Wealden Times | WT177 | November 2016 | Christmas Gifts supplement inside

Raise the bar
Sue Elkin praises schools which embrace the journey of education - not the destination
Never tell a child that something is too difficult for
them. Low expectations inevitably lead to low
achievement, as all wise teachers and parents know.
When my younger son was 10 and the elder 14 we
had tickets to see King Lear. I assumed it was likely to be
beyond the ten year old so we booked for just three.
In the event, our elder boy was unwell on the night so
we took the younger. And how glad I am that we did. He
understood the play at his own level, talked about it for a long
time afterwards and enjoyed an evening out with his parents.
We had underestimated our child as so many teachers
and parents routinely do. Education secretaries and prime
ministers have muttered about the downward drag of
low expectations in schools for decades but it’s a slippery
thing to improve. Schools are under huge pressure to
get high, readily quantifiable examination results.
In order to do that, many spoon-feed candidates
with immensely detailed revision sessions, relentless
dull coaching and pep-talks right up until they turn
over their exam papers. And the lessons in the years
prior are far too often based on formulaic, self limiting
‘lesson plans’ from which few dare deviate.
Where’s the stretch which takes every single individual
beyond the standard expectation for that age group?
Too often it’s missing. Everyone is too busy meeting all
those targets which are – frankly – often deliberately
set too low to ensure the school can hit them.
Obviously I’m generalising and some excellent schools
set unlimited expectations. I spoke to an inspiring
head recently who personally teaches a history of music
course to Year 3 upwards because he wants them all to
intelligently explore music of all sorts – way beyond
anything specified in the National Curriculum.
And as for English lessons and reading, well I could
write a book about that (and have: Encouraging Reading,
2007 and Unlocking the Reader in Every Child, 2010).
We must stop fobbing young children off with the
banal, introduce them to good material and demonstrate
continuously that reading is an exciting, very adult activity.
The usual curricular attitude to reading is tick-box based
and nothing to do with intellectual stretch – but a really good
teacher regards the specified curriculum as a mere springboard.
It’s something which informed parents should look at very
closely when they’re choosing a school, at any level, for a child.
Christmas Fun Afternoon for Pre-School children.
Tuesday 6th December 2.00 - 3.30 pm.
Join us for an afternoon of Christmas fun, including craft activities, a visit from Father Christmas and a festive treat.
All children 0-4 years and their parents welcome. No charge, no obligation. Booking essential.
Dulwich Preparatory School
Cranbrook
Independent day and flexible boarding school for boys and girls aged 3 to 13
registrar@dcpskent.org • 01580 712179 • dcpskent.org
CourS ehorN | Cr ANBrook | k e NT | TN17 3NP
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