General Chat

you can leave school at 16 if you have a job

my granddaughter is doing just that she starts her full time job on july 1

this year if you do not have a job then it is sixth form or college but you can not leave until 18

I think it is a way of keeping unemployment down

sally w <3

Brenda, Have to agree that attitudes are too laid back.
When I was 40, I went to Uni to do a BA.. One of the subjects I studied was Education, so, a lot of lectures had BEd's (those training to be teachers).
What has always stuck in my mind was a lecture in the philosophy of Education. The lecturer asked which was more important - a love of learning, or the ability to teach the National Curriculum. ALL the BA's said a love of learning. ALL the BEds said an ability to teach the National Curriculum.

I though it very sad.
A love of learning is one way to pass enthusiasm on.
An ability to teach the National Curriculum is limited, and, to me, boring. It's also unachievable, as it's always changing!

Maggie,
I don't agree with teaching with fear,but there is a difference with that way and encouraging ways.
I had a spell in junior school when I had the strap on a regular basis for being left handed until my mother went to see the head and said that if they could all write as well with their right hands as I could with my left,they wouldn't go far wrong....to which the reply was....she'll never get a job in the post office!
I never joined the girl guides because the teacher who kept reporting me to the head was the head guide!

There is a happy medium,and I think the attitude is too laid back.
I taught music at home and I believe that a lot of teachers these days don't come down to the level of the pupil.Patience is a virtue they should have.
Nothing wrong with the 3 r's!

There have been too many perpetual students over the last few years who studied obscure subjects ,can't get jobs..or get too over qualified to do a lesser job.
Bring back more apprenticeships!,

Brenda, one of the schools I went to was like that. In fact it was 2 age ranges squashed into one room.
The teacher kept order by threatening to cut our tongues off with the paper guillotine, and, as it was in Scotland, she also had the choice of cane, slipper, ruler or tawse.
Fortunately, I could read & write before I arrived there, because I learnt nothing but fear.

'Luck' was on my side, however. I became seriously ill (overcrowded classroom?) and spent 6 months in an isolation hospital, during which time my family moved, and I received absolutely no schooling.
Went to a different school when I came out and, surprisingly soon caught up.

I feel we should have teaching of very simple subjects up to Year 6 in school. And no one proceeds to Year 7 (usually a new school, but increasingly within same campus) unless they have achieved the basic skills required for education. ie maths, vocabulary, sentence structure.

Failures at 11 (sorry to use language used in 1960's) would be held back a further year and given another chance to pass 11 plus. They would proabably have been statemented quite early on, and would have accelerated special needs education in their second attempt at Year 6. A second failure of 11 plus would require them to attend a remedial special school. And hopefully re-enter rat race at a later age.

At start of Year 7, students would continue to have a heavily proscribed education - which would include maths, English language and literature, basic skills like woodwork, home economics, language(s), history of their country, geography of their country, religious education (not faith-centred but catholic with a small c), physics, chemistry, basic computer skills.

Then, from Year 11, they should be treated as adults. On basis that they are customers of schools, not schoolchildren any more. They should be streamed into various academic and non-academic streams (from which they can pick and mix subjects or professions to follow).

Education (and no decent money, just basic living grants) should continue for all till age of 21.

Not trying to wind up. Just that I rememeber having a discussion about the fragmented and failing British education system with a German undergraduate studying at Tubingen who was at Bangor for a year about 1967. That was roughly the way he described the German system - and it seemed to work a lot better than ours.

Maggie...
In my schooldays there were up to 40 in a class....but we all faced forward towards the blackboard so the teacher could see us all.Also we had to respect our teachers.
A lot of Political Correctness and restrictions on teachers has made the job an unenviable one in many ways.
No way could we answer back or tell parents if teacher had punished us!
Didn't do us any harm!
We learned manners as well as our basic skills!

Staying on in education is, in my opinion, to massage the unemployment figures!

Who knows the minimum age to drive motorised vehicles? Aren't there different ages for mopeds, motor bikes, cars and tractors? Are HGV and public service vehicles different as well?

It's not going to improve literacy and numeracy making children stay at school longer - it's just going to cause more resentment and frustration!
Children should leave Primary school being able to read and do basic maths.
Things aren't getting any better - some primary schools are squeezing over 30 children into classes:

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/apr/13/primary-school-large-classes

Brenda from Wales asks why 18 for all to stay at school, my view on this is, if they have not managed to grasp a decent basic education by the time they reach 16 they won't grasp one by spending another couple of years at school - however such a policy is manna from heaven for the politicians, this will do wonders for the figures in relation to youth unemployment ;-)

You'd be surprised how many kids leave school nowadays without basic numeracy and literacy skills. Whether that is the fault of the kids or the education system is open to debate; but this could be an argument for keeping kids at school for longer.

How times change...
I went to a very good high school...I had to pass my scholarship to get there,but my parents had to pay for my books and uniform.
Learned French and Latin,as you had to have Latin to go to university.
Couldn't go to uni as had to go out and earn money to give to mother who gave me very meager spends.
Left school at 16 with 6 O levels,some left at 15 to go to work....
Didn't come of age until 21.
Do we need a country of academics?
Why 18 for all to stay at school.?...seems stupid to me...OK for some,but not everyone.
They grow up so quickly now ....so get to work and learn how to earn a living.
:-S

I always thought it strange how you can get married at 16 and have kids, but can't vote until you're 18. :-S

Yes, KenSe is right
16 and 17yr olds will have a vote in the Independence Ballot, but will not be able to vote in an election until they have reached 18.


This information applies to Scotland
Pretty ambiguous, especially the last paragraph !

The law on what age a person can drink alcohol is complicated. Before the age of 18, you are not allowed to buy alcohol in pubs or shops, or drink alcohol in pubs. It is also unlawful for anyone else to buy alcohol for a person aged under 18 to consume in a pub.
If you are aged 16 or 17 you are entitled to drink wine, cider or beer to accompany a meal in a hotel or restaurant.

Licensed premises may have to ask for proof of age before serving alcohol.

Any child over the age of five can drink alcohol at home or on other private premises. It is an offence to give alcohol to a child under 5, even in her/his own home.

....so how many governments have put through laws with absolutely no idea of:
a) the consequences
b) any idea of the current /previous laws
c) any forethought
d) using their combined brain cell

...and we're meant to listen to them!!
:-S

KenSE That was not on list I looked at, but am sure you are right. 16, eh. I was hardly out of nappies then. Five years before you could vote then (21).

JustJohn, you left out of the Scotland list that you can vote for Independence at 16.

My daughter left school last year aged 16 but had to do at least one extra year at 6 form college so can leave now aged 17

I think the year 11s this years leavers, have to do two extra years which would take them up to 18

Just checked what you can do in Scotland at 16

At 16 you can:

Get married (no mention of parental consent).
Enter into a civil partnership.
Leave home without your parents/guardians’ consent.
Apply for your own home through your local council.

You can join army at 15 years 9 months. But cannot watch a violent war film for another 27 months.

You can become parents whenever you listen to Frank Sinatra.

They have never made much sense out of this age thing, have they Dizzi :-D ;-)

Dizzi still leave school at 16 until it becomes law next year I think. But all seems wrong doesnt it.