I really don't get why they're making such a big deal about getting that 17% to A* grade
and the whole lot of them to university, when they're patently not suited to academic work.

Then they moan that we don't have any tradesmen. So what happened to trade schools? Technical colleges? The 11 and 13 plus exams? Why not see what aptitudes the kids have, and teach them towards that instead? If the kids are interested in what they're learning, they're more likely to turn up and actually do some work.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Tue 25 Oct 2011, 14:58, 5 replies, latest was 14 years ago)

Hear hear!

( girlinthehole, Tue 25 Oct 2011, 15:00, Reply)

Because A levels and a degree are seen as the "best" education
and nowadays the attitude is that everybody should have access to the best learning regardless of actual ability. So universities are forced to accept retards and exams are reduced in difficulty to help this all along.

As a result, we now have significant labour shortages and utterly imbecilic youths with a string of academic qualifications who all think they're too good to train in well paid, skilled trades like plumbing.
( Kroney, Tue 25 Oct 2011, 15:01, Reply)

Little cunts.
National Service...mumble..thrashing..mumble..six of the best.

They REALLY DO think the world owes them a living.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 25 Oct 2011, 15:03, Reply)

You know what we need?
Streamed schools!!

Academic kids do academia, technically minded kids etc etc.

The current system leaves a big section from the middle to the bottom with absolutely fuck all to fall back on.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 25 Oct 2011, 15:02, Reply)

The German system is good taht way
They have grammar schools for teh academic ones, vocational schools for the technical ones, and generic high schools for the rest.

And they keep kids back a year if they don't reach certain standards. Some see it as a punishment, but it's more about making sure they're capable of tackling the next year's work.
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Tue 25 Oct 2011, 15:07, Reply)

There were flaws in this system when we last had it
The main one being that it is a little unfair to condemn someone to a particular life at age 11. It is hard to run a two-tier system without inequality.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 25 Oct 2011, 15:23, Reply)

Amen.

(Glucose-Maximus All over the world., Tue 25 Oct 2011, 17:07, Reply)

Why don't you try engaging with your arguments Freefair

(Bazongaloid, Tue 25 Oct 2011, 17:10, Reply)

Who?

(Glucose-Maximus All over the world., Tue 25 Oct 2011, 17:17, Reply)