 

[A1X]

It’s always interesting how many of those who would rail against “the establishment” all line up to defend private schools, surely the very essence of the establishment

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

Yes, 6 weeks in I feel it's been a poor show, but then so does the public opinion show the exact same thing as recently polled.

School teachers have one aim from what have seen it's to tick boxes forget about those kids that shouldn't even be in that environment. I have offered my services free of charge, but because your bog standard teacher wants control, they are unable to open their mind and vision to change things.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Yes, 6 weeks in I feel it's been a poor show, but then so does the public opinion show the exact same thing as recently polled.

School teachers have one aim from what have seen it's to tick boxes forget about those kids that shouldn't even be in that environment. I have offered my services free of charge, but because your bog standard teacher wants control, they are unable to open their mind and vision to change things.

What do you mean your services free of charge, in what capacity?

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

What do you mean your services free of charge, in what capacity?

How to spot, neuro diverse kids, how to adapt teaching methods to them etc. it can all be improved but no teachers seem to care, it's just a job and not a passion for most.

 

[Bodian]

But that's not fact.
Do we know that they even have these luxuries, I bet they are all hard working families that put their kids before, fast food.
Can you imagine if they are not public sectors workers, they won't be get massively over inflated pay rises to cover the cost.

Never mind they will stretch the states school budget as they shoe horn them into schools far and wide as they are unlikely to get in one just around the corner.
Just think of the extra carbon they will be pumping out and all because labour want to hurt those who strive to achieve.

Where will this all end.

No - it's not 'fact', it's a supposition and guesstimate. However, you stated that you had 'fact-checked' it and that it 'was incorrect'. But you provided no facts or figures to back this up whatsoever. So, I have provided some actual data to show that the VAT could easily be met by giving up some things. Obviously, not all people will have the same outgoings on the same items - but at least I gave it a go at putting some sort of substance behind it.

Are you able to provide a link to your fact-checking?

If not - we'll leave it there.

 

[nicko31]

It’s always interesting how many of those who would rail against “the establishment” all line up to defend private schools, surely the very essence of the establishment

Private schools account for 7% of the all pupils. We'll lose a few and they're be the crappy ones. Most of the public won't be losing sleep about VAT that's going to be applied

Next step I'd like to see charitable status removed, these aren't charities, they're businesses.

Why do we need them at all? Plenty of countries don't have them at all and punch well above their weight

 

[Bold Seagull]

How to spot, neuro diverse kids, how to adapt teaching methods to them etc. it can all be improved but no teachers seem to care, it's just a job and not a passion for most.

I’ve been a governor for over 7 years at 2 local primary schools and that couldn’t be further from the truth in terms of the teaching I have witnessed and experienced.

So other than being neuro diverse yourself, you also have specific SEND qualifications and experience that you were offering to schools? How did you do this, applying for roles?

 

[nicko31]

How to spot, neuro diverse kids, how to adapt teaching methods to them etc. it can all be improved but no teachers seem to care, it's just a job and not a passion for most.

Well I know a fair few teachers and I can say every one of them is passionate about teaching. You don't go into it for the money that's for sure

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

No - it's not 'fact', it's a supposition and guesstimate. However, you stated that you had 'fact-checked' it and that it 'was incorrect'. But you provided no facts or figures to back this up whatsoever. So, I have provided some actual data to show that the VAT could easily be met by giving up some things. Obviously, not all people will have the same outgoings on the same items - but at least I gave it a go at putting some sort of substance behind it.

Are you able to provide a link to your fact-checking?

If not - we'll leave it there.

Apologies if you were being serious about those figures. I think it's best we leave it there on this one then.

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

I’ve been a governor for over 7 years at 2 local primary schools and that couldn’t be further from the truth in terms of the teaching I have witnessed and experienced.

So other than being neuro diverse yourself, you also have specific SEND qualifications and experience that you were offering to schools? How did you do this, applying for roles?

Okay I will take your word for it, but all the teachers I know are not the people you would necessarily pick to teach kids. I leave that one there.
You say other than being neuro diverse, there is no better qualification to have. Of course I left school asap as having ADHD also I was never going to seat down and study for exams, I am a do-er by nature, I like action and results you can follow as you achieve.

Well I know a fair few teachers and I can say every one of them is passionate about teaching. You don't go into it for the money that's for sure

It's nice you know of some that are passionate, but I know some do it for the holidays or because the school is close by, or their kid goes to the school so it works well for them. Some schools bribe kids with sweets as treats, hardly teaching them. Of course some school will have every base covered, but I'd say they are the ones you pay for!

 

[Bold Seagull]

Okay I will take your word for it, but all the teachers I know are not the people you would necessarily pick to teach kids. I leave that one there.
You say other than being neuro diverse, there is no better qualification to have. Of course I left school asap as having ADHD also I was never going to seat down and study for exams, I am a do-er by nature, I like action and results you can follow as you achieve.

It's nice you know of some that are passionate, but I know some do it for the holidays or because the school is close by, or their kid goes to the school so it works well for them. Some schools bribe kids with sweets as treats, hardly teaching them. Of course some school will have every base covered, but I'd say they are the ones you pay for!

So all your experience of education to date is your own as a child, and some teachers you know? You haven’t actually volunteered, you don’t really know what goes on around SEND in schools, and most of this stuff like teachers bribing kids with sweats is another right brain fantasy.

I’ve tried a dialogue with you on a sensible level, but you don’t come back with anything to back up the wide ranging statements you make. It’s all hot air and old tropes about teaching and teachers.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

The opportunity in life is there if you have the dedication and the skill and drive and a bit of luck.

There is no such thing in equality in education as the neuro diverse are not supported in the same way. I look forward in seeing how labour intend to support them in schools, differently to the Tories.

My neighbour's lad is neurodiverse and won a place at a fee paying school with smaller classes on a full scholarship. Unfortunately sixth form fees for single mum with 2 jobs is out of the question now. So BHASVIc it is. Genuinely hope it works out for him.

 

[BadFish]

But that's not fact.
Do we know that they even have these luxuries, I bet they are all hard working families that put their kids before, fast food.
Can you imagine if they are not public sectors workers, they won't be get massively over inflated pay rises to cover the cost.

Never mind they will stretch the states school budget as they shoe horn them into schools far and wide as they are unlikely to get in one just around the corner.
Just think of the extra carbon they will be pumping out and all because labour want to hurt those who strive to achieve.

Where will this all end.

Will it all end with...


People making up narratives in their head that fit their viewpoint and then posting them as fact?

 

[BadFish]

The opportunity in life is there if you have the dedication and the skill and drive and a bit of luck.

There is no such thing in equality in education as the neuro diverse are not supported in the same way. I look forward in seeing how labour intend to support them in schools, differently to the Tories.

We are at the beginnings of our understanding of neurodoversity and schools are doing their best to respond to it.

However schools are still largely operated in the traditional manner which requires a fair amount of conformity of learning styles. Schools recognise the importance of differentiation and catering to different brains, interests and motivators and generally do their best within the limitations of the model we work under.

To my mind the revolution required to make education properly equitable will be expensive and unpalatable to those holding the purse strings.

My advice in your fight for equality is to vote for the party most willing to fund education and follow the model of successful education systems.

I believe that Finland who are currently at the pinnacle of education around the world chose to discontinue private education options outside faith or Montessori/Steiner schools.

I would ask you, how do you expect their to be equality in education with such a disparity in resources between private and state schools? Or are you only interested in equality between neuro diverse and nehotypical students.

 

[keaton]

Agree with all of this but my fear is the impact of thousands of pupils having to move into an already overstretched sector. No idea whether the Stoke case will prove to be a one off or the first of many though.

I read somewhere how many private schools are dependent on income from overseas pupils. It seems perverse that given we have a national shortage of teachers, many are not only teaching the privileged but the privileged from abroad. Perhaps a counter to my concern above is that more teachers will have to seek employment in the state sector if private schools close?

What "overstretched sector"? Schools are closing and reducing intake because they don't have enough pupils coming through in many cases

 

[dsr-burnley]

Looking forward to the budget , I expect CGT and IHT to be raised to a 50% rate to allow the child benefit cap being removed. Closing the loopholes on windfall tax for the oil and gas industries will bring in a few more billion for the treasury.

If "closing the loopholes" manages to break even for the Treasury, I'll be very surprised. Why would companies want to invest in North Sea Oil when they know their profits will be taxed at 78& AND they won't get tax allowances for their investment?

What they more likely to do is to scale down the North Sea Oil industry and drive it overseas. Partly because they just don't like oil companies, and partly because importing oil helps the UK become carbon neutral.

Of course, there will be negative side effects such as putting a lot of quite high earning taxpayers on the dole, and driving up global carbon emissions because we are having to import the oil, but those are prices apparently worth paying.

 

[dsr-burnley]

Are you seriously hand wringing over the affordability of a private prep school?

Where will it end - hopefully equality of education and opportunity for all would be nice.

The problem is that they are trying to achieve equality by closing all the best schools. It's a typical Labour policy - some people have more, and it's hard work trying to make things better for the worse off, so let's just make things worse for the better off.

They're also talking of making things a lot harder for academy schools. They want more bog standard comprehensives of the type that few of them went to and few of them send their children to. Shirley Williams was in favour of abolishing grammar schools for other peoples' children but sent her own to grammar school. Tony Blair was in favour of children going to the nearest comprehensive but sent his own children 8 miles across London to a selective school. Diane Abbott was opposed to privelege of all kinds and wanted equality of opportunity to all but she sent her child to a fee paying school. This is not new.

If the leadership decided to set an example for all Labour MPs and insist that they send their children to the school with most vacancies in their own constituency, I wonder how it would be supported?