Let’s face it, education is full of sharks; both in human and paper form. Sometimes it’s a case of survival of the fittest, so it’s important we learn to swim fast.
The only people who benefit from the current system are snake oil selling consultants and self spinning politicians. We need to focus on saving ourselves. I predict now, that the new Ofsted framework will have a very negative effect on teacher recruitment and retention. (I guess that’s pretty obvious!)
Deep dive, shallow paddle, Intent, Implementation are the ‘all new ‘ buzzing ideas that serve as a means of getting the best catch. That which cannot be assessed or measured, will be the ground bait that is thrown into the sea of education to get the shark party started.
Education has changed so much over last 10 years, cuts in funding , the gradual change towards a factory model of accountability, all very cloak and dagger. What if we reversed the same methodology of scrutiny with regards to our judge and jury?
Deep dive into Ofsted; every new format always takes victims whilst it beds in. The new framework reportedly provides a research rich structure that has been invested within an ambitious template, with the acclaimed aim of putting right the wrongs that a league table obsessed system created. Will it? I doubt it very much, in England’s education system the tail very much wags the dog.
Ironically some of the schools that achieved the crown of outstanding are now being ripped apart. Our deep dive analysis shows poorly matched preparation to meet the needs of the system, the materials created although ambitious are destroying the thing they are supposed to measure and are directing content and actions.(which they are not supposed to do) Staff have little faith in the leadership and where they blindly follow will more than likely sink. Although the sharks may not be as abundant as at first envisaged, the victim is bleeding, so frenzied attacks are more likely.
Deep dive into government, ‘Mr G’ leading the way; trite videos telling us how great we are pump out of the DFE sausage machine in Orwellian fashion. At the same time the system crumbles through lack of funding. This continues to mock the profession; self promoting videos announcing that all is well, and will be better. Do they have any idea of the damage that has been done? We can therefore conclude that the planned actions of senior leaders are having a negative impact on Staff wellbeing and morale. We have never truly known why there has always been (since the days of Gove) one consistent, perpetual flag bearer for a decaying system.
Our deep dive reveals that leaders do not know their audience and the materials for our learning are inappropriately matched to the needs of the profession. Intent is misguided and so no progress is evident …..Inadequate if ever there was one.
The light at the end of the tunnel is that the people who work in education; either fortunately or unfortunately have made a habit of making things work. The track record of teaching in general is to create good things out of lousy ideas.
So look out carefully for the shark-proof rafts that are out there. We are renowned for our survival techniques, we might be haemorrhaging and the sharks are keen, but there is still life in the system. We will survive the shark attack, hopefully with our limbs intact!
Personal Survival 