Family story, Lancashire
My stories
My School Story
Neither of my parents were educated in school due to not having that option available to them. They are both, however, incredibly educated people having had fantastic careers and travelled all over the world - including a ten year, land and sea honeymoon in the 60's!
However, they then had two fantastic daughters (if I do say so myself😂) who they insisted go to school, whilst simultaneously insisting the best education you can get is travel. So my sister and I attended school, college and university quite happily in the late 70s, 80s and 90s, got degrees, successful jobs and went on to travel extensively.
However, cut to now and the system can't support my daughter. The school and teachers were fantastic in both her schools but the system is just completely different now and doesn't allow for, or work for, all the different needs despite the schools best efforts.
I now home ed my daughter and after 6 years of little progress in school, since home ed in October 2024, she is now willingly doing lots of good foundation maths, English, science, grammar, art and most importantly, able to take part in sports and social activities which she was previously too anxious to attend, and huge exposure to outdoor, nature, foraging which is just fantastic and she loves.
The point being, it doesn't matter where your education takes place, or how, as long as it works for the individual and the individual has enough exposure to different things and then the support to get there as they need.
I only wish Bridget Phillipson would focus on supporting the education providers regardless of where they are or how they do it, rather than focussing on school buildings, curriculum and attendance which may or may not achieve the desired result. And for those very, very few minority whose children are not in school but also not receiving an education or being helped to achieve their potential, work with these children to help them on their way. That way, everyone would surely realise their potential?
However, they then had two fantastic daughters (if I do say so myself😂) who they insisted go to school, whilst simultaneously insisting the best education you can get is travel. So my sister and I attended school, college and university quite happily in the late 70s, 80s and 90s, got degrees, successful jobs and went on to travel extensively.
However, cut to now and the system can't support my daughter. The school and teachers were fantastic in both her schools but the system is just completely different now and doesn't allow for, or work for, all the different needs despite the schools best efforts.
I now home ed my daughter and after 6 years of little progress in school, since home ed in October 2024, she is now willingly doing lots of good foundation maths, English, science, grammar, art and most importantly, able to take part in sports and social activities which she was previously too anxious to attend, and huge exposure to outdoor, nature, foraging which is just fantastic and she loves.
The point being, it doesn't matter where your education takes place, or how, as long as it works for the individual and the individual has enough exposure to different things and then the support to get there as they need.
I only wish Bridget Phillipson would focus on supporting the education providers regardless of where they are or how they do it, rather than focussing on school buildings, curriculum and attendance which may or may not achieve the desired result. And for those very, very few minority whose children are not in school but also not receiving an education or being helped to achieve their potential, work with these children to help them on their way. That way, everyone would surely realise their potential?
What happened next...
On deregistration, my daughter has gone from strength to strength, happily engaging in lessons on a 1:1 or small group basis. People comment on how different a little girl she is, how confident and talkative compared to being diagnosed as selective autism whilst in school. And she is finally happy with no anxiety.
How I think schools could be better.
Much smaller class sizes to return to teachers being able to cater to different needs.
Less complicated curriculum with a focus on achieving a stage before moving on.
More play and outdoor time, more exercise so there's a focus on individual wellbeing.
Once children understand the importance of themselves they will learn for themselves. In the current system, children learn because they have to not because they want to and so as they get older, their impetuous wains.
No tests in primary school, just trust in teachers to teach and respond to progress individually to each child.
Less complicated curriculum with a focus on achieving a stage before moving on.
More play and outdoor time, more exercise so there's a focus on individual wellbeing.
Once children understand the importance of themselves they will learn for themselves. In the current system, children learn because they have to not because they want to and so as they get older, their impetuous wains.
No tests in primary school, just trust in teachers to teach and respond to progress individually to each child.