Do you want to discuss boring politics? (45 Viewers)

wingy

Well-Known Member
Just like slashing inflation. They've been saying for months it's down to global factors, but now they're going to half it.

It's just vacuous bollocks.
It will fall away naturally due to the Calendar they tell us .
Still when half the countries arse is on the floor struggling to feed and heat themselves , Oh yes let's kill what's left with 3 or more interest rate rises and take any further potential away.
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Just like slashing inflation. They've been saying for months it's down to global factors, but now they're going to half it.

It's just vacuous bollocks.
Say it's not our fault when it's going bad then take credit for when it improves. So it was, always has been and always will be with politicians.

Still, if inflation falls then we could always offer people those 'inflation busting pay rises'
 

skybluetony176

Well-Known Member
Apparently the government hasn’t met its own targets for employing maths teachers for a decade. Which begs the question, if we already can’t recruit enough maths teachers where are the extra teachers coming from to teach another 2 years worth of maths students?
 
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Ian1779

Well-Known Member
Actually agree we should improve maths education and it should be to 18 like most countries. However like so much Tory policy in recent years this is nothing more than a headline with no substance behind it, no plan, no funding.
For that to work and be effective it also needs a rethink on what is taught. It’s got to be relevant but also accessible if it’s going to roll out en masse.

These guys think that forcing them to do the AS/A2 content would simply ‘improve’ them as Mathematicians
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
For that to work and be effective it also needs a rethink on what is taught. It’s got to be relevant but also accessible if it’s going to roll out en masse.

These guys think that forcing them to do the AS/A2 content would simply ‘improve’ them as Mathematicians

Nah, I’d rather we accepted we have education until 18 and let people who need more time to meet L2 use that time and those that can go to L3 or even higher do that.

Aside: As a Maths teacher I’d be really interested in whether you’ve seen the fruits of the work done lower down the age range actually. I love the way my youngest is taught, so much closer to how I have “naturally” done Maths. Are you seeing Y7s come in with any better grasp of the basics?
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Just like slashing inflation. They've been saying for months it's down to global factors, but now they're going to half it.

It's just vacuous bollocks.

Politics by vibes. No actual intent to change things. Though seeing how Truss did when she changed that approach maybe that’s for the best. There really needs to be a mechanism to oust dead duck governments like this. Just floating along for the gravy train until time forces them out.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
From the graph below I think it's obvious how best to reduce NHS waiting list times.


View attachment 27969

Genius, triple waiting times then claim credit for halving them

Think Tap Tap GIF by DraftKings
 

Alan Dugdales Moustache

Well-Known Member
I just watched Sunak giving his speech today and it made me feel slightly sick.
 

Ian1779

Well-Known Member
Nah, I’d rather we accepted we have education until 18 and let people who need more time to meet L2 use that time and those that can go to L3 or even higher do that.

Aside: As a Maths teacher I’d be really interested in whether you’ve seen the fruits of the work done lower down the age range actually. I love the way my youngest is taught, so much closer to how I have “naturally” done Maths. Are you seeing Y7s come in with any better grasp of the basics?
That’s not a bad idea in theory, but I do think that we have to broaden the scope of L3 ‘Maths’ so it is more appealing to the wider student cohort… not just keeping it narrow at traditional A Level stuff.

As for your question - yes I think it is fair to say that we are seeing more Y7’s coming through with better base skills… where I feel an opportunity is lost is that due to a general shortage in good quality/experienced Maths teachers, they end up being used at KS4 exclusively; meaning that these new, more capable Y7’s miss out on the best teachers to begin with, thus not capitalising on the gains made and accelerating them further.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
That’s not a bad idea in theory, but I do think that we have to broaden the scope of L3 ‘Maths’ so it is more appealing to the wider student cohort… not just keeping it narrow at traditional A Level stuff.

As for your question - yes I think it is fair to say that we are seeing more Y7’s coming through with better base skills… where I feel an opportunity is lost is that due to a general shortage in good quality/experienced Maths teachers, they end up being used at KS4 exclusively; meaning that these new, more capable Y7’s miss out on the best teachers to begin with, thus not capitalising on the gains made and accelerating them further.

I was quite surprised to see Maths as high as it was on the teacher training targets

1672871973827.png

I weep for my kids Computing education. Just had to email my eldest school after I found out shes not even taught it any more. A core subject and they’re not even trying to teach it. What is going on?
 

Ian1779

Well-Known Member
I was quite surprised to see Maths as high as it was on the teacher training targets

View attachment 27970

I weep for my kids Computing education. Just had to email my eldest school after I found out shes not even taught it any more. A core subject and they’re not even trying to teach it. What is going on?
If you’ve got the qualifications to teach ICT/Computing/Computer Science there is literally no incentive at all to go into teaching is there.
Earn more working in industry, probably hybrid or even home working, with no out of hours work.
Schools don’t/can’t put the resources in to keep hardware up to a usable standard and some schools simply reduce down curriculum time to bare minimum.
Considering how important IT proficiency is and will be it’s a scandal tbh.
 

SkyBlueCharlie9

Well-Known Member
Old fashioned Tory soundbites on importance of extra maths and grammar etc.
I loved GCSE maths. A-Level Maths (pure & applied) was a fcuking nightmare.
Yes maths and physics is vital for the Country and the bright sparks....but not for everyone. Conservatives need to invest in design and arts too as also massive contributers to the Country's economy.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
How can a government on the one hand blame inflation on things outside of their control and then make a commitment to reduce it by 50%

What does 'grow our economy' really mean? Household incomes are a much more important metric and they do not necessarily follow growth in GDP. I wish governments of all outstanding persuasions would stop going on about it.

What good does reducing the national debt do? Explain who benefits and how.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
If you’ve got the qualifications to teach ICT/Computing/Computer Science there is literally no incentive at all to go into teaching is there.
Earn more working in industry, probably hybrid or even home working, with no out of hours work.
Schools don’t/can’t put the resources in to keep hardware up to a usable standard and some schools simply reduce down curriculum time to bare minimum.
Considering how important IT proficiency is and will be it’s a scandal tbh.

Exactly that. Since leaving teaching my stress is through the floor, wage through the roof and work life balance amazing and I get to work with actual new tech.

I loved teaching and I massively miss doing something socially valuable, but there’s no way I’d go back.

Id also argue Computing is the easiest way for a poor kid to gain social mobility these days. Don’t even need to go to Uni really if you can code. Get a certification online in your own time, build a portfolio and you’d get hired. Not many things you learn at school like that.
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Exactly that. Since leaving teaching my stress is through the floor, wage through the roof and work life balance amazing and I get to work with actual new tech.

I loved teaching and I massively miss doing something socially valuable, but there’s no way I’d go back.

Id also argue Computing is the easiest way for a poor kid to gain social mobility these days. Don’t even need to go to Uni really if you can code. Get a certification online in your own time, build a portfolio and you’d get hired. Not many things you learn at school like that.
Yeah I picked a mug’s degree in hindsight.
 
D

Deleted member 5849

Guest
Yeah I picked a mug’s degree in hindsight.
What's valuable changes pretty quickly though. Not so long ago city traders and IT specialists were hired from English and History graduates, as employers valued the analytical skills, the flexibility to adapt, and the innovative thinking.

Try telling some on this board that now, however ;)
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
My last Data Engineer colleague had a Biology degree…
What's valuable changes pretty quickly though. Not so long ago city traders and IT specialists were hired from English and History graduates, as employers valued the analytical skills, the flexibility to adapt, and the innovative thinking.

Try telling some on this board that now, however ;)

My dad did tell me back in the late 00s that computing was more lucrative than science, I ignored him and now the best I could make even in big pharma would be about 50k, when some people I know in IT are on big 6 figure salaries.

Not really sure what busting a gut at school and university was for on that basis
 
D

Deleted member 5849

Guest
My dad did tell me back in the late 00s that computing was more lucrative than science, I ignored him and now the best I could make even in big pharma would be about 50k, when some people I know in IT are on big 6 figure salaries.

Not really sure what busting a gut at school and university was for on that basis
Could be worse, you could have a PhD in a subject that certain people who should know better laugh at... ;)
 

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
That’s not a bad idea in theory, but I do think that we have to broaden the scope of L3 ‘Maths’ so it is more appealing to the wider student cohort… not just keeping it narrow at traditional A Level stuff.

As for your question - yes I think it is fair to say that we are seeing more Y7’s coming through with better base skills… where I feel an opportunity is lost is that due to a general shortage in good quality/experienced Maths teachers, they end up being used at KS4 exclusively; meaning that these new, more capable Y7’s miss out on the best teachers to begin with, thus not capitalising on the gains made and accelerating them further.

I can’t really comment on what’s teached in school or what Sunaks plans entail but if he’s looking to improve better numeracy/practical lifestyle maths skills that makes sense. I don’t know if that also needs to be covered better pre 16 with changes to curriculum as well though

The main promises are flimsy at best and should’ve at least provided detail/roadmaps to get there. At least then if they don’t meet the targets people can judge on actions, progress etc. As has been mentioned saying reducing inflation by half is all well and good but the main drivers are external so if we do or don’t get there, it may not be anything to do with government actions, so they should at least say what they’ll do to help control the things they can. Same with nhs, Id love to hear that they’re chucking Xbn into social care now in wages, people and beds (even temp) to free up blocked nhs beds etc or changing processes like the way A&E operates, more GP stuff passed to Pharmacists etc. also basically how we all see and use the nhs

Hopefully the details coming 🤷‍♂️. Im at least more convinced that he’ll actually do stuff to get there compared to Johnson’s empty promises but we’ll see
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
It’s all luck innit? I imagine if you had a chemistry degree when petrochemicals were booming or whatever. I’m just lucky that my Dad got me a computer in 1985 and let me get addicted to it really.
 
D

Deleted member 5849

Guest
It’s all luck innit? I imagine if you had a chemistry degree when petrochemicals were booming or whatever. I’m just lucky that my Dad got me a computer in 1985 and let me get addicted to it really.
My Dad worked in IT, and had done since the 1960s (never earned a huge salary mind you!). I enjoyed it, but rebelled against him. Ah well.

If I ever have children, I hope they rebel to become accountants or plumbers! Not necessarily IT though, other than helping me - think they need to go more specialist going forward, as supply will end up overtaking demand in the medium term, with an inevitable decline in wages whenever that does happen.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
My Dad worked in IT, and had done since the 1960s (never earned a huge salary mind you!). I enjoyed it, but rebelled against him. Ah well.

If I ever have children, I hope they rebel to become accountants or plumbers! Not necessarily IT though, other than helping me - think they need to go more specialist going forward, as supply will end up overtaking demand in the medium term, with an inevitable decline in wages whenever that does happen.

I can’t see demand slowing any time soon TBH. There’s still a ton of work to do and nowhere near enough people to do it. I’d certainly wager accountancy goes first in the long term. But yeah never going to go wrong with a trade really.
 

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